アプリをダウンロード
2.78% Way of Choices / Chapter 33: Teacher, Just Accept Me

章 33: Teacher, Just Accept Me

"I know that my actions last night were improper, so I once again apologize to you all, but he really is very important to me. None of you can stop me, nor should you attempt to stop me. Of course, I can guarantee that I won't leave your sight."

After saying this, she walked out of the room. As she did, her maids offered fragrant towels to wash her face and a goblet of water to rinse her mouth. While walking, she said to the clansmen behind her, "Even if you do accompany me, don't accompany me too closely. If you expose my origins and give him a fright, that won't be good."

Behind her, a middle-aged man and a beautiful woman glanced at each other, their faces slightly pale. They were the Guardian and Lady-in-Waiting dispatched by His Majesty to wait on the princess. Now that they were hearing their little princess's words, they could clearly hear the tempo of those folk tales about wealthy young ladies falling in love with destitute young scholars and naturally grew rather concerned.

"Guardian Jin, what do we do now?" the beautiful woman whispered.

The middle-aged man called Guardian Jin had an ashen expression, unsightly to the extreme. "All of you women that personally serve her don't even know what's going on, so how could I know? Guardian Li, if a problem occurs, it will be all your responsibility!"

Luoluo was escorted to the side gate of the Hundred Herb Garden. Then, taking the items that she had her subordinate prepare in advance, she mounted a seemingly ordinary carriage. After waving her small hand at her subordinates, she drove the carriage herself into Hundred Flowers Lane. As for those experts of her clan, they had long since concealed themselves.

This girl's way of doing things could really be described as with the vigor of a thunderbolt and the speed of the wind.

Guardian Li gazed at the gradually fading carriage, raising her sleeve to lightly wipe away the tears in the corner of her eye. She was somewhat anxious, yet also somewhat gratified. She said to Guardian Jin at her side, "Since the little Princess has begun to date, we must notify His Majesty and the Empress as soon as possible."

Guardian Jin's expression turned even nastier. "If we let His Majesty know that the Princess is deeply in love with a human, do you think we will be able to survive?"

Guardian Li noted, "Don't forget, didn't His Majesty also take a human woman as his wife?"

Guardian Jin angrily retorted, "To take a wife and to marry off a daughter, male and female, are these the same things?"

Guardian Li sneered, "If you have the capability, say these words to the Empress."

At these words, Guardian Jin was at a loss for words, his mind also at a loss.

...

...

The Hundred Herb Garden and the Orthodox Academy were only separated by an old wall. Even when taking the long way through Hundred Flowers Lane, the distance was extremely short. The carriage did not need to travel far before it drove into the old academy gate, now clear of ivy, and entered the interior of the academy which was still rather desolate, but now carrying hints of new life.

The Orthodox Academy was peaceful and serene. Deep within the thick woods, the singing of birds could be heard. An exposed corner of a house reflected the sunlight, giving it the appearance of colored glass. The stone lion fountain outside the main hall had been cleaned, the weeds removed. It still seemed somewhat weathered by time, but ultimately, it no longer seemed abandoned.

Luoluo led the carriage along the lake shore. Upon seeing the deep marks left on the grass and the overturned trees by the lake, she thought of that seemingly sudden assassination attempt that had actually been planned by the demons in secret for many years. Her body suddenly felt a little cold.

The Orthodox Academy was abnormally quiet, as if not a single person lay within. In reality, many experts were concealed here. There were experts of her clan and also experts sent by the Imperial Palace. She was very sure that her safety was assured and her mood gradually began to relax.

The door to the library was tightly shut, but that lock was not in place. She knew that someone was inside.

She took in a deep breath, somewhat nervous, and began walking in that direction.

...

...

Chen Changsheng was reading a book, but in reality, his mind was wandering while he read, an extremely rare sight. He was also thinking of the events of last night.

His left hand caressed the sheath of his dagger as he silently recalled those scenes, hoping that it would not affect his studies in the Orthodox Academy. A demon expert had actually infiltrated into the capital for such a long time. Someone would have to take responsibility for this matter.

The girl who the demons had attempted to assassinate assuredly did not have an ordinary status. She should be okay now, right?

