Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 486 - 436 Reply_2

Chapter 486: Chapter 436 Reply_2
"Thank you."
Deep down, Li Ang was still influenced by his modern background. He unconsciously expressed his gratitude, a word seldom used by teachers according to conventional customs. However, being not much older than Ouyang Shi, Li Ang didn’t care much about these complex formalities.
"How are you finding the books at the Academic Palace?" Li Ang asked casually.
Ouyang Shi answered, "I’m almost done. I found Natural Science and Mathematics easier, but Military Studies and Yu Law are not my strong suits."
"What about the Dao Path? Did Senior Sister Sui Yi help you check which one suits you?"
"She did. Instructor Sui said I’m best suited for talismanic study and Mind Study."
Ouyang Shi paused, her expression slightly gloomy.
She had participated in this year’s Academic Palace examination and had passed successfully, earning her admission.
This made her both happy and unhappy. On one hand, entering the Academic Palace meant a clear path in life, but on the other, it also meant she would often have to encounter Xi Yangyu, who had abandoned her and her mother.
Xi Yangyu was still the Academic Palace Director.
On the evening after the exam results were announced, she and the other students traditionally went to the palace to meet the Emperor.
The Emperor and Empress specifically met with her, inquiring about her life.
Ouyang Shi proudly declared herself a disciple of Li Ang, eliciting envy from other students unaware of her background.
However, the joy faded when the Emperor and Empress asked about her parents.
Regardless of acceptance, Xi Yangyu was still her biological father.
And filial piety has always been the most important moral principle in Yu Country, politically correct as Li Ang would say.
"I see."
Li Ang smacked his lips. This disciple of his, whom he’d rather unconventionally acquired, was suited for talismanic study and Mind Study, just as he was, and would unavoidably be involved with Xi Yangyu.
Was this what they called entangled grievances between generations?
Li Ang shook his head, comforting her, "Don’t dwell on it. The Academic Palace isn’t only about Xi Yangyu teaching Mind Study. If it suits you, there’s no need to give it up because of him."
"Okay."
Ouyang Shi nodded obediently and handed a stack of letters to Li Ang. "These arrived for you this morning."
"So many?"
Li Ang handed the teacup back to Ouyang Shi and casually flipped through the senders of the letters, walking into his study with them.
There was a letter from Shade, Yizhou. The local merchants’ guild in Yizhou had built two new buildings at the State School in Li Ang’s name.
Another was from Cheng Juxiu. He was about to join the Academic Palace scientific expedition team on a long sea voyage and wouldn’t be able to return to Chang’an for a while. He asked Li Ang to take good care of his professor.
There was also a letter from Ashina Galuo from the northern grasslands.
Li Ang sat at his desk, opened the envelope with a letter opener, and silently began to read.
Galuo sent letters to Chang’an every month, talking about recent events on the grasslands.
"Hey, Ang, how have you been lately?
"I heard it’s quite hot in Chang’an this summer. It’s very cool here on the grasslands, though. Ever thought about visiting?
"Haha, just kidding. I still really miss your swimming pool. Unfortunately, we have to chase water and grass here, and the tribes must continuously migrate, so it’s impossible to build one.
"Could you put that clever mind of yours to work and think of a solution?"
I’m not Doraemon; how could I think of a solution?
Li Ang saw the pleading doodle on the letter and smiled slightly. His mind inexplicably drifted to a method of responding he recalled from memories of another world:
Suppose you are Li Ang, and your friend asks you to help build a swimming pool. Please write him a short letter, word count 80-100.
Li Ang shook his head and continued reading.
"My mare had a difficult labor last month. The tribe’s horsemen said there was no saving her and advised me to give up early to end her suffering.
"I had already drawn my scimitar, but looking into her eyes, I somehow just couldn’t do it.
"I had someone bring the veterinarian textbook you wrote. I followed the procedures and personally delivered the foal for the mare.
"It took nearly an hour, but I finally managed to pull the foal out, drenched in blood. Both mare and foal are safe.
"How about that? I’m pretty amazing, right?"
Amazing, amazing indeed.
Li Ang rubbed his chin.
Pulling out the foal... was this, in a manner of speaking, really ’yanking the little one out’?
