Chapter 53: Immortal Arts (Third Update)
Even a venerable scholar like Xu Zizhou was utterly stunned at that moment.
His standing in the State of Qi was extraordinarily high. Though he held no official post at present, he was the tutor of the Sixth Prince.
He had once served as Director of the Royal Academy of Qi. Three years ago, he had retired and withdrawn from public life, settling in Butterfly Garden beside the Zi River in Linzi, the capital of Qi.
The Qi royal family held this old scholar in the highest regard. Whenever the summer heat became unbearable, they would send people from the palace to deliver ice to him.
But ice could not be preserved. It might bring a brief spell of coolness, but it could never last through an entire summer.
Although Chen Linyuan had become a Reader in the Hanlin Academy of Great Zhou, Her Majesty the Empress did not seem to think much of him. He had never once received ice from her.
But now...
Right before their eyes!
There was actually a basin of ice in that tub!
The ice itself was strange. A perfectly round hole had been made through its center.
Xu Zizhou shifted his gaze from the ice to Chen Xiaofu’s face.
“You made this?”
Chen Xiaofu grinned. “Yes. The weather is simply too hot, and I couldn’t let Xiaowei suffer from the heat. I made it to cool her down.”
Xu Zizhou swallowed. He reached out and touched the ice in the basin. As expected, a bone-chilling cold met his fingers.
“How did you make ice in weather this hot?”
Chen Xiaofu rubbed his nose. “Well... two months ago, didn’t I fall from the upper floor?”
“I was unconscious for an entire night. In truth, I had a very long dream.”
Chen Xiaofu lowered his voice mysteriously.
“You must never tell anyone else about this!”
“I dreamed of an old man with a white beard. He said he was an immortal, and that I could not die yet—not when I had a beautiful fiancée and so many things left to accomplish.”
“So he pulled me back from the gates of death and taught me many things.”
“The method of making ice was one of them.”
An Xiaowei’s lovely eyes widened.
The story was utterly absurd, yet somehow, they believed every word of it!
Chen Linyuan was stunned for a moment before suddenly exhaling in relief.
“Thank the immortals!”
“Jian’an, do you know which immortal it was? We must offer him even greater worship to repay such kindness!”
Chen Xiaofu: “...I don’t know. He was simply an old man with a white beard.”
Xu Zizhou stroked his long beard. “Could he have been the Old Immortal of the South Pole?”
Chen Linyuan nodded. “The white-bearded immortal you saw must have been the Old Immortal of the South Pole. When Qingdie returns, we shall have a statue of him carved and enshrined in this rear courtyard!”
Chen Xiaofu was dumbfounded as well.
He had never imagined that people in ancient times could be so superstitious—and so imaginative.
He did not object. Since he had invented this lie, he might as well let it continue.
In the future, whenever he produced something miraculous, he would no longer need to come up with another explanation.
Xu Zizhou asked again, “And your learning...?”
Chen Xiaofu nodded once more and smiled sheepishly.
“Before the old man with the white beard left, he placed a hand on my head. After that, my mind felt astonishingly clear.”
“The knowledge that Teacher Jiang and Grandfather had once taught me suddenly appeared vividly in my mind. That was when I realized I could read.”
“And after that, I read quite a few books. I gradually gained an understanding of poetry, prose, and literature.”
Xu Zizhou was astonished.
“So that is what happened! So that is what happened!”
“The immortal touched your crown and opened your mind!”
“Ordinary people have seven apertures. After the immortal touched your crown, you could comprehend books and compose eloquent passages on the spot... You have opened nine apertures!”
Chen Xiaofu stood there with his mouth agape.
At some point, Liang Jingru had opened her small mouth as well. She stared at Chen Xiaofu, her thoughts in complete disarray.
Her mind seemed to have gone blank.
Even Xu Zizhou’s aged face had flushed red with excitement. He continued:
“This is extraordinary! Truly extraordinary!”
“Linyuan, your Chen family is about to produce a Sage of Literature!”
“Though Jian’an is not the Star of Literature descended to the mortal world, he is even more remarkable than one!”
“The immortal touched his crown... He naturally carries a measure of immortal aura, as well as the immortal’s protection!”
“This is Jian’an’s great blessing!”
