Chapter 234 – In Spring I Sleep, Unaware of the Dawn (1/2)

Chapter 234 - In Spring I Sleep, Unaware of the Dawn

(TN: This title is taken from the first line of the poem “A Spring Morning” by Meng Haoran.)

The youth under the tree was Zhexiu. Chen Changsheng saw his pale face and the blood on the corner of his lips, and asked in confusion, “Why are you here?”

Zhexiu indifferently said, “I am going with you to the Garden of Zhou.”

Chen Changsheng did not think about this outcome. After a moment of silence, he replied, “It can be dangerous.”

Still expressionless, Zhexiu said, “Which is why I’m going with you to the Garden of Zhou.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “Why?”

“Tang Tang has already paid me. So I’m going with you to guarantee your safety.”

“You’re planning on being my bodyguard?” Chen Changsheng asked with a strange tone.

“Yes.” Zhexiu paused, then continued, “Of course, if the Garden of Zhou is too dangerous, I will have to ask for more money afterwards.”

Even up until now, Chen Changsheng was still not used to this wolf youth’s manner of thinking. Spreading his hands helplessly, he said, “But I don’t need a bodyguard.”

Zhexiu glanced at him and said, “Although right now you’re at the upper level of Ethereal Opening, if we e thrown together in the same forest, the one that would come out alive in the end would most definitely be me. If the Grand Examination did not have so many restrictions, not allowing me to be as fierce, even if Gou Hanshi was able to defeat me, he would not be able to kill me. Then in the end, I would have been the one to kill him.”

Hearing these words made Chen Changsheng somewhat uncomfortable, because he knew that those words were true.

The next words Zhexiu said cause Chen Changsheng to make up his mind. “In addition, you still have to treat my illness.”

Chen Changsheng thought about it, then he said, “Then… let’s go together.”

Zhexiu very naturally took Chen Changsheng’s luggage, then he began walking out of the forest.

Chen Changsheng hurried after him and said with concern, “Being a bodyguard is fine, but how can I let you do such menial work?”

Zhexiu showed no expression and paid him no attention.

Chen Changsheng said, “Then I’ll pay you extra.”

Zhexiu stopped his steps, thought it over, and said, “This is a complimentary gift.”

These two did not like talking very much. Amongst their peers, they were considered very uncommunicative.

They walked out of the woods, without exchanging a word along the way.

Jin Yulu and a carriage were waiting for them at the bridge.

The carriage wheels rolled over the hard limestone pavement, clacking along as they went. The new doors of the Orthodoxy Academy were pushed open from the inside. Xuanyuan Po ran out to meet them, his stalwart body was like a small mountain. The ground trembled as he ran, causing the dust in the cracks of the stone steps to fly about.

Chen Changsheng and Zhexiu stepped out of the carriage.

Xuanyuan Po gave a hearty laugh. “Coming out so early. It seems to me that you couldn’t get much out of the monoliths, huh?”

Zhexiu creased his brows and looked at Chen Changsheng.

Somewhat embarrassed, Chen Changsheng explained, “He speaks rather bluntly, but he doesn’t mean any harm.”

“It’s not like I’m Tang Thirty-Six.” Xuan Yuanpo unhappily said, then he took note of Zhexiu’s existence. Surprise, he said, “So it’s you?Don’t tell me that you actually went to the Mausoleum of Books to demand payment? Didn’t I say that there was no need to be in such a rush? When has my Orthodox Academy every failed to pay up?”

Jin Yulu at the side solemnly asked, “When will you be paying me? A gatekeeper also has a family to raise.”

The three youths turned to him, but they said nothing.

Jin Yulu felt a little awkward. “I know, I know, comedy does not suit me. Please continue.”

“Zhexiu did not come to ask for payment.”

Chen Changsheng told Xuan Yuanpo, but he did not know how to explain Zhexiu’s presence. After some thinking, he said, “He came to the Orthodox Academy to take a look around.”

In the world of the demi-humans, Zhexiu’s name was very famous. Now that Xuan Yuanpo knew that Zhexiu did not come to ask for money, he naturally returned to his mindset as a demi-human youth. His face full of admiration, he told Zhexiu, “The old men in my tribe told me that when you were only three, you were able to kill demon snakes?

Zhexiu ignored him.

Xuan Yuanpo followed him into the Orthodox Academy and continued, “I heard that when you were seven, you could kill demons?”

Zhexiu continued to ignored him.

Xuan Yuanpo’s enthusiasm was not dampened. “It looks like you’re not going back to the snowy plains just yet. It would be great if you joined our Orthodox Academy instead.”

Zhexiu stopped.

Chen Changsheng also stopped and looked at Zhexiu.

Zhexiu seemed to think it over, then said to Xuan Yuanpo, “If I stay around a black bear like you, I’m afraid I’ll become an idiot.”