Way of Choices: Book II - Youths We Were, Schoolmates, Part 2

by Mao Ni

  Gou Hanshi calmly looked at him and said, "I am also an ordinary person. My memory isn't better than anyone else's, and I don't have any more talent than the average person. I grew up in poverty, so it was impossible for me to begin reading the moment I left the womb. The only thing I know is to read. To read is my method of cultivation and knowledge is my power, just as strength is the power of tigers and leopards. I represent Mount Li in challenging the Orthodox Academy. Do you expect me to give up on my own power? If I use my own powers to walk this world, why do I need to be ashamed about it? If I use my own powers to defeat my opponent, how is that preposterous?"

  "That's an absurd theory. I'm most skilled at sleeping, so if I were to compete with you on who could sleep the longest, you would also agree?" Tang Thirty-Six countered.

  Gou Hanshi smiled and replied, "If the rules of the Ivy Festival had a rule about competing on sleeping, why shouldn't we compete on sleeping?"

  Tang Thirty-Six was stifled by these words. After quite a while, he sneered back, "Then how to carry out this literary test? Could it be that you want His Eminence the Archbishop to make up an examination paper on the spot? There's no need for such trouble. It just so happens that none of us attended the second night of the Ivy Festival, so it would be much more straightforward if we just fought."

  Gou Hanshi calmly replied, "If you insist on this, I also have no objection… You can decide the method, and you can also decide the participants."

  Everyone in the hall was a little astonished. Tang Thirty-Six also did not expect Gou Hanshi's attitude to change so.

  With Gou Hanshi's words, Guan Feibai and the other young disciples of Mount Li expressionlessly stood up and walked behind him.

  Seeing this sight, the crowd finally understood that they had misunderstood Gou Hanshi.

  The so-called literary test was truly a certain win for Mount Li, but if it was a martial test, Chen Changsheng had not a single chance of winning.

  There were not many people from the Mount Li Sword Sect in the southern diplomatic mission. Besides Elder Xiao Songgong, it was just these four youths.

  Four Laws of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws.

  Just then, Chen Changsheng spoke once more.

  He looked at Gou Hanshi and said, "I agree with your argument. Anything obtained on the path of cultivation is one's power, just as the food we put into our bellies becomes our strength. It is our freedom to do with that strength anything we want. By coincidence… I also am an ordinary person, and it just so happens that I've also read a few books."

  They were both ordinary people who had both read a few books. It truly just so happened to be the case, it just so happened that they could compete.

  "In the end, desires are difficult to satisfy."

  The archbishop looked at Chen Changsheng and chuckled, seeming to hold some deeper meaning.

  He then looked out of the hall.

  The autumn breeze was chilly, and the lanterns of the Double Seventh Festival were only amongst the people and not within the palace, thus making the breeze seem all the colder.

  The elder tightened his clothes and said, "If this match is not fought, when Qiushan Jun learns of this in the future, his desire will certainly not be satisfied. When Tang Thirty-Six was unable to attend the last two nights of the Ivy Festival, his desires were also not satisfied. These southerners also just so happened to not be in time to attend the last two nights, so let them fight. But it's late, so do it quickly."

  * * *

  The doors to the palace were opened, and the light of the Night Pearls was cast on the darkness, clearly illuminating the plaza in front of the palace.

  Outside the Imperial Palace, the streets of the capital were still bustling and lively. In the distance, a person was hanging up an eternal lamp, while in the southwest corner, a flame tree was currently blazing.

  Several hundred people stood on the stone steps in front of the palace hall, watching the two groups standing at the east and west sides of the plaza, all with different expressions. Some were completely unconcerned, some were taking delight in the misfortunes of others, some were inwardly concerned, but there was no tension.

  In the past Ivy Festivals, the open conflicts and secret battles between the academies of the capital had never ceased, and so some fierce spectacles had always occurred. In this year's Ivy Festival, the first night had hastily concluded due to Luoluo crippling Tianhai Ya'er, and nothing particularly exciting had occurred on the second night. On the third night, everyone believed that the highlight would be the marriage proposal of the southern diplomatic mission. In the end, a truly grand drama had played out, but it was only now that an actual fight was about to occur.

