Chapter 167 – Two Drawn-out Matches (2/2)
“At the very least, from the current look of things, it will be of a benefit to me,” replied Chen Chang Sheng in a reassuring tone, while looking at Luo Luo, whom had a stern expression on her face.
Luo Luo said: “I think we might be able to borrow the momentum.”
Chen Chang Sheng couldn’t quite understand, asking: “Borrow what momentum?”
Luo Luo’s gaze fell upon the sword wounds on his chest, she then said: “In the match to come, try your best to take risks.”
Chen Chang Sheng understood her meaning.
With Luo Luo’s original intention, she definitely wouldn’t have suggested this course of action, but since Chen Chang Sheng absolutely had to take first upon the First Banner, this was something that had to be done.
Neither she nor Chen Chang Sheng knew what those personages were thinking, but they knew that those personages had already done something.
A lot of important personages wanted Chen Chang Sheng to fail, but a lot of important personages also didn’t want him to die.
If His Holiness could cause a spell of rain in the Education Palace, then he could bring about even more rain.
Thus, Chen Chang Sheng should take risks, seeking life in the midst of death, only with this, could he borrow those personage’s momentum or perhaps, once again borrow His Holiness’ rain.
The so called “momentum”, meant going with the flow.
Luo Luo felt a little uneasy, saying: “But you absolutely have to pay attention to your own safety.”
Chen Chang Sheng extended his hand and rubbed her head, saying: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
Luo Luo’s mood was a little downcast, saying: “I’m sorry, I haven’t been of much help today.”
She had pleaded before His Holiness, The Pope, for an entire night, in order to participate in the Grand Examination.
Rankings were meaningless for her, what she wanted to do, was to help forge the way forwards for Chen Chang Sheng, it was only because she had defeated Zhong Hui in the previous round, that Chen Chang Sheng could currently sit upon the stone steps and rest, not needing to face against Scholartree Manor’s supreme skills with a heavily injured body.
Yet, in her eyes, this wasn’t of any great significance.
Her aim had been Tian Hai Sheng Xue and Gou Han Shi.
Tian Hai Sheng Xue had withdrawn due to her, but there still remained Gou Han Shi.
It was very peaceful within the Tower of Purging Dust.
But it was very lively outside of the tower, that’s because no one cared about the results to the match that was currently happening inside; everyone knew what Her Highness would do.
The examinees were all in groups of two or three, debating over the previous matches or possible rankings, speculating over Chen Chang Sheng’s actual strength and how many moves could he persevere for against Gou Han Shi.
However, as time passed by, the tower continued to remain peaceful and the door remained closed, the examinees began to feel restless with some of them even starting to get drowsy.
Guan Fei Bai looked towards the tightly shut door of the tower and said, rather angrily: “Where’s the reason in this?”
Liang Ban Hu looked towards the woodlands, shaking his head and sighing: “Even someone like Tang Tang is feeling ashamed, how could Her Highness be like this?”
Gou Han Shi remained silent, upon thinking how Orthodox Academy was willing to use any method to help Chen Chang Sheng obtain first upon the First Banner, it was likely that the final match wasn’t going to be that simple.
At the woodlands, Xuan Yuan Po crouched upon the ground, unknown as to what he was looking at, previously, it was Luo Luo that crouched alongside him, now, it had changed to Tang Thirty-Six.
Countless gazes fell upon them, making them feel rather pressured, they couldn’t bring themselves to raise their heads nor converse with each other, all they could do was to crouch there, mumbling out a song to themselves.
“What is this?”
Within the tower, by the second floor’s window, an Archbishop of the Holy Church stared at the two youngsters that were atop the steps, his expression was unsightly to the extreme.
Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo were talking; master and disciple, closely together, conversing private matters, the scene was actually rather pleasant, very innocent and emotive.
