“Bai Ji, do you want to go into the Buddha’s Pagoda?”

Xu Qi An stopped beneath the memorial arch at the foot of the mountain, leading the mare. He tied the horse to a pillar and then asked the little white fox’s opinion.

“No! Her Majesty said this trip is for gaining experience and knowledge!” The little white fox’s childish voice spoke with utmost seriousness.

For some inexplicable reason, a thought flashed through Xu Qi An’s mind:

What sparks would fly if he put it together with Little Bean?

It would probably get beaten badly… Xu Qi’an thought to himself.

“Is your Her Majesty beautiful?”

Xu Qi An helped the Duchess dismount.

“Incredibly beautiful…” Bai Ji called out in her soft voice.

Xu Qi An noticed Mu Nan Zhi giving him a cold sidelong glance.

So you’re not truly detached from worldly concerns after all… His lips curled into a slight smile.

The two humans and one fox left the mare at the mountain foot and climbed the steps. Clear Cloud Mountain was lush with vegetation; even in such cold winter weather, large patches of green could be seen.

Seeing her enthusiastically admiring the scenery along the way, he said:

“The flowers and trees here are different from those outside, having been nourished by righteous qi year-round, undergoing subtle changes. Even in winter…”

Mu Nan Zhi cut him off coldly: “Do I need your explanation?”

…I almost forgot, you’re the reincarnation of the Flower God! Xu Qi An immediately fell silent.

Given Mu Nan Zhi’s level, she had probably spotted the peculiarities at first glance.

Xu Qi An had never mentioned her identity as the Flower God’s reincarnation, pretending not to know.

Mu Nan Zhi also acted as if he didn’t know.

The two had an incredibly high level of tacit understanding, like an old married couple who had lived together for many years, able to comprehend each other without much communication.

Before long, they followed the mountain path to the academy. Xu Qi An first went to pay his respects to the three Grand Confucians, his nominal teachers.

The three Grand Confucians received Xu Qi An in an elegant, serene pavilion.

“Ning Yan, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Zhang Shen, the mentor who had taught Xu Xin Nian, smiled in greeting, then looked at Mu Nan Zhi: “And this is…?”

“This is my yet-unwed wife,” Xu Qi An introduced her thus.

The three Grand Confucians all showed surprised expressions. Even Mu Nan Zhi turned her face in astonishment, staring at Xu Qi An.

Mu Nan Zhi hurriedly pressed her palms together and launched her counterattack:

“This poor nun has taken the tonsure. Benefactor Xu, please don’t speak nonsense and ruin this poor nun’s reputation.”

The little white fox crouched on the tea table, lifted its small face to look at her, and said:

“Auntie, how can a nun have a reputation? You should say, ‘Don’t ruin this poor nun’s cultivation.'”

Mu Nan Zhi responded with a swift knock on its head, embarrassed and angry:

“You know so much, don’t you?

“Should I set up a stage for you to perform for three days and nights?”

Bai Ji was young and in that state of having just enough knowledge to be dangerous, eager to show off. It had undermined Mu Nan Zhi’s dignity more than once or twice, though it wasn’t aware of doing so.

Seeing all four men staring at her, Mu Nan Zhi felt somewhat embarrassed and stormed off in a huff.

“Auntie, wait for me…”

The little white fox hurriedly jumped down from the table, wagging its fluffy tail, like an abandoned kitten anxiously chasing after its owner.

Xu Qi An watched the woman and fox leave, shaking his head with a sigh:

“This wife of mine, previously married, bad temper, about the same age as my aunt… ah, please excuse us, teachers.”

Previously married?!

And old enough to be his mother?!

The three Grand Confucians’ gazes at Xu Qi An seemed to contain something more.

“This visit to my three teachers is to request some ‘Words Become Law’ spell papers.”

Xu Qi An rubbed his hands, feeling embarrassed about freeloading.

