161 The View in the Spring Morning (2/2)

His face turned even darker as he thought about this. He looked at the official beside him and asked hopefully, ”What did the Academy say? This is a win-win situation for us all, I don't think they'd think otherwise?”

The official smiled bitterly, ”Your Highness, the notice is out. They have confirmed that Ning Que will enter the Second floor. I have asked them for the reason, and Professor Huang He said that this was a decision made by the Second floor, they need not tell us why.”

Lee Peiyan stiffened at the reply and the rage boiled within him. He might be the prince of the Tang Empire, but he had no influence on the Second floor. It would not benefit him to get mad and scold anyone. In that moment, he transferred all that rage onto Ning Que.

Eunuch Lin appeared beside him and reminded him, ” Your Highness, according to your lowly servant, you need not worry how to answer to the West-Hill Divine Kingdom. Perhaps ignoring Ning Que might be better.”

...

...

Once he was certain the Prince and court officials have all left the Academy, Ning Que left the room and walked around the lake. He suddenly spotted a chubby figure under the willow tree.

Ning Que walked up and bowed deeply, saying, ”Many thanks.”

Chen Pipi said seriously, ”Since you want to thank me, you should go about it in a more practical manner.”

Ning Que thought about it and replied, ”I will invite you to my place for dinner soon. I'll have Sangsang make you Hot and sour noodle slices soup. Her cooking skills match the stall at Eastern City. I have never told anyone about this.”

Chen Pipi did not reply, but said, ”We will be seniors and juniors from now on.”

Ning Que looked at his round face and while he did not want to, he sighed and bowed once more, saying, ”Senior.”

Chen Pipi smiled. He held out his hands but made no move to stop Ning Que. He looked at Ning Que's head and smiled like a cat that caught the canary and said, ”Junior, there is no need to be so polite.”

Ning Que raised his head, and the two smiled at each other.

They have known each other for an entire year now. A pile of broken firewood who could not cultivate had finally joined the Second floor. No matter Ning Que himself nor Chen Pipi who had witnessed this miracle could express their awe at this.

Chen Pipi said sentimentally, ”Teacher had said once, that there is a type of cicada in the driest land of the West. They stay beneath the ground for 20 to 30 years and awaken when the snow and ice melt and bathe them in it. They dry their wings in the cold breeze, and fly out into the skies then.”

Ning Que smiled and shook his head.”Do you need to say this to me? Unless you'd like for me to flatter you?”

Chen Pipi said, ”I'm not exaggerating. You were once a pile of useless firewood but have sudden ascended the skies. What's even more shocking is that you have the potential to be a Divine Talisman Master and even caught the attention of Master Yan Se of the Southern Gates.

Ning Que had not known what was happening up till then. He had never heard of Master Yan Se, but have heard that he was a great Divine Talisman Master and was the senior to the Master of Nation. What did he see in him?

...

...

Ning Que spotted a familiar skinny figure in a familiar place, by the familiar lake.

He walked up and looked at Sangsang's haggard face. There were pieces of grass and leaves in her slightly yellowing hair. He brushed them off and said gently, ”You've waited for long. You've had it hard.”

Sangsang lifted her small face and looked at him. She said seriously, ”Young Master, you, are the one who have had it hard.”

After experiencing an entire night of pain in both his psyche and physical body and being assaulted by the joy of succeeding, Ning Que fainted on the peak of the mountain. While he had rested, his thoughts were still scrambled.

Sangsang did not tell him that she had hidden beneath the big black umbrella all night alone like a wounded animal. She hid from the wild and cruel gales and was tired, scared and weak.

The two held onto each other and walked away slowly into the sunlight.

...

...

The front of the Academy was quiter than it had been last night. The officials and envoys have left early in the morning. Most of the students of the Academy had stayed behind. They gathered beneath the notice and raised their heads to look at the boy they had deliberately ignored for the past six months. Today, he had scared them speechless by reminding them of his existence in such a cruel method.

The students did not leave after finding out the results of the Second floor entrance test. They might have wanted to see Ning Que subconsciously, to prove that this was not a hallucination. In fact, it might one might say that they're punishing themselves by doing so.

The sun had dipped slightly and swallowed the foot of the hill behind the Academy along with the gentle spring breeze. Everyone's eyes turned towards the two figures, one slightly larger than the other, walking from behind the Academy.

Ning Que's school robes were torn and tattered after rolling around on the mountain for an entire night. He looked exceptionally pathetic with streaks of mud and traces of snacks splattered all over him. Sangsang who was beside him did not look any better for she was covered with dirt. There were still plenty of grass on her hair and shoulders. The big black umbrella she was carrying looked even older and dirtier.

However, to the students of the Academy, the two who were walking slowly towards them were enveloped in the glow of sunlight. They looked extremely clean with the spring breeze dancing around them and looked like a part of the glow and dancing wind.

This, was what they call being glamorous.

...

...

Ning Que stopped before the students and retrieved the handkerchief. He whipped it around to get rid of the remnants of the snack before handing it to Chu Youxian with a smile on his face. His gaze was heated with glee and enthusiasm.

While life had not been difficult for Ning Que, it hadn't been great either since the semester exam six months ago. Other than the meadow and the and the old library, the only person who had stood by him was this friend of his.

Ning Que's best quality was that he would never forget a grudge. However, the only ones he remembered were those that required bloodshed and not sarcasm that barely affected him. He would also always remember those who had done him a good turn. Other than Chan Xiaoshu and Chen Pipi, he would remember the two before him as well.

Ning Que looked at Situ Yilan who was enveloped in sunlight and smiled, ”I rarely disappoint my friends.”