Book 13: Chapter 81

Daren Academy was an ent.i.ty that isolated itself from the world. Although the students didnt feel that way, the Confucianism guards prevented any non-affiliated members from ever entering. Xiang Baxians father was the academys personnel, so Xiang Baxian technically inherited his fathers post. Because they didnt know the nature or severity of crime he was arrested for, most members of the academy werent surprised to see Xiang Baxian released and back at the academy.

Xiang Baxians temporary subst.i.tute wasnt as experienced as he was in embezzlement, bribery and the sort, so Xiang Baxian promptly resumed his post.

Given how obedient Xiang Baxian now was to Su Xiao, he didnt hesitate to switch suppliers. Hence, there was now Zheng Datong on arithmetic and s.h.i.+ Weiliang on music.

Right, whats next?

With his arms crossed, Wu Dayong had a think before answering, I reckon we should carefully choose our remaining team members because, based on my evaluation of myself, I suck at all the cla.s.sics. Therefore, we need five more team members.

Zhou Teng: Try telling us something we dont know. Who should we pick for the remaining five topics?

He s.h.i.+: Cla.s.s is about to start. Lets head back to cla.s.s first. We can devise a plan after.

While they were in cla.s.s, Su Xiao squatted at the window until their cla.s.s was over. You guys are finally done!

Zhou Teng smiled. Didnt expect this, but s.h.i.+ Weiliang said we can use her familys restaurant as a meeting spot after cla.s.s. Lets continue our strategy meeting there.

The source of this content is Freeeb(n)vel.cm.

Really?!

When she approached the group, s.h.i.+ Weiliang bashfully said, My parents said they would support me in any way they could when they heard I was partic.i.p.ating. They said theyre willing to cook for us until the compet.i.tion, too.

Wu Dayong effused, Why are we still here, then? s.h.i.+ Weiliangs restaurant is the premium type!

So pathetic, He s.h.i.+ mocked as he nudged Wu Dayongs shoulder. He then solemnly asked s.h.i.+ Weiliang, Do we get rice refills?

At Eight Deities, their most perceptive person and best strategist opined first, There are five more contests. I feel that everyone left is fairly close in all five subjects. I cant think of anyone who stands out in any particular subject.

Maybe out of anger over the last accident, w.a.n.g Zi scoffed, Lets have an equestrian contest. Ill give you a three second head start.

Wu Dayong: Id give him six!

He s.h.i.+: Seven.

Zhou Teng: I hope you all can walk the walk! Go compete if youre so good!

The three turned away and whistled.

Su Xiao chuckled. I guess that means youre all fairly close in skill, then. Im not very good at equestrian, either, although I can run faster than a horse now.

Everyone else:

I really am bad at equestrian, though. Keep going, Zhou Teng.

Zhou Teng: Huh? Oh, right. So, I was thinking we need to ask for a.s.sistance from external sources. Lets fill the roles we can, and then well ask others to help for the ones we have no hope at, such as calligraphy and rites. We arent really that bad. I mean, we could get by if we competed.

w.a.n.g Zi: Dont we have the academys self-proclaimed greatest scholar? Surely calligraphy wouldnt be the slightest challenge for him.

Everyone cast their gazes towards He s.h.i.+, everyone except for Wu Dayong, who queried, Who? Me?

He s.h.i.+ sighed and then kicked Wu Dayong. As much as Id like to tell you I could win it, writing doc.u.ments is only one facet of calligraphy, not to mention it is the event with the least weight among the six events. Im confident when it comes to writing doc.u.ments, but I bet Brother Zi Ang rivals my calligraphy abilities. That being the case, Im not better than the other cla.s.ses in calligraphy.

Everyone heaved a big breath, everyone except Wu Dayong, who said, I know someone whos pretty good at calligraphy.

Everyone looked up and whacked Wu Dayong over the head. Then tell us!

Show some respect for the smartest man in the room, please. Wu Dayong rubbed his head whilst telling them, Our cla.s.ss Mu Anan, duh.

Everyone had an aha moment, everyone except Su Xiao, who questioned, Who?

Zhou Teng politely reminded, The girl who wrote you the love letter.

Love letter? You are My 14th July?! An unnatural white tinge came to Su Xiaos face.

He s.h.i.+ bobbed his head. I do remember Mu Anan is an accomplished novelist and poet in a unique way. Theres quite a number of her works at the academy, but I dont have the guts to read them, so I dont know what her calligraphy standard is.

Shes great, a.s.serted the self-proclaimed smartest man in the room. It was a respected calligrapher who recommended Mu Anan her to Princ.i.p.al Huang so that her talent wouldnt go to waste. Surely Princ.i.p.al Huang wouldnt accept her for her poems and novels, right? Surely.

Zhou Teng clapped. I never knew you could be useful until now. Could we trouble our two ladies to speak to Mu Anan on our behalf?

s.h.i.+ Weiliang and w.a.n.g Zi exchanged eye contact, then looked to Su Xiao.

I dont think were needed

If somebody would just wink, shell jump on board.

As Su Xiao was still stuck in 14th July, he didnt notice the gazes on him.

Among everyone in the group, He s.h.i.+ had the best grasp on rites, followed by Zhou Teng. The problem was that He s.h.i.+s leg had yet to recover, so performing certain actions to a winning standard was impossible. Knowing this but not wanting to hurt He s.h.i.+s feelings, Zhou Teng conveyed, I guess we have three events sorted, then. We wont need outside aid for rites. I shall bravely volunteer.

Wu Dayong: Ol He, were not downplaying your competence. Your leg isnt 100% yet, so youll just lose even if you try. We only need to win four out of seven events, so lets just consider it a handicap.

Su Xiao patted He s.h.i.+ on the shoulder. We understand.

He s.h.i.+: Thank you. Lets just consider it a freebie for them.

s.h.i.+ Weiliang: You cant win everything in life. Just consider it another trip on the journey.

w.a.n.g Zi: Heh, dont worry about it. There are worse.

Zhou Teng: If youre all so good, why dont you sign up?! Why are we giving them a free win?! How incompetent am I to you?! Hey! Looking at me when Im talking!

Following a brief detour from the compet.i.tion discussion, Zhou Teng said, Chariotry, archery and martial arts are the three events left to address, none of which are our specialties.

w.a.n.g Zi raised her hand. I know how to fight.

Coming from a family that operated a martial arts school, without Ming Feizhen, shed be the best fighter in their cla.s.s.

Im probably not as good as Xiao Han, though. Im a little better than the average person at archery and riding a horse, but Im definitely not good enough to beat the freaks of Iron Head Palace.

Wu Dayong: You cant put people on a pedestal like that. Archery and chariotry arent martial arts disciplines. Heck, Ive even seen them ride a horse or shoot an arrow; they werent that impressive. I think theyre about your level. You might even be able to flog them if you spend a few days learning from an expert.

Where are we going to find an expert wiling to teach all of a sudden? Besides, do you even know a reputable archery teacher?

Wu Dayong had no response, so he turned to Su Xiao. Su Xiao, you know anyone?

Uh I d-, wait. I do, actually.

***

So, thats why youre here to learn archery from me? Ye Luo couldnt believe what she was hearing.

Yeah, replied Su Xiao, beaming brightly. I shall be in your care!