by Mao Ni
Suddenly, a massive boom came from the academy wall next to the wooden basin. Dust billowed into the air as bricks collapsed into rubble.
Chen Changsheng took off the towel and stared in shock. Amidst the dust, he could faintly see that the academy wall…now had a large hole.
As the dust settled, Luoluo walked through the hole from the other side.
She turned her head and saw Chen Changsheng in the wooden basin. Exceptionally pleased, she said, "I didn't calculate wrong, it's right here!"
These words were not aimed at Chen Changsheng, but at those subordinates behind her holding masonry tools.
For a moment, the area behind the peaceful house, under the old wall, was abuzz with the sounds of construction.
None of the busy people even glanced at the wooden basin, almost as if they could not see the youth in it.
Seeing this frenzy of construction before him, Chen Changsheng felt like the temperature of the water in the basin was rapidly dropping, his body following suit. He was so stunned that he couldn't manage any words. Like a fool, he watched with mouth agape, finding this scene thoroughly preposterous, and his presence within it even more so.
Before long, a brand-new wooden door appeared in the academy wall.
Those people retreated like the tide into the Hundred Herb Garden. With the closing of the wooden door, the Orthodox Academy returned to its previous tranquility.
Except that there was an extra door and an extra person.
"With this, it'll be much more convenient to come every day, so I won't have to use the carriage."
Her hands on her waist, Luoluo gazed at the door with great satisfaction.
There was only silence. No one replied to her.
She turned to look and only saw Chen Changsheng looking like a frozen quail, his two hands holding the sides of the basin. His appearance was very amusing.
Luoluo seriously replied, "Teacher, please continue, no need to concern yourself about me."
Suddenly, Chen Changsheng turned extremely solemn, a limitless shock and fear appearing in his eyes.
He stared at the azure sky above her and said in a trembling voice, "Dragon?!"
Shocked, Luoluo turned around but only saw a cobalt blue sky, no dragon in sight.
Just then, the sloshing of water came from behind her.
She turned and saw that Chen Changsheng had already put on his outer clothes, jumped out of the water, and run off into the forest at an incredible speed. Dripping water as he ran, he cut the sorriest of figures, like a dog that had fallen into the water or more like a dog that had lost its home.
Luoluo couldn't help but laugh at this scene. Waving her hand at his back, she called out, "Teacher, you'll have to come back some time."
Chen Changsheng's figure vanished into the forest.
The smile on Luoluo's face gradually faded, making her seem somewhat sorrowful. She softly sighed, "Teacher, just why aren't you willing to accept me?"
* * *
Chen Changsheng was soaked all over, his black hair scattered, and his feet didn't even have shoes. He felt wretched, but did not dare return to the Orthodox Academy to change clothes. In the entire capital, he actually couldn't find a place to go. This was because he was ashamed to show himself in public and also couldn't find anyone to help him.
He was successful in attracting the gazes and jeers of the Heavenly Dao Academy's students. To these, he could only act like he couldn't see or hear them. Finally, he was able to find Tang Thirty-Six's residence. Without hesitation, he kicked open the door and said respectfully, "Let me borrow a set of clean clothes and I'll owe you a favor."
Upon seeing his appearance, Tang Thirty-Six was firstly dumbstruck, and then he roared with laughter. It was just that the gap between the former and the latter was somewhat large, making him seem somewhat wooden, his reaction a little too slow. But to Chen Changsheng, this laughter was still grating on his ears.
"A rare visitor…truly a rare visitor…just what's going on with you?"
"Although I've never been willing to wear another person's clothes, I don't have any other option at this point, so I ask you to please hurry up a little."
Chen Changsheng's tone was extremely serious.
Tang Thirty-Six could sense that if he really did move slowly, this fellow really might get angry. Forcefully suppressing his laughter, he stood up and found a clean set of clothes for him, throwing him two towels as well while he was at it. "Wipe your hair and feet. Relax, these are new towels."
"Thank you."
Chen Changsheng cleaned himself as quickly as he could, after which he gave a long and relaxed sigh and took measure of his surroundings. He discovered that this fellow really was a genius worthy of being ranked thirty-sixth on the Proclamation of Azure Sky. In a place like the Heavenly Dao Academy, he actually had a little house for himself. It was just that upon seeing the ground covered in balls of paper, leftovers of meals from days ago, and the tables, chairs, and bed randomly piled with bits of junk, he realized that although this house was big, there was actually no place for him to sit.
"Sit." Tang Thirty-Six was completely unaware of his present suffering.
"Sit where?" Chen Changsheng very seriously asked.
Tang Thirty-Six then recalled this fellow's peculiarity and grudgingly stood up, saying, "Let's go eat."
Following the paths of the Heavenly Dao Academy out of the school, Chen Changsheng once more attracted quite a few gazes. This time, however, it was not because of his sorry appearance, but because he was walking alongside Tang Thirty-Six. The students of the Heavenly Dao Academy were all flabbergasted, thinking, Just who is this youth, actually able to talk and laugh with the lofty and cold Tang Thirty-Six?
