Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 695 – To Not Meet Again

Of course, only when one understood would one be sad.

However, Chen Changsheng was sad not because he understood, but because of the departures and the difficulty of meeting again.

With his current status and his relationship with Luoluo, if the Chief Princess visited the capital, it was only proper that she come to visit him, but she had not.

This was the stance of the demi-humans.

“His Majesty is friends with that teacher of yours.”

Jin Yulu looked at him and sighed. “So at the very beginning, His Majesty did not care that you and Princess Luoluo were so close, and even hoped for success in the future. However, His Majesty calculated all, but he was unable to calculate that your teacher would have other thoughts, and that you…would also have other thoughts.”

Chen Changsheng kept his silence, not explaining his reasons.

Jin Yulu continued, “Of course, even if your teacher gets new ideas, His Majesty has means of helping you protect your position as successor of the Pope.”

The words of Saints carry unbounded might.

Chen Changsheng thought of these words.

His teacher Shang Xingzhou was also naturally a Saint.

But the words of two Saints still had to carry more strength than the words of one.

If the White Emperor persisted in supporting him, along with the official designation from the Pope, even Shang Xingzhou would be unable to protest.

Would the White Emperor support him? Before today, this did not seem like a problem he needed to consider.

Everyone believed that this was a right and expected matter.

Chen Changsheng was Luoluo’s teacher and had always had a close relationship with the demi-humans. If he were to ascend to the seat of the Pope, this was in every respect the best result for the demi-humans.

Now it seemed that the White Emperor’s stance had clearly changed.

“Your display has been far too immature. His Majesty is deeply concerned by this.”

Jin Yulu explained, “Even if we support you and assist you in becoming master of the Li Palace, do you have the ability to sit steadily upon that throne? If you cannot, then why should we support you?”

Chen Changsheng’s mind felt somewhat dazed.

It felt like he had the word ‘mature’ quite a lot recently.

At the age of fourteen, when he entered the capital, he had a composure and steadiness that far surpassed his age. Rarely was there anyone that felt he was lacking in this aspect.

Now it seemed that it had not been enough, at least not enough to become a major figure.

But what did it mean to be mature?

Chen Changsheng understood that in the view of many people, in the view of the White Emperor couple, he had truly done many immature things.

As his martial uncle the Pope had personally told him, as long as he conceded, surrendered, lowered himself, his teacher would have no reason not to re-accept him.

Even if he could not, he should have acted with more maturity.

For instance, in the past few days, he should not have been in the Orthodox Academy, but in the Li Palace, using his time to understand all aspects of the Orthodoxy.

For instance, some days ago, he should not have ventured beyond the city gate and gone to the fields beside the official path to bury Xue Xingchuan, or the Xue Estate to pay his respects.

For instance, that even earlier day when he was in the Orthodox Academy, he refused to accept the decree, instead using one thousand swords to cut Eunuch Lin until he was drenched in blood.

For instance, that day when he carried the Tianhai Divine Empress’s body down from the Mausoleum of Books, he brushed past his teacher as if they were strangers.

Just like in these past few days, he had been anticipating the arrival of the diplomatic mission from White Emperor City.

He believed that there would always be people who would support him. Even if there weren’t any humans, at least the demi-humans would.

Now it seemed that this sort of anticipation was truly laughable.

He looked out the window. Even the great banyan tree by the lake had found it impossible to retain all of its greenness, growing more dreary and cold. The lake was covered in a thin sheet of ice, the wilted grass plated in a thin layer of frost.

Yes, these things had all been immature, naive, childish, passionate, impulsive, pathetic, laughable daydreams.

But they were still warmer than this lonely, bleak, and cold world, weren’t they?

……

……

The Chief Princess went to the Imperial Palace, and then to the Li Palace, meeting with both Shang and Yin.

No one knew what these three Saints discussed, nor did anyone know what sort of pact the demi-humans reached with the Imperial Court and the Orthodoxy.

The people only knew that she did not go to the Orthodox Academy, nor did she ever invite the person within the Orthodox Academy to the palace in which she resided.

The fact that she did not meet Chen Changsheng surprised many people, but it also made the situation in the capital much clearer.

The southern diplomatic mission also arrived. The Longevity Sect, the Qiushan clan and other noble clans, Holy Maiden Peak, and even Scholartree Manor had all sent representatives.

Anyone could see which way the wind was blowing in the capital. Thus, sharing the same attitude as the Chief Princess, no one in the southern diplomatic mission went to the Orthodox Academy.

Because it was too sensitive, and also because they wanted to display their attitudes to the Imperial Court. In addition, as southerners, they had no good impressions of the Tianhai Divine Empress, so they naturally would not support Chen Changsheng for her sake.

