The sage was determined to die.

After finishing the pancakes, Xu Tangyi's class came to an end.

Amidst the bewildered glances of the crowd who seemed to understand something, Xu Tangyi, holding the bamboo scroll, walked with remarkable agility, his steps exuding the nonchalant air of someone leaving get off work on time.

Finally, he glanced at Ji Bai, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Hey kid, come here and do me a favor."

Can't my amazing wisdom be hidden now?

Ji Bai smiled helplessly and had no choice but to follow.

After the two left, Yan Ming was surrounded by several jealous people, who stared at Ji Bai's back with a sour look on their faces: "Ji Bai comes from such a poor background, what kind of luck did he have that made the Imperial Academy Chief actually ask him for help?"

"So what if he took up a spot in the early admission round of the 'Book Mountain' program?"

"Don't you know?" Yan Ming stared at the person who spoke and said sourly, "Chancellor Xu has always liked to help poor students. He sent Ji Bai over because he was too poor."

The children of high-ranking officials: "..."

It's all because their family is too rich!

.

The Imperial Academy of Qi was vast, and it took Ji Bai and Xu Tangyi almost half an hour to finally see a lush green area.

The area is lush with vegetation but sparsely populated. A three-meter-high fence separates the area, with neatly maintained school buildings standing within. A few students can be seen wandering around, and the plaque hanging high above is inscribed with the three characters "Taoranju".

This reminded Ji Bai of a rumor.

It is said that after Xu Tangyi became the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, he did not return home for more than ten years. He lived, ate, and lived in the Imperial Academy, making him a model citizen of the time.

"It's not like I haven't been home for over a decade."

They had now arrived at a pavilion in the courtyard. As if he could read their minds, Xu Tangyi suddenly blurted out, "They only stay here for about three hundred days a year, isn't that normal?"

Holy crap, does this old man have mind-reading abilities?

Ji Bai was startled.

"I certainly don't have mind-reading abilities."

Xu Tangyi looked at Ji Bai with a leisurely air and smiled, "In the past ten years, almost everyone who comes here for the first time has the same expression. You must be tired of guessing by now."

Ji Bai decided to get straight to the point: "I wonder how students can help teachers?"

"The Book Mountain will open in a few days. Stay here for a few days and look after your senior brothers and sisters for me."

Xu Tangyi poured himself a cup of tea and drank it by himself.

Ji Bai was certainly not stupid; he could understand the obvious implication. He had been released from prison yesterday, stayed at the Zhenlong Restaurant, and came to the Imperial Academy today. It was impossible for the Imperial Preceptor not to have heard the news.

I didn't have time to make a move against him yesterday, but I'll have a chance to do so in the next few days.

After all, once he emerges alive from the mountain of books, his value in Qi will naturally rise. Even if Wei Huan is the Grand Tutor, he cannot take the life of a scholar just because his grandson has a leg.

Unexpectedly, Xu Tangyi, whom he had only met once, would actually step in to protect him.

Why did the teacher help me?

Ji Bai shook his head and said honestly, "If it's because I was admitted to the Book Mountain early, the teacher might be disappointed. After listening to the teacher's lecture, I understand the dangers in the Book Mountain and can't guarantee that I'll come out alive."

He's going to die a spectacular death amidst a mountain of books.

Xu Tangyi looked at Ji Bai with a hint of appreciation in his eyes and said, "In our Qi Kingdom, it's rare for scholars to be selected by the Imperial Academy in advance. Do you know why?"

"Because they are not as good as me?" Ji Bai thought of the most reasonable possibility.

Xu Tangyi: "..."

"No, it's because the people of Qi have always been kind and good," Xu Tangyi sneered. "Those without cunning are often the first to perish in the Mountain of Books, so naturally they cannot be chosen by the Mountain of Books in advance."

Ji Bai agreed, saying that even someone like Yan Ming might not survive to the next day amidst the mountain of books.

"In a way, I might have even taken advantage of you."

Xu Tangyi raised his hand and coughed, signaling Ji Bai to follow him.

Ji Bai was confused, but he still followed Xu Tangyi to the gate of a small courtyard.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, the environment was very quiet. There were many papers scattered on the ground, covered with tiny characters. Ji Bai glanced at them and found that they were all famous works. He wondered who had carefully written them in the official script and then hastily threw them on the ground, leaving footprints everywhere.

However, Ji Bai soon found out who that person was.

A handsome man who looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old walked up to the two of them with several sheets of Xuan paper. He completely ignored Ji Bai's presence and looked at Xu Tangyi excitedly, saying, "Teacher, I've finally solved the problem you gave me! Look!"

He unfolded a blank sheet of rice paper and said excitedly, "How about this solution? I thought about it all night before coming up with this solution, but unfortunately I couldn't think of a second one..."

His expression suddenly turned dejected.

The blank pages were completely unwritten.

Xu Tangyi took the blank page, nodded, and said, "This solution is very good; there's no need to think of a second one."

The handsome man picked up the papers and left like a child.

Fifteen minutes later, he returned again, as if he had just seen Xu Tangyi, gesturing excitedly and saying, "Teacher, I finally solved the problem you gave me—"

That childlike face turned dejected again.

"Unfortunately, I haven't been able to come up with a second solution."

Xu Tangyi took the blank paper again and repeated what he had just said.

The handsome man left satisfied, clutching the papers once more.

Three-quarters of an hour later, he came again...

Ji Bai observed all of this without suddenly interrupting. To others, this scene might be unbelievable, but to him, who had volunteered in a mental hospital, this kind of stereotypical behavior after trauma was not unfamiliar.

Xu Tangyi had been silently observing Ji Bai's reaction.

Ji Bai's reaction also surprised him.

The other person showed neither curiosity nor surprise; their eyes remained clear and unchanging, revealing no discomfort or disgust.

This reaction prompted Xu Tangyi to ask, "Do you know this person?"

"I don't know him," Ji Bai denied.

Xu Tangyi looked at Ji Bai and said calmly, "This is your senior brother. He was admitted to the Book Mountain ahead of time, just like you, and successfully cultivated a third-grade literary talent in the Book Mountain."

His gaze gradually drifted into the distance.

"Young people don't know the taste of sorrow. Back then, he was a rising star in the State of Qi. Unfortunately, too much rigidity leads to ruin. Not long after leaving the mountain of books, his entire family was wiped out. Fortunately, he was a scholar who had rendered meritorious service to the State of Qi, so he escaped death. But his guilty conscience made him unworthy of having a literary heart. After witnessing the tragic deaths of his parents, his literary heart was forcibly ripped out and given to someone else."

"The pain is like having your heart ripped out; it's worse than death."

"Then he went crazy."

Ji Bai shook his head.

"He might just be sick."