Chen Yi was also up bright and early, washing up and getting dressed.

Because he was going to Guiyun Academy, Xiaodie had rummaged through chests and cabinets to find him a dark cyan long-robe.

It was made of silk and had a rather slim, tailored fit.

A matching sash was tied at his waist, from which hung a Double Fish Jade Pendant. On his feet, he wore a pair of black boots.

He didn’t look overly extravagant, nor so plain that people would think he was being mistreated in the Xiao Family.

At a glance, Chen Yi looked every bit the part of a handsome and refined scholar.

Xiaodie smoothed out the wrinkles on his robe, nodded in satisfaction, and said with a smile,

"Young Master, when you go to the academy looking like this today, you’re sure to make them all envious."

Chen Yi didn’t know about that, but he was well aware that most scholars didn’t judge a book by its cover.

Even if he were decked out in gold and silver, he would still be looked down upon if he had no real knowledge.

Among scholars, competitions were ultimately decided by knowledge and talent.

But of course, Chen Yi wouldn’t say any of this to Xiaodie, lest he trouble her simple little mind with such worries.

"Go get the carriage from the mansion and have them load those practice workbooks on first."

Xiaodie nodded in agreement and ran downstairs ahead of him.

Chen Yi, however, unhurriedly made his way to the living room to have breakfast with Xiao Wuge and Pei Guanli.

The three of them chatted idly back and forth.

It was mostly Pei Guanli, the Tiger Girl, who did all the chattering.

She didn’t have to go out and wander around today, so early in the morning, she had run over to Jiaxing Garden to discuss having a friendly spar with Shen Huatang and Xie Tingyun.

Chen Yi raised his eyebrows. "You’re going to fight them?"

Pei Guanli let out a hum of affirmation and blinked. "Brother-in-law, my cultivation has broken through! I’m in the Eighth Grade Realm now."

In fact, her cultivation had already broken through back when she returned to the Mountain Race with Xiao Jinghong.

It was said that when Granny Shan learned of this, she was very pleased and praised her for quite a while.

Subsequently, when Xiao Jinghong was establishing a pact with the Mountain Race, Granny Shan even took the initiative to make a concession, calling it a thank-you gift for the Tiger Girl’s cultivation breakthrough.

Pei Guanli was naturally delighted, but she never revealed the reason for her breakthrough.

That was a secret between her and Chen Yi.

"But I can’t beat Sister Tingyun and Sister Huatang."

"Sister Tingyun has now reached the Fourth Grade Realm, and her Sword Dao is at the Great Success stage. She’s considered a first-rate expert in the Jianghu."

"Sister Huatang’s cultivation and Sword Dao are a bit weaker than hers, but she’s still at the Middle Stage of the Fifth Grade Realm."

"So when I say a fight, it’s really just me asking them for some pointers."

After finishing his congee, Chen Yi chuckled. "If you work that hard, I’m sure you’ll have another breakthrough soon."

The Tiger Girl’s previous breakthroughs had just been a bit slow, and she was a bit lazy, but her progress in technique was passable.

If she could just be a little more diligent, breaking through to the next realm would be no problem at all.

Pei Guanli’s eyes crinkled with a smile. "I think so too."

After a pause, she glanced at Xiao Wuge, who was still focused on his congee, and made a couple of mysterious hand gestures.

The general meaning was to ask Chen Yi about his current Martial Arts Cultivation progress.

Chen Yi hadn’t wanted to crush her spirits, but seeing her with her head held high and chest puffed out proudly, he gestured the number "seven."

Pei Guanli recognized the gesture and froze. "Seven?"

Seeing Chen Yi nod, the smile instantly vanished from her face. Her mind reeled as if struck by lightning; she was clearly in immense shock.

The Seventh Grade Realm!

’Brother-in-law... he... he’s not human! How can anyone cultivate so fast?’

’Mountain Goddess, you have to come see this! There’s a monster here!’

Perhaps hearing her say the number aloud, Xiao Wuge looked at her suspiciously. "Sister Guanli, what’s ’seven’?"

"N-nothing. I... I was just thinking of the dog we have at home named Xiao Qi..."

"Really? In that case, Sister Guanli, can you bring Xiao Qi to the mansion? I really like puppies."

"No need. He’s already in the mansion."

"What? Where?"

Seeing the Tiger Girl spouting nonsense, Chen Yi shot her a glare and stood up.

"You two behave and stay in the mansion. I’m leaving for the academy."

