When Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao returned to the foot of the mountain, the square was already lit up with bright lanterns. Even though it was night, the place was still bustling with activity, and there were just as many people as before.
This reminded Li Hao of the night markets from his past life. He took a deep breath, and along with the refreshing night breeze, he could smell the delicious scent of grilled meat wafting through the air, which immediately made him hungry.
“Let’s go find something to eat,” he said.
On the stairs, there were still many talented young people from different regions rushing to the top of the mountain to seek fame and recognition. However, at the top of the mountain, a young figure leaped down, heading straight towards the lively crowd below.
Not long after, with his own cooking skills, Li Hao skillfully picked out some tasty food from the many stalls and packed them all up. He and Li Yuanzhao each held a full load and walked towards the carriage while munching on their snacks, attracting many curious glances from passersby.
“What’s that smell?”
Inside the carriage, Li Yun, who had been waiting impatiently, suddenly caught a whiff of the grilled meat smell. He was taken aback and lifted the curtain.
The aroma was irresistible, and soon he saw Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao approaching with their mouths full of food.
“Uncle Fu, sorry to keep you waiting. Here you go.”
“Uncle Ming, this is yours. Is it enough?”
Li Hao had bought enough food to share with everyone, smiling as he handed out portions. Of course, he didn’t forget to save some for his personal maid, Qingzhi.
After that, he climbed into the carriage with the remaining bags of food. Inside, oil lamps were already lit, casting a warm yellow light that illuminated the faces of the siblings, who were secretly glancing at Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao while smelling the tempting aroma, their expressions slightly awkward.
“I thought you guys had gone back already,” Li Yuanzhao said as he sat down and took a bite of the grilled meat. Then he remembered something and handed over two bags to Li Zhineng.
“Zhineng, do you want some?”
Li Zhineng wanted to refuse, but the enticing smell from the bags made her hesitate. At the same time, she noticed her brother next to her swallowing hard, and she gently accepted the bags, whispering, “Thank you, Yuanzhao.”
“If you had left earlier, you wouldn’t have this good fortune,” Li Yuanzhao chuckled.
Li Zhineng didn’t say anything but glanced at the figure who had not looked their way at all. A hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes.
But she didn’t dwell on it. She opened one of the bags and offered it to Li Yun. “Brother.”
“I’m not eating that,” Li Yun replied, turning his head with a frown, showing his disgust. “You don’t know if the street vendor’s food is clean. It’s probably dirty, so I advise you to eat less.”
“Even if it’s not clean, it won’t kill you,” Li Yuanzhao retorted, feeling his appetite spoiled by Li Yun’s words.
“You!”
Li Yun glared at him in anger, then realized it wasn’t worth arguing. He huffed and turned his head to look outside the carriage, as if the night scenery suddenly became very interesting.
Li Zhineng understood her brother’s pride and felt a bit helpless. However, the fragrant smell kept wafting towards her, and she couldn’t resist. She picked up a piece and took a small bite, and her eyes brightened a bit.
This taste was even better than the food she was used to at home.
“Uncle Ming, aren’t we leaving yet?”
Li Yun shouted through the curtain to the driver.
Uncle Ming, who had a piece of grilled meat in his mouth, immediately grabbed the reins and turned the carriage back towards home.
When they returned to the house, Li Yun and the others parted ways with Li Hao.
Each of them went back to their own homes.
In the Xuexue Courtyard, Lady Gao Qingqing was busy embroidering in the main hall when she heard a maid rush in with news. She almost pricked her finger with the needle and hurriedly stood up, dropping the handkerchief she was working on and rushing to the courtyard entrance.
She saw her son and daughter coming with Li Ming.
“How did it go? Was everything smooth?”
Gao Qingqing quickly asked.
Li Ming stood quietly with a smile, while Li Zhineng nodded and said, “Yes, my brother and I both entered the Jia Courtyard.”
“You figured it out in just one day?”
Gao Qingqing’s face showed surprise as she kissed her son’s forehead.
This made Li Yun feel a bit shy, and he pushed his mother away, sulking as he walked towards the main hall.
Gao Qingqing didn’t mind and kissed her daughter’s forehead as well. Then she took Li Zhineng back to the main hall, instructing the steward to quickly heat up dinner.
Li Zhineng shook her head and said, “Just heat up my brother’s portion; I’ve already eaten.”
“What did you eat?” Gao Qingqing asked, surprised.
“Some delicious food from the street vendors over there,” Li Zhineng replied, still savoring the taste in her mouth.
