817 The Mans Word (1/2)

”Then why didn't you strike when the Headmaster was still alive? Second Brother was right, you were no match for the Headmaster and Youngest Uncle. You're cowards, no better than pathetic dogs.”

Ning Que stared at the Drunkard and said. His words were simple, but the simple words contained three edgy points, each stabbing the Drunkward like a knife, or like painful face-slappings.

The Drunkard's expression remained still, and he said, ”You will realize that honor and shame actually mean nothing if you reach a certain realm someday.”

”Then what else is meaningful?”

”Eternity is the one and only meaning or goal of life.”

The Drunkard looked into the blue sky and said, ”To reach the destination and realize the goal, and to fulfill the meaning of life, we shall pay any price even if we have to bend like a dog. You should thank God that it was me rather than the Butcher that showed up outside Chang'an City today, or no one knows what could happen.”

Ning Que said, ”If you would like to be a dog, you should've been one in West Hill.”

The words were mean but there was still no change of expression on the Drunkard's face. He said peacefully, ”The precondition of eternity is to exist, and the precondition to exist is self-existence, which is what we've been persisting.”

Ning Que realized something after the conversation, so he asked, ”Is that what you've been promised?”

The Drunkard didn't answer. He pointed at the carriage before the city gate, and said, ”Those were things given back to you, and I have a message for you from somebody else.”

Ning Que asked, ”What is it?”

The Drunkard said it with a calm and even dull expression. Obviously, he was reciting the quotation from somebody else without any emotion of his own.

Then he turned away, with his flagon swinging in the spring breeze. It reminded Ning Que of Eldest Brother's wooden dipper on his waist, and even their walking postures looked the same.

Many years ago in the back of the Academy's mountain, while Eldest Brother was walking seemingly slow on the mountain path, Ning Que tried to catch up with him; however, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make it.

Watching the Drunkard leaving, Ning Que looked pale and felt restless, thus he ignored the message the Drunkard had for him.

The war flames kept burning for months. The Empire of Tang and the Academy paid every price to stabilize the situation. The future had turned bright, till the Drunkard and the Butcher came out of their endless years' seclusion.

And suffering from the dramatic change of the world's situation, the bright future turned dim.

The clear sky turned grey, then raindrops started falling, cold and chilly.

Ning Que looked up at the grey sky and fell silent for a long time.

He walked into the black horse carriage and saw a black box in the corner.

The black box looked familiar even if it had been deformed; Ning Que would not be able to forget about it because the box had traveled with him through mountains and rivers, witnessing how he defeated countless enemies.

He reached out to feel the edge of the black box with his fingers. The dirt on the box was dusted away. Then the box was opened, revealing the iron bow and glittering arrows inside. They were waiting for him.

The black carriage stopped by Yanming Lake. Those horses were assigned to pull the carriage temporarily, now they looked exhausted.

Spring rain had washed lots of the dirt on the carriage, yet the talisman in front had yet to be activated.

Liu Yiqing had been waiting at the Academy gate with a sword in his arms. As he heard the carriage wheels rolling on the ground, he stood up slowly.

Ning Que got off the carriage with the black box in his hand, walking towards the yard.

Suddenly Liu Yiqing felt the terrifying killing aura. The white cloth wrapped on his eyes was soaked by spring rain, but his heart was dry and restless. His soul was so shaken that his right hand held the sword more firmly.

Ning Que barely looked at him as he passed by. He ignored the powerhouse and looked extremely peaceful even though this Knowing-Destiny-State powerhouse could pull out his sword at any time.

Liu Yiqing failed to pull out his sword because several cracks appeared on his wrists like drought farmland, and bleeding. Chilly wind with rainwater unwrapped and tore the white cloth on his eyes.

Ning Que walked in the yard by Yanming Lake.