Chapter 134 — Respectfully Inviting Imperial Preceptor Jingping
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Atop Jade Mountain, within the Imperial Academy Hall.
The directors, chancellors, and secretaries of the various halls of the Imperial Academy had all arrived in full force, their faces shifting between gloom and uncertainty. From time to time someone from outside came rushing in with a report, and at each piece of news the faces of the assembly grew uglier still. Only upon the sage's seat did the young grandmaster remain calm and at ease, utterly indifferent to victory or defeat. Just then, the reports coming from outside followed one after another: "We report to the Grand Chancellor: the Daoist sect's Daozi has defeated the Second Prince! " "The Daozi has defeated the Hereditary Prince of Nanping, Jiu Yin!
" "The Daozi has defeated Princess Duoduo of Xiping! " "Ling Shiji of the Celestial Strategy Manor has lost as well!
" "Lin Qiuhe has been wounded by the Daozi!
" .
.
.
After a long while, at last no one came to report, but the faces of the assembly had turned extremely grim.
That no one came to report meant that no academy student continued to challenge Daozi Lin Xuan. The students of the Imperial Academy had had all their pride and sharpness knocked out of them by this youthful Daozi, and could only watch helplessly as he blocked the gate. A chancellor furrowed his brow and said, "Our academy has been open for so many years and has produced countless experts as pillars of the state. Can it be that we cannot pick out a single one able to stand against the Daozi? " A director shook his head and said, "There are some—over the years there have always been three or five geniuses no less brilliant than the Daoist sect's Daozi.
But those people are no longer students; they have left the academy and taken office at court. Our academy is not like the jianghu sects, where there is no such thing as leaving the sect. Once a man leaves our academy, he ceases to be a student.
" Everyone let out a turbid breath. Daoist Lingyun sighed, "Are we simply to let this Daozi block our gate? Isn't that just too humiliating? " Everyone fell silent. Suddenly, Zen Master Faqing of the Qingyang Hall spoke: "This matter should be reported to Imperial Preceptor Jingping without delay. Have some disciples of Imperial Preceptor Jingping come; perhaps they can defeat the Daozi.
" "Great monk, the disciples of Imperial Preceptor Jingping are not students of our academy. Even if they defeated the Daoist sect's Daozi, could you make the Daoist sect accept it?
" Just at that moment, a tower ship drifted over outside and docked at the summit of Jade Mountain.
Several young men walked down from the tower ship and came straight to the Imperial Academy Hall. The one at the lead bowed and said, "Respected teachers, we are disciples of Imperial Preceptor Jingping.
Having heard that the Daoist sect's Daozi has come to make trouble, our teacher ordered us here. " The chancellors, directors, and secretaries in the hall exchanged glances, then turned in unison toward the young grandmaster.
A secretary said in a deep voice, "Grand Chancellor, the disciples of Imperial Preceptor Jingping are not students of our academy.
Whether they may fight on behalf of the academy is a matter for the Grand Chancellor alone to decide. " Chancellor Bashan, a man with a great beard, suddenly slammed the table and objected in a stern voice, "Nonsense! What would it matter even if a disciple of Imperial Preceptor Jingping defeated the Daoist sect's Daozi? Jingping's disciples were cultivated according to old conventions and taught by Jingping alone—no different from how the sects cultivate their disciples!
If word of this gets out and reaches the ears of the Daoist sect, they are certain to rebel! If the Daoist sect rebels, every righteous faction under heaven will rise up! Who is to bear this crime? Who can bear it?