The Snore That Shook the Hall
At the ninth hour of the morning, the students had all gathered in the grand learning hall. There, they were being imparted sacred spiritual knowledge about the essence of music ... a lesson that harmonized melody with the Dao.
A solemn silence had settled over the entire class, as if even the wind dared not whisper. But then…
A peculiar sound tore through the tranquility.
Snore.
A loud, unmistakable snore echoed through the chamber like the low rumble of a beast in slumber.
The master's ears twitched.
The disciples, once composed, now struggled to suppress their laughter. Some clutched their robes; others covered their mouths, eyes glimmering with mirth. But the snoring did not stop.
The instructor's gaze sharpened, scanning the room like a hawk seeking its prey, until it landed upon a particular student ... his head resting atop the wooden desk, completely lost in the realm of dreams.
It was none other than Yu Sui.
Yes, our Yu Sui ... the very one now serenading the class with his heroic snores.
With a sharp crack, the teacher slammed a wooden rod onto the table, its sound thunderous, meant to wake even the dead.
Yu Sui's eyes fluttered open, drowsy and unaware of the storm he had summoned.
Meanwhile, seated a few rows behind him, Mo Yan was burning with fury ... not at the sleeping offense itself, but at what was about to happen next.
Punishment.
He knew Yu Sui would be punished. And Mo Yan could not bear it .... not because of discipline, but because he knew… once punished, Yu Sui would be sent away. Away from his sight. Away from his reach.
And that, Mo Yan would never accept.
As he had feared, the decree was made.
Yu Sui was sentenced to a disciplinary task ... to catch fish from the cold lake as penance. With an exaggerated frown plastered on his face, Yu Sui reluctantly stood up, pausing only to glance over his shoulder at Mo Yan.
But Mo Yan did not return the gaze.
He could not.
Watching Yu Sui walk away from him .. even for a moment ... was something he could never endure.