Tradition, Zip Lines, and Voice-Changing Masks

A woman clad in a black robe suddenly emerged silently from a room beside the corridor, startling Lin Xi and all the new students of the Zhi Ge Department who had just followed the one-eyed black-robed instructor up the suspended bronze staircase. 

However, this tall and slender woman exuded a warm demeanor, her gentle smile instantly easing the tension of the anxious newcomers. 

"This is Instructor Mu Qing, who will be responsible for your daily meals and accommodations here," the one-eyed instructor said, nodding toward the tall woman. 

"Follow me," Mu Qing said, casting a friendly glance at each of the new students before turning to lead the way. The one-eyed instructor remained silent, retracing his steps back to the suspended bronze staircase. With a loud clang, the bronze door closed behind him, and the staircase retracted like a drawbridge. 

Along the corridor, there were over thirty rooms, but Instructor Mu Qing headed directly toward the end of the passage. 

At the corridor's end stood a wall adorned with opulent floral patterns, crafted from rare, vibrantly colored shells. When she pushed against the wall, it parted like a door, revealing a sloping wooden staircase behind it. The adjacent walls displayed hanging ink wash paintings depicting young men and women—some bearing long swords, others carrying bows, and some even wielding massive axes that matched their own size, exuding an air of valor. 

"These are your senior brothers and sisters. Those who break certain records within the academy will not only earn extra credits but will also have their portraits hung here upon their departure," Instructor Mu Qing announced as she pulled a ring on the wooden staircase's handrail. 

With a whoosh, a segment of the suspended bronze staircase swept over, connecting to the end of the wooden staircase and leading directly to the fifth floor. 

The corridor on the fifth floor was adorned with deep red velvet drapes at intervals, and the floor was laid with a type of softwood that emitted a faint fragrance, making each step feel remarkably comfortable. 

"This will be your shared quarters," Mu Qing pointed to five adjoining rooms in the middle of the corridor, addressing the five female students of the Zhi Ge Department. She then opened one of the rooms. "Typically, all the boys are quite curious about the girls' quarters. You may take a look now, for after today, you will not have another chance." She glanced at the eager new students peering inside and added with a smile, "Now, I announce the first rule of Qing Luan Academy: all rooms are off-limits; no one is permitted to enter another's room. Violators may face a deduction of up to five credits." 

"Five credits?" The new students gasped in astonishment. 

"What about chatting and such?" one student exclaimed, unable to contain himself. This student was the one who had lost a bet to Lin Xi, known as the Golden Spoon Boy, Mu Shan Zi. 

Instructor Mu Qing smiled, "Aside from your private rooms and mine, the rest of the Zhi Ge New Student Hall is a public area accessible to all of you. There are ample lounges for your use." 

"So we can go anywhere else in here?" a Zhi Ge student exclaimed in surprise. 

Mu Qing nodded, "Adapting to and utilizing complex environments is part of the Zhi Ge curriculum. Aside from your personal rooms, all other rooms remain unlocked and can be accessed freely." 

After a brief pause, she added, amidst the curious and astonished gazes of Lin Xi and the others, "This is a rule set by Dean Zhang. Not only in our Zhi Ge New Student Hall but throughout Qing Luan Academy, except for areas requiring specific credits for entry, all other places are open to you. You may freely roam the various peaks of Qing Luan Academy." 

"We can wander throughout Qing Luan Academy?" 

"Indeed, but I advise you to tread carefully until you possess sufficient skill and courage. Every year, some new students inadvertently wander into certain areas and end up terrified." 

"Haha." Qiu Lu laughed heartily, but the youthful boy, who had previously clashed with Lin Xi over a carriage dispute, soon realized he was the only one laughing. 

"What's wrong? You don't actually think Instructor Mu Qing is joking, do you?" he whispered in frustration to those around him. 

The nearby Zhi Ge students looked at him as though he were a fool: "Do you see her expression? Does she look like someone who is joking?" 

Qiu Lu merely glanced at Mu Qing and shivered, his face paling slightly. There seemed to be an eerie cold light emanating from her face, devoid of any hint of jest. 

Lin Xi was the first to curiously step into the adjacent girls' room. While others had been observing this world for at least a decade, he had only experienced it for a little over two years, making everything feel particularly novel to him. Within the bounds of the academy's rules, he felt no hesitation. 

"Come on, this is our room! At least let us be the first to enter!" Hua Jiyue pouted, leading the other four Zhi Ge girls inside. Despite her words, her expression showed no dissatisfaction. 

