These stewards possessed considerably sharper judgment than the average common person.

Though they knew little of the Confucian Academy, they understood well enough that it was regarded as a sacred site by scholars throughout the world, and that even an ordinary scholar affiliated with it was not someone they could afford to offend.

And so, the moment they saw that jade token bearing the words "Confucian Academy" at the elderly man's waist, they all bowed at once, murmuring apologies for the "disturbance," and hurriedly withdrew, no longer daring to press Jin Yuan further.

"My thanks to all of you." Jin Yuan bowed to Shang Qi and the other two, saying with a wry smile, "Had it not been for you, this humble scholar might well have been dragged away by now."

"There's no need for such formality, friend." Luo Yang returned the bow. "Congratulations on achieving the position of top scholar. You will surely accomplish great things in the days to come!"

"You flatter me, friend." Jin Yuan said modestly. "Achieving the top position this time was, in truth, simply a matter of good fortune. As for the road ahead, who can say for certain? I only hope to remain true to my own convictions. But please, all of you must come with me for a few drinks, to properly express my gratitude."

"Ha ha ha... there's no need for that." Shang Qi glanced at Jin Yuan, clearly quite pleased with him. "But young man, I can see you possess fine bone structure and constitution. Serving as an official within a dynasty seems something of a waste for you. Would you consider coming with me to the Confucian Academy, to cultivate there instead?"

"The Confucian Academy..." Jin Yuan felt a jolt of surprise. "The very Confucian Academy that stands above the Four Great Academies?"

"Precisely." Shang Qi nodded.

"This..."

A flicker of hesitation showed in Jin Yuan's eyes.

He did not know whether this elderly man spoke the truth.

If it were true, then studying at the Confucian Academy was the aspiration held in every scholar's heart, and he was no exception.

Moreover, studying at the Confucian Academy would, in effect, place him upon the path of cultivation itself, opening the possibility of becoming a legendary immortal.

Had this happened at an earlier time, Jin Yuan might well have followed this elderly gentleman without hesitation but now, with Great Zhou showing such fresh signs of renewal, so much still awaiting rebuilding, he wished to contribute something to the Zhou Kingdom as it stood now.

"My thanks for your generous regard, elder." At last, having made his decision, Jin Yuan bowed. "But this humble scholar still wishes to serve as an official at court, to do what I can for the people of our Great Zhou."

"No matter, no matter."

Shang Qi smiled, feeling even more satisfied with the man before him.

He removed the jade token from his own waist, handing it to Jin Yuan, “Keep this token with you. Should you ever change your mind, or find yourself with some leisure time, you may come study at the Confucian Academy, or at White Deer Academy, one of the Four Great Academies."

"Elder, this humble junior cannot possibly accept such a thing..." Jin Yuan looked at the token, hurrying to decline.

"Just take it. Why must a scholar be so fussy about such things?" Shang Qi placed the token directly into Jin Yuan's hand, then said nothing further, turning to leave.

"Elder..." Jin Yuan still felt this item was far too precious, wanting to return it but in the blink of an eye, Shang Qi and the other two had vanished from before him, as though they had never appeared at all.

Jin Yuan ran forward a few steps, looking left and right, but could find no trace of them anywhere.

"This humble scholar, Jin Yuan, offers my thanks, elder."

In the end, Jin Yuan could only bow respectfully toward the direction the elderly man had departed.

"Husband, that scholar just now, is he truly suited to the path of cultivation?"

Wang Yue asked her husband. She had simply felt that those men were being far too domineering, dragging away a man who already had a wife, truly shameless conduct, and so she had been unable to hold herself back but she had never expected that old Master Shang would go so far as to invite him into the Confucian Academy itself.

"He is, indeed, a truly promising seed of learning, favored by the fortune of Confucian scholarship." Luo Yang said slowly.

"That young man is genuinely impressive. He should be capable of great things in the future." Shang Qi said with a smile. "This world is about to produce a renowned Minister."

