Fortune Across the World

Chapter 41: The Journey to Canghuan and the Surprising Challenge

Ding Qiyu stood up, retrieved a modified bamboo pen from her new tool bag, and settled next to Lu Weixi on the bench, writing a simplified character: "In my place, we use pens like this to write characters like these."

Lu Weixi was surprised by how close Ding Qiyu sat, making her a bit nervous. She straightened her back, her breathing becoming cautious.

"Actually, the characters we write are simplified versions of the ones here. Some are the same, while others are simpler. Like your surname—it's simplified like this. As for 'Weixi,' they're the same." Ding Qiyu wrote "Lu Weixi" on the paper.

Lu Weixi focused on the characters, noticing how "Lu" was indeed simplified, and asked curiously, "What about your name?"

"My name is simple enough, so it's the same." Ding Qiyu wrote "Ding Qiyu" horizontally on the paper, recalling a childhood memory that made her chuckle. Seeing Lu Weixi's puzzled look, she explained, "I just remembered when I was 3 or 4, learning to write my name. My mom... uh, my mom taught me to write it horizontally. I figured I'd try vertically, so I confidently wrote my name on our wall. When I showed my mom, she laughed until she cried! Guess what I wrote?"

Lu Weixi shook her head, eager to know, "What did you write?"

Ding Qiyu revealed the answer with her pen on paper, "I wrote 'Ding Qi Xi Xi' vertically! Haha!"

Lu Weixi burst into laughter, finding young Ding Qiyu's antics adorable.

"The worst part was my masterpiece couldn't be erased, standing as a testament to my brilliance! See? I was smart even as a kid, figuring things out on my own!" Ding Qiyu reminisced fondly about her childhood.

Lu Weixi suppressed her laughter, replying, "Yes, Weixi's never heard of such a clever child as young Qiyu! Should I call you 'Xi Xi' from now on?"

Ding Qiyu waved her hands, "Haha, no, no, 'Xi Xi' sounds awkward. 'Qiyu' is much nicer! Let me write the lyrics now. I'll use this pen—I'm not used to brushes, and this is faster."

After finishing a verse, Ding Qiyu explained the stories behind phrases like "Xiangfei's Weeping Bamboo" and "Liu Yi's Messenger." Lu Weixi was fascinated by these tales from Ding Qiyu's homeland. Ding Qiyu enjoyed sharing them and valued the close interaction with Lu Weixi. Engrossed in their conversation, they lost track of time until Lu Weiming, somewhat recovered, came looking for them to eat.

On the small boat, lunch was a simple affair. After eating, they passed time with conversation and reading until the boat docked. Full of energy, Ding Qiyu was the first to jump ashore, helping the seasick Lu Weiming to a nearby tree to rest. Returning to the boat, she saw Qing'er nimbly jump down, winking as if to say, "The chance to help Miss is yours now!"

Ding Qiyu chuckled inwardly, extending her arm like a railing for Lu Weixi to hold as she disembarked, avoiding any awkwardness of hand-holding.

Feeling the steady strength in Ding Qiyu's arm, Lu Weixi felt a comforting sense of security, as if finding a safe harbor.

Once off the boat, the accompanying guards gathered their luggage. Ding Qiyu looked ahead to see a modest inn by the dock, with many young men and women resting outside in a tea pavilion. Up the path lay the imposing "Huanbin Cangjing" mountain gate, guarded by soldiers in silver armor and scholars in blue robes, checking those entering the mountain. Ding Qiyu thought this academy, established by the emperor, was indeed prestigious, with such thorough "security checks" just to enter.

Gazing up at the towering Cang Mountain, Ding Qiyu felt her heart open wide, eagerly anticipating her new academic life.

She checked on her companions; Lu Weiming looked slightly better, and Lu Weixi and Qing'er seemed fine. Ding Qiyu pointed to the tea pavilion, "Brother Weiming, Weixi, rest there while I check things out." Though Lu Weiming insisted he wasn't bringing Ding Qiyu as a servant but as a friend, she felt responsible as a friend to help with whatever she could.

After settling them at the tea pavilion, Ding Qiyu hurried to the mountain gate to observe. She'd heard Canghuan Academy didn't mix students but divided them by "grades," similar to her previous world, though all started after the new year. That afternoon, many students with luggage and companions were preparing to enter the mountain.

One student with many attendants and luggage was stopped by the guards, who informed him only one companion was allowed. Proclaiming his father's status didn't help, as all students were from noble families. A middle-aged man in a blue robe spoke a few words, and the student reluctantly chose a trusted servant as his companion. After entering, another blue-robed man spoke with him, prompting further complaints as he left most of his luggage behind.

Curious, Ding Qiyu approached a nearby blue-robed person, "Excuse me, may I ask why that student had to climb the stairs? It seemed not his choice."

The scholar explained, "Is this your first time here? All new students must walk up 'Persistence Path.' It's the academy's first lesson, teaching perseverance. Those who can't make it up can't attend Canghuan."

Seeing Ding Qiyu's surprise, he added, "There's no supervision on the path. How long or how you take is up to you. But honesty is valued."

"Do girls have to walk too?" Ding Qiyu wasn't worried for herself but for young ladies like Weixi. And could Weiming manage such a task?

The scholar confirmed, "Yes, even royals must walk. It's an imperial rule."

Ding Qiyu nodded, asking, "How long does it usually take?"

The scholar assessed her and replied, "For someone like you, one to two hours."

If it took her that long, wouldn't it be night before Weixi finished? She voiced her concern, "But young ladies might take until night. The path is dark..."

The scholar patiently explained, "No need to worry. The academy lights lanterns along the path as night falls. After the hour of the sheep, new students must wait until the next day."

Knowing this, Ding Qiyu thanked him and returned to the tea pavilion to share what she'd learned.

Hearing this, Lu Weiming's mouth hung open before he collapsed on the table, lamenting, "What a ridiculous rule! I can already see how dark my future is..." The path was mandatory, and returning home would mean his father would surely punish him.

Ding Qiyu sympathized, turning to Lu Weixi, "What do you think? You've already spent energy on the boat, and Weiming's unwell. We could rest here and start tomorrow."

Qing'er was fine with her mistress's decision. Lu Weixi shook her head, "I'm okay, but Second Brother was really seasick. Can you manage, Brother?"

"No, no, no, I can't today! Climbing would kill me. Let's rest and go tomorrow!" Lu Weiming admitted, arranging for a guard to handle the inn.

Ding Qiyu agreed, "Alright. We'll start fresh tomorrow. Let's rest well today."