ATPnovel Chapter 37 Layout
Chapter 37 Layout
Shen Qing quickly thanked him, but a slight chill ran through him.
Most of what he just said were actually golden quotes he had seen in textbooks and online in his previous life.
Shen Qing never expected that these words would cause such a great shock when they reached the ears of a true scholar.
But then I thought about it again. This world is a world of cultivators. The supreme cultivators control everything. Mortal education is not valued. Qinghe County School is just a decoration. Ma Wenzhong has been an instructor for twenty years, but he may not have really achieved anything.
His idea of establishing an academy on Qingyun Mountain, teaching children, and emphasizing "reading to understand principles" perfectly aligned with Ma Wenzhong's unfulfilled ideals.
In the eyes of spiritual practitioners, ordinary people read books only to recognize a few words, be able to do accounting, and be able to perform tasks.
But what Shen Qing said today elevated reading to the level of "understanding principles, knowing right from wrong, and adhering to bottom lines."
This is the foundation of education, and it is also the value that scholars like Ma Wenzhong most recognize.
In a flash, Shen Qing suddenly had a new idea.
"Instructor Ma, Instructor Zhou, I have another request."
"Oh? Sect Leader Shen, please speak." Ma Wenzhong and Zhou Shi'an exchanged a glance and sat down again.
"Both of you are very busy with official duties and we dare not ask you to stay on the mountain all the time. We only ask that you serve as guest instructors in name only. Please set aside half a day each month to come to the academy and give a lesson to the children."
"The lessons taught are not limited to any particular subject. Whether it is the writings of sages and worthies, the principles of being a good person, or even the local customs, traditions, and historical anecdotes of Qinghe County, they are all excellent."
"These children have grown up in muddy fields since childhood. If they could have two learned adults like these to broaden their horizons, it would be a blessing for them for a lifetime."
Ma Wenzhong was stunned for a moment, then a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Being a guest lecturer in name only—this title may seem like a nominal one, but it holds great significance for him.
He was an instructor at Qinghe County School, a minor official in the official school system, in charge of dozens of students but unable to achieve any significant political accomplishments.
If he could be officially named as a lecturer at Qingyun Academy, he would naturally be able to share in the credit for Qingyun Academy's influence on the local community.
This achievement might not seem like much under normal circumstances, but now is the time when Zhao Yuanlang is about to return to his sect to report on his duties. Zhao Yuanlang will report on the governance achievements of Qinghe County to the Heavenly God Sect, among which education is naturally the most important aspect.
If Ma Wenzhong's name could appear in the report, it would be of great benefit to him in the future.
Zhou Shi'an shared the same thought, and he immediately smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Sect Leader Shen is so kind, how could we dare to refuse? Not to mention half a day a month, it would be only right for us to come for two or three days a month."
Ma Wenzhong quickly responded, "Master Shen established the academy and educated the local people. As the county school instructor, I should do my part. I accept this guest instructor position."
Shen Qing stood up and bowed deeply to the two gentlemen. "On behalf of the forty students of Qingyun Academy, I thank you both."
As soon as he uttered the word "Sir," Ma Wenzhong's eyes reddened slightly. He had served as an instructor in Qinghe County for twenty years, and no one had ever sincerely called him "Sir."
Those students were respectful to him only out of respect for the rules; behind his back, they had long regarded him as a joke, this pedantic old scholar.
At this moment, Shen Qing, a cultivator, called him "Master," and the weight of those two words made his muscles and bones relax, which felt great.
The tea gathering lasted for two hours. When Ma Wenzhong and Zhou Shi'an left, Shen Qing personally saw them off at the mountain gate. Watching their figures gradually disappear along the mountain path, Shen Qing turned around and went back to the mountain.
Half a month later, an unexpected guest arrived at Qingyun Mountain: County Magistrate Zhao Yuanlang.
This time, he did not bring the county school assistants, but only his clerk Xuanji and two bodyguards.
Zhao Yuanlang walked the path from the mountain gate to the academy and saw the nearly ripe crops in the self-cultivated wasteland behind the mountain.
On the training ground, Wang Shouzhou was leading a group of outer disciples in stance training. The gray-robed disciples were in a very standard horse stance, and their spirit and energy were even higher than when they came last time.
Inside the classroom, Sun Wenyuan was leading the young children in reciting the Thousand Character Classic; their innocent voices were clear and melodious.
Everything was pretty much the same as last time, but Zhao Yuanlang's expression was different.
The last time he went up the mountain, he was filled with curiosity and covetousness.
This time, his mindset was much more complicated. Half a month ago, Ma Wenzhong and Zhou Shi'an jointly submitted a report detailing the educational philosophy and achievements of Qingyun Academy, suggesting that Qingyun Academy be included in the county's school funding system, and that the educational philosophy of "reading to understand principles" be reported to Fenglin County.
The report almost praised Shen Qing as a saint, saying things like "he educated the villagers and benefited the local area" and "although he was a cultivator of immortality, he had the heart of a sage." Zhao Yuanlang felt that these evaluations were somewhat exaggerated.
