“We have to eat, live, and spend a whole year with a bunch of mortals, and we cannot use any magic.”
“Not to mention, we also have to pay a hundred taels for tuition.”
“Even if tuition were free, I still would not go. Just watch, I bet not a single disciple will be willing to go.”
“I really have no idea what Senior Feng is up to this year.”
The murmurs of the crowd were suddenly cut short.
Feng Qiubai intended to demonstrate his talisman magic in front of all the disciples. With a flick of his hand, he released a round-headed little ghost from his wide, silvery-white sleeve. Upon hitting the ground, it transformed into the appearance of a five or six-year-old child, its body gradually turning transparent as it scurried away, quickly vanishing among the disciples of the Starry Sky Sect.
Next, Feng Qiubai produced a sheet of blank yellow paper, dipped his brush tip in ink, and made a few strokes with a very dashing demeanor. The moment it was completed, the talisman flew out. When everyone looked in that direction, the talisman was already firmly stuck to the little ghost’s forehead. The ghost was forced back into its original form, pinned there and unable to move.
Feng Qiubai seemed quite pleased with his performance. The little ghost was clearly an old hand; as soon as the talisman was removed, it automatically turned into a wisp of white smoke and flew back into Feng Qiubai’s sleeve.
This little trick was only good for fooling mortals. Facing a crowd of cultivating disciples, the only reason everyone did not simply walk away was entirely out of respect for Feng Qiubai.
Even so, one or two bold individuals in the crowd could not help letting out snorts of disdain.
I truly could not understand what kind of street-performer tricks Feng Qiubai was playing here. It was said that these petty tricks were only used to fool mortals, yet wealthy young masters and young ladies paid exorbitant sums of money to study at his academy.
The reason the two talismans he gave me were precious was because they were drawn by Feng Qiubai himself and carried his powerful spiritual energy. For high-level cultivators, this talisman-drawing technique did not need to be specially studied; one could learn it simply by reading through the Comprehensive Compendium of Talismans. However, high-level cultivators found drawing talismans troublesome and rarely used them, while low-level cultivators found that even if they learned them, it made little difference, rendering it a waste of time and energy.
Lin Mo mentioned that in previous years, Feng Qiubai never came to our sect to recruit students, only taking in mortals. He wondered why he had come this year, questioning if he had not collected enough tuition fees, while simultaneously casting a sideways glance at me.
I thought to myself that it was quite possible. After all, the Drunken Life Pavilion was considered a high-consumption venue, and seeing him at his age still being laughed at by juniors made me feel somewhat sympathetic. When he walked past me, I softly asked, “Senior, is something troubling you?”
He let out a very hearty laugh, then whispered into my ear, “I specifically made this trip for Brother Yu. Would Brother Yu like to learn the teleportation formation array?” He even offered me a mysterious smile.
There was no real need to learn talisman drawing, but this teleportation array was Feng Qiubai’s exclusive, unique skill, and he was actually offering to teach it to me.
That instantly piqued my interest. “Senior Feng, how is the tuition fee calculated?” I asked.
“Seeing that this young friend is naturally gifted and we share a great affinity, the tuition is waived,” he replied.
“Then I want to sign up.”
As soon as those words left my mouth, the crowd instantly erupted into chatter, most likely all baffled by the baffling behavior of our eldest senior brother.
“If Senior Brother is going, then I am going too,” came Yao Shuang’s voice. “Can Senior also waive my tuition?”
“Naturally,” Feng Qiubai said.
“Count me in as well,” Lin Mo chimed in.
I looked at Lin Mo, who grumbled resentfully, “Senior Brother has no idea how much I envy your ability to go everywhere and play. I also want to go down the mountain and wander around.”
I already knew Lin Mo lacked any real ambition.
Seeing that I was willing to go, Feng Qiubai seemed to have achieved his goal and looked thoroughly satisfied. As for Yao Shuang and Lin Mo, he merely cast perfunctory glances in their direction. When Chen Xiaowu and Duan Qianyue chimed in from the back of the crowd saying they wanted to go too, Feng Qiubai’s face darkened almost instantly, and he directly slapped them with a price tag of one thousand taels per person, causing Chen Xiaowu and Duan Qianyue to naturally give up.
