Ten days passed.
The Cottage was filled with peace and harmony.
Ye Qiubai had taken over Hong Ying's chores, cooking meals every day.
Ever since entering The Cottage, Hong Ying, who had long been used to inedia, also developed the habit of eating three meals a day...
Besides cooking, there were sparring sessions with Xin Hongyi, or cultivating the Primordial Sword Scripture.
As for Hong Ying, aside from eating, she mostly secluded herself for cultivation.
Sometimes, she would head out for a bit.
As for what she did, no one knew.
Neither Ye Qiubai nor Lu Chang'sheng ever asked.
And as for Lu Chang'sheng, he was just the same as always, though these days, there was a hint of worry on his face…
"Come on, food's ready."
At that moment, Ye Qiubai came out carrying several dishes.
Lu Chang'sheng sat at the table, picked up a cup of his homemade wine, and said, "Go call your junior sister for dinner."
Ye Qiubai nodded.
Soon enough, he brought Hong Ying over.
Just as the three were about to start eating, Lu Chang'sheng suddenly said, "Wait, Qiubai, go grab another set of chopsticks and a bowl."
Ye Qiubai was a bit puzzled, but still did as told, hurrying to the kitchen.
As he brought out the dishes and utensils, he saw a middle-aged man already sitting on the other side of the table.
"Chang'sheng, you're really living the good life out here."
Lu Chang'sheng replied helplessly, "Uncle Qin, if you have something to say, just say it."
Qin Tiannan nodded, took the dishes, and laughed heartily, "Let's eat first. We'll talk after. I haven't had a proper meal in a few hundred years."
Lu Chang'sheng rolled his eyes and started eating.
"Hey, this wine's not bad."
"..."
"Huh? After drinking this wine, it feels like my cultivation, which hasn't improved in years, is finally breaking through a little?"
"..."
"Chang'sheng, did you make this yourself?"
Lu Chang'sheng finally had enough. He waved his hand, and in an instant, a giant jar of wine landed right in front of Qin Tiannan.
With a dark face, he said, "Take it, take it!"
Qin Tiannan just grinned, "Well, if you insist, I suppose I shouldn't argue."
Yet, as he spoke, Qin Tiannan didn't hesitate to stash the wine away.
Hong Ying: "..."
Ye Qiubai: "..."
Everyone was well fed and content.
Qin Tiannan finally got down to business, saying, "I came today for the Academy exchange."
"As you all know, our Hidden Dao Academy is spread across the Four Regions, with us being the branch in the Southern Region."
"Every ten years, the Hidden Dao Academies of the Four Regions hold an Academy exchange, which determines how the resources distributed from the main academy will be allotted."
"The Academy Competition was originally organized for this purpose. So, Qiubai, come with me to the Northern Region this time."
This Four Region Academy exchange would be held in the Northern Region!
At these words, Ye Qiubai was startled and looked at Lu Chang'sheng.
Lu Chang'sheng said calmly, "Whether you go is up to you."
The Northern Region was territory of the Sunset Dynasty.
Jiang Chan was there as well.
Thinking of this, Ye Qiubai's eyes grew determined, and he nodded.
Seeing this, Qin Tiannan nodded in satisfaction, "Good. What about Hong Ying?"
Although Hong Ying hadn't participated in the Academy Competition,
her strength was beyond question. If she was willing to go, it would certainly be for the best.
But Hong Ying shook her head and said, "I have some things to take care of first, but I'll head to the Northern Region afterwards. When I'm done, I'll come by and see you all."
Qin Tiannan nodded, "Alright then, we'll meet at the Academy gate tomorrow morning."
...
The next day.
A celestial crane took off from Hidden Dao Academy.
This time, Qin Tiannan personally led the group.
Hong Ying left the Cottage alone and also set out for the Northern Region.
This time, those attending the Four Region Academy Exchange were Ye Qiubai, Huo Qingming, Lin Ce, Zhong Wu, Xin Hongyi, and one person Ye Qiubai hadn't seen before.
He'd heard from Xin Hongyi that this was Qin Tiannan's disciple.
His name was Wasteland.
Word was, he'd been cultivating with Qin Tiannan this entire time, and only now was stepping out into the world.
Just then, Dean Ru said, "Alright, let me explain the rules for this academy exchange."
Everyone turned to listen.
The elder's eyes were grave as he said, "The Academy Exchange consists of two fields—martial arts and Confucian Dao."
"For martial arts exchange, Wasteland will lead, with Ye Qiubai, Huo Qingming, Lin Ce, and Xin Hongyi participating. For the Confucian Dao exchange, Zhong Wu will go alone."
At this moment, Qin Tiannan also stepped forward, his expression solemn, "For several years now, our Southern Region has ended up dead last; simply put, our overall strength is weaker than the other three regions."
"However, this time we have the best chance we've ever had, so…"
Qin Tiannan bowed deeply to everyone, "The honor of our Academy depends on you all."
Dean Ru bowed together with Qin Tiannan.
The two were the top experts of the Academy, men of high stature.
Yet now, they bowed in thanks to the disciples.
That alone showed how much importance Qin Tiannan placed on this exchange.
...
Meanwhile,
at the Eastern Region's Hidden Dao Academy.
"For this Academy exchange, we must aim for first place!"
"The top spot will still go to the Northern Region. Their foundations are too strong. The bottom should still be the Southern Region."
"Right, the Southern Region is the weakest; there's no way they'll catch up."
Western Region's Hidden Dao Academy.
"All we have to do in the martial arts exchange is beat the Southern Region. It's not really our strong suit."
"But in the Confucian Dao exchange, we must outdo the Northern Region this time!"
"No worries. We have Wuming this time."
"Yes, Junior Brother Wuming is the reincarnation of a Holy Buddha. There's no way we'll lose the Confucian Dao exchange."
Northern Region's Hidden Dao Academy.
"There's no suspense this time. The champion spot is ours again, right?"
"That's how it'll be, unless something unexpected happens. We've got a couple of new prodigies stepping into the spotlight this time."
"In martial arts exchange, we have Senior Brother Jian; in Confucian Dao, Senior Sister Mu. With those two, first place is in the bag for our Northern Region."
Meanwhile,
somewhere in the Northern Region, in an unknown little mountain, there was a village.
This village was extremely poor and backward.
No one cultivated the Dao there.
They worked the fields at sunrise, and rested at sunset.
But on the village clearing, a young man dressed like a scholar was teaching the children.
"Alright, that's all for today."
One of the kids asked innocently, "Sir, are you going to leave here tomorrow?"
"No! Sir, can't you keep teaching us? We still want to study!"
The young man smiled, "All good things must come to an end. Even though I'd like to keep teaching you, my own journey of learning continues. I must move on."
Hearing this,
the village chief walked forward, his rough, calloused hands gripping the young man's with gratitude, "Thank you, sir, for teaching these kids these last few months, letting them read and learn."
The young man shook his head, "It's what I should do."
The next morning, before dawn,
the young man left behind a few books, slung his book basket over his back, and left that little village.
As he walked out of the village and looked back, he couldn't help but sigh softly.
"Feeling reluctant?"
Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind. The young man startled and backed away. "Who are you?"
Before him stood a white-robed man, who smiled and said, "My name is Lu Chang'sheng. I wish to take you as my disciple."