Senior Brother Cat
Another half month passed.
The academy’s monthly examination arrived as scheduled.
Cheng Yan and Lü He had both cultivated magical power; after the exam, their scores in the scholarly subjects were barely glanced at before they were assigned to the Yi-Mao class.
Lü He, packing his belongings, lowered his voice. “Where’s Uncle Cat?”
“I don’t know,” Cheng Yan replied, equally perplexed. It seemed they hadn’t seen Uncle Cat all morning.
Smiling, Cheng Yan turned to the older youth beside him who was tidying his own desk. “Senior brother, why is there a Mao class?”
“Are you new?” the youth asked.
Cheng Yan nodded.
Xu Maogong sized Cheng Yan up, then shifted his gaze to Lü He, noting that both seemed rather young, and proceeded to explain, “The academy is divided into Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding; Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao—sixteen classes in all. Mao classes are for those who know absolutely nothing, to build a foundation. For example, Ding-Mao is, to put it bluntly, for illiterates, who must begin with elementary learning.”
“Yi-Mao is similar, but we’re not illiterates; we’ve managed to cultivate magical power, but understand nothing about it.”
Lü He asked, “I heard that most who get into the academy qualify through the triennial grand exam?”
“Junior brother is right, that’s most of them, but there’s still a minority. For those, money and connections do the trick.”
Xu Maogong noticed the two looked a bit uncomfortable, assuming they disdained the use of money, and continued, “Don’t think poorly of those who pay their way in. The academy needs funds—for new buildings, renovating dormitories. The more money, the larger the academy grows, which benefits those of us from humble backgrounds.
“We enjoy these resources, but walk a different path from them.
“I hear the academy plans to admit three hundred more students next year, and build a new school in Meilan County.
“What venture doesn’t require funds?
“As long as talent selection is strictly managed, money and merit can coexist.”
Cheng Yan bowed. “Thank you for your guidance, senior brother.”
“No need for such formality,” Xu Maogong replied, clasping his hands, then said mysteriously, “There’s a good show about to commence.”
“A good show?”
“You’ll see,” Xu Maogong teased.
Shortly after, Master He of the Yi-Mao class entered.
There were nearly forty square mats in the hall, but fewer than thirty students sat.
Once Master He entered, silence reigned.
He pointed to a desk near the front. “Place it there.”
A senior brother at the door carried in a basket of books, arranged the four treasures of the study on the desk, moved over a high stool, sprinkled water, ground ink, and then withdrew.
Next, a black cat walked over to the high stool and perched before the desk.
The whole hall erupted in astonishment!
Cheng Yan and Lü He, seated toward the front, gaped, not expecting that the missing Uncle Cat would become a student in the school.
Is he not even trying to hide anymore?
“Senior brother doesn’t seem surprised,” Cheng Yan observed, glancing at Xu Maogong nearby.
Xu Maogong smiled. “It’s academy tradition: every Yi-Mao class has a spirit creature as a companion scholar.”
“You don’t know, in previous years it was the Book Immortal—truly a beauty. Alas, we aren’t so lucky; our companion is just an ordinary black cat.”
That black cat was none other than Lu Xun.
He had no desire to be so conspicuous, sitting in the classroom.
But Mr. White Deer had cheerfully told him, “Study well.”
...
Earlier that morning, as Cheng Yan and his peers moved their belongings, the Old Bookman found him and said Mr. White Deer wished to see him.
Lu Xun was puzzled but followed the Old Bookman to the Headmaster’s residence; Mr. White Deer awaited him in the main hall.
“You’re here,” Mr. White Deer gestured for the Bookman to withdraw, then had a maid bring tea.
Black cat Lu Xun couldn’t fathom the intent, hopping onto a seat but saying nothing.
He couldn’t speak—the three-legged old cat hadn’t been enlightened, so speech was impossible.
Yet he couldn’t very well transform into the Five-Tongue Mountain Lord in front of Mr. White Deer; he’d considered changing form before following the Bookman.
Upon meeting, Lu Xun immediately understood.
Mr. White Deer wanted the “Five-Tongue Mountain Lord.”
He switched heads.
The Five-Tongue Lu Xun took the old cat’s place in the chair.
The Headmaster’s gaze was tranquil as an ancient well, asking courteously, “Are you accustomed to life in the academy?”
“It’s acceptable,” Lu Xun replied, somewhat surprised.
He clasped his hands and bowed. “Sir, if you require anything, I will not shirk.”
Not to mention Mr. White Deer’s ability to bestow speech upon the Five-Tongue spirit, Lu Xun owed him a favor for rescuing “Toothless”—the White Deer had come to his aid.
“I intend to expand enrollment in Meilan County, convert Qingquan Temple into a school; you should be aware.”
Lu Xun nodded.
Mr. White Deer continued, “Now Meilan County sends urgent messages: Donglin Temple is offering silver to buy Qingquan Temple as a branch school.”
“The deposit from the county office is insufficient. I plan to send students to deliver silver to Meilan County, to secure the deed for Qingquan Temple early.”
“I worry about bandits along the way, so I thought of you—a skilled protector.”
Lu Xun answered without hesitation, “Very well!”
“Good.”
“Until preparations are complete, you may study with them in the academy.”
...
Thus, Lu Xun sat in the first row of the classroom as a black cat.
Several nearby students already had gray hair.
Most showed little curiosity.
“Silence!” Master He’s voice was as clear as spring water.
He turned to the smooth, long wall facing the students and, with a black carbon pen, wrote the words “Magical Power.”
He declared in a loud voice, “Today’s topic: Magical Power.”
“In one hour, hand in your papers.”
Hearing there was a test, everyone ceased their distractions.
Some ground ink, others spread paper.
After a flurry of activity, only the soft sound of ink grinding remained.
Master He, holding a paper in one hand and the other behind his back, paced among the students—glancing at one, shaking his head; at another, sighing deeply.
When he came to Lü He, his eyes brightened and he nodded slightly, saying nothing before moving on. He examined Cheng Yan’s paper, stroking his long beard.
Finally, he reached the black cat, and was momentarily stunned.
He had assumed this was merely a naturally born spirit, a mascot for the Yi-Mao class to help students acclimate to supernatural beings.
He never expected the old cat to write so well.
Despite being written with a paw, the script was neat and proper, possessing the grace of formal calligraphy.
“Excellent!” Master He smiled, hands clasped behind his back.
The Sage said: “Education knows no class.”
If even spirits can listen and write the words of the Sage, how could the world’s upright energy not flourish?
Lu Xun had no idea what Master He was thinking.
He dabbed his brush in ink, only to find it insufficient.
“Go,” he said.
A large gray rat quickly scurried up, clutching the ink stick to grind it in the inkstone.
The black cat turned, catching Cheng Yan grinning broadly.
...
After an hour, papers were collected.
Master He graded them in the hall.
Below, the students whispered among themselves.
Master He’s brow remained furrowed until he finished a stack of papers, then rose abruptly. “None of you wrote as well as the cat!”
The students were stunned.
Master He continued, “From now on, when you meet, salute and address him as ‘Senior Brother Cat.’ There’s no shame in it.”
“Today’s lesson:
“What is law? What is power?”
...
Cheng Yan, well-read since childhood and educated early, had attended private school and understood the classics.
Yet now, seeing these words together, he found himself at a loss.
He craned his neck forward.
Uncle Cat was listening intently, with none of his usual laziness or sleepiness.
Finally, the school day ended.
At the door, a friendly senior brother awaited them.
He smiled and said, “The Headmaster wishes to see you.”
“Us?” Cheng Yan asked.
The senior brother nodded, “Yes, and Brother Lü as well.”