My Dreams Connect to Ancient Times-Chapter 56 - 55: The Clouds Part and the Fog Lifts, the Moon Rises Over the Treetops
’Official business?’
Lu Xuan’s expression grew solemn. ’So my teacher didn’t come all this way just to hit me three times...’
He suppressed the intense pain and tremors in his body and listened intently.
The Old Master now spoke softly:
"What I am about to say is not a mandatory requirement. You can even consider it a request, if you wish."
Lu Xuan’s expression changed. He struggled to his feet and bowed.
"Teacher, you speak too gravely!"
"Sit down first." The Old Master sighed softly. "I need you to establish a tradition in your world."
"What?" Lu Xuan froze.
"I mean, to open the gates of your own mountain and establish a Daoist Lineage." The Old Master said. "Establish a Daoist Lineage, and as for who to revere... revere yourself, and the Supreme Profound Clarity. That will suffice."
Lu Xuan was bewildered. ’Establish... establish a Daoist Lineage??’
’And revere myself?’
He asked cautiously,
"Teacher, my Cultivation is still a bit low. This... this might be..."
The Old Master smiled gently.
"I’m not telling you to establish it right now. Wait until you climb the Divine Ladder and become a Celestial Human. We can discuss it then. For now, there’s no rush."
As he spoke, he set down the ruler and added,
"It was also my fault for not explaining things clearly before, which is why I only struck you three times, just to help you remember. Now that the official business is out of the way, I’ll lay down three rules for you."
"I... I will listen respectfully."
The terrifying, concussive force was still ravaging the youth’s body, causing him to stutter and speak in fits and starts.
"First, the Keeper of the Records. You may take it out of the Guardian Storage Room, but you must not actively bring it to your world again."
"Second, the Daoist Robe and Hat. Until you become an immortal, you are not to wear them in your world. Here, however, you may wear them when you feel it is appropriate."
"Third..."
The old man paused, then patted Lu Xuan on the head and said softly,
"Remember this, I will not protect you through your tribulations. But if someone stronger tries to bully you, you must learn to tattle."
"Huh?" Lu Xuan was confused. He didn’t understand what his teacher meant and was a little dazed.
"What, you don’t even know how to run to your parents?" The old man patted Lu Xuan’s head again. "Alright, I’ll be going now. Remember my words. If a stronger person bullies you, remember to cry and complain. You should learn a thing or two from your Senior Brother Zhang."
As he spoke, a cold light flashed in his eyes. His figure grew faint and blurry until it vanished completely.
The vast Guardian Storage Room was once again empty, save for Lu Xuan.
The young man opened his mouth and muttered to himself,
"’Run to my parents?’"
"’I don’t know why my teacher would suddenly say that, but...’"
"’I have a parent again.’"
He laughed happily, a warm feeling spreading through his heart.
"’It just really hurt.’"
As he thought this, Lu Xuan tried to quell the violent tremors and pain in his body, but he failed. The vibrations continued, pervasive and inescapable.
’Wait a minute...’ The young man’s expression shifted. He stopped trying to suppress the tremors and instead attempted to guide them, to lead them.
He treated himself as a nascent sword embryo, using the tremors and intense pain as a hammer, striking himself at a high frequency.
Gradually, the sword’s Form was complete.
The great secret of the lungs was also ’hammered’ out.
The seventh gate of the Jade Tower—the fourth viscera—opened.
The young man’s breath instantly became incredibly long and drawn out. His heartbeat slowed. Unrestrained, a single inhalation and exhalation could stir up a great wind.
Lu Xuan rose and bowed deeply toward the meditation cushion where his teacher often sat.
Meanwhile, in a certain void, within a resplendent Daoist Palace.
The old man stroked his long beard and nodded slightly.
"The boy is teachable."
......
When he awoke, it was already morning.
After carefully washing up and making his bed, Lu Xuan gingerly changed into a brand-new school uniform.
He touched the embroidery on his chest—the four words "East Sea Middle School"—and a pure smile spread across his face.
When he went outside, his steps were much lighter than usual.
"Good morning, Uncle Zheng! I bet your pork will be a big seller today!"
"Xiaobao, off to buy groceries so early?"
"Uncle Chen, you dropped a chestnut... Oh, right! Can I get an order of your roasted chestnuts? An extra-large bag, please!"
He greeted his neighbors along the way, his beaming smile infecting everyone he passed. For a moment, the once-listless shantytown seemed to liven up a bit.
The only problem was that the extra-large bag of roasted chestnuts was a bit of a struggle to carry.
"’Old Chen really gave me way too much...’"
The closer he got to East Sea Middle School, the more nervous Lu Xuan felt.
He had often snuck over to eavesdrop on classes and had even visited the library a few times, but this was different.
It had nothing to do with his Cultivation or anything like that. It was simply the first time in this life he was truly attending high school, properly entering a school... The feeling was...
