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

by Mao Ni

  "That little princess is already this angry, and your esteemed self still has the mind to read a book?"

  Mei Lisha turned to the hempen-robed elder, respectful yet also seeming very close.

  The elder closed the book and raised his head to gaze at the potted plant. He had a very ordinary appearance, except for his extremely deep eye sockets. From the side, they seemed like the terrifying entrances to an unfathomably deep abyss, but from the front, one could see tranquil eyes as blue as the ocean.

  Chapter 111 – The Pope

  The ocean within the elder's eye was very tranquil, giving off an aura of limitless benevolence… but it was still an ocean. It was difficult to imagine how massive the waves would be when this elder flew into a rage, how great the thunder when these waves crashed, how majestic and divine such a sight would be.

  The elder chuckled and said to Mei Lisha, "I was speaking with you earlier when you just fell asleep. Besides reading, what else could I do?"

  Mei Lisha was still gazing at the Green Leaf in the pot, shaking his head and saying, "I came to visit your esteemed self for a very clear purpose. Your esteemed self should indicate a path for these children to take."

  "Every person has to walk their own path."

  The hempen-robed elder continued, "Ever since that child came to the capital, he has walked an extremely stable path. I am not too concerned. I only hope… that he can mature a little faster."

  It was very obvious that the elder was very concerned about the child he had mentioned.

  Upon hearing the word 'mature', Mei Lisha fell silent for a very long time. An invisible pressure seemed to gradually envelop this quiet hall in the depths of the Li Palace.

  "Maturation requires the moistening of rain, and at times, what it needs even more is pressure."

  The hempen-robed elder added, "The new proclamations from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets should arrive soon."

  Mei Lisha understood his meaning: one's ranking was a sort of pressure. Liberation, Golden Distinction, and Azure Sky—countless experts and geniuses would exhaust their minds and bitterly cultivate to strive for a place on these rankings. Moreover, when these people on the rankings saw the people in front of them, they would receive a limitless motivation. The reason the continent had the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, had these proclamations, was so that human and demi-human cultivators would be pressured. Only this way could they oppose the demon experts.

  "That child will have no chance to get on the proclamation. Furthermore, his lot is miserable, and his fate filled with hardships. Perhaps he can even see more thoroughly through the words 'fame' and 'profit' than you and me."

  The hempen-robed elder sighed at these words, saying, "Then we can only look to see if we can help him at the Grand Examination."

  Mei Lisha considered this and then agreed with the hempen-robed elder's view. This was because while fate was in the starry sky above, under the starry sky, only life was worth revering. Life itself was the greatest pressure, and under this sort of pressure, that child would probably mature very quickly.

  "I'm going."

  He stood up, bowed to the hempen-robed elder, and then turned around to leave the Li Palace.

  The hempen-robed elder showed no reaction. He raised his book and began to read again.

  Time slowly and stubbornly passed.

  The Green Leaf within the pot was very calm, as there was no wind.

  After some time, the hempen-robed elder moved his gaze from the book and gazed at the sky above the Li Palace, an expression of envy suddenly appearing on his face.

  If the priests of the Li Palace were to see this expression, they would undoubtedly be shocked to the core.

  Just what was there in this continent that could make this elder feel envy?

  The clear ring of a bell could be heard from the distance. It was not the signal for the students of the Li Palace Academy and the Temple Seminary to begin class, but the signal that the Congregation of Light that was scheduled every ten days was about to begin.

  The elder stood up and untied his hempen robe.

  A black-robed priest appeared and silently helped the elder put on a Divine Robe.

  The elder began to ascend the stone steps. As he passed the lotus blossom carved of crystal, he took up that crown. His action was very casual, as if he was grabbing a piece of trash.

  The black-robed priest that followed behind the elder was known in the Orthodoxy for his cold and severe demeanor, his expression rarely changing across the decades. However, each time he saw this sight, the corners of his eyes would twitch uncontrollably. He was thinking, What would happen if the Yin Yang Crown happened to fall and break?

