Chapter 53

If the dish is really too salty, one should drink water, not go to be quiet—Chen Changsheng’s short sentence of nine words caused such a mess. So the dish wasn’t really too salty, but his heart really needed to be quiet, so as not to continue being in turmoil.

Walking to the lakeside, he stood under a large banyan tree, stepping on the slightly raised tree roots on the ground, hands on his waist, looking far beyond the courtyard walls, wishing to look as far as possible, but unsure whether he should look towards Xining Town or the south.

A moment later, he took a small bamboo object from his waist and put it in his chest, telling himself not to take it out again—originally, in the inn, he had taken off this small bamboo object and put it in the deepest part of his luggage, but he didn’t know when he had taken it out again.

The southern envoy was coming to the capital to propose marriage, Xu Yourong was to be engaged to Qiu Shan Jun, and even if she wouldn’t marry in the short term, she would eventually have to marry.

Chen Changsheng had always thought that matters of love and affection had no appeal to him, and he had no particular feelings for Xu Yourong. He had come to the capital to break off the engagement, and he still thought so. So he couldn’t understand why, after hearing this news, he had become so restless and even a bit sad.

This emotion made him very uncomfortable and he didn’t like it, so he was somewhat displeased.

Or perhaps it wasn’t because she was going to marry, but for some other reason?

Chen Changsheng consoled himself and thought of a reason that could convince him—after all, he and Xu Yourong were engaged. Whether from a legal or emotional standpoint, he was her fiancé, and she was his fiancée. In the absence of a formal break-up, it was wrong for his fiancée to marry another man.

Of course, he should be unhappy.

Yes, that’s the reason.

The Eastern Divine General’s Mansion and Xu Yourong were too disrespectful to him in this matter, so I am very angry, he silently told himself.

Tang Sanshiu walked to the lakeside, stood beside him, and said, “The problem between you and the Eastern Divine General’s Mansion hasn’t been resolved yet? That is indeed troublesome. Empress Saint has always trusted Xu Shiji. If Xu Yourong marries Qiu Shan Jun, no one in the Great Zhou Dynasty can shake his position.”

Luolu looked at his side face with some concern and said, “Sir, are you okay?”

Chen Changsheng’s previous reaction was very strange and naturally didn’t escape the eyes of Luolu and Tang Sanshiu. Moreover, they both knew that Chen Changsheng and the Eastern Divine General’s Mansion had a grudge, but no matter how they thought about it, they couldn’t imagine that he was Xu Yourong’s fiancé, so they had no way to comfort or console him.

Just as Shuang’er had said in the Eastern Divine General’s Mansion, the whole world believed that Xu Yourong and Qiu Shan Jun were a perfect match, and even Luolu and Tang Sanshiu thought the same. No one could imagine that there was someone like Chen Changsheng.

“Nothing, I just don’t know why I feel a bit nervous,” Chen Changsheng turned to look at the two of them and said, “I’ve heard that there are many geniuses in those southern sects. I wonder what the situation will be like during next year’s Imperial Examination.”

Tang Sanshiu knew his goal for the Imperial Examination and thought he should indeed be nervous. He said, “Holy Maiden Peak, Lishan… The southern sects are naturally powerful. If the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom and other young strongmen participate in the Imperial Examination, it won’t be easy to surpass them.”

Chen Changsheng said, “I heard that Zhuang Huan Yu ranked tenth on the Qingyun List by defeating one of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom?”

“He defeated Qijian, the youngest and weakest of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom.”

Mentioning the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, even the proud Tang Sanshiu’s expression became serious. “This time, four of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom will attend the Qingteng Banquet and will likely participate in the Imperial Examination. The leader is probably Gou Hanshi. Would Zhuang Huan Yu dare to challenge him?”

“What about… Qiu Shan Jun?” Chen Changsheng asked.

“The proposal is naturally led by the elders, with fellow disciples assisting. How could Qiu Shan Jun come to the capital? As for whether he will participate in next year’s Imperial Examination, that’s unclear. But don’t underestimate Gou Hanshi; he’s a truly remarkable person.”

Tang Sanshiu was a very proud person, which had nothing to do with his ranking of thirty-six on the Qingyun List, but was purely a matter of personality. His only thought after entering the Heavenly Dao was to step on Zhuang Huan Yu, who was ranked tenth, though there were other reasons, it at least showed that he didn’t think much of Zhuang Huan Yu.

There were very few people he respected, such as Xu Yourong, Qiu Shan Jun, the wolf cub of the demon race, and the mysterious girl ranked ahead of Zhuang Huan Yu. Now that he admitted Gou Hanshi was remarkable, this person must indeed be very remarkable.

“Second among the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, only below Qiu Shan Jun.”

Luolu knew that Chen Changsheng didn’t understand much about the cultivation world and explained, “I’ve heard that this person is very learned, having read the entire Daoist Canon. He is highly respected among the young disciples of Lishan and even other sects, considered a brainy figure.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “So what makes him remarkable?”

Tang Sanshiu was speechless and said, “Having read the entire Daoist Canon, isn’t that remarkable enough?”

