Chatper 47 – The Shadow on the Window and the Green Orange (1/2)

The invitation from the General’s Mansion was both with manner and indifference. Chen Chang Sheng told Luo Luo to stay where she was. He walked towards the carriage parking place on the street. Only when he walked there did he notice that nothing but silence surrounded the carriage. Not a single person was around and the previous guard who invited him was no where to be seen.

The battle horse in front of the carriage was tall and muscular. Its mane showed hints of crimson in the darkness of night. Surely it was no regular species and was a certain unique beast’s descendent. Although the horse was intimidating, Chen Chang Sheng didn’t glance at it for even a moment because the person he needed to see was the guest sitting inside the carriage.

The guest was still sitting in the carriage. There were bright lamps hanging around the carriage and the light shone through the windows and projected the guest’s shadow onto the curtain. His image was so clear that it seemed to be carved by knives and swords.

Chen Chang Sheng bowed towards the shadow on the curtain of the carriage. Its shadow was clear and so was the person inside. The terrifying and serious aura of him was also clear. It wasn’t until now did Chen Chang Sheng realize where the two pressures he felt previously in the Ivy Festival came from – one of the reasons he attended the Ivy Festival was to see the guest with his own eyes. Although during the entire festival the guest never seemed to lay his eyes on Chen Chang Sheng, he actually was observing Chen Chang Sheng.

“It has been a long time since you left Xi Ning and arrived at the capital. Up until now, I haven’t heard any rumors that I don’t want to hear. This proves that you are a smart person and your choices are steady. I like it.”

Xu Shi Ji’s calm and cold voice was heard behind the curtains, “After you joined the Tradition Academy, you learned how to use your background. Now I noticed that you are smarter than I imagined. It’s hard to say, but I’m starting to like you more and more.”

Chen Chang Sheng knew he was speaking the truth instead of scoffing or been sarcastic. He was not enough for the Yu Dong General to scoff at, or even be lied to. But he didn’t grow happy from his liking because he noticed that he still didn’t like Xu Shi Dong’s taste.

The taste was not bitter, spicy, sour, or sweet. It was an indescribable feeling. The tone that Xu Shi Ji used when talking to him was also a taste.

Calm, yet indifferent. It wasn’t intentional but Xu Shi Dong looked down on Chen Chang Sheng as an elder.

Chen Chang Sheng didn’t like this. If it weren’t for the troubles that grew out of the marriage vow and the abuse he endured from the General’s Mansion, if Xu Shi Ji actually was treating him with an attitude of an elder, then he wouldn’t mind. But the problem was that the previous statements were true.

Xu Shi Jie was silent for a while. Perhaps he was surprised with Chen Chang Sheng’s silence, or maybe he needed some time to think about some stuff. The night breeze blew around the lamps. He asked, “Who is she?”

Yes, this was the thing he actually cared about. Of course, this concern didn’t originated from the marriage vow that Chen Chang Sheng made. He didn’t care about any female contact with Chen Chang Sheng because he never treated Chen Chang Sheng as his future son-in-law.

Started from the moment that Luo Luo stepped up to the battle stone of the Ivy Festival, his subordinates in the general’s mansion started to research her background. Yet when the Ivy Festival ended and Xu Shi Ji rode the carriage and left the Heavenly Academy, there was still no information found about her background whatsoever.

Xu Shi Ji knew the great ability of his subordinates. He was surprised.

The young girl was with Chen Chang Sheng and therefore, he was also alerted.

Chen Chang Sheng didn’t answer his question because he felt that he didn’t need to answer Xu Shi Ji’s questions.

The shadow on the curtain grew clearer and its outline became sharper. This was perhaps because Xu Shi Ji got closer to the window.

The aura also grew more terrifying and the pressure seemed to become a real existence.

Chen Chang Sheng felt an uneasiness in his chest, as if a mountain was landing on him.

“Speaking the truth, I regret a little.” Xu Shi Ji’s emotionless voice was heard from the carriage.

“When you just came to capital, and no one knew you, I should’ve just killed you. There is a rule among generals and that is to be merciless. I obviously know, but after all you are connected with Xu mansion, someone wants you to stay alive, so I let you stay alive.”

Chen Chang Sheng looked down but didn’t say a word.

“The capital in the summer, was a place where people can easily die….The flood period is very hard to be certain, but what can be certain is, the rivers in the capital will definitely rise in level. When the river level rises, it will wash away both floating corpses and ashes.”

Xu Shi Ji spoke through the carriage window coldly.

“For example, Professor Cao from Heavenly Academy. After tonight, perhaps he will become a floating corpse thousands miles away from the capital, or perhaps he will become food for the kois in the River Luo. All in all, no one will see him again.”

After hearing this, Chen Chang Sheng shockingly raised his head and looked towards the window. He didn’t understand why the professor from the Heavenly Academy was going to die.

“After all, that little monster is one of the Family of Tian Hai…… no matter how the situation turns out, the professor still acted out on his own accord, and the queen will be unhappy. If the queen gets angry, then Sir Zhou Tong will be very mad. If Sir Zhou Tong is furious….then he will face something worse than death.”

“Therefore, the professor will commit suicide tonight.”

“Sure, I regretted not killing you from the beginning and now it’s difficult for me to react. I must remind you though, that there are many ways of surviving that are more terrifying than death in this world. The professor understood this, and I hope you will too.”

The lamps waved back and forth lightly and the light dimmed a little. Dozens of guards appeared from the darkness and circled around the carriage as it traveled slowly past the street and towards the Dong Yu General’s Mansion. The tall battle horse peeked indifferently at Chen Chang Sheng right before it left.