He had thought that due to his mental age, puberty and wet dreams would never come. However, his body, of course, drove his mind's development. The heat in his body directly reflected in his spirit, leading to last night's impropriety.
Impropriety! How truly improper!
How could you, the dignified Great Sage, a man who could turn mighty ships to ashes with a flick of his hand, lose control like that? Just as Kayal was deeply reflecting, a smiling face peeked in from outside the door: "Teacher, breakfast is ready. You should get up." It was none other than his fourth disciple, Jierni.
A faint bitter smile flashed across his face. He then nodded: "I understand. I'll be out after I wash up."
Stepping out of bed, he felt very uncomfortable, his lower body sticky and terribly unpleasant.
He picked up the small bell on the bedside table and gently rang it twice. In less than five seconds, a maid pushed the door open and bowed, asking: "Young Master, do you need anything?"
"Yes, I need a new set of clothes." Kayal nodded gently, then pushed open the door and entered the bathroom.
After washing up, he found a set of white silk underwear on the bed. Kayal quickly stripped off his clothes and started changing, completely naked.
"Hey, hey, we are ladies! Stripping naked in front of us like this, isn't that harassment!" The Claymores in the room all blushed slightly. It was Sofia, who had been with Kayal for a long time, who could tease him with a slight blush.
Perhaps it was because of the recent wet dream, so Kayal appeared somewhat overtly flirtatious: "Having served me for so many years, do you really think you can marry anyone else besides becoming mine?"
Kayal's teasing was clearly more potent. The new Claymores immediately turned their heads away, their faces crimson. Sofia, completely taken aback by Kayal's shocking words, blushed and spat, saying nothing more. She was always outspoken, but even she became flustered when it came to matters between men and women, losing her usual forthrightness.
Shaking his head with a bitter smile, he wondered if he had forgotten that ordinary people also have love and marriage. This made Kayal put the topic on the agenda. Dressed in his silk underwear, Kayal walked steadily towards the dining room. From his gait, one couldn't tell that he had just had a wet dream.
Entering the dining room, he saw many people laughing loudly. At the long table, which could seat seventy-two, Kayal's disciples were not eating. Instead, they were divided into groups, talking animatedly. Because they held differing opinions, many were red-faced and boisterous, while others chatted softly. Seeing Kayal arrive, they all immediately stood and bowed.
"Hmm, you really don't need to be so formal. It's been ten years, and you still have this mindset. That won't do," Kayal said with a gentle smile, shaking his head.
"Teacher, you are mistaken! Teacher, you once said that human expression is diverse, and etiquette is an important rule that emerged after humans formed an orderly society. When one bows, it expresses respect for the other person. Given your immense kindness to us, no matter what, no matter how much time passes, our respect for you will not change. You dislike elaborate and showy language, so our only way of expressing ourselves is through bowing." Agons was a very healthy young man. Although as the first disciple, his job was cultural dissemination, over the years, Kayal, who advocated a balance between work and rest, had not allowed them to neglect their physical health.
Kayal shook his head with a bitter smile. This disciple, taught by him, was very adept at wordplay. While this was essential for a scholar, he didn't want to waste precious breakfast time on a debate.
Sitting at the head of the table, Kayal clapped his hands.
Everyone clasped their hands together and loudly said: "We thank the land for giving us food, and we thank the plants and animals for giving their lives to fill our stomachs." This was the spirit of gratitude that Kayal promoted. Their demands were not taken for granted. Humans hunting prey sometimes might not be for meat, but for fur, for example. This idea of rightfully depriving others and animal lives was simply too disgusting. With a grateful heart, such deprivation would decrease, and humanity would become more harmonious with this planet, not at odds with nature like in later generations.
Kayal never thought of himself as a savior, nor did he expect his methods to be passed down for thousands of years. But in a hundred years of life, one can change as many people as possible, especially someone in his high position. A single word from him could change countless destinies, and a single action could change countless people's character.
All that he said boiled down to four words: teaching by example!
Breakfast was abundant. Milk, soy milk, and honey mixed with warm water were all available for free consumption. Although Ireland was rich in mead, after Kayal had instilled in them for ten years the idea that alcohol damages brain cells, most of his students, except for those in the army, did not drink alcohol, and certainly no one drank in the morning.
The soft, fluffy honey cakes, made from egg and flour and only the size of a baby's fist, emitted a mouth-watering aroma. Boiled eggs were placed in several baskets on the large table for everyone to take freely. The fragrant eight-treasure porridge, made from barley, wheat, soybeans, red beans, and glutinous rice, emitted an aroma that made one's stomach rumble. This was aristocratic life; forget the black bread of the poor, even the white bread of ordinary wealthy families was nowhere to be seen here, only pastries and exquisite food.
Kayal and his students felt no shame, because Kayal's advocated contribution policy had clearly resonated deeply with them:
Because of Kayal, his students possessed knowledge. Because Kayal's students possessed knowledge, they could educate the common people. They brought harvest and wealth with their knowledge, and they made Red Leaf Ridge prosperous and strong with their knowledge. Their contributions were sufficient, so they ate without any guilt. This was what they deserved!
"Agons, are you all ready?" Gently sipping his soy milk, Kayal's movements were indescribably elegant. He did not demand aristocratic manners from his disciples, but as the Grand Duke's sole heir, he could not let his actions disgrace his father—at least not in front of other nobles!
"Teacher, we are already eager!" Agons and the other disciples stopped their struggle with food the moment they saw Kayal put down his soy milk. With excited smiles, they said: "We have waited for three years! Teacher, in these three years, we have learned enough about the suffering of the common people... Let us go and change it! Teacher!"
"Very good." Kayal smiled refinedly, very pleased with the smiles on his disciples' faces: "Tomorrow, the third day of the Harvest Festival, I will make the announcement! Let everyone be prepared. The future of Red Leaf Ridge rests on you!"
"Yes!" The seventy-two people stood up in unison, bowing and shouting loudly. Eager to begin, they were already chomping at the bit!