After they seated themselves at an exceptionally elegant restaurant outside the Heavenly Dao Academy, Tang Thirty-Six suddenly recalled a matter and creased his brow. He asked very seriously, "I went to the inn once and saw the note you left behind…you really entered the Orthodox Academy?"
Chen Changsheng nodded his head, then asked, "What have you been doing these past few days?"
In truth, what he wanted to ask Tang Thirty-Six was why he had not come to find him despite knowing that he had entered the Orthodox Academy. After all, Tang Thirty-Six was his only acquaintance in the capital. Although he had always believed that by enduring loneliness, anything could be done, he still wouldn't mind not being lonely.
It was just that with his personality, it was truly too difficult to directly ask this question.
Upon hearing Chen Changsheng personally admit that he had entered the Orthodox Academy, Tang Thirty-Six's expression grew rather solemn. Seeing that Chen Changsheng had changed the subject, he thought that this guy did not want to talk about his own sorrowful affairs, so he replied, "The Ivy Festival is about to begin. Although I'm not afraid of anybody, I still have to make a few preparations."
Chen Changsheng thought, What's the Ivy Festival?
Tang Thirty-Six added, "Speaking of which, how did you end up looking like that? For the Grand Examination, I only want to get into the top three of the first banner, and I'm working every day until I'm exhausted. As your goal is first rank of the first banner, you're still in the mood to have water fights with other people? Or is it…you encountered some problem?"
"That place, the Orthodox Academy…I really can't stay there anymore."
Chen Changsheng thought of his encounters over the past few days, thought about how he could see that girl, no matter if he was opening or closing his eyes, taking a bath, or reading books. He couldn't help but feel rather dejected, an extremely rare emotion for him to experience.
Tang Thirty-Six thought that while Chen Changsheng had been studying in the Orthodox Academy, he had received endless cold and disdainful humiliations. He couldn't help but sympathize, so he patted Chen Changsheng on the shoulder and said, "If it's really no good, just leave. I…will write a letter and have you go to Wenshui to study."
Chen Changsheng sig
hed.
Seeing Chen Changsheng's miserable appearance, Tang Thirty-Six grew rather annoyed, thinking, Back when you were ruthlessly denied entry to the Heavenly Dao Academy and Star Seizer Academy, you were so unperturbed and easygoing, or else why would I value you so highly? So why are you acting this way now? Could it be that the Orthodox Academy really is a cursed place?
"After some wine and sleep, you'll feel better."
He had the owner bring over two pots of extremely strong fine wine and pushed one pot in front of Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng looked at the wine pot, rather curious, then earnestly said, "I've never drank before."
Tang Thirty-Six unsealed the pot for him and said, "If you drink today, then you've drunk before."
Chen Changsheng had worries on his mind, and truthfully, so did Tang Thirty-Six. Moreover, he had spoken the truth. The two youths were not too familiar and didn't understand each other too well, so since they naturally had nothing to chat about, they might as well take up wine cups and silently drink. This was what was meant by drink alcohol to drown one's sorrows.
This sort of drinking was most liable to make a person drunk, especially for a guy like Chen Changsheng who was drinking for the first time.
Of course, Tang Thirty-Six's tolerance for alcohol was also not much to crow about.
"A genius like me doesn't have the time to attend some Ivy Festival, but that group of idiot students from the capital actually dared to doubt this young master's strength…"
Tang Thirty-Six looked beyond the balcony at those students wearing the uniform of the Heavenly Dao Academy and sneered, "This time, I'm definitely going to beat up the faces of those guys!"
Chen Changsheng was using both his hands to hold the wine cup, his eyes somewhat squinty. It was obvious that he was already drunk. He slurred out, "The Ivy Festival…just what is it?…Is…is there any…anything good to eat?…Is there wine?"
The capital had the Heavenly Dao Academy, Star Seizer Academy, Temple Seminary…in total, six academies with extremely long histories and extremely respected statuses.
The vicissitudes of history were all reflected on the ivy covering the gates of these six academies, so these six academies were called the Six Ivies. Only the students of the Six Ivies were not required to attend the pre-examination and could directly participate in the Grand Examination. From this, one could imagine the status of these six academies.
The Grand Examination's pre-examination was usually held in the summer. The students of the Six Ivies had no need to attend, but, not wanting their students to miss out on an opportunity to hone themselves, after the grades for the pre-examination were published, the Six Ivies would invite those students that had passed the pre-examination as well as their own students to attend a magnificent feast.
Because this feast was also attended by the students of the Six Ivies, it was much more intense than the pre-examination. History had already proved that the rankings produced during this feast would basically match up to the final ranking produced in the Grand Examination, so the feast gradually began to be regarded as a weathervane for the Grand Examination.
Of course, this ranking certainly did not include those students still in the south and those cultivating geniuses that did not tend to show off their skills.