The problem was, this is the Tower of Purging Dust, a stately arena for the Grand Examination’s duels, it wasn’t Orthodox Academy’s lakeside, neither was it the Hundred Herb Garden’s trellis for melons.
Xue Xing Chuan lightly frowned, saying: “This… isn’t appropriate is it?”
Prince Chen Liu felt like laughing, but in consideration of the others that were present, he stifled his laughter.
Mo Yu was expressionless, calmly watching Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo, yet her brows revealed a hint of impatience.
Everyone knew what Her Highness’ intention was, she wanted to make this match a period of rest and recovery for Chen Chang Sheng, thus, the longer it was, the better. But the entire continent was nervously awaiting the final rankings for the Grand Examination, was the entire world supposed to wait however long she and Chen Chang Sheng wanted to rest for?
The most troubling thing was that the Grand Examination didn’t have any rules or regulations on this matter. Who said participants had to immediately fight to the death the moment they entered the stage? Who said opponents cannot respect each other’s talents and converse a few words?
Luo Luo and Chen Chang Sheng had countless reasons or perhaps excuses to extend the time, changing the duel into nothing more than a conversation for them.
That Archbishop of the Holy Church angrily said: “Request Her Highness to hasten their match, if they don’t make a move, then judge the both of them negatively, directly eliminating them from the tournament.”
A Li Palace clergyman accurately conveyed the Archbishop’s wishes to the two youths that were currently talking atop the stone steps.
Luo Luo was outraged, saying: “Can’t you see we’re currently accumulating momentum? Who dares to eliminate us?”
That Li Palace clergyman wanted to grimace, wanted to ask Her Highness if she thought the entire world was blind.
What type of accumulation of momentum would accumulate for an hour? Accumulating to the point where two people are shoulder to shoulder? But he didn’t dare to say anything.
A creak resounded, the window to that second floor room opened for the first time.
Xue Xing Chuan arrived at the arena grounds, arrived before Luo Luo and said something in hushed tones with a small smile on his face.
Luo Luo still refused to get up and leave.
Chen Chang Sheng said: “I’ve more or less rested enough, let’s head out together, don’t cause trouble for His Grace.”
Luo Luo was most obedient to his words and also knew that they couldn’t appropriate the tower for too long, she helped Chen Chang Sheng rise, then headed out of the tower together.
Xue Xing Chuan watched the two youths as they left, unable to stop himself shaking his head, evincing his sense of helplessness.
With this, the first match of the Grand Examination’s top 4 came to an end.
Her Highness, in line with what everyone expected, directly conceded, at the same time she had gained an extremely valuable period of recovery for Chen Chang Sheng.
Chen Chang Sheng entered the finals for the Grand Examination.
He was another step closer to that aim which had been ridiculed by the entire continent.
But the entire process was seemingly a little outrageous.
Yet, he didn’t care.
Neither did Luo Luo.
The closer the duelling got to its end, the faster it would proceed. This was because the participants would become increasingly strong; even if their difference in strength was only slight, determining the victor would still be within a few manoeuvres.
After the second round, the time required for each match became extremely short, otherwise, it wouldn’t have been possible to reach the final stage so quickly.
Chen Chang Sheng and Luo Luo’s match, had wasted a full hour, taking longer than the previous ten matches combined, of course, everyone knew this was uncommon, and that only someone like Her Highness, with an uncommon status, could do this.
Yet, while everyone was thinking that this would probably be the longest match in the examination for this year, the second match, between Gou Han Shi and Zhe Xiu, once again brought about an immense surprise for them all.
This was because the match continued for a very long time, and judging by its current state, it seemed it will still continue, quite possibly surpassing an hour in length.
Hearing the horrifying sounds that would occasionally leak out from the tower, Tang Thirty-Six’s expression became ever more sombre, the respect in his eyes became ever stronger.
He turned around and looked at Chen Chang Sheng, gravely saying: “Apart from your life, whatever that wolf-child wants you to give him, you should just give it to him.”