Chapter 389 (1/2)
Chapter 389: A Challenger Came to the Academy
”Did we swap lines just now?”
”We did, we swapped 'come in' and 'go out' with 'beast' and 'worse than beasts'.”
”Would that little handmaiden of yours stop mocking us?”
”It depends on whether she heard it or not.”
”...”
”What kind of person is Third Sister?”
”Are you asking me?”
”Do you think I'm asking heaven and the earth?”
”What do you wish to ask?”
”Third Sister... how did she get into the Academy back then?”
”Back then, I scored six and was invited to the Second floor of the Academy by teacher. Third Sister was already everyone's third sister. How would I know how she had entered the Academy?”
”Could you not always brag about your accomplishments everytime we talk about the Academy's history? I'm already sick of it.”
”But I did score six . Who had managed to achieve that in all these years? I remember that you gave up on two subjects at the academy entry exam and submitted blank papers.”
”Just pretend I didn't ask.”
Ning Que and Chen Pipi sat outside the cliff cave. They mumbled as they chatted over the corn that Sangsang had prepared earlier. Their conversations were just as boring and childish as usual.
Chen Pipi's thoughts were with the little girl from the Devil's Doctrine and he wondered if she could escape from Third Sister's cruelty. He was not in the mood to discuss the Academy's no-boundary spirit with Ning Que at all. He sat at the cliff cave's entrance for a while before standing up and saying seriously, ”I have forgotten something important.”
Ning Que waved his hands in acknowledgment and smiled. ”It doesn't matter whether you need the bathroom urgently, or if the Headmaster is going to give you a test. It doesn't matter what your reason is. Just go.”
Chen Pipi smiled somewhat awkwardly and turned to walk down the cliff platform. He suddenly thought of something, and he pulled out an old book from his s.h.i.+rt and threw it to Ning Que.
Ning Que held the old book in surprise and said, ”Could it be... this is the third book?”
The Headmaster of the Academy had prepared three books for him. He had studied the two of them and knew that he would see the third eventually. However, he did not expect that he would get it so easily.
”No.”
Chen Pipi said, ”The scholar knew that you were imprisoned in the cliff cave. He wanted to visit, but felt that the mountain was too high and getting up was a waste of time he could have spent studying. He asked me to bring you this book as a gift to relieve your boredom.”
Ning Que looked at the book cover and asked confusedly, ”The Tea Bible?”
Chen Pipi nodded. ”The scholar said that tea could clear one's heart. If you have no time or no mood to make tea, you can read the Tea Bible and achieve the same effect.”
”I do not need to drink tea nor read the Tea Bible. My heart is clear.”
Ning Que said, ”Why do you think that I still haven't gotten mad now?”
Chen Pipi laughed awkwardly. He turned and walked away from the cliff platform. After a moment, he stopped once more and wiped the sweat off his face before walking back to the cliff cave. He said helplessly, ”There's something else. Second Brother wanted me to tell you something. I have to say it before I can go.”
Ning Que was slightly startled. He asked, ”What is it?”
Chen Pipi said, ”A Sword Master from the South Jin Kingdom came a few days ago. He issued a challenge to the Academy.”
Ning Que smiled, ”There is indeed someone who is unafraid of death in this world.”
Chen Pipi said, ”The Great Sword Master is young but capable.”
Ning Que was surprised that even Chen Pipi was praising the man from South Jin Kingdom. He asked, ”Could he be another Grand Cultivator in the Knowing Destiny State?”
Chen Pipi shook his head. ”They're not wild gra.s.s by the road. Do you think you can just meet one anywhere?”
Ning Que thought to himself that there were at least five or six powerhouses in the Knowing Destiny State at the back of the mountain of the Academy including Chen Pipi. ” Didn't that mean that they were wild gra.s.s and wildflowers?”
Chen Pipi said, ”The Great Sword Master from South Jin Kingdom had been in the upper Seethrough State for many years. I suppose that he must have seen the threshold of the Knowing Destiny State. He should be of Prince Long Qing's caliber when he first arrived at Chang'an.”
Ning Que felt that this was really odd. Cultivators in the upper Seethrough state were indeed powerful. However, Chen
Chen Pipi had not even blinked when Prince Long Qing entered Chang'an and created a furor. Why did he think so highly of this Great Sword Master from South Jin Kingdom?
The crux of the matter was, the Great Sword Master was only in the upper Seethrough state. Why did he have the guts to issue a challenge to the Academy?
He suddenly thought of a possibility and prodded, ”Did the Great Sword Master from South Jin Kingdom leave after he lost?”
Chen Pipi shook his head and said, ”He did not lose, so he naturally did not leave.”
Ning Que said, ”Even if Second Brother did not fight him, you could have just gotten rid of him. What happened?”
Chen Pipi looked at him and said, ”The Sword Master from South Jin Kingdom specifically said that he wanted to challenge you.”
Ning Que's suspicions were proved correct. He pointed at the bedding and futon at the cliff cave and said, ”I am a prisoner.”