Me and countless me.

Chapter 516 Mantuo Manor? Academy Manor!
Li Ke didn't know what was going on with Kumārajīva. Although he was worried that the master might accidentally die of anger because of him, he thought that it was fine if the other party died. Although the other party was known as the Heavenly Dragon Peace Dove and could not kill anyone, Li Ke was not the kind of person who would feel sorry for a dove.

To be precise, someone like Kumārajīva, who cheated and swindled for his own selfish reasons and even harbored murderous intent towards martial arts practitioners, felt that death was simply death and wouldn't matter to him at all.

He was indeed more concerned about Mantuo Villa now, because when he sailed to Mantuo Villa in the middle of Taihu Lake, he saw countless flowers and willows in the distance, and countless camellias were faintly visible on the shore, and there were many servants and strong women there pruning and tending to the flowers and plants.

Strangely, Li Ke also saw many people dressed as scholars, and even many women holding books, working on paper and pen in groups among the flowers. Each of them was led by someone dressed as a scholar, and it seemed that they were reciting poems or going on a spring outing, which was quite an academic scene.

Moreover, the sound of reading could be heard from the wind. In some of the pavilions and terraces of Mantuo Villa, Li Ke could vaguely see many students reading aloud.

It seems... the entire manor has transformed into a giant academy!
Li Ke couldn't help but frown at this, because it was really too abnormal. Although the Song Dynasty did not oppose women's education and the atmosphere was not so closed, the places where women and men studied should definitely be separate.

It wouldn't be like this at all, where boys and girls can flirt with each other while studying.

This left Li Ke, who had originally thought that Mantuo Manor would be a rather closed-off place, filled with servants and thugs, somewhat bewildered.

"What's happening here?"

Li Ke couldn't help but frown. It wasn't because of the men and women flirting around, but when he stood at the bow of the boat and arrived at the dock, looking at the old workers who were helping him tow the boat, Li Ke couldn't help but ask.

"Old man, what's going on here? Why are there so many male and female students?"

He was very polite and took out a string of copper coins from his bundle and handed them to the old man. The old man weighed the coins in his hand and then smiled and spoke.

"Young master, you may not know this, but Mantuo Manor was originally not open to the public. Although it has always been a private school, it was quite secluded. However, in recent years, some of the books in the manor have become rotten and decayed. So, Wang Ren and Miss discussed it with our local instructors and officials, and invited several teachers from Bianjing to come here so that students from Suzhou could copy books. As long as they left a copy and their impressions after reading it, they could take their own copy with them. As a result, the academy opened up, attracting many young ladies and gentlemen from high-ranking families in Suzhou. As a result, this huge Mantuo Manor is now full of students of all kinds. However..."

The old man chuckled twice as he said this.

"Some come here to read, make friends, and broaden their horizons; some genuinely want to take the imperial examinations; others come to flirt with young ladies and gentlemen; and still others come to read storybooks. You could say that everyone here is a student or a young master. If you wish to copy books or view some ancient scrolls, remember to refer to yourself as a student in the manor. After all, nowadays, apart from us servants, even if the county magistrate or other officials come, they will all be students."

Li Ke's lips twitched, and that inexplicable sense of déjà vu grew stronger. But he also understood why the local officials hadn't objected; on the contrary, they had strongly supported it.

Because this was an achievement. Under the guidance of local officials, wealthy families opened their private schools and books to students for copying and gathering for literary gatherings. Although some sordid things between men and women might happen, it was indeed a great literary event.

After all, books in this era were not as cheap as they are today; they were so expensive that ordinary people could not afford them at all, not to mention the existence of rare and unique copies.

Moreover, it seems that the Wang family has taken the initiative to set up a learning forum and invited teachers from famous universities in Beijing to share their experiences. It is estimated that before long, many literary bigwigs will come here. It is just unknown whether the people of Mantuo Manor can manage the issues between men and women well, otherwise it will be troublesome if someone dies.

