Ye Tian recognized the voice outside the Immortal Abode all too well; wasn't that Chen Zhang who had come to hire them that day?!
oh?
Ye Tian then remembered that he had received six thousand taels of silver from the academy but hadn't even started doing anything yet. These past few days he'd been so engrossed in supervising the cultivation of all the sect's laborers that he'd neglected rehearsals.
"Academician Chen, is the performance about to begin?" Ye Tian opened the door of Xianrenju and saw Chen Zhang.
Chen Zhang's attire was different from before; his scholar's robes were elegant and flowing, and a tinkling scholar's wind chime hung from his waist. Several maids carried the sedan chair behind him, and he also had a long beard and hairpins.
This was done in the capacity of an academician of the Hanlin Academy, to invite them back to the academy.
It seems the competition is approaching.
As expected, Chen Zhang's words implied that Ye Tian only had three days left before it was time to start the publicity campaign.
How are the preparations going?
How could anyone ask such a question? Ye Tian was completely unprepared. But it didn't matter; he wasn't the type to forget a promise he made.
There's no need to prepare for promoting Taoist culture; the patriarchs left behind many precious scriptures, and just picking out a few is enough.
Why should their descendants need to prepare? So Ye Tian simply told Chen Zhang not to worry, he would take care of it.
Chen Zhang was delighted to hear this and said, "Then please have Cultivator Ye lead the entire sect to stay at our academy for three days."
Ye Tianmen knows these rules perfectly well. Confucianism is all talk and no action, requiring three days of purification. The performance begins, and then, under the guise of Confucianism, Taoist culture is promoted.
Six thousand taels of silver wasn't a lot, especially when Ye Tian was using the alias Yu Chengen. As the champion of the desolate city, he had won several boxing championships, accumulating not only silver but also many spirit stones. In worldly terms, Ye Tian was now considered a very wealthy man.
This small amount of money wasn't enough to tempt him.
The real reason Ye Tian agreed to Chen Zhang's request was because of the promotion of Taoist culture. He had been reborn in this place in this life. In the Ruthless Sect, Ye Tian was deeply influenced by its culture. Since he had this opportunity, Ye Tian was unwilling to let it slip by.
After all, Hanlin Academy is considered an official institution within the bookstore, and it can leverage this platform for promotion. This is beneficial for both the Wuqing Sect and Taoist culture.
"Academician Chen, wait here. I'll go and call my fellow disciples from our sect." After saying this, Ye Tian went to the sect to gather the various workers.
With a dark expression, Daoist Wuchen asked Ye Tian what was going on. He had agreed not to accept money from the academy, so why did he agree to perform at the academy?
Ye Tian coughed twice, forcing himself to explain the benefits to his master. With the support of official forces, the Ruthless Sect could become even more prestigious, and recruiting disciples would be much easier.
Most importantly, Ye Tian also personally gave his master, Daoist Wuchen, a subsidy of five hundred taels of silver.
"Although I didn't take the money from their academy, I still need to give it to you, Master. Just try not to mention it in front of their academy, I'm afraid it will hurt their pride," Ye Tian said reassuringly.
Daoist Wuchen was deeply moved, after all, the entire sect hadn't managed to get a thousand taels of silver from the Hanlin Academy. Now Ye Tian was giving him a personal donation of five hundred taels, which he could even keep as his own private stash.
“Good disciple! How can you not go? We all have a responsibility to promote Taoist culture.” After giving the money, Daoist Wuchen’s expression changed instantly. He became dignified and upright, and said in a strong and resounding voice.
Ye Tian could only curl his lip in disdain for his master. Money was still the most useful thing. Of course, Master Hua Yun, their ultimate weapon, was not included.
"Let's go. Academician Chen, our entire sect is ready." Ye Tian led all the workers back and said this to Chen Zhang.
Chen Zhang's face was full of joy, but when he looked around and saw that there were only a few maids and a single sedan chair, he looked somewhat embarrassed.
He seemed to feel it wasn't right for everyone to walk while he rode in a sedan chair alone. But the academy didn't have any more manpower or resources.
Ye Tian, of course, noticed the subtle changes in Chen Zhang's demeanor. In order not to embarrass the scholar who had given him six thousand taels of silver, he quickly spoke up to defuse the situation, saying, "Academician Chen, we are cultivators. The ancients said that cultivating the Tao is a life of poverty, which is not without reason. We are not as particular as scholars. You should take a sedan chair to the academy. My fellow disciples and I will walk there."
Hearing that Ye Tian had come to his rescue, Chen Zhang's face showed gratitude, and he looked at Ye Tian with firm eyes, as if he recognized Ye Tian's character.
Ye Tian simply smiled politely and said, "Get in the sedan chair, Academician Chen. We'll meet again in half an hour."
If Chen Zhang were only representing himself to meet the Ruthless Sect, he could simply walk with them. However, Chen Zhang is now acting on behalf of the Academy, receiving all members of the Ruthless Sect in his capacity as an academician.
It was inevitable that they would be carried in a sedan chair.
Scholars have such strict rules: they should never lift a finger to do manual labor, nor let their feet touch anything of worldly concern. Riding in a sedan chair is a must.
Taoism does not emphasize these things; those who cultivate Taoism are mostly poor.
The Hanlin Academy is a wonderful place. It exudes a scholarly atmosphere, and upon entering, one sees a statue of the Confucian sage, holding a book, his eyes filled with compassion for humanity. The academy covers a vast area, containing numerous residences, some serving as schools, others as lodgings for Confucian scholars.
"It looks quite magnificent, even more splendid than our Immortal Abode," Li Xiaoyao remarked.
Ye Tiandu chuckled. The Immortal Abode was merely a separate residence. This, however, had been the central axis of the Book City since ancient times. The Book City was the cultural root of the Feng Dynasty, and this academy was the cultural root of the Book City itself. An incomparably profound heritage, an inextinguishable tradition.
Such academies would influence people of their time.
As long as it exists, the Feng Dynasty lives on. The Feng Dynasty will only truly perish when its culture is extinguished.
"Since ancient times, academies have been unable to escape the clutches of power. Only the Confucian sage refused to be a mere pawn in this game, using the fortunes of the six kingdoms to suppress the Confucian sage within a single stone, breaking the tight ties between Confucianism and power. He allowed Confucianism to return to a life of leisure and tranquility. It's just a pity that in recent years, many disciples who have graduated from academies have willingly jumped back into the game. If the Confucian sage saw this, who knows how disappointed he would be."
Gazing at the statue of the Confucian sage, Gu Nishang slowly recounted a poignant story from the past.
This was quite a novel idea for Ye Tian.
Unfortunately, Chen Zhang walked out of the academy and happened to hear these words. He smiled and shook his head, saying, "Even if the Confucian sage could not know five thousand years before and five thousand years after, he could still discern the nature of humanity across a thousand generations from the people of one generation. He must have foreseen this scene today. But the Confucian sage is still a sage; even if he knew someone would jump back into the game, he was still willing to build a ladder for those who wanted to get out of the game."
After Chen Zhang finished speaking, Gu Nishang's eyes sparkled, and after a long while, she nodded and sighed, "I have learned a lot."
"Where did this country bumpkin come from, daring to enter the gates of my academy?" Suddenly, someone spoke rudely.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