When he reached the school gate, many students did a double-take. One reason was that the young man was strikingly handsome; the other was the extra-large bag of roasted chestnuts in his hand.
"Sir!"
Lu Xuan called out.
"No cigarettes from me today, okay?"
The old gatekeeper froze, pushed up his reading glasses, and stared for a moment before saying in surprise,
"You’re... Lu the Kid?"
With a gasp of surprise, he stood up, a smile spreading across his face.
"You’ve enrolled? Good, good, that’s wonderful..."
"Yep! It’s through the school’s financial aid program for needy students." Lu Xuan replied with a smile, his voice loud and clear. Even more students turned to look, but most were simply curious, without much scorn in their gazes.
Students admitted to East Sea High School generally came from well-off families. Most had never had any contact with people from the Lower City District, let alone the shantytowns, so they were extremely curious about a ’needy student’.
The old gatekeeper nodded again and again, smiling.
"I always had a feeling a good kid like you would be blessed... Alright, hurry on in. I won’t have to open the side gate for you anymore."
"I’ll buy you that pack of cigarettes after school!" Lu Xuan waved happily. He was the type to remember a kindness; the old gatekeeper’s help had been indispensable over the past year of eavesdropping.
He chatted with the gatekeeper for a few more moments until the school bell rang. Only then did Lu Xuan hurry into the school. After asking for directions a few times, he found the staff office and knocked before entering.
Most of the students had already started their morning classes, so the office was empty except for Lu Xiuyuan, who was reading a newspaper and sipping tea.
"Teacher Lu!" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Lu Xiuyuan paused, then looked up, a smile spreading across his face.
"Xiaolu, you’re here! What’s with the..."
He glanced at the huge bag of chestnuts in Lu Xuan’s hand, looking puzzled.
"They’re for a friend. She likes them."
Lu Xiuyuan guessed he meant Yan Jiangxue and shook his head with a resigned smile.
"You didn’t have to bring such a huge bag... I bet you got a lot of stares on the way here, didn’t you?"
After a pause, he stood up and added,
"Alright, I’ll take you to your classroom first. Try the academic classes for a day. If you don’t get used to it, you don’t have to attend them. Just coming to the cultivation practice class each week is enough... But you absolutely cannot miss the cultivation class. Otherwise, you won’t be allowed to take the cultivation college entrance exams."
Lu Xuan nodded readily, then said, a little bashfully,
"Um, Teacher Lu, can I be placed in... in..."
Before he could finish, Lu Xiuyuan let out a hearty laugh.
"You don’t even have to ask! Don’t say I don’t look out for you. I assigned you to your good friend’s class first thing this morning. Let’s go!"
Lu Xuan beamed.
Lu Xiuyuan quickly led the young man to the door of Grade 11, Class 1. He knocked and smiled at the female teacher on the dais.
"Teacher Xiaohe, this is the new transfer student, Lu Xuan. I’ll leave him to you."
As he spoke, he stepped aside, revealing the young man behind him.
The students in the class all craned their necks to see. A low buzz of chatter immediately filled the room as they started whispering among themselves.
"A transfer student... he must be the one on financial aid, right?"
"Mmm, this new kid is pretty cute. But what’s that he’s carrying?"
"Looks like chestnuts? In a bag that big... You don’t think he’s planning to give it to the teacher as a gift, do you?"
"Hard to say, hard to say!"
Some sized him up with curiosity, while others were already making jokes at his expense.
"Go on in." Lu Xiuyuan gently patted Lu Xuan’s shoulder. He waited until the young man had stepped into the classroom before leaving.
"Alright, quiet down."
Teacher Xiaohe clapped her hands.
"Let’s have our new student introduce himself, and then we’ll continue with the lesson."
On the dais, Lu Xuan felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at by dozens of pairs of eyes, all still holding a trace of youthful innocence. He scratched his head and said simply,
"Hello everyone. My name is Lu Xuan, and I’m from the shantytowns in the Lower City District."
The shantytowns?
The students exchanged glances.
A boy with a face full of freckles raised his hand and asked with a cheeky grin,
"Hey, what’s that you’re carrying? Are you going to share it with us, or is it a gift for the teacher? Let me just say, I’m not eating any!"
The class erupted in laughter.
Teacher Xiaohe frowned and was about to reprimand the student, but then she saw Lu Xuan just smile serenely.
"Neither. It’s for my friend."
"A friend? Who?"
Lu Xuan didn’t answer, merely looking toward a corner of the classroom.
The students instinctively followed his gaze. In the corner by the window sat an exceptionally beautiful girl.
And this girl, known to all as the "ice mountain," was now smiling radiantly, her eyes curved into crescents.
That smile made the spring breeze outside the window seem gentler still, like clouds parting to reveal the moon rising above the treetops.
