Chapter 3: Extraordinary Indeed
Chapter 3: Extraordinary Indeed
"Teacher."
Su Changqing approached the desk with a piece of paper in hand, addressing his teacher.
"Oh? You understand it?"
Li Qingchen looked up at Su Changqing, his interest piqued. "Think carefully before you speak. If you don't understand, say so. If you start spouting nonsense, it will be hard for you to continue in this school."
He could see Su Changqing's nervousness and deliberately gave him this warning. It wasn't a problem to not know something, but it was a problem if someone pretended to know and rambled on, making others dislike them. This wasn't about scholarship; it was about basic honesty and character.
With Su Nan's influence, Li Qingchen would continue teaching, but how much genuine skill he imparted was another matter. He used the Dao pattern to test Su Changqing, not expecting him to answer correctly. He just wanted to see if Su Changqing was honest.
"I, uh, have a shallow understanding of it, but I'm not sure if I'm right."
Su Changqing steeled himself to respond. He hadn't understood a thing beyond the character 'one.' But to pass, he had come up with a plausible explanation.
"You have a shallow understanding?"
Li Qingchen shook his head, his smile fading, and his voice turning cold. "If you understand, then tell me."
He didn't even look at Su Changqing again, continuing to read his book. In his mind, Su Changqing was already a zero.
"Teacher's calligraphy is powerful and majestic, simple yet exuding an extraordinary aura. I have never seen such beautiful writing."
Su Changqing started with flattery, knowing that even if it wasn't entirely true, it couldn't be entirely wrong. And while his words were a bit exaggerated, the writing was indeed beautiful.
However, Li Qingchen's expression only worsened.
"Flattery and smooth talk won't get you far."
Li Qingchen was already regretting his deal with Su Nan. Su Changqing, however, didn't notice and continued speaking.
"I understand that the question Teacher gave, though simple, must have deeper meaning."
Li Qingchen's face darkened. Su Changqing was being deliberately obscure and nonsensical.
"This 'one' character, though simple, embodies the principle of simplicity in the great Dao."
"Silence! Hmm?"
Li Qingchen, who had just stood up, suddenly paused. Realizing what Su Changqing had said, he turned to look at him, pointing uncertainly at the paper.
"What character did you say this is?"
"Uh,"
Seeing Li Qingchen's serious expression, Su Changqing swallowed hard. "Teacher, isn't this a 'one' character?"
Su Changqing's heart was racing. Could the culture in this world be different from his past life? But that didn't make sense; his mother had taught him to read the same way.
But why did Teacher look like he was about to eat him? What had he gotten wrong?
Unbeknownst to Su Changqing, Li Qingchen's mind was in turmoil.
"He actually recognized it?"
"In just two hours, faster than even the third son with the 'Scholarly Sage's Body.'"
"This..."
Li Qingchen looked at Su Changqing, his thoughts in chaos. Dao patterns were not visible to ordinary eyes. Only those with deep martial or calligraphy skills could discern them. This wasn't a baseless test. There were few in the world who could write Dao patterns, and even fewer who could understand them with ordinary eyes.
"Changqing, how did you recognize this character?"
"Li Qincheng asked.
He couldn't understand how Su Changqing, who hadn't studied for eighteen years, could see through it so quickly.
"Characters?"
Su Changqing hesitated a moment, pointing at the characters on the blank paper. "Isn't this obvious? The characters are so large; anyone who isn't blind can see them, right?"
Li Qincheng's face changed instantly. "You mean you could understand these characters at first glance?"
Su Changqing nodded honestly. "It's really that simple."
Li Qincheng, who had always been calm and composed, couldn't maintain his composure anymore. He immediately fetched a grand brush and wrote a powerful, flowing character on the paper.
"What is this character?"
Su Changqing glanced at it and answered without hesitation, "Su."
Li Qincheng's hand trembled, his pupils constricting. He wrote another character.
"Chang."
Li Qincheng's breath wavered, and he wrote another character, his hand trembling even more.
"Qing."
Boom!
Li Qincheng's grand brush fell to the table, and he stared at Su Changqing, his heart shaking with shock and horror.
At the same time, a terrifying aura, briefly emitted by a Scholar Immortal, surged to the heavens!
...
Qing Mountain Village.
After sending Su Changqing off, Su Nan lazily lay in the courtyard, basking in the sun.
Around him were the Su family members, disguised as villagers.
Despite their hidden identities, they held significant positions in the Su family and would report to the head of the family daily about recent events on the continent.
"Yesterday, at the Central State Holy Academy, a gifted child composed a four-character poem, causing the statue of the Literary Emperor to shine a hundred feet tall."
"The Daoist sect of Divine Dawn announced that their current Daoist Child had died in a secret realm and that they are currently selecting a new one."
"The Great Void Forbidden Abyss in the Southern Region is about to open, and many great powers are bringing their heirs."
As he listened to the reports, Su Nan paid little attention, occasionally glancing at the sky.
When it was almost noon, he quickly got up and waved at everyone.
"Alright, alright, you can handle these minor matters."
Then he turned and shouted,
"Hurry up and start cooking. Changqing will be back soon. Make something special today. Roast a chicken and tell him it's from hunting in the mountains."
Ye Shu responded from inside the house.
A strong Su family member nearby was puzzled. "Isn't the young master studying with Mr. Li? Why is he coming back for lunch?"
"Heh, you know nothing. This is a strategy."
Su Nan looked at the distant Qing Mountain and grinned.
"When you see Changqing on your way back, remember to comfort him a bit. He should be feeling pretty low."
The Su family members thought for a moment and understood.
The previous two young masters had become somewhat extreme because everything had gone too smoothly for them.
This time, the young master would likely face many challenges during his first apprenticeship.
As they were deep in thought, a terrifying aura, invisible to ordinary people, surged from the foot of Qing Mountain.
Boom!
A vast and righteous energy, like an ocean, obscured the entire sky. The terrifying aura made the realm they had constructed tremble.
The Su family members all looked horrified, their hair standing on end from the overwhelming power.
"Stop!"
Su Nan stomped his foot, and a brilliant light shone above Qing Mountain, instantly suppressing the surging righteous energy, stabilizing the realm.
Everyone looked at each other, unsure what had just happened.
A young boy, however, muttered enviously,
"Scholar Immortals are truly remarkable. The scene at his teaching is extraordinary."
Su Nan and the others' eyes lit up, and they nodded in agreement.
Indeed, that's true.
(End of Chapter)"
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