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0.59% Way of Choices / Chapter 7: Joy Upon Opening the Book

บท 7: Joy Upon Opening the Book

Chen Changsheng stopped and turned his head back at the teacher. He was somewhat puzzled, but when he remembered those previous scenes, he understood why the teacher was angry—those examinees that failed Purification, upon reaching this point, would retreat in disappointment. That teacher had thought that his response would be the same, but he had continued forward. Presumably, this had made the teacher somewhat unhappy.

He wasn't willing to waste time on meaningless arguments and misunderstanding. He sincerely bowed to the teacher who was just getting up and straightforwardly explained, "Teacher, I am not looking to make trouble."

The teacher had just been prepared to scold him and ask him just what he intended by making trouble in this dignified examination. When he suddenly heard these words that had come before he could say anything, he couldn't but be a little dazed and he choked somewhat on his words. He coughed twice, then shouted, "Then why aren't you quickly getting out!"

Those youths that were behind Chen Changsheng in line to take the test were already somewhat anxious and impatient. Seeing that he was unwilling to leave, they thought he was acting in a very shameless manner. They were very angry and added their own scolding to the teacher's shouts. There were also people that mocked him by saying that he had gone crazy from failure.

The ridicule and laughter fell upon Chen Changsheng's ear, but his expression did not change. He seemed nothing like a fourteen-year-old youth, so calm that it made others feel helpless. He looked at the teacher and gave him another extremely courteous bow, then said in a very orderly fashion, "I have not cultivated, but I can still take the Heavenly Dao Academy's entrance exam."

The teacher was at a loss, not understanding what this youth was trying to say. Since he hadn't even succeeded at Purification, how could he possibly have the qualifications to continue on to the exam? Had there ever been an exception in the past few years? Even if there had, just why should there be one for him?

Chen Changsheng explained, "According to the regulations of the Heavenly Dao Academy, chapter seventeen, law four, in a footnote for article eight, the entrance examination is the only criterion for entering the academy. Eleven years ago, the Department for Purging Officials also ruled as such."

Seeing his simple clothes, the teacher was subconsciously prepared to reprimand Chen Changsheng. It wasn't that he was a snob, but because he simply didn't believe it. How could this youth who had clearly come from the middle of nowhere know more about the regulations of the Heavenly Dao Academy than him who was the most specialized in recruitment and who had overseen this examination for many years? What footnote...did the academy regulations have such an article? Why didn't he have any inkling of it?

Yet just as he was about to call someone to take this youth away, he suddenly heard the words "Department for Purging Officials". He couldn't help but pause in shock and restrain the words that were about to leave his lips.

The Department for Purging Officials had originally been an unremarkable organization under the Ministry of Personnel. As the Divine Empress began to take the reins of power, she placed the department in the hands of a man she exceptionally favored, an official called Zhou Tong who was famed for his ruthlessness. Under his care, the Department for Purging Officials suddenly took on a completely different appearance. Who knew how many ministers and generals that were still loyal to the Imperial clan had died in that seemingly ordinary building? Gradually, this name caused all of the Zhou Dynasty's officials and ministers to tremble in fear.

Although the Heavenly Dao Academy was not under the jurisdiction of the Department for Purging Officials, it was difficult to not be somewhat afraid. What made this teacher feel most uneasy was that because the Department for Purging Officials wanted to wash away its vile reputation, it paid particular attention to its reputation amongst the common people. In redressing the wrongs of the people, it worked strictly by the book. If the regulations of the Heavenly Dao Academy really did have this article that the youth had mentioned, then there really might be some trouble...

Seeing Chen Changsheng's calm expression, this teacher suddenly lost some of his confidence. After a few moments of hesitation, he wrinkled his brow and yelled a few words of criticism towards the back of the line, then turned around and left, going off to some place. The crowd's scolding and teasing gradually ceased, devolving into hushed whispers. No one knew what was going on.

After quite a bit of time, the teacher finally returned, and the emotions in the eyes he turned to Chen Changsheng were somewhat more complex.

Chen Changsheng understood that the teacher most likely had gone to check the academy regulations and had seen the footnote he had mentioned. He had relentlessly read books in the temple ever since he was a child. All Three Thousand Scrolls of the Great Dao were in his head, countless books and chapters memorized until he could recite them from back to front. His reading was so extensive that he had even read the various laws and ceremonies of all the various kingdoms countless times. Naturally, he would not remember incorrectly.

