Seeing Xie Nandu walk over, the two senior brothers stopped talking as well. Su Yi smiled at Xie Nandu and asked, "Little Junior Sister came to listen to the lecture again today?"
It was a meaningless question, but Su Yi had a very serious expression, making it difficult for people to think that it was really a meaningless question.
Xie Nandu nodded and bowed to this Senior Brother Su, "Yes."
Although she only said one word, her expression was serious and it was not a show of rudeness. It also made people unable to produce criticizing thoughts.
"Junior Sister has to prepare for the Myriad Willow Convention these few days and still have to find time to listen to Senior Brother Wei's lectures, it's naturally very gladdening. But if you have any interest in chess in the future, Junior Sister can come and find me." Su Yi looked at this little junior sister with a smile on his face.
He was Great Liang's national champion and very skilled in playing chess. Even the Dean could not beat him on the chessboard. He could be called the number one person in the world.
Xie Nandu shook her head and said, "I don't like playing chess."
Although there were still some differences between women and men in the world, there was no difference in studying and literacy. Otherwise, the dean would not have accepted a female disciple. Many women from large families were not only proficient in literacy, but also had knowledge in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Some girls have learned these since childhood. Xie Nandu, who comes from the Xie Family, should be the same too. But Su Yi did not expect to get this answer.
Su Yi smiled and said nonchalantly, "I'm not just outstanding in chess, but also in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I can barely squeeze into the top five in Great Liang."
He spoke lightly, but it was indeed something to be proud of.
To be one of the few in the world who excelled in a certain field was not an easy feat. Someone like Su Yi who could do so in many areas was almost rare.
Xie Nandu apologized with some regret, "I'm sorry, Senior Brother Su."
Although not explicitly stated, Su Yi already understood the meaning behind her words - she did not like chess, nor did she like the literary arts that most women enjoyed.
Su Yi lamented, "Little Junior Sister is indeed out of the ordinary."
After saying this, he smiled and left; very free and easy without any hesitation.
He quickly disappeared from the lake, like a summer breeze; without any sense of hesitation or pause.
Wei Xu watched the figure of his junior brother leaving and said softly, "Does Junior Sister really have no interest in these things?"
Xie Nandu nodded, "That's right."
Wei Xu asked, "As a member of the Xie Family, shouldn't you have started learning these things from a young age?"
"I did, but I still don't like them."
It was not that Xie Nandu did not understand, but she just did not enjoy them.
Wei Xu smiled and said, "I understand. It's like how Junior Sister followed me to read those books and learned many daoist magics, but you didn't like them either."
This statement was very clear. As a cultivator at a profound realm, Wei Xu could naturally tell that although Xie Nandu had been following him to cultivate, she had no interest in those daoist magics he had taught her, although she already learned those spells and had mastered them.
"Some time back, I told Teacher that I wanted to learn swordsmanship, but Teacher said it wasn't good for women to learn the sword and it was too uncivilized. Although I felt that what Teacher said was wrong, I didn't know how to refute Teacher either."
Xie Nandu said bluntly, "Later, I thought about it for a long time. The reason why Teacher said that was probably because he didn't know sword cultivation techniques himself, that's why he said that."
Speaking of her own teacher, even Xie Nandu felt that it was a bit absurd. When she first became a disciple of the dean, Xie Nandu thought that her teacher was the leader of all scholars in the world; not an ordinary scholar. No matter whether was it his manners or other things, he should not be what ordinary scholars could compare to. But after a few interactions, she realized that she was completely wrong.
Hearing Xie Nandu speak like this, Wei Xu furrowed his brows slightly. "Junior Sister, it's okay for the two of us to talk about this, but don't let Teacher know."
As the longest-standing student who accompanied the dean, Wei Xu was well aware of his teacher's temperament. Although his teacher was not skilled in all areas, if someone were to say that he was inferior to others in some aspect, the consequences would likely be extremely... severe.
Xie Nandu frowned slightly but did not continue speaking. Instead, she asked, "Senior brother, can I still learn swordsmanship or not?"
Wei Xu thought for a moment and then said seriously, "Although Teacher doesn't know sword cultivation techniques, there's a disciple under him who's a sword cultivator."
Xie Nandu was a little surprised, her expression peculiar. Since the academy dean did not know sword cultivation techniques, how could he have a disciple who was a sword cultivator?
Wei Xu smiled and said, "There are actually many sword cultivation techniques in the academy's library. Although Teacher doesn't know them, disciples can learn them on their own. Among Teacher's many disciples, there was someone who wanted to be a sword cultivator like junior sister, which isn't surprising. However, that person isn't currently in the academy. When he returns, he can teach junior sister on behalf of Teacher."
Xie Nandu asked, "Where is that senior brother now?"
Wei Xu pointed to the north and said with a slight smile, "In the north."
The northern region of the Great Liang dynasty could only refer to one place - the Northern Frontier, that towering Great Wall, which was where the army used to defend against demons was stationed.
Learning the sword and heading north to kill demons to defend the country was truly a great thing.