Just as Li Ke was wondering, a group of strong women dressed in black and masked, holding short sticks and hunting dogs, rushed over and ran right into the middle of the students and young ladies who had been exchanging glances with Li Ke earlier.

Just as Li Ke was about to ask what was going on, he saw a strong woman leading a hunting dog sniffing around the young ladies, and then the dog quickly rushed over to the male students.

Seeing that things were going badly, a male student grabbed a handkerchief and tried to jump into the river to escape. He happened to be on the lakeside, so the moment the dog rushed over, he was already hanging in mid-air over the lake.

however--

"Where to go!!"

A robust woman, weighing approximately 360 pounds, lightly touched the ground with her feet, creating a deep pit in the flower field. Then, with the swiftness of a swallow, she darted away. Her ten-inch lotus feet lightly touched the camellia petals, displaying a remarkably skillful "flying over grass" technique. Just as the student fell into the water, she scooped him up. Then, with her toes lightly touching the water's surface, she skimmed across the surface like a dragonfly, and then, like a leaf falling in the wind, returned to the shore without even getting her toes wet!

"What amazing lightness skill! What a feat of flying over the grass! What a swift leap over the water like a swallow!"

Li Ke couldn't help but lightly tap his palm with his folding fan, applauding this astonishing lightness skill. However, his applause did not hinder the strong woman from carrying out her business. She took out a token and slapped it directly onto the student's face! Then she began to reprimand him.

"Instructions from the Instructor: Anyone found engaging in flirtatious behavior, exchanging glances, or engaging in secret affairs while studying at my Academy Manor will be paraded around the manor with a sign that reads 'I'm not studying properly'! Any female student will be required to remove her makeup on the spot, and all her cosmetics will be confiscated. She will be allowed to appear in public without makeup for one month, and will be punished by copying books for three weeks! Anyone arrested or who attempts to escape will be punished twice over! Your parents and yourselves have all signed a contract!"

As she spoke, the strong woman pulled a fragrant silk handkerchief from the student's bosom and showed it off without any hesitation.

"What else do you have to say!"

Upon seeing the handkerchief, the student trembled violently, his face turning ashen, as if he had lost all color. Then, a strong woman hung a sign on him that read "I don't study properly," and for some unknown reason, she even added a sign that read "Number One This Month."

Not only that, but one of the female students was also terrified when these strong women rushed up to her, removed her makeup, and then let out a shrill scream among the group of girls who were dressing up.

Afterwards, these strong women dragged the student around the villa, and some idle students around them started to cheer and even offered him a farewell drink, making it look quite tragic.

However, the people quickly started joking around, and even the one being paraded through the streets began shouting and singing opera, seemingly not caring much about the punishment. There were even many people on the roadside holding up signs that read "I don't study hard," as if they were cheering him on.

The girls laughed, seemingly unconcerned about being punished.

However, upon seeing someone dressed in an instructor's uniform approaching, they all scattered in terror. Yet, this chaotic and joyous scene still made Li Ke, standing alone on the street, feel somewhat uneasy. "Damn... who is this transmigrator? Why do I feel like I should say something inappropriate?"

Wouldn't that make me seem a bit feudal?

Standing by the roadside, Li Ke suddenly realized that he, a time-traveling scholar, seemed a bit too serious.

However, at that moment, a group of strong women approached him. As soon as he turned his head, he saw the leader bow to him.

"Greetings, Lord Li Xiaoguo. We are servants of Mantuo Manor. We humbly request that you grace us with your presence. My wife and young lady have been waiting for us for some time."

Li Ke was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but point to herself.

"Have you seen me before?"

He was already surprised that the people at Mantuo Manor recognized him before, but it's quite interesting that they can still recognize him now.

The strong woman smiled, then bowed and spoke.

"Young Duke, what are you saying? You are like a patriarch to us who make a living from books. How could we not recognize you? Besides, our lady and young lady have long wanted to see your demeanor, so they specially asked someone to inquire about your appearance and even drew your portrait by hand, so that we can serve you well when we see you."