  It was just a pity that before this battle even began, the results had already been decided, so there was naturally nothing to be tense about.

  Gou Hanshi would not personally step forth to compete—his cultivation level was already much higher than those of his peers. Like Qiushan Jun, he had already left the Proclamation of Azure Sky and become a member of the Proclamation of Golden Distinction. Whether Luoluo or Tang Thirty-Six fought, he would always be suspected of the strong bullying the weak.

  Earlier when he had proposed to have a literary test with Chen Changsheng, he had also considered this. The literary test only moved words, not the heavens and earth. There was victory and defeat, but no injury or death.

  In this bout between the Orthodox Academy and the Mount Li Sword Sect, the Orthodox Academy could select the method and choose the opponents. The Mount Li Sword Sect seemed to be acting very generously, but there was truthfully not much difference. The disciples sent by the Mount Li Sword Sect to the capital were all members of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws. For the Orthodox Academy to achieve victory over any of them was very challenging.

  "I originally planned to challenge the Fourth Law… this guy knew beforehand."

  Tang Thirty-Six pointed at Chen Changsheng and said to Luoluo, "But since tonight is a fight between school and sect, I can't act according to my own temper. The Fourth Law is the strongest, so he should naturally be handed over to you. I'll try and challenge that fellow called Qi Jian."

  Luoluo replied, "I have no objection."

  Chen Changsheng thought it over, then said, "Our chances of winning aren't big this way."

  Tang Thirty-Six sneered at him, "I really wanted to use the horse-racing method of the past worthies, to use the weakest horse to compete with the strongest…[5] The problem is that you're truly too weak and it's simply impossible to have you take the stage. It's best if we try to win two in a row so as to save you the trouble of disgracing yourself."

  Luoluo actually had an extremely firm confidence in Chen Changsheng, even though she had no idea where this confidence came from.

  Just then, the people from the Mount Li Sword Sect walked out.

  Walking at the very front was a youth, his appearance clean and young, his body thin and frail. He looked like he had not completely developed, seeming even younger than Luoluo.

  This was the final and weakest of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws, Qi Jian.

  Qi Jian was the final disciple of the Mount Li Sword Sect's Master. His age was quite young, yet he had been ranked in the top ten of the Proclamation of Azure Sky. Only at a certain gathering two years ago when Zhuang Huanyu had beaten him by half a move did he fall to eleventh place, but not a single person would dare disregard him.

  Because he was truly very young.

  The Mount Li sword robe he wore was very loose. Flapping about in the wind, it made him seem rather cute.

  Seeing this sight, Tang Thirty-Six sighed, "How can I even attack him?"

  Chen Changsheng sighed and replied, "You speak like you can actually defeat him."

  Tang Thirty-Six was quite furious, glaring at him.

  Chen Changsheng chuckled in reply.

  Tang Thirty-Six suddenly fell silent for a few moments, then he said, "If we are able to fortunately win two matches, then this guy won'
t need to step out. If I lose, you should just concede as well, Luoluo. Losing two matches in a row, this guy won't need to fight."

  Chen Changsheng noticed that he had used the word 'fortunately'.

  Although he had no fear, it did not mean that the blood had rushed to his head and made him lose his senses.

  Tang Thirty-Six was well aware that his opponent was very strong.

  Luoluo was somewhat confused. Why is that if he loses, I should just concede?

  Could it be that Teacher not stepping onto the stage is even more important than the Orthodox Academy losing?

  "Yes, the Orthodox Academy just has us few sparrows, so how is it shameful to lose to the Mount Li Sword Sect? Okay, it truly is still a little shameful, but that doesn't matter, it's fine as long as you don't fight… If you don't fight, they won't have any means of regaining the dignity that they lost today."

  Tang Thirty-Six gazed across the plaza at that calm youth in the darkness and sneered, "Suffocate them to death!"