“It is also the great fortune of your Chen family!”
He pointed solemnly at the basin of ice.
“Here is the proof!”
“Look at this ice! This is a divine miracle!”
“Among all the living beings beneath Heaven, who can produce ice in the height of summer? Only Jian’an, with his immortal arts, could accomplish such a thing!”
Even Chen Xiaofu almost began to believe it himself.
Damn it all!
This was not immortal magic!
It was science!
Clearly, if he explained science to them, they would never believe him. But they truly believed in immortal arts.
Superstition could ruin lives, but in this case, it was obviously to his advantage.
Chen Xiaofu took the jug and poured two glasses of watermelon juice, handing one each to Xu Zizhou and Chen Linyuan.
“Try this chilled watermelon juice. It is excellent for dispelling the summer heat.”
The two men accepted the glasses and cautiously took a sip. The cool sensation invigorated their already feverishly excited spirits once again.
“Dew of the immortals... nectar of Heaven... Sweet as honey, refreshing to the heart and soul!”
Xu Zizhou took another generous swallow. Smacking his lips, he declared excitedly:
“Bestowed by an immortal and prepared through immortal arts... Drink this nectar, and you are certain to extend your life!”
Liang Jingru moistened her lips and watched enviously as the two old men drained their glasses.
Her gaze fell upon the jug.
She no longer dared reach out to take it. After all... that wretched Chen Xiaofu...
No, she could not call him that anymore!
Since an immortal had saved him and taught him immortal arts, he was a disciple of the immortals.
He deserved respect!
If she offended him and his immortal master learned of it and sent down divine punishment, she would be in serious trouble.
She looked toward An Xiaowei again, her eyes filled with envy.
Xiaowei’s fate was truly wonderful!
Her fiancé was actually a disciple of an immortal!
Old Master An was a man of extraordinary foresight!
He had rejected marriage proposals from so many powerful families in the imperial capital, stubbornly choosing to honor the engagement and marry An Xiaowei to that fool—
Two months ago, Chen Xiaofu really had been a fool!
Who would have thought that jumping from a building would lead to such an astonishing encounter? Liang Jingru glanced at the roof opposite them, suddenly feeling a little restless.
Then she decided it was too low.
Chen Xiaofu had jumped from a three-story building...
Liang Jingru’s gaze swept around, but she still could not find a three-story building anywhere.
A Lai was watching Chen Xiaofu as well.
His previously rigid gaze had softened.
It had become extraordinarily gentle.
At last, he understood why his master had ordered him to descend the mountain and protect Chen Xiaofu!
Chen Xiaofu was not an idiot at all!
He was a disciple of an immortal!
His master had said that Chen Xiaofu was his lord. A Lai, who had always been proud and aloof, no longer felt the slightest resistance toward this master.
Instead, his eyes now held a trace of reverence.
None of this had been within Chen Xiaofu’s expectations.
But he did not want the news to spread.
The status of a venerable scholar like Xu Zizhou was far too lofty. No one would dare question his words.
If he embellished the story and announced that Chen Xiaofu was a disciple of an immortal, the people of Lin’an would probably surround the Flower Creek Estate.
Chen Xiaofu did not want to become a charlatan.
“Well...”
Chen Xiaofu swept his eyes over everyone with great seriousness.
“As for the immortal, it is enough that you know about him. You must never spread the matter.”
“Grandfather, you must not tell my father either!”
“...Why not? This is a good thing!” Chen Linyuan asked in confusion. Then he added, “You struck the Left Chancellor’s grandson. Pan Bufei will certainly not let the matter rest!”
“If Her Majesty the Empress learns of your talent, and learns that you are a disciple of an immortal... how would Pan Bufei dare seek revenge against you?”
Chen Xiaofu smiled faintly.
“If Her Majesty finds out, she will issue an edict summoning me to the imperial capital.”
“If it were merely poetry and prose, that would be manageable. After all, I would only be facing the scholars.”
“But if she wants to see immortal arts—and all those powerful nobles in the capital want to see them as well—would I not be unable to satisfy them all?”
“Immortal arts can only be witnessed by those destined to do so!”
“The old man with the white beard said that I must never casually display them before mortals!”
“As the saying goes, true teachings are not passed on to a sixth ear. This matter ends here.”