Chapter 34 – Apprentice (Part 2) (1/2)
Ever since he was picked up by his master next to the lake, the phrase Chen Chang Sheng heard most was: ‘you have a very unfortunate life.’ Especially the night when was ten, after his body began to emit a strange fragrance, these words were like reminders. They always stayed in his heart.
If he wanted to change his unfortunate life, there were only two methods. One way was to xiu xing up to the deify stage. At this stage, he obviously wouldn’t be regulated by destiny. But the deify stage only existed in legends — even Du Fu, who was unbeatable in the past probably did not get to that stage.
The second method obviously was to fight against his fate. His master told him that it was rumored that from the beginning of Zhou Dynasty, only three people were able to fight against the Heaven and change their fate. These three people were unmatchable geniuses and they held the power of the world. Chen Chang Sheng was just a regular person, how could he accomplish this?
It didn’t matter if he was able to do it or not, it was something he had to do. Therefore he had to compete in the Great Trial and obtain the championship. Only if he did this would he have a chance at entering the Ling Yan Pavilion which had strict entry requirements. Only if he entered the Ling Yan Pavilion would he be able to look at the people in the paintings and discover what they had left him.
The Ling Yan Pavilion had twenty four painting of the most important officials of the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty. New paintings of important officials are constantly added. Nevertheless, the most important ones were still the first twenty four paintings. In those twenty four paintings, there was hidden evidence and a trace of the second successful Fate Change of the Zhou Dynasty.
Chen Chang Sheng woke up from his deep thought and his eyes glanced from the royal palace to the young girl sitting on the floor.
He really liked this child, but he couldn’t accept her as his apprentice – this young girl lived in the Herb Garden and was ambushed by a demon the night before. Her background was unordinary. The greatest possibility was that she was part of the royal bloodline that was exiled by the Divine Queen and was escorted back in private. He could not have a relationship with such a character.
Plus he didn’t want to misguide the girl.
“I need to clean up and rest. Go back home and don’t come back anymore.”Chen Chang Sheng said.
He wanted to sound harsh and cold so that the young girl would back off. Without waiting for her response, he left the library.
He hoped that she would leave knowing the difficult. Chen Chang Sheng returned to the library at night and saw that the girl wasn’t there. He could finally relax. He continued to absorb starlight to purify his body. During his state of meditation, the dawn returned. Once again the night had passed.
He didn’t know if the energy of stars was absorbed by his body. He just knew that his skin and hair didn’t change a bit and no progress was made in the Purification stage. But he was used to this. However, when he opened his eyes, he felt empty in his right arm. He felt unusual.
Chen Chang Sheng was silent for a while. He then left the library and returned to his small building and started showering.
The hot water in the wooden barrel was releasing steam and it floated along with the ivies on the wall. Slowly, it was separated into countless strings of smoke. He sat in the hot water and laid against the wall of the barrel and closed his eyes. He was tired. The morning was so quiet that he felt something was missing.
Just like earlier when he opened his eyes, he felt something was missing on his right arm.
There was no pretty and crisp voice and no one hugged his arm dependently.
Only for a few days, he was used to the presence of that young girl. Thinking about this, he felt a little embarrassed and his face was a little warm. He realized that matter how he followed his heart and calmed his mind, he couldn’t completely diminish vanity and some other feelings.
He placed the wet towel on his face. He didn’t want his warm face to be shined by the light.
Suddenly, the wall next to the barrel came crashing down and dust flew everywhere. Bricks and stones fell down from the broken wall.
Chen Chang Sheng removed his towel and stared at the wall in surprise. Under the dust, there was a huge hole……in the wall.
The dust gradually fell to the ground and Luo Luo walked in through the big hole in the wall.
She turned around and saw Chen Chang Sheng in the wooden barrel and was extremely happy, “We didn’t calculate the wrong spot, it’s here!”
She didn’t say this to Chen Chang Sheng, she said this to her subordinates holding the construction tools behind her.
For a while, behind the quiet small building, next to the old wall was filled with construction noises.
Not one of the busily working people looked at the wooden barrel. It was as if they could not see the youngster in the hot water.
Looking at this scene of lively construction, Chen Chang Sheng felt the water in the barrel was cooling rapidly and his body was cooling as well. He was so surprised that he couldn’t speak a word. His mouth was open slightly. He felt this scene was crazy, but what was more crazy was that he himself was in this scene.
Not for long, a brand new wooden wall appeared in the wall.
The people went back into the Herb Garden and closed the wooden wall. The Tradition Academy was just as quiet as before.
Except there was an extra wall and one more person.
“Now it’s much more convenient to come over everyday, I don’t need to ride the carriage anymore.”
Luo Luo’s hands were on her waist. She looked at the door and was satisfied.
It was silent, no one answered her.
She turned around and looked. She saw that Chen Chang Sheng was like a frozen swan. His two hands were on the wooden barrel and it was funny seeing him like this.
Luo Luo said sincerely, “Master, please continue. You can disregard me.”
Suddenly, Chen Chang Sheng’s expression turned extremely serious and his eyes were filled with boundless terror.
He looked at the blue sky behind her and his voice shook, “Dragon?!”
Luo Luo was surprised, she turned her head to look, but the navy sky was empty; there was no dragon.
Just this moment behind her back, a watering sound was heard.
She turned around and saw Chen Sheng Sheng who had dressed up quickly and flipped out of the barrel and ran crazily into the forest. As he was running, water was dripping from under him. It was as embarrassing as it could be. He was like a dog in the water. Or perhaps, a homeless dog.
Looking at this scene, Luo Luo couldn’t help but laugh. She waved and yelled, “Master, you will return!”
Chen Chang Sheng slowly disappeared into the boundary of the forest.
The smile on Luo Luo’s face gradually disappeared. She seemed sad and sighed, “Master, why won’t you accept me?”
———————————————————-
Chen Chang Sheng was wet all over, his black hair wasn’t tied up and there were no shoes on his feet. He felt embarrassed but he didn’t dare to return to the Tradition Academy to change his clothes. An entire capital and he couldn’t find a place to go. Since he was too embarrassed to meet anyone, he couldn’t find people to help either.
The room in the tavern outside of the Mausoleum ofKnowledge was still registered, but the walk to the north of the city was way too long. Chen Chang Sheng didn’t want the patrolling guard to arrest him for inappropriate dressing. Therefore, he could only go to the Heavenly Academy, which was closer.
He successfully attracted the eyes and mocking of the Heavenly Academy students. He just acted like he didn’t see or hear anything. Finally, he found the house of Tang Thirty Six and without hesitation he kicked the door and entered. He said seriously, “Let me borrow a set of clean clothes and I owe you this time.”