The night after the tense conversation with Master Wei Ling, Li Yuan sat on the edge of the bed in his guest room, gazing out the window at the Academy garden, softly lit by the moonlight. In the profound silence, he made a decision that had been weighing on his mind for the past few days.
It's time to go.
Not out of fear or failure, but because he had reached a point where a longer presence would carry risks disproportionate to the benefits he could provide. The increasingly intense scrutiny from Master Wei Ling, Wei Chen's sharp intuition, and the possibility that other scholars were also starting to notice the oddities in his background—all of this indicated that his mission at the academy had reached its natural limit.
I have given what I can give without compromising the identity that must be preserved, Li Yuan reflected, feeling a mix of sadness and serenity. And perhaps, in a greater wisdom, this is the most fitting way to end this chapter—to leave before the mystery becomes a problem, leaving a positive impact without creating unnecessary complications.
The next morning, Li Yuan met Master Wei Ling in her simple yet elegant office.
"Master Wei Ling," he said after being invited to sit, "I have come to inform you that I need to shorten my visit to the academy."
Master Wei Ling's expression turned into a mix of disappointment and concern. "Is there a problem in Hexin? Or is something making you uncomfortable here?"
"There is no problem at all," Li Yuan reassured her sincerely. "My experience at this academy has been incredibly valuable. But I feel that... I feel that the contribution I can provide has reached a natural point of completion."
Master Wei Ling studied his face with a sharp gaze. "This has nothing to do with our conversation yesterday, does it?"
Li Yuan smiled with genuine warmth. "On the contrary, our conversation yesterday helped me realize something important about the nature of true service. That sometimes, giving others space to develop their own understanding is a more valuable form of service than providing all the answers we might have."
"But there is still so much you could teach us..."
"And there is still so much you can discover yourselves," Li Yuan gently interjected. "The best I can do now is to provide space for independent exploration and development."
Master Wei Ling was silent for a few moments, then nodded with a reluctant but respectful understanding.
"When do you plan to leave?"
"After the final lecture tomorrow morning. I want to conclude this visit with a sharing that is... meaningful for the academy community."
The main lecture hall was packed the next morning. Word about Li Yuan's farewell lecture had spread, and not only were students and faculty present, but also staff, visiting alumni, and even a few town residents who had heard about the "extraordinary guest teacher" from Hexin.
Li Yuan stood at the podium, feeling the emotional weight of this moment in a way he had never anticipated. This was not just a farewell from an academic institution, but also a farewell from a legacy that had grown from the simple teachings he had given centuries ago.
"My dear friends," he began in a calm voice that carried to every corner of the room, "when I arrived at this beautiful academy a few weeks ago, I came with the hope of sharing some practical experiences about community service and crisis management."
He took a deep breath, feeling the moment with all his heart.
"But what I have found here far surpasses what I had hoped for. I found a community that not only studies wisdom but truly lives it. I found a tradition that not only preserves ancient teachings but continues to develop them in ways that are relevant and beneficial to the modern world."
Li Yuan looked at the familiar faces—Wei Chen sitting in the front row with intense attention, Master Wei Ling observing with a mix of appreciation and still a hint of curiosity, dozens of students who had been part of the deep discussions over the past few weeks.
"Today, as my final message, I want to talk about something fundamental about the nature of wisdom itself."
Li Yuan walked away from the podium, approaching the audience in a more personal and intimate way.
"Wisdom is not something that can be stored in books or inherited like property. Wisdom is something alive—something that only exists in the moment it is applied with compassion to serve the real needs of real people."
A profound silence descended upon the room. Li Yuan could feel that his words were not just being heard but were truly being absorbed.
"Every time you use the understanding you have developed here to help someone find clarity in confusion, to provide comfort in distress, to help a community find unity in division—in those moments, the wisdom of Master Shui, the wisdom of your teachers, the wisdom of this tradition, truly lives and thrives."
Li Yuan felt a deep emotion flow through him. This is the moment where I can give the essence of everything I have ever taught, without revealing who I truly am.
"And the most beautiful thing about this kind of wisdom is that the more it is used to serve others, the stronger and more refined it becomes. Like water that becomes clearer the more it flows, or like a mirror that becomes more reflective the more it is used to help others see themselves with clarity."
Wei Chen raised his hand. "Mister Li, how do we ensure that we don't lose the connection to the original source of this wisdom while continuing to develop it for new applications?"
The perfect question for a closing message.
"An excellent question," Li Yuan answered with genuine appreciation. "And the answer is: by understanding that the true source of authentic wisdom is not a specific person or text or institution, but is compassion itself—a deep love for the wellbeing of all beings."
Li Yuan felt something warm and powerful flow through him, not from his cloaked spiritual understanding, but from the genuine emotion and conviction born from centuries of experience and growth.