  Saying this, he put his hand over the hilt of his sword and walked over to the other side.

  Chapter 74 – The Swords of Youths

  Why did the Mount Li Sword Sect want to challenge the Orthodox Academy? Because they had come to propose marriage for Qiushan Jun, but had been stopped by Chen Changsheng. Their dignity had all been lost, so they had to think of a way to recover some of it. Just as Gou Hanshi had admitted, only this way would they be able to calmly depart the Great Zhou Imperial Palace, even if it was only with great reluctance.

  According to Tang Thirty-Six's plan, no matter if the Orthodox Academy successively won or successively lost, Chen Changsheng did not need to step forward. Thus, the Mount Li Sword Sect would naturally find it impossible to recover their dignity. Luoluo thought to herself, Although this is somewhat… shameless, it also seems very interesting. Thus, she used her silence to represent her support. On the other hand, Chen Changsheng had actually wanted to talk a little with that Gou Hanshi who was said to be well-versed in the Daoist Canon, and also say a few words to Tang Thirty-Six, but that fellow had already stepped onto the stage.

  The bleak wind chilled the palace as Tang Thirty-Six stood on the plaza, his hand resting against his sword as he looked around. With his handsome appearance that exuded freedom and confidence, the female disciples of the Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green and Holy Maiden Peak found him extraordinarily splendid. Yet they had no idea that before this person stepped on stage, he had made many very boring and even angering arrangements.

  Examining Qi Jian's thin and weak appearance from a distance of ten-odd zhang, Tang Thirty-Six froze. Then he remembered something and turned to Zhuang Huanyu, sighing, "Look at this kid. Just how small was he two years ago? And you still had the nerve to win."

  Zhuang Huanyu naturally did not respond, only laughed grimly. His meaning was the same as Chen Changsheng's earlier words: you speak as if you can actually win.

  The Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws had the most resounding of reputations, but other than those who had truly met them, nobody would imagine that they had a childlike Qi Jian amongst their ranks. When he paid respects to Tang Thirty-Six, his face was clearly rather nervous, even somewhat timid.

  Tang Thirty-Six slightly frowned and asked, "How old are you this year?"

  Qi Jian replied, "In another two months, I'll be fourteen."

  At this time, there was no way Tang Thirty-Six would let Zhuang Huanyu go. Looking at him, he clicked his tongue a few times, then he turned back to Qi Jian and asked, "So young… is it okay to not fight?"

  Qi Jian's expression turned a little solemn as he spoke like a little adult. "The academy used Her Highness's identity, the elders' promises, and the name of righteousness to suppress others. My senior brother is not present and cannot dispute, but how can the academy be innocent? As his junior brother, I naturally have to seek justice in the name of my senior brother."

  Tang Thirty-Six's expression also turned solemn as he refuted, "Wrong! The ones using the orders of the parents and the words of the teachers to suppress others is your group, and you're the one using status to suppress others, attempting to suppress others in the name of righteousness. All these things were done first by your elders; we were just fighting back. As for your senior brother… he wants to marry Chen Changsheng's fiancée, so how could it be that Chen Changsheng is the one mistreating him? Don't forget, the engagement was before this. The White Crane is still right there."

  Behind Chen Changsheng and Luoluo, the White Crane was resting its neck on a bronze pillar. In the darkness, its white was extremely striking.

  Qi Jian fell silent for a few moments. He chose to speak no more as his small hand gripped the hilt of his sword and slowly pulled it from the sheath.

  Just this simple action caused a formidable Qi to suddenly rise.

  The thin and weak youth unexpectedly gave off the aura of a grandmaster stepping onto the stage.

  The spectators in front of the hall suddenly grew silent. Xu Shiji and the others had strange looks on their faces, and even Mao Qiuyu's expression turned serious.

  Prince Chen Liu praised, "The Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws truly are extraordinary."

  With a solemn expression, Tang Thirty-Six drew his own sword from its sheath.

  Ever since he was a child, he had been famous for his talent and had always been proud and cold. When he came to the capital from Wenshui and entered the Heavenly Dao Academy, he was still so.

