Chapter 448 – I Came To Pick Somebody Up (1/2)

Chapter 448 - I Came To Pick Somebody Up

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

A deathly stillness hung over the small courtyard.

Chen Changsheng had met Zhou Tong before, and not only once.

However, this was his first real meeting with Zhou Tong.

His first meeting with the real Zhou Tong.

He gazed at Zhou Tong's pale cheeks, his lips that were as thin as knives, his official's gown that was crimson as blood, and he sensed an unimaginably frightening Qi. He felt like the scent of blood was growingly increasingly thick, as if it was real.

Finally, his gaze fell upon Zhou Tong's hands.

Those two hands were very slender, the fingernails trimmed flawlessly. They weren’t dirty in the slightest, much less stained with blood.

But he knew that these two hands had slaughtered countless members of the Chen Imperial clan as well as many of their loyal officials. And just who knew how many eyes he had plucked and hearts he had dug out from still-living bodies?

Chen Changsheng felt like his heart was beating ever faster, and then an idea suddenly occurred to him: Zhou Tong's hands were very suitable for holding a sword.

Consequently, he replied, ”Senior Su Li taught me the sword on the road.”

Swords were used to kill people. Words that were like swords were meant to break the influence of one's opponent.

Chen Changsheng did not understand this concept, but he had very naturally been able to form a response.

Those things Su Li had taught him on their journey south had always remained with him and were endlessly showing their use.

Tang Thirty-Six and Xuanyuan Po awoke from their trances and revealed wary expressions.

Zhou Tong smiled in silence.

The remaining blossoms on the crabapple tree drifted to the ground. Some of the petals fell onto Chen Changsheng's shoulder.

The sinister pressure pervading the small courtyard instantly vanished, and that intense stench of blood also disappeared. Only the faint scent of flowers was left behind.

No one said anything.

After a moment, Zhou Tong looked at Chen Changsheng and said, ”To not greet this official is to be rude.”

There was a period of silence as Chen Changsheng thought of how to respond to this. Suddenly, the silent Tang Thirty-Six opened his mouth and asked, ”What is your identity, what is your status?”

As he asked this question, he stared into Zhou Tong's eyes, stared into them like he was staring at a dangerously venomous snake.

Zhou Tong narrowed his eyes. He had not imagined that this young master of the Tang clan would have the courage to question, nor that he would be…so rude.

Without waiting for an answer, Tang Thirty-Six continued, ”Chen Changsheng is the Principal of the Orthodox Academy. In terms of identity, in the Orthodoxy, he is only below His Holiness. And Your Excellency is only the supervisor of the office of the Department for Purging Officials. Even if the Divine Empress was even more gracious and kind and bestowed upon Your Excellency the title of Duke of the Third Rank, just how could Your Excellency be discussed on equal terms with my principal? In terms of greetings, it should naturally be Your Excellency that comes first.”

Zhou Tong gazed at Tang Thirty-Six and revealed a false smile. ”Even your father would not dare speak like this to me.”

Tang Thirty-Six answered, ”So my grandfather said, my father is inferior to me.”

Zhou Tong replied, ”If this is the case, then should it really be me that offers greetings first?”

Tang Thirty-Six's expression did not change. There was no contempt, no pride, no gloating, only extreme calm and focus as he replied, ”Of course.”

Zhou Tong's eyebrows perked up as he replied, ”If this is the case, it should be you first.”

Tang Thirty-Six answered, ”I and Xuanyuan are students, just accompanying.”

Zhou Tong asked, ”Who are you accompanying?”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, ”We are accompanying the Principal.”

”I am the Principal.” Chen Changsheng finally caught up to the tempo between these two. He very formally introduced himself: ”I am the Principal of the Orthodox Academy, Chen Changsheng.”

Zhou Tong said nothing for a very long time, and then he gently tidied his official robe.