As they were talking, the strong woman took out a portrait. Li Ke unfolded it and couldn't help but gasp!
The artist's skill and technique are almost identical to those of the Northern Darkness Divine Art he possesses. Furthermore, the addition of light and shadow contrast enhances the sense of three-dimensionality and perspective, creating a harmonious effect! It's a remarkably lifelike depiction of him, capturing the exact scene and posture of the day he received the title of Silver Water Qilin in Bianjing!
It can be described as an artwork among artworks, the kind that could be used as teaching material at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University!
"I rely on..."

The moment Li Ke saw the portrait, he was certain of one thing.

He must see Wang Yuyan and Madam Wang!

So he immediately mounted his tall horse and addressed the servants, who were all clearly skilled in martial arts.

"Lead the way!"

The strong women immediately mounted their horses and took Li Ke deeper into the manor. However, the further they went, the harder it became for Li Ke to tell that this was a manor.

Because teahouses, taverns, cloth shops, and jewelry stores were everywhere. Li Ke even saw a few barbecue stalls and a few students sneaking around holding small bottles.

In a daze, Li Ke even felt that he had not come to Mantuo Villa, but to some university town, except that the people in this university town were all dressed in ancient costumes.

When he reached the outer gate of the villa, he saw a sign with a map clearly drawn on it, and the area that Li Ke had just passed through was marked as the 'Academy Villa'.

However, once outside the gate, Li Ke saw many female guards on duty. Each of them was tall and, unlike the servants who maintained order in the manor, these female guards were much younger, each exuding a healthy beauty. Not only were they tall and long-legged, but they also clearly had excellent nutrition. Although they were all dressed in black women's clothing, it couldn't conceal their natural beauty.

However, Li Ke didn't care much about this, because his princess mother also had a group of palace maids and female guards under her command. His father had once had designs on those female guards, but he died young, so they ended up benefiting his personal guards.

Now, the children of those personal guards have basically become his personal guards and subordinates; he just didn't take them with him this time.

Seeing his curiosity, the robust woman beside him spoke up.

"So that the young duke knows that these women are guards of my young lady and lady, specially to prevent lecherous men from harassing them here. They are different from the disciplinary committee members in the academy manor, which is why they are younger and prettier."

Li Ke nodded, not paying any attention. When they arrived at the gate, the strong woman took the reins, and several servants came to help Li Ke dismount. However, Li Ke dismounted himself and looked towards the main hall.

Just then, a bright ray of light shone through, and Li Ke saw two figures that were impossible to look away from.

One of them was wearing a pale yellow silk shirt, while the other was dressed in a lotus-colored gauze dress. The two walked in one after the other, and Li Ke was shocked to find that their appearance, height, temperament, and even their eyebrows and eyes were exactly the same. Apart from their hairstyles, one was a woman's hairstyle and the other was a young girl's hairstyle, Li Ke couldn't find any difference at all!

Even the muscle definition in his arms, the position of his hair, and the way his body moves when he walks, Li Ke couldn't see the slightest difference!
He could hear the wind and even sense the two women's breathing frequency, heartbeat, and even the structure of their lungs and hearts were the same!

"This……"

Li Ke's eyes widened in shock, and he subconsciously took a step back. Although Li Ke had encountered twins, triplets, quadruplets, and even eighteen-times-twelve-times-twelve-times in the anime, even these multiples were different in many ways. And although they might look the same when they were young, they might not look the same when they grew up. But the mother and daughter he saw were indeed like one person!
It's as if this mother and daughter weren't born naturally, but rather copied and pasted!
It is even exactly the same as the jade statue in the Boundless Jade Cave!

Although the jade statue is somewhat distorted, the features are exactly the same, even the height, the distance between the ribs, and the data of 95/60/85 are the same!

"What exactly is going on?!"

(End of this chapter)