Chapter Fifty: Enrollment

“The sun shines in the sky, the flowers smile at me…”
On the mountain path at dawn, Fang Xiao rode his sturdy blue donkey, humming a tune.
His mood was light and cheerful.
Birds chirped in the woods along the road, as if greeting him with a morning hello.
Today was Fang Xiao’s first day at school.
He had risen early, donned a set of brand-new clothes purchased yesterday in the county town, and slung a military satchel over his shoulder.
He made his way toward the Six Rivers Academy.
The blue donkey beneath him was energetic, carrying Fang Xiao swiftly and steadily to his destination.
Fang Xiao was not the earliest new student to arrive.
At the place where mounts were kept, many horses were already tied up.
He noticed that the person managing the area was different from the one yesterday.
The new attendant was not only diligent but also perceptive, promptly helping Fang Xiao fasten the reins.
Fang Xiao thanked him, then patted the donkey’s head and whispered: “Stay here quietly. If anyone bullies you again, just call out loudly—I’ll come to your rescue!”
The blue donkey brayed twice, as if to say it understood.
Passing through the stone archway of Six Rivers Academy, Fang Xiao arrived at the entrance to the Martial Hall.
Two guards stood at the doors.
One checked Fang Xiao’s waist token, then handed him a scroll of silk paper to read carefully.
Fang Xiao unrolled the silk and studied it intently.
The contents were intriguing—a detailed guide for new students.
It featured a map of Six Rivers Academy, clearly marking the Dao Hall, Martial Hall, Literary Hall, lecture rooms, training grounds, dormitories, dining hall, latrines…
Each location was illustrated with precision.
Wherever one wished to go, the map would lead the way!
Additionally, the scroll listed class schedules, lunch breaks, meal times, and dismissal hours.
Most importantly, it enumerated dozens of rules students must follow.
For instance, private fights between students were strictly forbidden.
If grievances absolutely needed resolution, they were to be settled under the supervision of an instructor, either in a legal ring or a martial contest.
Those who maliciously violated this rule faced severe consequences—expulsion at the least, destruction of their core at worst!
Following the instructions, Fang Xiao first located the classroom assigned to the Martial Hall.
The room was spacious, its dark floor neatly lined with straw mats.
When Fang Xiao entered, two or three dozen new students were already seated inside.
Most appeared to be in their teens, not much younger or older than Fang Xiao himself.

The youngest among them seemed barely ten years old, yet around him gathered a crowd of boys and girls, forming a scene reminiscent of stars encircling the moon!
No one paid any attention to Fang Xiao’s arrival.
He didn’t mind and found a seat for himself.
Both front and back doors of the classroom were wide open, letting in a cool breeze that dispelled any trace of summer heat.
Fang Xiao took out the silk scroll again and memorized its contents carefully.
As time passed, more new students arrived, filling the seats around Fang Xiao.
Many recognized each other, gathering in small groups to whisper and laugh quietly.
Fang Xiao noticed that most of his classmates were dressed in fine clothing; compared to them, he looked rather shabby.
Indeed, there were no poor martial students at Six Rivers Academy.
Truth be told, Fang Xiao was not poor either.
Before entering seclusion, Daoist Pang had gifted him a box of gold leaves.
He was hardly short of money and could easily afford luxurious attire.
Yet Fang Xiao felt that silk robes and brocade garments didn’t suit his military satchel, martial belt, and canvas shoes.
Wearing them would only make him uncomfortable!
Moreover, he couldn’t leave these “treasured items” behind at the Daoist temple.
So the clothes he bought yesterday were still coarse cloth and simple wear.
Perhaps for this reason, no one sat beside him.
He remained oblivious, repeatedly reviewing the silk scroll.
Until the sound of a bell echoed from outside.
Clang—
The classroom instantly fell silent.
Every new student, male or female, straightened up and adopted an attentive posture.
Fang Xiao hurriedly followed suit.
At that moment, a cultivator in a green robe entered the room, holding a whisk.
He was about thirty, his hair tied in a Daoist bun, bearing an air of distinction, with long, tranquil eyes deep as a pool.
He stepped onto the lectern and swept his gaze across the room.
A subtle aura of authority enveloped everyone.
The new students scarcely dared to breathe.
“Disciples of the Martial Hall…”
The green-robed cultivator spoke calmly: “My name is Zhang He. I am honored to instruct at Six Rivers Academy, responsible for teaching martial theory. I hope you all study diligently and do not waste your time!”
The students rose as one, bowing respectfully: “Greetings, Instructor!”
Fang Xiao, inexperienced, was a beat slower in his response.

But he managed to complete the salute with the others.
“Sit.”
Zhang He nodded slightly, indicating they should be seated again.
He wasted no words.
Suddenly, he swung the whisk in his hand.
Hundreds of silken strands spread forward, scattering countless points of light.
In the blink of an eye, these lights formed a vividly lifelike martial warrior!
Before everyone’s eyes, the phantom warrior began to demonstrate punches and kicks, leaping and shifting through a dazzling array of moves that left the audience breathless.
Fang Xiao had attended Daoist Pang’s classes before and had seen similar techniques, so he wasn’t overly surprised.
When the phantom warrior finished a set of movements, Zhang He spoke:
“Martial artists are divided into Body Tempering, Essence Condensation, Meridian Opening, Innate, and Spirit Sea…”
Fang Xiao quickly pulled out a pencil and notebook from his satchel, jotting down every word the instructor said.
There are seven realms in martial cultivation; the foundation is the Body Tempering stage, each realm having nine levels.
The first three levels temper the skin, flesh, and tendons; the middle three temper the bones, blood, and marrow; the last three temper the internal organs!
Zhang He did not teach any secret techniques or martial forms, but rather fundamental knowledge of martial arts.
Yet his lecture was far from dry.
With the help of spell-forged illusions, he vividly illustrated these concepts.
Skin, flesh, tendons, bones, meridians, acupoints, internal organs…
Each was dissected for the class to observe!
Six Rivers Academy truly deserved its reputation as the highest educational institution in the county.
Such teaching methods were impossible even for martial artists of high rank.
Fang Xiao watched with rapt attention, his pencil flying across the notebook.
Compared to Daoist Pang, Zhang He’s instructional skills were far superior.
Previously, when Fang Xiao practiced the Dragon-Tiger Stance and Demon-Suppressing Fist, he knew the forms but not the underlying principles.
He had mastered the stances and punches, but understood little of the basic martial knowledge.
Listening to Zhang He now felt like a revelation.
The doubts that had arisen during his training were suddenly resolved!
Frequent flashes of insight made Fang Xiao’s spirits soar.
He felt that the hundred taels of tuition were well spent!
When Zhang He concluded the lesson, Fang Xiao was still reluctant for it to end.