"Even if you continue on to the examination, you still won't have any chance. Why waste your time?"

The teacher said to Chen Changsheng impassively, his expression very stern.

Chen Changsheng replied, "This student would still like to try."

The teacher asked, "You haven't succeeded at Purification, so how can you complete those questions? In addition, it could harm your mind. Are you sure you want to take it?"

These words were not false. Once a person had undergone Purification and cleared the heart, the greatest difference between them and a normal person, besides the strengthening of the body, was the disparity in the power of the spiritual sense. This was something that came naturally and could not be changed through human strength. Without Purification, it was assuredly impossible to work on these difficult problems. There was even a high chance of heavily injuring oneself. For this reason, this assessment, with the table in the bamboo shed and the Sensory Stone on the table, became an unavoidable hurdle. Anyone who could not make the black stone glow was eliminated. This had already become convention, or even common sense. This was why none of the failures had objected, until a special case like Chen Changsheng appeared.

Chen Changsheng bowed. "This student really does want to take the test."

The teacher's face was somewhat unsightly. He thought, since you've managed to waste your own time by luckily happening upon that rule as well as wasting everyone else's time, if you want to go, then go. And if your spiritual sense is really so damaged that you become an idiot, then that will also be a calamity you brought on yourself.

"Then go."

Chen Changsheng bowed again. Without saying any more, he walked out of the bamboo shed and headed towards that building in the depths of the Heavenly Dao Academy.

That teacher also said nothing more to him. Turning to the remaining students, his face like a sheet of ice, he said, "Next."

...

...

Chen Changsheng was the only person in more than a decade to take the entrance exam without passing the Sensory Stone Test. The youths that observed the scene from a distance had an incomprehensible feeling well up within them. Those who knew a little more did not make much of it—to take advantage of a loophole was only taking advantage of a loophole. Without having undergone Purification, his memory, analysis, and calculation ability would be insufficient. It was simply not possible to work on the Heavenly Dao Academy's entrance exam. Chen Changsheng's actions were at best an amusing interlude.

That building was the Heavenly Dao Academy's 'A' building. When Chen Changsheng entered that building, many people objected to his presence, except for that one person who had already finished his examination and, as was right and inevitable, succeeded in entering the Heavenly Dao Academy: that blue-clothed youth called Tang Thirty-Six. In fact, he stared very intently at Chen Changsheng. He also did not think Chen Changsheng could pass the exam, but he appreciated Chen Changsheng's serious, even stubborn, strength, because it reminded him of himself. At this time, the Heavenly Dao Academy's Vice Principal appeared by his side. Smiling, he asked, "Do you think that youth has a chance? I don't think so. Who was the last ordinary person to enter the Heavenly Dao Academy? That was Wang Zhice. But on this continent, it has been several hundred years since a person like Wang Zhice appeared."

Wang Zhice was once a legendary individual of the continent. In the final years of Emperor Taizu, he entered the Heavenly Dao Academy at the age of sixteen. He was a normal person that had never cultivated before. After he graduated from the Heavenly Dao Academy, he served as a common secretary in the Imperial Court right up until he was forty years old. One night when he was forty, a long whistling noise was suddenly heard throughout the capital. In one night, Wang Zhice comprehended the Dao and began to cultivate. In a few short years, he had arrived at the summit. In the end he became the second-in-command of the allied armies in the war against the Demon race. In the campaign that defeated the demons, he played a decisive role. Even now, his portrait was still hanging in the Lingyan Pavilion.

(TN: The Lingyan Pavilion was an actual building constructed in the Tang Dynasty by Taizong to commemorate twenty-four officials for their service to the empire.)

The human world had not seen Wang Zhice for a long time.

Tang Thirty-Six replied, "I also do not think he can pass, and even less think that he is the next Wang Zhice, but I think that if you wanted to become an existence as great as Wang Zhice, you would have to at least be like that youth, possessing a spirit that doesn't know the meaning of defeat as well as living a strict life style. I never thought geniuses were anything much. The scariest people are those who are very hard on themselves."

The Vice Principal shook his head and said: "When Wang Zhice was in school, on cold days when the ground was covered in snow, he would be eating frozen porridge while his hands never left his books. Can that youth study to that extent?"

Tang Thirty-Six replied, "At the very least, that youth is much stronger than all those other mediocre people."

The Vice Principal glanced at him, then said, "As expected of Tang Tang, whether it's people or things, you always look at them differently from the rest."

Tang Thirty-Six wrinkled his brow and said, "Please call me Tang Thirty-Six."

