Chapter 161 (1/2)

Yan Se was so mad that his entire body was trembling with rage. However, he had not had the chance to react before he heard another voice.

”Oh, I was wrong. Both you and Li Qingshan do dare to complain. Only children who complain will get milk to drink. Your trouble now is that you don't know which side of the breast to drink from.”

Yan Se was startled by his words. He did not know whether to laugh or cry and angrily said, ”Why must you be so cra.s.s?”

Second Brother turned around and looked at him calmly. ”Both s.h.i.+t and pee are natural. As long as the reasoning is sound, why you care about the vocabulary used?”

Yan Se nodded frantically and looked uprighteous for a moment, and not like someone who was uneducated. He sighed and said, ”Jun Mo, oh Jun Mo, how do you want people to view you? I really don't understand how someone as proud as you are could live for so many years.”

Second Brother smiled slightly and placed his hands behind his back and stood behind the cliff, looking at the curling clouds. He replied, ”I rarely leave the mountain and I don't annoy those I cannot afford to, not that there are many. The rare few who can annoy me dare not ascend the mountain to do so. This is why I can live as I am. As for you, you will never be someone I cannot afford to annoy unless you outlive me for a couple of decades. No matter abilities, state or seniority, which one can you surpa.s.s me in? That is why I can be prideful in front of you.”

”Don't you understand what it means to be respectful of the elderly and the wise?” Yan Se rubbed his sleeves angrily.

”If someone who has managed to live for a long time deserves respect, wouldn't I have bashed my forehead in kowtowing to everyone as a child? There is logic behind being respectful to the elderly and wise, but you, Yan Se, which part of you is wise?”

Second Brother looked at the Divine Talisman Master's wizened face with some scorn and exasperation. He coldly said, ”If you were not so stupid to swear your entrance into the path of calligraphy using the Chunyang oath, would you be stuck in the Knowing Destiny state and be unable to move forward?”

The words along with Second Brother's pitying tone pierced directly Master Yan Se's heart. He waved his sleeves around crazily and shouted, ”I may not have been able to move forward, but it's not like you did either!”

Second Brother raised his head to look at the heavens. He said, ”You are old and your body is weak. You don't have many more years to go. Unlike you, I have felt and know that I may still have a chance. I will definitely be able to move forward.”

Yan Se paused. He thought of something and then, smiled sinisterly. ”Rumor is that Liu Bai from the South Jin Kingdom made the first step forward and had managed to enter the turbid waves of the Huang River. When will you ever make it to the clouds?”

Second Brother's expression changed upon hearing Liu Bai's name. He did not raise his guard though, but said excitedly, ”He was a genius and was also a disciple of the Headmaster of the Academy. If he didn't make that step, wouldn't he be ashamed of himself?”

Yan Se was speechless. There really was nothing he could do if even Liu Bai, the strongest cultivator in the world, could not make a dent in his pride and confidence. There was a silent pause before he asked, ”What about... Ye Su?”

Second Brother's brows furrowed and a look of hate spread on his face. They were talking about Yan Se, but how dare he compare himself to someone who was as useless as a pile of firewood. How ludicrous.

Yan Se took a deep breath and thought to himself, ”Are you not going to care about the World Wayfarer now?”

He continued aloud, ”What do you think of the other two? How are their chances?”

Second Brother looked at the Divine Talisman Master and felt that his questions were getting stupider and refused to answer. He replied, ”Stop talking nonsense. Are you more interested in finding a successor or does the Southern Gates need another Divine Talisman Master?”

Master Yan Se asked bewilderedly, ”What is the difference?”

Second Brother remained silent, waiting for Yan Se to think for himself.

Yan Se suddenly comprehended the hidden meaning in his words, and did not hesitate to say, ”Of course we want both!”

Second Brother tilted his head and looked at him. After a pregnant pause, he said, ”You really think so, don't you?”

Yan Se asked with knitted brows, ”What do you mean?”

Second Brother shook his head and lamented, ”You really think so, don't you, dream on.”

Yan Se was speechless.

Second Brother looked at him and said, ”I've already taken a step back. If you insist on taking two steps forward, we might just as well fall off the cliff together. We can see who survives then. If I do, I will let it go, if I die, you can do what you like. I think my solution is pretty simple, what do you think?”

Yan Se could not be bothered, he said, ”I am a man of the Talisman Taoism. If you don't allow me to prepare, I will, of course, be flattened when I fall. You'll survive when you release the magic on the mountain. How could you come up with such a cruel solution.”

”The choice is simple. Why do you hesitate for so long?” Second Brother waved his hand and said, ”From what I see, having a successor is more important. When you die, there will be no one to send you off on your deathbed. Wouldn't it be a pity to turn into ashes after a lifetime devoted to the Talisman Taoism? As for the Southern Gates of Haotian, they won't need a Divine Talisman Master as long as the Tang Empire doesn't fall and the priests of West-Hill do not preach within our lands.”

He continued, ”I can decide on behalf of the Academy. As long as you do not pressure Ning Que to enter Hoatian Taoism when he enters the Second floor, you may teach him your rubbish talisman.”

Yan Se said angrily, ”They are Divine Talismans, not rubbish talismans! Jun Mo, don't you dare be so high and mighty. I can just let it go if the Headmaster says so, but you are just a student of the Academy, how dare you...”

He did not even manage to finish his rant when Second Brother glared at him and waved for him to stop. He said, ”Just tell me if you want it or not. If you weren't the first to realize Ning Que's potential, we wouldn't even give you this opportunity. Do you really think the Academy cannot find any other Divine Talisman Masters?”

The conclusion of all debates ended not on one's ability to talk, but their true capabilities. With a simple statement, the Academy's capabilities were displayed and Yan Se withered like a leaf in autumn.

Yan Se finally made a decision after a lengthy struggle. He looked down at the clouds beneath the cliff and the distant City of Chang'an and sighed in his heart, ”I've let you down, junior.”

In a certain room within the Academy, Prince Lee Peiyan was working on a certain somebody's education. No matter which teachings of great sages he used, Ning Que would only give one standard reply.

Ning Que looked at Lee Peiyan and smiled earnestly. ” I am a student of the Academy, I obey the instructions of the Academy.”

The smile on Lee Peiyan's face gradually disappeared. He looked at Ning Que coldly and said blandly, ”Very well.”