Chapter 7: Chen Changsheng Meets Tang Thirty-Six
When the incense burned out, a golden sound rang out, signaling the end of this round of student examinations. Chen Changsheng walked out of the building with the other waiting examinees, ignoring the strange looks directed at him, and followed the guidance to the stone flat ground behind the lake where the results would be posted, waiting for the final exam results at dusk.
Most of the others remained in front of the building, comparing answers or lamenting the difficulty of the exam. When he arrived behind the lake, the stone flat was still quiet, with only the green-clad youth who had previously shone brightly standing by the lakeshore. Thinking that geniuses were inevitably aloof, he didn't approach, but unexpectedly, the other came over.
"My name is Tang Thirty-Six," the green-clad youth said.
Chen Changsheng was somewhat surprised that the other had taken the initiative to strike up a conversation. He straightened his clothes and replied politely, "Chen from the left ear radical, Chen Changsheng."
Tang Thirty-Six was taken aback, seemingly not expecting this youth's name to be so rustic—even a wealthy village elder probably wouldn't name his son this way. After a moment of silence, he said, "The name is quite plain; I can't say it's bad."
Chen Changsheng thought to himself, you're honest enough, but your name is pretty strange too.
"My name is Chen Changsheng... because I was sick as a child, and my master hoped I would live a long life. What about you? Why are you called Tang Thirty-Six? Are you the thirty-sixth in your family? How many people are in your family? Where is your home? With so many siblings, doesn't it get too noisy when you're reciting texts?"
Tang Thirty-Six was stunned.
Asking someone directly about the origin of their name wasn't very polite, especially since he had a cold, unapproachable face. Those who didn't know the story behind his name, no matter how curious, held back and didn't dare ask him directly. Yet this youth had casually blurted it out, along with a barrage of additional questions.
Actually, Chen Changsheng's thinking was simple. In the unfamiliar capital, in the Heavenly Academy full of mockery and cold stares, this obvious genius had taken the initiative to approach him. It was only right that he respond with even more warmth and goodwill—at least by making small talk and chatting about something.
He had grown up living with his master and senior brother. His master rarely spoke, and his senior brother spoke even less, so he had no idea how to make small talk. His efforts came across as awkward and stiff. Though he meant to convey good intentions, it could easily lead to misunderstandings, just like yesterday at the Divine General's Mansion.
Yet interestingly, Tang Thirty-Six wasn't displeased. Instead, he found Chen Changsheng honest and genuine. Tang Thirty-Six's greatest desire in life was to be a true person, but everyone he met in the world was either mediocre or false. Suddenly encountering someone like Chen Changsheng, he was very satisfied.
"There are indeed many in my generation of the clan, but we all study in our own homes, so it's not noisy. The reason I'm called Tang Thirty-Six isn't because I'm ranked thirty-sixth in the family, but because last year, when I was fifteen, I entered the Azure Cloud Rankings for the first time and ranked thirty-sixth. I found it shameful, especially compared to that woman and that wolf cub... So I changed my name to Tang Thirty-Six to remind myself of how inadequate my current level and strength are. Hmm, it seems I've answered all your questions. Yes, all done."
This conversation was Chen Changsheng's first social interaction after leaving Xining and arriving in the bustling capital, and also Tang Thirty-Six's first interaction after leaving Wenshui and arriving in the capital. At that time, Chen Changsheng was fourteen, and Tang Thirty-Six was about to turn sixteen. Both were somewhat naive and inexperienced in this regard. This interaction was undoubtedly awkward, amusing, and laughable, but as history would prove many years later, it was extremely successful—arguably the most successful and important interaction since the covenant between Emperor Taizong and the demon tribe chieftain.
"How many questions did you answer?"
Tang Thirty-Six asked. He was genuinely curious about the answer because he felt that although Chen Changsheng seemed ordinary, he... probably wasn't an ordinary person. When he noticed Chen Changsheng's pale face, he realized his question was inappropriate. Those sea-like exam questions had been taxing even for a genius like himself. Clearly, Chen Changsheng's mental energy had been severely depleted, and judging by his condition, the results probably weren't good.
"There were some cultivation-related questions I really couldn't answer—about divine sense, true essence, and Gathering Stars to Burn the Sun..."
Chen Changsheng answered honestly, feeling a bit lucky. Having read through the Daoist canon since childhood, those seemingly profound academic questions posed no difficulty for him. It was the cultivation questions he had no answers for. Fortunately, since it was just an entrance exam, there weren't too many of those.
As Tang Thirty-Six listened, he began to sense something was off. Only these questions couldn't be answered... Did that mean this kid had answered all the rest? Just then, he noticed a teacher on the other side of the lake carrying a thick stack of exam papers, hurrying quickly toward some building. The teacher seemed so emotionally stirred that he nearly tripped while climbing the stone steps. Tang Thirty-Six was momentarily stunned. Connecting this with Chen Changsheng's earlier words, he couldn't help but form a conjecture he himself found hard to believe—was this kid really going to shock everyone?