  At the top of the stone steps was a mural, monotonously painted with dark ink, exuding an aura of absolute austerity.

  The elder stood in front of this mural and donned the crown.

  The mural began to slowly part, boundless light surging out from between the walls like a tide.

  This tide of light curled and danced around the elder's Divine Crown and Divine Robe as if celebrating and worshipping.

  On the other side of the wall was a lofty and spacious church.

  This was the center of the Li Palace, the center of the Orthodoxy, the center of the continent's faith: the Great Hall of Light.

  Several dozen tall statues stood on either side of the hall: legends of the continent, past worthies, saints, and twelve knights who had once protected the church.

  In the tide of light, countless priests prostrated themselves in worship.

  These priests had lowered themselves so that their foreheads touched the back of their hands, their poses ones of absolute piety.

  The object of their worship was this elder.

  The fourth Pope of the Orthodoxy.

  * * *

  By the time Chen Changsheng's group emerged from the Minor Li Palace, it was already afternoon. Chen Changsheng gazed up at the sun, confused as to what time it was. Turning his head to look at the still quiet and empty Hall of Pure Virtue, at those green bricks, and thinking about how he had just been in another space, he fell into a momentary daze.

  The late autumn did not mean that the Li Palace was somber and bleak. In the slightly warm air of the afternoon, the cold-resistant scholar trees and white pines seemed to come to life, their branches and leaves becoming more verdant. When one looked down, all that could be seen was the limitless elegance and beauty of spring, like time had reversed.

  As they descended the seemingly endless stone steps, they could faintly see from very far away that more and more people were gradually beginning to appear on both sides of the Divine Avenue. Some had even walked onto the Divine Avenue, already prepared to stop them.

  "I told them to not leave if they had the guts, so what now?"

  Tang Thirty-Six angrily looked at the apathetic Li Palace priest.

  This Li Palace priest had been the one to receive them at the Hall of Pure Virtue and bring them into the Minor Li Palace. From his current appearance, it seemed that he intended to escort them out of the Li Palace. Tang Thirty-Six knew that this had been Luoluo's request so as to avoid their group clashing again with those students.

  He was not very satisfied by Luoluo's arrangements, as it would make it look like he was afraid. On the other hand, Jin Yulu had no objection, as he did not feel that the princess was dissatisfied by his performance. Chen Changsheng was not dissatisfied whatsoever, as he had been the one to make the request to Luoluo.

  Bong! Bong! Bong! Bong! The resounding toll of a bell came from some palace or academy. As opposed to the clear and melodious bell calling the start of class, this bell was flat and moderate, most likely intended for announcing or sending out some sort of news.

  "Is the bell also allowed to toll for this sort of assembly? Is this the Li Palace or an army camp?" Tang Thirty-Six thought that this bell was a signal for the students of the Li Palace Academy and the Temple Seminary to gather for a fight. At this array of forces, even if
he was fearless, his complexion still slightly changed.

  Just then, a flock of birds on the horizon suddenly scattered like a crowd opening a path. A hole suddenly appeared in the clouds to the east and a dark silhouette broke through the sky at an unimaginable speed. Passing through the space left by the flock of birds, it swiftly flew toward the Li Palace.

  Xuanyuan Po was a demi-human youth and had grown up in the wilderness, encountering many immortal birds. Moreover, his vision was many times sharper than a human's. Shielding his eyes as he looked, he recognized what the dark silhouette was. Rather shocked, he exclaimed, "It's actually a Red Goose!"

  Compared to true divine beasts like the Unicorn and the Ten Thousand Li Deer, the Red Goose was not that special. However, this species of bird had one good trait: its speed. In the present continent, it counted as one of the fastest species of birds, only second to the Red Falcons used by the army for sending messages. Of course, the White Crane was not a part of this ranking.

  By the time Xuanyuan Po finished speaking, the dark silhouette had already arrived above the Li Palace. On the ground, priests with profound cultivations and people like Tang Thirty-Six could already see the long red tail of the bird. It truly was a Red Goose.

