ChangNing’s Imperial Army

Chapter 35 – It’s Great To Be Aboveboard
Deng Ji Restaurant was located rather close to the academy. It was approximately ten minutes on foot. Meng Changan and Shen Leng were so drunk that they had their arms around each other. Master Cha could not understand their relationship. However, she was very happy that there was a person in this world who could put his arm around Leng. Even though he was Meng Changan, a person that she did not fancy that much.

The boss of Deng Ji Restaurant left only after they had left. His carriage was waiting in front of his restaurant. Out of habit, the coachman prepared a whip for him. However, the boss instructed him to follow the three people, and told him to go slowly.

 

The coachman looked at the three people and thought to himself about how they should feel honored, because his boss saw them back.

Shen Leng supported Meng Changan as they walked forward. They were staggering. If other people saw them, they would laugh and those two drunkards.

The curtain in front of the carriage was drawn. The boss of Deng Ji Restaurant looked at the two staggering men. He could not help but smile. He said to himself: The brotherhood between the two young men is great. Seeing it makes me happy.

“They still dared to drink under such circumstances. Foolish,” muttered the coachman.

“They got drunk for others to see.”

The boss said in a very soft voice, “The guy who is not injured is walking alongside the guy who is injured. It looks like they are staggering together, but his support is very stable.”

Because he could see it clearly, hence he said that the brotherhood between them was great.

“Drunk for others to see?”

The coachman felt that the boss might have probably overestimated the two fellas. How could the two young lads, who did not even have any mustache, be capable of scheming that much?

Master Cha, who was walking behind them, seemed rather normal. Her left hand was carrying the leftovers and her right hand was hugging the jewelry box close to her chest.

Over the course of their ten minute journey, there were a lot of people hidden in the dark with daggers – both good and bad people alike.

There was another carriage on the side of the road. The curtain might be closed, but there was a small gap in between. Chen Zishan, who was sitting in the carriage, looked through the gap with a gloomy look on his face. As for Zhang Bohe, who was sitting next to him, he was exceptionally calm. Nobody knew what he was thinking.

“Do we do it or not?” asked Chen Zishan. He could not help himself.

Zhang Bohe shook his head. “We can’t do it. Let’s head back.”

Of course, Chen Zishan knew that they could not strike. It seemed as though the owner of the restaurant was on his way home. However, his carriage constantly followed the three of them at the back. It was obvious that it was intentional.

Who knew who else was hiding within the trees on both sides of the road in the darkness?

Chen Zishan cursed out loud and instructed the coachman to head back.

Usually, he lived in the academy. However, he bought a house on Ping An Alley in Changan. It was not huge, but it was quiet. He kept a beautiful lady in that house, like a canary.

Zhang Bohe got off the carriage midway. Thereafter, he made the most important decision he ever made in his entire life. He did not choose to go home. Instead, he chose to run away. Apart from the money and a dagger, he did not have any other possessions. He did not even want the scholarly honor.

Without any issues, Shen Leng sent Meng Changan into the academy. As long as he had entered the academy, nobody would dare to do anything to him.

Shen Leng and Master Cha went back to the inn across from the academy. After they entered, they jumped out of the window under the astonished gaze of the owner. Very soon, they disappeared into the dark. Before this, Du Weiming had already took the three horses with them and departed.

On the roof of the inn, Mr. Shen was full of smiles, as he hugged his sword. He thought to himself: The children that I had nurtured are both so awesome.

After he entered the academy, Meng Changan no longer staggered. He turned around and looked at the carriage that picked up speed. He cupped his fist and thanked softly.

Ultimately, he was rather disappointed. The people who wanted to attack him did not go through with their plans. Without the stench of blood accompanying him tonight, he might not sleep sound enough.

When he pushed open the door of his room, Meng Changan’s hand was holding onto the small hunting knife that was given to him by Shen Leng. It was already sharpened. It flickered under the moonlight. He had been keeping the small hunting knife with him at all times. He did not bear to use it to kill anyone as he did not want it to get tainted by blood.

