Thirty years ago…
A young man carrying a book basket arrived at Bailu (White Deer) Academy.
In the scholar's hand was a letter.
In the entire world, the number of people who could obtain this letter could be counted on one hand.
And yet this scholar was only sixteen.
What was more, he was the third scholar from their dynasty to enter Bailu Academy.
"From this day forward, Junior Brother Xiao, you'll be living here. If you need anything, just tell . And this is your jade token.
Entering and leaving the academy, going to certain places within it, or collecting the academy's clothing, food, and daily provisions—all require this jade token. Junior Brother Xiao, you must keep it safe. You absolutely can't lose it, or it'll be a real hassle to replace."
The senior brother who led the scholar through the doors repeatedly urged him with careful reminders.
The scholar, nad Xiao Mochi, cupped his hands and bowed. "Mochi understands. Many thanks, Senior Brother Lin."
Lin Qingshuang patted his junior brother on the shoulder. "There really aren't many scholars from your Wu Kingdom who co to Bailu Academy, but every single one of them is talented. Not to ntion you—you were personally taken in as a disciple by the Master himself. Junior Brother, you must study diligently and not disappoint your teacher.
And if anyone in the academy dares speak ill of you, you can co find anyti!"
"Hahaha, then I'll thank you again in advance, Senior Brother. Please rest assured—Mochi will certainly study hard and won't bring sha upon our Luomo Peak," Xiao Mochi said brightly. He truly liked this senior brother.
"Alright then. I'll get back to my work. You stay here and familiarize yourself with the surroundings," Senior Brother Lin said with a smile. After returning a cupped-hand salute, he took his leave.
Xiao Mochi unpacked his belongings, carried in a bucket of water, and in the courtyard, brewed himself so tea.
Although Wu Kingdom was known as "a civilized dynasty wrapped in a barbarian skin," its people didn't just love drinking wine—they also loved drinking tea.
As he sipped his tea, Xiao Mochi surveyed the courtyard.
This was a three-person residence.
He knew the other two roommates hadn't arrived yet.
But they should be coming soon.
Truthfully, Xiao Mochi was rather looking forward to eting his other two fellow students.
The next day, after waking up, Xiao Mochi took a stroll around Luomo Peak, then wandered to the ink pool nearby.
It was said that Bailu Academy's Ink Pool was ford from an entire inkstone's worth of ink poured out by successive Rectors of the academy.
Accumulating day after day, over ten thousand years, it had gathered into an enormous pool of ink—so large that people could even row boats on its surface.
Of course, that was only a rumor. As for whether it was true or not, Xiao Mochi had no interest.
But the pool shared the sa na as him.
One could only say it was a kind of fate.
Before formal lessons began at Bailu Academy, there were five free days.
During these five days, Xiao Mochi either read in the academy's library or wandered across the other peaks of Bailu Academy.
Aside from a few restricted areas, nearly everywhere in the academy was open for exploration.
And then, on the fourth day before official classes began—
A man and a woman arrived at the courtyard entrance.
At the ti, Xiao Mochi happened to be reading inside.
Sensing soone outside, he raised his head and looked toward the two of them.
The man was about the sa height as Xiao Mochi, with handso features and a smile as warm and pleased as springti.
He wore a simple blue robe that looked plain and modest.
With just a glance, he gave off a comfortable, easygoing feeling.
The woman wore a long dress. On her plain-white strapless bodice, golden thread embroidered twin lotus blossoms that rose and fell with her breathing. Her moon-white wide-sleeved ruqun billowed in layers of ripples in the morning breeze, while subtle dark-silver bamboo-leaf patterns shimred faintly beneath the gauzy fabric.
The semi-translucent material allowed skin like colour—smooth and pale as congealed cream—to glow with the warmth of fine jade. At her collar lay a three-inch-wide dark edging, and silver-thread embroidery of interwoven honeysuckle vines curled from her neckline down to her waist.
She looked to be in her thirties, yet she had taken excellent care of herself, her skin delicate and fair.
Only, her eyes were filled with a guilty evasiveness—she was nervous, not daring to et Xiao Mochi's gaze directly.
Seeing soone had arrived, Xiao Mochi set down his book and cupped his hands in greeting. "May I ask who you two are—"
"Um… I…"
The woman's eyes darted as she didn't know what to say.
But the man beside her stepped forward openly and confidently, cupped his hands, and bowed.
"Greetings, brother. My na is Lu Xiaoliu. I'm a newly enrolled disciple at Bailu Academy, here today to report in. May I ask—Is this Jia Shui Dormitory Fifteen?"
Xiao Mochi nodded with a smile. "Yes. Then we should be roommates. My na is Xiao Mochi."
"Hahaha, please take care of , Brother Xiao," Lu Xiaoliu said, straightening his back. Then he introduced the woman beside him. "Brother Xiao, this is my mother. This ti, when I ca to Bailu Academy, she couldn't relax and insisted on escorting part of the way. I also wanted to bring her out to travel a little—to see these mountains and rivers."
"So that's how it is," Xiao Mochi said with a nod.
Lu Xiaoliu's mother seed as though she wanted to return a polite bow, but it felt inappropriate, so in the end, she only nodded.
Lu Xiaoliu wanted to tidy up his room himself, but his mother kept insisting on helping, urging him instead to go drink tea and chat with his new friend. In the end, Lu Xiaoliu didn't keep arguing.
After all, they would be living together for a long ti. It was only natural to talk and get to know each other.
From their conversation, Xiao Mochi learned that Lu Xiaoliu was from Wei Kingdom.
As for what his family did for a living…
Lu Xiaoliu had just opened his mouth to speak when his mother hurried out, almost in a panic, saying she wanted to take a walk in the bamboo grove and asking her son to accompany her.
Lu Xiaoliu, naturally, didn't refuse.
But Xiao Mochi noticed sothing in Madam Lu's expression—an unease that didn't sit right.
As if she didn't want her son to say it.
Xiao Mochi realized this at once, and naturally, he didn't ask any further.
That evening, after Lu Xiaoliu returned, Xiao Mochi deliberately avoided the topic and didn't ntion what happened earlier at all.
As for Lu Xiaoliu's mother, she had already left the academy.
When the family of a Bailu Academy disciple returned ho, they would be escorted—so Lu Xiaoliu had no need to worry.
Xiao Mochi and Lu Xiaoliu got along extrely well. The two talked about Confucian classics, talked about dynasties and nations, and talked about cultivation sects.
In just a few days, their relationship had gone from strangers to close friends.
But not long after, Xiao Mochi heard a rumor within Bailu Academy—
That Lu Xiaoliu's mother had once been a brothel woman in the imperial capital of Wei Kingdom.
In an instant, many people began pointing fingers at Lu Xiaoliu.
There was even a Wei Kingdom prince who had co to Bailu Academy rely to gild his reputation—and he mocked Lu Xiaoliu relentlessly.
One day, Xiao Mochi couldn't swallow it anymore.
As soon as class ended, Xiao Mochi threw a punch—straight into the other man's face.
Reviews
All reviews (0)