  The Red Goose left an afterimage in the sky as it instantly vanished deep into some place within the Li Palace.

  "I wonder what's happened?"

  Tang Thirty-Six thought to himself, Since it wasn't a Red Falcon, it's not some strange movements from the demons up north, and it shouldn't be anything bad either, or else that bell earlier wouldn't have been so steady. So just what sort of matter would require using a Red Goose? Also, the Congregation of Light is going on right now; were they not afraid of the bell disturbing it?

  No matter how much they thought, it was impossible to speculate on the matter without any sort of clue. Led by the Li Palace priest, Chen Changsheng's group continued forward, soon reaching the bottom of the steps. They saw many people on the Divine Avenue in front of them, but they couldn't know how many had come because of Tang Thirty-Six's provocation in the early morning.

  The Li Palace guest courtyard to their left was still tightly shut. Gou Hanshi did not come out, and the other three of the Divine Kingdom's Seven Laws also did not appear. Not even the disciples of Holy Maiden Peak and the various other sects of the south appeared.

  Chen Changsheng's gaze looked past the white pines and fell upon the guest courtyard.

  Due to this engagement with Xu Yourong, upon coming to the capital and visiting the Divine General of the East's estate, he had suffered disdain, contempt, ridicule, and even humiliation. Naturally, he had no good will toward that man called Qiushan Jun, nor for those teachers and fellow disciples of his.

  During the Ivy Festival, he finally met with the other side.

  However, his two meetings with them had been different from what he imagined. He realized that the other side had not acted very nastily at all. Whether it was Gou Hanshi, Guan Feibai, or Qi Jian, they were magnanimous, or carried an arrogance worthy of being respected, or an admirable persistence. In brief, each of them had their redeeming qualities. He could see that Gou Hanshi and the other disciples of Mount Li had a reverence for Qiushan Jun that came from their hearts, so how could Qiushan Jun be someone who won his fame through deceiving the people?

  The autumn breeze that assailed him was not cold, but it roused him from his stupor.

  He laughed at himself, thinking, I've really overthought it. Qiushan Jun is an idol praised by the continent for his talent and virtue. He was probably never a bad person, but because of my perspective, I've thought of him that way.

  Chapter 112 – The Proclamation of Azure Sky has New Entrants (I)

  By the time they had walked down the stone steps and reached the Divine Avenue, all the academies, excepting the guest courtyard where the southern diplomatic mission was staying, had already become hubbubs of voices. The autumn forest to either side of the Divine Avenue was crowded with people, and there were even people standing on the Divine Avenue. Teachers of the Li Palace Academy, the Thirteen Divisions of Radiant Green, and the Temple Seminary had all appeared, and even some priests of the Li Palace had come to see the spectacle. Naturally, it was so lively because in the early morning, Tang Thirty-Six had left those words for the crowd in front of the Hall of Pure Virtue.

  The priest that had led Chen Changsheng's group out of the Hall of Pure Virtue had a quite significant status in the Li Palace. He frowned in displeasure at the raucous disorder on the Divine Avenue and spoke a few words of harsh reprimand. At these words, the teachers of the academies hurried to restore order, driving those students who were attempting to block Chen Changsheng's group to the side.

  Chen Changsheng's group of three walked down the Divine Avenue while a crowd of several hundred young students watched them from the forest. It was very similar to the scene from this morning, though the gazes of contempt and disdain were now much more numerous. A student from some academy yelled, "Tang Tang, if you have the guts, don't run!"

  These words were returning Tang Thirty-Six's words from this morning and attracted roars of laughter. Given Tang Thirty-Six's personality, he refused to walk any further, but then the priest gave him a cold stare. He didn't want to bring the Orthodox Academy too much trouble, so he could only angrily retort, "I just don't like being called Tang Tang."

  Seeing Tang Thirty-Six swallow his anger, the young students were elated. They knew very well that the icy-faced priest handled matters with severity, so none of them dared to step on the Divine Avenue, but they also would not give up the chance to strike at the Orthodox Academy with their words.