As he was thinking about those things, the sound of knocking could be heard from outside the library.

He stood up, walked to the door, and pulled the heavy wooden door open. Then, he saw the girl that he had just been worrying over.

This girl was very small, her eyes very bright, very big. Her eyelashes were very long, her lips very red. She was very beautiful, and when she widened her eyes and fluttered her eyelashes, she was very cute.

He had never interacted with such a cute girl before, so he fell into a momentary daze.

Luoluo widened her eyes and fluttered her eyelashes. Seeing how this youth looked like a silly goose, she became rather shy and also rather pleased, thinking, the methods taught to me by my Imperial Mother really are useful.

"Hello." Chen Changsheng finally awoke from his trance and took one step back.

Luoluo replied, "Hello."

Chen Changsheng seriously asked, "Might I ask, is there something you need?"

Luoluo froze, thinking, we just met last night and so many things happened. Could you possibly not understand what I came here for? For some reason, when she saw Chen Changsheng's serious appearance, she couldn't help but grow more serious herself. Bowing, she said, "Many thanks for saving me last night."

The appearance of this girl so seriously bowing was somewhat clumsy because she really was rarely required to bow to others, especially after she departed her home and came to the capital—but it was precisely because of this so-called serious clumsiness paired with her beautiful face that created an absolute cuteness. At this time, she really was very cute.

Chen Changsheng felt it wasn't good to touch the skin of the opposite sex, and so his attempts to support her and yet not touch her were also rather clumsy as he repeatedly implored, "Don't mention it, don't mention it, it's what I should have done."

This was a very commonly seen conventional greeting, yet Luoluo was not willing to exchange courtesies. Straightening herself, her dark eyes slightly shifting, she asked, "Why is it something that you should have done?"

Chen Changsheng was a little taken aback. After considering the question for a few moments, he sincerely explained, "You're younger than me, and he was a demon. Since we're all humans, it's only a matter of course that I protect you."

Upon hearing "we're all humans", Luoluo chuckled, and then she noticed a certain detail in those words: he had spoken of protecting her, not saving her.

"But in the end, you still saved me."

She looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, "What can I give to repay you?"

Chen Changsheng seriously replied, "For you to come specially to express your thanks is enough."

Luoluo thought this over and then began to chuckle at him. She then turned and walked out of the library.

She had turned without the least sloppiness, left without hesitation.

Chen Changsheng gazed at the girl's petite back, sighing with deep emotion. I said enough and it was enough, said leave and she left. The people of the capital really do act with an imposing manner.

Yet just as he had seated himself back on the floor and prepared to started reading once more…

The girl came back.

She had moved many items from her carriage and then laid them out on the floorboards in front of Chen Changsheng.

...

...

The first object was a Night Pearl.

This was a very large Night Pearl. Although not as large as a washing bowl, it was at least the size of a noodle bowl. Moreover, it was very round, its surface exceptionally smooth without the slightest flaw.

Chen Changsheng gazed vacantly at the Night Pearl rolling around on the floor in front of him.

He hadn't even seen a Night Pearl before, much less one of such size.

He had heard before that the Dew Platform of the Imperial Palace was covered in countless huge Night Pearls, but he was convinced that none of those Night Pearls was as large as this one.

...

...

Chen Changsheng had never seen a Night Pearl and yet had recognized that this seemingly ceramic object was a Night Pearl. This was not because he had read records and descriptions of Night Pearls in his books, but because for each item Luoluo took out, she would earnestly introduce it in a childish voice, with a childish manner.

Luoluo was very generous, but she was definitely not someone who would cast pearls before swine.

"This is the secret manual of the Mount Li Sword Style…whether you're from the Longevity Sect or Holy Maiden Peak, as long as you're someone that uses the sword, you have to learn this sword style. It's just that those southerners are all petty and aren't willing to circulate it outwards. I…my family, for the sake of obtaining this sword manual, truly expended no small amount of effort."

She passed an ancient book into Chen Changsheng's hands, not forgetting to note, "This is the original. The book in Mount Li's Sword Hall is a copy made afterwards."

Chen Changsheng's mind was in a trance. As he gazed at the scroll in his hands, he was sure that he was dreaming.

