Li Junzi gazed at the Broken Pen, which was emitting a faint white glow. She drew a slow breath and reached out to grasp it.
The moment the pen touched her hand, a weighty surge of Literary Energy rippled outward. Li Junzi felt a stream of extraordinarily pure literary energy flooding into her body.
In that instant, she seemed to glimpse an old man with a faintly pained expression on his face. His clothes were slightly faded but meticulously neat. The only things about him that appeared unkempt were a cracked wine gourd at his waist and a calligraphy brush in his hand that had lost nearly all of its bristles. He was hunched over bamboo slips, writing quietly.
The old man suddenly stopped and turned his gaze toward Li Junzi.
Four eyes met across what felt like a thousand years.
A hint of a smile appeared on the old man's face. He gave a slight nod, then turned back to his writing.
Li Junzi was startled, but then she too smiled and returned the nod.
So this was the Sub-Sage — he looked like nothing more than an ordinary old man.
Yet this ordinary old man had single-handedly ignited a new spark of civilization. Even if she could not forge an entirely new path of her own, she could at least extend the road a little further forward.
After all, the old man himself had just given her encouragement, had he not?
Chen Wenqian could not see what Li Junzi had seen, but he could feel the sheer depth and weight of that pure Literary Energy.
Was this the aura of the Sub-Sage of old?
It was truly... breathtaking.
That deepest layer of Literary Energy — Chen Wenqian knew he would never in his lifetime be able to fathom it.
Whether his own path was right or wrong, he had already reached its end.
If only there were enough time. If only Li Junzi were fast enough.
In truth, Chen Wenqian still wished to debate her one more time — to see what kind of brilliance would bloom from a path he himself had never explored.
Everyone's eyes were on Li Junzi.
She raised the pen, and the paper on the table before her rose into the air.
Li Junzi looked at the hovering sheet and thought for a moment. Based only on what she had come to understand so far, she wrote eight characters: Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles.
She could have written something more ornate, or something of deeper significance.
But Li Junzi did not. Things she had not yet fully accomplished herself — she would not write them down simply for the sake of appearances or prestige.
These words were for the students to read. Practical, honest truth was what mattered most.
The moment the eight characters were written, a soft white light pulsed and faded, and the paper drifted gently back down onto the table.
Li Junzi released the Broken Pen, bowed once more to the assembly, and turned to leave.
The Broken Pen hovered silently in midair.
Chen Wenqian watched Li Junzi walk away, utterly indifferent to the fact that she had just held one of Gentlemen Mountain's greatest treasures. He bowed deeply in return.
Chu Xingchen rose leisurely to his feet. He gave Yuyang Daozi a light pat on the shoulder, then turned and strolled toward the door.
Yuyang Daozi shook his head slightly and stood to follow.
Gentlemen Mountain, Bamboo Grove Courtyard.
Li Junzi cheerfully poured tea for everyone, as though she had been the one to win the debate.
Yuyang Daozi stared at the cup before him. He knew full well it would not taste like Chen Baiqing's tea, but he still took a sip with a flicker of hope.
The result was exactly as expected — a crushing disappointment.
Tch. This tea was essentially just leaves thrown into hot water.
But then again, he had gained something from these past few days, even if it would probably prove useless.
Still, there was something enjoyable about watching ordinary people argue passionately over principles — no schemes, no hidden plots, nothing but open and honorable debate.
He had expected to be ordered about like a beast of burden by Chu Xingchen the entire trip, but instead he had spent a few leisurely days.
And he had even gotten to drink Chen Baiqing's tea.
He had to admit, his mood had improved considerably over the past few days.
Lin Luoyu looked at Li Junzi with concern in her eyes and asked first:
"Master, where do you plan to go?"
Li Junzi met her gaze and answered with a smile: "Wherever the road leads. The world is vast — I should see all of it."
Lin Luoyu turned to look at her master, her eyes seeking guidance.
The world was indeed vast, but it was also full of dangers. A Confucian Scholar might possess unusual abilities in the eyes of ordinary mortals, but in the eyes of cultivators...
Lin Luoyu had witnessed enough of the cultivation world alongside her master and Second Senior Brother to know better.
If she encountered proper, upright cultivators, that would be manageable enough. But wandering aimlessly and running into evil cultivators — well, it was unlikely, but one could never be too careful.
She herself wore a protective talisman given to her by Chu Xingchen, powerful enough to withstand attacks at the Gold Core Realm and hold briefly even against a Nascent Soul cultivator.
But the talisman was meant for her own protection. Giving it away to someone else was, regardless of who the recipient was, somewhat...
Chu Xingchen kept his eyes on his tea and sent a quiet voice transmission: "What I gave to you is yours. Do with it as you see fit."
Gratitude flickered across Lin Luoyu's face. She undid the clasp of the jade ring on her right hand, took Li Junzi's hand, and personally slid the ring onto her master's finger.
Li Junzi looked at the jade ring and understood immediately. She was about to speak, but Lin Luoyu preempted her:
"It has always been you giving things to me — shoes, clothes, and more. I have rarely given you anything in return. Surely you are not going to stand on ceremony with me now?"
Lin Luoyu's words were sincere and heartfelt. She held tightly to Li Junzi's hand.
Li Junzi looked down at the jade ring, then met Lin Luoyu's eyes and said:
"Very well. Luoyu has grown up. It seems I must listen to you now."
Watching the scene, Yuyang Daozi suddenly thought of his own sect master. Perhaps he should bring something back for him on this trip. His own master had always treated him quite well.
Just as Yuyang Daozi was contemplating what gift to bring back for his master, Chu Xingchen's voice transmission interrupted his thoughts: "Brother Yuyang, this trip was not a waste, was it?"
Hearing the transmission, Yuyang Daozi felt an inexplicable sense of alarm rise within him. He transmitted back warily:
"It was not."
Chu Xingchen sighed softly and continued: "You know how unsettled the world is these days. A protective talisman like that... it is useful enough, but it is not foolproof."
Yuyang Daozi understood instantly. What Chu Xingchen was really saying was: Since your trip was not a waste, shouldn't you contribute something decent to protect her as well?
As expected — it was impossible to visit without leaving something behind.
Very well. While Li Junzi was not entirely to his taste, she was at least a straightforward, honest person.
The Pinnacle Dao Sect was one of the Eighteen Immortal Sects, not some roadside backwater clan.
A single protective treasure — if the Heavenly Derivation Sect could not afford one, the Pinnacle Dao Sect certainly could.
Yuyang Daozi did not hesitate. He retrieved a small wooden box from his spatial ring and discreetly passed it to Chu Xingchen.
He and Li Junzi were barely acquainted. Over the past few days, they had exchanged little more than nods of acknowledgment.
If he was going to give her something, it made more sense for Chu Xingchen to pass it along.
Chu Xingcen accepted it without hesitation.
Just as Yuyang Daozi assumed the matter was settled, Chu Xingchen's voice transmission drifted over once more:
"Brother Yuyang... have you heard of the Face Token?"
Yuyang Daozi stared at Chu Xingchen, his expression a mixture of confusion and bewilderment.
Face... Token?
[
Unlock 30 chapters instantly (for the price of the old 20-chapter tier), plus regular updates and extra benefits every month.
If you're enjoying the story, please consider supporting me on Patreon:
patreon.com/Alex_Cruise
I'll be honest—I'm in deep financial trouble right now, and your support genuinely makes the difference in whether I can keep writing consistently.
By joining, you'll get:
30 advanced chapters immediately
Ongoing monthly chapters
Bonus content and extra releases
If this story has kept you hooked even once, now's the time to support it. Every bit helps keep it alive.
Thank you.
]