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

by Mao Ni

  The crowd clearly understood that after tonight, the Orthodox Academy which had lain dilapidated for so many years might finally walk along the path of rebirth, and that this new student of the Orthodox Academy would no longer be that obscure and ordinary youth. He was about to become the center of discussion for the entire capital, even the entire continent.

  The crowd looked at Chen Changsheng.

  Chen Changsheng only looked at Xu Shiji.

  Xu Shiji clearly understood why this youth was looking at him, so his face was ashen.

  At his side, the archbishop smiled and commented, "Even though this son-in-law can't compare to Qiushan Jun, he's still not bad."

  Xu Shiji's complexion turned incredibly unsightly.

  The archbishop gave a hearty laugh and then left, saying no more.

  The crowd in front of the palace gradually dispersed.

  Principal Mao Qiuyu descended the stone steps and took Tang Thirty-Six aside to say a few words to him.

  Mo Yu walked up to Chen Changsheng, her eyebrows slightly arched. She wanted to ask about just how he had managed to escape the Tong Palace, but upon seeing Luoluo stare at her like a miniature tiger, she could only bitterly smile and say, "I say, Your Highness, don't bear a grudge against me for tonight's matter. I also had no other choice."

  The cry of a crane suddenly resounded through the sky.

  The crowd looked up and saw the White Crane fluttering away.

  It had come to the Great Zhou Imperial Palace tonight to deliver a letter and meet a person.

  All these things done, it naturally left.

  Watching the White Crane gradually disappear into the night sky, Chen Changsheng felt like he had forgotten something.

  He looked in the direction of that abandoned garden in the depths of the Imperial Palace and nodded his head to give his regards.

  * * *

  A convoy of carriages was making its way toward the Li Palace.

  This was the convoy of the southern diplomatic mission.

  Compared to their jubilant arrival in the city, the convoy now was quiet, the mood extremely oppressive and downcast.

  A cough would occasionally rise from the convoy.

  Gou Hanshi, his brow creased and face slightly pale, held up a handkerchief to his mouth.

  He didn't want his coughing to disturb too many people, especially Elder Xiao Songgong in the carriage ahead.

  In tonight's match, although he had not personally stepped forward, the conversation he had carried out with Chen Changsheng across the plaza had consumed an enormous amount of mental strength. Even though he had taken the medicine gifted by the archbishop after boarding the carriage, he was still in some pain.

  "I did not expect that the youth called Chen Changsheng would be so extraordinary."

  Gou Hanshi raised the curtain of the window and looked back at the palace through the darkness, sighing, "Fortunately, he can't cultivate, or else we would truly be in trouble."

  Guan Feibai and his other two junior brothers were also in the carriage compartment. Hearing his words, they all had rather peculiar expressions.

  They knew what their second brother meant by 'trouble'. There was certainly concern for their eldest brother in his words.

  Because the youth called Chen Changsheng was Junior Sister Xu Yourong's fiancé.

  "Will Junior Sister really marry him?"

  With a slightly gloomy expression, Guan Feibai said, "The entire south has seen how Eldest Brother has treated Junior Sister Xu over these past few years. Just what is Junior Sister thinking? She even had the White Crane come specially to deliver a letter? Did she not think about what position this would put Eldest Brother in?"

  "How can you blame this matter on Junior Sister Xu?"

  Gou Hanshi sighed as he spoke, but he also didn't say just who should be blamed for this matter. After all, this matter had been decided by their teachers and elders. As disciples, it was not their place to criticize it.

  The carriage was very spacious. Gou Hanshi, Guan Feibai, and the Fifth Law sat on one side while Qi Jian sat across from them. The thin and delicate youth had his head lowered, seeming very pitiful.

  Guan Feibai looked at him and slightly frowned, but his tone became somewhat gentler. "I lost to Princess Luoluo, a true loss. Your loss to that fellow Tang Thirty-Six was an accident; don't be too sad about it."

  Qi Jian raised his head, his small face covered in shame and grief.

