Liu Zhaoming carefully supported Wang Zhaoming as the two of them slowly stepped out of the infirmary. With every tiny shift in movement, Wang Yunsong could not help but wince slightly and catch his breath. The burning pain in his backside lingered like a shadow, making his every motion exceptionally sluggish and cautious.
"Zhaoming, I've completely humiliated myself today," Wang Yunsong muttered in a low voice, his face wracked with frustration and his brows tightly knitted. His tone was laced with despair and resentment.
Liu Zhaoming gently patted his shoulder and offered some earnest comfort. "Yunsong, stop dwelling on it. While things certainly got a bit out of hand today, look at it from another perspective: it's a wake-up call. Fall, and you grow wiser. Just let's be more careful from now on and avoid making this kind of mistake again."
As they spoke, the two of them slowly made their way toward the plaza. When they finally arrived at the scene, the sight before them stood in sharp contrast to the earlier chaos.
The previously rowdy and noisy crowd was now neatly and orderly arranged. The new students sat quietly in their respective seats with solemn expressions.
Up on the rostrum, Director Jiang and several other teachers were already in their places, preparing to announce the official opening of the freshman assembly.
In the plaza, colorful banners fluttered in the wind, snapping sharply as if cheering for the gathering. A gentle breeze swept past, bringing a refreshing and pleasant coolness that lightly brushed against everyone's cheeks.
The surrounding trees rustled softly in the breeze, as if humming a low tune that added a unique ambiance to the solemn assembly.
Wang Yunsong and Liu Zhaoming hurriedly found an empty spot in the crowd and sat down. The moment Wang Yunsong settled against the chair, a stabbing pain flared up in his backside. He couldn't help hissing, his features twisting slightly in an expression of intense agony. Seeing this, Liu Zhaoming immediately cast a look of concern and asked in a low voice, "Yunsong, how are you holding up? Should I ask a teacher to let you go back and rest?"
Wang Yunsong gritted his teeth, waved a hand, and replied, "I'm fine, Zhaoming. I've come this far; there's no way I'm missing the rest of the freshman assembly. Besides, I need to listen closely and remember the academy's rules so I don't go acting so recklessly again."
Just then, Director Jiang slowly stood up. She cleared her throat lightly, swept her gaze across the new students below, and spoke in a ringing voice, "Dear, vibrant new students, a warm welcome to Zhiyuan Academy—this big family filled with hope and dreams. Today, we gather here to hold our grand freshman assembly. I hope that from this moment on, you will quickly integrate into academy life, strictly abide by its rules and regulations, study diligently, and constantly strive to better yourselves. In this vast realm of Zhiyuan Academy, may you each let your true brilliance shine."
Director Jiang's voice was firm and powerful, echoing clearly across the plaza like a giant bell. Every word seemed imbued with an intangible strength, deeply imprinting itself in the heart of every newcomer.
Down below, the new students listened with rapt attention, their eyes filled with longing and anticipation for their future life at the academy.
Even Wang Yunsong shed his previous flippant attitude. He sat up straight and listened intently to Director Jiang's words, as if this whole ordeal had truly made him understand something from the bottom of his heart, resolving to face his upcoming academy life with a completely fresh mindset.
As Director Jiang concluded her speech, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, lasting for a long time. When the applause finally subsided, an exceptionally poised female instructor stepped lightly and gracefully onto the stage. She wore a light blue scholarly robe whose fabric caught the light with a soft sheen, resembling the rippling surface of a lake.
Delicate cloud patterns were embroidered along the cuffs and hem of her robe, appearing and disappearing as she moved, adding a sense of fluid elegance.
Her dark hair was neatly gathered at the back of her head and secured with a smooth jade hairpin, exposing her clean, high forehead. Her features radiated a unique blend of gentleness and tenacity—it was none other than Madam Han, who had previously helped Chen Yingying and Luo Mengxin.
