Volume One: Youths Meet in Humble Times Chapter Fifty-Four: An Accidental Encounter with the Schoolmaster

As the two of them chatted, they passed by a restaurant in Tianmen Town called Old Friends’ Place. Standing under the eaves was a young boy dressed as a scholar’s attendant, who stopped them and said, “Zhou Ce, please wait a moment. My master would like to invite you both to a simple meal.”

Li Yu didn’t recognize him very well, but Zhou Ce did, though not intimately. “Zhao Kuo, why are you here?” Zhou Ce asked.

Zhao Kuo replied, “My master asked me to wait for you here.”

Li Yu glanced at Zhou Ce, seeking clarification. Zhou Ce explained, “He’s Mr. Liang’s attendant.”

After spending years in Tianmen Town, Li Yu had come to know most of the town’s people and affairs. Mr. Liang was the scholar who had arrived seven years prior. Li Yu had once eavesdropped on his lessons—unlike the old scholars who droned through the texts, Mr. Liang quoted classics and told stories with wit and life, making even someone like Li Yu, who disliked studying, listen with interest and sometimes even be moved. However, in the past three years, Mr. Liang seldom taught; he mostly kept to his study, engaged in unknown pursuits—so Li Yu had been told by Shen Xun and Zhou Ce.

Since then, Li Yu rarely attended his lectures. As for this attendant, Li Yu hadn’t seen him when he used to sneak into class, nor was he a local of Tianmen Town; he must have come from elsewhere later on.

Zhou Ce asked Li Yu, “Shall we go? After all, he’s our teacher—it’s hard to refuse.”

Li Yu agreed indifferently, thinking that perhaps he was only invited as an afterthought; all he needed to do was sit quietly.

The three ascended the stairs to a small private room on the second floor. Upon entering, they saw a table set with exquisite dishes: a platter of thinly sliced meat drizzled with sauce, a beautifully arranged plate of greens, and a bowl of clear, fresh fish soup. Beside them was a teapot exuding a faint fragrance, with a basin and towel for washing up. The scene brought to Li Yu’s mind an old phrase he’d read once: “No food is too fine, no slice too thin.” He thought to himself, scholars truly are particular—even a meal must be so refined and ingenious.

Zhou Ce, apparently familiar with the etiquette of dining with this teacher, naturally washed his hands, rinsed his mouth, then went to a side room to incense himself before taking his seat. Li Yu mused that though he’d picked up many strange habits from the Daoist, none were as intricate as these. Over the years, the Daoist’s influence had softened his own fastidiousness.

After following Zhou Ce’s example, Li Yu found his appetite nearly gone. He sat languidly, thinking he’d masked his feelings well—but against a wily old fox like Mr. Liang, he was no match.

Mr. Liang smiled at Li Yu, “You should try this sea demon fish. It’s the signature dish here, made only by one particular chef, and not always available.”

Unable to refuse, Li Yu picked up his chopsticks and tasted it. The moment the flavor reached his mouth, his eyes lit up. “May I ask, sir, what dish is this?” he inquired.

Mr. Liang replied, “It’s a sea beast from the inner sea. I caught it myself today. I don’t know how to prepare it, but the chef here does it superbly, so I brought it to him.”

Li Yu took another bite, savoring it carefully before putting down his chopsticks. Mr. Liang asked, “Is it not to your taste?”

Li Yu replied, “No, it’s delicious. But even delicious things shouldn’t be eaten in excess. I’m not the only one at the table. Having tasted it, I’m satisfied.”

Zhou Ce, like Li Yu, ate only a little before stopping. They observed the rule of silence at the table. When the three had finished, they washed their hands, rinsed their mouths, scented themselves, and drank tea. Only then did Mr. Liang speak, “This meal was not just on a whim. Soon, I will be leaving. Before I go, I wish to ask you both: would you like to travel outside and see the world?”

Li Yu and Zhou Ce exchanged puzzled glances, not understanding the question. Zhou Ce asked, “Sir, are you suggesting we leave with you?”

Mr. Liang smiled and said nothing. Li Yu, seeing this, spoke directly, “Thank you for the offer, sir, but I won’t go.”

Mr. Liang didn’t press for a reason, but continued, “Did you not enjoy my lessons? As I recall, after I stopped teaching, you never came to audit another class.”

Li Yu, a bit embarrassed, replied, “So you knew, sir. I’m sorry for attending without permission, but your lessons were truly wonderful. Still, however good they are, I cannot leave my master.”

