Chapter 20: What exactly did he leave behind?
In the dawn light, a procession clad in black cloaks traversed the vast, desolate expanse of the frozen tundra, where delicate snowflakes danced through the air, creating a unique ambiance.
After three arduous days of trekking, the majestic silhouette of the Teng Tian Mountain Range finally revealed itself, and the Qingluan Academy was now within sight.
The efficacy of the pale green ointment from Qingluan Academy is unparalleled by any modern salve; after each night of deep slumber, the swelling and pain in their feet would dissipate completely, even the wounds on the soles would scab over and heal.
It was precisely with the aid of this fragrant herbal ointment that Lin Xi and all the new students of the Department of Cessation of Conflict were able to persevere.
After three grueling days of travel, the faces of the forty-one new students had grown gaunt, yet their spirits were notably lifted, and each of them had developed a much heartier appetite.
Initially, the majority of the newcomers could manage only a small palm-sized piece of meat per meal, but now even the least hungry among them could consume nearly two such portions.
It remained uncertain whether by design or happenstance, but the wild yet composed black-haired man had not hunted any antelope since that night, instead bringing back larger and more robust elk.
The rich fat of these elk, when roasted, exuded an even more tantalizing aroma, which wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of the black cloaks made from North Sea otter pelts.
"What did that middle-aged man leave behind at Qingluan Academy?"
Walking in the middle of the line, Lin Xi gazed at the cold and enigmatic Teng Tian Mountain Range, where snowflakes danced in the air, shrouded in mist, distant and unattainable.
Though he had long since accepted his new identity and felt at home in this world, an indescribable emotion lingered within him, perhaps a sense of unfulfilled loneliness and misunderstanding, reminiscent of what he had shared with the old carriage driver. This made the legendary middle-aged man the true reason for his determination to enter Qingluan Academy.
Moreover, perhaps this middle-aged man could provide answers to many of his lingering questions.
...
A narrow stone path, wide enough for only two or three people to walk side by side, appeared at the foot of the mountain, winding upwards beneath a light dusting of snow. Before long, the snow transformed into a hard layer of ice and sharp ice shards.
The black-haired man was the first to step onto this path, moving with ease, as if it were no different from any ordinary stroll.
With a wild grin, he cast a menacing glance at Lin Xi and the others, declaring, "Watch your step; follow this path, and once we cross this ridge, we'll arrive. You must reach it before sunset today; if you can't make it, you'll have to spend the night on this path."
However, as everyone set foot on the stone path and looked up, they could see nothing of the mountain peak he had mentioned.
The Teng Tian Mountain Range was simply too towering; after a hundred steps, each ascent required immense exertion, and soon, apart from Xia Yanbing and the black-haired man, the remaining new students were reduced to crawling on hands and knees, and even then, they had to pause frequently to catch their breath.
Suddenly, a vast expanse of towering snow-covered cedar trees emerged at the end of the narrow icy path, as if they had stepped into another world. All the newcomers, panting heavily, fell silent after passing through the towering cedar forest that obscured the sky.
Before them lay a gentle slope, opposite which stood dozens of peaks adorned with majestic, sprawling palaces, their windows glinting in the sunlight.
Particularly, on the nearest peak, a series of interconnected palaces jutted out over the edge, seemingly hovering directly above their heads.
The jade-green walls and the golden-glazed tiles reflected the sunlight, making it difficult for the newcomers to keep their eyes open.
Lin Xi, too, found himself at a loss for words; the imagination of a modern person paled in comparison to the sight before him, as the grandeur of the palatial complex on the nearby peak surpassed even that of Minas Tirith from the Lord of the Rings.
"Why is it springtime here, blooming with flowers, rather than a frozen wasteland?" someone asked, bewildered.
"That's a foolish question," the black-haired man remarked, dismissively pointing towards the horizon.
The horizon revealed an even more towering mountain range, stretching like a colossal wall. This area, much like the Four Seasons Plain, was a basin nestled within the mountains; the cold currents from the north were obstructed by the great mountain range, creating turbulence that allowed the frigid winds to glide harmlessly above this highland basin.
The towering peaks, soaring hundreds of meters high, were merely protrusions within this grand mountain range.
"Let's keep climbing!"
The black-haired man and Xia Yanbing led the exhausted newcomers of the Department of Cessation of Conflict up to the nearest and relatively lower peak, finally arriving at a massive black wooden door.
