Chapter 77

The four of them had a good harvest, but only Mr. Du, the instructor, came away empty-handed, of course, his mindset was out of balance.

Amidst their cheerful conversation, Instructor Shen slapped his forehead and said apologetically, "Since Yue Heng has helped us old fellows so much, shouldn't we give him something in return? I have a low-grade, inferior quality defensive umbrella, which can be activated by a scholar's talent. It's quite a decent item."

Instructor Cheng said enviously, "Mr. Shen teaches the techniques of literary warfare and debate to third-level scholars, with students all over the place. He can walk freely in the demon beast mountains, and the treasures in his hands are countless. To give out such a rare piece of armor at once, we poor instructors can't compare! I teach the classics to scholars. I have a rare copy of the 'Complete Book of the Fu Family Classics,' which Yue Heng can borrow for three days. If there's anything he doesn't understand, he can come to me anytime."

Instructor Yan laughed loudly, "Mr. Shen has a literary warfare treasure to give, and Mr. Cheng can give a complete set of classics. As for me, who teaches poetry and prose, should I give him poems? Yue Heng is so talented, and I rarely have articles of the level of 'Encouragement to Study' that resonate with him. Wouldn't it be embarrassing to take them out?"

Dean Hu stroked his beard and smiled, "Then why don't you just give him the demon-slaying brush and the demon-suppressing ruler? Are you unwilling to part with them?"

Instructor Yan explained somewhat awkwardly, "It's not that I'm unwilling, but the demon-slaying brush requires a second-level student to use it to its full potential. The demon-suppressing ruler, although used as a paperweight, is also a second-level student's demon-suppressing magical tool..."

"He can still use it."

Dean Hu smiled and turned to look at Yue Heng, asking, "Yue Heng, are you actually a second-level student?"

There are many ways to detect the size of someone's divine palace and the number of literary symbols they possess in the Central Yuan world. Dean Hu has his own methods.

Yue Heng touched his chin, knowing he couldn't hide it from this old man, and could only answer honestly, "Mr. Hu, I have the fortune to be a second-level student."

Everyone was shocked. How could this be?

Instructor Du exclaimed, "Then why are you wearing a first-level scholar's uniform if you're a second-level student?"

Yue Heng said helplessly, "I don't know either. It was given to me by the officials of Hong County and Qi City, Mr. Cui."

Instructor Du was furious, "Nonsense! The number of literary symbols in your body far exceeds the requirements for a first-level scholar. Your literary name is clearly written as a scholar. Why didn't you tell them these things?"

Yue Heng rolled his eyes, "I come from a poor family, with limited knowledge and no friends. No one told me I had to do this!"

"You!"

Instructor Du was almost at his wits' end. Indeed, Yue Heng did nothing wrong. The officials of Hong County's literary department had really messed things up!

Clearly a genius student, but deliberately hiding, making him think Yue Heng was a troublemaker. If he had known Yue Heng became a second-level student in the spring examination, how could he have still made things difficult for him?

The other instructors laughed and joked, marveling at the situation.

Only Instructor Yan said with a pained expression, "So you're a second-level student! It seems the low-grade defensive armor and the scholar's classics we prepared are not up to your standards! I'm afraid my demon-slaying brush and demon-suppressing ruler will have to change hands..."

Yue Heng repeatedly said he didn't dare accept the gifts. He hadn't said a word from start to finish; it was all these old fellows who were praising him.

Instructor Du still wouldn't give up, and asked directly, "Who was your启蒙 teacher in Hong County?"

Yue Heng answered respectfully, "I come from a poor family and was taught by ordinary instructors."

Instructor Du was once again enraged, "Impossible! How could you write such a resonant article without a master's guidance? How could you become a second-level student right after the spring examination without professional training? It doesn't make sense!"

Yue Heng smiled faintly, "I really didn't have a master. Moreover, I don't think that without a master, one cannot become a second-level student. I believe that many so-called masters are actually just famous in name and may mislead their students..."

"Hmph! Heaven, Earth, Master, and Kin, don't think that a small achievement allows you to forget your roots and deny the importance of your teachers!" Instructor Du, at this moment, couldn't care less about his dignity and started to nitpick Yue Heng's words.

Yue Heng smiled, "Mr. Du, I never said teachers are unimportant. I just said that some teachers are not competent. Moreover, I don't agree with the teaching methods of these incompetent teachers, so I say they might mislead their students."

Instructor Du was furious, his face flushed red, and he pointed at Yue Heng's nose, shouting, "You fell asleep in my first class, and now you say this. Are you openly saying I'm incompetent?"

Yue Heng shrugged, "I didn't say that, Mr. Du, you misunderstood."

The others followed, trying to console him, "Old Du, are you being a bit too sensitive?"

"Old Du, Yue Heng didn't name anyone. There are plenty of mediocre teachers in our literary academy. Why are you jumping to defend yourself?"

"Old Du, you're overreacting! Yue Heng, you should say less. After all, Mr. Du is still your teacher..."

