Upon returning to the Orthodox Academy, Chen Changsheng stunk of alcohol. With his squinted eyes and unsteady walk, his intoxication was evident. As for some business about the Ivy Festival, it had long since been cast out of his mind and he could no longer remember it.
The library had no lights. Without him there, the Orthodox Academy naturally became as deserted as it had been in the past. As he walked along the lake, his surroundings were quiet and devoid of people. There were only the stars bobbing up and down in the limpid waters of the lake, the indistinct reflections of the trees on the other shore, and the refreshing breeze of the late spring blowing against him.
He stood on a stone on the lake shore, raising his head and gazing at the stars in the night sky for a very long time. Then, he looked down at the stars in the lake and also gazed at them for a very long time. Finally, he closed his eyes and silently stood there for a very long time before suddenly yelling out several words akin to curses at the lake.
He always gave off an aura of silence and composure, a maturity that exceeded his age, and this sort of venting of emotions was extremely rare. Tonight, under the influence of alcohol, he actually realized that he was somewhat tired. He straightforwardly sat on the grass by the lake, fell backwards, and then his mind began to wander off.
The library was pitch-black. He did not go read, did not go draw in starlight for Purification, he just lay on the grass in a trance, a pure trance with no thoughts whatsoever. In these few years, especially after that night at the age of ten, this was the first time he had indulged himself in this way, the first time he had wasted so much time.
After some time had passed, he opened his eyes and realized that he was still lying on the grass, his two hands touching the slightly chilly dew on the blades of grass. His cheeks were also somewhat moist. Faint rays of sunlight could be seen on the distant horizon; it was probably around five o'clock. Even when he wanted to abandon all restraints under his intoxication, he still woke up so promptly. The strict, even inflexible, discipline of his daily routine and his method of handling things had already sunk deep into the marrow of his bones, becoming a sort of instinct. This made him feel very helpless.
Habit was a very powerful thing, such that even washing the marrow could not wash it away. Chen Changsheng returned to his house and went to the water barrel to carefully wash his face with a moist towel. On one side, he thought about some trivial concerns while on the other side, he kept the corner of his eyes on that new and tightly shut door in the wall, for some reason feeling somewhat expectant.
(TN: Note that 'marrow-washing' is the literal translation of '洗髓', Purification.)
The heavens would never grant whatever one asked for, but today, they did. With a creak, the wooden door was pushed open and a girl jumped over the threshold like she was hopping stones to cross a stream. Then, she bounced over to him, her two black ponytails bobbing behind her very cutely.
Luoluo looked at him and happily said, "Lah, Teacher, don't you think it's very convenient?"
She was smiling very happily, but in reality, she was very nervous, afraid that Chen Changsheng would run off like he had yesterday.
Chen Changsheng did not run away. Perhaps it was because, today, he wasn't bathing naked in a wooden basin, or perhaps it was because he still hadn't awakened from last night's hangover, or perhaps it was because he had finally abandoned all resistance in the face of this girl's nagging. Or maybe, he also very much wanted to see this girl.
Walking out of the Orthodox Academy, he bought two bowls of wontons and passed the one that didn't have peppers in it to the girl. He then walked into the library, the girl following with quick and small steps while holding the wonton bowl, abnormally pleased.
After breakfast, Chen Changsheng began to read. With extreme proficiency, he found his objective amongst the bookshelves, sat down on the floor, and began to silently and attentively read, comparing the information in these more primary texts with the three thousand Daoist scriptures he had read in Xining Village. He called this method comparative study.
Reading was a very dull task, and watching someone else read was even more boring. When Chen Changsheng quietly read, he naturally would not speak. At the beginning, Luoluo found it very interesting, moving close to him and reading with him. When she realized that there were many books that she could not understand, she began to feel bored, feeling that waking up early was really not a great thing. Sleepiness began to encroach upon her like the ants under a tree, wave after wave, assaulting without end, making her head feel heavier and heavier…
After some time had passed, Chen Changsheng emerged from his state of forgetting everything but books and felt that his right arm was somewhat heavy, somewhat limp and numb. He instantly thought of that scene when he woke up from that night of meditation and turned his head. As expected, the girl was once more hugging his arm in sleep.
