World's First Traitor System [Isekai Transmigration] Chapter 132 - The Luming Academy

"You've co to kill ?"

Hearing those words, Sage Ruler Han Yue nearly stumbled and fell. She glared at Fan Li, thinking to herself - of course not!

After much effort, she had finally gained Elder Sister Yao Guang's permission to visit Fan Li under the pretense of investigating Chu's divine beast. Yet he actually suspected her intentions?

Han Yue felt her face flush red with embarrassnt, nearly turning to leave in a huff.

Fan Li also realized he had misspoken. As the saying goes, so things are better left unsaid. Given the gulf in power between them, if they ca to blows, he would only end up the loser.

How precious were his substitute puppet bodies? If this woman struck him down in one sword blow, wouldn't that be a pity?

"Haha, that was just a little joke. It's an honor for the Sage Ruler to grace my humble abode with her presence. Please, have a seat." Fan Li forced an awkward laugh, trying to change the subject.

Hearing his welcoming tone, Han Yue's expression visibly softened. Like a proud, solitary snow lotus blooming on the highlands, the female cultivator raised her chin arrogantly, self-admiring her noble beauty.

"Does the Sage Ruler perhaps have so business with ?" Fan Li probed cautiously.

Han Yue shook her head. "No business. I've just been staying in Peng City recently with nothing to do, so I'm visiting a friend."

For a fleeting mont, the smile froze on Fan Li's face. Who was friends with who exactly? Us two? What kind of friendship involved swords and backstabbing?

Seeing Fan Li's reaction, Han Yue assud he was simply overwheld by her company. Indeed, in this world, there were precious few qualified to be friends with a Pure Land Sage Ruler, let alone a slly man.

A faint smile crept across her lips, a rare sight. Her beautiful smile was otherworldly, like that of a celestial fairy.

"Last ti in Chang'an, I had to abruptly leave without notice due to matters at the Pure Land. I've co today to explain that. Additionally, it would be rude of to co without offering sothing in return.

Fan Li, if you have no other plans today, allow to take you on a tour of Peng City, as my way of repaying you for showing around Chang'an that day."

Fan Li's mind raced. What was the situation here exactly? Had this woman activated so intelligence system upgrade? What sches did she have in mind that even he could not see through?

In the end, Fan Li concluded: The Brahma Sound Pure Land has not given up on destroying !

"What's wrong? Are you too busy perhaps?" Sage Ruler Han Yue noticed Fan Li's hesitation, assuming he was conflicted.

"Ah, it's my arrangents that were lacking."

‘He is the Duke of Chu after all, holding the authority of an entire nation. Of course his days are occupied by a myriad of affairs. While I'm just an idle person. Besides cultivation, I have nothing to do most days.’ Han Yue started speculating wildly, first finding fault with herself instead of blaming Fan Li.

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"If you're too busy...you don't have to accompany the whole day." She bit her lip, as if steeling her resolve. Taking out two exquisitely carved wooden tokens, she said: "I heard the Luming Academy is hosting a renowned scholar for a lecture today. If you're interested, I can go with you to attend the class?"

The two wooden tokens were tickets to the lecture. Sothing Han Yue had specially prepared for Fan Li!

She had inquired about his background as a scholarly official renowned for his talents since youth, even astonishing all with his erudition at the Luo Lake Convention long ago.

A chance to hear a great scholar's lecture was surely an appealing prospect for him, right?

Han Yue's heart pounded erratically. This was the first ti she had invited a man out, deathly afraid of being rejected.

"Very well then." Fan Li nodded reluctantly.

He was flustered, unsure what assassination plot lay in wait. Yet he could hardly refuse, or risk Han Yue dropping all pretenses to directly attack him with her sword.

‘All n must die eventually,’ he thought. ‘Whether as light as a goose feather or lighter still. Sacrificing this temporary form is a small price to see what tricks she has up her sleeve!’

Forcing a smile, Fan Li replied, "Thank you for the kind invitation, Sage Ruler. Let us depart."

...

The Luming Academy, Chu's most renowned institution for cultivating Confucian scholars.

Long ago, after the Chu Overlord's century of conquest established the Chu dynasty, his advisor Fan Zeng proposed founding academic institutions to nurture literati and cultivate civility in line with Chu's tradition prioritizing culture over martial arts. Thus, the Luming Academy ca into being.

"Put simply, it's basically a public school?" Fan Li recalled the academy's history in his mind. "My ancestor Fan Zeng was the first Chancellor?"

More than traditions, Fan Li was intrigued by the academy's education model.

They accepted new students once every three years after examinations? Successful candidates could then beco students and begin cultivating the expansive Confucian philosophies.

Over its thousand-year history, the academy's libraries contained more than just tens of thousands of volus.

Students could freely access the vast collection of Confucian classics, though classes were not held daily. Self-study was the norm most days.

In fact, the Luming Academy had no resident lecturers. Only occasionally would renowned Confucian scholars be invited to give lectures, prompting students to break from self-study to attend. Moreover, most of Chu's great scholars already served as state officials in the imperial court.

In other words, these so-called great scholars were mostly bureaucrats of various ranks. It suddenly dawned on Fan Li that as the highest-ranking official and nominal leader of Chu's scholarly ranks, he had never once lectured at the academy himself.

‘I've just been too busy honestly. I should send Lu Chunqiu a letter to have his students give so lectures instead. Or better yet, publicly sponsor sending academy students to Lu City for Lu Chunqiu to teach them personally.’

The more Fan Li pondered, the better the idea sounded. There would always be talents among the masses to serve him when the ti ca. As for Lu City's tacit submission to Chu, he need not worry about the students staying abroad indefinitely.

"What are you smiling about?" Han Yue suddenly asked.

Fan Li froze, realizing he had failed to contain his scheming thoughts as a smile crept across his face. "Ah, I was just feeling honored that you invited ," he deflected.

"Really?!" Han Yue frowned, sensing he was lying.

But why would he lie about that? Being flattered by a Pure Land Sage Ruler's invitation was only natural after all.

Convincing herself she was overthinking it, Han Yue felt satisfied with Fan Li's response.

For this outing, both wished to keep a low profile. One was the Duke of Chu while the other a Pure Land Sage Ruler after all.

Rather than his ducal robes, Fan Li wore a modest Confucian scholar's gown of Shu brocade cinched with a jade belt, cutting the figure of a graceful nobleman.

Han Yue also left behind her Frost Sword, as carrying such an exalted divine weapon would draw too much attention.

Yet the pair's exceptional looks still drew admiring gazes upon arriving at the remote academy grounds.

"What a beautiful woman, a celestial fairy co to earth!"

"Walking celestials, a matchless beauty and a noble sir! Heavens, what distinguished house does that young lord hail from?!"

"I was so focused on self-study, I never knew the academy had such extraordinary individuals."

"The classics speak of heavenly jade beauties - the sages were no deceivers!"

Among the Confucian cultivators were both n and won. With a mysterious renowned scholar's lecture drawing hundreds of youths today, Fan Li and Han Yue's appearance, complete with entry tokens, led all to assu they were students as well.