Yi Shikui smiled and nodded. “That’s right. I asked him to test you on my behalf. But Yunsi’s temperament is quite eccentric as well. After you traded insults with him the first time, he came looking for me.”
The snow on the ground had just been cleared, and the stone-paved path was somewhat slippery, so both of them slowed their pace.
“How did Yunsi put it?” Song Chuyi asked.
“Ha, he said you could be the young master’s teacher. Whether or not you have talent or learning, at the very least, in terms of temperament, you would certainly be able to keep the young master in check,” Yi Shikui said.
Song Chuyi imagined the tone Nan Qi would have used when saying this, and no matter how she thought about it, it seemed like sarcasm.
Yi Shikui leaned his head closer and said softly, “Your way of destroying states truly stirs the blood.”
“Are you not a Confucian? How could you approve of such arrogant and unkind words from me?” Song Chuyi looked at him curiously, feeling that this old man was rather interesting.
“Ah, how can you call it unkind? The various states are in conflict, and the disasters of war continue without end. If the realm is not unified for even a day, the common people of the world will continue to suffer disaster. My heart longs for a heroic ruler to sweep across the Central Plains, bring stability to the state, and secure the realm. What you pursue is the great way of the world. Such breadth of mind and ambition carries the momentum of swallowing thousands of miles like a tiger, and it inspires admiration.” Yi Shikui’s lowered tone actually sounded excited.
Song Chuyi’s eyes grew warm. She suddenly stopped, took a step back, flicked her broad sleeve, and in the snow performed a grand salute to Yi Shikui. “It is my good fortune that you know my heart.”
In her previous life, she had advocated the way of destroying states. She asked herself that her actions had not been reckless, and yet she had repeatedly suffered setbacks. She could only hide away in that small place, Yangcheng, to make a temporary home, burying this ambition deep in her heart. Until her death, this great wish had turned to a handful of yellow earth along with her.
In this life, she had abandoned the concealment of her previous life and spoken of this matter. She had originally thought that even if she had to fight alone, she would still throw this world into a magnificent upheaval, so that this rebirth would not be in vain. Yet she had never expected that someone would actually voice what was in the depths of her heart. How could she not be moved?
“Haha, to have met such a young talent as Huaijin, what good fortune!” Yi Shikui returned the salute.
After this conversation, the two of them seemed somewhat like friends despite the difference in age.
Yi Shikui warned, “Although I studied Confucianism, I have also dabbled in other schools of thought. I am not solely loyal to Confucian doctrine, which is why I can accept the way of destroying states. If true Confucians were to learn of this, they would certainly denounce you.”
“Thank you for your teaching.” Song Chuyi had only intended to say it that one time. Those who had heard her words that day were all young scholars – which one of them lacked ambition? Once this argument spread, it would inevitably come under attack. Whether they would be willing to give up such an aspiration would still require time for careful consideration, so for the moment it would not spread like wildfire.
Yi Shikui had also heard about that matter. After pondering for a moment, he asked, “Huaijin, do you wish to found a school and establish a doctrine?”
Song Chuyi smiled slightly, which could be taken as tacit acknowledgment. After a pause, she said, “Do you not think that I am ignorant and arrogant?”
“With such careful, step-by-step planning, where is there any talk of arrogance?” Yi Shikui looked Song Chuyi over again. “Strange.”
This was the first step of Song Chuyi’s groundwork, a sort of extremely small-scale trial. Even if it failed, she had ways to clear herself. In truth, Song Chuyi did not place much hope in it. The main reason was that she was a woman. Even if many people privately agreed with the way of destroying states, how many could accept that the founder of a school was a woman?
As the two talked, they had already arrived at the school building.
Because the population was not especially large, the clan school of Longgu Residence did not occupy much space and had only sixteen or seventeen students, who were practicing writing at that moment. Opening the door and entering, Song Chuyi glanced around briefly. The ages ranged from young children of five or six to youths of sixteen or seventeen – quite uneven, and it was hard on Yi Shikui to handle them all by himself.
“Where is Buwang?” Yi Shikui’s gaze fell on the empty desk at the very back.
A youth of sixteen or seventeen cupped his hands and said respectfully, “Sir, Buwang went to the small study just now.”
“Go call him here,” Yi Shikui said.
The youth assented, gave Song Chuyi a curious glance, and hurried out.
After a moment, he came back in together with a youth in splendid clothes.
Song Chuyi turned to look at the youth. His eyes were bright like stars, his sword-like brows flew upward, and his nose bridge was high. Although he was only fifteen, he was already much taller than the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youths beside him. His bearing was lazy, and he performed his salute with great negligence. Overall, one could tell at a glance that this youth was unruly and untamed.
“This is Buwang,” Yi Shikui said to Song Chuyi, turning his head.
This was clearly meant as a handover. Song Chuyi thought to herself, Elder, there is no need for you to look so impatient.
“Young Master Buwang.” Yi Shikui smiled slightly. “This is the new teacher I have found for you. Master Huaijin.”
Longgu Buwang looked utterly astonished, and everyone in the room was shocked as well. They had originally assumed that Song Chuyi was probably some distant relative of the Longgu clan, clinging to some connection to get into the Longgu clan school. Even in an age when imagination ran wild, they had never imagined that this was actually a teacher. The astonishment on Longgu Buwang’s face turned in an instant to shame and fury. Pointing at Yi Shikui, he cursed, “You old fool, if you are incompetent, so be it, but how can you humiliate me like this?”
Yi Shikui was clearly used to his temperament. He turned a deaf ear to his words and did not feel at all that he was being cursed.
“It is not the elder who humiliates you, but General Longgu. Without his consent, who would dare casually arrange a teacher for you?” Song Chuyi said slowly.
Seeing the youth frown, Song Chuyi said with a smile, “So you have cursed the wrong person with that remark. But you need not worry. I will faithfully relay it to the general for you.”
“A shameless petty man who only knows how to tattle,” Longgu Buwang said. He knew that Longgu Qing was not present today, so he did not immediately walk away.
Song Chuyi folded her hands and said with a smile, “If you think it is not good to have someone else relay it, you can also go curse him yourself. I do not mind.”
“You…” Longgu Buwang’s eyes were blazing with fire. Song Chuyi’s two remarks were infuriating, but if he rushed forward and beat her up, it would seem beneath him. He sneered, “You have not even grown your hair fully, and you still plan to be someone else’s teacher?”
Song Chuyi ignored him and turned to Yi Shikui. “Elder, I fear I will disappoint the general.”
“What do you mean?” Yi Shikui felt that Song Chuyi surely had a clever plan, so he cooperated by asking.
Song Chuyi said slowly, “This youth, I do not think much of him. This is my first time taking a student, so I must take a good one, lest it ruin my reputation and afterward no one ever dares to take me as a teacher again.”
Yi Shikui immediately felt a headache coming on. Sure enough, before he could respond, he saw the youth rush over and grab Song Chuyi by the collar.
Song Chuyi naturally was not willing to be grabbed so obediently. She raised her hand and fiercely struck the numb pressure point at his elbow.
Longgu Buwang’s arm suddenly went numb and he could not exert any strength.
Song Chuyi seized the opportunity and said, “In your current state, disrespecting your teacher, reckless as an ox, resorting to force at the first sign of trouble instead of using your brain – why should I think highly of you?”
With that, she flicked her sleeve and left.
Song Chuyi calmly walked out of the school building, then broke into a run. She had not run far when she heard crashing and smashing from inside the school building, along with the sounds of everyone either crying out in alarm or trying to console.
By the time Longgu Buwang rushed out intending to give Song Chuyi a beating, he found that she had long since vanished.
