Chapter 296
After the ‘Master Luo’ from Mount Qingcheng appeared, more people with extraordinary demeanor arrived with their disciples.
The platform on the cliffside was in constant commotion. Exclamations of surprise rippled through the crowd, like an atmosphere crew at a bar. A chubby young man was subtly at the center of it all, with small circles forming around him as he continuously explained who these Immortal Masters were.
Meanwhile, the queue behind Luo Cong’an in the middle of the platform grew longer with time, gradually including disciples from other peaks of Mount Qingcheng. However, they were all accompanied by their respective Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, with only Luo Cong’an representing her peak.
In truth, Luo Cong’an wasn’t obligated to come. She could have even declined the position of Instructor for the Sword Cultivation Department and remained in secluded cultivation at Mount Qingcheng without anyone questioning her. But as Chen An had assessed, when her other consciousness wasn’t active, she was very reasonable. Her gentle and kind nature was well-known throughout Mount Qingcheng, so she naturally didn’t refuse when the Sect Master approached her.
Finally, as the last group, clad in bright yellow daoist robes, descended the cliffside, a clear and melodious chime rang out. The noisy atmosphere on the platform abruptly ceased. The chubby young man watched quietly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. He murmured, “The people from Mount Longhu have arrived.”
With everyone present, a solemn-looking middle-aged man stepped forward. His gaze was sharp as he surveyed the crowd and introduced himself. “My surname is Yan, and I am your first principal…” After a lengthy, uninteresting speech, three men in suits stood behind Principal Yan. Each held a list and proceeded to call out names within their designated sections. Those whose names were called stepped forward to receive their unique identity tags, which granted them unimpeded access throughout Mount Longhu, except in areas explicitly restricted. The back of the tag also contained their dormitory room number and a map guide. The first batch of selected students totaled three hundred and forty-three, all under twenty years old, regarded as promising talents ready for development. Principal Yan clasped his hands behind his back, surveying the eager faces of the young men and women below with satisfaction.
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After receiving his tag, Chen An looked at the girl beside him. “I’ll head over there first.”
Lin Jingqiu was wearing a daoist robe similar to Luo Cong’an’s today. Though simple, it still attracted many furtive glances. Several groups of young men were even exchanging knowing glances, eager to strike up a conversation. Hearing Chen An, she raised her identity tag. “See you tomorrow,” Lin Jingqiu smiled. Luo Cong’an turned her head, met Chen An’s gaze, and gave a slight nod.
Mount Longhu was divided into a front and back mountain, with the back mountain strictly off-limits to students. Many new houses had been built in the front mountain’s Yueyao area, some clearly marked as classrooms and others as dormitories. The principal had mentioned that they were to find their dormitories today and rest, familiarizing themselves with the environment. The formal freshman initiation ceremony would be tomorrow morning, at which time the teaching methods and rules of this unprecedented university would be explained.
The mountain air was fresh. Following the directions on his tag, Chen An walked for about ten minutes before finally spotting a courtyard. Outside the courtyard entrance hung a sign: “B4,” indicating Chen An’s assigned dormitory. He pushed open the door and stepped into the room. The courtyard was small, with a tiny patch of open space and only one room upon entering. The room contained four beds, suggesting it was a four-person dormitory. Chen An had sauntered over, enjoying the scenery, and found that his three other roommates had already arrived. They were sitting on their beds, chatting about various topics.
Upon seeing Chen An enter, a robust-looking young man near the door’s eyes lit up. He grinned, “Speak of the devil, and here he is. It looks like our B4 room is complete.” The other two also turned their gazes. A collective gasp escaped them as they silently marveled at how handsome their new roommate was.
“Wait a minute!” The tall, thin young man on the upper bunk frowned. Realizing something, he suddenly jumped off the bed. He examined Chen An closely, exclaiming, “You’re that disciple who was following Master Luo earlier, right? You’re so good-looking, I remember you clearly…” Although Luo Cong’an had only been present briefly, her exceptional demeanor and beauty had quickly spread among the freshmen. The title ‘Master Luo’ was also passed around by word of mouth. Seeing Chen An nod without denial, the three looked at him with renewed fervor. They swiftly moved to surround Chen An. The tall, thin young man who first identified Chen An said excitedly, “Damn, bro, from now on, you’re my brother! People from your mountain, your sect, you must know a lot more than us ordinary people, right? Please look out for your little brother in the future!”
Chen An shook his head, “I’m not a disciple of Mount Qingcheng, I just happened to meet her and came along by chance.” The three paused, but their enthusiasm remained. Even if he wasn’t a disciple of Mount Qingcheng, anyone who could follow Master Luo must possess special skills, whether their own talents or influential connections. Regardless, he was undoubtedly a person with potential worth befriending.
From their conversation, Chen An learned the general backgrounds of his three roommates. The tall, thin young man was named Sun Zhenjiang, a local from the capital but not a wealthy heir; he was completely unaware of this sudden opportunity. The robust young man, Shao Ren, hailed from a small town in the north, even more bewildered than Sun Zhenjiang. The last one, Xie Wenqing, was dark-skinned and a bit short. He reportedly came from a daozist temple in Nanyang and seemed much more knowledgeable about the spiritual qi resurgence. They looked at Chen An, rubbing their hands in anticipation, hoping to gain some early insight into the university. However, they were clearly disappointed, as Chen An was clueless about most of their questions. Perhaps Lin Jingqiu had told him, but Chen An always neglected such details. Gradually, their enthusiasm waned.
As evening approached, Shao Ren invited everyone to dinner, mentioning he had already scouted the cafeteria’s location during the day. He also added that he’d learned their meals were specially prepared, rich in spiritual qi, and beneficial for their future cultivation. Chen An declined the invitation, as he planned to find Luo Cong’an.
(End of Chapter)
