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Chapter 2: The Scholar Immortal's Test
Chapter 2: The Scholar Immortal's Test
Inside the humble wooden hut, a middle-aged man dressed in a simple green robe sat quietly, waiting in the sparsely furnished room. His eyes were deep and bright, and he absentmindedly rubbed the teacup in his hand, glancing out the window at the sky.
"To raise his son, he's willing to seal off his own territory for eighteen years. This head of the Su family is indeed a remarkable man."
Li Qingchen smiled and shook his head, finishing the tea in his cup in one sip.
He had initially been reluctant to come, considering it somewhat absurd to be the mentor of a teenager who had already passed the coming-of-age ceremony. But the head of the Su family had offered him something he couldn't refuse.
However, while he had agreed to teach, he had never considered taking on a disciple. Scholars had their own sense of pride, and his standards were among the highest in the world.
Which literary master didn't have a multitude of disciples? Yet, as the current leader of the Confucian school, he had only taken on three disciples.
"Mr. Li, you don't need to hold back because of me. Be as strict as you can. This will instill a sense of reverence in him and prevent him from becoming arrogant."
Recalling the head of the Su family's words, Li Qingchen couldn't help but smile and shake his head. Even without deliberately making things difficult, few could endure his strictness.
But since it was the employer's request, he would do his best to meet the expectations. After all, he was being paid for his trouble.
"Two years, that's all. How much he learns will depend on his own destiny."
Li Qingchen stretched lazily, about to stand up when he heard a voice from outside the hut.
"Student Su Changqing, here to learn."
...
Outside the door, Su Changqing listened carefully to the sounds inside, deep in thought.
In this ancient era, scholars held a very high status. Even a failed scholar like Li Qingchen probably wouldn't look favorably upon someone from a rural background.
He must have only agreed to teach because of the money his parents offered, reluctantly accepting the task.
But whether Li Qingchen would teach wholeheartedly would ultimately depend on Su Changqing himself.
However, Su Changqing wasn't worried. In his previous life, he had been a high-achieving student at a prestigious university, with a broad range of knowledge.
While the cultural context might be different here, he was confident he could impress a failed scholar.
"Click."
Just as Su Changqing was lost in thought, the door before him opened with a soft sound. He looked up to see a middle-aged man standing in the doorway, dressed neatly and with a calm, composed demeanor. Most striking were his deep, bright eyes, which seemed to see into one's soul.
"Hello, Mr. Li." Su Changqing bowed respectfully.
He inwardly praised the man's bearing. Truly, an educated person had a different aura from the villagers.
Li Qingchen sized up the young man before him.
Tall and slender, with a handsome face and clear, bright eyes, Su Changqing exuded the vitality and vigor of youth, along with an unusual steadiness for his age.
"Compared to the other two young masters of the Su family, this one seems much more reliable."
"The Su family's educational methods may not be commendable, but the results seem to be quite good."
Impressed by their first meeting, Li Qingchen still maintained a stern expression, nodding slightly and saying coolly, "Come in."
Seeing the indifferent attitude, Su Changqing inwardly rolled his eyes. Indeed, scholars were proud.
The villagers, on the other hand, were much more welcoming.
Entering the hut, Li Qingchen sat down in a wooden chair and poured himself a cup of tea, not even glancing at Su Changqing as he spoke.
"I have accepted your father's offer, but I have not agreed to teach you. I am merely giving you a chance."
"Whether you stay or not depends on you. If you fail my test, you will return to where you came from."
”
As Li Qingchen spoke, he couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.
He didn't want to make things so complicated. He just wanted to accept the gift and teach properly. But the father had given specific instructions: the apprenticeship must not be too easy.
It had to be done in three attempts to make it feel precious and hard-earned. There was no way around it. Even though he didn't understand, he had to respect the request.
"Thank you, Master. I will do my best!"
Su Changqing said earnestly, but in his heart, he was rolling his eyes.
He knew it wouldn't be that simple.
Li Qingchen pondered for a moment, thinking of a way to make Su Changqing give up.
After a short while, he had an idea. He stood up, walked to a desk, and picked up a brush, casually drawing on a piece of paper.
As a subtle glow flashed, a powerful and ancient 'one' character appeared on the blank paper, then vanished in an instant.
Li Qingchen nodded in satisfaction.
The character, though simple, was not something an ordinary person could comprehend.
When calligraphy reaches its pinnacle, it becomes a form of Dao, each character a symbol of profound truth and principle.
Only those with deep knowledge or exceptional insight could understand it.
People often speak of the 'Heavenly Book without Words,' but it's not truly without words; it's just that mortals can't grasp its deeper meaning.
His third disciple, who possessed the 'Scholarly Sage's Body,' had once spent three hours deciphering it. This would be more than enough to make Su Changqing give up.
At this moment, Su Changqing, watching Li Qingchen's back, was also feeling anxious.
"I wonder what the test is?"
"If it's about hard knowledge from this world, I'm in trouble. Where would I have learned that?"
Just as Su Changqing was feeling uneasy, Li Qingchen turned around and handed him the paper.
"Once you understand it, you can stay. If you can't, go back."
With that, Li Qingchen walked to his desk, sat down, and picked up a book to read, ignoring Su Changqing.
"Understand it?"
Su Changqing, skeptical, picked up the paper. A large 'one' character was clearly visible.
"What am I supposed to see? That your 'one' is straight?"
Su Changqing examined the paper from all angles, but no matter how he looked at it, there was only that single 'one' character.
"Damn, riddles are the worst!"
Su Changqing clenched his teeth, racking his brain to figure out what it meant.
"Even if I haven't been to school, I can't not recognize a 'one.' This old scholar must be hinting at something else."
"He doesn't want to teach me and is deliberately making it difficult. If I answer unsatisfactorily, I won't have a chance to learn."
"There must be some hidden meaning here, but where is it?"
Time passed slowly. Su Changqing's eyes widened as he scrutinized the paper from every angle, bloodshot from the strain.
But no matter how he looked at it, it was just a damn 'one.'
Not far away, Li Qingchen watched Su Changqing, who looked like he was about to lose his mind, and smiled, taking a sip of tea.
"Without cultivation or education, it's no wonder he can't figure it out."
"But his determination is commendable. He's been staring at a blank piece of paper for an hour."
Seeing Su Changqing's persistence, Li Qingchen shook his head and returned to his book.
Another hour passed, and Su Changqing wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He gave up.
He really couldn't see anything else in that 'one.'
"There's nothing I can do."
Su Changqing looked up at Li Qingchen, sighing inwardly.
"I'll just have to bluff it."
(End of Chapter)
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