523 Acting Like a Fool

The people on the ship were even more confused than the crowd on the banks ofthe Luo River. The match had already been concluded for some time, but neither ChenChangsheng nor Xu Yourong had descended from the Bridge of Helplessness.Instead, they stood calmly at Chen Changsheng's end of the bridge, looking atsomething or the other. None of the important figures like Mao Qiuyu or Linghai Zhiwang or even XuShiji believed that Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong knew each other. Moreover,they were keenly aware of the significance hidden behind this battle, so theydid not believe that Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong would begin to sympathizewith each other through this exchange of swords. So just why, after this battlehad just concluded, were they so calmly standing next to each other? And whywere they so close? What were they doing? "Just what's going on here?" Tang Thirty-Six said as he looked at the backs ofthose two people on the bridge. Mo Yu felt the same, and when she associated it with that night Xu Yourongvisited the Orthodox Academy, the more she thought, the more she felt somethingwas wrong, causing her to crease her brow. Tang Thirty-Six said in aggravation, "I don't care if they feign loneliness ormimic despair, but can they care a little about the mood of us spectators?" On the side, Su Moyu asked, "What mood?" Tang Thirty-Six pointed towards the Bridge of Helplessness at Chen Changshengand Xu Yourong, explaining, "They just fought such a fierce battle and both areclearly wounded. At this time, under the eyes of so many people, they'reactually still in the mood to appreciate the snow? You don't feel that this istoo…that thing?" 'That thing' was an obscene word. The crowds on the banks of the Luo River and the people on the ship might havedifferent moods, but none of them were thinking about curses like TangThirty-Six was. Because the scene on the Bridge of Helplessness at the moment truly was verybeautiful. …… …… Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong stood on his side of the bridge, their backs tothe great ship and the numberless crowds on the banks of the Luo River as ifthey didn't exist in this world. After quite some time had passed, Chen Changsheng raised his head and lookedat her, saying, "You…" Xu Yourong did not look back, continuing to gaze at the upper reaches of theLuo River. She calmly replied, "Do not speak." Somewhat hesitant, Chen Changsheng said, "Then I…" Xu Yourong raised her brows, saying, "Didn't I say to not speak?" Chen Changsheng lowered his head. "Oh." Xu Yourong gazed at a snowflake drifting down in front of her. "Don't speak ofour matter to anyone else." Didn't you tell me not to speak? Chen Changsheng only dared to think thissentence, and then upon thinking about her request, he became rather confused. "Eh?" Xu Yourong suddenly asked, "Happy?" Chen Changsheng very obediently replied, "Mm." Xu Yourong turned her head to him, then smiled, "Truly silly." Chen Changsheng scratched his head, then said, "Ah." "I'll leave first," Xu Yourong declared. Somewhat surprised, Chen Changsheng said anxiously, "Ah?" Xu Yourong extended her hand and received the temple sword, then walked backto her side of the bridge. Chen Changsheng watched as her body gradually disappeared into the snow,completely at a loss as to how to respond. He once more felt that feeling he had felt several days ago in front of theMausoleum of Zhou. Countless emotions seemed to assail him like a tide. This time, the tide contained no sorrow, but was complex to the extreme. He stood muddleheaded on the Bridge of Helplessness. As he watched the WhiteCrane fly off, he suddenly saw that pheasant-like young Peng. In the wind and snow, the young Peng twisted its head to glance, seeming verymuch like it was jeering at him. He turned his head back to gaze once more at the Luo River. Leaning againstthe guardrail, he lowered his head. He didn't use his hands to cover his face. He knew that his face was burninghot at the moment. The other reason he didn't use his hand to cover his face was the small slipof paper in his hand. This small slip of paper had been secretly stuffed into his hand by Xu Yourongwhen she was taking the temple sword. In the Six Ivies, and in the private schools and provincial academies in thecounties, provinces, and countryside, when the spring sunshine outside thewindow was bright and lovely, small slips of paper would always be passedaround between desks. This small slip of paper was like a ray of spring sunshine. Today, in the company of the wind and snow, before the numerous populace ofthe capital, he had also received a small slip of paper. On the paper was written a location and a time. Fortune Peace Road's Fish with Tofu. Today, at dusk. This was the first time Chen Changsheng had received this sort of slip ofpaper. He recalled those stories of gifted scholars and beautiful ladies that he hadonce read and the guidance Tang Thirty-Six had provided in his everyday life.Rather unconvinced, he thought, is this what is meant by a ‘date’? The wind and snow were as before, but the Bridge of Helplessness graduallybegan to grow livelier. Xu Yourong had conceded and then departed. This battle which everyone had beenengrossed in had finally come to a close. Moreover, without mentioning what sort of variable this battle on the Bridgeof Helplessness would present towards the conflict between the Li Palace andthe Imperial Court, this battle would inevitably be recorded in the annals ofhistory, becoming the first battle between the future Pope and the Holy Maiden.Then, it would be brought up countless times by other people, like now, forinstance. At the moment, many people wished to know the details of this battle. Especially Tang Thirty-Six. He cared nothing for the indications of the Orthodoxy cavalry and ImperialGuards. Transforming into a puff of smoke, he ran to the Bridge ofHelplessness. Gasping for breath, he looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, "Justwho exactly won?" At the moment, Chen Changsheng was still somewhat in a daze. Hearing hisquestion, he inadvertently replied, "She did not lose." "I reminded you before, don't go easy on her just because she looks pretty!And now would you look at it, you didn't go easy, but your mouth is playingthese games! She didn't lose, so does that mean that you lost? Xu Yourong hasalready admitted that she lost and you still want to trick me!" Tang Thirty-Sixsaid angrily. Chen Changsheng was rather confused at why he was so angry, thinking, even ifthis is the case, as my friend, shouldn't you be happy for me? "Since you could beat her, just what was all that before the match abouttelling me to bet on you losing? Just what do you mean?" As Tang Thirty-Six thought about this matter, he became absolutely apoplectic."You are a pig!" Chen Changsheng recalled this matter and then he recalled many other things.Feeling quite ashamed, he admitted, "Yes, I am a pig." Tang Thirty-Six was stunned. Only now did he realize that there was somethingwrong, that Chen Changsheng seemed like he was in another world. …… …… Under the gaze of the countless crowds of the capital and cheers coming fromboth sides of the street, Chen Changsheng's group returned to the OrthodoxAcademy. The restaurants outside the academy walls hung high their colored lanterns andrandom zither tunes could be heard. Because of their pride and joy at theirprincipal's victory, the students and teachers of the Orthodox Academy werethere, celebrating to their heart's content. After returning to his room, Chen Changsheng did not emerge for a very longtime. Tang Thirty-Six, Su Moyu, and Xuanyuan Po stood around the first floor,looking up at the third floor window, their faces filled with doubt. Chen Changsheng had ultimately obtained victory in this match that was thefocus of the entire world's attention, and he had won in such a beautifulfashion, with no place that he could be criticized. But why was it that veryfew of the emotions a victor should feel could be seen on his face? Even if heonce had an engagement with Xu Yourong, he might feel somewhat complex aboutit, but to this extent? Just what had happened on the Bridge of Helplessness? What problem had ChenChangsheng encountered? "To make a person obsessed with cleanliness admit that they're a pig…" Tang Thirty-Six looked at the window, his expression grave. "This matter doesnot seem very simple at all." ……