"You..." Zhao Rong hadn't finished speaking when Gu Yiwu suddenly pulled him to the doorway.

Outside the door, two students from the Justice Hall, who had come along with Gu Yiwu to "snatch people," were waiting. At this moment, they poked their heads in, curiously observing the atmosphere inside this hall, which was usually as proud and lofty as a mountain overshadowing the other five halls. Noticing the somewhat bizarre ambiance, the two Justice Hall students exchanged peculiar looks. However, as Gu Yiwu pulled Zhao Rong out, their attention shifted, and they quickly stepped forward to assist their senior in escorting Zhao Rong away.

"Young Teacher Zhao, come with us. Everyone's waiting for you, you don't know! This time, our Justice Hall came in second in the total academy score, just three points behind Shuaixing Hall! Everyone is thrilled and is eagerly waiting for you to come and say a few words. This achievement is truly thanks to your efforts. Everyone genuinely respects you!" A Justice Hall student greeted with a smile.

The other Justice Hall student immediately chimed in, "Indeed, thanks to your help, we scored the highest in both calligraphy and music arts among the Six Halls! The peers who descended the mountain with you all achieved full marks in ritual skill; and in calligraphy, the methods you taught us privately were a great help. Almost everyone scored well, with many earning seven or eight points, and quite a few even reaching nine. You really boosted our total score!"

Zhao Rong couldn't help but correct, "It wasn't a secret lesson. What I taught you in calligraphy class was the same as what I taught in Shuaixing Hall, no difference at all. The good scores are because you studied diligently; it's your strength, not much to do with me."

The first Justice Hall student sighed, reflecting, "Young Teacher Zhao, you're too modest. It is because you taught us well that we learned well. That sequence of cause and effect can't be changed... Anyway, everyone's longing for you to come over, so they can properly thank you. Come with us."

Zhao Rong opened his mouth slightly.

Gu Yiwu laughed heartily, giving Zhao Rong a hearty pat on the shoulder. His booming voice was audible both inside and outside the door, only causing the atmosphere inside to become quieter.

"That's right, Ziyu, come with us. Even though some people in the hall regret being just three points behind first place, I feel satisfied enough. We don't demand much. Our Justice Hall has been really helped by you in calligraphy and ritual arts. I honestly didn't expect the decision to join you in descending the mountain for the assessment would bring such a pleasant surprise!"

Zhao Rong was speechless for a moment.

With the two Justice Hall students starting to drag Zhao Rong outside, Gu Yiwu freed up his hands, at this moment, seemingly recalling something as he playfully punched Zhao Rong's shoulder.

"Oh, and you, how come you didn't say anything when you took the number one spot in the whole academy in silence! That frightening number thirteen ren character was you, wasn't it! You just listened while everyone was discussing, how could you stay so calm?"

Zhao Rong chuckled lightly.

Gu Yiwu couldn't help but marvel, "And yet you only scored a meager six in music art, still comfortably overshadowing Yu Huaijin... And then achieving full marks in the remaining six arts courses, totaling eighty-six points. Honestly, I don't know what to say about you..."

He sighed, "Hey, I mean, losing three points in music art, what's the big deal? Three versus six, there's not much difference. And aren't you still second overall in the academy? Cough cough, it would have allowed us to tie for first with Shuaixing Hall, wouldn't it have been better, like killing two birds with one stone!"

The burly Confucian scholar looked pained and regretful.

Zhao Rong squinted at him, "And what about you, wouldn't it be even better if you scored three more points? Not only would you tie with Shuaixing Hall, but you'd also tie with me for first."

Gu Yiwu and companions: ...

The burly Confucian scholar scratched the back of his head, pretending not to hear.

Then, as if he thought of something, he stroked his stubble with a face full of amazement, "Ever since accompanying you down the mountain to the Great Li, witnessing you almost perfectly completing the Fengshan Ceremony, I knew for sure you weren't simple, that you were holding back your abilities. But I didn't expect you to hide so deeply, even beyond my estimations! I thought Yu Huaijin was already outrageous, but who'd have thought you surpassed her by a point! Could it be you are some reincarnation of a great talent in the legends, with a monstrous destiny? Hmm, let me feel it."

With a "slap," Zhao Rong briskly slapped away the salty pig's hand. With a serious nod, he said, "I never expected you to discover it nonetheless. Initially, I intended to mingle among you as an ordinary person, but what I got in return was irreverence. Never mind, no more pretending, in my previous life, I was the Peach Blossom Sword Emperor, I lay my cards on the table."

Someone shamelessly spread his hands and sighed, Gu Yiwu couldn't help but laughingly scold, "What Peach Blossom Sword Emperor? Never heard of it, you're talking nonsense again. Last time at the roadside tavern drinking, boasting and talking nonsense after drinking, didn't you mysteriously claim you were born knowledgeable, saying you had the demeanor of a saint, but as soon as Qian'er's junior sister showed up, your face changed color, hastily stuffing the wine jug into our arms, all strict and abstinent looking... A sage born knowledgeable is like this? Still henpecked?"

Zhao Rong coughed, glared, signaling him to say less.

Gu Yiwu never considered the feelings of the audience inside the Shuaixing Hall, he no longer delayed, pulling Zhao Rong towards the direction of Justice Hall, "Okay, reincarnation of the Great Emperor, appearance of a saint, that's right, then go with me so everyone can really see, properly thank our Great Saint Zhao."

Zhao Rong: "......"

The laughter and chatter of the few outside drifted in without missing a word into the hall, Yu Huaijin pursed her lips and watched the spirited and smiling folks pulling someone away outside, then she turned around, expressionless, looking at the crowd of students below who dared not move.

Under her gaze, the Shuaixing Hall students all lowered their heads, not even daring to breathe, only Li Xueyou perked her ears, covering her mouth with a small hand when she heard someone boasting about having the demeanor of a saint.

Other than that, the hall was pin-drop silent, with everyone's mood unspeakable.

Just then, outside the door, Zhao Rong and Gu Yiwu hadn't gone far, the former seemed to struggle a bit and slowed his steps, then a faintly audible conversation came.

"Brother Yiwu, let's just forget about it, the calligraphy class at Shuaixing Hall isn't over yet, I'll come by Justice Hall during the break this afternoon to see you all."

Gu Yiwu's displeased voice replied, "What's with you always worrying about that broken hall? They don't even appreciate you, always extra classes, do half of them even listen when you teach, teach, teach?"

"Exactly, exactly, it would be great if Young Teacher Zhao belonged to our Justice Hall." The two Justice Hall students echoed.

Zhao Rong: ...

Yu Huaijin and Shuaixing Hall students: ???

Before long, the sounds outside the hall faded, the people seemed to have already gone far.

Before the platform of Shuaixing Hall, a composed-faced young girl holding her position didn't turn her head, simply stared coldly at the students below, silently.

The students responded variously, Xiao Hongyu, Zhong Delu, and other students stood up angrily, intending to grab back 'Young Teacher Zhao'; Jia Tengying and others dared not make a sound, silent as cicadas in winter; Wu Peiliang, Feng Qingpu, and other students felt increasingly ashamed, blushing deeply.

"Come back!"

Yu Huaijin suddenly ordered.

"But Xuanji, that Senior Gu was too impudent, snatching Brother Ziyu right under our noses! Still badmouthing..." Xiao Hongyu and others expressed indignation at the door.

"But did they say anything wrong?" Yu Huaijin calmly retorted.

The whole atmosphere instantly froze.

...

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PS: I actually wrote a bit more, next chapter will be released together... Uh, does this mean I'm a mature author with some manuscripts in reserve?

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