Chapter 435 – What Are We Discussing Together? (2/2)

There were no other important events in life, only birth and death.

These were all things written in the scriptures that people had once said.

Chen Changsheng was well-read in the Daoist Canon and could remember a lot, but it was not necessary. It was enough that he remembered the two words 'life' and 'death'.

To an ordinary person, death was something they would have to face in the later part of their one hundred years.

To cultivators, death was something they would face in the later part of their several hundred years.

To Chen Changsheng, life and death had always been right before his eyes. It was always on his mind, making him keep it in his mind constantly.

In front of life and death, how could he possibly show any interest to those attachments of life? At the very least, before he resolved this problem of his, he would not be too interested in them.

Tang Thirty-Six didn't know of Chen Changsheng's problem, but when he heard the words 'life and death', he for some reason felt like the rain outside the window had brought a sudden chill unbefitting of summer.

Soon after, Chen Changsheng began to think about other things.

He thought about the ill archbishop and the internal disputes of the Orthodoxy, and he also thought about those words that Su Li had once said to him. He said, ”Is this world really so unbearable?”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, ”At the very least, it's not as clean we hope it to be, just like how nobody understands how you could become Principal of the Orthodox Academy.”

Even after he had performed such great merits for the Orthodoxy and the Great Zhou in the Mausoleum of Books and the Garden of Zhou, Chen Changsheng was only sixteen years old. There was absolutely no justification for why he should be the Principal of the Orthodox Academy.

In the view of Tang Thirty-Six as well as many other people that didn't know the inside story, this matter was certainly very fishy. There must have been many exchanges carried out that couldn't see the light of day, or perhaps inside information.

Chen Changsheng did not believe that these matters could not see the light of day. He could at least tell Tang Thirty-Six.

”My teacher is His Holiness's senior brother.”

His gaze looked out the window and rested on the verdant campus of the Orthodox Academy. ”He was the previous Principal of the Orthodox Academy.”

Tang Thirty-Six was in absolute shock. He was even more shocked than when Chen Changsheng had reached the part of his story about Su Li and Xunyang City.

The bloody incident of the Orthodox Academy ten-odd years ago had directly or indirectly changed the entirety of the human world. Even the Longevity Sect and Mount Li in the distant south had been greatly impacted.

The previous Principal of the Orthodox Academy, that was a powerful figure that no one could forget, even though his name had long been struck from the annals of the Orthodoxy and was forbidden from being mentioned in the capital.

”No wonder you're just some Daoist youth from the countryside but are actually able to know the Daoist Canon so well. No wonder why His Holiness let you become the Principal of the Orthodox Academy and seeks to nurture you as his successor…no wonder Zhou Tong would work behind the scenes against the Orthodox Academy.” Tang Thirty-Six gazed at him, mumbling, ”As it turns out, you were that powerful figure's only successor.”

Chen Changsheng corrected him, ”No, I also have a senior.”

When he was leaving Xining Village, his teacher had explained a few things to him, so ever since he had arrived at the capital, he rarely brought up his senior. Until now, he had only acknowledged this to Xu Yourong and Tang Thirty-Six.

Tang Thirty-Six asked, ”You also have a senior? What sort of person is he?”

Chen Changsheng pondered this question and realized that Senior Yu Ren was truly very difficult to describe with words. Perhaps it was because Senior never spoke?

”Senior…is a very extraordinary person.”

”How extraordinary? Could he be more extraordinary than me?”

”Senior is ten thousand times more extraordinary than the past you. Now that you've gotten more diligent, Senior is only one hundred times more extraordinary than you.”

Chen Changsheng looked at him as he spoke. He wasn't intentionally mocking or disparaging Tang Thirty-Six. This was a conclusion he had reached after earnest consideration.

Tang Thirty-Six did not speak for a very long time. Finally, he said, ”It seems that he really is a very extraordinary person.”

Chen Changsheng agreed, ”Yes, he's my idol.”

Tang Thirty-Six suddenly asked, ”Just what does your teacher want to do?”

After a moment of silence, Chen Changsheng replied, ”I don't understand your meaning.”

Tang Thirty-Six looked into his eyes and said, ”You should have a clear understanding of what I mean.”

As Daoist Ji was not merely Daoist Ji, but also the previous Principal of the Orthodox Academy, the leader of the opposition against the Divine Empress, everything he did was worthy of careful consideration.

He was probably keenly aware that Chen Changsheng's origins could not be kept a secret forever. Through Mei Lisha and the Pope's attitude, one could even confirm that he had gotten in touch with the Li Palace before Chen Changsheng had even arrived at the capital. Thus, he should be even more certain that the Divine Empress would, sooner or later, discover Chen Changsheng's origins. This also signified that Chen Changsheng's situation would become extremely difficult, even incredibly dangerous. But he still insisted on sending Chen Changsheng to the capital to take the examination, and he didn't even give him any explanation. Why was this? Just because of that engagement with Xu Yourong?

This was a very important question. It was just that Chen Changsheng had never thought about it, or perhaps, he had intentionally not allowed himself to think about it.

Until Tang Thirty-Six pierced through this window paper.

”Reporting to the Lord. The newest information has been sent over from Hanshan County. There really was a person practicing medicine called Daoist Ji in that area, but by the time the scout cavalry had hurried over, that person had already disappeared.”

”It is Principal Shang, not even the Empress could kill him back then. How could we possibly be able to find him?”

Zhou Tong sat behind the table, not raising his head as he carefully looked over the dozen or so case reports that had been sent over last night.

The subordinate stood in front of the table and said in a low voice, ”According to the reports from Xining Village, we've verified, Daoist Ji…the traitor Shang really does have another disciple.”

Zhou Tong's finger that was just then flipping a page suddenly paused. And then Zhou Tong raised his head.