The Vice Principal laughed. "Entering my Heavenly Dao Academy, this name of yours will have to change again."

Tang Thirty-Six said seriously, "That's inevitable."

The Vice Principal glanced at the building and smelled a very faint but beautiful fragrance spilling from the window. He asked, "Will you continue to wait?"

Tang Thirty-Six replied, "Yes."

The Vice Principal asked, "Why?"

Tang Thirty-Six answered, "Although he has no chance of passing, I really want to know just how much he can score."

...

...

The examination book on the table was extremely thick, almost like a small mountain. Chen Changsheng did not know the exact specifics of this book, so of course he was a little anxious—everyone knew that the reason the Heavenly Dao Academy was extremely difficult to enter was that its entrance exam encompassed everything. From the true meaning of the Dao to debates on the Heavenly Tomes to the art of war, everything was included. There were often even questions on agriculture. Even if someone had reached a perfect Purification, if they wanted to finish all the questions by the time the incense burned down, it would still be an arduous task, to say nothing of a normal person.

Chen Changsheng sat before the table and closed his eyes for the period of five breaths, then opened his eyes and opened the examination book to the first page. As he did so, his mood was very complicated. Of course, there was a little curiosity about the unknown as well as some disquiet of unknown origin, but there was also a little expectation.

His fingers suddenly became rigid. A strand of uncertainty flashed across his eyes that were bright like mirrors.

Everyone said the Heavenly Dao Academy's test questions were very difficult. If it was testing on comparing religious passages, it would often be taken from the most obscure and hard-to-find passages, but why…did this first page's first question seem so familiar? The thirty-first debate between Cen Shenzi and the seventh-generation Pope on true meaning? When did he last see this? It was when he was three years old…this was a small and unremarkable passage from the Huainan Commentary of the Nanhua Classic. But he had already seen this commentary and memorized it, and when he was five and eleven, he read it and memorized it all over again.

Why was it familiar? It was because these words had been engraved into his heart.

Chen Changsheng was a little puzzled, but he was still a youth, so he was even more filled with joy. He stopped thinking about it and took up his brush and began to use the chapters and passage within his mind. Those penetrating insights of those great masters he copied onto his paper. Then he turned to the second page and he was not surprised to once again see familiar passages…

The Great Dao encompasses all things, and the Heavenly Dao Academy's entrance exam questions were contained entirely in those Three Thousand Scriptures.

He could recite those Three Thousand Scriptures from back to front.

How could this sort of test be difficult for him?


บท 8: The Meeting of Chen and Tang

When the incense burned out, there was a metal clang indicating that this round of examinations had come to a close. Chen Changsheng walked out of the building with the rest of the prospective students, paying no attention to the peculiar gazes thrown in his direction. Following the directions, he proceeded towards a stone plaza behind the lake, where the results would be announced, waiting for dusk when the final examination would conclude.

The majority of the other students remained in the front of the building, exchanging answers with each other or complaining about the test's difficulty. When he arrived at that place behind the lake, the stone plaza was very quiet. Standing by the lake was only the blue-clothed youth who had previously released that great light. He thought that geniuses would inevitably be proud and aloof, so he didn't walk forward. Unexpectedly, the youth approached him instead.

"I am called Tang Thirty-Six," the blue-clothed youth said.

Chen Changsheng was rather astonished. He didn't think that this youth would come over and take the initiative to chat. He tidied up his clothes and said courteously, "My surname is Chen (陈), written with 'ear' (耳) and 'east' (东), Chen Changsheng."

Tang Thirty-Six stared blankly at him, as if he hadn't expected this youth's name to be so crude. Even the master of a wealthy family in the countryside would not give his son such a name. After a moment of silence, he said, "This name is actually sincere and honest; it's not right for me to say it's lacking."

Chen Changsheng thought, your way of speaking is also actually rather sincere, only your name is also very strange.

"I am called Chen Changsheng….because when I was small, I was sick. Master hoped that I would live until I was one hundred. What about you? Why are you called Tang Thirty-Six? It can't be that you're the thirty-sixth child in your family? How can your family have so many people? Where is your home? With so many brothers and sisters, won't it be too noisy when you're studying?"

Tang Thirty-Six was struck dumb.

To directly inquire about the origins of one's name was a very discourteous thing to do. Moreover, he had a very chilly face which strangers did not like to approach. Those people who did not know the origins of his name, no matter how curious they were, would still restrain themselves in front of him, not daring to ask him directly. This youth had just so casually asked him this question, and then had even added more questions on top of it.