"A renowned Minister?" Wang Yue blinked. "How would he compare to that famous Minister of the Qi Kingdom, from thousands of years ago?"

"Compared to that Qi Kingdom Minister from ten thousand years past? Ha ha ha ha..." Shang Qi laughed heartily.

As his laughter faded, Shang Qi looked toward the direction of the Zhou Kingdom's imperial palace.

Within his aged eyes lay a deep well of reflection and remembrance.

"I suspect the only one who might surpass that renowned Minister... is that man himself."

…

The National Preceptor's residence.

Xiao Mo stepped down from the imperial carriage, and after dismissing the maids, walked forward, knocking upon the courtyard gate.

"Come in."

Before long, Jiang Rou's cool, clear voice came from within.

Xiao Mo pushed open the door and walked inside.

Within the courtyard, Jiang Rou sat cross-legged upon a stone bench, meditating. Before her lay a sword, letting out a faint, trembling hum.

This was a sword cultivator's daily practice of tempering their sword-heart.

"What brings Your Majesty here? Shouldn't you be keeping company with your two honored consorts?"

Jiang Rou slowly opened her eyes, raising her gaze, looking at Xiao Mo calmly, though her tone carried a note of irritation.

"That's not quite fair to say. In truth, I had always intended to visit the National Preceptor, to seek instruction on swordsmanship, but with matters of state keeping me busy lately, I've had to postpone it somewhat." Xiao Mo produced two jars of fine osmanthus wine, his tone carrying a note of apology.

Ever since Yan Shan'ao's removal, Xiao Mo had practiced his sword considerably less, and naturally, visited Jiang Rou less often as well.

Xiao Mo suspected that National Preceptor Jiang's irritation might stem from suspecting he had given up on swordsmanship entirely.

"So Your Majesty still remembers to practice the sword after all. Let me see whether Your Majesty's technique has grown rusty."

With these words, the sword before Jiang Rou flew of its own accord toward Xiao Mo, and Xiao Mo drew his own blade to meet it, deflecting the flying sword aside.

Jiang Rou rose to her feet, suppressing her cultivation level to match Xiao Mo's own, gripping her sword once more, charging at him.

For a moment, fierce sword-qi rippled throughout the National Preceptor's residence.

An incense stick's time later...

The sword in Jiang Rou's hand hovered a mere inch from Xiao Mo's throat.

"I concede defeat." Xiao Mo shook his head with a smile. "I wonder how long it will take before I can finally win against the National Preceptor even once."

"We sword cultivators, if we do not advance, we regress. Though Your Majesty stays busy with state affairs, you mustn't grow lax in your sword practice either. This small Zhou Kingdom is nothing compared to Your Majesty's own path of swordsmanship."

Jiang Rou set down her sword, speaking coldly but in truth, Jiang Rou had noticed that Xiao Mo's swordsmanship had not only failed to regress, but had, in fact, advanced somewhat.

The only reason she had managed to defeat Xiao Mo in the end was because she had secretly loosened the seal on her own cultivation level slightly, relying then on her greater experience in life-and-death combat to eke out a narrow victory.

"His progress truly is accelerating." Jiang Rou thought to herself with a certain reflection. Had he faced a few more genuine life-and-death battles, Jiang Rou felt she might not have been able to win against him at all.

"The National Preceptor's teaching is well taken. Once this current period of business settles, I truly must devote myself properly to cultivation." Xiao Mo said with a smile, opening the osmanthus wine, pouring her a cup.

Jiang Rou seated herself upon the stone bench, and after drinking the osmanthus wine, glanced at Xiao Mo flatly, saying slowly, “Your Majesty's visit today seems to be for more than merely seeking instruction on swordsmanship."

"There is, indeed, one more matter I'd like to seek your guidance on, miss." Xiao Mo nodded.

"Speak plainly." Jiang Rou said.

"Then I shall speak plainly."

Xiao Mo smoothed his sleeves.

"I'd like to learn a little about your sect master, Sect Master Jiang Qingyi."

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