Feng Qiubai left behind three teleportation talismans and recommendation tokens, which were essentially reference letters, before departing.
“Both of your injuries have not even healed yet, why are you two trying to join the fun?” I asked, looking at Duan Qianyue and Chen Xiaowu standing together.
“My injury is minor and does not matter. That hateful old man,” Chen Xiaowu muttered.
“Does Senior Brother want me to come along?” Duan Qianyue’s affected, delicate manner gave me goosebumps all over. I had no idea where he had picked up this white-lotus act, probably trying to get me to pay his way again.
“I do not.” With that, I turned and headed back to my quarters.
Seeing them about to trail after me, I simply declared, “None of you are to follow me. Go back to your own places.”
The next day, after packing up lightly and changing into casual clothes, we gathered at the sect entrance. We activated the teleportation talisman, and in the blink of an eye, we appeared right outside the gates of Spring Night City.
So the Wind and Snow Hall was set up in Spring Night City; Feng Qiubai really knew how to pick a location.
“Spring Night City, I have never been here before,” Yao Shuang said, her tone brimming with happiness. It seemed being cooped up in the sect had really been driving the young girl stir-crazy.
“It is said that Spring Night City is filled with beautiful women,” Lin Mo’s tone carried a hint of underlying excitement.
I thought to myself, I never took you for that kind of person, Lin Mo. I had assumed everyone taught by Master was exceptionally upright; I never expected to find a stray fish slipping through the net.
Yao Shuang cheerfully dashed forward a few steps, eager to enter the city, only to be stopped by the guards at the city gates.
I stepped forward and handed the recommendation token to them for inspection before we were finally granted passage.
“It smells so good,” someone muttered, and I too caught the faint fragrance of flowers drifting throughout the entire Spring Night City.
It reminded me of those countless crabapple blossoms and the enthusiastic Auntie City Lord.
“Senior Brother, can crabapple blossoms be made into pastries?” Yao Shuang stared with shining eyes at a nearby shop bearing a sign that read Crabapple Pastries.
Curiosity was a lie; wanting to eat them was the truth.
“Plum blossoms can be made into pastries, so crabapples naturally can too,” I deliberately teased her, keeping my pace steady as I walked forward.
The young girl stopped right outside the shop and pouted.
“I suddenly remembered I have never tasted these crabapple pastries before, let us buy some to try.” I changed direction and walked into the shop, purchasing a box for the three of us to share.
“Senior Brother is the best.”
Yao Shuang was truly adorable.
After asking the shopkeeper for directions, we quickly arrived at the Wind and Snow Hall.
Outside the academy stretched vast groves of crabapple trees, making it look as though it were established amidst a sea of pink blossoms.
Upon entering, one encountered a winding covered walkway. Down by the stone steps, a cobblestone pathway wound through the grounds, accented with ornamental rockery. Straight ahead stood a triple-bay gatehouse, and beyond it were rows of neatly arranged desks and chairs.
To the left of the gatehouse was a row of dormitories, while to the right were pavilions, fish ponds, red koi carp, and rock gardens.
“I am the headmaster of the Wind and Snow Academy,” said an elderly man of about fifty-something.
I showed him the recommendation token, and he led us to the dormitories to drop off our luggage.
He mentioned that he had been managing this academy ever since its establishment, and though Master Feng later bought it, it was still run by him on a daily basis.
The dormitories inside the academy were quite spacious, each accommodating two people. Lin Mo and I naturally shared a room, while Yao Shuang, being a young woman, did not stay with us.
The women’s quarters were separated from ours by a courtyard wall, accessible simply by passing through a doorway.
“This door could never stop me; I can easily come over to find Senior Brother and play,” Yao Shuang said proudly.
“Silly girl, this door is meant to keep out men with impure intentions,” Lin Mo remarked.
Yao Shuang belatedly blushed with embarrassment, which only served to amuse us further.