In fact, Chen Changsheng's thinking was very simple. In this capital that he wasn't familiar with, in this Heavenly Dao Academy full of cold looks and ridicule, this person who was clearly a genius had taken the initiative to come forward and introduce himself, so it was only right and proper that he give back even more enthusiasm and kindness. At the very least, he should take initiative to exchange pleasantries and chat about something.

Ever since he was a child, he had lived together with his master and senior brother. Master rarely said anything, and Senior couldn't even speak, so he simply had no clue how exchanging pleasantries should go. He seemed somewhat stiff and awkward, and although he wanted to relay his kind intention to this youth, it was very easy to cause misunderstanding, just like yesterday in the Divine General's estate.

Yet what was interesting was that not only was Tang Thirty-Six not unhappy, but on the contrary, he found Chen Changsheng very honest and very sincere. The thing Tang Thirty-Six most wanted to do throughout his life was to be a true person, but all the people he encountered were either mediocre people or sham believers. To suddenly encounter a person like Chen Changsheng made him feel very satisfied.

"In my clan, there truly are many people of the same generation as me, but we all study in our own homes, so it's not noisy. The reason I'm called Tang Thirty-Six is not because I'm the thirty-sixth child in my family, but because last year when I turned fifteen and first entered the Proclamation of Azure Sky, I was placed thirty-sixth. I thought it was very humiliating, especially when compared to that girl and that wolf cub…so I changed my name to Tang Thirty-Six to always remind myself that my current cultivation and strength are not adequate. Yeah, it seems I've answered all your questions. Yes, I've answered them all."

The conversation above was the first social interaction Chen Changsheng had since he left Xining and came to the bustling capital. At the same time, it was also the first social interaction Tang Thirty-Six had after he left Wenshui and came to the capital. At the time, Chen Changsheng was fourteen years old and Tang Thirty-Six was just about to turn sixteen, so they were both somewhat confused and inexperienced in the aspect of socializing. This conversation was undoubtedly rather choppy, interesting and amusing, but many years in the future, history would prove that this social interaction was a rousing success. It could even be said that after the treaty signed between Emperor Taizong and the chief of the demons, this was the most successful and most important social interaction in history.

"How many questions did you answer?"

Tang Thirty-Six asked. He truly was rather interested in this answer, because even though he felt Chen Changsheng was just an ordinary person…in reality, he probably wasn't an ordinary person. When he saw how pale Chen Changsheng's face was, he realized that his question was inappropriate. Those problems had been like an ocean. Even a genius like him had felt somewhat strained. It was obvious that Chen Changsheng had severely consumed his mental strength. Looking at the circumstances, the final result would probably not be any good.

"There were some questions on cultivation that I really couldn't answer. Spiritual sense, true essence, and also the burning sun of Star Condensation…"

Chen Changsheng very honestly answered. In his heart, he felt rather lucky. He had studied the Daoist Canon since he was a child, so those seemingly complex academic questions weren't very difficult at all for him. Instead, it was those questions on cultivation that he really couldn't answer. Fortunately, this was only an exam for prospective students after all, so there were not many questions in that field.

As Tang Thirty-Six listened, he felt that something was a bit off. These were the questions that he couldn't answer…could it be that this kid actually answered all the other questions? He took note of the fact that on the other side of the lake, a teacher carrying a thick examination paper was quickly walking off to some place. That teacher's mood seemed to have been severely shaken, and he almost fell over as he climbed the stone steps. He couldn't help but be a little startled. When associating this with the words Chen Changsheng had just said, he couldn't help but get an idea that even he found hard to believe. Could it be that this fellow really wanted to give everyone a shock?

"The rest…you're sure you answered them all correctly?"

"I don't dare say for certain…there are two versions of 'The Grand Supreme Mantra for Clearing the Heart'. In the year the Orthodoxy was established, they released an edited version. Afterwards, everyone always used the edited version, but the era mentioned in the question was before the year fifteen-seventy-three, so I didn't know which version to use. In the end, I was forced to put down an answer for both versions. I'm just afraid that it will anger the teacher and lose points."

When Tang Thirty-Six heard these words, he couldn't help but fall silent.

He only knew one version for that question, and he had only answered for that version.

After a while, he looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "I always thought it was me and that other guy who were the most arrogant amongst this generation of youth. I didn't think that you would actually be more arrogant than me."