There was another person in the room. He tapped on the arm of the chair rhythmically. Meng Changan kept his dagger and bowed.

This was because this person was a very important figure. Even though Meng Changan had only seen him a few times over the past ten years, he did not dare to treat him with even the slightest contempt.

The headmaster pointed to the chair across from him, hinting to him to sit. “How much did you drink?”

“I’m half drunk.”

“Overconfidence is not a good thing either.”

The room was extremely dark. The two people could not see each other’s face despite facing one another. However, he felt that the headmaster’s eyes were very bright, akin to two light beams shining right into his heart, making him unable to hide anything.

“I will remember it.”

“Bullsh*t.”

The headmaster used one word to respond the four words of his.

“If I still cannot understand a person well enough after ten years, I will not be suited to be the headmaster of this academy…If you’re not conceited, are you still Meng Changan? Do you know why I was waiting for you here?”

“I do.”

Meng Changan took a deep breath. “But I still want to fight for it.”

“You want me to sit here waiting for you all night?”

“I don’t dare to.”

“Alright then. Sleep well. You cannot touch Chen Zishan. If anything happens to him, it would be too much of a price to pay. You’re not someone who’s ignorant…how much does your injury affect you?”

He placed a jade bottle on the table. It was a medicine that was bestowed upon him by the emperor.”

“It does have quite of a huge impact.”

Meng Changan replied, “Initially, I was 10% confident of becoming zhuangyuan. After my injury, I no longer am 10% confident.”

“How many percent now?”

“99.9%”

The headmaster stood up and walked out with his hands behind his back. He did not say any additional words. Meng Changan thought about the headmaster’s comment…’If I still cannot understand a person well enough after ten years, I will not be suited to be the headmaster of this academy. If you’re not conceited, are you still Meng Changan?’

Meng Changan laid in bed. He shut his eyes. He mouthed silently, “Stupid Leng. We will meet again.”

On the rooftop next to the main street, Shen Leng and Master Cha sat down next to each other. Master Cha leaned her head against Shen Leng’s shoulder. She was silent for a moment before she smiled and said softly, “I like nights like these. It’s peaceful and quiet.”

Shen Leng shook his head. “I do not like night time.”

“Why?”

“It’s too dark, I can’t see your face clearly.”

Master Cha’s heart fluttered.

The carriage passed them by downstairs. The sound of the wheels was rather ear-piercing in the quiet night. Shen Leng got up. He suddenly remembered that Meng Changan had not returned him the umbrella-sword that he lent him earlier on. Is this fella going to take an item of mine every single time?

 

“Wait for me.”

 

Shen Leng bent over and took out a nail-like arrow from the pocket attached to Master Cha’s pair of beautiful boots. Thereafter, he slid down the wall, without a sound.

The carriage stopped outside an ordinary-looking house in Ping An Alley. Chen Zishan pushed the door open and close it behind him. He sensed that something was amiss. But he shook his head and told himself that he was not calm enough. This incident had revealed his flaws to himself. He was not as calm as Zhang Bohe.

Just when he thought about that, someone had covered his mouth. He had practiced martial arts for so many years, hence, he reacted quickly and grabbed his opponent’s wrist. He exerted all his strength and twisted it. He had practiced this retaliation technique hundreds of times, but it was useless. That hand was like an iron lock. It simply would not budge.

Shen Leng held onto the short crossbow and shot Chen Zishan in the temples. He pulled his hand back by a foot and smacked…the short crossbow entirely sank into Chen Zishan’s temples. Chen Zishan groaned and his eyes rolled back.

Shen Leng maintained that position for almost two minutes. After he made sure that Chen Zishan was no longer breathing, he left. It was a pity that there was one less person in the carriage. He had not finished killing every single person that wanted Meng Changan dead.