  "Chen Changsheng, can you do anything else besides hug Princess Luoluo's waist?"

  "Is it true that without Princess Luoluo's arrangements, you didn't even dare come down those steps just now?"

  "That's not necessary—he could still take out that marriage contract and use it as a protective talisman."

  "That's right, Xu Yourong's fiancé… Tsk tsk, who would dare offend him?"

  The occasional harsh word or slanderous gossip would rise from the forests lining the Divine Avenue, brimming with scorn and derision, every one of them daring to offend him. Some people even began to heckle him as someone who lived off women.

  Tang Thirty-Six's expression grew nastier and nastier while Chen Changsheng, on the other hand, slightly lowered his head and continued forward as if he had not heard anything. His two hands were concealed in his sleeves, making it impossible to see what shape they were in. Similar to the besieging of the Orthodox Academy in the autumn rain, he clearly understood where this hostility came from. It was not because of that war of words in the early morning, nor was it related to that junior sister of Holy Maiden Peak who had not shown herself. It was all because of her.

  That girl called Xu Yourong.

  Yet this matter still could not be blamed on her, as it had no relationship to her.

  Then it seemed that all he could do was endure it.

  Suddenly, the taunting and jeering receded like a tide. Chen Changsheng raised his head and saw a young student of gentle and noble air standing upon the Divine Avenue. Under the force of the priest's reprimands and the pressure of the teachers, the Divine Avenue was clear of people, wide, straight, and deserted, yet this student had decided to stand upon it.

  It was Su Moyu of the Li Palace Academy.

  Su Moyu first bowed to the priest, and then he clasped his hands at Chen Changsheng, with Chen Changsheng returning the gesture. His status in the Li Palace Academy was special, similar to the status that Zhuang Huanyu had in the Heavenly Dao Academy. Even the priest, who held real power in the Li Palace, had to give him a little face, so the priest only frowned but did not rebuke him.

  "Their words are very rude. As representative of the Li Palace Academy, I apologize," Su Moyu said.

  Chen Changsheng replied, "That's not necessary."

  Su Moyu still stood on the Divine Avenue. It was e
vident that he was not yet prepared to yield the path.

  Tang Thirty-Six slightly raised his brow, saying, "Do you intend to fight?"

  Su Moyu shook his head and bowed once more to the priest dispatched by Luoluo. "With Divine Priest Huo present, do any of us students dare to act presumptuously?"

  The priest surnamed Huo seemed slightly pacified and said nothing.

  "If you don't want to fight but you don't want to stand aside, what's your intention?" Tang Thirty-Six squinted at him.

  Su Moyu ignored him. Looking at Chen Changsheng, he said, "I have something to say to you."

  Chen Changsheng said, "Please speak."

  "Did you ever think about why everyone treats you so rudely?" Su Moyu asked.

  Chen Changsheng did not reply, as the answer was fairly evident.

  "The words everyone says are unpleasant, marred by envy, and very rude, but… that does not mean they are without basis. This is because what you possess is, from every angle, not something that you should be able to possess."

  Su Moyu calmly gazed at him and judged, "Because you are not strong enough."

  At these words, Tang Thirty-Six's and Xuanyuan Po's expressions slightly transformed. Even the teachers of the Li Palace Academy and the Temple Seminary showed expressions of disapproval.

  "Yes, during the Ivy Festival, you and Gou Hanshi discussed the Dao, and you seemed to assist the Orthodox Academy in defeating the Mount Li Sword Sect… but I don't believe this. I just think that your luck is good, that you have many strong companions. Princess Luoluo carries the blood and talent of the White Emperor clan, herself being a genius. Moreover, no reason other than luck can explain how you were able to get to know her. Friend Tang Tang here is also a young genius of the Proclamation of Azure Sky. If he were not so proud of his abilities as to break up with the Heavenly Dao Academy, why would he enter the Orthodox Academy?"