"As for the rest... you're sure you answered them all?"
"I wouldn't dare say I'm sure... The Supreme Pure Heart Mantra has two versions. In the year the State Religion was founded, a revision was made, and everyone has been using the revised version since. But the question specified a date before 1573, so I didn't know which version to use. In the end, I had to write down both versions. I'm afraid the teacher might be displeased and deduct points."
Hearing this, Tang Thirty-Six fell silent.
He only knew one version of that question and had only answered one version.
After a moment, he looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "I always thought that guy and I were the most arrogant figures among the younger generation. I never expected you to be even more arrogant than us."
Chen Changsheng was puzzled, wondering where he had been arrogant.
...
...
The rankings were posted.
Chen Changsheng's name wasn't on them.
He stood beneath the list, silent for a long time.
The crowd's eyes were unfriendly, filled with mockery, scorn, and contempt. If not for Tang Thirty-Six standing shoulder to shoulder with him, many harsh words would likely have been spoken by now.
"I don't understand," Chen Changsheng said.
Tang Thirty-Six didn't understand either. He believed this honest, warm youth wouldn't lie. If he said he had answered most of the questions, then he must have. By the score, even if he wasn't at the top, he should at least have made the list.
Chen Changsheng found the teacher who had been in charge of the sensing stone test and said, "I want to request a paper review."
The teacher was organizing miscellaneous matters and didn't meet his calm, persistent gaze. "Since you used the rules to gain the right to take the exam, you should know... our Heavenly Academy never allows paper reviews. This represents respect for the Academy. You didn't pass, so you didn't pass."
Chen Changsheng looked at him for a long time, then turned and left.
...
...
"He didn't say anything, but I know what he wanted to say... A kid like that, who can be angry without uttering harsh words, is truly remarkable." Tang Thirty-Six watched the youth's figure disappear on the other side of the lake, then turned to someone and said mockingly, "For the Heavenly Academy to dare not accept talent like that—truly remarkable."
"You're only two years older than him. Calling him a kid is amusing."
The Vice Dean of the Heavenly Academy said, "Even more amusing is, how do you know what he wanted to say?"
"He wanted to say, 'You'll regret this'... I know because if I had received the same treatment, I would have said those words out loud."
"Would the Heavenly Academy regret rejecting an ordinary student?"
"He's not an ordinary student. He's a genius like me."
The Vice Dean was silent for a moment before saying, "I saw that youth's exam paper. Without marrow cleansing, to have such vast knowledge and strong memory—he can indeed be called a genius. Even compared to Wang Zhice in his youth, he's not far off. Under normal circumstances, I would definitely admit him and teach him personally. But unfortunately, not this time."
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him and asked, "Why not?"
"Because someone put in a word," the Vice Dean said.
"Who?"
"The Divine General's Mansion."
"In today's world—one tyrant, five sages, eight powers, countless freaks on the Carefree Rankings, not to mention the demon tribe hiding in the wilds—the thirty-eight divine generals are certainly powerful... But what kind of place is the Heavenly Academy? That it would heed the orders of a Divine General's Mansion?"
"Your father entrusted you to my care, so I won't hide this from you, but you must not speak of it outside... An ordinary Divine General's Mansion naturally can't influence our Heavenly Academy, but this particular mansion is different. It's the Eastern Imperial Divine General's Mansion, and its master is Xu Shiji."
"Xu Shiji... Even if the Empress Dowager favors him and he's powerful, he's still just a divine general."
"But his family has the Phoenix..."
The cold pride in Tang Thirty-Six's expression could no longer hold upon hearing the word "Phoenix." It instantly dissolved. He was silent for a long time, then murmured, "...That Chen Changsheng guy actually managed to offend that Phoenix? Who exactly is he?"
The Vice Dean said calmly, "It doesn't matter who he is. He's already fourteen. Even if he awakens now, it's too late. There are too many geniuses in the world. Even if he has potential, so what? Earlier, I compared him to Wang Zhice. If he truly had Wang Zhice's perseverance and fortune, what difference would being in or out of the Heavenly Academy make?"
...
...
Chen Changsheng didn't know his failure was related to the Xu Mansion. He thought he had probably taken the spot of some powerful family's child in the capital, so someone had pulled strings against him. Though he was new to the mortal world, he had already seen plenty of deceit and corruption in Daoist texts and plays. All he could do was remain silent. What else could he do now?
He left the Heavenly Academy and headed toward the second academy on the list, still unaware that the carriage with the blood-phoenix emblem was following him from a distance.