Chapter 585: The Small Prelude to a Big Event
Guan Feibai's temperament was cold and fierce, yet also violent. How could he tolerate this? He shouted in a frigid voice, "You, a useless waste who only knows how to spend your family's money, dare to meddle in the affairs of my Li Mountain?"
Tang Thirty-Six sneered, "My family just happens to be this rich—what's it to you? Besides, last year I earned a Cheng Hu Tower in three days. Should I tell you about that too?"
Guan Feibai snorted coldly and said, "Then what business is it of yours what happens between my Li Mountain Sword Sect and that wolf cub? If you're truly bored out of your mind, why not spend your time learning a few more sword techniques? Otherwise, how could the sole grandson of the Tang family fail to even make it onto the Golden Roll?"
Tang Thirty-Six's expression changed upon hearing this. Not making it onto the Golden Roll was his greatest regret. Although learning that Zhe Xiu and Su Moyu also hadn't made the list had improved his mood somewhat, knowing that this very guy's name was now on the Golden Roll stung deeply.
He gritted his teeth and said, "No matter how you spin it, Zhe Xiu and Qi Jian are mutually affectionate. What right do you have to interfere? If you're truly bored out of your mind and can't surpass Zhong Hui, why not focus on improving your cooking skills? Damn it, stir-fried bacon with green peppers—and you actually put sugar in it! Is your brain broken, or is cooking in the Southern Lands just that bizarre?"
"Besides Chen Changsheng, whose cooking is even good?"
Guan Feibai was furious: "Don't even talk about cooking! When it comes to washing dishes, you break seven out of ten! And you still have the nerve to criticize my culinary skills?"
This, of course, referred to the time when everyone was at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum contemplating the steles and comprehending the Dao, living together in the small courtyard left behind by Xun Mei.
The relationship between the National Academy and the Li Mountain Sword Sect was truly complicated, difficult to sum up in a few simple sentences—especially among the younger generation of this era.
Whether it was because of that marriage contract, the world's knowledge of the relationship between Autumn Mountain Jun and Xu Yourong, or their competitive rivalry—from the Ivy Banquet to the Grand Examination, at first, the two sides were naturally opponents, even enemies. But at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, they lived under the same roof, ate from the same pot, contemplated the steles together, and exchanged insights. Hostility gradually faded, and familiarity grew. Especially after Chen Changsheng escorted Su Li ten thousand miles south, the two sides developed considerable camaraderie.
But they were all young, all young cultivation prodigies. The youths of the National Academy and the Six Divine Laws of Li Mountain were now the most highly regarded, often compared to one another. The competition between them seemed destined to last a long time—who would truly concede?
The atmosphere in the small building grew increasingly tense. Tang Thirty-Six and Guan Feibai's argument grew louder and more heated. Although both sides retained some rationality until the end—especially Tang Thirty-Six, who refrained from cursing the other's ancestors for eighteen generations as he did with challengers from the Ivy Academy—real anger still flared.
Guan Feibai's face was pale, not from powder or injury, but from rage: "Senior Brother, I can't take this anymore. I'm going to challenge him at the Stone Boiling Assembly!"
Hearing this, Liang Banhu's expression shifted slightly. Before they came, Gou Hanshi had instructed them that while the Li Mountain Sword Sect and the National Academy weren't exactly allies, they weren't enemies either. At the Stone Boiling Assembly, unless necessary, it was best not to fight each other.
Tang Thirty-Six was also enraged and shouted, "Chen Changsheng, you might be able to tolerate this, but I can't! At the Stone Boiling Assembly, you have to beat this guy into a pig's head!"
As he said this, they naturally turned to look at Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng.
But where were Gou Hanshi and Chen Changsheng in the building?
"Where did they go?" Tang Thirty-Six asked in surprise.
"They left," Zhe Xiu said. Then he looked at Guan Feibai with an indifferent expression and said, "At the assembly, I'll take you on."
With that, he turned and left the building.
Guan Feibai was stunned for a moment before reacting. Watching his retreating figure, he sneered, "Think I'm afraid of you?"
Tang Thirty-Six sneered from the side, "If you weren't afraid of him, why did you hesitate for a moment?"
Guan Feibai was furious and said, "If you've got the guts, fight him yourself! First you call for Chen Changsheng, then you call for him—do you even know what shame is?"
Tang Thirty-Six replied without changing his expression, "I don't even care about face, so how would I know how to write 'shame'? Not convinced? Then bite me."
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Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi had long since left the room and gone up to the high terrace. Standing by the railing, they gazed at the lake view.
They knew very well that the argument in the building wouldn't end anytime soon and was utterly meaningless. Listening to it would only dirty their ears.
"Why is it really?" Chen Changsheng asked Gou Hanshi seriously. "Mixed-blood between humans and demons is indeed heavily discriminated against, but I know that the Li Mountain Sword Sect—at least Senior Su Li—isn't that kind of person. Why must he stop this marriage?"
Gou Hanshi knew Chen Changsheng was a straightforward person. Without sufficient reason, he couldn't be convinced, so he said directly, "Zhe Xiu doesn't have long to live."
Chen Changsheng had considered many reasons. Through Xu Yourong's help, he had heard similar claims, but he never thought... it would actually be this.
"Zhe Xiu's body does have hidden problems, but they can definitely be cured."
He had been treating Zhe Xiu for a long time and hadn't stopped yet. He knew that the strange illness called "Heart's Tide" was indeed difficult to fully cure, but through reconstructing the meridians of Luo Luo and Xuan Yuan Po, he had gained considerable experience in this area. He believed he could eventually devise the perfect treatment plan.
Gou Hanshi looked at him with some surprise and said, "You know?"
Chen Changsheng said, "I've already started treating him."
Gou Hanshi thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Grandmaster Uncle has determined he will die young. You can't cure him."
Chen Changsheng said, "In other areas, I'm no match for Senior Su Li, but in this, he's no match for me."
Gou Hanshi recalled the widely known rumors about Chen Changsheng's master and realized this might indeed be true.
Nowadays, Ji Dao Ren was not widely known in the world, but centuries ago, he was the finest physician of his time.
Not to mention that his true identity was Dean Shang of the National Academy.
"You can convince me, but on this matter, you first need to convince Grandmaster Uncle," Gou Hanshi said. "Otherwise, I won't agree to Zhe Xiu going to Li Mountain to see her."
Chen Changsheng said, "Why must it be so extreme? It's just a meeting. I guarantee nothing else will happen."
Gou Hanshi looked at him calmly and said, "That is Li Mountain, the Origin of Ten Thousand Swords. Don't think about those elopement stories written in the novels."
The youths of the National Academy had indeed entertained such thoughts, even making secret preparations. Being so easily exposed by the other party, Chen Changsheng couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"If you're sure you can cure Zhe Xiu's illness, then why not wait until you've actually cured him before discussing this matter?"
Gou Hanshi raised a crucial point.
Chen Changsheng said, "Lovesickness is also a sickness. Zhe Xiu can handle it, but what about Qi Jian?"
Gou Hanshi thought of his little junior sister's furious shouts that night and didn't know how to respond. After a long while, he said, "I'll relay your words to her."
Chen Changsheng felt slightly relieved, thinking that if she could hold onto hope, Qi Jian's days at Li Mountain would likely be easier.
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(Since leaving Hubei, I've driven three thousand kilometers... Exhausted to the point of being an idiot. I still have to drive over seven hundred kilometers each of the next two days. I really can't write anymore. Please give me two days off. After returning to Daqing, I'll get back to normal work as soon as possible and write the first major climax of Ze Tian Ji solidly.)