Just then, Xiaodie arrived with an Armored Warrior. Chen Yi instructed them to carry the thick stacks of calligraphy practice workbooks from his study and load them onto the carriage.

Just as he was about to get in, a gentle voice called out from behind him. "Wait a moment."

Chen Yi turned to see Xiao Wan’er approaching with Cui’er.

She wore a vibrant red cloak, and as she hurried forward, a pure white dress could be glimpsed underneath.

Her stunningly beautiful face was tinged with a slight blush, unlike its previous paleness. She must have just drunk her medicinal soup.

With a quick glance, a crystalline light flashed in Chen Yi’s eyes as he used his Qi Observation Skill to check Xiao Wan’er’s condition.

After confirming there were no issues, he finally spoke. "Eldest Sister, your body has just recovered. It would be best for you to get more rest."

Who knew that his words would have the opposite effect? The moment he mentioned it, the shyness Xiao Wan’er had been struggling to suppress surged up once more.

Originally, after learning about those embarrassing matters yesterday, she had planned to avoid seeing Chen Yi for a while.

She wanted to be a little willful, like a girl from an ordinary family—to not let him eat the wild game, to not care whether he was going to Guiyun Academy or not.

But when the time came, Xiao Wan’er still rushed over.

Just like last night, when she had ultimately saved him dinner.

Deep down, she knew that Chen Yi hadn’t truly defiled her.

’He... he only glanced a few times...’

Xiao Wan’er suppressed her shyness, turning her head to avoid looking at Chen Yi. Instead, she gestured for Cui’er to place the items she had prepared onto the carriage.

"Brother-in-law, since you’re going to the academy today, remember to take these to Mr. Yue Ming and Mr. Zhuo Ying."

Chen Yi saw they were writing supplies and went along with her arrangements, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture. "Thank you, Eldest Sister."

Xiao Wan’er glanced at him from the corner of her eye, an unnatural blush on her face.

"If anyone should be thanking anyone, it should be... hmm..."

She didn’t finish her sentence, realizing it was inappropriate, and changed the subject to a reminder.

"Mr. Yue Ming invited you to the academy because he holds you in high regard. You must be mindful of your etiquette." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Chen Yi nodded in understanding and bowed as well.

"I’m heading to the academy now. I estimate I’ll be back after noon."

Xiao Wan’er hummed in acknowledgment. Only when he turned and boarded the carriage did she dare to look at him directly.

But when Chen Yi lifted the carriage curtain, she quickly averted her gaze again, saying,

"And remember not to wander off. The city hasn’t been safe lately. I heard someone died over in the West Market the night before last."

Chen Yi replied with a smile that he understood and said no more, signaling for the Personal Guard at the front to drive the carriage down the side path and out of the rear courtyard.

With a RUMBLE RUMBLE, the carriage gradually receded into the distance.

Xiao Wan’er watched him leave until he disappeared from sight, the blush on her cheeks still not having faded.

Beside her, Cui’er noticed her expression and spoke cautiously.

"Miss, the Young Master was right. Your body has just recovered, you need to get more rest."

"The wind is a bit strong out here, and you’re looking a little pale."

Before she could finish, Xiao Wan’er had already turned and started walking toward Jiaxing Garden.

As she walked, she touched her slightly feverish cheeks, her mind inevitably drifting back to yesterday’s events.

’She was lying on the bed, drenched in sweat.’

’He sat beside her, watching... watching...’

’How embarrassing.’

As Xiao Wan’er thought about it, her pace quickened, and she began issuing orders.

"See if Wuge has finished his breakfast and have him come over to study."

"Summon the Shopkeepers of the Medicine Halls. From Jishi Medicine Hall, have Liu Quan come."

"Also, after the summer harvest, the tenants on the fief’s lands need to pay their grain taxes. Send someone to notify the village chief to come to the mansion tomorrow."

"Furthermore, organize the account books for the other properties in Shu State and calculate next month’s allowances..."

As she rattled off one order after another, the redness in Xiao Wan’er’s face began to subside.

But a trace of shyness inevitably remained in her heart, along with a few indescribable emotions.

In the end, she needed to keep busy to calm herself down.

...

Chen Yi, of course, had no idea what was on Xiao Wan’er’s mind.

As the carriage left the Xiao Mansion and headed for Kangning Street, he sat inside, taking in the scenery outside the window while thinking about his trip to Guiyun Academy today.

