Chapter 14: Dean Chen Who Meddles in Everything (Part 1)
"Youth is meant to be reckless... I suddenly feel that you resemble someone," Chen Changsheng said.
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him curiously and asked, "Who?"
Chen Changsheng replied, "Su Li."
Tang Thirty-Six's brows danced with delight as he said, "Grandfather once said that I do resemble him in his youth."
The two conversing had no idea that outside Xunyang City, the Southern Saintess had once said something similar to Su Li. Su Li was arrogant, and Tang Thirty-Six was arrogant too, though there were subtle differences—for instance, Tang Thirty-Six's arrogance was noticeably fresher and more refined.
As a young genius with an extraordinarily distinguished family background, Tang Thirty-Six had drawn no small amount of attention when he first arrived in the capital from Wenshui. He became a key student cultivated by the Heavenly Academy, yet at the Green Vine Banquet, he joined the long-declining National Academy.
No one could have imagined that the National Academy would gain new life in such a short time, shocking the entire capital city. But in the eyes of the capital's citizens, what truly restored the National Academy's reputation were Chen Changsheng, who was betrothed to Xu Yourong, and the supremely honored Princess Luoluo. Whether at the Green Vine Banquet or the Grand Court Exam, their brilliance was dazzling. The wolf-tribe youth Zhexiu, as a fringe figure of the National Academy, also performed exceptionally well. In comparison, Tang Thirty-Six seemed rather ordinary.
However, just as many thought Tang Thirty-Six would gradually fade into obscurity at the National Academy and become an ordinary student—while those young cultivators who had successfully broken through to the Tongyou realm at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum entered the Zhou Garden for trials and training—he suddenly exploded.
He continued to study the steles and comprehend the Dao at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, abandoning his life of luxury and idleness. He no longer looked lazy or indulgent, eating the terrible pickled fish and raw vegetable rice made by Guan Feibai, sleeping in his clothes, and cultivating upon waking. In just a few short months, he broke through two realms.
Now he was at the upper level of Tongyou. Looking back over the centuries since Su Li burst onto the scene, aside from him and figures like Wang Po, who had long shaken the continent with their fame, who else could have reached the upper level of Tongyou at his age? If not for Qiu Shanjun, Xu Yourong, and Chen Changsheng being utterly freakish, what he had accomplished could truly have shaken the entire continent.
As Old Master Tang had said, his only grandson really did resemble Su Li. So, when Tang Thirty-Six, who was so much like Su Li, saw Zhou Ziheng again outside the National Academy gates the next morning, how could he possibly have a good expression?
"According to the National Education's rules regarding the academy martial arts competition, the National Academy must confirm its response by today at the latest."
Zhou Ziheng looked at him and said, "We are all cultivators. Our future enemies are the demon race. In the end, many problems come down to swords and spears. Do you really think that by keeping the National Academy gates closed, the wind and rain outside won't get in?"
There was no rain this morning. Tianhai Yae, who had been sitting in a wheelchair for the past few days, didn't show up—perhaps because Tang Thirty-Six's kick yesterday had been too harsh. Only Zhou Ziheng stood before the gates.
True to his name, Zhou Ziheng was an arrogant man. He was a strong cultivator at the Juxing realm, with exceptional talent in cultivation. He was an instructor at the Ancestral Temple and a priest at the Zhechong Hall. More importantly, he was a guest retainer of the Tianhai family.
With these three identities, he could find no reason not to be arrogant. Of course, he knew very well that representing the Ancestral Temple to challenge the National Academy was beneath his status as a strong cultivator—clearly bullying the weak, somewhat shameful. But precisely because of this, he acted even more arrogantly—as if trampling the National Academy completely underfoot would allow him to avoid feeling so guilty.
Tang Thirty-Six took a couple of looks at this man before remembering who he was.
Yesterday, Zhou Ziheng had blocked his path. He hadn't expected this man to block his way again today.
