Chapter 130 (2/2)
It dawned upon Ning Que that the student's name was Chang Zhengming, who was from the Yulin Royal Guards, he had been recommended bt the Military Ministry just like himself. He heard from his peers' occasional talks that it was this young man that shot ten successive gold rings, and even defeated an instructor once. He was a rising star in the Academy.
Ning Que thought it had nothing to do with him anyway, and was about to take a detour. Unexpectedly, Chang Zhengming suddenly addressed him in low voice, ”Ning Que, we are all recommended by the military. Are you planning to continue idling away? Submission without a fight is not something a man from the Tang military should do.”
Ning Que came to a halt, turned back and said smilingly, ”Though we were students recommended by the military, we are now here, and no longer military. It is best not to claim ourselves as Tang military. As for submission or idling away, I have nothing to comment since this is just what you think and has nothing to do with me.”
Chang Zhengming frowned, and said, ”If you want to prove yourself, then you ought not to give up opportunities. Should you take lessons in Toxology, I'll give you a chance to challenge me.”
”Is this charity?” Ning Que looked at him, shaking his head and said, ”It seems that you have no idea what I said the other day in the study room. Let me be clear, I am no delicate flower
delicate flower in a greenhouse. There is no need for gentle breeze nor special care to prove my perseverance and capability. While you were with Yulin Royal Guards, I was stationed at the fortress, my merits and chopped heads were all on the military records. I believe other things are not necessary to prove myself.”
Finis.h.i.+ng this, he turned around and left.
Chang Zhengming was far from cheerful as before as he gazed at the retreating figure. Ning Que's absence of semester exams on pretext of sickness made those students from military ministry feel rather shamed. As a tradition, Tang military prided their glory more than anything. Chang Zhengming, therefore, couldn't figure out what was Ning Que thinking about.
Out of the lane to one side of wetland, Ning Que came to notice that there were two female student giggling nearby the lake. One with slender figure laughed absentmindedly, and he could discern some sorrowful and admiring looks in her eyes.
Chu Youxian once told him that the girl's uncle served in the royal court, which meant that no one dared to offend her. As such, he wondered where her blues came from.
Following their eyes across the serene lake, frolicking ducks and soft meadow, Ning Que saw a young man and woman standing shoulder by shoulder. The handsome man and the beautiful woman, were Xie Chengyun and Jin Wucai. The two seemed to be enjoying themselves. A soft waft lifted their billowing clothes slightly, making them almost look like a pair of G.o.d and G.o.ddess. It was a treat for the eyes indeed.
Ning Que watched the admirable couple, the jealous young girl looking from afar, the picturesque lake and students around the lake quietly. He smiled, shook his head, and left. left.
He was growing calmer and more composed these days, deliberately dismissive of exclusion and scorn from his peers. He found himself even taking a liking to this tranquility since something fundamentally changed in his mentality. He was not who he was before.
On the road of cultivation, after all the trials and tribulations, a broader and wider world now presented itself in front him in comparison with one where he used to live. Fondness, hatred and envy, these emotions on the earthy plains havd become plain to him. Being on the path of cultivation, he was confident that he could go far on the path. Those hidden towers, misty mountains and formidable enemies would eventually become the ornamental landscape to his road. Since this is so, why not calm down and carry on?
There was no shortage of beauty, nor the eyes to find beauty. As long as you are level-headed, beauty would come easily. The lake, the couple, the Academy and all these were beautiful in Ning Que's eyes, even Xie Chengyun was. The scenery of the Academy was beautiful despite the fact that he was all but forgotten by the Academy.
Due to the exclusion from peers, Ning Que kept himself busy with reading and cultivating in the old library. He strolled alone through the academy. While this may seem forlorn in others' eyes, he was the only one who knew how great the academy was when you savour it alone, especially the places that only he knew of.
Along the path by the wetlands, there was trail near the old library leading to the mountain. Behind a row of lush old trees, Ning Que found a large carpet of uncharted meadow, in which a forest of unknown trees towered, tall and straight. Most trunks were free of branches, probably due to strong gales. Only a few twigs and branches sat at the top. The hundreds of tall trees stood closely, leaving an impression of countless wooden swords thrusted in the meadow upside down, serried and grand.
Casually walking among these trees, Ning Que sat under one of them and leaned against the trunk. He took out his notes and started reading the first part of A Brief Introduction on Five Clutivation States . Not long ago, he finally managed to avail himself of Eight Strokes Calligraphy of Yong to recombine the books of old library, and learned them all by heart. The note was one of the copies he made for himself through sheer memory.
The woods were quite far from the Academy, separated from the wetland by two stretches of meadow and known to few people. Ning Que, therefore, was not concerned that someone might see what he was reading. He buried himself in the notes and murmured to himself, ”I can now lift paper, move candlelight and silvers with willpower, then does it mean I am in the No Doubts State? If so, why were those students so excited when Xie Chengyun broke into No Doubts State?”
A soothing and soft voice flowed behind him, ”Xie Chengyun was not twenty years old yet, so his entrance into No Doubts State was considerably difficult for him. It was justifiable for them to cheer for him. As for your strange experience, Pipi was a kind-hearted child and willing to help you, so your entrance is a matter of fact.”
Startled, Ning Que recollected himself after recognizing the voice. He stood up swiftly and dusted gra.s.s off clothes, bowing to the female professor standing behind him by the tree. ”So it is you.”
The female professor walked around from the tree. She had a delicate figure and kind countenance, yet an air of maturity and gentleness could be felt. Her appearance and demeanor was not helpful in guessing her age, which gave her a charmingly mysteriuos air.
She looked at the lad and sighed, ”I have been practicing regular script for about twenty years in the old library and you are the only intruder to my seclusion. This Unyielding Sword Woods was my favorite spot in the Academy, and here you are, What a pain in the neck!”
Ning Que looked at the female professor whoes name he still did not know despite having known for half of year. His eyes brightened suddenly.
”Do not presume that every encounter was by chance.”
The female professor smiled and said, ”I will not teach you. If I were to do so some day, you don't need to ask.”
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