Chapter 51: Enrollment Storm (Part 5)
Bie Tianxin’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze growing sharper. He hadn’t expected that, knowing his background, the other party would still act so recklessly and without restraint.
He had come to the capital this time on business, only to discover that an elder was facing some trouble. Having heard the names National Teaching Academy and Chen Changsheng often over the past year, he felt disdain and naturally refused to accept it, which was why he stepped forward. Guan Bai had given Chen Changsheng a year’s time, but Bie Tianxin lacked such patience. As for whether this was bullying the weak, he didn’t care. After all, his life had always been smooth sailing—outstanding talent, an astonishing background, respected wherever he went. When he once passed through Xunyang City during his travels, even Liang Wangsun treated him with courtesy. Even the madman Hua Jia Xiao Zhang, who disliked him, had never truly troubled him because of his family. Who would have thought that today he would encounter an opponent who played by no rules?
“I know you’re angry right now, but… you have to endure it. What can you do? Could you kill us all? I just can’t figure out what right you have to act so arrogant in front of us. How old is Zhe Xiu? How old are you? How old was he a few years ago? What’s there to be proud of in beating him? Think about it—when you were his age, could you have beaten any of us?”
The first half of this sentence was exactly what Bie Tianxin had said to them earlier; now Tang Thirty-Six was returning the favor verbatim.
“Is being one of the Eight Directions Winds and Rains enough to act so domineering? It might work elsewhere, but please open your eyes and see where you are.”
He pointed at the still-new gate of the National Teaching Academy behind him and sneered, “This is the National Teaching Academy, this is the Wen Shui Tang family, this is Su Li, this is the National Church, and this is the three saints. I usually hate using backgrounds and backing as leverage because I think it’s childish and embarrassing. But there are always people like you who love to bring that up. The problem is… if you want to play that game, can you possibly win against us?”
Hearing this, Bie Tianxin’s face turned pale. He suddenly realized that everything the other said was true. That elder had to tread carefully and cautiously to suppress the National Teaching Academy, but he himself… had perhaps been too impulsive.
Yet he was still a figure on the Carefree List, still one of the two Winds and Rains. Pushed to the brink by Tang Thirty-Six’s words, how could he just retreat?
His face was pale because he understood, and also because he knew he had to act—otherwise, his own and his family’s reputation would suffer severe damage.
His right hand had already gripped his sword hilt without him noticing.
Chen Changsheng stood in front of Tang Thirty-Six, his right hand only a hair’s breadth from the Stainless Sword, staring into Bie Tianxin’s eyes with focused calm, showing no sign of backing down.
Xuan Yuan Po had also prepared for battle, his gaze at Bie Tianxin fierce and savage, his usual simple demeanor replaced by the wild intensity of a demonic beast before transformation.
They all knew that if Bie Tianxin struck, he would be the strongest opponent the National Teaching Academy had faced since the Academy Tournament began.
And if Bie Tianxin attacked with killing intent, no one knew how it would end.
The area before the National Teaching Academy fell into dead silence. The crowd had scattered, and the atmosphere was tense.
But Tang Thirty-Six wasn’t nervous at all. He stepped out from behind Chen Changsheng and said to Bie Tianxin, “Think carefully about the consequences of starting a fight here.”
Then he turned to the palace priests and National Church cavalry and shouted, “What are you standing around for? Can’t you see your future Pope is about to be killed?”
He said this deliberately for Bie Tianxin to hear.
In the small building, the tea table still had the same two people sitting across from each other.
“How childish,” Mao Qiuyu said, watching the commotion at the National Teaching Academy, though it was unclear whether he meant Tang Thirty-Six or Bie Tianxin.
He knew well that Bie Tianxin’s parents were close to Daoist Si Yuan and Ling Hai Wang, much like the relationship between Zhu Luo, Guan Xing Ke, and the late Archbishop Mei Li Sha. He also knew that Bie Tianxin was praised by the world for reading people’s minds, but in the end, he was just a spoiled young master from a noble family. Otherwise, before stepping forward, how could he not have realized that these young people from the National Teaching Academy were not people he could afford to offend?
“Take him away,” Mao Qiuyu said to Daoist Si Yuan across from him. “His parents entrusted him to you back then; you can’t just watch him get into trouble.”
Daoist Si Yuan’s expression was grim, but he said nothing, standing up and walking downstairs.
Mao Qiuyu looked back at the National Teaching Academy, shaking his head. “After all these years, his temper hasn’t changed at all. No wonder he’s always been inferior to Guan Bai.”
Bie Tianxin left.
The National Teaching Academy had won this confrontation.
To many, this conflict seemed especially childish and ridiculous, more absurd than a child’s tantrum. But to those who knew Bie Tianxin’s true identity, this seemingly childish quarrel revealed a great deal.
The National Teaching Academy had once again proven to the entire capital its powerful background and hidden strength, and its momentum had already taken shape. Indeed, setting aside Princess Luoluo representing the White Emperor City, just the Pope’s attention and the relationship between Su Li and Chen Changsheng—aside from legitimate means like the Academy Tournament, who would dare to suppress the National Teaching Academy outside the rules?
The out-of-town students from various prefectures hadn’t known Bie Tianxin’s origins at first, but when they found out, they were utterly impressed by Tang Thirty-Six’s tough stance and gained a new understanding of the National Teaching Academy. The registration work, which had paused briefly, immediately became even more heated. Some young students who had earlier retrieved their application letters tried to sneak back in to re-register, but they couldn’t fool Tang Thirty-Six’s sharp eyes, and he unceremoniously drove them away.
Chen Changsheng said, “That’s too harsh.”
Tang Thirty-Six replied, “I’ve never tolerated sand in my eyes. If I can’t even tolerate Bie Tianxin, why should I put up with these guys?”
Chen Changsheng was genuinely curious about this friend and asked, “Have you always been like this since childhood?”
Tang Thirty-Six answered matter-of-factly, “If I only had the Wen Shui Tang family behind me, facing two of the Eight Directions Winds and Rains, of course I’d have to think twice. I might even swallow my pride on the spot. But now, isn’t there you?”
Chen Changsheng was left speechless by his matter-of-fact attitude. After a long silence, he said, “I’ve said it before—cursing isn’t good. You need to control yourself.”
Tang Thirty-Six raised an eyebrow and said, “What’s wrong with it? It feels great, doesn’t it?”
Chen Changsheng said, “Anger harms the liver, and hearing those curses isn’t good for the kids. A lot of people have already complained.”