Her hand was truthfully not hugging his right arm, only lightly grabbing his sleeve. She was also not leaning on his shoulder—because of her small stature, she could only lean against his upper arm. This posture was truthfully not very comfortable, but she slept very soundly and sweetly.
Chen Changsheng gazed at her completely relaxed appearance, at the childishness completely revealed by this relaxation, and began to smile.
For her to be able to sleep so soundly, so sweetly, was naturally because she was very relaxed. She was so relaxed because she trusted him. To have someone's complete trust was an extremely fine feeling, especially to a person like him who had silently advanced through the capital all on his own.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the girl's face.
The normal person did not like the light when sleeping, preferring the dark instead, but this girl was clearly different from the masses. That shadow caused her brow to wrinkle, her nose to also slightly wrinkle. She made two unsatisfied groans. It was possible that she might wake up in the next moment.
Chen Changsheng enjoyed seeing this little girl sleep. Having it disturbed naturally made him very unhappy. He turned to the door of the library, subconsciously arching his brows.
The person that had appeared at the library door was Shuang'er. For some reason, a layer of frost seemed to cover her face and her gaze was almost frigid.
...
...
Shuang'er's mood today was extremely poor because the White Crane had returned once more from the distant south, carrying another letter from the young lady.
Her young lady was not one of those idiots whose brains had been muddled by those idiotic books on womanly virtue, and the Great Zhou Dynasty never placed such baffling requirements on their women as the south did. Shuang'er clearly understood this point, so she was all the more puzzled over the concern her young lady showed for this shameless youth.
Although there was that engagement, there would eventually come a day when that engagement would be torn to shreds, so why was her young lady so concerned about that guy? Well, the young lady had only written in her letter that she wanted to know about any recent developments with regards to that youth, which could hardly be considered concern…but, why did she want to know?
In fact, Shuang'er clearly understood that the young lady did not want that youth, because of the engagement, to become dust in the river of the capital, and so asked her to inquire on these matters.
She very obediently inquired and knew that Chen Changsheng had now become the first student of the Orthodox Academy in many years. Moreover, based on the attitudes of the master and madam, although that youth might not have any future prospects, there would no problems with keeping his life. In accordance with the young lady's instructions, she had made the journey to the Orthodox Academy to ask him if he still required any assistance, like in terms of money. She had not expected that upon walking into the library, she would actually see such a sight!
Who was this girl? Why would she be embracing that guy? Was this studying? Although the Orthodox Academy was run-down, it was still a place of education! This guy was actually embracing this girl in the library! How scandalous!
Upon seeing this sight, Shuang'er flew into wrathful indignation. You have an engagement with the young lady! Although this engagement most certainly does not count, since you still haven't ended it, your identity is still that of the young lady's fiancé! Or else why would the young lady be concerned over your safety despite being ten thousand li away, even inviting a powerful figure of the palace to come and protect your puny life? Although the young lady might not like you, she still cares deeply for you, and yet you consort with some other girl! Truly an adulterous couple!
Shuang'er had originally wanted to say these final four words out loud, but when she saw the childish beauty of the girl, she lost a little of her resolve. Instead, she glared at Chen Changsheng and hatefully yelled, "Pervert!"
With this word, she no longer had the mind to care about Chen Changsheng's situation. With a brush of her sleeve, she turned and angrily departed.
The Orthodox Academy was secluded and uninhabited. Although the grass by the lake was delightful, Lady Shuang'er was rather gloomy and becoming increasingly unhappy.
After returning to the Divine General of the East's estate, she began to write a letter to her young lady. The matters she had inquired about…especially the scene she saw today, were carefully described. Although she did not embellish, only writing what she had heard and seen, the denouncement in her words could not be completely concealed.
The White Crane left the capital and flew off to the distant Holy Maiden Peak in the south.
