Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Liu Heng and Feng Jin were close friends. In the past, both often came together and talked extensively, exchanged ideas, or shared their political views with each other. There was now a new common topic––Liu Heng’s younger cousin, and Feng Jin’s good friend. They often talked about how Liu Lanting was as a person, etc.
The former had some innate brotherly love, while the latter considerably admired Jiang Pengji. They hit it off from the start and could talk continuously.
At first, Han Yu only listened out of boredom. After hearing more about her, however, he became curious about the “Lanting” they spoke of.
Feng Jin mentioned that Han Yu was Master Yuanjing’s disciple. Liu Heng was in awe and looked at Han Yu with fervency. His younger cousin was going to Langye to study… If he could identify what Master Yuanjing liked, it could come in handy later.
With that motivation, Liu Heng indirectly made inquisitions. Han Yu held the corner of his mouth and briefly laughed. He looked purposefully at Feng Jin. Feng Jin forced a smile and reckoned that it was probably the “brotherly love” that Lanting had spoken about previously.
Liu Heng had good intentions; he acted as if he did not see anything.
“I understand that you love your brother dearly, but the class is full. I’m afraid no more students can be taken in.” Han Yu regrettably shook his head and said, “However, Langye academy is still welcoming. If Lanting goes to Langye in future, he can be my schoolmate.”
Presently, Feng Jin, who was watching from the side, was surprised. “It is full already? Master Yuanjing painstakingly sought and found his fourth person?”
It was Liu Heng’s turn to be confused. Why didn’t he understand what the two were talking about?
Feng Jin noticed that he was still confused and sighed helplessly. “Yaozhi, you don’t know the backstory. When Master Yuanjing regained control over the three cities, he went to discern the future when he returned to Langye county. It was determined that he would have four disciples in his lifetime. Over the years, Master took in three disciples… I initially thought, based on Lanting’s talents, that he might be the fourth the Master was looking for. Unbeknownst to me, he has already found the fourth…”
Those studying at Langye academy were counted as students under Yuanjing, but there would only ever be four close disciples.
“This––this…” Liu Heng’s face was quite disappointed. Even though he belittled his younger cousin with his words, he was actually very proud of him.
How could students and close disciples be the same?
Master Yuanjing only gave lectures occasionally to the former, but to the latter, he taught without reservation.
“Ai.” Liu Heng sighed. Trying to stay open-minded, he said, “It is my luck if I gained, and my fate if I lost. It is not Lanting’s fate then. Only… Huai Yu said just now that Master Yuanjing ‘painstakingly sought’ for the disciple… This is incomprehensible.”
He emphasised the words “painstakingly sought.” Based on Master Yuanjing’s reputation and talent, students from all over flocked to him.
There were countless students who would rack their brains for a way to just see Master Yuanjing. If they wanted to be his disciples, incense would ascend at their ancestors’ grave. Was there a need for Master Yuanjing to painstakingly seek for anyone? Ridiculous! But, observing Feng Jin and Han Yu’s expression, he could not be sure.
Han Yu said, “I proposed Huai Yu as a potential disciple to the Master, but he said Huai Yu had another destiny in his life, and it was not fated.”
Master Yuanjing had a weird habit with his disciples. He required them to be intelligent, have a good temperament that sat well with him, and a mysterious fate that bound them together.
It was exactly as Liu Heng thought: Master Yuanjing was known far and wide, so there were countless who wished to be his disciple.
He had all the talents in the world to choose from––how was it possible that he couldn’t find the disciple of his choice?
Han Yu was prepared to try, but he had never expected Master Yuanjing to come to his house personally to take him in as his disciple. After he entered, he saw many who were praised by Master Yuanjing, but they failed at the last criteria: They had another destiny and were not fated to be his disciple.
To hell with the “master-disciple fate!” If he refused to take in a disciple, then where does the “master-disciple fate” come from?
With regards to the grievances, Master Yuanjing only smiled in silence but never explained.
The first three disciples were found smoothly, then there was no news about the last one for many years. Perhaps he could not be found.
Feng Jin was curious. Ignoring the fact that Master Yuanjing had weird criteria for his potential disciples, the last––the “fate between master and disciple”––was even more ridiculous. Through that, it was obvious how important it was to the Master. He took in his first three disciples easily, but the last was rather hard to find.
Feng Jin was genuinely curious. “I wonder who this fourth person is. The last time Wen Bin wrote to me, he mentioned that Master Yuanjing was frustrated over choosing his disciples. Through this meeting, we were informed that a candidate had appeared… I cannot help but be curious.”
Speaking of the fourth person, Han Yu himself was clueless. Until then, he had not understood the meaning behind the master’s will.
“I mentioned to Huai Yu before about this person. Langye academy is full of young, talented individuals. The disciples the Master took in are the cream of the crop… Only one person was an exception.” Huai Yu knitted his brows briefly. “The first time I came to Langye county, I thought that person had to be master’s disciple. Later on I realised he was not. Moreover, he was not even a student of Langye academy, but Master specially allowed him to study there.”
Feng Jin thought it over and suddenly remembered something. “The person you’re speaking of is the one with an unlucky Bazi––the one that will meet a difficult trial.”
What was with his unlucky Bazi and meeting a difficult trial?
Han Yu nodded and said, “That is the person.”
Feng Jin felt that it was weird. “That person has been in Langye academy for seven or eight years… If Master Yuanjing took him in earlier, he would have been an older disciple. What was his reason for not taking him in earlier?”
Regarding that issue, Han Yu asked his Master, who smiled with deep, underlying meaning.
“Timing!” Han Yu said. “The Master said the timing was not right before, but the fate is complete now.”
After Feng Jin heard, he had a helpless expression. Famous teachers had weird habits, but Master Yuanjing sure was talented.
Liu Heng could not help but interrupt. He asked, “After hearing so much, I still do not know who that lucky person is.”
“Wei Ci. After Master took him in, he gave him his courtesy name. His spoken name is Zixiao,” Han Yu replied.
Wei Ci? Wei Zixiao? Liu Heng had never heard of him. He tried to recollect his memories, but he was unable to find traces of such a person.
“Then why say that he had an unlucky Bazi and would meet with a difficult trial?”
Liu Heng had a flaw: He had to ask if he didn’t know, and if the doubt was not cleared, he would feel uneasy.
Han Yu’s facial expression was stiff, as if he had trouble speaking.
Liu Heng thought he was met with some difficulties. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly added, “I was presumptuous. Please be understanding, Wen Bin.”
Han Yu shook his head and gently said, “There is nothing to hold back, but saying this will give people around unnecessary fear and restrain towards Zixiao. Foolish people abound, fearful of ghosts and gods. One insignificant Bazi is enough to raise many controversies that have caused trouble to Zixiao.”
Thankfully, Wei Ci was lucky. If not, he might have been secretly strangled the moment he was born and thrown in the wilderness.
Liu Heng heard the explanation and did not press further.
Han Yu would tell him if he asked, but such a way of behaving was contrary to the ways of a gentleman.
Liu Heng regretfully put his doubts away, and took the initiative to change the topic. The other two were also tactful, and the atmosphere was warm again.
