Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 49 Senior Brother's Diary
After everyone has finished touring the academy, it will be time for a temporary farewell.

Xu Xuan went up to find out when each new student would return to register and what difficulties they might be facing in their lives. Chongqi Academy really wasn't short of money.

Some students, caught up in their emotions or perhaps driven by their instinct to read between the lines, uttered some overly enthusiastic words of thanks.

"There's no need to call him 'Master,' just call him 'Instructor.'"

Xu Xuan broke out in a cold sweat. He had already said that from this moment on, he should avoid getting involved in karma. He couldn't be too careful about the teacher-student relationship.

After seeing everyone off one by one, it was finally the turn of the scholar surnamed Ning.

Xu Xuan looked you over a few more times. "So your name is Ning Caichen, right?"
He was thin, handsome, and had a slightly weak demeanor, but his eyes held a hint of stubbornness—the kind of poor scholar from traditional Chinese novels that everyone has in mind.

Upon closer inspection with my spiritual senses activated, I found that my Qi and energy were normal, but my Yang fire was even somewhat weak, making it impossible to predict how powerful I would become in the future.

"Teacher Xu, is there something wrong with me?"

Ning Caichen asked somewhat uncertainly.

"No, go home and finish your business early before coming to the academy for class. Professor Shi thinks highly of your talent and says that Ning has the potential to break through worldly conventions."

Wow, Professor Shi has a sharp eye! This scholar's potential in this area is truly astonishing.

These professors are no ordinary people.

Ning Caichen understood that this was a compliment, but something still felt off.

"I have some mundane matters to attend to at home. I will return to the academy for further studies in seven days. I will be leaving the rest of the time to Master Xu."

After saying this, the young man carried his book box, got into the academy's carriage, and went down the mountain.

After seeing everyone off, Xu Xuan felt completely relaxed.

The first step of the reform is complete.

The next step of integration is a gradual process, there's no rush.

Let's go to the library to replenish some ammunition first.

I've been criticizing students a lot lately, and the memories left by my predecessor are already running out.

Upon returning to the library, Xu Xuan quickly immersed himself in the ocean of knowledge.

After entering the Dao, one is aided by the power of the soul. Having sharp ears and clear eyes is nothing special; as long as one is serious, one can even have a photographic memory.

During this period, he constantly had to outwit and outmaneuver those troublesome students like Qian Zhongyu, guide Xie Yu on the path of benevolence and righteousness, and study various military strategies. All of this was sustained by the library.

Fortunately, students cannot enter without permission, otherwise we really wouldn't have been able to control that group of ancient scroll masters.

It must be said that the library is truly all-encompassing.

Some very old books and scrolls exert pressure on the soul simply by being opened, with an excellent suppressive effect.

"Luckily, I'm not an evil spirit. Luckily, I'm a good person."

Besides replenishing his ammunition and absorbing the fire of wisdom, the reason why Xu Xuan, the soul of the future, could immerse himself in reading was also due to many annotations and hidden meanings of the scriptures.

Some rare books contain genuine comments from celebrities about other celebrities, expressing disdain, admiration, and criticism, greatly satisfying the gossip-loving mind.

Xunzi, in particular, was a critic with a strong sense of justice. He criticized all the other great figures except Confucius, and even Mencius was not spared. His stance was very clear.

The professors and the headmasters of the school also made annotations, but compared to the clashes between the bigwigs, they were much more moderate.

No wonder this library is not easily entered; it could easily damage the image of the sages.

While flipping through the books, I suddenly found a relatively new copy of "Zhuangzi: On the Equality of Things" deep inside the military bookshelf.

That shouldn't be the case; it must have been placed in the wrong place.

"I knew this library was short of a full-fledged administrator, and I, Xu, had to volunteer myself."

This scroll was casually placed on the bookshelf, its slightly whitish color somewhat different from the surrounding books.