The reason he wanted the three Grand Confucians’ spells rather than Zhao Shou’s was that he could handle the backlash from Fourth-Rank’s “Words Become Law” spells.

But Headmaster Zhao Shou was at the peak of Third Rank, just one step away from becoming a true “Grand Confucian.” The backlash from spells at that level would be too much for Xu Qi An to bear.

“Spells, eh!”

“Is that so!”

“No problem, no problem at all!”

The three Grand Confucians showed kind, friendly smiles in succession, also rubbing their hands, and asked:

“Does Ning Yan have any new compositions lately?”

“No!” Xu Qi An shook his head regretfully, then wanted to explain further.

Unexpectedly, the three Grand Confucians instantly withdrew their kind, friendly smiles, revealing “we’re mere acquaintances” expressions, and said:

“Confucian spells are not taught to outsiders. Constable Xu, please leave. Don’t put us in a difficult position.”

This… I’m “Constable Xu” now. How realistic, you just want to freeload my poems… Xu Qi An complained internally, then realized he probably had no right to criticize others for freeloading.

He pondered for a moment, then said: “Suddenly, inspiration strikes.”

The three Grand Confucians’ eyes immediately brightened as they straightened their backs, assuming listening, serious postures.

Xu Qi An spoke slowly:

“Last year on this day within these gates,

Rosy faces matched the peach blossoms’ fates.”

A seven-line regulated verse… The three Grand Confucians listened intently, savoring the opening couplet in their hearts.

These two lines emphasized vivid memories, clear down to “this day.” The latter half’s mention of faces and peach blossoms let the three Grand Confucians know this would be about matters of the heart.

As highly learned Grand Confucians, their ability to appreciate poetry was exceptional.

They determined this poem would follow a path of imagery and emotion, different from the “Floating Fragrance in Moonlit Dusk” piece.

Based on the foundation laid by the first two lines, the three Grand Confucians either composed poetry in their minds or guessed at the emotional direction the latter half would take.

Xu Qi An turned to look out the window and said softly:

“Now those faces have gone who knows where,

While peach blossoms still smile in spring air!”

The three Grand Confucians fell silent, savoring the words, inexplicably feeling melancholy in their hearts.

Using peach blossoms to set off beauty, using “last year” as temporal context, and then when the latter half emerged, it naturally evoked a sense of “things remain but people have changed.”

For those prone to melancholy, hearing it would bring forth quiet grief.

“Excellent poem. If this spreads, it will surely be loved and acclaimed by the ladies of the Imperial Entertainment Bureau.”

Zhang Shen stroked his beard and sighed.

Such obvious poems about lost love could most easily touch the tender hearts of courtesans.

“With this poem, Ning Yan can again freely spend at the Imperial Entertainment Bureau without paying a copper.”

Li Mu Bai praised.

“Ning Yan wrote this poem for Fu Xiang, didn’t he? Once it spreads, all the ladies of the Imperial Entertainment Bureau will weep at your deep feelings.”

Chen Tai sighed.

Xu Qi An’s eyes shifted: “This poem has no title yet. I’ll have to trouble the three teachers to help.”

As his words fell, the three Grand Confucians’ breathing suddenly grew heavy. They examined each other, their gazes full of vigilance, distrust, and wariness.

Seeing this, Xu Qi An rose and bowed: “I have matters to discuss with the Headmaster. Farewell.”

He withdrew from the pavilion.

…

He looked around outside for a moment but didn’t see Mu Nan Zhi. There was no need to worry too much about her on Clear Cloud Mountain, so he didn’t search for her.

Xu Qi An, familiar with the route, passed through the “study area” and “dormitory area,” walking for quite a while toward the back mountain until the wind brought the rustling sound of bamboo leaves.

Before him appeared a bamboo grove, green mixed with withered yellow.

And a small pavilion nestled within the bamboo.

Headmaster Zhao Shou had long been waiting in the fence-enclosed yard before the pavilion.

“I just paid my respects to the three masters,” Xu Qi An bowed.

