"What a good poem. Ning Yan is indeed a peerless poet." Li Mubai clapped his hands together.
His expression was unusually excited. He had the surprise of a scholar when he saw a good poem, but he also had the anticipation of how the students of the academy would react when they read the poem.
Zhang Shen did not comment. He looked at Xu Qi 'an with increasing admiration and pride, as if Xu Qi' an was really a student that he had taught.
"The words are simple, but they carry a deep meaning. It is the time for a man to study … Brother Jingyan, do you still remember the days when we studied in the academy when we were young? "
Chen Tai savored this poem. He felt that it was deeply engraved and lingered in his mind.
Zhang Shen was stunned. He recalled the first half of his studies and said in disappointment, "Isn't it referring to our time?
When I was young, my family was poor and I could only eat two steamed buns a day. I would often be so hungry in the middle of the night that I forced myself to study under the light. "
Li Mubai said faintly, "Is this the reason why you steal my chicken eggs every other day?"
Zhang Shen said unhappily, "How can you call it stealing when it's a scholar's business? That's borrowing. Didn't I return it to you later? "
Li Mubai blew his beard and glared at him. "A chicken egg when I was poor is no less than a thousand taels of gold today."
Chen Tai coughed and interrupted his two friends' argument. He looked at Xu Xinnian. "Cijiu, after the Spring Quarter Examination, you have the qualifications to become an official regardless of your ranking. Have you thought about your future?"
The sudden change of topic made everyone uncomfortable. Zhang Shen and Li Mubai shut their mouths and subconsciously made plans for Xu Cijiu.
Chen Tai looked at the two scholars who wanted to say something and did not give them a chance to speak. "Usually, staying in the capital first and then being sent out is the right way to be promoted in the bureaucracy. Although I am not an official, I have some reputation in the Daibun bureaucracy. I can help you stay in the capital. "
As his teacher, Zhang Shen immediately smiled. "That's great. Cijiu, hurry up and thank Brother Chen."
"There's no need. If you really want to repay me, I do have an idea …" Chen Tai said with a smile.
Listening to their old friend's words, Zhang Shen and Li Mubai felt that something was wrong.
No one said anything about repaying you.
Chen Tai said with a smile, "Ning Yan, you are a piece of unpolished jade. If you want to become useful, you still need to be polished. These two old men live rough lives. You should come under this old man. "
"Get lost, shameless old thief." Li Mubai and Zhang Shen were furious.
Xu Qi'an seized the opportunity and immediately said, "Sirs, Ning Yan indeed has a question to ask."
Today, he came to Yunlu Academy for free.
"I have been stuck in Spirit Refinement Realm for a long time. Since I have no meritorious deeds and my family is poor, I never had the resources or the chance to step into Qi Refinement Realm." Xu Qi 'an bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
"Sir, please open the Gate of Heaven for me."
This was the second reason he came to the academy. Although he could sell the celestial artifact given by Song Qing in exchange for the money needed to open the Gate of Heaven, it would not bring him happiness at all.
But that would not be happy at all. Xu Qi 'an was a person who pursued happiness.
Zhang Shen shook his head and laughed. "You are desperate. We practice Confucianism. How can we help you open the Gate of Heaven? Only you Warrior know how to circulate Qi in the body and how to move through the meridians of a Warrior. "
"The difference between the systems is bigger than I thought …" Xu Qi 'an was a little disappointed. He asked unwillingly, "I don't understand. Since opening the Gate of Heaven requires the help of a master above Spirit Refinement Realm, how did the first person open the Gate of Heaven?"
"Do you think the road of martial arts was opened by a person? Was it done in one go? "Li Mubai held the teacup and asked him a question before drinking it.
Xu Qi 'an shook his head, indicating that he did not know.
"It was opened by generations of people." Li Mubai said slowly, "Maybe at the beginning, the Spirit Refinement Realm was already the peak. Someone opened the Gate of Heaven by chance, so the Spirit Refinement Realm became the peak of martial arts. After many years, a perfect martial arts system was formed. "
"By chance?" Xu Qi 'an caught the keyword.
"The help of a master in Spirit Refinement Realm to open the Gate of Heaven is the safest and most convenient way, but it is not the only way." This time, it was Chen Tai who took over the topic and said with a smile,
"When a baby is born, it contains a stream of Innate Qi. As it grows older, the Gate of Heaven closes and the Innate Qi is hidden in the body. To regain control of this Qi, the closed Gate of Heaven needs to be opened again."
Xu Qi 'an nodded. Humans eat grains and produce impurities, which block the Gate of Heaven and block the flow of Qi.
Second Uncle had taught him this theory before.
"There are many ways. In addition to the familiar way of opening the Gate of Heaven, there are two other ways. The first is the breathing method.
"The breathing method needs to be practiced from a young age, soaking in medicinal baths every day, cleansing the meridians, and opening the Gate of Heaven. After more than ten years, it has cost a lot of money. This method has been eliminated.
"The second method is to use external force to open the Gate of Heaven. It is also the stupid method used by the first seniors. For example, swallowing the Demon Pill.