At dusk, when the setting sun illuminated the strange flowers and unusual grasses on the cliff, the White Crane descended. The girl extended her hand and took down the letter and after briefly looking it over, fell silent for a long time.
The White Crane once more brought up the brush in its mouth, dipped it with the perfect amount of ink and deposited it perfectly in her hands.
Grasping the brush, the young girl gazed at the snow-white paper for a very long time. Suddenly, she sighed and used the end of the brush to scratch her head, then turned to the White Crane and vexedly said, "I really don't know what to write. Based on how you described him before…that young Daoist shouldn't be this sort of person."
The White Crane could not speak, so it naturally could not help her answer. It lightly touched its neck to her wrist, indicating that she should quickly write.
...
...
'Pervert'? Chen Changsheng had heard the word Shuang'er had said before her departure. He knew that she must have definitely misunderstood something, but he did not care, much less leave the library to chase her down and explain. The engagement with the Divine General's estate had not been torn apart yet, but after all the shameless things they had done, he didn't believe they even had the right to misunderstand him, let alone be angry, but…for some reason, he was actually somewhat angry.
Luoluo woke up and rubbed her eyes. Smelling the scent of makeup, she asked curiously, "Teacher, who came just now?"
Chen Changsheng replied, "A maid from the Divine General of the East's estate."
When she heard 'Divine General of the East's estate', Luoluo's expression flickered. Just as she was prepared to say something, she suddenly stopped and looked out of the library.
Two men had arrived outside the library.
One of them strode into the library, his two hands behind his back. Entering without invitation, he seemed extremely arrogant.
This person was dressed in the apparel exclusively reserved for the education overseer of the Heavenly Dao Academy.
Chen Changsheng noticed that this person's expression was extremely cold, the gaze aimed at him extremely unkind.
"Ridiculous!"
The education overseer from the Heavenly Dao Academy glanced at Chen Changsheng then swiftly turned around as if his eyes would be dirtied by looking any longer. It was a stance of extreme contempt.
He looked at the man beside him and harshly rebuked, "The Orthodox Academy is already a ruin; what right does it have to be ranked amongst the Six Ivies? As for this person…a piece of trash that hasn't even succeeded at Purification, what right does he have to attend the Ivy Festival!"
The overseer had spoken very harshly and coldly.
Chen Changsheng stood up and gazed silently at this overseer of the Heavenly Dao Academy. Luoluo was very angry, but seeing that Chen Changsheng did not say anything, she could only maintain her silence—as her teacher had not spoken nor given any direction, she believed that as a disciple, she naturally should not usurp authority by taking a stand.
The visitor had stood at the door of the library and said a few incredibly disrespectful sentences. It seemed to have come out of nowhere, but Chen Changsheng had heard the words 'Ivy Festival' and, connecting it with what Tang Thirty-Six had said last night, understood the reason for this matter.
He had never imagined that the Ivy Festival would have anything to do with him because, just like many others, he had forgotten that the Orthodox Academy was also one of the Six Ivies. However, it was very obvious that not everyone in the world had forgotten this fact, especially after the Orthodox Academy gained a new student in him.
Chen Changsheng shifted his gaze to the middle-aged man dressed in priestly robes standing next to the overseer and realized that he knew him. It was precisely Priest Xin of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education. Although they had not met for many days now, the renovation of the Orthodox Academy had been managed by this priest.
Priest Xin sensed his gaze and nodded his head in greeting, but he seemed rather embarrassed.
Priest Xin turned his gaze to the Heavenly Dao Academy overseer and advised, "In the past, the Orthodox Academy had no students, so it naturally didn't need to attend. Since it now has a student, it naturally should take part. Both the Imperial Court and the Orthodoxy have approved. Education Overseer Peng, let's just quickly carry out the confirmation process and leave."
In the past few years, the Heavenly Dao Academy had been the most important of the Orthodoxy's schools, its status incredibly significant. This overseer from the Heavenly Dao Academy naturally had an extremely lofty status, too high for an ordinary priest of the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education like him to contend against. In normal circumstances, if he saw this lordly overseer acting this way, Priest Xin would assuredly have played along, but…he knew more than anyone else that behind this seemingly ordinary and unremarkable youth was an incredibly strong backing which he didn't dare offend. Thus, he could only do his utmost to offend both sides as little as possible.