Although he had accepted Mr. Yue Ming’s invitation for his own purposes, now that he was an Instructor at Guiyun Academy, he couldn’t just go through the motions.

It was just like yesterday when he had received the calligraphy practice workbooks from Ma Guan. Though he had spoken casually, when it came to actually marking them, he had been completely serious.

He couldn’t help it; it was just his nature.

’That’s what makes a workhorse a workhorse—too much of a sense of responsibility, always trying to be conscientious and thorough.’

Just like now, sitting in the carriage, Chen Yi’s mind was already contemplating how to teach the students the Calligraphy Dao.

That’s right.

He wasn’t thinking of just teaching Calligraphy, but rather trying to guide those students onto the path of the "Calligraphy Dao."

’He had no intention of jealously guarding his knowledge, nor did he worry about the old saying that teaching an apprentice all you know will leave the master to starve.’

He simply operated on the principle of doing everything well, teaching the students as much as he possibly could.

The results didn’t matter.

’What Heaven confers is called Nature. Following this nature is called the Dao. Cultivating this Dao is called Instruction.’

’After all, everyone’s comprehension, temperament, and habits are different. Even if they learn the exact same content, what they gain from it will vary.’

Chen Yi mused to himself, naturally aware that this was far more difficult than simply teaching Calligraphy.

Nevertheless, he had made his decision.

’All great Daos lead to the same end; they all require dedication. If the students have the heart to practice the Calligraphy Dao, sooner or later, they will gain something from it.’

Before long, the carriage stopped outside Guiyun Academy. Chen Yi didn’t have the driver accompany him, simply carrying the practice workbooks into the academy by himself.

From a distance, he saw the student from yesterday, Ma Guan, running toward him.

"Mr. Qingzhou, my apologies. The headmaster just notified me, so I’m a little late."

"You can just give those workbooks to me. I’ll take you to the study hall."

Chen Yi didn’t refuse. He handed the two stacks of workbooks to him, said a smiling "thank you," and walked on ahead.

Ma Guan struggled to carry the workbooks with both arms, barely managing to keep up behind him and give directions.

But after just a few steps, he was already starting to sweat and couldn’t help but wonder to himself.

’He had clearly seen Chen Yi carrying the workbooks so easily just now. Why was it so difficult for him?’

Chen Yi saw his struggle and, knowing the reason, took one of the stacks from him with a smile.

"Although I’m an Instructor at the academy, I’m probably not as old as you. I’m at the peak of my energy."

Ma Guan felt a wave of relief, but also a bit of embarrassment. "My apologies, sir... I... I..."

Before he could finish, Chen Yi asked, "Besides teaching the Six Arts, does the academy teach Martial Arts?"

Ma Guan paused, then shook his head. "None of the other masters are skilled in Martial Arts. Only Mr. Qi Chen, who teaches archery and charioteering, has a Martial Arts background."

He knew why Chen Yi was asking and felt a little bitter.

Many of the students at the academy who came from prominent families practiced Martial Arts Cultivation.

Their cultivation might not be high, but they were still much stronger than a mere mortal like him.

At least they wouldn’t struggle to carry fifty calligraphy practice workbooks.

Chen Yi let out a soft "oh." As he glanced at the student, his Qi Observation Skill allowed him to see the state of his aura.

He wasn’t exactly feeble, but his qi and blood seemed somewhat deficient. He probably didn’t eat well most of the time.

Chen Yi understood and didn’t ask any more questions.

Soon, they arrived at the study hall. Ma Guan went in first to place the workbooks on the desk, then quickly took the remaining stack from Chen Yi and set it beside the first before bowing and returning to his seat.

Chen Yi scanned the room. Seeing that Mr. Yue Ming, Mr. Zhuo Ying, and the other masters weren’t present, he knew the message he had Ma Guan deliver yesterday had been effective.

Just as he was about to speak, all forty-five students in the study hall bowed in unison.

"We students greet Mr. Qingzhou. We respectfully invite you to begin your lecture."

Their voices were loud and clear, echoing through the relatively spacious study hall.

Chen Yi glanced around, noting that most of them looked serious and respectful, though a few had strange expressions. Taking it all in, he gave a slight bow in return.

"Please be seated."

Once everyone had taken their seats, Chen Yi sat down at the lecturer’s desk. He turned his head, noticed a rack to the side, and let out a curious "hmm?"

"You don’t use sand trays to teach Calligraphy anymore? You’ve switched to Yunsong Paper?"

’But all the students in front of him clearly had sand trays at their desks.’