SFS Chapter 5 Effects
Chapter 5 Effects
The next day, early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking.
The mist on Cangwu Mountain had not yet dissipated, and the air carried the chill unique to late autumn.
Zhao Cheng'an got up early, dressed neatly, and went straight to the gate of the school where the ancient teachings were taught.
The school's vermilion gate was tightly shut, and a fine layer of dew condensed on the door knocker.
He stood at the bottom of the steps, his hands tucked into his sleeves, exhaling a puff of white breath.
Before long, light footsteps echoed along the bluestone path leading to the school.
Chen Heng, dressed in a simple blue dress and carrying several bamboo scrolls, walked out of the morning mist. Upon seeing Zhao Cheng'an standing outside the door, Chen Heng paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She remembered that this third prince had never appeared at the school so early before.
What triggered this sudden change in personality?
Zhao Chengan also noticed Chen Heng.
However, his expression was calm, and he did not greet her as eagerly as the original owner had.
She merely nodded slightly as a greeting. Then, she subtly observed him, wondering if Chen Heng was truly a cultivator. Aside from being undeniably handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, and a spirited air, his fair, jade-like skin was virtually flawless.
Apart from that, he doesn't seem to be any different from ordinary people.
To avoid any misunderstanding, Zhao Chengan quickly looked away.
Chen Heng nodded politely, walked to the other side of the vermilion pillar, and stood down, looking down at the bamboo slips in her hands. There was a distance between them, and neither of them spoke again.
Subsequently, many students arrived at the school gate.
Even Guo You appeared, sneaking around behind Xiang Yunyuan.
His face was still somewhat swollen and red on one side. Upon seeing Zhao Cheng'an there, he immediately looked like a mouse seeing a cat, his face showing an angry yet helpless expression. He shrank his neck, avoided eye contact, and slunk away into the crowd.
"Squeak—"
Two servants dressed in gray clothes opened the school doors from the inside.
The students filed in and found their seats.
Zhao Cheng'an found a front-row seat by the window and spread out the books he had brought on the table.
A long, drawn-out rooster crow broke the morning's tranquility from the misty mountains in the distance.
As the rooster crowed, an elderly man dressed in loose Confucian robes slowly walked into the school.
The old man had white hair and beard, his face was covered with deep wrinkles, his body was somewhat hunched, and he walked slowly and deliberately.
This man was Shen Yanshan, the teacher in charge of instructing students in ancient teachings.
At the same time, he was also the Grand Master of the Imperial Academy, equivalent to the principal of a school in his previous life, holding a highly respected position. Even the kings of the seven kingdoms had to treat him with utmost respect and deference. Within the Imperial Academy, even the most unruly students dared not be the slightest bit presumptuous in his presence.
However, he just looks like an old man with limited mobility.
Shen Yanshan walked to the front desk and sat down. His cloudy gaze swept around the classroom, finally lingering briefly on Chen Heng, who stood tall and straight in the front row. He seemed to nod slightly in greeting before looking away.
"Today, we will continue our discussion of the Huangting Neijing Jing."
Shen Yanshan opened the book and began to explain the scriptures.
"Before the Supreme Purple Cloud Void Emperor, the Jade Morning Lord of the Great Dao."
"The Shangqing mentioned here does not refer to celestial palaces, nor to the location of mountains and rivers. Qing means clarity. Shangqing is the state that can be reached when the mind is not led astray by distracting thoughts."
Shen Yanshan doesn't lecture very fast, but he teaches the content in the book in great detail.
Some places focus on the shape of the characters, while others focus on their ancient pronunciation. Still others simply instruct people to remember the pronunciation without explaining the reasons behind it.
"In her leisure, Ruizhu composed seven-character poems, which scatter and transform into five forms and myriad spirits."
Shen Yanshan pressed his finger on the page of the book.
"The Five Forms are not the Five Internal Organs, nor the Five Elements. The ancients sometimes used characters to conceal meaning. When reading this passage, the tip of the tongue should touch the upper teeth, and the breath should be neither too light nor too broken."
Some students were so engrossed in the conversation that they were starting to doze off.
Guo You looked down at his book, his eyelids already starting to droop.
Chen Heng sat in the front row, occasionally picking up his pen to write a few small characters next to the pages of his book.
Although Zhao Cheng'an didn't quite understand what he was hearing either, he still tried his best to write it down.
After explaining for about half an hour, Shen Yanshan stopped, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a sip of water.
"Now, recite with me."
Shen Yanshan put down his teacup, closed his eyes, and began to recite.
"Before the Supreme Purity Purple Cloud Void Emperor, the Jade Morning Lord of the Great Dao..."
The students who were originally drowsy heard the teacher's voice, quickly raised their heads, turned to the corresponding pages, and began to recite in unison.
Zhao Cheng'an opened his mouth and recited along with the others.
At first, I didn't notice anything, but I soon realized something was wrong.
Although Shen Yanshan's voice was not loud, it carried a strange rhythm. The sound seemed not to come from his throat, but to vibrate directly in the air, penetrating his skin and flesh, and reaching his internal organs.
Zhao Cheng'an felt his chest cavity begin to resonate.
The frequency of my heartbeat unconsciously overlapped with that rhythm.
A sharp, burning pain shot through my left chest from the dark blue palm print, as if a fire was burning in my veins.
"Ahem!"
Zhao Cheng'an bent over and coughed violently, covering his mouth with a handkerchief.
He felt a strong, metallic taste rise in his throat.
Spread your hands out.
There was a dark red and black bloodstain on the handkerchief.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Cheng'an's pupils contracted slightly. Although he had just vomited blood, he was surprised to find that the heavy feeling in his chest, as if he couldn't breathe, suddenly eased considerably.
He was breathing heavily, but it didn't agitate the poison mark on his chest.
Just now, following Shen Yanshan's recitation actually helped improve my injuries.
This is a poisonous mark left by a master assassin!
Zhao Cheng'an's eyes lit up.
On the one hand, his health improved, and the sword hanging over his head finally moved a little further away. On the other hand, his previous guesses were further confirmed. Moreover, compared to the former, the latter reason made him even happier.
Thinking of this, Zhao Cheng'an looked up at the teacher with a guilty conscience.
Seeing that the teacher was still looking at his book, and that the students around him did not notice anything unusual about him.
Zhao Cheng'an finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The sound of reading aloud drifted over.
Zhao Cheng'an felt his body was getting better, as if a warm current was surging out from his dantian.
pity……
This feeling didn't last long.
Shen Yanshan led the reading for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before stopping.
The sounds of recitation in the schoolroom also subsided.