  Gou Hanshi smiled, saying, "The Grand Examination isn't far, just a few months away. At that time, just return tonight's loss in full."

  His junior brothers calmly agreed, because this was a matter that was only proper and expected.

  In tonight's Ivy Festival, although the Mount Li Sword Sect had lost to the Orthodox Academy, few people truly believed that the Orthodox Academy was stronger than the Mount Li Sword Sect.

  There was no need to speak of those rules and not much thought needed to be placed on Princess Luoluo's unexpected strength.

  On the day of the Grand Examination, the Orthodox Academy would not have the smallest chance.

  Because the rules were different, because they were the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws, and because at that time, Gou Hanshi would personally take part.

  Gou Hanshi looked out the window at the streets of the capital. He began to cough once more, his brow creasing.

  * * *

  Tonight's Ivy Festival was destined to be remembered by many people and very difficult to wipe away. If some hatred existed—like amongst a few people of the southern diplomatic mission, like the Qiushan clan head who had come in excitement and left in disappointment, like Xu Shiji who had been dealt a hefty slap from Chen Changsheng's marriage contract—this hatred would become a grudge.

  Chen Changsheng would not hold a grudge over tonight's events, although he truly did hate being imprisoned in the abandoned garden. Truly, when he was at the bottom of the Black Dragon Pool and believed that he was about to die, he was truly filled with resentment, but so many things happened afterward that now, when he sat in the carriage heading toward the Orthodox Academy, he found it hard to feel any hate, so he naturally would not hold a grudge.

  This was the Hundred Herb Garden's carriage. Jin Yulu was not willing to sit inside, so the compartment only contained the two young men and the one young woman. They sat on the soft embroidered cushions, looking at the scattered lanterns outside the window like stars in the night sky. For a very long time, nobody spoke, and the only sound was the rolling of the carriage wheels across the gray flagstones, a sign that they had arrived at the road that ran along the Luo River.

  Chen Changsheng looked out the window, suddenly chuckling to himself.

  Tang Thirty-Six was currently eating grapes. Upon seeing Chen Changsheng's appearance, he almost spit them out, teasing, "Truly foolish."

  Luoluo felt that this was somewhat rude to her teacher and was quite displeased.

  Chen Changsheng ignored him. He continued to look out the window, a smile on his face.

  For some reason, he was not coughing like Gou Hanshi.

  Tonight was the Double Seventh Festival, a time when lovers showed their deep affection for each other. However, it was very late at night and the two banks of the Luo River were no longer as lively as they were earlier. The willow branches by the river finally obtained a period of rest while the lantern boats floating on the river seemed even brighter, like innumerable stars. Their light entered through the carriage window, shining upon the youth's face.

  Luoluo propped her arm under her chin and gazed at Chen Changsheng's profile illuminated in the bright luster of the lantern boats, thinking to herself, Tonight, Teacher truly looks handsome.

  Tang Thirty-Six finished eating his grapes and used a towel to wipe his hands. He moved to Chen Changsheng's side and looked out the window, but he didn't find it very interesting. This sight was far inferior to the enchanting vistas of Wenshui on the Double Seventh Festival.

  Seeing Chen Changsheng'
s intoxicated appearance, he asked, "What do you feel?"

  Chen Changsheng looked at the river, pondering in silence for a very long time.

  The old temple outside Xining Village, the rooms filled to the top with old books, the old bamboo dragonfly, the old marriage contract, the humiliation in the Divine General's estate in the capital, the suppression received in the Heavenly Dao Academy and the other Ivy Academies, his banishment to the desolate and overgrown ruin, the forgotten Orthodox Academy… many scenes flashed past his eyes before vanishing once more.

  Just like the light emitted from the lantern boats floating on the Luo River.

  At the end, only one scene remained.

  It was the simple and unadorned academy gate of the Orthodox Academy, clear of ivy, the glossy black floorboards of the library, the lake and the girl under the banyan tree by the lake, and also friends.

  "Very happy."

  Chen Changsheng drew back his gaze, turning to Tang Thirty-Six and Luoluo. "I'm very happy."