"When you act from a place of genuine compassion, when you truly care about helping others find peace and clarity and purpose, then authentic wisdom will naturally flow through you. Perhaps in different words, perhaps in different methods from those taught by Master Shui or any teacher, but with the same essence."
"So the true source," Master Wei Ling said with a dawning understanding, "is not a historical lineage, but the quality of caring that motivates our actions."
"Exactly," Li Yuan said with a radiant smile. "And that is why a truly great tradition never dies, even when the original teachers are long gone. Because the essence of the teaching—compassion, service, commitment to growth and healing—can be reborn in every generation, in every person who chooses to dedicate their life to helping others."
Li Yuan returned to the podium, feeling that he was approaching the natural conclusion of the message he wanted to convey.
"So my final message to you is this: don't worry too much about preserving the exact forms or methods of the past. Instead, focus on cultivating the quality of compassion and wisdom that made those forms and methods valuable in the first place."
He took a deep breath, feeling a profound gratitude for this opportunity.
"Trust that if you truly care about serving others, if you are genuinely committed to helping the world become a more peaceful and wise place, then you will find ways to do that which are appropriate for your time and circumstances, even if those ways are different from those used before."
"And most importantly," Li Yuan concluded in a voice warm with emotion, "remember that the greatest teaching is the example of a life lived with integrity, compassion, and service. Be living embodiments of the wisdom you learn, and you will discover that you become sources of new wisdom that will inspire and guide others in ways you could neither predict nor control."
Spontaneous and heartfelt applause filled the room, but Li Yuan could feel that the real response was not the sound of clapping hands, but the thoughtful silence that followed—the silence of people truly absorbing something meaningful and transformative.
After the lecture ended and the crowd began to disperse with animated conversations about the insights they had received, Li Yuan returned to his guest room for final preparations for his departure.
On the small wooden table, he placed a gift he had prepared with great care—a blank book bound in simple but elegant leather. On the first page, in careful and beautiful handwriting, he had written:
"To the Mirror Academy, with deep gratitude for the opportunity to learn and share.
True understanding is written with life, not with ink.
May the wisdom that lives within this community continue to grow and serve the greatest good for all beings.
With respect and appreciation,
Li Qingshan"
The exact same words I once wrote in a blank book for the children of Ziran Village centuries ago, Li Yuan reflected, feeling a circle complete in a way that was both beautiful and melancholic.
He left the book on the table with a simple note asking the staff to give it to Master Wei Ling as a farewell gift for the academy.
That afternoon, when the carriage that would take Li Yuan back to Hexin was ready for departure, a small crowd gathered in the main courtyard for an informal farewell. Master Wei Ling, Wei Chen, and several faculty and students who had become close during the weeks were there to say goodbye.
"Mister Li," Wei Chen said, approaching with an expression that was a mixture of gratitude and sadness, "I want to thank you for a conversation that changed my entire perspective on the relationship between wisdom and service. I will carry those insights with me throughout my life."
"And I will carry the memory of your curiosity and thoughtfulness," Li Yuan replied with genuine warmth. "Keep asking questions, keep exploring, and most importantly, keep caring about how to use your understanding to help others."
Master Wei Ling approached with a small envelope. "Mister Li, this is a letter from the Board of Directors, formally inviting you to return whenever you are ready for a longer appointment. And a personal note from me, expressing a gratitude that cannot be adequately expressed in words."
Li Yuan accepted the envelope with a respectful bow. "It is an honor to be invited, and a greater honor to have had the opportunity to learn from this beautiful tradition."
As the carriage began to move and Li Yuan took a last look at the Mirror Academy—the elegant buildings, the peaceful gardens, the familiar faces waving goodbye—he felt a mixture of sadness and deep satisfaction.
An extraordinary chapter in this long journey, he thought, settling back in his seat for the long ride home. An opportunity to see how the seeds planted with love and humility centuries ago have grown into a beautiful garden that continues to nourish and inspire new generations.
And perhaps most importantly, a confirmation that authentic wisdom indeed has the self-preserving and self-regenerating quality that Wei Chen theorized about. That when the fundamental principles—compassion, service, commitment to growth and healing—are truly understood and practiced, they find ways to continue and evolve even when the original sources are forgotten or unknown.
As the Mirror Academy disappeared from view and the carriage carried him toward an uncertain future approached with gratitude and hope, Li Yuan felt a peaceful resolution about the decision to leave when he did.
Perfect timing, he realized. Long enough to make a meaningful contribution, short enough to avoid complications that could damage both personal safety and institutional wellbeing. And with a legacy left—not in the form of dramatic revelations or claims for recognition, but in the form of practical wisdom and inspirational example that will continue to bear fruit in the lives of those who received it.
Exactly the kind of invisible and sustainable service that he had spent centuries learning to provide.