Chapter 320 - 223: The Dao of the Mortal World
Chapter 320: Chapter 223: The Dao of the Mortal World
But before he could begin to sketch, Sun Yunfeng rushed over and said anxiously,
"Father, Mr. Ju Yi of Jinling Academy is here to see you."
Sun Fu froze. "Who did you say?"
"Mr. Ju Yi. He’s in the courtyard right now. You should..."
Just then, a figure appeared outside the study and bowed slightly to Sun Fu.
"Brother Changming, I hope you’ll forgive this presumptuous intrusion."
He showed no signs of age. He had distinguished, regular features, a mustache that drooped at the corners of his mouth, and a tall, slender frame. He wore a white long-robe beneath a blue scholar’s gown.
Merely standing in the room, he exuded an air of scholarly elegance.
Sun Fu hurried to his feet and returned the bow. "It is I who should apologize for the poor reception. Please, forgive my lack of hospitality."
A great man’s reputation precedes him.
Mr. Ju Yi was not only the headmaster, Mr. Da, of Jinling Academy, but also a world-renowned master of philosophy.
He had numerous disciples, many of whom served as officials in the imperial court.
His standing in Jinling, and indeed throughout Jiangnan Prefecture, was comparable to that of Mr. Yue Ming from Guiyun Academy.
However, Mr. Ju Yi was clearly the more widely known of the two.
Sun Fu knew all this to be true, but he had no prior dealings with Mr. Ju Yi, nor any particular connection to him.
He truly hadn’t expected Mr. Ju Yi to seek him out.
"You are too kind, Brother Changming."
The two men sat down, while Sun Yunfeng and his wife went to boil water for tea.
They exchanged a few pleasantries.
Mr. Ju Yi smiled. "Brother Changming, you must be wondering why I’ve come today."
Sun Fu didn’t deny it, nodding. "I have admired you by reputation for a long time, Mr. Ju Yi, but we’ve never had the good fortune to meet. So yes, I am indeed a bit puzzled."
"Haha... That’s perfectly understandable, perfectly understandable."
"My visit today is something of a fortunate coincidence."
After a pause, Mr. Ju Yi asked with a smile, "Brother Changming, have you by chance heard about a certain Mid-Autumn Poetry Gala?"
Sun Fu gave a wry smile. "I’ve only just arrived in Jinling and have barely settled in. I haven’t yet had the chance to learn about the local poetry gatherings."
Mr. Ju Yi shook his head. "Not one here in Jinling, but the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gala at Guiyun Academy in Shu State."
"Oh?"
"The day before yesterday, a letter arrived from Shu State. It seems a masterpiece titled *Song of the Water Melody: Mid-Autumn* emerged from Guiyun Academy’s poetry gala."
Sun Fu’s heart skipped a beat as he began to suspect the reason for Mr. Ju Yi’s visit.
He then heard Mr. Ju Yi continue, "The author of this poem is none other than my former student, now the son-in-law who married into the Xiao Family, Chen Yi—Chen Qingzhou."
Sun Fu’s suspicions were confirmed. ’No wonder,’ he muttered to himself.
’No wonder Mr. Ju Yi sought me out at a time like this.’
"Sir, you must have heard that I used to reside with the Xiao Family, and so you’ve come to ask about Chen Yi?"
"Qingzhou is indeed a great talent, especially gifted in poetry. He..."
Mr. Ju Yi raised a hand slightly, a gesture of polite interruption. "This student of mine has been brilliant since he was a child. I have no doubt about his literary talent."
"I came today for one reason only: to ask you for confirmation, Brother Changming. Has Qingzhou’s Calligraphy Dao truly reached the Perfection Realm?"
Sun Fu understood at once. He nodded and said, "It is true."
Hearing this, Mr. Ju Yi’s smile broadened. "Then the rumors are true. Qingzhou composed his poem at Quchi and used his Calligraphy Dao Realm to manifest an Immortal Realm."
"It is a pity I am here in Jinling, so far from Shu State. Otherwise, I would have certainly gone to witness the splendor of Qingzhou’s Calligraphy Dao for myself."
An idea struck Sun Fu. He rose, walked over to his desk to retrieve a brocade box, and returned to his seat.
"Had you asked for anything else, Mr. Ju Yi, I might not have been able to oblige."
"However, just before I left for Jinling, I was fortunate enough to receive a gift from Qingzhou—a calligraphy scroll he wrote using his Perfect Calligraphy Dao."
Mr. Ju Yi’s smile froze. Murmuring an apology for his eagerness, he accepted the brocade box, took out the scroll, and gently unrolled it.
Instantly, a brilliant golden light flared, and a vision of a vast, sand-swept desert appeared.
"...Fear no lack of friends on the road ahead; in all the world, who does not know you?"
As Mr. Ju Yi read the lines aloud, his eyes fixed on the magnificent and soaring Mental Realm, he could not help but sigh in admiration.
"This must be the ’Cursive Script’ mentioned in the letter from Shu State. Qingzhou... his Calligraphy Dao has truly reached a Realm that others can only dream of."
As the headmaster of Jinling Academy, he had of course seen countless treasured works.
He had seen scrolls left by Calligraphy Masters of previous dynasties, works by the Calligraphy Masters of today, and even numerous pieces written in the Perfection Realm of Calligraphy Dao.
But in his eyes, not a single one could compare to the scroll he now held.
It had nothing to do with the Realm itself, but because this "Cursive Script" was an entirely new style, distinct from the established Wei Qing’s Style.
Seeing his expression, Sun Fu said with a smile, "You’re right, sir. At Qingzhou’s age, given time, he is certain to become a Calligraphy Master."
He considered himself part of Chen Yi’s family, in a way, so it was only natural for him to sing his praises.
Mr. Ju Yi nodded. "It is a pity he has gone so far as Shu State. I fear he may never return in this lifetime."
Sun Fu’s heart stirred. He inquired, "I heard that when Qingzhou was studying under you, his talents were already quite extraordinary."
"Why did he fall into obscurity for so long afterward?"
At this, Mr. Ju Yi paused, then suddenly let out a sigh. "Mr. Yue Ming asked me that very same question in a letter just the other day."
"If I were to say I don’t know the answer, perhaps neither you, Brother Changming, nor Mr. Yue Ming would believe me."
"But that is the truth. And now, I find myself filled with regret and self-reproach."
At this, Mr. Ju Yi paused to think for a moment. With a resigned "so be it," he continued his story.
"Five years ago, during an academy recess, Chen Yi returned to the Chen Family in Jiangnan Prefecture."
"He never returned to the academy after that. I sent letters to the Chen Family and even sent someone to pay them a visit, but the answer was always the same: Chen Yi had already become a disciple under another master."
"I was displeased at first, but then I considered that the Chen Family has a heritage stretching back centuries. It wouldn’t be difficult for them to find a master more learned than I. So, I inquired no further."
"But later, when Chen Yi failed to appear for two consecutive imperial examinations, I sensed that something was amiss."
"But before I could send a letter of inquiry, news spread from the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family that they were having Chen Yi marry into the Xiao Family of Shu State. By then... it was already too late."