by Mao Ni
Nobody knew that he waited in the Orthodox Academy for an entire night, even after countless years. Only he knew how interminable this night seemed, how difficult to endure it was, and how much courage he had to pay.
When the morning light shone over the school, nothing had occurred.
During the night, many people silently watched the Orthodox Academy.
Those people thought the same as him, believing that the ruthless officials of the Department for Purging Officials would charge into the Orthodox Academy in the middle of the night and drag him into Zhou Prison, the mere name of which would cause countless ministers and experts to quail in fear. Or perhaps the experts of the Li Palace would borrow the shroud of darkness to come to this place and then quietly murder the youth and set the place ablaze, turning this Orthodox Academy that the Divine Empress loathed into a terrifying sea of fire.
But none of this occurred.
The morning light shone as smoke began to curl up from the chimneys of Hundred Flowers Lane. From the nearby Imperial Palace came the ringing of a bell.
Chen Changsheng opened his eyes. Walking to the window and gazing out at the peaceful capital in the morning, he was somewhat confused, and then he understood.
Because of his request from last night, Luoluo did not come from the Hundred Herb Garden to the Orthodox Academy until noon. Of course, she did not forget to bring a heavy lunchbox.
Chen Changsheng asked her to inquire about some information.
Before they had even finished lunch, the sound of a flute could be heard from the other side of the wall. Luoluo slightly lowered her head and quietly listened for a while.
"Nobody has seen the Education Overseer of the Heavenly Dao Academy." She raised her head and looked at Chen Changsheng. "Vice Principal Zhuang received a letter. It's probably a resignation letter."
Chen Changsheng fell silent. Seeing his expression, Luoluo also understood some things.
Vanishing after submitting a resignation letter. Had he retired to his birthplace or gone deep into the mountains to quietly cultivate? This was a matter that no one knew, and in this short period, it was impossible to find out.
It was not a resignation letter, but a farewell to the world.
Last night in the residence of the Education Overseer of the Heavenly Dao Academy, perhaps a rope of white silk could be found. This morning in the Luo River, perhaps the ashes of some bones had already sunk into the mud at the bottom.
Just like that, a powerful figure had noiselessly died.
Chen Changsheng felt somewhat cold. Looking at Luoluo's eyes, he found complex feelings within them.
This was a conspiracy, perhaps an open conspiracy, aimed at the Orthodox Academy.
The Heavenly Dao Academy overseer had the little monster of the Temple Seminary strike. No matter how the Orthodox Academy responded, problems would arise…because he was the grandnephew of the Divine Empress. If he won, the Orthodox Academy would naturally collapse. If he lost, the Orthodox Academy would assuredly invite the rage of the palace.
Yet to the surprise of all, the final conclusion of this conspiracy was that the Education Overseer of the Heavenly Dao Academy bore the rage of the palace and became a corpse. The young man and woman of the Orthodox Academy surprisingly had to bear none of the responsibility. Why? Because Luoluo was very powerful, because Luoluo's background was even more powerful…in short, Luoluo was far too powerful.
Chen Changsheng looked at her and sighed, "It seems that you are even more outstanding than I imagined."
Somewhat confused, Luoluo replied, "Teacher, you are the truly outstanding person."
Chen Changsheng scratched his head and asked, "Is it appropriate for us to be flattering each other like this?"
Chen Changsheng had always believed that if one lived for several centuries, time was transient and thus must be cherished. If one lived for only several decades, this was even more true. Since nothing had occurred, he should continue studying and cultivating. Only at dusk did he and Luoluo finally put down their books. After finishing the dinner sent over from the Hundred Herb Garden, they began a stroll around the Orthodox Academy's lake.
Strolling seemed to be a very time-wasting affair, but he did not care because he clearly understood that doing this was good for his health.
The two walked to the other side of the lake and came before an extremely tall and mighty banyan tree. Chen Changsheng suddenly felt a rare feeling of mischief and proposed climbing up it to see the view. Luoluo always obeyed him, let alone the fact that he was now proposing something fun, so she had no reason to object.
After a while, the two had climbed to the middle section of this great tree and stood upon a very sturdy branch, not worried that it might snap. They were ten-odd zhang from the ground and when their gazes looked into the distance, they could see streets that were very far away and even faintly see the galleries of the Li Palace.
Under the sunset, the sight of the capital was truly quite good.
Hundred Flowers Lane beyond the Orthodox Academy's walls was even more plainly visible. It was as peaceful as normal, but both he and Luoluo knew that Hundred Flowers Lane was already no longer as it once was. In those shadows and under the eaves, many gazes were watching what went on within the academy's walls.
"Teacher, I'm sorry." Luoluo whispered. She felt that it was because of her that Chen Changsheng had been dragged into this mire. She knew that he deeply valued time and placed high value on his calm life of cultivation, so her apology was deep and sincere.