"You're really sure you want this piece of trash to attend the Ivy Festival?" that Heavenly Dao Academy overseer surnamed Peng said with a cold and gloomy expression.
Priest Xin helplessly replied, "This is a rule; there's nothing I can do either, no?"
"Rules? We have to talk about rules with everything? Then let me talk about rules!"
The Heavenly Dao Academy overseer sneered, "Based on the rules of the past, the Ivy Festival imitates the style and structure of the Grand Examination, divided into a test of composition and a test of martial arts. The students from each academy and those students that passed the pre-examination each pick one to attend. It seems to me that this run-down school only has one piece of trash as a student, so how can it participate?"
Priest Xin was speechless. He recalled that the Ivy Festival really did have this sort of rule. It was just that before coming, he was only thinking about how to minimize conflict between Education Overseer Peng and Chen Changsheng, and had completely forgotten about this clause. He couldn't help but grow somewhat worried, thinking, since this is the case, why didn't you talk about it earlier?
"In order to attend the Ivy Festival, at least two students are required…at present, there's just this one piece of trash. How do you want this official to confirm?"
The overseer had no expression on his face as he spoke, but his voice was brimming with derision. "Your Reverence, did you really believe that this official could not resist the Bureau of Ecclesiastic Education's pressure and so made this journey? No, I came just because I wanted to see just how long this joke that is the Orthodox Academy could make me laugh!"
He stood at the door of the library and gazed at the noiseless and tranquil grounds of the Orthodox Academy, repaired but still broken down in a few parts, and coldly sighed, "The Orthodox Academy…back then, it truly had a grand reputation! But now? It's just a dead tomb!
"No matter how much you repair it, it's still just a tomb!"
The overseer's voice grew increasingly cold. "There's been a rumor in the capital recently saying that His Holiness wants to reopen the Orthodox Academy? It's absurd, but even if it is real, you still have to see if we elders agree to it or not!"
He turned to Chen Changsheng, his eyes blazing with a faint fire as he yelled, "I am telling the world, nonsense is nonsense! The useless Orthodox Academy is just a garden of trash! A piece of trash is a piece of trash! Let no one think that they can make an issue of this matter!"
The Orthodox Academy was deathly still. The weeds behind the building that had not been cleaned up yet were pervaded by a cold and desolate feeling.
Chen Changsheng quietly gazed at this overseer from the Heavenly Dao Academy and then suddenly took a step forward.
'Trash'…'joke'…'garden of trash'…'tomb'.
Those words were still drifting about the quiet library.
He did not know why this overseer from the Heavenly Dao Academy held such deep-seated hatred for the Orthodox Academy, and for him, but he knew of one fact: he was a student of the Orthodox Academy, the only student. Although he had not lived here for long, because he was the only student, this Orthodox Academy was his. Every flower, grass, tree, brick, roof tile, and rock, it was all his. He saw life reappear in this place, he quietly studied in this place; this place was his paradise, not some garden of trash.
He did not like being humiliated by others and liked even less the Orthodox Academy being humiliated.
He thought of those humiliations he received right after entering the capital, thought of the just-departed Shuang'er, and he decided to do something.
"I will attend the Ivy Festival."
He stared at the overseer and said, "I do not know why Sir has such great objections against me and my academy, but if Sir plans to bar me from the Ivy Festival, I can only regretfully tell Sir that Sir will not succeed, because Sir's attitude is far too disrespectful."
The Heavenly Dao Academy overseer replied with an indifferent expression, "Attending the Ivy Festival requires two students, or…two pieces of trash. Even if you have the courage to attend, I can only regretfully tell you that you will not succeed, because in the entire continent, there is no one willing to enter the Orthodox Academy, other than an idiot like you."