"Hehe." Lin Xi chuckled. The room was not particularly large, yet it could hardly accommodate more than forty people, suggesting that some slower newcomers would inevitably have to squeeze outside. 

The floor was also made of green softwood, and inside stood a wooden bed draped with a canopy, accompanied by a Huanghuali cabinet and a desk. Perhaps inspired by that middle-aged man, the room also featured a small partition for washing up, complete with a small bathtub made of bluestone. Additionally, a few green potted plants adorned the corners, while sunlight and a gentle breeze flowed through the open wooden lattice window, revealing distant mountains that formed a perfect blend of simplicity and splendor. 

Beneath the window lay a cliff; although the ground below was a thicket of grass and trees, the sheer drop of several hundred meters made Lin Xi feel slightly dizzy. 

"What are those?" 

Suddenly, Lin Xi was startled to see glimmering silver lights among the grand palaces of Qing Luan Academy, even on their own mountain peak. 

Those were silver steel cables connecting several valleys among the peaks. 

"Those are the silver silk zip lines," Lin Xi turned abruptly to find Instructor Mu Qing in her black robe standing behind him, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere. "Now, I announce the second rule of Qing Luan Academy: all new students are permitted to engage in private duels..." 

"Boom!" Her voice was immediately drowned out by a chorus of exclamations. 

Even Lin Xi was taken aback; could students really fight freely at Qing Luan Academy? Was this truly a rule? 

"I did not misspeak; I merely hadn't finished. You lack sufficient composure and calmness," Mu Qing remarked nonchalantly, glancing at the Zhi Ge students: "The second rule of Qing Luan Academy allows all new students to engage in private duels, but they must occur within designated valleys. Engaging in duels outside those valleys may result in a deduction of no less than ten credits, or even expulsion from Qing Luan Academy." 

"Ten credits? Expulsion?" 

A collective gasp echoed in the room. 

"To access those valleys, do we slide down those zip lines?" Lin Xi recalled his previous encounter with that middle-aged man, reminiscent of the slides in foreign university buildings. He paid little mind to the ten credits or expulsion and quietly asked, "Was this also set by Dean Zhang?" 

Mu Qing nodded approvingly, "Indeed, this was established by Dean Zhang to save time." 

"So we can enter those valleys for duels at any time?" Qiu Lu and Mu Shan Zi exchanged mischievous glances at Lin Xi, inquiring. 

Mu Qing waved her hand, halting the advancing Zhi Ge students, and explained, "You may enter those valleys at any time outside of scheduled classes. Furthermore, each department has a minimum required number of visits, with the Zhi Ge Department requiring at least six engagements per month." 

"The reason Zhi Ge students typically possess formidable combat abilities is due to this unique tradition at Qing Luan Academy." After a brief pause, the intellectually poised woman in black seemed to see through Qiu Lu and Mu Shan Zi's thoughts, adding, "Moreover, the Zhi Ge Department only mandates a minimum number of visits without a maximum limit. This means you are free to engage in battles daily, provided all participants wear designated attire and voice-changing masks. The terrain within simulates various battlefield environments, which are quite complex, so once inside, you may not necessarily encounter your intended opponent. Ultimately, while it is entertaining and exhilarating, it is not a venue for settling personal grievances." 

"I see," Mu Shan Zi said, visibly disappointed, casting a resentful glance at Lin Xi. "So we can't shout our names to summon our opponents for a duel?" 

Mu Qing nodded knowingly, "That is certainly permissible, but only if your opponent is willing to come, and you must ensure you are not off-putting. There have been instances in Qing Luan Academy's history where individuals loudly proclaimed their names only to be beaten mercilessly by a group of classmates." 

"With my charm and amiable nature, surely announcing my identity wouldn't attract any trouble," Mu Shan Zi said, self-satisfied. 

"Pfft," Hua Jiyue and the others couldn't help but burst into laughter. 

"Teacher Mu, when we enter, will we be with our seniors? Won't we new students get beaten up badly?" someone couldn't help but ask. 

"New students have a designated valley exclusively for them, which seniors are not permitted to enter. However, you are free to enter the seniors' valleys, and all these valleys restrict the use of soul power. Therefore, if you have the courage and interest, you may challenge your seniors. If you accumulate three victories, you will earn half a credit." 

"Look, there's someone!" 

At that moment, several new students near the window exclaimed in surprise. Lin Xi turned to see figures gliding down the silver zip lines from the mountain peaks, like swallows returning to their nests, swiftly disappearing into the valleys below.