477 The Storm of Enrolling Students V

Bie Tianxin continued to narrow his eyes, his gaze growing sharper. He had notimagined that his opponent, even knowing his origins, would still act sobrazenly. He had originally come to the capital to take care of some matters, but he hadunexpectedly found that one of his elders had encountered some trouble. Inaddition, he had heard the names of the Orthodox Academy and Chen Changshengmany times over the past year. He viewed them with disdain and was naturallynot convinced, so he made a personal appearance. Guan Bai had given ChenChangsheng one year of time, but he did not have that sort of patience. As forthe fact that this was the strong bullying the weak, he also did not care. Itmust be known that he lived his whole life carried along by the wind andcurrents. His talent was outstanding, his background astonishing, and no matterwhere he walked, he received the reverence of all. Once when his travels hadtaken him through Xunyang City, even Liang Wangsun had treated him with utmostrespect. Even though Painted Armor Xiao Zhang, that madman, had no love forhim, his family background had prevented him from being truly troubled. Hecould never have imagined that today of all days, he would encounter thisopponent who defied common sense. "I know that you must be very angry right now, but…you can only bear with it.What can you do? Could it be that you can kill us? I just don't understand, forwhat reason are you worthy to act so high and mighty before us? How old isZhexiu? How old are you? How old were you a few years ago? What's there to beso satisfied about beating him? Think about when you were his age; would youhave been able to beat any of us?" The first part of these words were precisely what Bie Tianxin had said to thema moment ago. Tang Thirty-Six was now returning his words. "Are the Storms of the Eight Directions so arrogant? In other places, perhapsyou could rely on them to arrogantly order others around, but I must troubleyou to open your eyes a little and take a look at where you are." He pointed behind at the gate of the Orthodox Academy, still new despitehaving been put up a year ago, and sneered, "Here is the Orthodox Academy, hereis the Wenshui Tang clan, here is Su Li, here is the Orthodoxy, here is threeSaints! I've never been much of one to bring up things like background andsupporters because I think that's far too childish, too shameless. But there'salways people like you popping up who just love to bring these sorts of thingsup. The problem is, if we do bring these things up, do you even have a chanceof beating us in that aspect?" Bie Tianxin's complexion became deathly pale at these words because it wasonly now that he abruptly realized that everything Tang Thirty-Six had said wastrue. When that senior of his wanted to suppress the Orthodox Academy, they haddone so step by step, advancing cautiously and prudently. He…seemed to haveacted a little too impulsively. But in the end, he was still a member of the Proclamation of Liberation, stilla descendant of two of the Eight Storms. Tang Thirty-Six's word had left himwithout a gracious path of retreat, so how could he just leave like this! His face was pale, both because he had understood and also because he knewthat he had to take action, or else both his and his family's reputation mightsoon suffer a heavy blow! At some point, his right hand had come to clench the hilt of his sword. Chen Changsheng stood in front of Tang Thirty-Six, his right hand almosttouching the Stainless Sword. He stared into Bie Tianxin's eyes, extremely calmand focused, without the slightest intention of backing down. Xuanyuan Po had already finished his preparations for battle. When he saw theextremely vicious expression in Bie Tianxin's eyes, his normally simple andhonest air was replaced with the berserk aura that foreshadowed metamorphosis. They all knew, if Bie Tianxin were to attack, then he would be the strongestperson the Orthodox Academy had ever confronted since the opening of theAll-School Martial Exhibition. Moreover, if Bie Tianxin truly were to attack with murderous intent, no onecould foresee how this situation would end. A deathly stillness hung over the area in front of the Orthodox Academy. Thecrowd had long since dispersed, and the atmosphere was particularly tense. Tang Thirty-Six, on the contrary, wasn't nervous at all. Peeking out frombehind Chen Changsheng's back, he said to Bie Tianxin, "Think it over clearly,if you randomly act out, just what the consequences will be." Then he turned to the Li Palace priests and Orthodoxy cavalry and yelled,"Just what are you standing around for? Do you not see that your future Pope isabout to be killed before your eyes!?" These words were naturally yelled out for Bie Tianxin to hear. By a table in that tea house, those two individuals were still seated. "Ah, truly childish." Mao Qiuyu gazed at the distant activity occurring infront of the Orthodox Academy, but it was up in the air whether he was talkingabout Tang Thirty-Six or Bie Tianxin. He was keenly aware that Bie Tianxin's parents had extremely good relationswith Daoist Siyuan and Linghai Zhiwang, similar to the relationship Zhu Luo andGuan Xingke had with the late Archbishop Mei Lisha. He was also keenly awarethat though Bie Tianxin was praised by the common people as being able tocalculate the hearts of men, he was ultimately just a noble son spoiled by hisparents. Or else how could he have not realized before he appeared on the scenethat these youths of the Orthodox Academy were not people he could offend? "Ah, just take him away," Mao Qiuyu said to Daoist Siyuan across from him."His parents originally placed him in your care. You can't just let him getinto trouble in front of you." Daoist Siyuan's face was rather unsightly, but he remained silent. Standingup, he walked out of the tea house. Mao Qiuyu turned once more to the Orthodox Academy, commenting, "After so manyyears, his temper hasn't changed one bit. No wonder he's never been able tomatch up to Guan Bai." Bie Tianxin departed. The Orthodox Academy obtained victory in this struggle. In the view of many, this struggle was exceptionally childish and ridiculous,more mischievous than the mischief of children. However, to those who knew ofBie Tianxin's true identity, this childish and ridiculous struggle was anindication of many things. The Orthodox Academy had once more proved to the capital its powerful backingand hidden strength, and that its power was fully mature. Yes, even if thepower of White Emperor City represented by Princess Luoluo was set aside, withthe attention of the Pope and the relationship between Chen Changsheng and SuLi, outside of a proper method like the All-School Martial Exhibition, wouldthere be anyone that dared to suppress the Orthodox Academy through nonlegalmeans? Those students who came from the provinces and counties did not know BieTianxin's identity at the very beginning. Upon learning of it, they couldn'thelp but admire Tang Thirty-Six's unyielding attitude, so much so that theyalmost wanted to grovel on the ground before his feet. They also had acompletely new impression of the Orthodox Academy. As a result, the work ofprocessing applications, which had momentarily slowed, became all the moreintense. Those young students that had withdrawn their application attempted totake advantage of moments of inattentiveness to re-apply again, but how couldthey conceal themselves from Tang Thirty-Six's eyes? He drove them away withoutthe slightest courtesy. Chen Changsheng commented, "Too severe." Tang Thirty-Six replied, "I've never been one to rub sand into my eyes. I'mnot even willing to tolerate Bie Tianxin, so why should I tolerate these guys?" Chen Changsheng was very curious about this friend of his, inquiring, "Haveyou been like this since you were small?" Tang Thirty-Six responded very matter-of-factly, "If the only thing behind mewas the Wenshui Tang clan and I had to face these two Storms, I would naturallyhave to consider it. I might have even been the first to concede, but don't Ihave you now?" Chen Changsheng was made speechless by this matter-of-factness. After a longperiod of silence, he said, "As I said before, rudeness and cursing is bad. Youmust restrain it a little." Tang Thirty-Six arched his brows. "What's bad about it? Isn't beingstraightforward good?"