Lacking the weight of history and the inspiration of predecessors, it seems to be just an ordinary hand-carved book.

However, Xu Xuan's demonic instincts made him take a look and immediately gasp in shock.

Wow! Senior! You even keep a diary?!
If you open the book and read it carefully, you'll find that what's engraved at the beginning is actually quite normal.

"Once upon a time, Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly, fluttering about happily, feeling quite content! He didn't know he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he awoke, and there he was, Zhuangzi again. He didn't know whether he was Zhuangzi dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi. There must be a distinction between Zhuangzi and the butterfly. This is called the transformation of things." The prototype of Zhuangzi's butterfly dream is quite intriguing, even just the accompanying commentary.

The small characters express Zhuangzi's Daoist philosophy of pursuing the unity of heaven and man, and merging with nature. The illusory yet real meaning brings joy and is unforgettable, which is indeed very profound.

but!

The way to learn begins with finding peace of mind. Without a firm will, how can one learn?

As long as one's true nature remains, it doesn't matter what one's spirit takes on. If one's will is not firm, one will only lose one's way in the natural order and lose one's humanity.

The handwriting is as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe, and a sense of righteousness and integrity emanates from it.

One can vaguely see the confidence of a spirited young scholar as he carved these words.

He seemed to be subtly criticizing this kind of thinking; he was another figure like Xunzi.

His talent was extraordinary; had he not fallen from grace, he would surely have become a renowned minister.

Therefore, the additional inscription in the second paragraph proves Zhuangzi's greatness.

Nothing in this world is permanent.

The next ones were not made at the same time.

The characters no longer possessed that sharp, unstoppable edge; their aura was scattered, and they even contained a demonic quality.

"There are tall trees in the south, but I cannot rest there. There are maidens on the Han River, but I cannot pursue them. The river flows on forever, but I cannot measure its length."

The poem begins with a poignant and regretful verse, seemingly filled with extreme sorrow.

It basically tells a magical love story.

The girl disguised herself as a boy to enter the school, and the two fell in love and confessed their feelings. Unfortunately, societal rules separated the two who knew and loved each other like a great river.

The man walked to the middle of the river with courage and strength, but ultimately could not go any further. Even with a sharp blade in hand, how could he possibly cleave the river?

That retreat plunged me into an abyss of torment, day and night. How wonderful it would be if I could transform into a butterfly and fly across rivers and seas.

Zhuangzi's dream is what I seek.

However, Xu Xuan believed that these words actually concealed endless anger and confusion.

Hatred of worldly affairs, unwavering devotion to love, resistance to the times, and ignorance of the future.

The stark contrast between before and after can only make one sigh that love is the most hurtful thing.

A promising young man steps outside and sits on the hill behind the house to watch the flowers bloom and fade.

But if he really let go, why did he carve it a third time?

"Inspired by Zhuangzi's dream of becoming a butterfly, I have come up with a small skill, which I leave to those who are destined to receive it."

So why was this final technique of tearing paper into butterflies created?

After reading it, Xu Xuan first sighed, then like a thief, he stuffed the bamboo slip into the deepest part of the room.

Perhaps his senior brother really didn't care anymore, but he didn't dare to gamble.

If you really don't care, why not put the letter on the Taoist bookshelf, but on the military bookshelf where no one reads it?

Moreover, the Pure Land I saw that day was truly vast and powerful.

Xu Jiaoxi left the library satisfied, having acquired a minor spell; he would find an opportunity to try it out.

I still went to the back mountain to practice at night.

"Sigh, I hope my senior brother isn't in too much of a hurry to come back. I just read his diary and I feel a little guilty."

Suddenly, the Seven Stars Big Dipper Sword on his body flashed with a clear sound once again.

“Junior brother, you have already cultivated to the Pure Land in just over a month. You are truly born with a Buddha’s heart.”

"But... what is a diary?"

Beidou is doomed, danger!

(End of this chapter)