Hearing the words “read the entire Daoist Canon,” Chen Changsheng naturally thought of his senior brother and himself, wondering what was so remarkable about it. But he knew that if he said this, Luolu might not care, but Tang Sanshiu would definitely mock him for putting on airs, so he changed the subject.

“Who else from the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom will come?”

“Guang Feibai, ranked fourth on the Qingyun List, is said to be a very proud person.”

Mentioning this person’s name, Tang Sanshiu’s face showed no admiration, but his eyes became intense. “On the third night of the Qingteng Banquet, Zhuang Huan Yu’s target will definitely be him. I need to find a way to take the opportunity.”

Chen Changsheng counted on his fingers and said, “He’s fourth, you’re thirty-sixth, there’s a difference of thirty-two people.”

Tang Sanshiu’s face darkened slightly and said, “What do you mean?”

Chen Changsheng said, “My point is, don’t always think of eating a fat man in one bite. Haste makes waste. Actions should be taken step by step to be orderly and not rushed. Those who try to force growth should do less of it. There’s also a saying that…”

“Go on,” Tang Sanshiu sneered, “You have quite a vocabulary.”

Seeing his unfriendly expression, Chen Changsheng laughed and stopped talking.

Tang Sanshiu said, “If everything were decided by rankings, what would be the point of the Qingteng Banquet and the Imperial Examination? With Xu Yourong and Qiu Shan Jun’s talent and lineage, I naturally can’t beat them. The wolf cub and the untouchable girl are not as high as Guang Feibai, but if you ask Guang Feibai, would he dare to say he’s stronger than those two?”

Chen Changsheng thought it made sense, but who was the wolf cub he had heard about several times? And who was the untouchable girl?

Tang Sanshiu remembered the tall demon race youth he had seen in the library and asked, “That guy also entered the National Teaching Academy?”

“Yeah, he doesn’t want to stay at the Star Plucking Academy anymore.”

“I’ve heard that on the first night of the Qingteng Banquet, the Star Plucking Academy performed very disgustingly. Apart from that guy, no one dared to stand up… But that guy was severely injured by Tian Hai Yar, he might really be crippled. Are you sure you want to take him in?”

“I haven’t even passed the bone-washing, am I not even more of a waste?”

Tang Sanshiu sneered and said, “Which waste dares to say he wants to be the top of the Imperial Examination?”

Hearing this, Luolu’s eyes instantly brightened.

This was the first time she had heard about it. She had always thought that Chen Changsheng was hiding his true abilities and had absolute confidence in him, but he had never acted, which made her, as a student, feel somewhat stifled, thinking he should be more graceful and bold.

The top of the Imperial Examination, that’s where Sir should be!

“Sir, you’re too calm.”

Luolu looked at him, her eyes full of admiration.

Tang Sanshiu was slightly stunned and asked, “What’s going on?”

He knew Luolu was not an ordinary person. Seeing her respectful manner towards Chen Changsheng, he felt puzzled. Now, seeing her call Chen Changsheng “Sir” with such close and reverent respect, he was even more confused, not understanding the relationship between the two.

Chen Changsheng didn’t know how to explain.

Luolu introduced herself generously, “I am Sir’s student.”

“Ah?”

Tang Sanshiu was very surprised and looked at Chen Changsheng, “Aren’t you only fourteen?”

Chen Changsheng said, “She insisted on becoming my disciple, I couldn’t refuse.”

Tang Sanshiu thought for a moment and said, “But you look much older than your actual age, so it’s fine.”

Luolu, displeased, said, “Sir is mature and steady, do you think everyone is like you?”

Tang Sanshiu didn’t want to argue with the little girl, patted his clothes, and prepared to leave, asking one last question, “Are you going to the last night?”

Luolu thought that given Sir’s personality, he probably wouldn’t go, just like last night.

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, “It might be good to go and see.”

...

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Because of the southern envoy, the last night of the Qingteng Banquet was postponed for several days, and the venue was moved from the Heavenly Dao Academy to the Unnamed Palace, which belonged to the imperial palace. This detail showed the importance the court placed on this matter.

If the southern envoy’s proposal was successful, the relationship between the human north and south would become closer, and Xu Yourong might become the first southern sect’s Holy Maiden from the capital in history. The Great Zhou Dynasty’s influence in the south would be greatly strengthened, and Empress Saint would naturally be pleased.

In theory, no one or any force could prevent this from happening.

Even the demon race, who most opposed this marriage, had no way to stop it.

The whole world knew that this marriage had only one variable.

That variable was in the dilapidated National Teaching Academy.

It was a young man named Chen Changsheng.

In early autumn, the night was cool like water, but not cold.

Tonight, the capital was brightly lit, it was the Qixi Festival.

Chen Changsheng and Luolu walked out of the National Teaching Academy, from the depths of Hundred Flowers Lane, back to the bustling and lively city.

The two walked towards the nearby Unnamed Palace.

Until this moment, he still didn’t know what he was going to do. When the southerners proposed to the Xu family, what should he do?

He hadn’t made a decision; he just wanted to go and see.

He couldn’t imagine what would happen tonight.