In this small town, not all children attended school—some because their families were poor, others simply unwilling. Those who lacked means but wanted to learn often snuck in occasionally.

Li Yu, having lived with the Daoist, could gather herbs, treat the sick, draw talismans, fish, and collect pearls—he was among the better-off children, yet had no desire to return to school. He only sought out Mr. Liang’s classes because, by chance, he found them entertaining and inquired about them from Shen Xun.

But to leave his master for this, he would never agree.

Mr. Liang had half expected this, yet still felt a tinge of disappointment upon hearing it.

After some thought, Zhou Ce asked, “Why do you want to take me away?”

Mr. Liang looked at him with a smile. “To be frank, you, Li Yu, and Shen Xun are all people I wish to take with me. But among you three, only Shen Xun is someone I personally desire to take; you and Li Yu are wanted by the Confucian Order.”

Now even Li Yu was intrigued. “The Confucian Order wants to take me—are you trying to poach me from my master?”

The question was so playful that even the usually stern Mr. Liang was amused. “That’s one way to put it. We don’t quite understand what your master is after, but anyone he takes as a disciple can hardly be ordinary.”

Though Mr. Liang hadn’t said everything, Li Yu understood, and pressed further, “So, if I don’t go with you—if I won’t be within your control—you won’t allow me to grow stronger, is that it? Even other factions may try to eliminate me?”

Mr. Liang regarded him deeply. “You are shrewd. Now that you’ve deduced this, do you still refuse to go with me?”

Li Yu smiled, “Thank you for your kindness, and for sharing such important news. But I still cannot go. My life was saved by my master; for all my days, I will acknowledge only him as my teacher.”

Seeing Li Yu unmoved, Mr. Liang sighed and turned to Zhou Ce. “And you? After hearing all this, do you still refuse?”

Zhou Ce had made up his mind after hearing Li Yu’s words. “Yes, sir, I won’t go either. Li Yu has his reasons, and I have mine. I believe my family will come for me.”

Mr. Liang said, “Even if they do, your future won’t necessarily be smooth. You may face mortal danger. If you come with us, we can at least guarantee your safety while you grow.”

Zhou Ce smiled, “These years in Tianmen Town have taught me much. One thing is, it’s hard to leave one’s roots, harder still to part from friends and kin. Besides, I want to see what has become of my old home, and to seek an answer—why? If I don’t do this while I’m young, by the time I’m strong enough, that youthful passion will be gone, and I might never resolve my heart’s question. I’d have regrets.”

Mr. Liang had anticipated such an outcome. Long before, he had observed many of the town’s youths—Shen Xun, Li Yu, and Zhou Ce among them. He wasn’t too disappointed by their refusals, but as he watched them leave, he couldn’t help but sigh, thinking the Confucian Order’s plans might become more complicated because of these two.

Zhao Kuo asked, “Master, why don’t we simply take them by force?”

Mr. Liang replied, “None of them are as simple as they seem. If we act without their consent and draw the ire of those behind them, we may well be driven out of Tianmen Town. After all, with the Five Patriarchs’ Edict in place, everyone here is under protection, and there can be no more conflict.”

Zhao Kuo still didn’t understand. “But the edict only prevents conflict within the town. Couldn’t we negotiate with those behind them? If they agree, couldn’t we take them away?”

“You’re thinking too simply. Those behind them won’t let go so easily. Take Li Yu—though he is only the Daoist’s disciple, his master alone could stand against all the cultivators on this continent.”

“Master, has the Daoist reached the pinnacle already?” Zhao Kuo asked incredulously.

After some thought, Mr. Liang replied, “The specifics are unclear, but it’s very likely.”

When Li Yu returned to the first floor, he asked the innkeeper, then went to the kitchen in search of the chef.

He remembered that his master might not have eaten yet, and since the sea beast tasted so good, he shamelessly asked Mr. Liang if there was any left. Fortunately, Mr. Liang was generous and let him seek out the chef. However, when Mr. Liang had given the meat to the chef, he’d made it clear that any leftovers belonged to the chef, so it would depend on whether the chef was willing to share.

The restaurant kitchen was in the backyard. The chef had two apprentices who usually handled most of the cooking; the chef himself only cooked special dishes or fulfilled particular requests.

When Li Yu and Zhou Ce entered the backyard, they saw the chef reclining in a rocking chair, a plate of melon seeds and a cup of tea by his side, gently swaying as he snacked and sipped.

Without opening his eyes, the chef said, “If you want the dish, do me a favor.”

Li Yu and Zhou Ce exchanged glances, wondering why there were so many strange people today.