"The person to apologize should be me," Chen Changsheng explained. "On that day, if I hadn't written your name in the register, you wouldn't be a student of the Orthodox Academy, and then how would we encounter this trouble? Although you aren't afraid of this trouble, trouble is still trouble in the end."
* * *
Time did not move according to the will of humans, else the time around Chen Changsheng would certainly be as firm and unmoving as a stone.
Several days later, the second night of the Ivy Festival arrived on schedule.
Looking at the invitation card on the floor, Chen Changsheng was rather surprised. No matter if it was the words Xu Shiji spoke to him or Priest Xin's advanced warning, logically speaking, this year's Ivy Festival should be somewhat different from those of the past. Moreover, after the bloody match on its first night, he thought that the second night would be postponed a few days.
Luoluo asked, "Teacher, are we really not going?"
Chen Changsheng shook his head, saying, "We're not going."
The Ivy Festival was an activity organized by the academies of the capital and would not influence next year's Grand Examination. He had participated in the first night primarily to get a clear understanding of the Grand Examination's rules and also to see just what sort of person Xu Shiji was. Both of these goals had been accomplished, so what need was there to go again?
If they did go to the second night of the Ivy Festival, there would certainly be many people staring at the Orthodox Academy, staring at him and Luoluo. He was not used to that sort of feeling.
Luoluo had not expected that he really wouldn't go when he said that they weren't going. She was somewhat confused and also somewhat regretful, saying, "If we did go, we might have been able to get a really good rank."
The literary test and the martial test remained for the Ivy Festival. Like the Grand Examination, they would also have rankings, and unlike the matches of the first night, they would assuredly not come to such a hasty conclusion. If Luoluo had participated in the martial test and Chen Changsheng in the literary test, they might have been able to make the Orthodox Academy shine with glory once more.
Chen Changsheng answered, "There's not much meaning in that."
Luoluo gave him an admiring gaze as she said, "Teacher views undeserved reputation like fleeting clouds, truly admirable."
Chen Changsheng earnestly responded, "It's primarily because I'm afraid of provoking trouble."
* * *
On the day on which the second night of the Ivy Festival would be held, the Heavenly Dao Academy was presumably unusually lively, but the Orthodox Academy was as quiet as ever. Hundred Flowers Lane outside the academy also finally obtained true peace. Those people who had watched the Orthodox Academy for many days had left because of the Ivy Festival.
Every night after dinner, they would stroll around the lake. Although the lake and the shadows of trees were beautiful, it was difficult not to be bored after seeing them so many times. After they had climbed up the great banyan tree several times, there was not much meaning in continuing to do so. Upon seeing that the number of irksome individuals in Hundred Flowers Lane was greatly reduced, Luoluo, unwilling to pass up this opportunity, threw a tantrum, acted cute, and resorted to all sorts of methods, before she was finally able to pull Chen Changsheng from the floor of the library. The pair exited the academy’s ivy-covered gate, exited Hundred Flowers Lane, and began to stroll about the streets.
Not far from Hundred Flowers Lane was Walong Lane's famous night market. Under the rule of the Divine Empress, the capital had experienced a long period of peace and was flourishing and prosperous. The night market was naturally extraordinarily lively, with pedestrians packed tightly together. The fragrances of all kinds of food being sold by the stalls assailed the nostrils and tempted passersby.
Chen Changsheng bought Luoluo a tanghulu. Somewhat surprised, Luoluo very happily received it without the slightest courtesy. Respect for her teacher and providing him three meals was only right and proper. Her teacher buying her a few small snacks was also right and proper.
She held the tanghulu and very carefully licked it, terribly worried that a momentary lapse of attention would result in her licking until only the wooden stick was left and frightening her teacher.
Her petite appearance was very cute.
Walking in front of a stall selling fried clams, she curiously looked at the still-moving clams in flour. She was just about to ask Chen Changsheng if they were okay to eat when she suddenly saw a very tall and sturdy youth squatting by the wall behind the stall, washing the dishes. Her forehead slightly creased.
Her petite appearance was very solemn.
Of course, it was still very cute.
Chapter 49 – Teaching Stick
This person was very tall and sturdy, and his hand was very large, like the size of a washbowl. It made the bowl in his hand seem particularly small, resulting in a somewhat amusing sight. His right hand was somewhat clumsy and awkward, trembling as it traveled along the rim of the bowl as if somewhat crippled, making the sight rather sad and pathetic.
Luoluo circled around the fried clam stand and stood behind this person. For some reason, her small face was brimming with anger. Chen Changsheng followed her and upon seeing the person's profile, realized that it was very childish and this person was very young, thus finally allowing him to confirm this person's identity.
The person squatting in this corner of the wall while washing dishes was the demi-human youth crippled by Tianhai Ya'er during the Ivy Festival, Xuanyuan Po
Xuanyuan Po saw that a few more shadows had appeared on the wall and turned his head. He saw that it was a young man and woman. He perked his thick brows in puzzlement and realized that he did not recognize the pair, so he lowered his head back down and continued washing dishes—a simple task like washing dishes was now a very challenging matter to him, so he had no time to care about other people.