  He wasn't exactly clumsy with his words, but he truly did not like to speak, nor did he know how to make his words sound nice.

  He said he was happy, so he was truly happy.

  I am very happy to have become a student of the Orthodox Academy, very happy that the Orthodox Academy won over the Mount Li Sword Sect, very happy that Xu Yourong won't be able to marry Qiushan Jun.

  Yes, the engagement is not important, but respect is.

  Finally, I'm very happy to be able to know all of you.

  Chapter 84 – A Conversation in the Night

  The willows by the Luo River gently swayed in the darkness.

  Luoluo opened her eyes wide and looked at Chen Changsheng, saying, "I am also very happy to know Teacher."

  Tang Thirty-Six scratched his head, feeling that it was seemingly his turn to state his opinion. "Okay, I'm also very happy to know everyone."

  Chen Changsheng spoke sincerely. In Xining Village's old temple, when he decided to come to the capital, he had never imagined that he would encounter so many matters or get to know these people. An ordinary youth like him was actually able to become friends with the young master of the Wenshui Tang clan, a young genius of the Proclamation of Azure Sky. He was even able to become friends with the sole daughter of the White Emperor, the most revered demi-human princess.

  "Don't always treat yourself like some ordinary youth."

  Tang Thirty-Six saw the look on his face and knew what he was thinking. "On the day of the Heavenly Dao Academy's entrance exam, I was already very sure that you were no ordinary person, that you were a genius… Why was I so sure that you were a genius? Because even a genius like me wanted to become friends with you."

  Chen Changsheng recalled that this fellow had said something similar back in the inn. He thought that Tang Thirty-Six was just praising himself, but Chen Changsheng was actually the one being praised.

  Luoluo felt that Tang Thirty-Six spoke very reasonably. She had always felt that Chen Changsheng was the most talented person in the world.

  "And you're also Xu Yourong's fiancé."

  Tang Thirty-Six sighed, "Just with that alone, just who in the continent would dare call you an ordinary person?"

  Luoluo clapped her small hands, her face brimming with admiration. "That's right, that's right."

  Chen Changsheng froze, then turned to Tang Thirty-Six and said, "Why do I feel that this is the point that you really wanted to talk about?"

  "What I want to say is that in the future, for such extraordinary matters as these, remember to tell us as soon as possible."

  Tang Thirty-Six extended a hand to him and said, "Take it out and let's see."

  "What do you want to see?" Chen Changsheng didn't understand what he meant.

  "The marriage contract of course."

  Tang Thirty-Six looked at him like an idiot as he added, "After all, that's Xu Yourong's marriage contract!"

  After the marriage contract had been shown in the hall, Chen Changsheng had placed it back in his bosom. Seeing Tang Thirty-Six's look of anticipation, he found himself powerless to refuse, but thinking about Xu Yourong's birth date, when taking out the marriage contract, he did not open it, indicating that it was only okay to look at the outside.

  Tang Thirty-Six had no objections to this. He was already very content with touching Xu Yourong's marriage contract, and even Luoluo came over in curiosity.

  Tang Thirty-Six stroked the surface of the marriage contract, deeply moved. He sighed, "Xu Yourong, Xu Yourong… to think that even you would have this day."

  Chen Changsheng put the marriage contract back in his bosom and asked in confusion, "Which day?"

  Tang Thirty-Six replied, "The day she gets married."

  Still confused, Chen Changsheng said, "Isn't a girl getting married a very normal matter?"

  Tang Thirty-Six replied, "A woman like Xu Yourong… she always gave off the feeling that she would never marry in her entire life."

  Chen Changsheng was somewhat speechless, but then he recalled the name that would often appear alongside Xu Yourong. He asked, "Then… what about Qiushan Jun?"

  Tang Thirty-Six felt that this fellow was thoroughly uninteresting. "Tonight was originally an extremely happy occasion, so why do you insist on bringing up such unhappy matters?"

  Luoluo asked, "Even if she's being married off, why should you be happy about that?"