Priest Xin said nothing, but he knew that the overseer had spoken correctly: no person was willing to enter the Orthodox Academy. Perhaps Chen Changsheng had been exiled to this place by some powerful figures, or perhaps he was bearing some sort of responsibility, but there would not be a second of this sort of person.
The library was very quiet.
Chen Changsheng gazed at the shiny black floorboards in front of him, then suddenly asked, "Do you still insist?"
An immature but firm voice declared, "I insist."
"I can't teach you much of anything."
"Teacher has already taught me a lot."
"If you become a student of the Orthodox Academy, many people might view you with contempt."
"Teacher, I'm very skilled at viewing others with contempt."
"You might…have to suffer all sort of humiliation and suppression."
"Teacher, no one dares to humiliate me."
This dialogue concluded.
Chen Changsheng smiled and looked to his side, saying, "I still don't know your name."
Luoluo's eyes were extremely bright, her left hand tightly grasping his sleeve. Worried that he would renege, she said, "Teacher, my name is Luoheng."
Chen Changsheng extended his hand to grasp her left hand and then turned to the Heavenly Dao Academy overseer, declaring, "You see, now we are two people."
Luoluo was somewhat bashful. Leaning against his right arm, she repeated like a parrot learning words, "Yes, two people."
Priest Xin froze.
Wrathful beyond belief, the overseer rebuked, "Ridiculous! When did this shabby place get another student! Just who do you think you are! You think that if you say she's this place's student, she's a student of this place!?"
Chen Changsheng, ignoring him, indicated that Luoluo should bring the register and a brush from the side room.
He wrote Luoluo's name on the register with great dignity and solemnity.
Luoluo raised up the register into the sunlight, swelling her small cheeks and hardily blowing on it, hoping it would dry as quickly as possible.
Under the sunlight, the register was illuminated crystal clear. There were only two names, but two names were enough.
"The register is right here. Whatever name I add is a student of the Orthodox Academy."
Chen Changsheng pointed at the register and said to the Heavenly Dao Academy overseer, "Even if you are His Holiness the Pope himself, you cannot change this fact."
...
...
Priest Xin quickly worked to smooth the situation, doing his best to say soft words and give the overseer a way out of this embarrassing situation, at the same time asking him to confirm that Chen Changsheng and Luoluo had the right to attend the Ivy Festival. The Heavenly Dao Academy overseer was quiet for a long time before finally stamping his private seal on the scroll in Priest Xin's hand.
The matter was not over.
The overseer gazed at Chen Changsheng and Luoluo and expressionlessly said, "In this Festival of the Ivies, every single one of the students that passed the pre-examination is qualified to attend, and many people are coming from every place of the continent. Are pieces of trash like the two of you going to shame my Great Zhou?"
Chen Changsheng thought it over and prepared to speak.
At this moment, Luoluo pulled on his sleeve and timidly asked, "Teacher, can I speak?"
Chen Changsheng replied, "You are also a student of the Orthodox Academy now. Of course you can."
Luoluo turned to the overseer and seriously asked, "But, what does it have to do with you?"
An overseer of the Heavenly Dao Academy was no overseer of the Orthodox Academy, so what concern of his were the students of the Orthodox Academy? Luoluo looked like a girl of eleven or twelve, and though she spoke seriously, her words carried a childish tone brimming with a naive happiness, yet her words struck at the very essence of the issue. The Heavenly Dao Academy overseer was momentarily stunned, and then extremely angry, yet he did not know how to respond.
"Good! Good! Good!"
He angrily smiled and coldly said, "I'm really interested in seeing how the Orthodox Academy reverses its fortunes! On the Ivy Festival, when you pieces of trash from this garden of trash are humiliated and become the laughingstock of the entire continent, don't blame this official for not warning you today!"
With this final warning, he left with the sweep of his sleeve.
Priest Xin did not follow. He walked to the library and whispered a few explanations to Chen Changsheng.
