Chapter 439 – Eating, Drinking, Whoring, Gambling; Being Born, Growing Old, Getting Sick, and Dying (1/2)

Chapter 439 - Eating, Drinking, Whoring, Gambling; Being Born, Growing Old, Getting Sick, and Dying

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Zhou Ziheng stood at his original position, still not quite recognizing what had just occurred.

He had originally believed that the Orthodox Academy would act as it had in the preceding days, thinking of ways to delay and then going off to think of ways to confront this challenge—for example, the Orthodox Academy could possibly invite Princess Luoluo to come out of the Li Palace. If that were the case, then his only choices were naturally to concede or avoid the battle. However, the Tianhai clan had prepared a contingency plan for this. If the Orthodox Academy really did have Princess Luoluo appear, then the Tianhai clan would certainly use this as a pretext to stir up even greater winds and waves. But he had never expected Chen Changsheng to actually agree.

After a moment, he was finally able to awake from his stupor. He looked at Chen Changsheng with a grave expression and asked, ”Who will battle for the Orthodox Academy?”

Chen Changsheng replied, ”Me.”

As he said the word 'me', there was no pause and naturally no pretense of thought. It seemed simply to be a matter of course.

Yes, he was the Principal of the Orthodox Academy. When the Orthodox Academy was challenged, it was only right that he face it.

Zhou Ziheng suddenly realized that the current Chen Changsheng, when compared to the Chen Changsheng of the past few days, was somewhat different. But he couldn't quite tell just where he was different.

”Very good.” He looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, ”Since the time has been decided, is any place fine?”

Chen Changsheng answered, ”According to the regulation in the proposal set forth by the two archbishops of the Sacred Halls, since the time was set by the Orthodox Academy, the location is naturally for the Temple Seminary to decide.”

Zhou Ziheng turned his gaze to the dense crowd outside Hundred Flowers Lane and then said emotionlessly, ”Since there are already so many people, we might as well just do it here.”

Chen Changsheng nodded his head to indicate he had no objection. He shifted his gaze to Tang Thirty-Six, who had at some point gone and bought soy milk and youtiao. Shaking his head helplessly, Chen Changsheng asked, ”Is eating and drinking so important?”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, ”Eating and drinking isn't life or death, it's above life and death.”

The gate to the Orthodox Academy closed once more, but this separation was different from that of the last few days. Everyone knew that tomorrow this tightly closed gate would open once more!

The crowd outside the Hundred Flowers Lane was in a continuous uproar, and consequently, the entire capital turned into an uproar.

The Temple Seminary had challenged the Orthodox Academy. This was about to be the first battle held in the All-School Martial Exhibition.

It had nothing to with the far-reaching intention of the Orthodoxy's new rule to help the humans resist the demons. All the people knew that this challenge signified that the Tianhai clan and the new faction within the Orthodoxy were finally beginning to make themselves heard to the Li Palace.

It didn't take long before this news was spread throughout the capital. Many workmen quickly arrived on the scene with all sorts of construction materials, and in a brief moment, a simple awning began to take shape. Soon after, several dozen carriages made their way to Hundred Flowers Lane and from these carriages emerged many people. Some were painters, some were storytellers, and some were merchants. There were also experts that were honored guests of the Four Great Markets.

Yes, these people that had reacted even faster than the aristocracy of the capital were all from the famed Four Great Markets of the capital.

The Four Great Markets were involved in every business: eateries, restaurants, brothels, foodstuffs, luxury goods, textiles. But the business that brought in the most money had always been gambling.

The annual Grand Examination was often the time when the Four Great Markets made the most money. It was out of the question for them to pass on this All-School Martial Exhibition that was naturally meant for betting on. In fact, there were many people that suspected that, for the Li Palace to so swiftly disregard the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education's objections and pass the proposal of the two Sacred Hall archbishops, the masters of the Four Great Markets must have been pushing it behind the scenes.

Of course, although the area outside Hundred Flowers Lane was now bustling beyond compare, the people of the Four Great Markets did not dare to disturb the tranquility of the Orthodox Academy. Business people were still business people.

What occurred soon after somewhat surpassed people's expectations.

A steward of the Heavenly Fragrance Market, completely ignoring the vigilant stares of the Li Palace priests and imperial guards, slowly made his way up to the gate of the Orthodox Academy. Seeing this scene, the crowd was very much puzzled and perplexed. Just what was this steward up to? It must be known that the Heavenly Fragrance Market was the weakest of the Four Great Markets, always ranking last. The sudden emergence of a dark horse in this year's Grand Examination, Chen Changsheng's inconceivable feat of taking first rank of the first banner, had inflicted disastrous losses on the Heavenly Fragrance Market, so much so that there were even rumors that the Heavenly Fragrance Market had changed owners. Just where did this steward's confidence come from?

Something happened which took the crowd even more by surprise. The gate of the Orthodox Academy actually opened and that steward walked inside.

”You're saying…the Heavenly Fragrance Market is your Tang clan's property?”

Chen Changsheng looked at that incomparably reverential steward in front of Tang Thirty-Six and said in shock, ”Why haven't I ever heard about this?”

Tang Thirty-Six said, ”It was only done after the Grand Examination.”

Chen Changsheng replied, ”I heard that the backing of each of the Four Great Markets is extremely deep. It seems that the Pavilion of Divination might even own some. Why would the Heavenly Fragrance Market's previous master be willing to sell!”

Everyone knew that the Wenshui Tangs were the world's wealthiest clan. The problem was that the relationship between the Tianhai clan and the Tang clan was somewhat of a wreck. In the past few years, the Tianhai clan had been incessantly working in the dark to prevent the Tang clan's influence from spreading into the capital. If the Heavenly Fragrance Market really did belong to the Tang clan, then the efforts of the Tianhai clan had all been for nothing. For this reason, he was rather perplexed at how the Tang clan had managed to accomplish this task.

Tang Thirty-Six chuckled, but didn't explain.

Chen Changsheng was somewhat lost in the dark.

The steward gave Chen Changsheng a rather peculiar look. He thought to himself, if the Wenshui Tangs had not placed such a large stake on Sir, how could the Heavenly Fragrance Market have lost so much that it would be forced to sell? Of course, he didn't dare to say this out loud. Turning deferentially towards Tang Thirty-Six, he said, ”Young master, according to the laws of the clan, the money within the market cannot be moved. I could only take Master's own silver currently being stored with us and bet it all.”

Tang Thirty-Six did some mental calculations, then thought to himself, even if I won, it won't be enough to buy Clear Lake Restaurant. Turning to Chen Changsheng and Xuanyuan Po, he said, ”How much money do you guys have? Give it all to me.”