  Tang Thirty-Six sternly replied, "I'm being happy in place of all those youths on the Proclamation of Azure Sky who have been miserably suppressed by her presence."

  Luoluo nodded, adding, "You're also one of those youths."

  Tang Thirty-Six felt rather embarrassed. "And so what? In any case, she's going to get married. When the time comes, would she still find it proper to go out fighting and killing every day?"

  Luoluo replied, "Why not? Who says that a woman can't leave the house after getting married? The Divine Empress certainly won't agree with your view."

  "As long as a certain person agrees with my view, it's fine."

  Tang Thirty-Six turned to Chen Changsheng and advised, "Teach your wife well—don't let her always come out to make trouble for the rest of us."

  Chen Changsheng chuckled but said nothing.

  * * *

  By the time they returned to the Orthodox Academy, it was already very late at night. Xuanyuan Po was awakened by their shouts so that he could open the gate. Under the light of the lantern, it could be seen that the demi-human youth's right arm was wrapped in bandages while his left hand was holding a walking stick. He looked like a soldier that had come back after being discharged from the army, with an indescribable misery and dejection hanging about him, a deep concern that he might not be able to stand steady.

  "Weren't you treating him? How come his condition is getting worse the more you treat him?" Tang Thirty-Six was somewhat astonished and turned to Chen Changsheng.

  Chen Changsheng felt somewhat helpless. "If you can have him be well-behaved for two days, and not hit every tree he sees or kick every rock, perhaps he might recover faster."

  Xuanyuan Po, rather embarrassed, rubbed his head. "I won't do it in the future, or else it'll be like tonight where I missed the Ivy Festival. That's far too sad."

  Jin Yulu knew that with all the things that had happened tonight, the princess would assuredly wish to speak with Chen Changsheng and the others. After saying a few words, he took the carriage and returned to the Hundred Herb Garden.

  The four people moved from the gate toward the library. Xuanyuan Po asked about what happened during the Ivy Festival, but before Luoluo could say anything, Tang Thirty-Six said, "Yes, we won."

  As he spoke, his expression was very serene as if speaking of some mere trifle. He waved his hand as if waving off some speck of dust, and he seemed very light and refreshing.

  Xuanyuan Po was a simple and honest demi-human youth and found it very difficult to grasp this sort of aesthetic or demeanor. He sincerely asked, "Won against who?"

  "The
Mount Li Sword Sect wanted to challenge the Orthodox Academy, and thus we defeated them."

  Tang Thirty-Six continued, "Right, I forgot to mention one thing. Right now, I'm also a student of the Orthodox Academy. You can address me as Senior Brother Tang."

  Xuanyuan Po was not very interested in the fact that this fellow had suddenly become his schoolmate and although he was simple and honest, he would not so obediently call this fellow his senior brother. However, when he heard that the Orthodox Academy had defeated the Mount Li Sword Sect, he couldn't help but grumble, "You wake me up in the middle of the night just to tell me this joke?"

  "It's not a joke. We really did defeat the Mount Li Sword Sect," Luoluo said.

  Xuanyuan Po was flabbergasted. He still felt that this was a joke, but… the joker was the princess and he did not dare retort.

  Only when they were seated on the pitch-black floor of the library did this demi-human youth finally understand that they were speaking the truth. When he thought of how a day ago, he felt his foot itch and wanted to kick a stone on the lake shore into pieces, thus breaking the bones in his feet and making it impossible for him to attend the Ivy Festival, he grew angry at himself. To not be able to see the events of tonight was truly too unfortunate.

  It had been a seemingly endless night, yet these youths had no mind to sleep. The three youths that had attended the Ivy Festival were exhausted to the extreme, yet their minds were still excited. Each one had their own reasons for this. For Tang Thirty-Six, it was because of freedom. For Luoluo, it was because of victory. For Chen Changsheng, it was because of proof. In brief, they all wished to continue chatting so as to have this happiness last just a little longer.

  Chen Changsheng took out some roast barley tea that he had stored away and said, "To drink this type of tea late at night not only has no adverse effects, it's also good for your spleen and stomach."