This feast was called the Ivy Festival.
With Tang Thirty-Six's personality, he had only scorn for attending the Ivy Festival, but he had a relationship with the Vice Principal of the Heavenly Dao Academy. A few days ago, his intentions had been deliberately exposed, causing him to suffer a few baseless rumors, and there were even a few young experts from the other Six Ivies that were also on the Proclamation of Azure Sky that revealed their contempt for his stance. As a result, Tang Thirty-Six decided to participate.
Because of this, he had closed himself up in the Heavenly Dao Academy in bitter cultivation. Even though he knew Chen Changsheng had entered the Orthodox Academy, he had no time to visit.
Chen Changsheng put down his wine cup, covered his lips with a hand, and burped. He somewhat embarrassedly murmured an apology, and said, "I wish you success."
Since the Ivy Festival was a comparison of strength between those so-called geniuses, it naturally had nothing to do with him.
He was thinking this way, but he had forgotten that the Orthodox Academy he was studying in was also one of the Six Ivies.
Of course, it seemed like the entire world had forgotten this fact.
Chapter 35 – Pervert? Piece of Trash?
Upon returning to the Orthodox Academy, Chen Changsheng stank of alcohol. With his squinted eyes and unsteady walk, his intoxication was evident. As for some business about the Ivy Festival, it had long since been cast out of his mind, and he could no longer remember it.
The library had no lights. Without him there, the Orthodox Academy naturally became as deserted as it had been in the past. As he walked along the lake, his surroundings were quiet and devoid of people. There were only the stars bobbing up and down in the limpid waters of the lake, the indistinct reflections of the trees on the other shore, and the refreshing breeze of the late spring blowing against him.
He stood on a stone on the lake shore, raising his head and gazing at the stars in the night sky for a very long time. Then, he looked down at the stars in the lake and also gazed at them for a very long time. Finally, he closed his eyes and silently stood there for a very long time before suddenly yelling out several words akin to curses at the lake.
He always gave off an aura of silence and composure, a maturity that exceeded his age, and this sort of venting of emotions was extremely rare. Tonight, under the influence of alcohol, he actually realized that he was somewhat tired. He straightforwardly sat on the grass by the lake, fell backwards, and then his mind began to wander off.
The library was pitch-black. He did not go read, did not go draw in starlight for Purification, he just lay on the grass in a trance, a pure trance with no thoughts whatsoever. In these few years, especially after that night at the age of ten, this was the first time he had indulged himself in this way, the first time he had wasted so much time.
After some time had passed, he opened his eyes and realized that he was still lying on the grass, his two hands touching the slightly chilly dew on the blades of grass. His cheeks were also somewhat moist. Faint rays of sunlight could be seen on the distant horizon; it was probably around five o'clock. Even when he wanted to abandon all restraints under his intoxication, he still woke up so promptly. The strict, even inflexible, discipline of his daily routine and his method of handling things had already sunk deep into the marrow of his bones, becoming a sort of instinct. This made him feel very helpless.
Habit was a very powerful thing, such that even washing the marrow[22] could not wash it away. Chen Changsheng returned to his house and went to the water barrel to carefully wash his face with a moist towel. On one side, he thought about some trivial concerns while on the other side, he kept the corner of his eyes on that new and tightly shut door in the wall, for some reason feeling somewhat expectant.
The heavens would never grant whatever one asked for, but today, they did. With a creak, the wooden door was pushed open and a girl jumped over the threshold like she was hopping stones to cross a stream. Then, she bounced over to him, her two black ponytails bobbing behind her very cutely.
Luoluo looked at him and happily said, "Lah, Teacher, don't you think it's very convenient?"
She was smiling very happily, but in reality, she was very nervous, afraid that Chen Changsheng would run off like he had yesterday.
Chen Changsheng did not run away. Perhaps it was because, today, he wasn't bathing naked in a wooden basin, perhaps it was because he still hadn't awakened from last night's hangover, perhaps it was because he had finally abandoned all resistance in the face of this girl's nagging, or maybe, he also very much wanted to see this girl.
Walking out of the Orthodox Academy, he bought two bowls of wontons and passed the one th
at didn't have peppers in it to the girl. He then walked into the library, the girl following with quick and small steps while holding the wonton bowl, abnormally pleased.
After breakfast, Chen Changsheng began to read. With extreme proficiency, he found his objective amongst the bookshelves, sat down on the floor, and began to silently and attentively read, comparing the information in these more primary texts with the three thousand Daoist scriptures he had read in Xining Village. He called this method comparative study.
Reading was a very dull task, and watching someone else read was even more boring. When Chen Changsheng quietly read, he naturally would not speak. At the beginning, Luoluo found it very interesting, moving close to him and reading with him. When she realized that there were many books that she could not understand, she began to feel bored, feeling that waking up early was really not a great thing. Sleepiness began to encroach upon her like the ants under a tree, wave after wave, assaulting without end, making her head feel heavier and heavier…