Yesterday, he was returning to the National Academy. Today, he was going outside Baihua Lane to buy soy milk and fried dough sticks. He didn't like the breakfast Xuan Yuan Po made. No matter how well the porridge was cooked, with Chen Changsheng forbidding sugar and not even a single dish of pickled vegetables, how could he eat it?
He was already irritable from getting up, and now someone was blocking him from getting a satisfying breakfast. Tang Thirty-Six naturally wouldn't be polite.
"Idiot, move it," Tang Thirty-Six said to him.
Yesterday, it was these four words. Today, it was the same.
Zhou Ziheng had been furious yesterday, and he was even angrier today. His right hand again gripped the sword hilt at his waist. As before, a yawn sounded from the inn in the alley. The priests gathered around, and the soldiers raised their divine crossbows.
The scene before the National Academy gates was chaotic, but Tang Thirty-Six, who had caused this chaos, showed no reaction. He simply walked straight out.
To him, the soy milk and fried dough sticks from that old shop were far more important than this man named Zhou Ziheng.
"No academy can operate with its gates closed."
Zhou Ziheng stared at his back and said coldly, "Even if Chen Changsheng and you have deep backgrounds, if you really want to stall, in the end, the National Academy will only become a laughingstock in the capital."
Tang Thirty-Six stopped and turned back, asking, "What exactly are you trying to say to me?"
Zhou Ziheng's expression stiffened slightly. Recalling what he had witnessed last night, he knew this young man, relying on being Old Master Tang's only grandson, acted recklessly and without restraint. Seeing the slight raise of his brows now, he could guess that this youth was about to act shamelessly again.
"I have nothing to say to you."
He looked at Tang Thirty-Six expressionlessly and said, "I want to speak with Chen Changsheng."
"So you do know that Chen Changsheng is the dean of the National Academy." Tang Thirty-Six looked at him and said, "Then what status or position do you have? Is Dean Chen someone a little nobody like you can just see whenever you want?"
Only then did Zhou Ziheng realize that his three proud identities, even combined, didn't qualify him to request an audience with Chen Changsheng. On the contrary, just by directly calling Chen Changsheng by name, the National Academy could demand that Zhechong Hall punish him.
At this thought, his face turned somewhat ugly.
Just then, the National Academy gates were pushed open from inside, and Xuan Yuan Po's voice, as loud as a bell, rang out: "It's just buying soy milk and fried dough sticks—why is it taking so long? Hurry up, or Chen Changsheng will see and lecture us again."
Tang Thirty-Six was somewhat annoyed and said, "I'm buying with my own money. What business is it of his?"
Xuan Yuan Po waved his hand anxiously and said, "The soy milk doesn't matter, but the fried dough sticks..."
"Fried dough sticks are tasty, but they're deep-fried and bad for your health." Chen Changsheng arrived faster than they expected, walking out from the gates. He looked at Xuan Yuan Po and said, "Pull Tang Tang back. Go buy something else."
Tang Thirty-Six was furious upon hearing this: "I just want to eat fried dough sticks! Do you really think you're the dean, meddling in everything?"
"Haven't you already eaten them yesterday?"
Chen Changsheng was about to continue persuading him when he suddenly noticed Zhou Ziheng and instinctively stopped.
Zhou Ziheng looked at him and said, "I, the Ancestral Temple..."
Chen Changsheng said, "I'll be free tomorrow. Please have the Ancestral Temple choose the venue."
A dead silence fell before the National Academy gates.
Zhou Ziheng thought he had misheard and asked, "What did you say?"
Chen Changsheng said, "I represent the National Academy. I accept your challenge."
The crowd that had gathered for days to watch the excitement erupted in a buzz.
More than a dozen people dashed off into the capital's streets and alleys.
It wouldn't be long before the entire capital learned of what had happened this morning.
The National Academy had accepted the Ancestral Temple's challenge.
(There's a gathering today, so just this one chapter.)