World of Honor

“The water sparkles like a crystal, the mountains loom like giants. My brows stretch to the horizon, longing for my home. I rest upon the attic window, gazing at the distant scene. The spring breeze knows not the southern rain, I smile and seek a friend to share the alley’s charm.”

Five days have passed since Su Baiyi left Apricot Blossom Village. Now their carriage has finally entered Qiantang City, entering the mountains that are said to have the most lush trees in the south of the Yangtze River – Ten Li Langdang. Su Baiyi pulled open the curtain of the carriage and looked at the scenery outside the window, and couldn’t help reciting the poem that his master often muttered when he was drunk.

“They say the south of the Yangtze is a land of wine, where travelers drown their sorrows in a cup. But I know the south of the Yangtze has no wine, I smile and watch the spring breeze fill the air with scent.” The short and sturdy man who was driving the carriage also laughed and continued.

“Oh, you know this poem too, Li Kui.” Su Baiyi teased. After these five days of getting along, Su Baiyi had become very familiar with the scholar’s carriage driver named Li Kui. Although Li Kui looked cold and serious at first glance, he found out after a long time that he was kind-hearted and enthusiastic. The surface coldness was only because this person was too dull and had difficulty communicating with others.

But Su Baiyi was good at communicating with people, even if it was a piece of wood in front of him, he could talk for three days and three nights. But even so, Li Kui still felt that Su Baiyi was bragging when he said that his master was Xie Kanhua.

Li Kui took a sip of water from his waist flask, “Being a carriage driver, although it’s a rough job, you don’t need to know any poetry or literature. But I’m different, I’m a carriage driver in Ten Li Langdang Academy. There are three hundred scholars here, nine gentlemen, and Mr. Confucius himself. I can’t lose face for them. We’re here.”

Li Kui’s carriage came to a halt, and Su Baiyi lifted the curtain and stepped out. He saw a graceful academy standing among the mountains and forests not far away, surrounded by clouds and mist, with birds flying through. It looked hazy and illusory, as if it was out of reach. Su Baiyi rubbed his eyes, but when he opened them again, nothing had changed.

The mountains here were not high, how could there be clouds and mist? And this academy, why did it look so close, yet so far?

“Do you see it?” Li Kui asked.

“Something is strange.” Su Baiyi muttered.

“This is the formation set up by the gentlemen of the academy, called ‘Far in the Sky, Near in the Eye’. If ordinary people enter this formation, they will not be able to get out for three days and three nights. Close your eyes.” Li Kui grabbed Su Baiyi’s sleeve.

Su Baiyi naturally understood that the academy had been secluded from the world for so many years, there must be some mystery in it. He immediately obeyed and closed his eyes. Then he felt dizzy, as if the ground was spinning. His feet seemed to stay still, but he vaguely felt that the scenery in front of him was changing rapidly. After about half an hour, Li Kui said lightly, “We’re here.”

Su Baiyi opened his eyes and saw that there were many disciples of the academy wearing white robes walking past him with books in their hands. He quickly turned his head and saw that behind him was the closed gate of the academy. He was stunned, “We’re already inside?”

Li Kui ignored him and led him straight ahead. “Now that the Sage of Confucianism is traveling outside, the affairs of the academy are handled by Gentleman Zhou Zheng. I’ll take you to the separate courtyard where he teaches his disciples. Let’s meet him first.”

“Li Kui, how did you do that just now?” Su Baiyi was still marveling at the wonderful experience. “I felt like I didn’t move at all. How come I opened my eyes and I was in this academy?”

“The academy has its own mysteries. This is where the world’s talents, knowledge, and morality are gathered. It is called by the people ‘One Academy Here, All Mountains Look Up’. It is the place that all scholars aspire to. If there are two choices in front of a scholar: one is to pass the imperial examination and become an official in the capital, and the other is to join the academy and become one of the gentlemen, then most of them will choose the latter. Being an official is a temporary wealth and honor, but being one of the gentlemen is a glory that can be passed down for generations…” Li Kui said proudly.