"Did anyone fall behind?"
With a fist raised in laughter, the black-haired man struck the enormous black door with force.
"Crazy Qin…"
With a muttered curse, the door swung open, revealing a tall woman with a horse-like face, clad in a black professor's robe adorned with silver star insignia, standing at the entrance. Her stern expression gave everyone the impression that she was quite formidable and difficult to approach.
"Professor Li, long time no see. Shall we have a spar first?" the black-haired man said with a hearty laugh directed at the intimidating woman.
Professor Li shot him a fierce glare, ignoring him entirely, and effortlessly pulled open the half-meter-thick door, sternly addressing the weary newcomers of the Department of Cessation of Conflict, "Do not waste resources; otherwise, you will find yourselves at my mercy."
All the newcomers were perplexed by the professor's warning against wasting resources, but as they stepped through the deep entrance hall, they were left utterly speechless.
In a small courtyard paved with pebbles, over twenty large wooden tables were laden with food.
Roasted elk steaks, roasted pheasants, roasted deer meat, rice, pastries, an array of vegetables, and various tubers and fruits, many of which even the golden-spooned youth had never encountered.
"You may indulge freely now, as long as you can eat…" The black-haired man regarded the astonished newcomers with a knowing gaze.
"Ah!"
In an instant, the newcomers of the Department of Cessation of Conflict surged toward the tables laden with food like a pack of ravenous tigers.
To be honest, aside from the long hours of travel he had imposed on them, the black-haired man hadn't let them go hungry; however, after several days of unseasoned roasted meat, they could only fill their stomachs. The sight of the delectable fare on the wooden tables was irresistible.
Each person grabbed a bounty and began to feast heartily.
"Is this a welcome banquet? Won't it be an issue if we don't wait for the others?" someone asked, filled with doubt.
"Something like that," the black-haired man, who was currently devouring a whole roasted lamb, replied casually. "We in the Department of Cessation of Conflict do this every year; do you think it will be a problem? Just enjoy your meal; after all, you won't be able to finish it all, and even if you do, Professor Li will have more prepared."
"Will the others arrive here too? Are we staying here? Didn't they say there would be an important tradition to receive the dean's teachings? When will we receive Dean Zhang's teachings?" another newcomer couldn't help but inquire.
"No rush; that will be tomorrow at noon. You'll be staying in that area." The black-haired man gestured casually, and all the newcomers instinctively turned to follow his finger, discovering a seven-story tower-like building precariously perched on the edge of the mountain.
"Why aren't there any senior brothers or sisters?"
"All newcomers will stay on this peak; the seniors from other departments are on different peaks, and you'll have opportunities to meet them later. As for where you'll stay after a year, you'll understand in due time."
"Do we wait for all the others to arrive before receiving the dean's teachings? What will we do in the meantime?"
"Next, you will eat, sleep, and wait for them to arrive; you have an extra day to rest compared to them." The black-haired man shot a glance at all the newcomers, "Otherwise, how would you learn that greater effort often yields greater rewards?"
"Professor Qin… you're truly wonderful!" The newcomers were momentarily taken aback, then erupted into joyous cheers.
"Is that so?" Amidst the cheers and praises, the black-haired man lowered his head, engrossed in devouring the roasted lamb, a self-deprecating smile crossing his lips: "I only hope that among you, there will be fewer who disappoint me in the future."
"Other lecturers will not arrive until tomorrow, so you can only rest in this courtyard. After the other departments arrive and receive the dean's teachings, instructors will help arrange your living and courses," Xia Yanbing's serious voice chimed in. "No one is allowed to leave this courtyard; otherwise, you will be expelled from Qingluan Academy."
No one cared whether this rule was too harsh; the courtyard filled with food felt like paradise compared to the grueling days they had endured. Exhausted, the newcomers of the Department of Cessation of Conflict, even Lin Xi, who felt a slight regret at not being able to see what the middle-aged man had left behind, soon wrapped himself in the thick, soft cloak and fell into a deep slumber, oblivious to the world.
The next day, when the first newcomer of the Department of Cessation of Conflict awoke, the sunlight was already dazzling.
The black-haired man, wild and untamed, stood like a spear atop a building on the cliff's edge, gazing into the distance, leaving everyone wondering how he had ascended there.
At the foot of the Teng Tian Mountain Range, a large group of cloaked figures had gathered, resembling a swarm of black ants approaching the base of the mountain.
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