Chapter 89 (2/2)

The ink flowed swiftly on paper with such power and spontaneity, fully expressing his greatest ideas. By the time Chen Pipi finished his face brightened up showing utter satisfaction. Since a very young age he had been considered by everyone as an unprecedented genius, but throughout the years he had been studying under the very best, and he could only listen and learn without getting any chance to unleash his inner desire to give someone else a lesson. He couldn't help but praise himself.

”The words might sound vulgar, but the gist is there. I just hope you won't get too obsessed and taken over by my words.”

By the time the ink was dried by the night wind, he proudly stood up and made is way back to the bookshelf, tucking the piece of paper back into the pages of the

Primary exploration on Ocean of Qi and Mountain of Snow

, no longer caring about his bet with his Second Brother on the memorization of basic teaching material.

Just as he was putting the booklet back into the shelf, his plump face showed a little hesitation. Strictly speaking, by helping this poor lad he has seriously breached the rules of the old library. But then again he thought of something else his master once said, and he rolled his tiny eyes, tucked the book into the shelf and left the building without worrying about a thing.

”Rules are bulls.h.i.+t.”

Every morning, Ning Que left Lin 47th Street at dawn and only returned to Chang'an city very late in the night. Even though it was the first day ever for him to walk down the old library, by the time his horse carriage entered through the south gate of Chang'an, it was already well into the night.

Chu Youxian was concerned about his physical condition and waited for him to return together to the city. As the two horse carriages parked in front of the Old Brush Pen Shop one after another, this Eastern City sn.o.b looked out from the carriage window at Ning Que, and full of appreciation he said, ”I can't believe you left aside all grudges and persuaded Xie Chengyun to walk down the old library, I never thought you were such an open-minded, humble, graceful, tolerant, n.o.ble...”

Ning Que turned back with a smile on his face and said, ”even though I don't mind staying here and listening to the string of praises you could come up to compliment me, I must also admit that, persuading Xie III to leave the library wasn't entirely out of concern for his health...I was simply interested in the spot he sat on every day, it was a nicely sunlit spot.”

”You're so peculiar for concealing a good deed with an evil motive just to avoid praise...”

Complained Chu Youxian as he ordered his servant to drive the horse carriage away.

Ning Que smiled as he waved his friend goodbye, and as he walked into the shop and covered his face with the towel pa.s.sed to him by Sansang, he sank his entire body into the armchair, as if all his strength and energy was suddenly taken away from him.

Ever since he started going up the old library, each night as he returned to Lin 47th Street he would enjoy the invigorating effects of a hot towel. Sangsang calculated the timing meticulously and soaked the towel just in time to make sure the temperature was exactly right.

Underneath the steaming white towel, Ning Que said with an exhausted voice, ”I still don't have much of an appet.i.te tonight, please just make a bowl of noodles with fried eggs.”

Sangsang agreed but didn't leave. She stood quietly by the armchair and glared at the steaming towel on Ning Que's face. After a long silence, she finally said, ”young master, you...shouldn't go tomorrow.”

The truth is, even though Ning Que looked fine and seemingly able to chat and joke with his academy mates, only he and Sangsang were aware of the real damage suffered by his body and mind after forcing himself to read at the old library all these days. Everyday as he returned to the city he was in so much pain that he could barely bring himself to utter words, and he vomited so much that he required great will power to even swallow his dinner.

Hearing Sangsang's voice, Ning Que felt as if the white towel on his face turned into a fluffy white forest, alongside the warm and moist sensation covering his mouth and nose. He was quiet for a while and finally forced himself to smile as he said,”I didn't get a chance to take you out before when I had my days off, so...I won't go to the Academy tomorrow. By the way, I b.u.mped into the silly Princess today at the Academy, and she invited you to go play with her. Shall we go tomorrow?”

Sansang removed the lukewarm towel from face, and started ma.s.saging his forehead. Then she timidly replied, ”Her Highness wants to see me? I would like that too.”

With his eyes closed, Ning Que felt how her cold fingers ma.s.saged away his stress and nausea, and he sighed in relief as he said, ”And I shall use this opportunity tomorrow to cross off the second name from the list.”

Sangsang's fingers froze briefly, and looked down at her slightly worn-off shoes. She was obviously not too impressed about this.

<script>