He was holding the secrets of the Mount Li Sword Style in his hands?

There had never been any news in the continent of the secrets of the Mount Li Sword Style being stolen.

Perhaps it was stolen by this girl's family?

This girl…just what sort of person was she?

...

...

There was a dull thump.

Luoluo placed a heavy box in front of Chen Changsheng as dust was jolted out of the seams in the floorboards.

Opening the box, one could see that it was piled high with golden leaves, but this was not all. She used her small hands to sweep aside those golden leaves like they were actually fallen leaves, revealing the true contents of the box: half a box of extremely rare and precious crystals!

"Right, I'm living in the Hundred Herb Garden, just next door."

Like she was performing a magic trick, Luoluo produced a bamboo basket from behind her and said, "…I also don't know what you require, so I asked them to just randomly pick a bit of each."

Chen Changsheng had already been rendered somewhat numb by the Night Pearl, the sword manual, and the half box of crystals, but upon seeing the bamboo basket full of those rarely-seen medicinal herbs and strange fruits recklessly piled like weeds, he was shocked once more, struck entirely speechless.

Luoluo gazed at him in interest as she thought, could this not be enough?

She thought it over, then her hand reached out to her left lapel and gently pulled, plucking off another button.

She had already pulled off two yesterday. With the pulling off of this button, her left lapel drooped down, revealing her pure white neck.

This dazzling white awoke Chen Changsheng from his stupor. As he quickly turned his head, he asked in shock, "What do you want to do?"

Luoluo offered the button made of rhinoceros horn and said, "Lah…I'm also giving this to you."

"What is this?"

"It's a Thousand Li Button. Have you heard of it before?"

Chen Changsheng took the button as he thought of the records in the library concerning wondrous magical artifacts. With shock, he raised the button in the air to carefully examine it under the sunlight.

After a while, he woke from his daze and hurriedly placed the button back in the girl's hand.

"No reward without merit."

He said very seriously to the girl, "Last night, it was still that general who came and saved the two of us. I really didn't do anything, and even if I did do a few small things, just as I said before, it's enough for you to come specially to thank me. How could I possibly deserve such precious gifts?"

"You've misunderstood. These things aren't in thanks for your saving my life."

Luoluo pointed at those items on the floor and said, "These are gifts to acknowledge you as my teacher."

Chen Changsheng did not quite understand. "What?"

"Gifts to acknowledge you as my teacher."

Luoluo looked into his eyes, her expression abnormally resolute. "Teacher, I want to acknowledge you as my master and follow you in cultivation."

...

...

The library was silent.

A refreshing breeze blew in from the window.

The Night Pearl slowly rolled across the pitch-black floor.

The ancient manual on the Mount Li Sword Style gently opened its pages, revealing several dozen images of people wielding swords.

The herbs in the bamboo basket exuded a faint aroma.

Chen Changsheng needed a very long time to finally understand what had happened.

He gazed at the girl and asked in confusion, "Why?"

Luoluo replied, "Six days ago, on that night, wasn't it Teacher that lit up your Fated Star?"

Chen Changsheng thought it over, then said, "Yes…but, look, I just lit up my Fated Star and haven't even succeeded at Purification. Last night, I saw you fighting with that demon. You're much stronger than me, so how can I possibly be your teacher?"

Luoluo replied, "Last night, wasn't I only able to wound that demon because of Teacher's instructions?"

Chen Changsheng replied, "First of all, can you not call me Teacher?"

Luoluo sweetly smiled and said, "Very well, Teacher."

Chen Changsheng felt very helpless. He raised up his two hands to explain, "That was just luck."

Luoluo was still sweetly smiling. "But for Teacher to know the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong, to know the Yeshi Step, those can't be luck."

Chen Changsheng thought about this, then replied, "I just…have read more books than other people."

Luoluo opened her eyes wide and seriously replied, "Then the method for circulating true essence? I've already memorized the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong, but I just don't know how to use true essence to control the sword. Not even the professors of the Heavenly Dao Academy and Star Seizer Academy knew the answer to this question, but Teacher…you could reveal it with a single remark."

