Chapter 2408: Like the Sea, Like a Mirror

Chapter Seventeen: Like Sea, Also Like Mirror

The carriage stopped outside the gate of the Hou Residence in front of the palace. It was the residence of the Grand Tutor, Tai Shi Wen.

Wen Fu had arranged a small courtyard. When he led Lu An into the courtyard, there were already two people waiting.

"You are the Lu An, right?"

One of them, a middle-aged man in black, spoke.

Lu An nodded.

"Alright, come with me. Tonight is just a simple test. It won't take long."

The middle-aged man spoke calmly and led Lu An into a room.

Wen Fu stood at the entrance, looking at Lu An's back, a glimmer in his eyes.

Inside the room, besides the middle-aged man, there was also an old man dressed in black.

"Come over here."

The middle-aged man pointed to the center of the room.

Lu An walked over. The middle-aged man and the old man surrounded Lu An.

"Hold still, no matter what happens, don't move."

After the middle-aged man finished speaking, the old man raised his hand, and a white light shot out.

Lu An felt as if something had entered his head. It wasn't pain, but a strange feeling.

It was like his brain was shaking.

He remembered Wen Fu's words: No matter what happens, don't resist.

So, he stood still.

This feeling only lasted for a moment before disappearing.

"Alright, it's over. You can leave now."

The middle-aged man spoke again.

Lu An walked out of the room. Wen Fu was waiting outside.

"How was it?"

Wen Fu asked.

"It was just a simple test."

Lu An replied.

Wen Fu nodded.

"Let's go back. I'll give you the answer in two days."

Lu An left the Hou Residence with Wen Fu.

On the way back, Lu An felt a little strange.

That feeling of his brain shaking was a bit unsettling.

Was that what they called soul probing?

Lu An had read books about cultivation, and they mentioned soul probing.

It was a technique used to investigate a person's past and memories.

However, soul probing was said to be very harmful to the person being probed, and it could even cause permanent damage.

But he didn't feel any discomfort.

Perhaps what they used wasn't soul probing, but some other technique.

When they returned to the Wen Residence, Wen Fu went to report to Wen Hong.

Lu An returned to his room.

He sat on the bed and quietly thought about what had happened today.

The test was very simple, just that one test.

What were they testing?

Lu An thought of what the middle-aged man said: "You are the Lu An, right?"

It seemed they were confirming his identity.

But how did they confirm it?

He had no idea.

After a while, Wen Fu returned.

"How did it go?"

Lu An asked.

"Master said the test results were very good."

Wen Fu said.

"So, am I accepted?"

Lu An asked.

"Not yet. Master said he will give you the answer in two days."

Wen Fu said.

Lu An nodded.

"Alright, you should rest early. I'll come find you in two days."

Wen Fu left.

Lu An lay on the bed, unable to sleep.

He kept thinking about the test.

What exactly were they testing?

And what was that feeling of his brain shaking?

The next day, Lu An woke up early and continued practicing the first form of the Ten Forms of Iron Clothes.

He practiced until he was soaked in sweat.

Afterward, he took a bath and then went to eat.

He didn't ask Wen Fu about the test again.

Two days passed quickly.

On the third day, Wen Fu came to find Lu An.

"Master has made a decision."

Wen Fu said.

Lu An looked at him.

"Master said you are qualified to enter the Tai Xue."

Wen Fu said.

Lu An was overjoyed.

"Thank you, Steward Wen!"

Lu An said.

"Don't thank me. This is all because of your own ability."

Wen Fu said.

"Master said you can go to the Tai Xue tomorrow."

Wen Fu said.

"Tomorrow?"

Lu An was surprised.

"Yes, tomorrow. Master said there's no need to delay."

Wen Fu said.

Lu An nodded.

"Alright, then I'll go tomorrow."

Lu An felt a bit unreal.

He had only been in the Wen Residence for a few days, and he was already going to the Tai Xue.

This was much faster than he had expected.

"What do I need to prepare?"

Lu An asked.