Only then did Chen Changsheng understand that the management of the Ivy Festival was passed between the Six Ivies. This year, it just so happened to be the Heavenly Dao Academy's turn, with this overseer from the Heavenly Dao Academy responsible for finalizing who would be taking part. It had been many years since the Orthodox Academy last had any students attend the Ivy Festival, so it had gradually been forgotten. However, this year's situation was different. Of course, this was definitely not the reason for the Heavenly Dao Academy overseer's nasty behavior and his attempts to shame him. The primary reason was a certain law of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
This law stated that if a school failed to recruit a student for many years, its teaching credentials and policy protections would all be canceled. The Orthodox Academy had already failed to recruit students for many years, and if it failed to do so for one more year, it would vanish into the endless river of history. Yet who could have imagined…that on exactly the last year, the Orthodox Academy would gain a new student called Chen Changsheng.
"Just because of this?" Chen Changsheng asked.
After a moment of silence, Priest Xin explained, "That year during that incident involving the Orthodox Academy…three of Education Overseer Peng's senior brothers died here."
Chen Changsheng fell silent, thinking, if it were me, I would also hope that the Orthodox Academy would close its doors and disappear, and if someone like me were to suddenly appear, a student that changed the fate of the Orthodox Academy, my attitude would also be rather awful. I'd want nothing more than for that student to quickly depart.
"But there's no need to worry too much. In any case, as long as you don't enter a match in the Ivy Festival, Education Overseer Peng and those other elders have no means of getting ahold of you."
Priest Xin consoled him with a few words, glanced at Luoluo quietly standing by his side, then patted him on his shoulder and chuckled, "You're pretty good."
...
...
What this comment meant, Luoluo did not understand. Nor did Chen Changsheng.
After all, the two were both only fourteen, and Chen Changsheng was still under the impression that Luoluo was a girl of eleven or twelve.
Chen Changsheng gazed at Luoluo's small face and suddenly felt some hesitation, because it was only at this point that he noticed that this girl was actually quite pretty.
Luoluo tightly grasped his sleeve and said, "Teacher, you can't have any regrets."
Chen Changsheng helplessly shook his head. After thinking for a long while, he choked out a sentence, "You…have you eaten yet?"
Luoluo opened her eyes wide, her voice suspicious. "Didn't I eat wontons with Teacher this morning?"
"Yeah…it's already noon."
Chen Changsheng glanced out the window and said, "It's time to eat lunch."
Hearing this, Luoluo clasped her hands together and made a slight bow as she said with extreme warmth, "I'll make Teacher lunch."
"Let's buy," Chen Changsheng said.
Seeking instruction, Luoluo said, "Wontons?"
Chen Changsheng contemplated what to do, then said, "Besides wontons, there's also a place that sells noodles in the lane. The taste isn't bad. That's right, ask them to put in less bean sprouts and more peppers."
Luoluo ran off, laughing and cheering the entire way, her two ponytails bobbing behind her.
On the wall, Guardian Jin and Guardian Li looked each other in the eyes.
"Is this fine?"
"It looks pretty fine to me."
...
...
After the noodles had been eaten, it was already afternoon. The wind of late spring seemed to have a natural aroma. Smelling it was intoxicating and immediately made one want to sleep.
Chen Changsheng looked at Luoluo and said, "I only asked you for your name today. I'm sorry."
Luoluo chuckled but said nothing more.
"Take the Night Pearl and those other items back, I really can't accept them."
"Teacher, you're not planning on backing out, are you?"
"Of course…not."
"Then…how can you return the gifts I gave to acknowledge you as my teacher?"
"Didn't you buy me a bowl of noodles just a while ago?"
Luoluo's smile faded as she lightly brought up her dress and slowly prostrated herself on the jet-black floor.
After a moment of silence, Chen Changsheng prostrated towards the direction of Xining Village, and then prostrated to her.
The spring sunlight was gentle, the scenery bright and beautiful, the lake quiet like a mirror. Occasionally a breeze would blow through the building and curl around the bookshelves before resting on their temples.
Chen Changsheng straightened his body and helped Luoluo up.
Luoluo said, "Thank you."
Chen Changsheng didn't know what to say. After thinking for a while, he also said, "Thank you."
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