Chen Changsheng was puzzled. He thought to himself, just how am I arrogant?

...

...

The results were posted.

Chen Changsheng's name was actually not there.

Chen Changsheng silently stood in front of the list for a very long time.

The eyes that looked at him from the crowd were rather unkind, carrying a sense of ridicule and disdain. If Tang Thirty-Six were not at his side, many nasty words would probably have been said already.

"I don't understand," Chen Changsheng said.

Tang Thirty-Six also did not understand. He believed that this youth that could even make him feel close and sincere would not tell lies. Since he said that he had answered most of the questions correctly, he should have answered them correctly. Then even if he wasn't ranked at the very front, his score should have been more than enough to make the list.

Chen Changsheng sought out the teacher that had been responsible for the Sensory Stone assessment and said, "I would like to check my paper."

That teacher was tidying up some random miscellany and didn't look directly into that calm and resolute gaze. "Since you used the regulations to obtain the qualifications to take the exam, then you should also know…my Heavenly Dao Academy's exam papers can not be checked again. This acts as a sign of respect to the Heavenly Dao Academy. If you did not pass, then you did not pass."

Chen Changsheng gazed silently at him for a long time, then turned and left.

...

...

"Although he didn't say anything, you knew what he wanted to say…this sort of kid who's angry but won't say anything bad is truly amazing." Tang Thirty-Six looked to the other side of the lake at the back of the youth that was slowly fading away. He turned to some person and said mockingly, "For the Heavenly Dao Academy to not take this sort of talent is really amazing."

"You're older than him by two years, but you call him a kid. That's really interesting."

The Vice Principal of the Heavenly Dao Academy said, "Even more interesting is, how did you know what he wanted to say?"

"He wanted to say, you will definitely regret this…I know this because if I were to suffer such treatment, I would definitely say these words."

"The Heavenly Dao Academy will regret rejecting a normal student?"

"He is not a normal student. He is a genius like me."

The Vice Principal of the Heavenly Dao Academy was silent for a few moments, then said, "I saw that youth's exam paper. For him to be so erudite without Purification, he truly can be called a genius. Even compared to Wang Zhice back then, he's not too far off. If this were a normal situation, I absolutely would have recruited him into the academy and then personally instructed him. It's just a pity that it's not possible this time."

Tang Thirty-Six looked back at him and asked, "Why is it not possible?"

"Because someone paid a visit."

"Who?"

"The Divine General's estate."

"The present-day continent has one Dufu, Five Saints, the Storms of the Eight Directions, and the countless freaks on the Proclamation of Liberation, and that's not even mentioning the demon guys hidden out in the wilderness. Admittedly the thirty-eight Divine Generals are strong…but what sort of place is the Heavenly Dao Academy? Actually listening to the orders of the Divine General's estate?"

(TN: Dufu can also mean 'dictator' or 'sole ruler'.)

"Your father entrusted you to me, so I won't hide this from you, but you can't speak of it anywhere else…a mere Divine General's estate is naturally incapable of influencing my Heavenly Dao Academy, but that Divine General's estate is different, because it is the estate of the Divine General of the East. The master of that estate is called Xu Shiji."

"Xu Shiji…even if he's doted upon by the Divine Empress and his power is formidable, in the end, he's just a Divine General."

"But his family has a Phoenix…"

Once he heard the word 'Phoenix', the cold arrogance on Tang Thirty-Six's countenance was impossible to retain and instantly melted away. After a long period of silence, he mumbled, "…Chen Changsheng, that guy, actually managed to provoke that Phoenix? Just what sort of person is he?"

The Vice Principal calmly replied, "It's of no concern what sort of person he is, he's still only fourteen. Even if he were to be enlightened again, it would be too late. The world has too many geniuses, and so if he had even more potential, so what? Previously, I compared him to Wang Zhice. If he really does possess Wang Zhice's willpower and destiny, then what does it matter if he is or is not in the Heavenly Dao Academy?"

...

...

Chen Changsheng did not know that his failure had to do with the Xu Estate. He thought that he had most likely taken the place of some influential official's son and so had suffered under the tricks of some person. Although this was his first time wading into worldly affairs, he had seen in the Daoist Canon and the plays many unbearably dark and filthy cases of mutual deception, and so he could only remain silent. Besides remaining silent, what else could he currently do?

He left the Heavenly Dao Academy and went to the second school on the list. He still did not notice the carriage with the blood-red Phoenix crest following him in the distance.


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