Martial Cultivator

The Dean who had sent off two satisfied students one after another slowly walked out of the small courtyard. After walking a few steps in the snowstorm, he contemplated whether to go and check on his youngest disciple. However, after some thought, he decided against it. Instead, he strolled along the lakeside. With no one in the academy, there was naturally no one to witness the sight of the seemingly ageless dean walking alone by the lake.

After walking for hundreds of steps, the Dean suddenly sighed as he recalled many old memories by the lakeside. What Wei Xu had asked was actually something he had been pondering over for the past few days. In his early years, he had been rather casual about taking on disciples, accepting them if they seemed promising. Thus, even though he had 72 disciples, there were not actually many who were truly suitable to be groomed as the next dean.

Initially, he had thought that the one he could pass his mantle to was none other than Zhou Guoqi, who was now hiding in a small county town in Wei Prefecture. This fellow came from a prestigious family but did not adopt the traits that he did not like. He was free-spirited and straightforward, much like the Dean in his younger days. Consequently, during his teachings, the Dean had harbored many ulterior motives, wanting to see if this fellow could handle great responsibility. In the end, this fellow indeed showed promise and satisfied him greatly. But later on, who would have known that this guy actually caused such a huge trouble? That incident was so severe that even the Dean himself, the head of the academy, found it difficult to protect him. In the end, it took a Herculean effort to save that guy's measly life, and he had to leave the Divine Capital, never able to use his real name again.

Naturally, he could not make him the next dean anymore.

Whenever he thought about this matter, the Dean felt a sense of regret. In the end, it was his own failings as the teacher. He could not even protect his own student.

After Zhou Gouqi, the second person the Dean had high hopes for was none other than Liu Banbi, who had just returned to the Divine Capital.

Unfortunately, this fellow decided to give up studying altogether and became a sword cultivator instead. Although the Dean had already let go of this matter, he could not deny feeling upset.

After these two people, the options for the Dean to choose from became increasingly limited. Over the years, upon careful consideration, the most suitable candidate was only Wei Xu.

As the legitimate son of the Wei Family, he had followed him for many years. The Dean had intentionally or unintentionally taught Wei Xu how to be a scholar, how to be the leader of scholars. But unfortunately, coming from a prestigious family like the Wei Family, certain things were ingrained in his blood from birth. Over the years, although the Dean was relatively satisfied with Wei Xu, he always felt that there was something missing from him.

Originally, without the appearance of Xie Nandu, it was fine if Wei Xu was lacking something, it was normal for people not to be flawless. Some imperfections were just that - imperfections. The Dean did not feel the need to nitpick. However, the appearance of Xie Nandu later surprised him. Xie Nandu came from White Deer's Xie Clan, which was a prestigious family not much smaller than the Xie Family of the Divine Capital. Initially, he thought this girl must have been somewhat influenced by the aristocratic upbringing, but as they spent time together, he suddenly discovered that she was completely in line with the teachings of the great Confucian scholars.

Truly, she was untainted by the world; pure and incorruptible.

With such a disciple as his final disciple, the Dean was actually overjoyed.

However, he soon found himself in a dilemma. Without Xie Nandu, perhaps he would have had to choose Wei Xu, but now that Xie Nandu was there, what was he to do?

These two, as senior and junior siblings, were likely also caught in a dilemma.

But the biggest problem was not how he would make his choice, but rather that he was already old.

Although his cultivation base was profound, and the Dean could still maintain a youthful appearance, but in reality, he was indeed already old. That Great General of the Northern Frontier was about to pass away, and while it might not be as quick for him, it was not too far off either.

With little time left, Xie Nandu was just beginning to rise. If he stubbornly insisted on passing on the position of Dean to Xie Nandu, what would Wei Xu do?

Both of them hailed from the Wei and Xie families respectively, and now with the competition within the academy, the Dean did not want to think about the conclusion.

"Getting old."

The Dean murmured softly.

Even the greatest heroes would grow old, no one could defy time.

"Even if you're old, you have to take your time to die."

Unexpectedly, a voice sounded in the originally quiet academy, and a figure appeared behind the Dean inexplicably.

Turning around, the Dean was surprised to see the newcomer, but he quickly regained his composure, remaining silent.

The arrival smiled and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

The Dean did not hide anything and replied frankly, "I'm thinking about when was the last time Your Majesty visited the academy. But regardless, the last time Your Majesty came, your hair hadn't turned white yet."

The arrival was that Great Liang Emperor who returned from the desolate north.

He had traversed the thirty thousand miles of desolate north, from the Northern Frontier to the Divine Capital, encountering dangers but ultimately returning safely.

The Great Liang Emperor had already donned a brand new emperor robe. Upon hearing these words, he calmly remarked, "The Dean will age, and so will We."

The Dean sighed, "In the end, Your Majesty seems to age faster."

As the ruler of this dynasty, the Great Liang Emperor indeed did not have it as easy as others imagined. The towering piles of reports easily wore a person down, and the world he saw was never truly peaceful and carefree.

The Great Liang Emperor chuckled, "Everything in the world is troublesome. If We had known it would be this troublesome, why would We even want to be emperor? Hunting and riding in the north would probably be much more enjoyable."

The Dean shook his head and did not say much. Both of them knew that such a thing was impossible. Without that great battle, the Emperor would have died long ago, and wanting to be a carefree vassal prince was something many people would not agree to.

The Dean said, "Your Majesty's worries may seem trivial, but it's the lack of someone to share those concerns with that makes it burdensome. In the past, you could confide in the monk in black robes, but since he's gone, there was still Her Majesty the Empress to listen to your troubles. But now, even Her Majesty is gone. Your Majesty wouldn't consider me as the last friend you can confide in, would you?"

The Great Liang Emperor replied calmly, "If you're unwilling to listen, why would We bother telling you?"

Being old acquaintances, these two knew each other inside out.

The Dean replied frankly, "Your Majesty's worries are too many and too great for me. Just managing an academy is already difficult. Adding Your Majesty's concerns to that, I'm afraid even twenty-four hours a day wouldn't be enough."

The Great Liang Emperor remained silent. He and the Dean were naturally friends, perhaps always would be, but he also knew the Dean would never become his confidant like that dead monk in black robes.