Chapter 139: Laying Plans

"Do you know why I have chosen the two of you as the academy's representatives?"

Chen Jianchen and Xiao Hanfeng exchanged a glance, then shook their heads in unison, signaling their ignorance. In such a situation, silence was undoubtedly the wisest choice.

Academic Commissioner Gu sighed and said, "There is no other reason than your youth."

Hearing this, Chen Jianchen immediately thought of the popular essay from his previous life, "An Account of Young China." In the end, it all came down to one thing: youth itself is the greatest asset. He was only eighteen this year, and while Xiao Hanfeng looked weathered and mature, he was only twenty-one.

The two of them were the youngest scholars in Minghua Academy.

Being young meant having potential and a broader room for cultivation. While Kaitai Academy was using the occasion of its three-hundredth anniversary to host a "World's Greatest Talent Competition," anyone with a discerning eye knew that this "world's greatest" title was merely a mirage; an ordinary person could not realistically expect to attain it.

Since ancient times, it has been said that "in literature, there is no first place." The so-called "world's greatest" was nothing more than a gimmick.

Minghua Academy traveling thousands of miles to Zhezhou to participate was essentially just playing a supporting role to keep the host company. As for their performance, there was no need to have any expectations at all.

Since that was the case, why choose the older scholars? From Commissioner Gu’s perspective, it was better to send the two youngest students. Firstly, even if they performed poorly, it provided a convenient excuse; secondly, it was a good opportunity for the two young men to broaden their horizons. Expanding one's perspective and broadening one's mind would refine a person's character, which would be helpful for future imperial examinations.

Having taken on the post of Jiangzhou Academic Commissioner, Gu Xichao still wanted to achieve some political merit. With a track record of success, he would find it easier to secure a promotion later—everything was interconnected. Therefore, he had long made up his mind about the candidates for the trip to Zhezhou, and no matter how much others clamored, they could not change his decision.

Commissioner Gu continued, "The Dean will discuss the specific itinerary with you. Remember, this is a rare opportunity to showcase your talents; do not treat it lightly."

Chen Jianchen and Xiao Hanfeng naturally nodded in agreement.

What followed were the Dean's instructions, primarily regarding the logistics of the trip. For the journey to Kaitai Academy in Zhezhou, besides the two student representatives, Commissioner Gu would personally lead the delegation, accompanied by two other instructors. The lineup was undoubtedly sparse, but at least it was a proper team.

After the conversation ended, Chen Jianchen and Xiao Hanfeng made their exit, only to be met by Wang Fu outside. Wang Fu pulled them aside mysteriously and whispered, "You must not go outside right now."

"Why?" asked Xiao Hanfeng.

Wang Fu glared at him. "Why? You have already become the thorn in the side of all the senior scholars. Look, these are the things they were just saying." As he spoke, he produced a transcript.

Xiao Hanfeng took it and read it, his expression turning sour. He said indignantly, "These seniors are going too far. Since we are fellow students, how can they make such vicious remarks and wait to see us make fools of ourselves? Not only are they gloating over our misfortune, they are even kicking us while we are down."

Chen Jianchen said calmly, "Because in their eyes, we have stolen an opportunity that rightfully belonged to them."

Xiao Hanfeng scoffed, "What kind of logic is that?"

"The logic is that scholars have always looked down upon one another since ancient times."

Chen Jianchen was clear-headed about this. He was, in fact, somewhat excited to be selected for the trip to Zhezhou. Since he had been successfully chosen, he would not need to resort to other means. However, because of the long distance—requiring travel by water and then by land, taking nearly half a month—they would have to depart in mid-March.

This timing would conflict with another important matter: helping Yingning undergo her tribulation. It seemed he would need to make a trip back to Fengshan.

During dinner in the dining hall, Chen Jianchen and Xiao Hanfeng were indeed met with many arrogant, disdainful gazes and heard various unpleasant snide remarks. Xiao Hanfeng could not take it and wanted to retort on the spot, but Chen Jianchen held him back. Silence is gold, and eloquence is silver; debating with them now was a poor strategy that would only lead to unnecessary frustration.

After the meal, feeling pent up, Xiao Hanfeng invited Chen Jianchen and Wang Fu out for drinks. Wang Fu was, of course, happy to go, but Chen Jianchen politely declined.

"Liuxian, it’s rare for Hanfeng to treat us; why must you be a wet blanket?" Wang Fu complained.

Chen Jianchen chuckled. "Brother Futai, you know me."

Wang Fu tried to persuade him further, "How about we just talk about literature and history, and skip the wine and women?"

Chen Jianchen smiled faintly. "Why bother? Don't let my presence ruin your enjoyment."

Xiao Hanfeng asked curiously, "Senior Brother Liuxian, do you not enjoy the pleasures of the night?" Judging by his expression, he had clearly been corrupted by Wang Fu, having partaken in such "pleasures" enough to have developed a taste for them.

Chen Jianchen blinked. "It’s not that I don't enjoy them; it's that I don't understand them."

Wang Fu curled his lip. "Liuxian, those words are truly heart-piercing." Chen Jianchen laughed, bid them farewell, and returned to his study quarters.

