Chapter 180: Sunset Glow, Yet a New Dawn
The Dust-Washing Pavilion was utterly silent, both downstairs and upstairs.
No one knew how to evaluate such a battle. It was only much later that His Eminence, Bishop Merisa, sighed and uttered three words: "Extraordinary."
These three words were meant for Chen Changsheng, and also for Gou Hanshi. Chen Changsheng's extraordinariness lay in his ability to remain so calm, even numb, in the face of the great terror between life and death—thus, he was fearsome. Gou Hanshi's extraordinariness lay in his ability to remain composed at the most critical moment of his cultivation journey, using reason to transform a young man's hot blood into another kind of power: the power of letting go.
Thus ended the final match of this year's Grand Examination, concluding with Gou Hanshi's withdrawal. The top rank and first place of the Grand Examination had been decided, yet the hearts of the great figures remained complex, inexpressibly so.
The light rain gradually ceased. In the sky above the Academy, a few strands of clouds lingered. Sunlight grew stronger, streaming through the windows and falling upon people's faces. Merisa's expression was blank, as if lost in thought. Mo Yu's expression was blank; no one knew what she was thinking. Xu Shiji's expression was blank, though many knew what he was thinking. The two Archbishops of the Holy Chapel wore blank expressions because they themselves didn't know what to think.
Gou Hanshi walked out of the Dust-Washing Pavilion and stood on the stone steps. He paid no heed to the gazes fixed on him, nor did he speak to the junior brothers who hurried to his side. Instead, he looked up at the sky above.
In the depths of the real world's Li Palace, His Holiness the Pope gazed at the water droplets on Qing Ye's face, shook his head, and took a handkerchief from his sleeve. Carefully, he wiped those droplets away.
As the Pope's hand moved slowly, the sky above the Academy also changed.
Gou Hanshi watched as the rain clouds were wiped away, the sky returning to its azure blue. His heart, too, broadened once more. The negative emotions stirred by those final few sword strikes in the Dust-Washing Pavilion gradually dissipated.
Outside the Dust-Washing Pavilion, all the examinees stared at the door atop the stone steps.
They saw Gou Hanshi walk out. Moments later, Chen Changsheng also emerged—more accurately, he was carried out by Li Palace priests on a stretcher. Then the Li Palace priests announced the final result.
Chen Changsheng had won?
This youth from the National Academy had truly taken the top rank and first place of the Grand Examination?
Outside the Dust-Washing Pavilion, there was a deathly silence, then an explosive uproar.
Many of the examinees still present wore extremely grim expressions, especially those students from the Ancestral Sacrifice Hall and the Li Palace Affiliated Academy who had mocked Chen Changsheng endlessly on the Divine Path days earlier.
That little junior sister from Holy Maiden Peak, Ye Xiaolian, was so shocked she couldn't even speak.
Suddenly, wild shouts erupted from the edge of the forest.
Tang Thirty-Six, Luoluo, and Xuan Yuan Po dashed toward the front of the Dust-Washing Pavilion.
When they reached the pavilion and confirmed the result of the match, Tang Thirty-Six was silent for a moment, then burst into loud laughter. As he laughed, he deliberately placed his hands on his hips, gazing at the examinees below the stone steps who had once dismissed Chen Changsheng with contempt. His laughter was especially arrogant, because he was truly proud and triumphant.
Xuan Yuan Po was also stirred with excitement, too thrilled to speak. His face flushed red, and his green stubble seemed ready to pierce through his skin. He raised a fist as big as a sand bowl and aimed it at Chen Changsheng's chest on the stretcher.
At this moment, Chen Changsheng was severely injured. If he took such a punch, what would the outcome be?
Fortunately, Xuan Yuan Po's fist was blocked by a small hand. Luoluo crouched beside the stretcher, withdrew her left hand, and looked at Chen Changsheng's pale, blood-soaked face, her own small face filled with worry.
"I promised myself, and I promised you all, that I would win."
Chen Changsheng held her right hand, looking at her, and said, "I won."
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth stretched wide, and his smile looked foolish.
Tang Thirty-Six turned to look at him, worried, and said, "You haven't been beaten stupid, have you?"
Just then, Guan Feibai's voice rang out from before the Dust-Washing Pavilion: "What is this about?"
His voice was cold and furious.
He could never accept that his second senior brother had lost to Chen Changsheng.
Earlier, outside the Dust-Washing Pavilion, they had witnessed many strange phenomena, but no matter what, he couldn't find a reason for his senior brother to lose to Chen Changsheng... Moreover, now Gou Hanshi wasn't seriously injured and could still stand quietly on the stone steps, while Chen Changsheng lay covered in blood on a stretcher.
How could this possibly mean Chen Changsheng had won?
The area outside the pavilion instantly fell into utter silence.
Countless pairs of eyes fixed on Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng.
Many others shared Guan Feibai's thoughts. Unless Gou Hanshi admitted defeat, or someone could provide a reason convincing to all, everyone would suspect foul play in this match.
Gou Hanshi raised his right hand, signaling his junior brothers to say no more.
With Luoluo's help, Chen Changsheng sat up and looked at him seriously, saying, "Thank you."
Gou Hanshi was silent for a long time, replaying the entire battle in the pavilion from start to finish in his mind. Finding no omissions, he said, "You deserved the victory. Why thank me?"
Chen Changsheng replied, "I am not your equal; I merely had some advantages."
Gou Hanshi understood his meaning and shook his head, saying, "In battle, every aspect is tested. Even if you are inferior to me in ninety-nine ways, if you surpass me in just one, that is still victory."