  He knew that Qi Jian was the strongest opponent he had ever faced amongst his peers, and he knew that the profound techniques imparted by a sect like the Mount Li Sword Sect would be much stronger than the techniques passed down in his clan. If he studied in the Heavenly Dao Academy for two years, he might have a real chance of surpassing the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws.

  But tonight, he still wanted to win.

  He lowered his head to the ground and saw that in a crack in the stone next to his shoe, a blade of grass was growing.

  He looked back to Qi Jian and said, "Come."

  With a solemn expression, Qi Jian replied, "Please!"

  The voice was still echoing through the quiet night air in front of the hall when that blade of grass in the crack suddenly bent backward as if about to be snapped apart.

  Gusts suddenly stirred as two blurred figures lunged toward the center of the plaza.

  Boom!

  Tang Thirty-Six and Qi Jian met, as did the swords in their hands. Countless harsh winds howled and danced around their bodies, blowing against their clothes, causing them to snap about like some torrential rain was falling upon the ivies outside the Li Palace!

  Two swords met in the darkness, reflecting the starlight, a stream seeming to run across their surfaces. They were undoubtedly not ordinary swords.

  "The Wenshui Sword!"

  A person recognized the sword in Tang Thirty-Six's hand. That sword as bright as a mirror, able to reflect the stars, was surprisingly the clan sword of the Wenshui Tangs: the Wenshui Sword!

  The Tang Old Master had actually passed the clan's sword over to Tang Thirty-Six to carry with him to the capital. This was a sign of just how much he doted on his grandson, a sign of what great hopes Tang Thirty-Six was bearing, and it was also a sign that the Tang clan had already decided to pass the clan into Tang Thirty-Six's hands!

  Some people were shocked because of the Wenshui Sword, but others were more moved by the sword in Qi Jian's hands.

  The sword in the thin and frail youth's hands was pitch-black and emitted no light. It didn't even have an edge and was somewhat wider than an ordinary sword. It looked not like a sword, but an iron ruler. Yes, this sword was the Iron Ruler!

  The Iron Ruler Sword was the Relic Sword belonging to the elder of Mount Li's Discipline Hall.

  The Mount Li Sect Master had actually allowed Qi Jian to take this sword and travel the continent. From this, one could see what expectations he had placed on his final disciple!

  * * *

  The Tang cla
n's sword versus Mount Li's sword: just which was the stronger?

  This was what the spectators of this battle wanted to know the most.

  At least for the moment, neither of these swords showed any sign of losing.

  Tang Thirty-Six and Qi Jian simply did not hear the shocked cries of the crowd. Their minds were entirely on their swords.

  With the intersection of these two swords as the line, two half-arcs of light appeared in the night sky, enclosing the youths within as they struggled against each other.

  These half-arcs reflected the many stars in the darkness of the night sky, countless dangerous undercurrents of energy running beneath them.

  Innumerable strands of energy shot from the tails of these arcs to behind the pair, tearing through the air.

  The stone beneath their feet was completely unable to withstand this rending. With gouts of shattered stone and teeth-aching clattering, ten-odd cracks appeared on the stone plaza, quickly spreading out from the center like a spider web.

  Mao Qiuyu, Principal of the Heavenly Dao Academy, lightly raised his brow. With a wave of his sleeve, an extremely pure Qi completely enclosed the stone steps in front of the palace hall.

  He was one of the few experts in the world, his sobriquet Two Sleeves in the Breeze. All his cultivation was in the brushing of his sleeve. No matter how fierce Tang Thirty-Six and Qi Jian's battle was, it would be unable to involve the spectators on the stone steps, but he paid no attention to the people in the plaza.

  With a cry, the White Crane flapped its wings and took flight. It soared through the darkness and came to rest on the roof of Weiyang Palace.

  Jin Yulu stood in front of Chen Changsheng and Luoluo.

  Xiao Songgong gripped his sheath and gave two low coughs.

  When these ten-odd cracks reached these two, they suddenly stopped and found it impossible to continue forward.