"You don't need to prepare anything. The Tai Xue will arrange everything."

Wen Fu said.

"Just bring your clothes and personal belongings."

Wen Fu said.

Lu An nodded.

"Alright, I understand."

Lu An was excited and a little nervous.

The Tai Xue was the highest institution of learning in the Dayan Dynasty.

He was about to enter the Tai Xue.

This was something he had never dared to imagine before.

That night, Lu An couldn't sleep again.

He kept thinking about the Tai Xue.

What kind of place was it?

What kind of people would he meet there?

The next day, Lu An got up early.

He packed his clothes and personal belongings into a small bag.

Wen Fu was waiting for him outside.

"Are you ready?"

Wen Fu asked.

"Yes."

Lu An said.

"Let's go then."

Wen Fu led Lu An out of the Wen Residence.

A carriage was waiting outside.

Wen Fu and Lu An got into the carriage.

The carriage drove towards the Tai Xue.

The Tai Xue was located in the northern part of the imperial city.

It was a huge complex of buildings, covering a vast area.

When the carriage stopped outside the gate of the Tai Xue, Lu An was awestruck by the sight before him.

The gate was tall and majestic, made of white jade.

On the gate was a plaque with three large characters: Tai Xue Yuan.

Wen Fu led Lu An through the gate.

Inside the Tai Xue, there were many courtyards, pavilions, and gardens.

Students in different colored robes were walking around.

"The Tai Xue is divided into different colleges. You will be in the College of Literature."

Wen Fu said.

"College of Literature?"

Lu An was a bit surprised.

He had thought he would be in the College of Martial Arts.

"Yes, Master arranged for you to be in the College of Literature."

Wen Fu said.

"But I want to practice martial arts."

Lu An said.

"Don't worry. The College of Literature also has courses on martial arts."

Wen Fu said.

"Besides, Master said you are very talented in literature. You can achieve great things in this field."

Wen Fu said.

Lu An was still a bit disappointed.

He had thought that after coming to the Tai Xue, he could focus on practicing martial arts.

But it seemed things were not going as he had planned.

"Alright, let's go to the College of Literature."

Wen Fu said.

Wen Fu led Lu An to the College of Literature.

The College of Literature was located in the central part of the Tai Xue.

It was a large courtyard with many classrooms and dormitories.

Wen Fu took Lu An to the office of the dean of the College of Literature.

The dean was an old man with white hair and a long beard.

"Dean, this is Lu An. He is a new student."

Wen Fu introduced.

The dean looked at Lu An.

"Lu An? Welcome to the College of Literature."

The dean said.

"Thank you, Dean."

Lu An said.

"Wen Fu, you can go back now. I will arrange everything for Lu An."

The dean said.

"Yes, Dean."

Wen Fu said and left.

The dean looked at Lu An.

"Lu An, do you know why you are here?"

The dean asked.

Lu An was a bit confused.

"I... I came to study."

Lu An said.

The dean smiled.

"That's right. But do you know what you will study?"

The dean asked.

Lu An shook his head.

"You will study literature, history, philosophy, and also martial arts."

The dean said.

"But the most important thing you will study is how to become a useful person."

The dean said.

"A useful person?"

Lu An was even more confused.

"Yes. A useful person is someone who can contribute to the country and the people."

The dean said.

"Do you want to be a useful person?"

The dean asked.

"Yes, I do."

Lu An said.

"Very good. Then you must study hard."

The dean said.

"Alright, I will arrange for you to live in the dormitory. You can go to your room now."

The dean said.

The dean called a student and asked him to take Lu An to his dormitory.

The student led Lu An to the dormitory.

The dormitory was a large building with many rooms.

Lu An's room was on the second floor.

It was a small room with a bed, a desk, and a chair.

There were already two other students in the room.

"Hello, I'm Lu An."

Lu An introduced himself.

"Hello, I'm Wang Ming."

One of the students said.

"I'm Li Qiang."

The other student said.

"Welcome to our room."

Wang Ming said.

Lu An put down his bag.