Madam Han calmly took her place at the front of the stage with a smile. Her expression was like the warm spring sun, instantly making the new students below feel as though a gentle breeze had washed over them.
She first bowed slightly to the newcomers before looking up to sweep a tender gaze across the crowd. Her crisp, melodious voice flowed out across the plaza like a babbling mountain spring: "Dear students, allow me now to unveil the rich and glorious historical chapters of Zhiyuan Academy."
The low murmurs and whispers among the new students instantly died away. Pairs of curious and expectant eyes turned toward the stage, gleaming with the thirst for knowledge.
"Zhiyuan Academy—these four characters may sound simple, but they actually carry a profound and weighty significance. 'Zhiyuan' is drawn from the ancient and wise philosophy of 'drinking water while remembering its source.'" Madam Han paused slightly, her gaze growing deeper as if gazing across the river of time to the academy's founding days.
"Think about it, students: when we are thirsty and drink deeply from a clear spring, do we ever consider where that spring comes from? Perhaps it originates from distant mountains, having traversed countless twists and turns before reaching us. In the same way, as we study here and enjoy these wonderful educational resources, we must never forget the roots behind them."
"The Dayong Dynasty in which we live is the firm foundation that allows us to live and work in peace and contentment. It creates a peaceful and stable social environment for us so that we can study with peace of mind; it builds diverse educational platforms for us so that we have the opportunity to absorb the nourishment of knowledge.
And the academy, since the very day of its founding, has held a beautiful vision: that every student who leaves these doors will be like that clear spring which always remembers its source—not only keeping in mind the origin of the knowledge they have acquired, but also deeply remembering the grace of the nurturing care bestowed upon us by society and the dynasty." Madam Han's voice gradually rose with passion, her head lifting slightly as her eyes shone with steadfast resolve.
"Students, the Dayong Dynasty has given us everything. When you grow up in the future and achieve success through your studies, you must use what you have learned to give back to society and repay the Dayong Dynasty. This is not merely a responsibility; it is the sacred mission of Zhiyuan Academy, passed down from generation to generation and never changed!" Madam Han clenched her fist, her tone resolute and forceful.
Then, Madam Han began to recount in detail the bits and pieces of the academy's long history. "Throughout past years, Zhiyuan Academy has nurtured countless outstanding scholars. They are the pride of the academy and the pillars of the Dayong Dynasty.
Some of these scholars entered official service, relying on their wisdom and talent to offer strategies for Dayong's prosperity. In the imperial court, they argued with reason and fought heart and soul for national development and the welfare of the common people. Others chose to heal the sick and save the world, harboring benevolent hearts as they traveled through major streets, alleys, and farming fields, using their exquisite medical skills to rescue people from pain and suffering, becoming the legendary masters of medicine praised by all.
Still other scholars fell in love with education, dedicating themselves to the podium and imparting everything they had learned without reservation to the next generation. Like glowing beacons, they pass on the torch of knowledge to light the way forward for countless others..."
With Madam Han's vivid and emotional narration, the historical scroll of Zhiyuan Academy seemed to unfurl slowly before the new students. Those vivid figures and touching stories instilled in everyone a deeper sense of respect and identification with the place where they would spend the next several years studying and living.
Down in the audience, Wang Yunsong, who had been shifting around from time to time due to the pain in his backside, was now listening with such rapt absorption that the pain seemed to fade away somewhat.
A brilliant, excited light flashed in his eyes, and a surge of ambition rose within his chest. He secretly swore that in the future, he would live up to the academy's expectations, contribute his strength to the Dayong Dynasty, and become someone like those outstanding senior brothers and sisters.
"Therefore, students, from this moment on, as you step through the gates of Zhiyuan Academy, you shoulder this heavy responsibility and mission. I hope that in the days to come, you will study diligently, strive to grow, bring glory to the academy, and add luster to Dayong!" As Madam Han's words fell, thunderous applause erupted from the audience once more—applause filled with the newcomers' reverence for the academy's history and their firm determination for the future.