Xiao Hanfeng watched him leave and suddenly asked Wang Fu, "Senior Brother Futai, does Senior Brother Liuxian really not understand? Has he never been?"

Wang Fu smacked his lips. "Don't listen to his nonsense. Come on, if he won't go, we will."

The candidates were set, and the matter was settled. It was difficult to change, and the other scholars had no choice but to grumble. After all, the Dean had already stated that this was the Academic Commissioner's decision; to criticize it was to show disrespect to the Commissioner. With such a heavy label placed upon them, everyone had to swallow their resentment, at most expressing their disdain through their eyes.

Though, this disdain was more a form of jealousy.

Jealousy often drives people to madness. Over the past few days, there were always some scholars deliberately looking for trouble, wanting to spar with Chen Jianchen or Xiao Hanfeng in talent—be it writing essays, poetry, or playing chess.

Chen Jianchen brushed off these challenges, but Xiao Hanfeng, provoked by their words, accepted several of them, only to be defeated and slink away each time. Consequently, the talents of the two representatives were widely questioned once more.

"Senior Brother Liuxian, I know you have talent. Why not show them a thing or two and make them all shut up?" Xiao Hanfeng said indignantly in their quarters.

Chen Jianchen looked at him and shook his head. "If a pack of dogs came to you and wanted to compete to see who could bark the loudest, would you accept?"

Xiao Hanfeng froze, understanding the meaning behind his words, but still said reluctantly, "It’s just that letting them bark like this is so frustrating."

Chen Jianchen replied, "The best way to make them shut up is to perform well once we reach Kaitai Academy."

Xiao Hanfeng scratched his head. "Senior Brother, the difficulty of your plan is too high. How could that ever be possible?"

Chen Jianchen chuckled. "Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets their mind to it."

Xiao Hanfeng remained unconvinced, thinking to himself that Senior Brother Liuxian sometimes really was, as Wang Fu said, a bit full of hot air. One had to realize that the "World's Greatest Talent Competition" hosted by Kaitai Academy would attract people from every major academy in the country, and even people from the Imperial Academy would be there. It was truly a gathering of countless geniuses and experts; for them to make a name for themselves would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. If the competition were about painting erotic art, he might have some pride, but as for other categories, he knew his own limits—he was better off just washing up and going to sleep.

Chen Jianchen ignored the snubs from his fellow students. His mind was not on this at all; it was focused on the plan formulated by the River God, Ding Yin.

Just last night, Ding Yin had appeared again and told Chen Jianchen his plan for dealing with the Bija Mountain God, Hou Qing. The plan was somewhat convoluted. First, Chen Jianchen had to go to Dong'an Township near Bija Mountain to find a scholar named Xi Fangping.

Who was Xi Fangping? He was a scholar who, due to his family's poverty, could not attend Minghua Academy and had to study at home. His father was an honest and simple man who had once offended a wealthy man surnamed Yang in the township. Years later, the wealthy Mr. Yang passed away and, through connections in the Underworld, became a ghost official under the command of the Bija Mountain God, Hou Qing. Being a man who sought revenge for the slightest grievance, he remembered how Xi Fangping's father had offended him when he was alive and plotted to take revenge by using dream-possession to drag away the elder Xi's soul and torment him.

Ding Yin had discovered this by chance. As the Bija Mountain God, Hou Qing had failed to restrain his subordinates, allowing a ghost official to settle personal scores and interfere in the affairs of the living—a direct violation of the laws of the Underworld. By grabbing onto this leverage, Chen Jianchen could rightfully confront Hou Qing, and even if the City God himself stepped in, there would be nothing to fear.

Hearing this, Chen Jianchen frowned. It seemed that the intricacies of the Underworld were far more chaotic and dark than he had imagined; some of the things occurring there were simply beyond belief. He understood Ding Yin's scheme: to use the injustice suffered by Xi Fangping's father as a legitimate reason to hold Hou Qing accountable. And since Xi Fangping was a scholar, and all scholars in the world were kin, it was perfectly reasonable for Chen Jianchen to help him.

During their discussion, Chen Jianchen probed further and learned quite a bit about the rules of the Underworld. For instance, when a person dies, their soul is often stripped of its autonomy and captured by ghost officials almost immediately. As for the reincarnation mentioned in myths, it was mostly empty speculation, though the soul-seizure of a living body was possible.

In the Underworld, souls could accumulate "Yin Merit" to become stronger and gain new powers, potentially being selected by the management to become ghost officials. If they performed well, they could be promoted to become Land Gods, Mountain Gods, or River Gods. Of course, this was a privilege for only a few souls; the vast majority were managed in a dazed state, existing merely as nutrients.

Yin Merit was the universal currency of the Underworld, possessing various incredible properties. However, its source was mysterious, and even Ding Yin did not know, suggesting it might be related to incense offerings.

With the plan set, there was no time to lose. Chen Jianchen was the type of person who, having given his word and accepted the Water-Avoiding Pearl, would honor his promise. Moreover, he had long found the Bija Mountain God, Hou Qing, to be an eyesore, and this was the perfect opportunity to go and have a reckoning with him.