Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 1118 – Let Everyone See

While the southern experts came north with the excuse of the Grand Examination and Xu Yourong was wielding the authority of the southern diplomatic mission, while storms gathered between the capital and Luoyang, and thunder began to boom across all levels of society, Chen Changsheng never once stated his opinion. He quietly sat in his stone room, comprehending the sword, until today. He had suddenly exploded with power, borrowing the momentum to force Shang Xingzhou to agree to a fight with him.

He could truly be said to have racked his brains for all this.

He naturally wanted to win this fight, but more important was the fight itself.

He wanted to use this fight to force Shang Xingzhou to the edge of the cliff, to the most extreme of situations.

He wanted Shang Xingzhou to vividly feel the danger of defeat, feel strange gazes, feel the irresolute future that came from all things turning to nothing.

Only this way could Shang Xingzhou clearly see himself, see how small he was beneath his blue Daoist robe, properly see the heart that he had never seen before.

Just what was Shang Xingzhou’s heart thinking about? Just how did he regard everything related to Chen Changsheng?

Chen Changsheng’s words were his view on Shang Xingzhou.

‘You cannot admit that you are wrong, but you knew long ago that you were wrong. Thus, in the past few years, you never tried to do the deed yourself, only let the people from the Tianhai clan and the Great Western Continent come to kill me. You simply never wanted to kill me, even though you yourself were never clear on this fact.’

There was an unshakable reasoning to these words.

With Shang Xingzhou’s cultivation level and his will as sturdy as an old pine, even with all the restrictions the Pope had left before his death, even with all of Chen Changsheng’s helpers and extreme prudence, if he had truly wanted to kill Chen Changsheng, his efforts over the last few years would not have been so fruitless. Moreover, the White Tiger Divine General’s attempt could even be called a joke.

This was the truth that Chen Changsheng had wanted to expose to Shang Xingzhou, his true heart.

Shang Xingzhou said nothing as he looked at Chen Changsheng, his eyes extremely cold.

He did not seem to be looking at a real person, an actual living being. Instead, in his eyes were weeds in a pot, a sour fruit.

Was what Chen Changsheng said true?

In those years in Xining Village’s old temple, the one who had fed Chen Changsheng porridge and fish to let him grow had been Yuren, and the one to teach Chen Changsheng was still Yuren.

Shang Xingzhou had not been very close to Chen Changsheng, and rarely taught him.

Had it not been because he had not felt any sentiment toward Chen Changsheng, but because he was afraid that he would begin to feel sentimental?

In the last few years, the entire world knew that he did not like Chen Changsheng, but they did not know why.

It turned out the derision, contempt, and disdain had all been false. Had he only wanted to maintain distance so that he could harden his heart?

In the end, however, Chen Changsheng was still that shadow on his Dao heart.

How could he wipe away that shadow, how could he calm his heart?

He could not kill Chen Changsheng, because what had happened had happened.

Perhaps he had to do as Chen Changsheng said.

Admit that he was wrong?

Several gazes examined Shang Xingzhou’s face.

Shang Xingzhou looked at Chen Changsheng and smiled.

His smile contained unconcealed ridicule.

“You think too much.”

After saying this, he turned and walked out of the Orthodox Academy.

His blue Daoist robe was completely stained in blood. It looked like an inky black lotus flower slowly swaying in the wind.

Chen Changsheng silently watched as his figure faded into the distance.

Even at the end, no one had admitted their loss, but everyone knew who had won.

He had defeated his master, the strongest person in the world.

He had not only won this match, but also the battle of minds between master and disciple.

No matter which angle one looked at it from, this was an extraordinary feat, the glory of kings.

Logically speaking, the ruins of the Maple Forest Pavilion, no, the entire Orthodox Academy should have brimming with a joyous air.

But there was none, because Chen Changsheng remained silent, his lips so tightly pursed that they were going white.

The closest one to him was Xu Yourong.

As she watched his silence, the joy in her eyes gradually faded into a faint pity.

“I never thought that you were so skilled at speaking.”

She smiled as she spoke, wanting to comfort him.

Chen Changsheng had said many words to Shang Xingzhou today. In his agitated state, his words had been rather sharp.

“That’s because you speak too little with him, or else you would know that what he’s best at is dissing people.”

Tang Thirty-Six’s eyebrows were soaring upward as he spoke. He showed no sign that he was making fun of Chen Changsheng, as his entire face seemed to indicate that he was proud to be in his company.

Soon after, he turned his head and said in impatience, “Do you need me to invite you?”

The target of his words didn’t understand what he meant.

Tang Thirty-Six said, “The fight’s already over, so what are you still poking around here for? You should quickly leave, and I certainly have no plans to invite you to a meal.”

He was the Superintendent of the Orthodox Academy, so he naturally had the right to both welcome and drive out guests.

The problem was that he was speaking to Wang Zhice.

Not even Emperor Taizong or the Tianhai Divine Empress had ever used such an impatient tone with Wang Zhice.

And no one had ever claimed that Wang Zhice was poking around.

Shaking his head, Wang Zhice turned to leave the Orthodox Academy.

“Who are you displaying this graceful and elegant posture for? You still lost in the end!”

Tang Thirty-Six spat at the ground.

Wang Po walked up to Chen Changsheng and examined his face. After confirming that he was okay, he bid farewell.

From start to finish, there were no words exchanged, and certainly no thanks. All was conducted in indifference.

Whether it was in Xunyang City back then, last year in Wenshui City, or this year in the capital, it was all the same.

Chen Changsheng turned to Xu Yourong and said, “I won.”

Xu Yourong gave him a look of praise. “Outstanding.”

After a moment’s pause, Chen Changsheng added, “I didn’t cry.”

Xu Yourong used a hand to wipe the dust from his face and said in a voice tinged with heartache, “This is also outstanding.”

Chen Changsheng looked into the distance.

The academy wall there was in ruins.

The bright yellow imperial robe was striking in the overcast weather.

Yuren was standing there.

……

……

A deathly stillness had settled over Hundred Flowers Lane.

The final result had stunned the crowd.

No one left. One reason was that they were still too shocked, but another reason was that the gate of the Orthodox Academy was still closed.

The Emperor and Pope were talking inside.

With the fight over, no one could stop these martial brothers from meeting.

But one hour had already passed. Just what were they talking about?

The heavy gate of the Orthodox Academy slowly opened.

Chen Changsheng walked out.

A dagger was tied to his waist.

His hair was in somewhat of a mess.

His body was covered in dust and blood.

His eyes were a little red.

He looked very tired.

Even somewhat dejected.

But no one dared to believe this.

Xu Yourong walked on his left-hand side.

Tang Thirty-Six walked behind him.

Linghai Zhiwang solemnly bowed. “Paying respects to His Holiness the Pope.”

The priests of the Li Palace began to kneel and bow.

The first sounds were sparse, but as more were added, they became neat and orderly.

More and more people kneeled on the ground.

There were Orthodoxy cavalry and also black-armored cavalry.

The ministers of the court also kneeled.

The ten-some princes silently stared at each other, but they also eventually chose to slowly kneel.

Chen Changsheng walked out of the lane.

The crowd gradually parted and kneeled.

It was like a tide.

Drowning out the capital.

And on to the rest of the continent.