Chapter 524: Utter Nonsense
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Compared to the people on both sides of the Luo River, those on the boat were even more puzzled.
The battle had been over for some time, yet Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong had not stepped down from the Bridge of Helplessness. Instead, they stood quietly at the other end, seemingly gazing at something.
Whether it was Mao Qiuyu, the King of Linghai, or even Xu Shiji, they all assumed Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong were strangers. Moreover, they understood the hidden implications behind this battle on the Bridge of Helplessness, so they didn’t believe Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong would develop any mutual admiration through this sword debate. Why, then, had the battle just ended, and why could they stand together so calmly? And so close to each other? What were they doing at this moment?
“What’s going on here?” Tang Thirty-Six said, looking at the backs of the two figures on the snow-covered bridge.
Mo Yu felt the same. Recalling the night Xu Yourong had visited the National Academy, she grew even more suspicious and furrowed her brow slightly.
Tang Thirty-Six said irritably, “Whether they’re pretending to be lonely or imitating despair, can they at least consider the feelings of us spectators?”
Su Moyu asked from the side, “What feelings?”
Tang Thirty-Six pointed at Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong on the Bridge of Helplessness and said, “They just fought such an intense battle, both clearly injured, and now with tens of thousands of people staring at them, they still have the mood to enjoy the snow here? Don’t you think this is too… what’s the word?”
That “what’s the word” was a curse.
The people on both sides of the Luo River and on the boat might have had different feelings, but no one else felt like cursing the way he did at that moment.
Because the scene on the Bridge of Helplessness was truly beautiful.
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…
Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong stood at the far end of the bridge, their backs to the large boat on the Luo River and the tens of thousands of people on both shores, as if they were no longer in this world.
After an unknown amount of time, Chen Changsheng lifted his head, looked at her, and said, “You…”
Xu Yourong didn’t look at him. She gazed upstream of the Luo River and said calmly, “Don’t speak.”
Chen Changsheng hesitated and said, “Then I…”
Xu Yourong raised an eyebrow slightly and said, “Didn’t I say don’t speak?”
Chen Changsheng lowered his head and said, “Oh.”
Xu Yourong watched a snowflake drifting before her and said, “Don’t tell anyone about us.”
Didn’t she just say not to speak? Chen Changsheng only dared to think this in his mind. Then, considering her request, he felt puzzled.
“Huh?”
Xu Yourong suddenly asked, “Are you happy?”
Chen Changsheng answered honestly, “Mm.”
Xu Yourong turned to look at him, smiled, and said, “How foolish.”
Chen Changsheng scratched his head and said, “Ah.”
“I’m leaving first,” Xu Yourong said.
Chen Changsheng was surprised and said anxiously, “Ah?”
Xu Yourong reached out to take the Zhai Sword and walked toward the other end of the snow-covered bridge.
Chen Changsheng watched her figure gradually disappear into the wind and snow, completely at a loss for how to react.
He once again felt the same sensation he had experienced a few days ago at Zhou’s Mausoleum.
Countless emotions surged like a tide.
This time, the tide was no longer filled with sorrow but was overwhelmingly complex.
Dazed, he stood on the Bridge of Helplessness, watching the white crane fly away, then suddenly noticed that chicken-like young Peng.
In the wind and snow, the young Peng turned its head to glance at him, its expression extremely mocking.
He turned back to look at the Luo River, leaning against the railing, his head bowed.
He didn’t cover his face with his hands, but he knew his cheeks were burning hot.
He didn’t cover his face with his hands also because he was holding a small slip of paper.
This small slip of paper was secretly slipped into his hand by Xu Yourong when she took the Zhai Sword earlier.
In the Six Ivies, in the private schools and county academies of the provinces, when the spring light shone brightly outside the windows, small slips of paper would constantly circulate between desks.
Those slips of paper were like the spring light itself.
Today, amid wind and snow, in front of tens of thousands of people in the capital, he too had received a small slip of paper.
On the slip was written an address and a time.
Bean Flower Fish at Fushui Road.
After dusk today.
This was the first time Chen Changsheng had received such a small slip of paper.
He recalled the scholar-beauty novels he had read and Tang Thirty-Six’s usual teachings, and thought uncertainly, does this mean a date?
The wind and snow continued as before, and the Bridge of Helplessness gradually grew lively.
Xu Yourong conceded and then left. This highly anticipated battle had finally come to an end.
Leaving aside what changes this battle on the Bridge of Helplessness might bring to the confrontation between the Li Palace and the imperial court, this battle would surely be recorded in history as the first meeting between the future Pope and Saintess, and would be mentioned countless times. For instance, many people now wanted to know the details of this battle.
Especially Tang Thirty-Six.
He completely ignored the signals from the National Church cavalry and the Imperial Guard, dashing like a puff of smoke onto the Bridge of Helplessness. Looking at Chen Changsheng, he asked breathlessly, “Who really won?”
Chen Changsheng’s mind was still in a daze. Hearing his question, he instinctively replied, “She didn’t lose.”
“I warned you not to go easy on her just because she’s beautiful! And now look—you didn’t go easy with your sword, but you’re playing this game with your words. If she didn’t lose, does that mean you lost?” Tang Thirty-Six said angrily. “Xu Yourong has already admitted she lost, and you still want to fool me!”
Chen Changsheng didn’t understand why he was so furious. He thought, even if that were the case, as his friend, shouldn’t he be happy?
“Since you could beat her, why did you make me bet on you losing before the battle? What were you thinking?”
Tang Thirty-Six was fuming at the thought of it and said, “Are you a pig!”
Only then did Chen Changsheng remember this matter, and many other things as well. He said shamefacedly, “Yes, I’m a pig.”
Tang Thirty-Six was stunned. He finally noticed something was off with him; Chen Changsheng seemed utterly lost and dejected.
…
…
Under the gaze of countless capital citizens and amid the cheers from both sides of the streets, Chen Changsheng and the others returned to the National Academy.
Outside the academy walls, the taverns hung high with colorful lanterns, and the sound of zithers played chaotically. The teachers and students, proud and joyful over the dean’s victory, were celebrating wildly there.
After returning to his room, Chen Changsheng didn’t come out for a long time.
Tang Thirty-Six, Su Moyu, and Xuanyuan Po stood downstairs, looking up at the window on the third floor, their faces full of suspicion.
Chen Changsheng had ultimately won this world-famous battle, and he had won beautifully, with no room for criticism. But why couldn’t they see much of the emotion a victor should have on his face? Even if his relationship with Xu Yourong had involved a marriage contract, making his feelings somewhat complicated, why would it be to this extent?
What exactly had happened on the Bridge of Helplessness? What problem had Chen Changsheng encountered?
“For someone with a cleanliness obsession to admit he’s a pig…”
Tang Thirty-Six stared at the window, his expression grave, and said, “This matter seems far from simple.”
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