Chapter 179 – Sunset, Yet a First Dawning (2/2)
What aspect was the most important? Gou Han Shi and Chen Chang Sheng were the only ones that knew it was their views on life and death. After hearing those words, Chen Chang Sheng remained silent for a while, before saying: “I still need to say I’m sorry.”
Gou Han Shi laughed, but didn’t continue the discussion, he looked at Guan Fei Bai and said: “I… feel a bit hungry.”
Guan Fei Bai still couldn’t understand what happened in the match, but since his senior had already conceded defeat, his prideful nature meant he obviously wouldn’t persist on the topic, he was only worried about his senior’s current mood; he tried his best to make his voice gentler and calmer, asking: “Senior brother, what do you want to eat?”
Gou Han Shi considered for a moment, then said: “Rice gruel.”
Liang Ban Hu said: “It should almost be dark outside; I don’t know if it’ll be easy to find any.”
Qi Jian said: “If it’s leftover from the daytime, then we have to worry about it being cold.”
Gou Han Shi replied: “Cold is delicious.”
With just a few, remarkably ordinary words, the four disciples of Li Shan Sword Sect had accepted this match’s result, heading out of the Education Palace; they were powerful and thus, prideful youths; the reason for their pride.
The Divine State’s Seven Laws were the Divine State’s Seven Laws.
“Let’s also leave,” said Luo Luo.
Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po took the stretcher off the hands of the Li Palace clergy.
It was at that moment, Mo Yu left the tower and arrived before the group from Orthodox Academy, she formally greeted Luo Luo, then looked towards Chen Chang Sheng and said: “Congratulations.”
Chen Chang Sheng replied: “Thank you.”
Mo Yu’s fine brows arched slightly, and she said, with much profundity: “I only hope this really is something to celebrate.”
By this time, all the examinees outside of the tower already knew of the identity of this enchantress that was garbed in court gowns, and they all began to conduct formal greetings in turn, yet, even before they could come up to greet her, Mo Yu had promptly taken her leave.
Chen Chang Sheng and the others pondered over the words she had left behind; their originally exuberant mood was suddenly clouded over, but they didn’t have the time to muse over it more deeply, because closely following this, others had arrived.
Xue Xing Chuan and Prince Chen Liu walked out of the tower and came over, congratulating the four students from Orthodox Academy.
Prince Chen Liu expressing cordial wishes was understandable, but, as Her Divine Majesty’s most trusted Divine General, Xue Xing Chuan had no reason to do this at all; this caused Chen Chang Sheng and the others to feel all the more stunned.
Once His Eminence, Archbishop Mei Li Sha, left the tower and came to their location, everyone knew that there shouldn’t be any more personages making an appearance; because the elderly person directly said: “Let’s leave the palace together.”
It wasn’t a question, but counted as an invitation, prohibiting any sort of refusal, neither was there any reason to refuse.
By now, the entire continent knew that Chen Chang Sheng and Orthodox Academy are representatives advanced by the tradition faction of the Orthodoxy, not to mention, it had to be acknowledged that if this elderly person and the Education Board he controlled had not secretly provided assistance, Chen Chang Sheng would not have had any chance of obtaining first upon the First Banner.
Therefore, whether if he were to acknowledge it or not, Chen Chang Sheng and Orthodox Academy had already established an unbreakable relationship with this elderly personage, hence, all they could now do, is to accept.
Luo Luo’s situation was rather unique, at this rather sensitive time, she couldn’t possibly appear with Mei Li Sha before the crowds outside of Li Palace, this was because she represented the stance of the yao race; in the human race’s struggles and conflicts, she had to be very cautious, to the point where she couldn’t reveal any sort of position.
Chen Chang Sheng looked at her and said, in consolation: “It’s fine, you should return first, we’ll meet again at the academy.”
Luo Luo’s unhappy mood slightly lessened, she held his hand and said: “Then Sir, take care of your injuries.”
Having taken medicine and received a round of treatment, Chen Chang Sheng no longer had to lie upon the stretcher, he was supported by Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po as they followed His Eminence out of the Education Palace.
Luo Luo was currently staying in the Education Palace and thus, didn’t need to leave, she only needed to see them off.
Not long after, one elder and three youths, totalling four people, walked out of the Hall of Clear Virtue.
Taking in everything within sight, all that could be seen was the red tinted skies in the sunset, with the night fast approaching.
They discovered that it was actually already the second day’s evening; the Grand Examination had already continued for two days and one night.
Thinking of this, they couldn’t stop themselves from feeling fatigued; a sudden onset of lethargy.
Outside of Li Palace, it was teeming with people; a stretching dark mass.
The populace that were here to observe the excitement were loath to leave, with a lot of the crowd anxiously grasping onto the gambling slips in their hands, awaiting the final result.
Surrounding the stone pillars, a lot of teachers and Elders from various academies and sects were waiting for the examinees to come out.
The Grand Examination had finally ended and the final results had already been announced.
Those teachers and elders, in addition to being shocked, were in the end, most concerned with the status of their own examinees.
The examinees streamed out of the Hall of Clear Virtue one after the other, following the divine avenue towards the outside of Li Palace to meet their family and teachers; this gave rise to many different situations.
Some examinees yelled out repeatedly, their family crying from surprise and joy
Some examinees had dark expressions, whilst their family constantly consoled them.
Some examinees appeared dazed, with their academy teachers harshly reprimanding them.
With more and more examinees leaving the Education Palace, it gradually became quiet outside of Li Palace.
After leaving the Hall of Clear Virtue, the four disciples of Li Shan Sword Sect directly entered the guesthouse and didn’t appear again, but the crowd still continued to wait for something.
The slanting Sun sank to the West, as if the sunset was naught but a dream. Above the divine avenue, the stone steps towered.
Chen Chang Sheng was supported by Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po, slowly descending the steps.
His Eminence was to the rear, by the side.
Within and without Li Palace, it was silent.
The sunset fell upon the stairs, creating a span of tepid red; a stark contrast from the morning.