Shu Han's mindset crumbled.
He accepted that his calligraphy couldn't compare with his junior brother's because, after all, he inherited the teacher's skills in painting.
But as it turns out, the fellow also learned the art of "Painting Immortal" and achieved the same perfect state of mind as him!
This was a huge blow to him as a senior disciple.
"Senior Brother, this painting..."
Su Changqing just started to speak when Shu Han waved his hand dismissively, gritting his teeth: "Play chess with me!"
He didn't believe it!
Having started his training at six, with the teacher's meticulous guidance for over a decade, could he really be lesser than a junior brother who just joined?
However.
Half an hour later.
Shu Han looked at the black and white chessboard with an intense battle and appeared dazed.
He won, but only by two pieces.
Su Changqing's chess skills were also at a perfect state, with each piece landing bringing the great dragon together, as the Immortal wielded his weapon to slay the dragon's head!
If not for the lack of experience on Su Changqing's part, he would've surely lost this game.
"Impressive, Senior Brother, I am not as good," Su Changqing sighed.
"Bring the instrument!" Shu Han's face flushed a bit, and he continued, gritting his teeth.
This time it was even quicker.
As soon as Su Changqing started playing, an icy, bloodthirsty aura shot straight to the sky!
Qinsha: Ghost God Abyss, perfect state!
Shu Han ran away immediately.
After sensing Li Qingchen's presence, he avoided Su Changqing's gaze and ascended to the heavens, where he found Li Qingchen sitting amidst the clouds.
"Teacher, you made me lose face,"
Upon meeting, Shu Han couldn't help expressing his grievances with a resentful face.
"Hahaha, what happened? Is our Saint Academy's little Literary Saint feeling defeated?"
Seeing this, Li Qingchen couldn't help but laugh twice, his face filled with teasing.
"All four arts at the perfect state, and all inherited from your teacher's immortal arts—how can I compete with that?"
Shu Han smiled wryly, "Not just me, even a Confucian Saint would have to retreat with their face covered."
"Teacher brought me here this time, wasn't it to strike me down?"
"Alright, I admit I've been hit hard."
Shu Han's face showed some gloom; after all, they were of the same age, and his junior brother just joined a year ago, which was indeed a considerable blow to him.
"Don't compare yourself to him; the two of you are different."
Li Qingchen sat among the clouds, gazing at the young man below, and chuckled lightly:
"Some people are born to stand out, geniuses are very strong, but for some people, being a genius is just a threshold."
"Not to mention you, Chang Qing's talent, even the Literary Emperor in his prime would be a bit outshined."
Hearing this, Shu Han's eyes widened in shock, as it was the first time he heard his teacher speak so highly of someone.
"Then, the reason Teacher called me here..."
"I want you to push him." Li Qingchen sighed softly: "Having strong talent is good, but too strong talent can disturb one's mind."
"In just a year, he went from having nothing to learning 70% of my skills—such terrifying intuition is daunting."
"Even though I try to suppress it daily, I still can't stop his growth."
"Today is the first and only time I permit you, as someone of his age, to suppress him in the Confucian path."
"After today, there will be nothing to stop him on his path of Confucianism, not even me."
Shu Han was visibly shocked.
If he still felt a bit melancholy just now, after listening to his teacher's words, that loss from being overshadowed by someone of the same age vanished completely.
Even his teacher bows to his junior brother's terrifying talent, what right does he have to be arrogant?
As the teacher said, he is different from his junior brother, who is... destined to become an emperor.
"Do you know his identity?"
Li Qingchen nodded slightly towards the text about Su Changqing below.
"Junior Brother isn't just a rustic..."
The words paused as Shu Han suddenly recalled the elder he met upon arriving.
"He is the third young master of the Su family, the son of Su Nan, Lord of the Southern Domain."
Li Qingchen indicated the entire Cyan Mountain Village with a gentle voice:
"This village has a Peak of Quasi-Emperor, three Great Saints, nine Saint Kings, and twenty-six Great Kings."
"They have been accompanying Chang Qing, pretending to be farmers, for nineteen years."
Hearing this, Shu Han gasped, his scalp tingling with fear.
He had guessed that this village wasn't simple, but he didn't expect it to be so terrifying!
