Chapter 440 – Be Optimistic About That Plum Blossom For Many Years (1/2)

Chapter 440 - Be Optimistic About That Plum Blossom For Many Years

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

Priest Xin suddenly realized that the plum blossoms filling the room were exuding a chilly air, even though most plum blossoms loved the cold. In order to drive away this chill, he barely managed to muster a smile and continue narrating the excitement surrounding the Orthodox Academy. He particularly took care to describe how after Chen Changsheng had received the challenge for the Orthodox Academy, the Four Great Markets had reacted quickly and erected an awning at the entrance to Hundred Flowers Lane. Moreover, the Four Great Markets were at this very moment collecting silver for betting stakes.

”It seems that there aren't as many people betting as during the Grand Examination.” Mei Lisha smiled as he spoke.

Priest Xin didn't understand. Even though this battle between Zhou Ziheng and Chen Changsheng had naturally attracted the gazes of many, just how could it be discussed on the same level as the Grand Examination? In the next moment, he finally remembered something. During the Grand Examination, when nobody else was optimistic about Chen Changsheng, he had bet all his property on Chen Changsheng—because the archbishop was optimistic about Chen Changsheng.

”I understand.” He smiled at the archbishop and said, ”In a while, I'll have someone help me put down a bet.”

All of the Li Palace knew that after setting the Orthodox Academy on the road to recovery, Priest Xin had become Archbishop Mei Lisha's trusted aide. His attitude was the archbishop's attitude. In this year's Grand Examination, when Priest Xin bet all his property on Chen Changsheng, every priest of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education, out of fear of being seen as unsupportive of Chen Changsheng, also bet huge sums of money on Chen Changsheng.

This was an enormous amount of silver.

The Heavenly Fragrance Market's final loss had been so miserable because, apart from the unyielding and callous assault of the Wenshui Tangs, it had to pay out the winnings for all these Li Palace priests.

Hearing Priest Xin's words, Mei Lisha began to laugh, and then he began to cough. The room resonated with the painful sounds of coughing. After a long time, they stopped. After tiredly gasping for breath, Mei Lisha gazed outside the window at the day and sorrowfully said, ”I had originally wanted to see just how much Chen Changsheng had progressed. Sadly, it seems that I won't be able to see it.”

For Chen Changsheng, tomorrow was the first time after the Grand Examination that he would formally display his power and cultivation. Viewing the monoliths in the Mausoleum of Books, holding up the sky in the Grand Examination, carrying Su Li on his back and escaping from the snowy plains of the land of the demons, returning south...all the things he had learned and comprehended over these days would be displayed tomorrow.

He was about to give a full report and exhibition of the gains he had made to those people that were concerned about him.

Tomorrow would be a brand new day for him.

However, to Mei Lisha, there would be no tomorrow.

Priest Xin suddenly felt his legs grow soft. With great difficulty, he drew closer and gazed at the calm expression on the archbishop's face, but his nerves prevented him from saying anything. The entire Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education quickly became immersed in a nervous atmosphere and a piece of news was sent to every corner of the capital.

The bloodstains from the past year had long since vanished from the plaza of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education, but that row of maple trees were as red as blood, as if the harsh and somber autumn had come early. As it turned out, it was the coming of twilight.

Whichever interpretation it was, in the end, they were both ominous, evoking melancholy in others.

Since the autumn had already come, could the deathly stillness of winter be far away?

With the coming of twilight, wasn't the night right before the eyes?

As the night descended and the lanterns were being lit, Chen Changsheng quickly made his way over to the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education. Ignoring the salutations of the priests, he directly proceeded to that room in the very back.

The room was still filled with plum blossoms, but many of the plum blossoms were no longer so flourishing. Signs of wilting could already be seen.

”I am going to die.” Mei Lisha gazed at him, his voice so gentle that it seemed like he was afraid of scaring a small child.

Chen Changsheng had pondered over life and death countless times and had many times believed that he could already see past it, like that time when he was facing the Black Dragon, or that time in the Garden of Zhou. He even believed that he struck up some of the real meanings of life, like how those who said they were the most afraid of death would often be the people least afraid of death, or like how there were many times in life where only by not being afraid of death could one evade death, that only by putting one's life on the line could one continue to live.

But now as he stared at the elderly archbishop, he suddenly realized that those thoughts of his were still not complete, because he had never thought, if one had no enemies, or if one's enemy was time, then how could one battle against it? When death comes, how could one maintain their calm? He did not know, so he did not know what to say at this time.

Mei Lisha looked at him and chuckled. Not continuing on this topic, he asked, ”What do you believe your chances of success to be tomorrow?”

Perhaps because death was on the verge of arrival and time was too short, the archbishop today spoke very straightforwardly.

Chen Changsheng was also very straightforward. Without the slightest hesitation, he said, ”One hundred percent.”

Mei Lisha thought that he was just soothing him. Laughing, he said, ”I believe that you've actually thought about it many times, why I've been so good to you.”