Chen Changsheng fell silent. He really wanted to explain this as luck as well. It was just that he had developed several hypothetical experiments, almost guesses, on how to use true essence when the meridians were blocked. Last night, when the situation had been at its most desperate, he was forced to yell it out to try, but he had not expected for the girl to really succeed.

But last night's success did not mean that the success would continue.

And he couldn't explain the problems of his body to this girl.

Of course, he was even less capable of accepting this girl as his student.

Although the Night Pearl was very beautiful, the sword manual very attractive, and those medicinal herbs very good.

He stood up and prepared to leave the library, but realized that he…couldn't move his feet.

Because his feet were being held by a person.

Luoluo was sitting on the floor, her body leaning forward as her two hands tightly grasped his thigh.

Her small face was pressed tightly up against his thigh.

She looked like a cute and unwilling girl who had been abandoned by a heartless man.

Yet her heart was brimming with joy.

She silently thought: Yes, it's exactly this scent!

"Teacher, just accept me."

She raised her head and opened wide her bright and intelligent eyes. She looked at Chen Changsheng and said pitifully, "Whatever you want, I can promise it to you."


next chapter

章 34: Acknowledging a Teacher (I)

The Orthodox Academy and the Hundred Herb Garden were separated by only a single old wall. The wall was crawling with ivy and its base was overgrown with moss.

Guardian Jin and Guardian Li were on ladders, mounting the wall and eavesdropping on the activity in the distant library. The two possessed lofty cultivations and their little princess was not deliberately concealing anything from them, so they could clearly see what was going on in that place. When they saw what their little princess did, they instantly fell off the wall and crashed to the ground.

The sound of something heavy falling came from the distant academy wall, but it had no effect on the library. In the quiet and tranquil building, on its pitch-black and shining floors, a static picture seemed to be preserved. In this scene, Luoluo was tightly hugging onto Chen Changsheng's thigh while Chen Changsheng was like a sculpture, not daring to budge an inch.

"Release me, release me first."

Chen Changsheng was very nervous, such that even his voice was somewhat trembling. Although this girl didn't seem more than ten years old, she was still a girl. To have her petite hands tightly gripping his thigh was already an extremely awkward matter, so he didn't dare move and could only incessantly call out.

"The moment I release, Teacher will just run away," Luoluo very seriously replied.

Helpless, Chen Changsheng quickly promised, "Relax, I absolutely won't run away. First release me, and then we can talk after that."

Luoluo appeared very obedient, faithfully believing his words. Her two hands loosened their grip and then pointed at the floor, indicating that he should sit.

Chen Changsheng thought of how agilely this girl had moved and confirmed that he would be unable to escape her petite hands. After sighing in his heart, he sat down.

Seeing that he really wasn't planning another escape, Luoluo became very happy.

The library was very quiet. Chen Changsheng didn't know what to say and felt the situation rather embarrassing. However, it was very obvious that Luoluo did not feel this way.

She sat in front of him, her hand propping up her chin as she attentively stared at him, a smile on her face.

The two were so close that Chen Changsheng could see his own face in her shining black pupils, could sense the happiness in her heart—this extremely pure happiness seemed somewhat infectious for some reason, and he also felt a sort of happiness bubble forth from the depths of his heart.

But just because he felt happiness, or perhaps fondness, did not mean he would agree to her request, because no matter how he looked at it, this was an utterly unreasonable matter. He seriously explained, "I really am an ordinary person. You also said before, I've just fixed my Fated Star. I haven't even succeeded in Purification. You're already stronger than me, so how can you acknowledge me as your teacher?"

Luoluo was still propping up her chin while staring at him, as if she found him rather handsome, as if she wouldn't get enough no matter how long she looked. "Teacher, if you're just a normal person, how could you have done those things? Moreover, you're a good person."

Chen Changsheng didn't understand what those things the two had discussed had to do with being a good person, so he asked, "And then?"

"Last night, before I fell unconscious, I saw Teacher holding his sword in front of me as the sky fell, so Teacher is a good person."

Another meaning suddenly appeared in Luoluo's smile as she said, "But in fact, that wasn't the final scene that I saw. The final scene that I saw was a sky full of stars, real stars, and at that time...Heaven Defending Divine General Xue Xingchuan had not arrived."