However, in his mind, Ma Wenzhong was a stubborn, inflexible, and rigid scholar. Zhao Yuanlang immediately felt that Shen Qing was indeed somewhat extraordinary, since he could be recognized by such a person. Thus, he once again had the idea of going to Qingyun Mountain.
Upon hearing the news, Shen Qing greeted the county magistrate at the academy gate, while Zhao Yuanlang noticed that Shen Qing's complexion was worse than when they last met.
His temples had turned from frost-white to gray-white, his eyes had lost some of their luster, and he exuded an aura of utter exhaustion.
This appearance was naturally a disguise by Shen Qing. Although it was true that his failure to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage had greatly shortened his lifespan, the system's assistance later gave him confidence.
Shen Qing's intention to make himself appear worse than he actually was not entirely for the purpose of pretense, but rather to gain sympathy.
After all, the things done by a dying person are more likely to be forgiven and moving than the same things done by a spirited person.
Shen Qing led Zhao Yuanlang into the academy. When they passed the lecture hall, Zhao Yuanlang stopped and stood outside the window to listen for a while.
Sun Wenyuan is teaching young children to recite a new text: "Reading helps one understand principles, cultivates manners, distinguishes right from wrong, upholds ethical standards, and differentiates between good and evil..."
Zhao Yuanlang withdrew his gaze and glanced at Shen Qing.
"Did you teach them these words too?"
"I apologize for making a fool of myself, Your Excellency. These are things that I taught to the instructors, and then they passed on to the children."
Zhao Yuanlang didn't say anything and continued walking forward.
The two sat down at the tea table in front of the academy. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhao Yuanlang got straight to the point, "Sect Leader Shen, I have two matters to discuss with you today."
Shen Qing felt a chill run down his spine and immediately said, "Please give your instructions, Your Excellency."
"The first matter concerns the report from Instructor Ma and Instructor Zhou. They reported the educational philosophy of Qingyun Academy to me and suggested that I submit it to Fenglin County when I return to my clan to report on my duties."
"I have read it and it is written very sincerely. Master Shen has indeed made achievements in educating the villagers. I will commend him in my report."
Shen Qing quickly stood up and thanked him, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency. I have only done what I could, and dare not take credit for it..."
Zhao Yuanlang waved his hand to interrupt his polite conversation, "The second thing, Sect Leader Shen, listen carefully."
Zhao Yuanlang's expression turned serious. He said, "I have received definite news that Huang Yuanji, the patriarch of the Huang family and Huang Dehou's father, will return to Qinghe from Chuzhou in no more than two months."
"This person, with only a Foundation Establishment Stage 3 cultivation, managed to survive years of fighting in the Chu State Hegemony competition. Sect Master Shen, do you know what this means?"
Before Shen Qing could speak, he continued to mutter to himself, "This means that Huang Yuanji's combat strength and methods far exceed those of ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivators."
Shen Qing paused slightly in his teacup. The Huang family patriarch would return to Qinghe in at most two months.
The news had a significant impact on him. Although he had known for a long time that the Huang family patriarch would return, hearing the specific timeframe still made his heart tighten.
Foundation Establishment Level 3 is a power he absolutely cannot contend with at present.
Even if he breaks through to the eleventh or twelfth level of Qi Refining, before he establishes his foundation, he is still an ant in front of foundation-establishing cultivators.
If he could reach the Martial Arts Divine Realm, he might be able to barely fight against someone in the early Foundation Establishment stage, but the Divine Realm would still be far beyond his reach.
In other words, he doesn't have much time left.
Zhao Yuanlang observed the changes in Shen Qing's expression and slowly said, "Sect Leader Shen, although I have not had much contact with you, I have seen everything you have done in Qinghe County."
After a pause, Zhao Yuanlang's tone became meaningful, "Today I will speak frankly with you. The Huang family has coveted Qingyun Mountain for over a hundred years. Now that your master Fushan is dead, Huang Yuanji will certainly not let this go easily upon his return."
"To put it bluntly, your master is dead, and Sect Master Shen, you are now almost at the end of your rope. If you want to preserve Qingyun Sect and the Academy in this situation, it will not be easy to rely solely on the protection of Tianshen Sect."
"Because I will be returning to the Heavenly God Sect to report on my duties in a month, and it will take at least three months and at most half a year to return. During this time, I will be unable to protect the Azure Cloud Sect."
He stared into Shen Qing's eyes and said, word by word, "Sect Master Shen, if Qingyun Mountain truly holds any secret, now is the time to reveal it. If Sect Master Shen is willing to entrust that secret to me, I swear on my Dao heart that I will ensure the Qingyun Sect's lineage endures and the Qingyun Academy's incense burns on forever. This is the greatest sincerity I can offer."
Shen Qing fell silent. He understood that Zhao Yuanlang hadn't come to threaten him, but to confront him directly.