689 Story of the Headmaster II (2/2)
In the dark carriage, a little red bird suddenly appeared.
The bird was moving slowing on the floor. As clumsy as it might appear, it looked quite adorable. However, its feathers, which were vermilion red, seemed to hide an awesome power that would make people shudder.
”Chirp!”
The little Vermillion Bird walked to the Headmaster and made a sound.
The Headmaster petted its head with his finger.
The bird then rubbed its head on the fingertip, seemingly enjoying it.
”Is it what we know as 'the Vermilion Bird'?”
Ning Que had run into too many shocking things so far. He now knew that both Chang'an and the God-stunning Array were made by the Headmaster. Therefore, he wasn't that surprised when seeing the Vermilion Bird appear in the black carriage.
Ning Que then tried to pet the legendary bird, just like how the Headmaster did.
Suddenly the little bird turned to Ning Que and looked him in the eye. It looked quite stern, and its eyes showed caution, resentment, contempt, and scorn.
Ning Que looked back to the days when Sangsang and him were looking at the Vermilion Bird Embossing. Then he remembered he was seriously injured and laid on the embossing. When that came to his mind, he quickly sat on the Big Black Umbrella.
And when the little bird turned to Sangsang, it became quite confused.
The Black Carriage was finally out of the Southern Gate of Chang'an, heading to the Academy.
Ning Que glanced at the view outside the window, and then he stopped looking. This path used to be the one he walked on to the Academy every morning, and he had grown too familiar with it.
He was going to ask the Headmaster about the changes the Academy had witnessed in the past 1,000 years, but then he gave it up when realizing that the question was unnecessary. The Academy had gone through numerous deans, but the Headmaster was the one and only.
”You're the first and the present dean of the Academy. What were you doing during the break? You said you were tired of worldly affairs. Why would you return to power once more?”
”I had been busy for hundreds of years. I was a librarian in the West-Hill Palace, and I was a reader myself. Now that I got the Academy, I had to go around the world and collect books, which, obviously, cost me years and years.”
The Headmaster said. ”And don't forget I've spent many years flying to heaven. It also took me even more years to make the decision. Throughout my journey, I've been looking for the legendary Underworld, the world's edge, delicious dishes, and mostly, looking for people of my kind.”
Ning Que asked, ”Your kind?”
The Headmaster then answered, ”Yes, people like me.”
Ning Que asked, ”Did you succeed?”
The Headmaster answered, ”I've found the Drunkard and the Butcher, from whom I've known more about Haotian as well as the Everlasting Night. Then I asked them to team up with me.”
”And they refused?” Asked Ning Que.
”Yes.” The Headmaster nodded and answered.
”Then what did you do?”
”I fought with them.”
”Who was the winner?” Ning Que then waved his hand, ”Sorry, that was a dumb question.”
The Headmaster sighed, ”Of course they were no competition for me. But it annoyed me even more that they wouldn't listen to me even when they had been defeated.”
”What was your plan exactly?” Asked Ning Que.
The Headmaster looked to Ning Que and said, ”You asked what I've been doing those years, right?”
Ning Que nodded.
The Headmaster then said, ”I've been spending most of the years trying to figure out just one question.”
Ning Que asked, ”What was it?”
The Headmaster then answered, ”How to defeat Haotian.”
Quietness was growing in the black carriage, and it was like the final answer was still echoing. When the Headmaster's voice finally settled, the three could hear the little Vermilion Bird gently stepping on the floor.
The answer didn't come as a surprise because they had already known it and they had even talked about more details. Yet it was, indeed, still breathtaking when it came down to such a simple and short answer.
Ning Que was silent for a long while. Then, he looked up and asked, ”Teacher, have you thought of a way?”
The Headmaster was annoyed and answered, ”Would I still be in this horse carriage if I had already thought of a way?”