In the outside world, a Great King can establish a sect, a Saint King can be a patriarch of a sect.
A Great Saint, needless to say, is a terrifying being that can dominate a domain.
As for a Quasi-Emperor... In this era, they are synonymous with invincibility.
Such a powerful group of people, pretending to be ordinary people alongside a teenager for nineteen years!
The scale of this measure and its underlying purpose are deeply thought-provoking and terrifying.
"No wonder..."
Shu Han suddenly thought of something, flipped his hand and took out a Jade Pendant.
It was given by the second young master of the Su family along the way, who said it had some connection to his junior brother.
It turns out, it wasn't just connection, they were real brothers.
"Shu Han, stay here until the literary competition begins,"
Li Qingchen looked into the distance, "In the future, if I'm not around, and Saint Academy encounters any unresolved issues, seek out Chang Qing."
"With a sense of mentorship, he won't turn a blind eye."
The purpose of asking Shu Han to come was indeed to knock some sense into Chang Qing.
But more importantly, it was to cultivate a deep camaraderie between Shu Han and Chang Qing.
He had waited long enough, once Chang Qing fully emerges, he would storm the forbidden zones!
Though the outcomes are unknown, he harbors no fear.
Even if he were no longer around and Saint Academy faces any catastrophe, Chang Qing would be there.
The talk was not about the Su family, but Chang Qing himself.
Once Chang Qing sets foot in Zhongzhou, arrives at Saint Academy, it would be the day he soars in the Confucian path!
"What a magnificent spirit Chang Qing will have by then?"
"I hope I am fortunate enough to witness it."
Li Qingchen looked down at the youthful and pure young man, as if thinking of the distant future, smiled happily.
Shu Han, continuously absent-minded, did not catch the underlying meaning of his teacher's words, merely nodding his head.
"Teacher, should I still go and... well, give him some knocks?"
Shu Han pointed downward, asking with a mix of laughter and tears.
"Haha, since when did our little Literary Saint become so unsure of himself?"
Li Qingchen waved his hand, laughing, "There's no need, it's excessive."
"For now, just have fun with Chang Qing in Cyan Mountain Village and relax."
Shu Han joyfully nodded, saluted, and turned to leave.
...
Just as Shu Han returned to the study, Su Changqing asked with a puzzled face:
"Senior Brother, where have you just been? I didn't see you around?"
"Uh, just went to get something," Shu Han chuckled, taking out the Jade Pendant given by Su Zian and said:
"Here, this is for you, make sure you don't lose it. Once you leave Cyan Mountain Village, a great opportunity awaits you."
Shu Han's tone carried a hint of envy, as this was an opportunity prepared by Chang Qing's very own second brother, surely not something trivial.
"Opportunity?" Su Changqing was taken aback, "Did the teacher give it to me?"
"No, it's from someone... well, don't concern yourself with who it is, just remember that they won't harm you."
"When the time comes, let him reveal his identity himself."
Shu Han dared not make decisions regarding the Su family's matters alone; it was better for Su Zian to explain.
Su Changqing nodded, paying it no heed, merely hanging the Jade Pendant casually on his waist.
Then, he looked at the sky, smiling as he said, "Senior Brother, it's getting late, how about visiting my home?"
"Let your junior brother fulfill his duty as a host."
Shu Han, as the only outsider in Cyan Mountain Village for so many years, was still his senior brother, and he had many questions to ask.
"Haha, then I'll trouble you, Junior Brother." Shu Han replied with a smile.
The two left the study, laughing and chatting as they walked towards Cyan Mountain Village.
But just halfway there, Erniu came running excitedly from afar,
"Hey, Chang Qing, I found a new manual, come practice swordsmanship with me quickly!"
After nearly a year's time, Erniu finally reached initial mastery of the 'Star Shining Sword Technique' left by his father.
With the foundation of elementary swordsmanship, he could finally come to seek teachings from Chang Qing!
"Hurry up, Senior Brother, let me show you something fantastic, way better than reading books!"
Hearing Erniu's voice, Su Changqing's eyes lit up immediately, pulling Shu Han along as they ran towards a small forest.
The little Literary Saint Shu Han, who had come from Zhongzhou, was a bit dumbfounded, stiffly turning his head to look at Su Changqing,
"Junior Brother... you also know swordsmanship?"