After taking his pulse, Mo Ruo removed his hand from Teacher Yu's wrist.

　　"There is nothing seriously wrong with Teacher. An older person like you is naturally frailer and would feel tired after standing for a long time. However, your body is still good and will recover as long as you rest well."

　　"Thank you, Master Mo," said Teacher Yu.

　　"You're welcome. I will write a prescription; just let your apprentice get the medicine and take it on time."

　　Teacher Yu nodded in response.

　　Mo Ruo took the ink and pen and was about to write the prescription when he heard a sigh from the opposite side. He looked up at the sad, heavily lined face and knew what the sigh was for.

　　Mo Ruo put down his pen and asked, "Teacher must be feeling sad for Guo He?"

　　"Mm." Teacher Yu nodded and let out a long sigh. His white eyebrows wrinkled, revealing a bit of guilt.

　　"I thought that the child merely left a year ago, but was still alive and well. I never expected that he was dead and even died in the academy. No one even knew of it for a year. Although he was naughty and stubborn, he's not bad by nature. In the end, he was still my student who grew up by my side and I'm also partly responsible for his death."

　　Mo Ruo comforted him, "Teacher should not say that. This matter had nothing to do with you. Life, death, accidents, and disasters are all destined. Guo He's death was probably his destiny, and no one can predict that. Teacher should not blame yourself."

　　"Although this is true, after all, a teacher for a day is akin to a father for life." He let out a long sigh, narrow eyes were full of tears.

　　Guo He was an orphan who was abandoned at the entrance of the academy on a cold winter's day. Teacher Yu could not bear it to leave him so the kid was kept in the academy, treated as if he was half-child of Teacher Yu. Guo He was very smart and displayed exceptional talent since childhood. His memory was good and his knowledge kept acc.u.mulating. Sometimes, even Madam Yu was not as good as him. But because he was always in the academy, his habits and studies were all strictly managed and restricted. And so, over the years he developed a rebellious temper, becoming stubborn as a mule and frequently stirring trouble in the academy with his friends.

　　A few years ago, several teachers who were invited by the academy left because of Guo He. Once, they nearly burned down the entire library because they knocked over some candles when they drank in the library. They became so troublesome that Teacher Yu was often so mad that he got sick for a few days. Although he had been lectured many times by Teacher Yu, Teacher Yu still couldn't steer him back onto the right track. Guo He became even more set against the whole academy.