"The Demon Pill is the condensation of the essence of the demon race. It contains a majestic energy. After swallowing the Demon Pill, the majestic energy will forcibly open the eight extraordinary meridians. However, because it is uncontrollable, it is a method with a slim chance of survival."
"I see … Although I did not get it for free, it was still a good deal …" Xu Qi 'an said gratefully, "Thank you for your lesson."
"Look, he is humble and polite, and he speaks well." The three great scholars smiled and stroked their beards. They were very satisfied with Xu Qi 'an.
…
In the center of the academy was the Sage Academy, also known as the Sage Temple. It was dedicated to the first person who created Confucianism.
Outside the Sage Academy, a large square paved with bluestones could accommodate all the students of the Yunlu Academy.
Every year, the dean of the academy would gather the students here during the spring and fall examinations. He would passionately encourage the students to study hard, obtain scholarly honors, and dedicate themselves to the country until the day they die.
On the large square, there was a low wall mottled with red paint. The wall was stuck with a layer of paper that could not be peeled off.
This wall was the bulletin board of the Yunlu Academy. It was used to post the essays, poems, calligraphy, and paintings of the teachers of the academy, as well as the occasional outstanding works of the students.
Then there were some notices of the academy.
Two young servants came to the notice. One of them held a roll of paper, and the other smeared rice paste on the notice wall. Then, they worked together to unfold a huge piece of paper as tall as a person and pasted it on the notice wall.
This action immediately attracted the attention of the surrounding students, especially the huge piece of paper that was as tall as a person.
"What's being posted? Let's go and take a look. "
"Hey, it's not an essay. It seems to be a poem … What's so interesting about that?"
"After Recluse Zi Yang left the academy, it doesn't matter if we read the poems written by the teachers and great Confucian scholars."
As they spoke, the students gathered under the low wall in twos and threes, staring at the newly posted huge piece of paper.
The handwriting on the paper danced like dragons and phoenixes, and the force penetrated through the back of the paper. There was a sense of sharpness in the pen's movements and strokes.
"This is Mr. Zhang's handwriting." Some students recognized it.
More students focused on the poem on the paper.
"The light of the third watch and the rooster at the fifth watch, is when a man studies … I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed. After the Fall Quarter Examinations, I didn't study at night anymore. "
"This poem looks simple and ordinary, but it reveals profound truths. It's thought-provoking."
"How is it simple and ordinary? Black hair doesn't learn early, white hair only regrets studying late! The Great Dao is the simplest, and the best words are all in it. "
"White hair only regrets studying late … I've been too lax in the past. I've been addicted to chatting and traveling, and I've spent less and less energy on studying. After reading this poem, I realized that I'll definitely regret it in the future."
"Which great scholar wrote this poem?"
More and more people crowded under the low wall and raised their heads to look at the poem on the wall. When they were immersed in it, they resonated greatly with this poem that encouraged them to study.
The scene described in the first couplet made the students blush with shame. Even if they did their best in studying, who could achieve the light of the third watch and the rooster at the fifth watch?
But this was not empty words, because there were indeed such examples. The great scholars and teachers in the academy often used their own examples to warn the students.
And some of the students who were very hardworking also stayed up late to study like this.
What really made the hearts of the young students palpitate was the second couplet: Black hair doesn't learn early, white hair only regrets studying late.
As if it was announcing their future encounters, some of the young people who had been slacking off in their studies felt palpitations after asking themselves. They were afraid that when their hair turned white in the future, it would be too late to regret it.
From the bottom of their hearts, they felt the urge to not let down the spring scenery and study hard.
Not far away, at the edge of the square, three great scholars were watching this scene. Chen Tai stroked his beard and laughed. "It's said that poems are useless, but they don't know that poems are the most moving. Xu Ningyan is really a peerless talent in poetry. "
Seeing that the poem was actively stirring up the emotions of the students, Zhang Shen couldn't help but smile. "What you said is true. He only used the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. With this level, not to mention today, even if we look at history, he would be among the best."
Li Mubai suddenly asked, "He said that he had long abandoned his studies. Do you believe him?"
The two great scholars nodded at the same time. Li Mubai couldn't help but laugh. "Why do you say so?"
"When he wrote the poem, he asked Cijiu to write it for him," Zhang Shen said.
"As a scholar, why would he ask someone else to write for him?" Chen Tai added. "Unless he's not skilled in calligraphy."
Every scholar was proficient in calligraphy. This was a basic skill.
Li Mubai sighed. "It's a pity that he's already in his prime. It's too late for him to switch to Confucianism."
Chen Tai lamented. "Such talent, yet he learned martial arts. It's a waste of God's gift."
A crude Warrior was not worthy of Xu Ningyan's amazing talent.
Zhang Shen seemed to remember something. He said indignantly, "I heard from Cijiu that when the two of them were young, their father decided that they would give up their studies and practice martial arts instead."
"That Xu Pingzhi is not a son and wasted a good scholar. It's really hateful, really hateful," Li Mubai said hatefully.
The two great scholars expressed their agreement.
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