Chapter 170 – The World Waits Upon This Battle (2/2)

The Black Goat walked out from the door, heading towards the lakeside. Remnants of snow still remained on the grass by the lakeside, with the grass stems wilting and brown, the Black Goat felt a little puzzled, thinking that the grass that youth had fed it half a year ago didn’t have this type of taste.

The Divine Empress had also come to Orthodox Academy.

This was her first time visiting the academy in over ten years.

Previously, at the Hundred Herb Garden, she was reminded of the massacre committed by Emperor Taizong towards the royal clan; currently, standing at Orthodox Academy, she thought of her own massacre against the Orthodoxy’s tradition faction.

Since Emperor Taizong’s ascent to heaven, she had killed a lot of people who opposed her, from the moment she had started to handle state documents for Emperor Taizong, those people had started to oppose her, this persisted until over ten years ago.

When His Royal Majesty was on his sickbed, suffering excruciating pain, those people continued to not care about anything else, only wishing to oppose her.

Those who dared to oppose her would in the end be killed by her; she had killed for hundreds of years, up until over ten years ago, after having killed so many people at Orthodox Academy, would finally, no one dare to stand out and oppose her.

She knew that her hands were steeped in blood, but she didn’t care; it was just, having arrived at the academy after so many years and seeing that its old lawn space was no longer neglected and desolate, she was naturally reminded of those days that had constant bloodshed.

These memories wouldn’t make her feel unhappy, but neither would they make her pleased.

Especially because amongst those she had killed, there were a lot of people she admired; those people were courageous, virtuous, able, talented, outstanding, resolute and noble; she had given them many chances, yet, they never gave her any, even to the point of forcing her to kill them.

Because those people wanted to attest to the world that she is a tyrannical ruler.

The Divine Empress looked towards the direction of Li Palace, thinking back on the past made her feel rather bitterly cold; bitterly disappointed.

A spell of rain a spell of cold.

The Pope had actually intervened.

She had previously thought that Chen Chang Sheng would only reach that point, but it was only now that she understood it wasn’t as such; therefore, she wanted to ask those people: “What point do you want to reach? Do you want to, once again, force me to kill?”

…..

Important people have important considerations to make, small characters need not concern themselves with the considerations of important people, Chen Chang Sheng didn’t care as to how many people were fixating on the Grand Examination, fixating on himself. Just as how he and Luo Luo had previously discussed, he only cared about whether if he could take first place upon the First banner, whether if he could enter the Pavilion of Ascending Mist (Ling Yan Pavilion).

In comparison to this, even the demon race’s invasion would be unimportant, let alone other matters. That’s why he patiently prepared for the last match, quietly and intently listening to the battle tactics Tang Thirty-Six had laid out for him.

Tang Thirty-Six looked at him, and with a seriousness he had never displayed before, he said: “First, use compassion to move others. Then use reason to persuade others. Then use power to pressure others. Then finally, do you move onto fighting others.”

He continued: “Three sentences, three methods, the ordering is very important. Let’s hope it has some effect, of course, if that impoverished scholar is still obstinate, then I suggest you consider what type of method you should use that can allow you lose a little less unsightly.”

Luo Luo was by the side and said in a low voice: “Sir, try bribing him.”

Tang Thirty-Six scoffed and said: “That’s Gou Han Shi, a scholar that takes pride in being a virtuous gentleman, how could he possibly be bribed? He’s not a pauper like Zhe Xiu that has never seen money before.”

Zhe Xiu was near the white poplar tree, on the stretcher, his bleeding had slowly come to a stop and his condition had improved somewhat; hearing Tang Thirty-Six’s words, his face remained expressionless, neither did he say anything.

Luo Luo got close to Chen Chang Sheng’s ear and said something to him in a low voice, Chen Chang Sheng felt rather startled, not wanting to accept, but he couldn’t stop her pushing the item onto him.

Tang Thirty-Six saw the item Luo Luo stuffed into Chen Chang Sheng’s chest area and couldn’t stop a small twitch from appearing on his lips, he then searched himself. Finding that he couldn’t find anything of a similar level and after giving it some thought, he freed the Sword of Wen Shui that was held upon his waist and passed it over.

“I have my own sword, what do I need yours for?” asked Chen Chang Sheng in a puzzled voice.

Tang Thirty-Six stared at him in the eyes and said: “That’s my Tang Clan’s Ancestral Sword, akin to Qi Jian’s Discipline Hall Relic Sword. It’s not suitable for entering the Banner of Hundred Arms, but that doesn’t mean it’s weak. Taking it with you, at an important juncture it can help you block a manoeuvre; even if you don’t have a use for it, it’s not exactly heavy, it can’t possibly hinder you?”

Chen Chang Sheng understood his meaning and the kind intent was hard to reject, after thinking upon it for a moment, he accepted it.

“Sensible,” Tang Thirty-Six’s action reminded Luo Luo; without any hesitation, she uncoiled Rainfall Whip from her waist and passed it into Chen Chang Sheng’s hand.

Xuan Yuan Po used his massive hands to search himself thoroughly, but didn’t find anything worthwhile, not even a safety talisman could be found; he couldn’t help feeling a little dejected.

Chen Chang Sheng patted his upper arm and said, while smiling: “You’ll make dinner in the evening.”

Xuan Yuan Po gave a simple laugh and said: “If you win, I’ll specially add two more spoons of salt.”

Chen Chang Sheng gave it a thought. If he really could take first place in the Grand Examination, then consuming a little more salt and oil for a single meal and drinking two, three small goblets of wine seemed to be fine.

He prepared to leave the woodlands, but suddenly thought of something, he turned his head back to look at Zhe Xiu, who was on the stretcher and said: “Whether if I win or lose, I will strive my best to give you that thing.”

Zhe Xiu looked at him with an expressionless face and said: “You have to win.”

Chen Chang Sheng entered the Tower of Purging Dust.

Gou Han Shi had already entered the arena, quietly standing. His clothing was slightly faded from washing and his sword didn’t have anything that could identify it as to being precious or common; just as how he was himself.