It was early morning in Gao Family Village, at the School Well.
The Spring Festival was drawing near, and today's lesson had changed. Instead of reciting the Three Character Classic or the Hundred Family Surnames, Teacher Wang stood before the students, enthusiastically telling the legend of the Nian Beast.
Most of the younger children had heard fragments of the story from their parents, but none had ever heard it told so vividly. Teacher Wang's voice rose and fell with dramatic flair, drawing them completely into the tale. Every child listened with wide eyes and focused attention.
Only one person was uninterested.
Young Master Bai sat near the entrance, flipping through his Pinyin textbook.
For him, these lessons were too simple. Having received careful education since childhood, he could not find interest in stories meant for beginners. He had already finished the entire Pinyin Heavenly Book.
Now he did not know what to study next.
At that moment, Gao Yiye walked over and handed him another book.
"This is for you," she said. "The second Heavenly Book bestowed by Tianzun."
Young Master Bai's eyes lit up. He immediately accepted it with both hands, his movements respectful and careful.
"Am I the only one allowed to study this?"
Gao Yiye nodded.
Young Master Bai glanced toward Teacher Wang and lowered his voice.
"What about Teacher Wang?"
Gao Yiye shook her head slightly.
"Teacher Wang may not be suited for this."
Young Master Bai felt puzzled, but he did not dwell on it. Instead, he lowered his head and looked at the title.
Elementary Math, First Grade, Volume One.
The moment he opened it, his mind went blank.
The strange Arabic numerals made his thoughts freeze completely.
If this had been an ordinary book, he might have closed it immediately. But this was a Heavenly Book bestowed by Tianzun. It was natural that mortal minds could not easily comprehend divine knowledge. If he understood it instantly, that would be the truly strange thing.
Encouraged by that thought, he steadied himself and began studying seriously.
Beside him, Gao Yiye listened to Tianzun's explanations and repeated them word for word. As she relayed the knowledge, she found herself learning as well.
Before long, both of them understood the Arabic numerals and the basic mathematical symbols.
Young Master Bai's talent quickly became apparent.
Once he grasped the meaning behind the symbols, his progress accelerated dramatically. He flipped through the pages with astonishing speed. Addition and subtraction posed no difficulty at all. He understood them at a glance.
Soon, Gao Yiye could no longer keep pace with him. She handed him Elementary Math, First Grade, Volume Two.
This volume still focused on addition and subtraction within one hundred.
Young Master Bai mastered it just as easily.
Then came Elementary Math, Second Grade, Volume One.
Multiplication appeared.
Ordinary students would struggle here, but Young Master Bai was no ordinary student.
He was Bai Yuan's son.
Among the Six Arts of a gentleman, Bai Yuan had always placed special importance on mathematics. Under his father's guidance, Young Master Bai had already developed a solid foundation. As a result, multiplication and division did not slow him down much.
He continued forward.
Then he reached Elementary Math, Third Grade, Volume One.
Fractions.
When he saw expressions like 1/3 and 1/4, his progress finally halted.
He stared at the page, unable to move forward.
Just then, Madam Bai entered the School Well.
She smiled warmly.
"My son, have you studied diligently today?"
Young Master Bai held his brush, staring blankly at the question before him.
Which is larger, 1/3 or 1/4?
"The Heavenly Book bestowed by Tianzun is too profound," he said absentmindedly. "Your son cannot solve this problem."
Madam Bai immediately struck the back of his head.
"Tianzun personally bestowed a Heavenly Book upon you. This is an immense blessing. And yet you cannot understand it? Think harder. You must figure it out."
The sudden pain snapped him out of his confusion.
His mind cleared instantly.
"Hahaha. I understand now."
He quickly picked up his brush and wrote the answer.
1/3 > 1/4
Gao Yiye listened briefly, then smiled.
"Tianzun says your answer is correct. Tianzun praises your extraordinary talent in mathematics and says your future achievements will be limitless."
Madam Bai's face filled with joy.
From that day forward, she would proudly repeat those words to everyone she met.
"Tianzun personally praised my son's mathematical talent."
She would repeat it for the rest of her life.
At that moment, Gao Yiye tilted her head slightly, listening again.
"Young Master Bai, Tianzun has assigned you an important task."
Young Master Bai immediately stood up straight, hands respectfully at his sides.
"Please speak."
"Tianzun has appointed you as the Math Class Representative. From now on, you will teach mathematics to the other children on Tianzun's behalf. You must continue studying diligently, and at the same time, teach others what you have learned. This responsibility is heavy. Are you willing to accept it?"
Teach on behalf of Tianzun.
Those words struck him like thunder.
He felt overwhelming joy.
"For Tianzun to entrust me with such responsibility is the greatest honor of my life. I swear to devote myself fully to this duty."
Madam Bai was equally overjoyed.
Her son had received a heavenly appointment.
She did not fully understand the position, but it clearly carried divine significance.
Her heart overflowed with happiness.
Without realizing it, she struck the back of her own head.
Pain followed.
She froze briefly, then laughed.
This was real.
Her son spoke with concern.
"Mother, why did you hit yourself? If you are unhappy, you may hit me instead."
Madam Bai immediately struck him again.
"Does it hurt?"
"It hurts."
She laughed happily.
"Good. That means neither of us is dreaming."
Not long after, Young Master Bai began distributing math textbooks to the other children.
Each child received a copy of Elementary Math, First Grade, Volume One.
After Teacher Wang finished his language lesson, Young Master Bai stepped forward and addressed the class with solemn dignity.
"By Tianzun's command, I have been appointed Math Class Representative. From this day forward, I will teach you mathematics."
He raised the book.
"This symbol is called 1. It represents the number one. Remember it."
"We remember."
"This symbol is called 2. It represents the number two."
Li Daoxuan watched quietly.
Mathematics had finally taken root in Gao Family Village.
Physics and chemistry would come later. Those subjects were far more difficult and could not be introduced too quickly.
He shifted his attention and expanded his field of view.
Occasionally, he would scan the surrounding area. Once, he had noticed a massive rock about to roll down a slope. He had moved it aside, preventing disaster for the laborers below.
Today, as he scanned toward the southwest, he noticed something interesting.
About ten li from Gao Family Village, in a narrow valley, Military Inspector Cheng Xu was running for his life.
His clothes were disheveled.
Behind him, a large group of armed men chased relentlessly, their blades flashing in the light.