Only then did Chen Changsheng realize that she had seen. He somewhat helplessly asked, "And so what?"

"Teacher, your sword can break through the Heavenly Net, so it's naturally no ordinary sword. Then you are naturally no ordinary person."

Luoluo's gaze moved down to that seemingly very ordinary dagger at his waist.

Chen Changsheng gazed out the window to get a feel for the time of day, then suddenly exclaimed in shock, "Ah!"

Luoluo followed his gaze out the window, somewhat uncertain. What's wrong? she thought.

"It's no longer early."

Chen Changsheng pointed out the window and said, "I have to eat first. Why don't we talk more afterwards?"

Luoluo's cheeks slightly swelled like a steamed bun, very cute. It was also like a little tiger, also very cute.

She was preparing to pounce.

Chen Changsheng's voice slightly changed as he shouted, "Don't grab me!"

Although they had only interacted with each other for an extremely short time, Luoluo already had a rough estimation of his personality and knew that pressing him too hard would not be good. Somewhat reluctantly, she put down her hands. As she watched Chen Changsheng noiselessly walk to the door of the library, she said, "Teacher, just accept me."

On the floor, her dress spread out like a flower and she sat in the middle of it, pathetic and cute to the extreme.

Chen Changsheng did not dare to turn his head, or else his heart would certainly go soft. Waving his hands, he ran like he was escaping.

...

...

After eating a bowl of vegetables in rice soup in Hundred Flowers Lane and strolling about the capital for half a day, he guessed that the strange girl should have left. Only then did he return to the Orthodox Academy. Upon walking into the library and glancing around, he saw that there really was no one around and finally relaxed.

As the sky gradually darkened and he thought about how he had shamefully wasted so much time, he completed his preparations as fast as possible and began to meditate, intending to draw in starlight for Purification. Yet before he had time to close his eyes, he saw the swaying of a dress in the starlight as the girl walked in.

Chen Changsheng helplessly said, "I've already said that it's not possible."

Luoluo acted like she hadn't heard him speak. Minding her own business, she said, "Teacher, I moved those items into your bedroom. Only one of those houses had a stove, so that should be the one that Teacher lives in? I put the herbs in the attic to dry, but the rest of them I placed under your bed."

Chen Changsheng had noticed that the Night Pearl, sword manual, and those other items had all vanished. He had originally thought that the girl had taken them away, but he not imagined that she would actually help him store them away in his house and was utterly clueless as to how to respond.

"I want to cultivate."

He felt very helpless, and he truly did not feel like wasting more time and missing out on a night of drawing in starlight for Purification. He could only treat the girl like she didn't exist and tightly closed his eyes.

Suddenly, he smelled an extremely dull fragrance coming from his right side.

He opened his eyes in surprise and saw that the girl had already seated herself by his side, her small face not even a foot from him. Even closer and they would be touching.

He helplessly asked, "Just what do you want to do?"

Luoluo's eyes instantly brightened. "Teacher, I want to acknowledge you as my teacher."

Chen Changsheng had no words, so he could only give up, close his eyes, and begin to meditate.

It was easy to see that he had grown up with only the Daoist scriptures and boredom as his companions. Under the close gaze of a girl, he was actually able to enter meditation.

As the sky brightened, the crowing of a rooster resounded through homes and into the Orthodox Academy.

Chen Changsheng opened his eyes and slowly awoke. He suddenly felt that his right arm was somewhat heavy and rather ached.

He turned his head and was given a fright, and then he sighed.

The girl was hugging his arm, her head resting on his shoulder, soundly asleep. It looked like she had been sleeping the entire night.

Chen Changsheng lightly pushed her awake, saying, "Go home."

"Don't want to," she said rather aggrievedly as she rubbed her eyes.

Chen Changsheng sighed, asking, "Why do you have to act this way?"

"Last night when Teacher was drawing in starlight for Purification, I hugged Teacher and smelled for a very long time...I confirmed it, that smell is the smell from your body. That smell is really nice. I was very comfortable by Teacher's side, like I had eaten a fruit of longevity."