Shen Leng left and hurried on his way. He did not notice a man in white at the entrance of the alley. The man saw that Shen Leng had disappeared and was lost in thought for a while. It’s been a very long time since I saw a ruthless young man. Should I send someone to tail him and bring him back to work for me?

After that, he gave up that thought. Whoever he sent would probably get killed off by him anyway. What a pity.

Shen Leng did not see him, but Du Weiming did. He was originally only supposed to provide Shen Leng with assistance. After the man in white left, Du Weiming came out from the shadows. He picked up speed and rushed over to the rendezvous point.

At daybreak, Shen Leng and the other two people got in line to leave the city. Coincidentally, the guard at the gate was the same guard that greeted them when they arrived. After he saw Shen Leng, he was astonished. “You’re going to leave before the great competition tomorrow? It’s only one day away.”

Shen Leng shook his head. “Yeah, it is truly regretful. But I think that I have a rough idea of what the outcome will be. Nonetheless, it is indeed such a waste that I can’t see it for myself.”

The soldier lamented, “That is such a pity. You’re welcome to visit Changan again.”

 

Shen Leng grunted. “I will.”

After they left the city, the three of them followed the path on their horses. After they had rode their horses for about thirty miles, they took a boat and headed south. After a ferry crossing, they switched to another boat. They did not know whether or not there were soldiers tailing them. In any case, they managed to shake off Mr. Shen.

Shen Leng looked at the fork of the river and was slightly dazed. Master Cha sat down next to him and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“Deng Ji Restaurant.”

“I feel that the owner of Deng Ji Restaurant must be a prominent figure. The people who wanted to attack us on the street were not afraid of us. They were afraid of the person in that carriage…there are indeed a lot of hidden threats in Changan city itself.”

“Oh right, you had a bad appetite earlier when we were eating at the restaurant. You only ate two to three mouthfuls of the sweet and sour dishes. I’m trying to think of what ingredients they used to cook those dishes and how to recreate the same taste. After we get back, I will cook them for you.”

Master Cha felt as though she could no longer take it. She kept getting deeply moved by that fella time and time again. What would happen to her in the future if this continued?

“But after you get back, you have to rush to report back at the Navy camp…”

“Guess I have to quickly become a Fifth pin Official.”

“Hateful!”

After Master Cha said that, she was dumbfounded. Am I still me? Why did I say the word ‘hateful’? Whenever I heard girls say that in a sweet voice, I hated it so much…and the way I said that word earlier was so…so hateful.

Quickly become a Fifth pin Official.

She felt happy. That was because if he was a Fifth pin Official, he would be able to have a wife and children…

Du Weiming leaned against the boat and stood at a distance away. He was earnestly thinking about his own future. After this trip to Changan, no matter what, the line drawn between him and Shen Leng became unclear. What was he going to do in the future?”

The images of Shen Leng killing those people flashed across his mind. He could not help but tremble a little.

Changan city, Yanta Academy.

In the headmaster’s study, he narrowed his eyes and looked at Meng Changan. “Last night, I farted in your room. So sorry.”

What he meant was: Did you take my words as fart?

Meng Changan quickly gestured. “It’s ok, I did not smell anything.”

The headmaster’s eyelid twitched. “Hmm?”

Meng Changan immediately lowered his head. “I really did not kill Chen Zishan. I had been sleeping in my room the entire time. I had a good dream that was exceptionally well.”

“How good was it?”

 

“I dreamed about our country prospering, and our people at peace. And that the good are rewarded, and the bad are punished.”

“Our country prospering, and our people at peace. The good are rewarded, and the bad are punished?”

The headmaster repeated it and gestured to him. “Scram.”

Meng Changan felt as though he had been pardoned from a serious crime. When he walked to the door, he turned around and said, “If I become a zhuangyuan (top scholar), can I scram to the northern border?”

“If you become a zhuangyuan, scram as far as you want.”

“Thank you headmaster!”

Meng Changan walked out of the gloomy study. He lifted his head and looked at the bright sun that was piercing to the eye. He thought to himself: It’s great to be aboveboard.