Xie Nandu's eyes shone with a brighter light, looking extremely radiant. Wei Xu had never seen such an emotion in his little junior sister's eyes before. After thinking for a moment, he finally understood that this seemingly weak little junior sister was actually thinking about that distant north. She indeed had some spirit of a heroic woman.
"Did you say earlier, that senior brother's sword techniques were self-taught from reading books in the library?" Xie Nandu suddenly spoke, with a hint of eagerness in her eyes.
Wei Xu already knew what she was thinking and said calmly, "Indeed so. It's just that if you want to self-study sword cultivation techniques, it can be quite dangerous. Junior Sister still has to prepare for the Myriad Willow Convention, you shouldn't be delayed. How about I write a letter to your senior fellow in the North?" "Your senior brother can inform you of all the things that a sword cultivator should take note of. After the Myriad Willow Convention, junior sister can resume your studies. It will probably be much safer this way."
As her senior brother, Wei Xu naturally knew that since this little junior sister had a competitive streak in her, once she found out that sword cultivators could cultivate on their own, how could she hold back?
After some thought, Xie Nandu nodded and smiled, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Wei Xu nodded slightly, took out a book from his waist, and was about to start today's lesson.
Xie Nandu suddenly looked at Wei Xu and asked, "Senior Brother's surname is Wei. Back then in the alley, you could have come later."
There were many things that could not be hidden. Moreover, Wei Xu never thought of hiding.
Wei Xu smiled and said, "The Wei-Xie rivalry can exist in the Divine Capital and also outside the Divine Capital, but it seems unnecessary to mention it in this academy."
Wei Xu continued, "When your Senior Brother Su came to ask me before, he said that one day, I might be standing against little junior sister, and asked me how I'd choose. Actually, my answer to him was somewhat perfunctory."
Xie Nandu was silent.
"But actually, this matter isn't difficult at all. In the academy, we are fellow students. Outside of the academy, we can be other things. What's difficult to choose?"
Wei Xu said it very indifferently and Xie Nandu discerned the meaning in his words.
Xie Nandu said, "Senior Brother is magnanimous."
Wei Xu did not say anything more.
……
……
The small pavilion in the center of the lake.
The dean listened to his disciple who ran over to complain and talked a whole bunch. He waved his hand rather impatiently and scolded, "Although Wei Xu that fellow is a bit wooden, how is he like what you say? Although he's surnamed Wei and he may also become the head of the Wei Family in the future, even if he gets involved in the Wei-Xie struggle later on, and your little junior sister happens to stand opposite him, they will have to rely on their own abilities. Could it be that that guy is going to throw away his face?"
Su Yi looked at the dean aggrievedly and said, "This student had good intentions too. What if that Wei fellow decides to be unreasonable? Little Junior Sister is still so young, I..."
"Rubbish!"
The dean picked up a handful of fish food and threw it into the lake. Looking at the fish gathering around, he frowned and said, "Su Yi, I know you don't like your senior brother, and I'm not going to talk about the reasons why. In any case, you're worrying too much about this matter. Besides, even if he were to bully your little junior sister in the future, she still has a punk protecting her. You don't need to worry about it."
Su Yi widened his eyes in disbelief and said, "Teacher, are you giving away Little Junior Sister like that?"
The dean laughed coldly, "When a girl grows up, she can't be controlled by anyone. Who your Little Junior Sister likes and who she wants to marry, what can I, her teacher, do about it? If she had a different personality, that would be one thing. But with her temperament, do you think she'll listen to anyone?"
Su Yi sighed, "But we can't just let Junior Sister do as she pleases. What on earth is that punk's background anyway?"
The dean smiled and said, "Don't ask. Even if you do, I won't tell you either."
Su Yi opened his mouth and pouted, feeling very dissatisfied.
"Don't make that face in front of me, it disgusts me," the dean waved his hand impatiently, indicating that the boy in front of him should leave.
Suddenly, Su Yi asked probingly, "Does teacher want to play a round?"
The dean chuckled and asked, "Do you think I'm stupid? Do you want to humiliate me on the chessboard now?"
Su Yi immediately felt that things were amiss and quickly said, "This disciple just remembered that His Majesty summoned me today, so I'll take my leave first."
The dean did not speak, but just glanced at Su Yi. In an instant, this national champion of the Great Liang Dynasty stood still and could not move anymore.
The dean sat back down, smiling as he said, "I see that your chess skills have improved over the years, but you've been reading fewer and fewer books, and your rationality has grown poorer. Since that's the case, take some time today to think about it."
After saying this, the dean turned to look at the lake, some anger appearing between his brows. He frowned and said, "I don't know sword cultivation techniques?" "Sword cultivation is merely a minor path, could it be more powerful than my academy's daoist techniques?"
"I really don't understand why you insist on learning the sword. Like that short-lived senior brother of yours, do you insist on gambling with your life in the north?"
Although the dean calls the senior brother short-lived, he's still alive. Just describing him as living life dangerously.
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