Chapter 111: The Joy of Encountering an Old Friend in a Strange Land

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Li Su blinked innocently. "I don’t think this is a good idea."

"We’ll do it this way," Wei Shian said decisively.

"I said I don’t think it’s good!" Li Su protested again.

"If I say it’s good, then it’s good!" Wei Shian’s tone brooked no argument.

Li Su rubbed his forehead. After a lengthy debate, Wei Shian unilaterally decided that Li Su had agreed to his plan.

"Trust me, you’re still young and don’t understand. I’m not blaming you," Wei Shian assured him confidently.

"Childish," Li Su muttered in response.

In the end, Li Su couldn’t stand it anymore and agreed to Wei Shian’s method. Actually, it wasn’t too bad. After tiring himself out with writing, he could relax by polishing glass, and he just didn’t want to listen to Wei Shian nagging any longer.

Wei Shian nodded with satisfaction, thinking Li Su had made a wise choice. He let Li Su leave early, planning to start the next day.

When Li Su returned to his room, he found not only Song Sheng there but also another person, who was turned away from the door, writing something.

Hearing the door open, Song Sheng looked up and said, "Brother Li, you're back!"

Yun Qin put down his brush and turned toward Li Su. "Brother Xian."

Song Sheng, hearing this, was surprised. "You two know each other?"

Song Sheng and Yun Qin were acquainted but rarely interacted. He hadn’t expected Yun Qin and Li Su to be familiar.

Yun Qin nodded. "Yes, we know each other."

"Brother Xian? What are you doing here?" Li Su’s tone held a hint of pleasant surprise, like meeting a friend in a distant place.

Yun Qin smiled lightly. "You said you came to study at Mingyue Academy, and since I hadn’t entered any academy in the capital, I thought I’d come here too."

"You should have told me beforehand," Li Su laughed.

They exchanged smiles.

Song Sheng glanced between them, amazed at their close relationship.

Yun Qin had never joined any academy before, but now that Brother Li was at Mingyue Academy, it made sense they would become good friends given their impressive knowledge.

"Brother Xian, Brother Qianhe, I still have some things to fetch outside. Would you accompany me?" Yun Qin asked.

Once Yun Qin spoke, Li Su and Song Sheng readily agreed.

The three of them went to the mountain gate to collect Yun Qin’s belongings. Yun Qin looked somewhat embarrassed. "I have quite a lot of stuff. Sorry for the trouble."

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Li Su glanced and said, "It’s not too bad."

He took the initiative to carry the large items himself.

Yun Qin quickly said, "Brother Xian, I can make another trip. It’s too heavy!"

Li Su replied calmly, "It’s not heavy."

Yun Qin and Song Sheng exchanged looks. Those few large bags didn’t seem heavy to him at all.

Yun Qin and Song Sheng: "???"

They seemed similar in build, but if they were to carry so many things at once, they simply couldn’t.

"Really not heavy?" Yun Qin asked again.

"Yes, you carry the rest. Let’s go inside," Li Su urged, eager to return to his studies.

Yun Qin and Song Sheng hurriedly picked up the remaining small bags and followed Li Su’s pace.

Despite holding so many things, Li Su’s speed was unaffected.

He already had good stamina, and after training with Wei Shian, he had improved even further.

Once inside the room, they put the items down. Yun Qin and Song Sheng tried to lift the bags Li Su was carrying. After a single attempt, they gave up, full of admiration for Li Su.

Yun Qin pulled out a book. "Brother Xian, come see this rare book I found. It’s fascinating."

Li Su walked over; Yun Qin handed him the book, which he had already finished reading, hoping they could discuss it afterward.

Li Su took the book and, from his own desk, handed Yun Qin a book he had read and found worthwhile. "Brother Qian, you should take a look at this too."

Song Sheng watched the two exchange books and realized this was how scholars with deep knowledge interacted.

He thought about his own collection—mostly ordinary books for the imperial examinations and his personal ones. Brother Li and Yun Qin likely wouldn’t care for these; they probably only read books that advanced their knowledge.

Song Sheng firmly decided to keep his books to himself since Brother Li and Yun Qin probably wouldn’t appreciate them.

Li Su then turned to Song Sheng. "Brother Qianhe, is there anything here you like? Feel free to take it."

Yun Qin added, "You can also read mine, just don’t damage them."

Song Sheng quickly replied, "Thanks, I’ll take a look."

Li Su and Yun Qin nodded. Song Sheng each took a book from them, feeling a little embarrassed. "My books are all ordinary study materials for the exams. You both must have them already. I’ll buy some better books later, and we can share."

Li Su and Yun Qin nodded, each engrossed in their own book.

Song Sheng hadn’t planned to read, but seeing them both absorbed, he opened his book as well, deciding to write later.

The room was filled only with the sound of turning pages. Li Su noted down insights on a piece of paper as he read.

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Yun Qin noticed that Li Su seemed very busy, waking earlier and returning later than them.

Song Sheng explained Yun Qin’s puzzlement. "Brother Li has been going to Director Wei’s place. Director Wei thinks highly of him."

Yun Qin thought of Director Wei’s famously irritable temper but figured that with Brother Li’s abilities, he probably wouldn’t get scolded.

That morning, Li Su went to Wei Shian’s house, where Wei said, "Today, besides squatting in horse stance, you can start the next step in your training."

Li Su’s eyes lit up. The next step?

Wei Shian realized Li Su wasn’t a complete novice—he had some foundation—so he sped up the training.

Li Su squatted for a while, then Wei tossed him a wooden sword. Li Su caught it swiftly.

"Use this wooden sword to chop this wooden post," Wei instructed.

"Use a wooden sword? Won’t it break?"

Wei picked up another wooden sword from the table, took a breath, and with one strike split the wooden post in two.

Li Su’s eyes widened in amazement. "Wow!"

"Director Wei, how did you do that?" Li Su asked, eyes shining. It looked so cool! He loved it!

"You wouldn’t understand if I explained now. Just practice. Chop. The more you practice, the more you’ll understand."

Wei threw Li Su a new wooden post to start practicing.

Li Su grabbed the wooden sword and began. It was impossible to split at first!

Wei seemed to read his thoughts. "Reaching my level takes a long time. You don’t expect to have my skill right away, do you?"

"What if I’m a martial arts genius?"

"You’re overestimating yourself. You’re not."

Li Su didn’t mind Wei’s teasing. After practicing, he took a bath, changed clothes, and went to the Yellow Study Hall.

Later, he returned to Director Wei’s place to continue polishing lenses by hand, finally grinding out an objective lens.

When the light passed through successfully, Li Su’s face brightened. "The handcrafted objective lens is done!"

To be honest, it gave him a real sense of accomplishment.