"Is there anything I need to do?"

Lu An asked.

"You just need to rest. Classes will start tomorrow."

Wang Ming said.

Lu An nodded.

He sat on the bed and looked at his new roommates.

Wang Ming and Li Qiang were both about his age.

They seemed friendly.

"Lu An, where are you from?"

Wang Ming asked.

"I'm from Qingfeng Town."

Lu An said.

"Qingfeng Town? I've never heard of it."

Wang Ming said.

"It's a small town in the north."

Lu An said.

"Oh, I see."

Wang Ming said.

"Lu An, how did you get into the Tai Xue?"

Li Qiang asked.

Lu An hesitated for a moment.

He couldn't tell them that he was arranged by the Grand Tutor.

"I... I passed the exam."

Lu An said.

"You passed the exam? That's amazing!"

Li Qiang said.

"The Tai Xue exam is very difficult."

Wang Ming said.

Lu An smiled.

"I was just lucky."

Lu An said.

The three of them chatted for a while.

Lu An learned that Wang Ming and Li Qiang were both from the capital city.

They had been studying at the Tai Xue for a year.

They told Lu An about the Tai Xue, the courses, and the teachers.

Lu An listened carefully.

He was getting a better understanding of the Tai Xue.

In the afternoon, Lu An went out for a walk in the Tai Xue.

He explored the different courtyards and buildings.

He saw many students practicing martial arts in a large training ground.

He wished he could join them.

But he was in the College of Literature.

He sighed.

He knew he had to follow the arrangements of the Grand Tutor.

In the evening, Lu An had dinner in the dining hall.

The food was good.

After dinner, he returned to his dormitory.

He studied the books that the dean had given him.

They were books about literature, history, and philosophy.

He felt a bit bored.

He wanted to practice martial arts.

He missed practicing the Ten Forms of Iron Clothes.

He decided to practice the first form in his room.

He stood up and began to practice.

The first form was very simple, but it was the foundation of the Ten Forms of Iron Clothes.

He practiced slowly, focusing on each movement.

Wang Ming and Li Qiang were also in the room.

They looked at Lu An with curious eyes.

"Lu An, what are you doing?"

Wang Ming asked.

"I'm practicing martial arts."

Lu An said.

"Martial arts? You're in the College of Literature, why are you practicing martial arts?"

Li Qiang asked.

"I like martial arts."

Lu An said.

"But you should focus on your studies."

Wang Ming said.

"I will study, but I also want to practice martial arts."

Lu An said.

Wang Ming and Li Qiang looked at each other.

They didn't say anything more.

Lu An continued to practice.

He practiced the first form repeatedly, until he felt tired.

He then sat down and rested.

The next day, Lu An started his classes.

The classes were mostly lectures.

The teachers talked about literature, history, and philosophy.

Lu An found the classes a bit dry.

He was more interested in martial arts.

In the afternoon, there was a martial arts class.

Lu An was excited.

He went to the training ground with his classmates.

The martial arts teacher was a strong man with a serious face.

He taught them some basic movements and techniques.

Lu An practiced seriously.

He found that his previous practice of the Ten Forms of Iron Clothes helped him.

He was able to grasp the movements quickly.

The teacher noticed Lu An's performance.

"You are doing well, Lu An."

The teacher said.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Lu An said.

"Have you practiced martial arts before?"

The teacher asked.

Lu An hesitated for a moment.

"Yes, I have practiced a little."

Lu An said.

"I see. Keep up the good work."

The teacher said.

Lu An was happy that the teacher praised him.

After the martial arts class, Lu An returned to his dormitory.

He continued to study the books about literature, history, and philosophy.

He knew that he had to study hard, both in literature and martial arts.

He wanted to be a useful person, as the dean had said.

Time passed quickly.

Lu An's life at the Tai Xue was regular and busy.

He studied in the College of Literature, attended classes, and practiced martial arts.

He also made some friends.

Wang Ming and Li Qiang became his good friends.

They studied together, ate together, and sometimes practiced martial arts together.