Outside the Dust-Washing Pavilion, silence reigned. Guan Feibai, Qi Jian, and Liang Banhu were utterly bewildered, unable to grasp this reasoning—how could one surpass in ninety-nine ways, yet only one be enough?
"Because that one is the most important."
Gou Hanshi said to Chen Changsheng, and also to explain to his three junior brothers: "It's like a barrel—the most important part is always the shortest plank. Where you surpass me in that one thing, everything else falls short."
What was that most important thing? Only Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng knew: it was their view of life and death. After hearing this, Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then said, "I still owe you an apology."
Gou Hanshi smiled but didn't respond. He turned to Guan Feibai and said, "I... am a bit hungry."
Guan Feibai still didn't understand what had happened in the decisive battle, but since his senior brother had conceded, his proud nature wouldn't let him dwell on it. Still worried about his senior brother's state of mind, he tried to keep his voice gentle and calm, asking, "Senior brother, what would you like to eat?"
Gou Hanshi thought for a moment and said, "Porridge."
Liang Banhu said, "It should be getting dark outside. I'm not sure if it'll be easy to find."
Qi Jian said softly, "If it's leftover from the day, I'm worried it might be cold."
Gou Hanshi said, "Cold porridge is even better."
With these utterly ordinary words, the four disciples of Li Mountain Sword Sect accepted the result of this Grand Examination and walked out of the Academy. They were strong and proud young men, and thus they were so proud.
The Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom were indeed the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom.
"Let's go too," Luoluo said.
Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po took the stretcher from the Li Palace priests.
Just then, Mo Yu walked out of the Dust-Washing Pavilion. She approached the group from the National Academy, first bowed to Luoluo, then looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "Congratulations."
Chen Changsheng said, "Thank you."
Mo Yu's slender brows lifted slightly, and she said with hidden meaning, "I only hope this truly is a joyous occasion."
By now, the examinees outside the pavilion had recognized this palace-robed beauty and bowed to her, but before they could approach to pay their respects, Mo Yu drifted away.
Chen Changsheng and the others pondered the words she left behind. Their initially excellent mood was suddenly shrouded in gloom, but they had no time to think deeper, for someone else soon arrived.
Xue Xingchuan and Prince Chenliu walked out of the Dust-Washing Pavilion and offered congratulations to the four students of the National Academy. Prince Chenliu's expression of goodwill was understandable, but Xue Xingchuan, as the divine general most favored by Her Holiness the Saint, had no reason to do such things, leaving Chen Changsheng and the others even more bewildered.
When Bishop Merisa walked out of the Dust-Washing Pavilion and came before them, everyone knew no other great figures would appear, for the old man directly said, "Let's leave the palace together."
It wasn't a question; it was an invitation. It couldn't be refused, and there was no reason to refuse.
Now the entire continent knew that Chen Changsheng and the National Academy were representatives of the old faction of the National Religion. And it had to be admitted that without this old man and the covert protection of the Ecclesiastical Office he led, Chen Changsheng would have had no chance of taking the top rank and first place of the Grand Examination.
So, whether they admitted it or not, Chen Changsheng and the National Academy could no longer be separated from this ancient, great figure. The only thing they could do now was accept.
Luoluo's situation was special. At such a sensitive moment, she couldn't appear with Merisa before the crowds outside the Li Palace, because she represented the stance of the demon race. Amid the internal strife of the human world, she had to be extremely cautious, even refraining from showing any attitude.
Chen Changsheng looked at her and said comfortingly, "It's fine. You go back first. We'll meet at the Academy."
Luoluo's sadness eased slightly. She took his hand and said, "Teacher, take good care of your injuries."
After taking medicine and receiving some treatment, Chen Changsheng no longer needed to lie on the stretcher. Supported by Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po, he followed the Bishop out of the Academy.
Luoluo lived in the Academy and didn't need to leave; she only needed to see them off.
Before long, the group of one old man and three youths walked out of Qingxian Hall.
Looking around, they saw the sunset glow dyeing the sky red, with night looming in the distance. Only then did they realize it was already the evening of the second day—the Grand Examination had lasted two days and one night.
At this thought, they felt an overwhelming weariness, fatigue suddenly surging within them.
Outside the Li Palace, people crowded everywhere, a dark sea of them.
The onlookers who had come for the spectacle refused to leave. Many clutched their betting slips, anxiously awaiting the final result. Around the stone pillars, teachers and elders from various academies and sects waited for their examinees to emerge.
The Grand Examination had finally ended, and the final result had been announced. Those teachers and elders, despite their astonishment, were ultimately most concerned about their own examinees.
The examinees filed out of Qingxian Hall one by one, walking along the Divine Path toward the outside of the Li Palace, reuniting with their waiting families and teachers in various scenes. Some examinees shouted joyfully, their families weeping with surprise and happiness. Others wore gloomy expressions, their relatives offering endless comfort. Still others looked dazed, their academy teachers scolding them sternly.
As more and more examinees left the palace, the area outside the Li Palace gradually grew quiet. The four disciples of Li Mountain Sword Sect, after leaving Qingxian Hall, went directly to the guest courtyard and did not reappear, yet the people still waited for something.
The setting sun slanted westward, the sunset glow dreamlike. On the Divine Path, the stone steps stretched endlessly.
Chen Changsheng, supported by Tang Thirty-Six and Xuan Yuan Po, slowly descended the stone steps.
The Bishop walked at their side, slightly behind.
Inside and outside the Li Palace, all was silent.
The sunset glow fell upon the steps, a warm red, no different from the early morning.