Holy Maiden Peak had only sent the South Stream Temple disciples staying at the Orthodox Academy a few letters and tools.

At dusk on a certain day, someone knocked on the gate of the Orthodox Academy. A guest had come to pay a visit.

The guest was Guan Feibai, disciple of the Mount Li Sword Sect.

The people of the Orthodox Academy and the Mount Li Sword Sect had been acquainted with each other for three years already. The story between them was very complex, as they had been both enemies and friends, but they had still gotten to know each other in the end.

Because the two sides were truly kindred spirits.

But this was actually the first time a disciple of the Mount Li Sword Sect stepped into the Orthodox Academy.

Guan Feibai followed behind Su Moyu and seemed to take in the scenery of the Orthodox Academy with great interest. Only when he saw several junior sisters of South Stream Temple that he knew did he draw back his gaze.

In the library, Chen Changsheng met with him.

He was the future Pope, and though Guan Feibai was a member of the Divine Kingdom’s Seven Laws, a genius disciple of Mount Li, the discrepancy in status was still very large. The conversation between the two did not become an amicable exchange, nor a meeting of friends. Of course, it was also not like it was in the past, brimming with swift and forceful sword intent and hostility. It was just a simple chat.

This conversation was truly very simple.

“You were the only one to come from Mount Li?”

“It’s just going through the motions, so there’s no need for many people.”

“Why is it you?”

“It would be the same with anyone else.”

“Then it would have been better if you just sent Qi Jian.”

“Do you not feel shame?”

Su Moyu very promptly interposed, “Pay attention to your language.”

Guan Feibai somewhat angrily glared at Chen Changsheng, then asked, “Where’s Tang Tang?”

“What are you looking for him for?”

“Of course it’s to fight.”

“Competing in swords sounds a bit better.”

“Whatever you say.”

“He’s not here.”

“Where’d he go?”

“He went home.”

“…Zhexiu then?”

“…Still fighting?”

“…Competing in swords.”

“He’s not here.”

“Where’d he go?”

“I don’t know.”

After hearing Chen Changsheng’s answer, Guan Feibai fell silent.

Only now did he realize that both Tang Thirty-Six and Zhexiu were not at the Orthodox Academy.

He could imagine how painful this period of time in the Orthodox Academy had been for Chen Changsheng.

“Then I’m leaving.”

“I won’t send you off.”

Since the people he wanted to find weren’t here and he couldn’t fight the fights he wanted to fight, it was naturally best to leave. However, before leaving, Guan Feibai had a request.

He said to Chen Changsheng, “You send me off.”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “I won’t.”

Guan Feibai persisted, “Just send me off to the academy gate.”

Chen Changsheng refused, “I don’t want to.”

If he sent Guan Feibai off at the academy gate, many people would see.

This was precisely what Guan Feibai wanted.

Chen Changsheng did not want to drag Mount Li into these turbid waters, so he persisted in refusal.

Guan Feibai thought this over, then said, “Then I’m leaving.”

Chen Changsheng said, “Thank you.”

Guan Feibai walked towards the gate, waving his hand without turning his head as he replied, “You’re welcome.”

……

……

Tang Tang had returned to Wenshui, but where had Zhexiu gone? Nobody knew.

The Imperial Court would naturally not forget that young wolf expert. The spies of the Department for Purging Officials had never ceased their search for him, but they had turned up nothing, just like with Wang Po.

The courtyard within the alley of the Northern Military Department had been rebuilt to its original appearance. The flat ground was covered with fresh soil, waiting for the spring to plant a layer of grass.

When the darkness was deepest, the ground was covered in a layer of ice. From the depths of the soil came an extremely faint chafing sound, like silkworms gnawing on mulberry leaves, or countless earthworms boring with all their might into the earth before the winter arrived.

The period of deepest autumn was the beginning of winter.

After the smooth conclusion of the celebrations over the confluence of the north and south, the various diplomatic missions unexpectedly had no intention of leaving the capital. This was because the Pope’s illness was worsening by the day.

In the courtyard, Zhou Tong gazed at the cold-resistant crabapple tree and muttered to himself, “It’s time.”

To some people, it was time.

In a tea house in the south of the city, the accountant bid farewell to the owner, the shopkeeper, and the waiters, then exited through the door.

Their interactions over the short span of ten-some days had actually made everyone in the tea house, from the owner to the shopkeeper, to the most ordinary of waiters, feel broken-hearted over his departure.

Chen Changsheng placed his brush on the inkstone, blew on the paper to dry the ink, sealed the letter, and passed it to Su Moyu. Then, he walked out of the library.

Su Moyu gazed at his back, knowing in his heart that after today’s departure, it would perhaps be very difficult for them to meet again.