Lu An's martial arts improved rapidly.

His practice of the Ten Forms of Iron Clothes was the foundation.

He also learned some new techniques from the teacher.

One day, the teacher told him that he could participate in the martial arts competition.

Lu An was excited.

He wanted to test his strength.

He signed up for the competition.

The martial arts competition was held every three months at the Tai Xue.

It was a chance for students to showcase their skills and compete with each other.

Lu An trained hard for the competition.

He practiced the Ten Forms of Iron Clothes every day, and he also practiced the techniques he learned from the teacher.

The day of the competition arrived.

Lu An was a bit nervous, but also excited.

There were many participants in the competition.

They were divided into different groups.

Lu An was in the same group as Wang Ming and Li Qiang.

The competition began.

The participants fought in the ring.

Lu An's turn came.

He entered the ring.

His opponent was a tall and strong student.

Lu An took a deep breath and prepared himself.

The fight began.

Lu An used the techniques he had learned, combined with the strength from the Ten Forms of Iron Clothes.

He was fast and agile.

His movements were precise and powerful.

His opponent was strong, but he was not as fast as Lu An.

Lu An found an opening and struck.

His fist landed on his opponent's chest.

His opponent staggered back and fell out of the ring.

Lu An won the first match.

He continued to fight in the competition.

He won one match after another.

His performance surprised everyone.

No one had expected a student from the College of Literature to be so good at martial arts.

Lu An reached the final round.

His opponent in the final was the best student in the College of Martial Arts.

He was very strong and had a lot of experience.

The final match began.

Lu An and his opponent fought fiercely.

They exchanged blows, and the sound of their fists hitting each other echoed in the training ground.

Lu An felt the pressure.

His opponent was very strong, and he was also very skillful.

But Lu An did not give up.

He used all his strength and all the techniques he knew.

He remembered the words of his father: "Never give up, no matter how difficult it is."

He also remembered the words of the dean: "Be a useful person."

He knew he had to win.

He wanted to prove himself.

He wanted to show everyone that he was not just a student from the College of Literature, but also a martial arts expert.

The fight continued.

Lu An was getting tired, but he kept fighting.

He saw an opportunity and seized it.

He used a technique he had learned from the Ten Forms of Iron Clothes.

He struck his opponent with a powerful blow.

His opponent was hit and fell to the ground.

Lu An won the final match.

He was the champion of the martial arts competition.

The crowd cheered.

Lu An was exhausted, but also exhilarated.

He had done it.

He had won the competition.

The dean of the Tai Xue came to the training ground.

He looked at Lu An with a smile.

"Lu An, you are amazing!"

The dean said.

"Thank you, Dean."

Lu An said.

"You have shown everyone that students from the College of Literature are not just good at literature, but also at martial arts."

The dean said.

"You are a useful person."

The dean said.

Lu An was touched by the dean's words.

He knew that he had achieved something.

He had proven himself.

After the competition, Lu An became famous in the Tai Xue.

Everyone knew about the student from the College of Literature who won the martial arts competition.

Some students from the College of Martial Arts came to challenge him, but he defeated them all.

Lu An's reputation grew.

He became known as the martial arts expert of the College of Literature.

He continued to study literature, history, and philosophy.

He also continued to practice martial arts.

He found a balance between the two.

He realized that literature and martial arts were not mutually exclusive.

They could complement each other.

Literature could broaden his mind and deepen his understanding of the world.

Martial arts could strengthen his body and sharpen his will.

He became a better student and a better martial artist.

He also became a more useful person.

He helped his classmates with their studies and their martial arts practice.

He also participated in some activities organized by the Tai Xue, such as debates and cultural events.

Lu An's life at the Tai Xue was fulfilling and enriching.

He learned a lot and grew a lot.

He was no longer the timid boy from Qingfeng Town.

He was a confident and capable young man.

He knew that he had a long way to go, but he was ready to face any challenges.

He was determined to become a truly useful person, a person who could contribute to the country and the people, a person who could make a difference in the world.