"The delegation from Taihao Mountain recently visited the Royal Court again. I heard they requested us to thoroughly investigate the monks who have been preaching on the grasslands lately. They claim it’s related to Master Jianquan from your Yu Country, who died in Xingzhou.
"You mentioned last time that you and Le Ling went to Xingzhou for an internship, right? Are you involved in this too?
"That’s such a dangerous matter, and you didn’t write to tell me about it! It made me worry for quite a while. Hmph, I’m furious."
You also know it’s a serious matter; how could I tell you?
Li Ang shook his head with a wry smile. All personnel who went to Xingzhou were under a gag order, strictly prohibiting them from discussing anything about the Jianquan Monks. Violators would likely end up in the garrison dungeon for ’tea’.
Li Ang couldn’t be sure if his letters to the Turkic lands were being intercepted (they most likely were). Naturally, he couldn’t discuss these matters with Galuo, not even in the slightest hint.
Now, all countries were investigating the disciples of Jianquan. Jianghu had already been stirred into a storm of blood and violence, and many people in the Chang’an Ghost Market had disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
However, no matter how hard Yu Country and Taihao Mountain tried to block the news, rumors of the Six Paths of Reincarnation Illusion still circulated among the common populace. Some even built temples in desolate areas, enshrining statues of Jianquan and frescoes of Chaotic Wind.
The repercussions of this anomaly were even more profound than the Chang’an anomaly last July.
Li Ang pulled his thoughts back and continued to read through the letters.
"Oh, right, besides this matter, Taihao Mountain’s delegation also wants to team up with us to explore a secret realm located in the shallow levels of Li Yuan.
"Only Innate Martial Artists and Cloud Patrol Realm cultivators are qualified to participate.
"Hehe, I also advanced to Innate last month! So I specifically had a craftsman make a new scimitar for me. If I encounter Bian Chenpei in the secret realm next time, maybe I can land a fierce slash.
"As for Li Yuan, it wouldn’t be strange for any kind of anomaly to occur there."
Li Yuan is located in the western part of the Turkic grasslands, a gigantic rift stretching over fifteen hundred miles.
Its widest point is fifty miles, and even at its narrowest, it spans several miles.
The gorge is perpetually shrouded in dense fog, unfathomably deep, and teems with dangerous demons.
The most fatal aspect is that the gorge forbids the use of vital energy. Any Magic or Telekinesis is unusable, and even a Martial Arts Grandmaster would quickly fatigue and be drained.
It is a forbidden place, much like the Ten Thousand Desolate Mountains and the Endless Sea.
In some Pre-Sui Classics, the highest realm mortal cultivators can reach, Lin Yuan, is even described as ’transcending Li Yuan.’ This means only Lin Yuan cultivators can traverse Li Yuan unaffected.
Li Ang was familiar with this tale, his brow unconsciously furrowed with concern.
He was worried about whether Galuo would be safe going to Li Yuan and also about her heartfelt intention to seek revenge on Bian Chenpei.
"Haha, don’t worry, I was just joking.
"Bian Chenpei’s father, Bian Yubo, is now the Judicial Cardinal of Taihao Mountain—a rare dignitary in this world.
"Even if I had the ability to take revenge, I would still have to consider my clan’s safety. I know my limits.
"Hmm... but still, it’s somewhat upsetting. After finishing this letter, I’m going to make a voodoo doll and curse Bian Chenpei to be hit and crippled by a carriage the moment he steps out. That should be fine, right?"
A mud truck curse?
Li Ang was rendered speechlessly amused. Sadly, no carriage in this world could casually kill a Cloud Patrol Realm cultivator, and Bian Chenpei certainly wasn’t some high school girl rushing to school with bread in her mouth.
"That’s the recent situation. How are you doing over there? Write back to me soon. I want to receive it before July seventh."
Perhaps she was really eager to make that voodoo doll; Galuo’s handwriting seemed very light, and she even drew a smiling face at the end of the letter.
July seventh... isn’t that Chinese Valentine’s Day?
Li Ang paused for a moment, noticing there was something else tucked behind the letter.
Opening it, he found a small, not very finely-made sachet. Inside were dried flower petal fragments emitting a faint fragrance.