Luoluo thought of last night and her eyes grew even brighter, just like the Great White Star that not even the morning light could conceal. Then she began to chuckle embarrassedly and continued to speak, "I've never eaten a fruit of longevity, but I've heard Mother talk about it before."

Chen Changsheng was once more speechless, thinking, because I smell good, you want to become my student? Just because you want to smell that scent every day?

"My cultivation has encountered a very troublesome obstacle that no one can solve, not even the professors of the Heavenly Dao Academy and Star Seizer Academy, yet Teacher could resolve it...the method of circulating true essence for the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong. I can only use Teacher's eight words from that night. This is proof."

Luoluo seriously declared, "So, I must acknowledge you as my teacher."

The method for circulating true essence for the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong concerned the secrets of Chen Changsheng's body. Of course, this was not at all the primary reason behind his rejection of this girl. "I'm not qualified to teach you, nor do I have the time to teach you. I have to study, I have to cultivate, I have many important things that I need to do."

Luoluo had watched him for an entire day, so she naturally knew that he cherished his time, even somewhat excessively. She asked, "Teacher, why are you in such a hurry?"

Yes, to value time so much seemed to reflect some anxiety.

Chen Changsheng saw the vivid concern in the girl's eyes and suddenly felt a little warm. He had always displayed a very calm exterior, but very few people were able to see that anxiety and unease hid behind this calm. For some reason, he suddenly wanted to talk.

"I want to participate in the Grand Examination, and also...I have to take first rank of the first banner," he explained very seriously to her.

The early morning was when the library was most quiet. There was no chirping of cicadas or singing of birds, and even the frogs and insects were asleep.

After a very long time, there were no jeers nor a reply of shock.

Even Tang Thirty-Six's emotions changed somewhat when he heard of Chen Changsheng's goal.

But Luoluo's expression did not change in the slightest. She earnestly gazed at Chen Changsheng, waiting for his next words.

Chen Changsheng asked, "You...you don't feel that this goal is too laughable? At least...a little shocking?"

"Laughable? Shocking? Why?"

Luoluo heard his question and was, on the contrary, rather puzzled. "If Teacher participates in the Grand Examination, of course you should obtain first rank of the first banner."

The library fell silent once more. From the distance came the faint song of a bird, but this only magnified the silence.

Chen Changsheng was at a loss.

Her tone of voice made him feel that if he were to participate in the Grand Examination and not get first rank of the first banner, that would truly be the odd outcome.

He had never eaten a legendary fruit of longevity, but he thought that even if he ate several hundred fruits of longevity, they would not make him as happy as those words.

"But why must Teacher participate in the Grand Examination?"

Luoluo had no idea how much comfort her response had brought to Chen Changsheng as she asked in curiosity, "Do you want to see the Mausoleum of Books? I can take Teacher in to see."

Chen Changsheng did not pay attention to the latter half of her words.

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed in the direction of the nearby Imperial Palace, in the direction of the Lingyan Pavilion.

Those who attained a place on the three banners of the Grand Examination could enter the Mausoleum of Books to view the monoliths and comprehend the Dao. This was something he wanted.

But only the Grand Examination's first rank of the first banner had the opportunity to enter the Lingyan Pavilion for one night of contemplation.

This was what was truly important to him.


Load failed, please RETRY

ギフト

ギフト -- 贈り物 が届きました

    バッチアンロック

    目次

    表示オプション

    バックグラウンド

    フォント

    大きさ

    章のコメント

    レビューを書く 読み取りステータス: C33
    投稿に失敗します。もう一度やり直してください
    • 翻訳品質
    • アップデートの安定性
    • ストーリー展開
    • キャラクターデザイン
    • 世界の背景

    合計スコア 0.0

    レビューが正常に投稿されました! レビューをもっと読む
    パワーストーンで投票する
    Rank 200+ パワーランキング
    Stone 0 推薦チケット
    不適切なコンテンツを報告する
    error ヒント

    不正使用を報告

    段落のコメント

    ログイン

    tip 段落コメント

    段落コメント機能がWebに登場!任意の段落の上にマウスを移動し、アイコンをクリックしてコメントを追加します。

    また、[設定]でいつでもオフ/オンにすることができます。

    手に入れました