"Leaving the Red River, disregarding distance to come to the human world, experiencing all sorts of pain and suffering, yet ending up in an alley of the capital washing dishes—was this your goal in life?"
The hand of Xuanyuan Po's holding the bowl slightly stiffened and he once more turned his head. As he stared at this girl who seemed to be sculpted from jade, great waves raged in his mind. He thought, Who are you, and why do you know that I'm from the Red River and that I'm not part of the human world?
Seeing his blank and foolish appearance, Luoluo inexplicably felt somewhat angry. Her voice low and cold, she berated, "If the people of your tribe were to see your appearance now, would they not regret collecting so much travel money for you?"
Xuanyuan Po looked very sturdy and strong, but his true age was only thirteen. His face was young and tender, as was the person himself.
Now that he was hearing Luoluo's unrestrained criticism, his cheeks turned red and he angrily replied, "Who are you? You don't need to concern yourself over my matters."
Luoluo fell silent for a moment then said, "I am called Luoluo. I am a student of the Orthodox Academy."
Xuanyuan Po froze once more, his shock even greater. His right hand could no longer hold the oily and greasy bowl.
With a splash, the bowl in his hands dropped into the filthy water. Although it did not break, the splashing suds still incurred the curses of the fried clam stall's owner. "You useless thing! Was all the time you spent growing up wasted? Do you not even know how to wash dishes?"
The night market was incredibly busy, the pedestrians a dense crowd. The fried clam stall was doing very good business, and the owner was working to the breaking point, waving his spatula and flipping over the food on the metal plate. He simply had no time to worry about other things. Even when cursing, he didn't even turn to glance at Xuanyuan Po.
Xuanyuan Po had no reaction. It seemed that in these past few days of working with the fried clam stall owner, he had already grown accustomed to being cursed at. He only stared in shock at Luoluo, his young and immature eyes beginning to glow with fervor, brimming with worship and adoration.
After being heavily injured by Tianhai Ya'er at the Ivy Festival, he had been carried back by his schoolmates to Star Seizer Academy for treatment. He did not see what happened afterwards, but the next day, he heard from his schoolmates that Tianhai Ya'er had been crippled. The person that had crippled Tianhai Ya'er…was a girl.
He heard that the girl was called Luoluo and that she was a student of the Orthodox Academy.
This girl had apparently just said the same.
Xuanyuan Po had since wanted to meet this girl. It wasn't merely because he wanted to thank her for helping him get revenge but because demi-humans respected the strong. He had deeply wished to see what this girl looked like and display his reverence towards her.
"It turns out that it was you…" Xuanyuan Po wiped his thick hands on his old clothes, seeming rather nervous, then said, "Then whatever you say is okay, is as it should be."
Luoluo had originally wanted to re-stimulate this person's fighting spirit and had not expected this sort of response. She couldn't help but feel rather helpless.
On the other hand, Chen Changsheng was thinking of another question. Somewhat confused, he asked, "You…left Star Seizer Academy?"
He thought to himself, Even if this demi-human youth was crippled by Tianhai Ya'er, making it very difficult for him to continue cultivating, much less regain his former strength, he was still acting as a student of Star Seizer Academy when he took part in the match. Could it be that Star Seizer Academy expelled him because he was crippled? This is really too inexcusable.
Xuanyuan Po did not know who this human youth was, but seeing his expression, he knew that there was a misunderstanding. Somewhat frantic, he repeatedly waved his hands and explained, "The academy didn't expel me, but…after receiving such severe injuries, I can no longer cultivate. I didn't want to freeload in the academy, so I left."
Seeing that Chen Changsheng and Luoluo were somewhat unwilling to believe this, he hurriedly added, "It's true, the principal and teachers all came to persuade me, but I've always been a rather stubborn person and wasn't willing to listen, so I snuck off. You shouldn't mistakenly blame them."
Truly straightforward and cute—Chen Changsheng and Luoluo both thought this. Whether it was the reason for his insistence on leaving Star Seizer Academy or the frantic concern he displayed when he worried that bystanders might misunderstand the attitude of Star Seiz
er Academy, they were all proof that this demi-human youth possessed a very clean heart.
Luoluo's expression softened slightly as she asked, "So that’s what it was. Then what are you preparing to do in the future?"
Xuanyuan Po gave an honest smile and replied, "I'm prepared to save some money. Once I've got enough for travel expenses, I'll return home. Since I can't cultivate, I might as well return home and help out with work…right, don't blame the boss. Although he likes to curse at others, he's really a good person. In these past few days, I've broken so many plates and bowls, but he's never let me pay for them."
The owner, who was just wiping his sweat as he flipped food on the metal plate, did not turn upon hearing these words, only smiled and cursed a few words.
Seeing the demi-human youth's simple and honest smile and realizing that there was no hint of resentment to be found on his young and immature face, Luoluo was overcome by an inexplicable sadness. She asked, "You're willing to just go home like this?"