Su Baiyi waved his hand and interrupted, “Li Kui, you sound like you memorized this by force…”

Li Kui blushed a bit, “I’m indeed proud of being a member of the academy, but I don’t know how to boast about my pride to others, so I asked a girl to help me write this paragraph…”

Su Baiyi followed Li Kui into a separate courtyard. Li Kui saw that there was no teacher in charge of teaching in the courtyard, so he asked Su Baiyi to go in and sit down first. He went to find Gentleman Zhou Zheng. After Li Kui left, Su Baiyi looked around the courtyard and saw a group of academy disciples discussing something. But unlike the ones he had seen before, these people seemed to have four words written on their backs…

Su Baiyi read them out word by word, “Dare, Not, Do, Evil.”

The person in front heard the voice behind him and turned around. He was very tall, a whole head taller than Su Baiyi. He wore a loose white robe, with drooping eyes, looking listless. He played with the toothpick in his mouth and looked down at Su Baiyi. “New here?”

“I’m Su Baiyi, from Apricot Blossom Village.” Su Baiyi glanced at the man and felt like he had seen him somewhere.

“Apricot Blossom Village?” The tall man frowned and said, “Never heard of it. But you, I think I’ve seen you before.”

The students who were scattered around the courtyard all gathered around and stood behind the tall man. They all wore the same loose white robes as the leader, looking nothing like academy scholars. One of them took out the bamboo sword tied to his waist and pointed at the sword on Su Baiyi’s waist, saying faintly, “Boss, this guy hasn’t unloaded his iron yet.”

“You’ve got some guts, huh? Hasn’t anyone taught you the rules?” The tall man picked his ear with a finger and said, “What’s your name again?”

“Su Baiyi.” Su Baiyi frowned. He suddenly remembered who this tall man was. He was Feng Zuojun, the academy student who fought against the four guards of the four major families in Yelan City that day!

“I’ve definitely seen you before.” Feng Zuojun said solemnly, “Turn around!”

Su Baiyi chuckled nervously, “What do you want to do?”

Feng Zuojun suddenly leaped and jumped behind Su Baiyi. He looked at Su Baiyi’s back and realized, shouting, “I remember now, you were the one who snatched the green-robed young master from us that day! I remember your back! How dare you come to the academy!”

Su Baiyi backed away, “It’s a misunderstanding.”

“The first task I did after leaving the mountain as the leader of the Extremely Evil Gang was supposed to be a great show-off in front of Xie San, but it was ruined by you. My senior sister told me not to cause trouble and sent me back to the academy. I didn’t expect you to come here by yourself. Very good, very good.”

“What? Extremely Evil Gang.” Su Baiyi was very nervous at first, but he couldn’t help laughing out loud, “I’ve heard that the academy is the best in learning in the world, but this name is too low-class.”

Feng Zuojun was stunned at first, then furious. “Kid, you said our Extremely Evil Gang’s name is ugly!”

“This young master is quite honest and direct.” A voice with a hint of amusement suddenly sounded.

The people behind the tall man all drew their bamboo swords and looked past Su Baiyi at the direction of the door. Su Baiyi curiously turned around and saw a group of men wearing scholar robes walking in from the gate. Unlike the ruffian-like ones he had seen before, they were all neatly dressed, except that their robes were blood-red, with a few white cherry blossoms painted on them. The leader had a cold face and icy eyes. He glanced at the tall man and then at Su Baiyi, without saying anything.

“Feng Gongzi, the way of extreme evil is not the way of extreme cruelty, nor is it to pick up a bamboo sword and hit people every day.” The fair-skinned young master who was waving a folding fan next to the leader said with a smile. He was the one who had spoken just now.

* Gongzi is a Chinese honorific term that means “young master” or “son of a noble”.

“Lan Yuzhe, what right do you have to talk to me?” Feng Zuojun carried his bamboo sword on his shoulder, ready to fight at any moment.

Su Baiyi looked closely at the folding fan in Lan Yuzhe’s hand and saw that there were also four words on it. He frowned and read, “Don’t Rebel Against Superiors?”

“That’s right, don’t rebel against superiors.” Lan Yuzhe closed his fan. “Young master, are you interested in joining our Blood Cherry Sect?”