Chapter 62: Two Wildflowers on the Mountain Cliff (Part 2)
Since arriving in the capital from Xining Town, the most important thing Chen Changsheng had experienced was not going to the Eastern Divine General’s mansion to break off his engagement, nor was it encountering the stranded Luoluo at the National Academy, and it wasn’t even meeting the black dragon deep within Tong Palace. Although those two encounters had altered his fate to some extent, what truly impacted his life was still that meal at the Plum Garden Inn.
He met Tang Thirty-Six, and only then did he realize that youth was meant for wildness and abandon, not for living like himself and Senior Brother Yu Ren—still young, yet living as ascetically and plainly as old monks who had attained the Way for many years. Only then did he understand that some things in the world were worth fighting for, and some things should simply be let go. Or rather, from Tang Thirty-Six, he learned how to live more lightly.
Correspondingly, since coming to the capital from Wenshui, the most important thing for Tang Thirty-Six was also meeting Chen Changsheng. He learned even more from Chen Changsheng.
They were kindred spirits, not because they were exactly alike, but precisely because they were complete opposites. One was active, the other still; one was like water, the other like fire. Working together, they truly unleashed power far beyond what their age should have allowed.
More crucially, if Chen Changsheng and Tang Thirty-Six had never met, the Green Vine Banquet might not have unfolded as it did, the outcome of the Grand Examination could have changed drastically, the National Academy would absolutely not have reopened its gates and recruited new students at this time, and Chen Changsheng would not have been able to withstand the pressure from the Tianhai family and the new faction of the National Church. The entire story would have taken a completely different path.
One could even say history itself would have changed.
In this sense, that meeting between Chen Changsheng, still a country Daoist boy, and Tang Thirty-Six, newly arrived in the capital, at the Heavenly Dao Academy was truly immensely important.
“Maybe you did it on purpose. Maybe you meant it.”
“—But it definitely wasn’t unintentional.”
Tang Thirty-Six looked into his eyes and continued, “You never once thought that, like Princess Luoluo, I also carry heavy responsibilities.”
Chen Changsheng believed that Luoluo bore the heavy burden of the demon race and shouldn’t have to endure the pressure of the confrontation between the two major human powers. So he didn’t let her return to the National Academy and even deliberately reduced the number of times he met her. But he never imagined that Tang Thirty-Six was the heir of the Tang family of Wenshui. After everything he had done in the capital, in the eyes of those paying attention, it would all be seen as the will of Old Master Tang…
Hearing Tang Thirty-Six’s words now, he finally understood. A surge of apology rose within him, and he wanted to say something.
Tang Thirty-Six raised his right hand, signaling him not to waste words with nonsense. “But it doesn’t matter, because I’m not an adult yet, so I can temporarily ignore these matters.”
“You just asked me what I really want to do, and why I’m helping you. You’re wrong. I’m not helping you; I’m helping myself. Because I’m also a student of the National Academy. This place isn’t yours alone, Chen Changsheng. What do I want to do? I want to go back to Wenshui and inherit the family business without having to think about the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people, without having to think about the family’s continuation for a thousand generations. I don’t want to write about those heavy problems. I just want to do it for myself, for us—to let loose and have a wild, exhilarating time.”
Tang Thirty-Six looked at Chen Changsheng and said, “A few days ago, I told you here that young people should live like young people. Laugh when you should laugh, curse when you should curse, and… why hasn’t Ouyang Po been smashing that tree today? Is the pastry at Cheng Hu Lou really that good? Anyway, when you eventually become the most powerful person in the world, and people mention me, besides the title of Tang family head, they’ll also recall that hundreds of years ago, you and I made the National Academy stand tall again here in the capital. That would feel damn good to me.”
He was destined to be the head of the Tang family of Wenshui, the richest man on the continent. This required no struggle, no effort. So he valued the future of the National Academy even more, because it wasn’t a legacy from his ancestors, but a cause they had built with their own hands.
All young people like to talk about struggle, but not all young people understand this truth.
“I will work hard.”
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment, then added, “For certain reasons, I was already going to strive to become the most powerful person in the world. So this is just a side benefit.”
Tang Thirty-Six said, “The phrase ‘side benefit’ is well used. I appreciate it. It sounds detached, particularly nonchalant. When you really become the most powerful person in the world in the future, don’t forget that word.”
Chen Changsheng said, “I will remember.”
Tang Thirty-Six reached out his hand and said, “Deal.”
Chen Changsheng had never performed this kind of ritual. Somewhat clumsily, he imitated Tang Thirty-Six and reached out his hand.
Tang Thirty-Six casually shook his hand, then let go.
“Let’s go. The Teaching Secretariat just sent word that the National Academy has guests. We need to prepare.”
“You’re the dean. Of course, you handle that kind of thing. I can’t be bothered. Let me stay here a while longer.”
Tang Thirty-Six walked toward the large banyan tree by the lake and said, “Before, you and Princess Luoluo always hogged this tree. Now it’s my turn to enjoy it.”
Chen Changsheng said nothing more and turned to leave. After a moment, hearing a sound from the big banyan tree, he looked back and saw Tang Thirty-Six already standing on one of its branches.
Starlight scattered from the night sky, enveloping the big banyan tree, coating his clothes with a faint layer of starry luster. From a distance, he looked like a very pretty little silver man.
The schemes of the Tianhai family and the new faction of the National Church had encountered setbacks they had never anticipated.
No one could clearly tell whether this was now a conspiracy drama or a farce.
Under the seemingly chaotic but actually quite tough and resilient resistance of Chen Changsheng and Tang Thirty-Six, this offensive, which had begun with the Academy Martial Exhibition, was forced to a temporary halt before it could turn into a violent storm. After Su Moyu taught that servant named Ye Xingqing a lesson, Bie Tianxin must have understood that this represented his father’s warning, and he did not appear again until the end of the competition.
The National Academy enjoyed a temporary peace, and then soon welcomed its first batch of guests.
Early morning, before it was too hot, the main gate of the National Academy was fully open. Clerics from the Li Palace waited outside. The new students, who had just finished breakfast or had already started their morning reading, looked over curiously. A rumor began to spread. The students’ faces showed expressions of excitement and nervousness as they drifted toward the gate, peering out curiously. Before long, two carriages stopped in front of the academy gate. Imperial Forest Army soldiers clearing the way handed over to National Church cavalry. Palace maids walked to the front of the two carriages and respectfully helped the people inside alight.
The visitors to the National Academy were Mo Yu and an old man.
(Weekend was too relaxing. I’m planning to rest today—the first day of this month, I suppose. Of course, ‘rest’ means I’m not writing today, but that doesn’t mean there’s no update. This is the update. There’s another chapter tonight. Having a backlog of drafts really changes your life completely. I wish you all a weekend as pleasant as mine.)