Instructor Du was trembling with anger. How did it come to this, where Yue Heng was openly embarrassing him in front of everyone?

"You! You, you, you! If you don't explain yourself clearly today, I'll make you pay!"

Yue Heng sneered, "Ancient scholars must have a teacher. A teacher is one who transmits knowledge, teaches skills, and resolves doubts. No one is born with knowledge, who can be without doubts? If one has doubts but does not seek a teacher, those doubts will never be resolved..."

From the first sentence, Yue Heng entered the state of divine palace activation.

His divine palace's talent was wildly circulating, the blue light growing stronger and stronger. Each word that came out of his mouth turned into a tangible literary symbol, floating two feet in front of him.

Then the talent dissipated, and the literary symbols disappeared into the bodies of each instructor present. This talent was like the most nourishing food in the world, making the divine palaces of the instructors tremble, and every pore feel incredibly comfortable.

"Resonant article!"

Everyone was deeply moved. Just from the first few sentences of Yue Heng, they clearly felt the resonance in their divine palaces. Each of them was an instructor at the county academy, having taught countless students, with vast experience. Yet, under the recitation of this new work by Yue Heng, they all trembled, their divine palaces oscillated, and their consciousness became hazy. In that instant, everyone became Yue Heng's students.

"…The sage has no fixed teacher. Confucius learned from Tanzi, Changhong, Shixiang, and Lao Dan. Tanzi and his peers were not as virtuous as Confucius. Confucius said, 'When three people walk together, one of them must be my teacher.' Therefore, a student does not necessarily have to be inferior to the teacher, nor does the teacher have to be more virtuous than the student. Knowledge is acquired at different times, and skills are specialized in different fields. That's all there is to it."

Yue Heng finished reciting Han Yu's famous work "On Teachers," then looked at Instructor Du, a hint of mischief in his eyes, and asked, "Mr. Du, is it clear enough now?"

Buzz, buzz, buzz...

The six of them heard the resonant echo simultaneously. Dean Hu's expression changed drastically, "The warning sound of the '戒' (Jie) literary symbol! Not good, this temporary shielding array is collapsing from the inside, almost collapsing!"

Everyone was shocked. They all knew how powerful the '戒' (Jie) literary symbol was. The oracle bone script of '戒' (Jie) shows a person holding a spear and a halberd, defending against external enemies. It can be added to the '囚' (Qiu) or '困' (Kun) literary symbols, or to a fixed position array, serving as a warning.

"It must be the overwhelming talent of this resonant article that has even broken the protective array of the academy's teaching hall from the inside!"

"Not good! Now we're all exposed!"

Instructor Du's figure wavered; he was almost depressed to the point of spitting blood.

He had just accused Yue Heng of not respecting his teachers, and then Yue Heng recited a lengthy, several hundred-word article. Even though the five of them were well-read and experienced, none of them had ever heard of this article!

This wasn't about belittling teachers; it was about advocating the spirit of learning from anyone, regardless of gender, age, or level of knowledge, following the example of the ancient sage Confucius, who was not ashamed to ask questions and learn humbly.

Moreover, the definition of a teacher had expanded from just a启蒙 teacher or an academy instructor to anyone with fame, achievement, and the ability to "transmit knowledge, teach skills, and resolve doubts." This was a rare and valuable concept in the Central Yuan world.

Puff...

A dull sound, the space shattered, and the faint dirty mist floating on the walls of the cage was blown away by the talent wind. The six hundred students gradually saw the six people with strange expressions, as stiff as wooden puppets.

"Mr. Du, I wonder if my work after reading 'Encouragement to Study' and 'Long Song' has passed the assessment today?"

Yue Heng smiled and looked at the dazed Instructor Du, asking politely.

Instructor Du's throat was dry. At this moment, he only wanted to quickly get rid of this star of misfortune. He had a lot to digest. He raised his hand and waved, indicating that Yue Heng had passed.

"Oh, by the way, if my three articles can rank in the top, please transfer the corresponding academy contribution points directly to my stone tablet account!"

"Puff..."

Instructor Du couldn't hold back any longer and really spat out a mouthful of blood. The red blood mist frightened all the students, causing many to scream in terror.

Instructor Shen quickly took out a healing inner pill and put it in Instructor Du's mouth. Then, with a complex expression, he looked at Yue Heng and, along with the other two, helped Instructor Du down, leaving only Dean Hu to wrap things up.

Dean Hu looked at Yue Heng with a complex expression, took a few steps forward, and said in a low voice, "The three 'Encouragement to Study' articles are well-written. Can I borrow your original handwritten works to observe at home for a few days?"

"I dare not refuse." These three articles had already been taken by Dean Hu, and there was no way Yue Heng could get them back.

"What was the name of the article you just recited?"

"‘On Teachers.’”

"Good, good, good! It's a wake-up call, deeply explaining the way of being a teacher for us. It's truly rare and commendable! Since you are already a second-level student, for some simple scholar courses, you can attend if you want to, and skip if you don't. Don't let some mediocre instructors hinder your progress."

"Thank you, Dean Hu, for your guidance."

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