Chapter 696 – A Great Personage (1/2)

Chapter 696 – A Great Personage

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

The teachers and students of the Orthodox Academy sent Chen Changsheng off with their eyes as he walked towards the gate. The expression in their eyes was very complex, their moods very sorrowful.

The female disciples of South Stream Temple were waiting for him at the gate.

Chen Changsheng indicated that these women did not need to follow him and walked out.

”This is the order of the temple master,” Ye Xiaolian angrily called from behind him.

Chen Changsheng knew that it would be very difficult to convince these girls, so he said to Priest Xin who had come to welcome him outside the academy, ”Please.”

Priest Xin sighed and waved his hands, ordering the priests of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education and the Orthodoxy cavalry to step forward and surround the Orthodox Academy. Naturally, they also blocked the disciples of South Stream Temple within.

Chen Changsheng turned back to the Orthodox Academy and silently bid farewell.

Three and a half years had passed since that spring day.

He did not know when he would next see them, the ivies and people within the Orthodox Academy.

He had written four letters and passed them to Su Moyu, just as Su Li had done, clearly communicating everything he wanted to communicate.

The chill coming from the well of New North Bridge was getting colder and colder. Only two years were needed before the little Black Dragon would be able to escape.

He no longer had any debts with this world, no burdens to shoulder, so he could advance freely.

As he watched Chen Changsheng's back disappear into Hundred Flowers Lane, Priest Xin felt a complex assortment of emotions.

It did not take long for the news that Chen Changsheng had left the Orthodox Academy to spread to the entire capital.

In these past few days of late autumn, Zhou Tong was not often at the Imperial Palace. Instead, he was at the newly renovated offices of the Department for Purging Officials, overseeing matters.

When this news was delivered to the alley of the Northern Military Department, he happened to be sitting in a palace armchair, brand-new yet painstakingly worked on until it looked old, and drinking tea.

The tea he drank was the still the most expensive Great Crimson Gown, and his garb was still that great crimson official's robe that seemed to give off the stench of blood.

His face was very pale, his eyes so apathetic as to seem utterly devoid of human emotion. He looked more like some ferocious ghost.

”Make the preparations to welcome an honored guest.”

He lightly placed his teacup on the table and calmly ordered his subordinates in the courtyard.

The officials received the order and began to hurriedly rush about. The atmosphere both inside and outside Zhou Prison became particularly stern and oppressive.

On a distant street, a man exuding a cold and gloomy Qi akin to iron glanced up at the sky upon hearing this news.

The sky was getting darker and darker not because of the passage of time, but because the clouds were piling thicker and thicker. It was no longer the season of crisp autumn climate. It seemed like it was about to snow.

Not long afterwards, the newest report was quickly sent to the alley of the Northern Military Department: Chen Changsheng had entered the Li Palace.

In the small courtyard, those most loyal and most powerful subordinates turned to that palace armchair, thinking to themselves, could His Excellency have overthought things?

The Imperial Court had arrayed so many forces, would even a person like Chen Changsheng still dare to invade Zhou Prison?

”Going to the Li Palace does not mean that he won't go another place later today.”

Zhou Tong gazed at the red clay teapot in his hands as if it were something dead and indifferently said, ”Let us wait for him to come out.”

……

……

The four seasons did not exist in the deepest part of the Li Palace, and so there was naturally no cold of winter, nor was there any sign that snow was about to fall in that piece of sky cut out by the eaves.

Just like the Green Leaf, which was still brimming with life, tender and green. Its leaves swayed in the falling trickle of clear water, displaying its beautiful stem.

No sign of illness could be seen on the Pope's face, but his wrinkles had deepened and increased in number. He seemed much older.

Just as Mei Lisha did on the autumn day before he died, elder cultivators would in a very brief span of time display their elderliness.