A New Life on the Southern Mountain

Compared to the bustling north and southeast, the southwest region where Mount Shu is located is somewhat remote, and the Confucian way is not particularly flourishing. On this vast southwestern land, there are only a handful of renowned academies, with Nanshan Academy being one of them. Though it has never produced a top scholar or second-ranked graduate, it once claimed the third-place honor.

Unfortunately, that distinguished student later ended up in prison, and Nanshan Academy lost a portion of its glory.

Nevertheless, it remains the top choice for the sons and daughters of dignitaries and wealthy families in Yanqiao City.

Today, Nanshan Academy welcomed a new student.

"Fellow classmates, let us welcome Chu Liang to our Gengzi Class."

The elderly teacher stood at the front, raised his hand, and a young man in splendid attire entered from outside, drawing every eye in the classroom.

His features were clear and handsome, his bearing extraordinary. Though he wore the same scholar's robe as the others, he seemed more refined and aloof. At the teacher's beckoning, he stepped into the hall and nodded gently to the students below.

Behind him followed a boy with thick eyebrows, bright eyes, bronze skin, dressed in a blue robe and cap, carrying a heavy basket of books and looking somewhat disgruntled.

"Chu Liang, find an empty seat and settle down. We're about to begin today's lesson," the teacher instructed after introducing him.

"Yes," Chu Liang bowed to the teacher and walked forward.

There were about twenty boys and a dozen girls in the class, each with their own desk. Chu Liang looked around and chose an empty seat at the back, beside Li Jue, who seemed distracted.

Just as he was about to sit, the teacher sternly called out, "The book boy should not come in, wait outside. If you wish to learn, you may listen quietly by the window, but do not disturb the class."

"Oh..." The book boy behind Chu Liang finally stopped, put down his basket, and sheepishly left the classroom.

This book boy was none other than Lin Bei.

He stood by the window outside, watching inside, meeting Chu Liang's gaze, still somewhat resentful.

"Why is it that we both come to the academy, yet you're a student and I'm a book boy?" he silently complained with his eyes.

"Perhaps it's just a difference in temperament. Roles aren't about status," Chu Liang replied with a look.

"I don't get it," Lin Bei remained unconvinced.

"Enough, as a book boy, it's easier to gather information. Why not mingle with your fellow book boys and see if you can uncover anything about the strange incident this time?" Chu Liang suggested.

Lin Bei finally relented and went off to join his circle of book boys.

---

The students of Nanshan Academy were all from local affluent or official families, so each brought their own book boy or servant. Naturally, so many attendants could not all enter the classroom; there were special rooms in the courtyard for their rest, and if they wished to study, they could listen by the window. As long as they did not make a commotion, they were generally left alone.

Lessons at Nanshan Academy were lengthy, and after the first class, most students were a bit drowsy. Only Chu Liang remained full of interest. He had once been an outstanding student and felt nostalgic for the classroom environment.

His former teacher had said that his problem was lack of focus. If he could concentrate solely on his studies, no one would surpass him, and his prospects would be limitless. But he had too many interests—sports, chess, games—all pursued with equal passion.

Thus, he only managed to rank third in the province.

Beside him, Li Jue seemed not to have rested well the previous night, soon falling asleep at his desk. Chu Liang paid him no mind and turned his gaze around, seeing if he could strike up a conversation.

Just then, the girl with a sprinkling of freckles on her face to his left glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She asked, "Chu Liang, where are you from?"

New students with attractive looks always drew attention.

"I'm from Xingzhou City," Chu Liang replied with the information he had prepared.

"Xingzhou City? Why did you come to Nanshan Academy then?"

"Because of family matters. We all moved here, so I had to come as well," Chu Liang said with a smile.

"Hehe, Nanshan Academy is great! It's one of the best in the southwest," the girl giggled, seeing him smile.

"I thought so too before coming. Perhaps Nanshan Academy will be wonderful," Chu Liang replied, though he seemed a bit worried. "But now that I'm here, suddenly I feel a little anxious..."

"What are you worried about?" the girl asked quickly.

"I heard there's been some haunting lately at the academy," Chu Liang whispered.

"Ah..." The girl's expression suddenly grew solemn. She glanced around and lowered her voice, "It's true, but you don't have to be afraid, only a few troublemakers—"

"Li Chunxia!" came a sudden scolding from nearby, "Are you running your mouth again?"

The girl talking with Chu Liang shivered, quickly shook her head, and fell silent.

It was a muscular, tough-looking boy not far ahead who had stood up, his expression unfriendly. He seemed very sensitive to their whispering, hearing it across several rows.

He pointed at Chu Liang, "Newcomer, if you want to study here, don't go poking your nose into things, understand?"

Faced with this aggressive warning, Chu Liang merely smiled and nodded, saying nothing, as if nothing had happened.

---

At that moment, a gentle voice came from behind, "Yan Xiaohu, what are you blustering about now?"

"Miss Song..." The muscular boy, Yan Xiaohu, immediately became docile and sat down.

A woman entered, dressed in a plain blue long dress with a short green jacket. She was tall and slender, almost delicate. Her hair was simply tied up, revealing ears and neck as white as porcelain, her skin like lamb's fat, her features pure, her eyes dark and bright.

Though she wore a stern expression and appeared mature, it was clear at a glance she was quite young.

"Is she also a teacher here?" Chu Liang was surprised.

She looked far too young to be a teacher.

Miss Song walked in from the doorway, came to Li Jue's side, gently nudged him awake, then slowly ascended the platform, speaking softly, "Let's begin the lesson."

Even Li Jue, seeing the female teacher, perked up with rare enthusiasm.

Compared to the elderly teacher who had strained his voice to rouse everyone but failed, her gentle, soothing tones were almost whispered, yet every student, male and female alike, became alert. Not a single one was sleepy.

"We have a new student today, don't we?" Miss Song looked at Chu Liang and said, "Let me introduce myself. I am Song Qingyi, instructor of poetry and literature at Nanshan Academy."

Chu Liang met her gentle gaze and felt a faint sense of something strange.

Though young, Song Qingyi taught with depth and clarity, making the lesson lively and engaging.

After class, it was time for lunch break.

On the way to the dining hall, Chu Liang finally met up with Lin Bei.

"What did you find out?" Chu Liang asked.

"I've got it all!" Lin Bei replied excitedly. "That Miss Song is named Song Qingyi, from Jiangnan. She just joined Nanshan Academy a few days ago, about eighteen or nineteen, same age as us... unmarried!"

Chu Liang: "?"