The academy is closed today.

In the scholar’s residence on the mountain, Ruan Shantao sat upright with a solemn demeanor. Even the wide robe couldn’t hide his sturdy frame—in contrast, the middle-aged man named Xiang Rong sitting opposite him leisurely sipped tea, facing the overwhelming pressure as if without a care.

This was a private meeting between former classmates, and all outsiders had been expelled from the mountain.

This included the students, the gatekeepers, the cooks in the dining hall, as well as Du Chengfeng and Cui Yuan.

"The old geezer really knows how to create trouble for me."

Thinking about Cui Yuan’s fugitive status, Du Chengfeng couldn’t come up with a good idea at the moment, so he borrowed a big pot from the cooks and hid Cui Yuan inside.

Though bundling up would certainly be uncomfortable, at least he could conceal himself for the time being.

"I just don’t know what’s happening in the mountain right now..."

Du Chengfeng couldn’t help but look back toward Ziyang Mountain.

While complaining aloud, he realized that there might be a significant issue with the middle-aged man who had just communicated with him—but just as he was preparing to draw his saber and charge, he met Ruan Shantao’s gaze.

The sword in his saddle bag ultimately wasn’t drawn; it was a sign of respect for old man Ruan.

The old man planned to reminisce alone with his former classmates, not wanting anyone else to intervene.

"I hope nothing goes wrong..."

Du Chengfeng had an ominous feeling, knowing he had already planned to settle in Yanzhou.

Meanwhile, in the mountain’s scholar’s residence, Xiang Rong was saying the same words.

"Brother Ruan, you must remain safe. You’ve cultivated Yanzhou so well; I’m tempted to live here."

Sipping his tea, Xiang Rong chuckled.

"And this tea, those meat buns from breakfast just now... exactly like they tasted back in the imperial academy. It really brings back memories, Brother Ruan. It seems like yesterday when we were young. By the way, Brother Ruan, are you still upholding your benevolence?"

"Never slackened."

Ruan Shantao remained expressionless.

"Did you come here just to ask that?"

"It’s good to keep holding on, truly remarkable."

Xiang Rong let out a long sigh.

"Therefore, Brother Ruan, for the sake of your benevolence, surrender."

...

Ruan Shantao didn’t answer; he just looked coldly at Xiang Rong.

His gaze was more like looking at a vile animal rather than a former classmate.

"I still don’t understand why someone as talented as you would choose to be a dog for those grassland people."

"Oh, Brother Ruan, didn’t you also serve as a dog for the Southern Chen court? There’s no real difference between us."

Xiang Rong continued to chuckle, as if Ruan Shantao’s insults fell on deaf ears.

"Brother Ruan, I’m not joking with you; surrender for the sake of the people of Yanzhou."

"You wretched dog!"

Ruan Shantao suddenly slammed the table in fury, his imposing aura like a mountain bearing down!

"How did my Great Chen produce such a shameless person like you!"

For the first time, Ruan Shantao felt such intense anger; he couldn’t comprehend why his once brilliant friend had become like this—back then, they were so youthful and spirited, full of passion, determined to achieve great things.

But in the end, the only one who truly persisted was him.

Only him, only his solitary self, chose the hardest path; no matter the circumstance, he never truly gave up. Even knowing the court had other ideas, he came to Yanzhou, to this place near the border, hoping to educate more talents, to offer the citizens a more stable period...

"So what?"

Xiang Rong remained smiling, but in his gaze towards Ruan Shantao, there was no longer any humor.

"So what? Brother Ruan, does your benevolence extend only to this extent in Yanzhou?"

"You..."

Ruan Shantao’s brow furrowed instantly.

But Xiang Rong didn’t give Ruan Shantao a chance to speak.

"Yes, from the Capital City to remote Yanzhou, it’s so far, but Brother Ruan worked tirelessly... So what about Ji Bei? The real border? The place truly needing enlightenment, why didn’t you go there, Brother Ruan? Was it because the travel for several days was too far? Worried it might result in a conflict? Or perhaps, in Brother Ruan’s eyes, the people of Ji Bei aren’t people?"

"You..."

Ruan Shantao’s brows furrowed even deeper.

"The people in Ji Bei land, Yanzhou is already doing its utmost to receive them, to find them a new home, to restore their lives... If it weren’t for your Desert North Royal Court! If it weren’t for your people initiating conflict! How would they become displaced! How would they fall to such a plight!"