“Hmph, don’t end up with a stomachache later,” Li Yun said grumpily from across the table.
Gao Qingqing smiled and sat down with her daughter, chatting about the day’s events.
“Just like my child, figuring things out in half a day.”
“Did he also enter the Jia Courtyard?” Hearing her daughter’s words, Gao Qingqing was slightly surprised, then nodded.
“That boy is very clever, but it’s a pity he chose the path of body refinement, which has a low ceiling. Otherwise, among your generation, he would likely be the true dragon.”
Li Zhineng thought of that calm and casual face, her eyes flickering slightly. She had heard her mother say this more than once, and deep down, she felt a hint of regret.
“Hmph, what does that talent matter? If it were my sister, she could probably figure it out in just the time it takes to burn a stick of incense!”
Li Yun, sitting opposite, snorted coldly.
Thinking of his older sister made him feel a mix of envy, jealousy, and a bit of sourness, but at the same time, he felt a sense of pride. It was very complicated…
Gao Qingqing smiled and said, “Your sister is clever, but you all are not bad either. You are all my proud children.”
Li Yun’s stern face softened a bit, and as the steward brought in the heated dinner, he gradually began to smile…
In the Shanhe Courtyard,
Li Hao returned to the courtyard with Li Fu and Qingzhi.
The cool moonlight shone down, and Steward Zhao hurriedly came out wearing a coat, saying, “Young Master, was everything smooth? I’ll go heat up your dinner.”
“Steward Zhao, don’t trouble yourself. I ate outside,” Li Hao replied with a smile. “I was worried the food would get cold on the way, so I didn’t bring anything back for you.”
“Young Master is so considerate,” Zhao said with a smile, knowing Li Hao was telling the truth, as there were still traces of grease on his lips.
Li Fu, who had been waiting outside the carriage and hadn’t had a chance to talk to Li Hao, couldn’t help but ask, “How did you feel today?”
Li Hao thought for a moment and said, “The food was quite good.”
Li Fu was speechless; that wasn’t what I meant.
After asking a few more questions, he learned that Li Hao had entered the Jia Courtyard, and both he and Qingzhi showed surprise and joy.
The test for the “Jumping Immortal Gate” at the Tangong Academy had ended.
Many young people who hadn’t made it in could only sigh as they looked at the entrance.
Some even tried to pull strings to see if they could squeeze a few more in, but the reply they got was that all the spots were already filled.
A total of 825 people.
Some wondered why they couldn’t admit a few more.
They were even willing to pay exorbitant tuition fees.
But the response was—
Because there were only 825 seats available.
So, many young nobles could only leave with sighs of disappointment.
This grand gathering in Qingzhou gradually came to an end.
However, at the top of the mountain, with the official start of classes, things became lively.
There were four courtyards: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding.
The Jia Courtyard had only fifty seats.
The Yi Courtyard had two hundred seats.
The Bing and Ding Courtyards… were less important.
In each courtyard, besides the new students, there were also some repeat students remaining.
At this moment, in the Jia Courtyard, Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao sat together in the second row, and the other new students had already arrived for enrollment.
In front of them, Li Hao saw Shen Qingyun bringing in a pile of academy uniforms with two senior students from the Jia Courtyard, distributing them one by one for everyone to wear the same.
This made Li Hao feel like he was back in high school in his past life.
Looking around at the young boys and girls, all not very old, he couldn’t help but smile, feeling a bit nostalgic.
Once the uniforms were handed out, Shen Qingyun explained some basic rules of the academy, such as no fighting and not dishonoring the ancestors, etc.
Then, after Shen Qingyun left, a tall and slender woman with a willow-like waist walked in. She looked about twenty-five or twenty-six, with dark hair and beautiful features, giving off a feeling like the bright moon shining on a snowy mountain.
When she introduced herself, she said her name was Su Yehua, and she was the head of the Jia Courtyard as well as the first teacher.
The recently departed Shen Qingyun was the teacher for the movement class.
The first lesson in the courtyard was to be taught by Su Yehua.
Li Hao clearly noticed that when Su Yehua arrived, the courtyard, which had been somewhat noisy, suddenly fell silent. The young people who had been chatting without a care quickly settled down.
“Martial arts have eight realms.”
Su Yehua stood at the front, her willow-like brows giving off a clear and refreshing aura, but her lips held a gentle smile:
“The first four realms are: Power Unification, Circulation, Soul Continuation, and Divine Travel.”
“The last four realms are: Fifteen Miles, Heaven and Man, Three Immortal States, and Four Establishments!”
(End of Chapter)