Zhao Shou returned the gesture; the current Xu Qi An had earned the right to stand as his equal.

“Respecting teachers and revering the Way.” Zhao Shou smiled in approval.

He knew the three Grand Confucians were Xu Qi An’s nominal teachers.

Xu Qi An looked at him: “I wrote them a poem, didn’t give it a title.”

The smile slowly faded from Zhao Shou’s face.

“Never mind that, speak plainly. What did you come to see me about?” Zhao Shou pinched his brow—he would have to deal with that mess later.

“Why did Lord Wei want to seal the Witch God?” Xu Qi An indeed spoke plainly.

…Zhao Shou made a “please” gesture: “Let’s discuss inside.”

The two entered the house. Zhao Shou looked at the empty tea table with displeasure:

“There should be tea here.”

A clear light flashed, and two steaming cups of tea appeared on the table.

Does this work too? Xu Qi An was completely stunned.

He thought to himself that he had still underestimated these Confucian powerhouses.

Seeing his confusion, Zhao Shou smiled and explained:

“It’s not creation from nothing, merely using spells to summon tea from nearby tea drinkers.”

He looked at the cups and said: “Good, they haven’t been drunk from.”

If I lay in bed at night and say: “There should be a wife here.”

Would I be able to summon someone else’s wife? Hehehe.

Xu Qi An said with utmost sincerity: “Headmaster, please give me some Words Become Law spell papers.”

Zhao Shou took a sip of tea and smiled:

“Because the Confucian Saint’s power is fading and the Witch God is about to break free from the seal, to prevent devastation in the Central Plains and indeed all Nine Provinces, Wei Yuan chose to sacrifice himself to reinforce the Confucian Saint’s seal.”

Xu Qi An set aside his stray thoughts and gazed deeply at Zhao Shou:

“You know that’s not what I’m asking about.

“Why did the Confucian Saint seal the Witch God, and why seal the Insect God? The Ancient Insect Elder and Xu Ping Feng’s plot to steal fate was also to reinforce the seal.

“Because the Confucian Saint’s statue at the bottom of Southern Borderlands’ Extreme Abyss has also cracked. Confucian cultivation is related to fate, and the Confucian Saint bore fate, so the Ancient Insect Elder believed that stealing an enormous portion of fate could reinforce the seal.

“Because it shares the same source as the Confucian Saint’s power.”

Zhao Shou was silent for a moment, not refuting, then nodded:

“The Insect God was an ancient divine demon, without mercy for living beings, murderous and bellicose by nature. Such a fierce creature naturally needed to be sealed. As for the Witch God attempting to invade the Central Plains—I need not explain how terrifying a Beyond-Rank enemy would be.”

Xu Qi An shook his head with a bitter smile:

“Headmaster, I came from solving cases. Don’t try to reason with me like this.

“You say the Witch God was sealed to prevent invasion of the Central Plains. But the Witch God existed long before the Confucian Saint.

“If the Witch God wanted to invade the Central Plains, it would have been Witch God Cult territory long ago. The reason the Confucian Saint sealed the Witch God isn’t so simple, is it?”

Zhao Shou remained silent.

Xu Qi An continued:

“Since the end of the Divine Demon Era, there have been five Beyond-Rank beings in total: the Confucian Saint, the Witch God, the Insect God, the Buddha, and the Dao Sovereign. The Confucian Saint was the youngest, appeared latest, and died earliest.

“The rhetoric about sealing the Witch God for the Central Plains’ safety doesn’t hold up.

“Moreover, the Buddhist sect also covets the Central Plains. By your logic, shouldn’t the Confucian Saint have sealed the Buddha too?”

Xu Qi An stared at Zhao Shou relentlessly.

The room was quiet as the two faced off in silence for a moment, then Zhao Shou spoke slowly:

“Who told you the Confucian Saint didn’t seal the Buddha?”

In that instant, Xu Qi An felt electricity run down his spine, his scalp tingling.