"So, Ruan, have you ever been to the Northern Desert Grassland?"

Even though he saw Ruan Shantao’s hand reaching for the ruler beside him, Xiang Rong remained unmoved.

"Have you seen herders frozen to death in the cold wind? Have you seen starving children and mothers? Yes, you might have read about it, saying that the Grassland people live by chasing water and grass. But do you know how many people die along this pursuit?"

As the ruler in Ruan Shantao’s hand was about to strike his head, the smile on Xiang Rong’s face grew even wider.

"You see, this is your benevolence; your benevolence holds only Chen people, now it’s only Yanzhou people. I’m different. I know why I’m here, so even if you kill me now, it won’t change anything."

Even though it carried the force to split stone, the ruler ultimately stopped before Xiang Rong’s forehead.

"Ah, it seems Ruan, you’ve realized that killing me will just bring another opponent you don’t understand; he probably won’t be reasonable with you. But if you keep me, at least you can know how to deal with me, and maybe I can make the khan’s army retreat."

Xiang Rong sighed.

"Just like my apprentice, who has such amazing swordsmanship, but was forced by you to study the classics... Ruan, are you going to use him to threaten me? Then I advise you to pick someone else, like that young man who shared buns with me, he seems quite nice."

"Talking too much nonsense."

Taking a deep breath, Ruan Shantao put down the ruler and picked up the chessboard beside him.

"Very well, let’s have a game. Show the old man what skills you’ve acquired over the years and refrain from wreaking havoc on the world."

"Alright, if I lose, I’ll write to the Khan and lead the troops back north, because with you here, taking down Yanzhou will be costly."

At this point, Xiang Rong paused.

"But if you lose, Ruan, it would prove that when the two armies face each other, you couldn’t possibly beat me, so why not just surrender the city and welcome the Khan, at least sparing this entire city from the ravages of war."

"Enough talk, let’s begin."

Ruan Shantao couldn’t be bothered with Xiang Rong’s nonsense anymore and dropped a piece onto the board.

Back and forth on the chessboard, the two were locked in a fierce battle. It was less a game of chess, more like strategizing a battle formation—Ruan Shantao’s use of troops mirrored his unmatched and vigorous swordsmanship, and it wasn’t long before he had Xiang Rong beaten, armor scattered, and army collapsed.

"It’s the old man’s win."

Dropping the final piece, Ruan Shantao squinted.

"Even if you brought three armies, this Yanzhou City could bleed the Grassland Royal Court dry, so even for the benevolence you’ve mentioned, and for the grassland people, you should retreat with your troops."

"No, Ruan, I haven’t lost yet."

Xiang Rong raised his hand and pointed to the chessboard.

"Look carefully, I still have a piece hidden here..."

"Hmm?"

Ruan Shantao frowned tightly and hurriedly looked down at the chessboard.

But at that moment, a sharp pain pierced his heart.

"You..."

Looking down at the hairpin nailed in his heart, then up at the disheveled Xiang Rong, disbelief was written all over Ruan Shantao’s face.

But Xiang Rong lowered his head.

"Sorry, Ruan, I, too, have moments when I can’t afford to lose."

Taking a deep breath, Xiang Rong looked up and pushed the door open, no longer looking at the fallen Ruan Shantao.

Just then, a blazing light came slashing down on Xiang Rong.

"You brat! How dare you come back!"

Xiang Rong raised his hand, and the Hundred-refined Soft Sword sliced two arcs like a venomous snake, actually blocking the blazing saber light!

And from his sleeve, a giant eagle with a human face sprang out, soaring with the wind.

"Trying to escape!"

Seeing Xiang Rong leap onto the eagle’s back to fly away, the hastily returning Du Chengfeng immediately turned his Heavy Great Saber, aiming to pin the giant eagle in the sky.

But at that moment, Xiang Rong raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the Mountain Master’s retreat.

"Rather than kill me, you might want to deal with that thing in there first."

"Wha..."

Instinctively turning his head, Du Chengfeng looked towards the direction of the Mountain Master’s retreat.

Only to see over ten withered arms like green bamboo burst through the walls, lunging fiercely in his direction.

"There, since you’re so eager for a last meeting with your teacher, how could you come empty-handed... hmm?"

Just as the giant eagle beneath him took to the sky, Xiang Rong’s brow suddenly furrowed.

The giant eagle beneath him was indeed still flapping its wings.

But the human face on the eagle’s neck had already been pinned by a blazing fire blade, flying straight into the sky.