Chapter 116 – Declaration (1/2)
Xu You Rong, that was a name known to everyone in the world, but no one else would have had the same turbulent emotions as Chen Chang Sheng did upon hearing that name.
In the past, at the old temple in Xi Ning village, upon first seeing that name on the betrothal vow, his age was still tender and he didn’t understand many things, but he knew what it meant to be shy, he naturally had a lot of thoughts about his future with her; a girl with such a name, what would she look like? Did she have long locks of hair and a kind, gentle heart?
Following on, due to the circumstances of fate, he stopped thinking about the betrothal, and the name slowly faded from his memory, until he came to the Capital and experienced many things; that name brought him much ridicule and hardship, causing him to find it unpleasant. At the inn, it started to infuriate him; at the derelict garden, or even at that most crucial moment in Wei Yang Palace, that name continued to appear before him.
He clearly understood, even though her letter assented to their betrothal, it wasn’t going to be so simple, it had another side to it, maybe his status as her fiancé was only an excuse, but she had helped him with this, therefore that name was no longer that unpleasant, but he still couldn’t bring himself to feel any inklings of fondness for it.
The experiences of ridicule and mocking he experienced this morning at the divine avenue was due to that name, he could no longer avoid that name intruding upon his life and the pressure or trauma it brings.
Should he actually feel gratitude towards her? No, his main concern right now was the Grand Examination. In this battle to change his fate, if he could surpass her, and break free of the influence of that name, he would be content, though the possibility of this in the eyes of others was near non-existent.
Luo Luo is already approaching you; how far is the gap between us?
Chen Chang Sheng’s retracted his gaze towards the Hall of Clear Virtue and turned it towards the far off Southern realm, quietly contemplating.
The broadcast from the Hall of Oration had stopped, this sudden update to the Proclamation of Azure Clouds during mid-autumn had come to an end, but the crowd that had gathered at the divine avenue did not disperse and the teachers didn’t start telling students to return to their classes.
… Chen Chang Sheng continued to stand upon the divine avenue.
Everyone at the Capital knew Orthodox Academy only had four students, and that in today’s update to the Proclamation of Azure Clouds, three of them were listed. Her Highness, Luo Luo, was the highest ranking one, rising from the ninth position to second.
Whether in terms of their student population in comparison to their ranking members, or the positioning of those ranked, Orthodox Academy was unquestionably the biggest victor in the most recent proclamation; neither Heavenly Academy or Temple Seminary from the Ivy League could match; schools that had been prominent in recent years, such as Scholartree Manor, the Nan Xi Institute or even the Longevity Sect could not compare with Orthodox Academy’s achievement.
Everyone looked towards Chen Chang Sheng.
He was the first student of Orthodox Academy; before his appearance, the academy was nothing more than a cold graveyard that was on the verge of disappearing within the annals of history itself from the long years of lacking any new students. But upon his appearance, Orthodox Academy was once again brought before everyone, with its transformation silently starting.
This youth couldn’t complete his Purification and was thus unable to cultivate, therefore he had no right to appear upon the Proclamation of Azure Clouds, but the evaluations from the Council of Divine Ordinance made it clear; things such as fortuitous circumstance, a brilliant teacher; what did they refer to? Orthodox Academy’s current splendour was all attributable to him.
Was this kind of youth really the trash that was being ridiculed from before? As Gou Han Shi had said this morning, if he were to be a toad, then what were the students that were currently here? Were all these people spongers as well? Does he really need the backing of Her Highness or the use of a betrothal vow in order to establish himself upon this world?
Su Mo Yu said he wasn’t truly strong; then what was the true definition of strength?
Tang Thirty-Six stared at the group from Temple Seminary, glaring at the student that had mocked Orthodox Academy the hardest this morning, gave out a cold laugh and said: “For visionless people, even if they were to crawl up to the top of the Mausoleum of Books, they wouldn’t be able to recognise a single word within.”
The student’s face turned pale.
“… this is what we call a proverb.”
Tang Thirty-Six looked at the crowd and continued with an expressionless face. It was clear as to what he was referring to; since the Ivy League gathering, a lot people mocked Chen Chang Sheng as to being a toad that wishes to dine upon the Phoenix; this was brought up this morning and joked as to being close to becoming a proverb.
The divine avenue was silent.
At this moment, Chen Chang Sheng suddenly spoke out.
“You were saying what it means to have true strength…”
While saying this, he looked towards Su Mo Yu. The students of Li Palace College had a drastic change in expression; thinking that he intended to follow Tang Thirty-Six and mock Su Mo Yu.
Contrary to their expectations however, he said: “Your words have merit; I may be able to help my companions become stronger, but if I don’t want to become a burden, then I need to become strong myself. I hope that I can become stronger by the time of the Grand Examination, we’ll meet again at that time.”
Upon finishing those words, he gestured a formal farewell and turned around, heading off along the divine avenue.
Su Mo Yu gazed at his disappearing figure, hints of respect evident on his face, returned the gesture of farewell and said: “We’ll meet again at the Grand Examination.”
Upon seeing the silence surrounding both sides of the divine avenue, Tang Thirty-Six felt an invigorating sense of glee; he laughed out loud and said: “It won’t be easy to meet at the Grand Examination, after all, his aim is to get…”
Chen Chang Sheng didn’t even turn his head, and just said: “Xuan Yuan Po, stop him.”
In the mind of Xuan Yuan Po, Chen Chang Sheng was now a classmate, a teacher and the benefactor that saved his life, not to mention his Grand Master from the perspective of Her Highness. Upon hearing those words, he had no hesitation in extending his fan-like hands and smothering Tang Thirty-Six’s entire face, before lifting him up and carrying him across his shoulders.
“Un… un… un…”
With Tang Thirty-Six’s ability, he could have easily defeated Xuan Yuan Po, but he couldn’t bring himself to raise his hand; upon being covered by Xuan Yuan Po, he was immediately silenced and could only let out small sounds of struggling; not being able to declare the words he had put so much energy into preparing made him agonised.
Xuan Yuan Po on the other hand, wasn’t discomforted in the slightest, he was actually rather happy, being listed on the Proclamation of Azure Clouds made him uncontrollably jubilant, but he didn’t know how to express himself. With both, feelings of jubilation and vigour in excess, he didn’t know how to control himself and he started running faster and faster, while carrying Tang Thirty-Six and occasionally smacking him on the back; they very quickly approached the main gate of Li Palace.