Chen Changsheng highly valued his time.
Realizing that the other party of the engagement was that Phoenix, suffering consecutive humiliations and bullying from a powerful figure, and even causing the Imperial Palace to appear…if this was an ordinary youth, they would probably already be in deep depression, even on the verge of a nervous breakdown. But he did not have time to mourn the spring and get depressed by the autumn, did not have time to be angry. What he lacked the most was time.
Consequently, as soon as he set himself on a goal, he would unhesitantly proceed forward in a straight line. He would not pace to and fro, did not need to shout, only silently grasp and fight for every moment.
At present, his goal was obtaining first rank of the first banner in next year's Grand Examination.
To him who had not even succeeded at Purification, this goal was truly too distant. Yesterday when he had spoken about it in the inn, even the most narcissistic and arrogant Tang Thirty-Six was rendered utterly speechless, but Chen Changsheng did not waver in the slightest. On the contrary, because this goal was so far away, he treasured even more every tick of the clock, every grain of sand from the hourglass, the finest sliver of movement on the shadow cast by the stone pillar.
The Orthodox Academy could be even more run-down, but so what? The buildings were covered in ivy and seemed about to collapse at a glance, but so what? He did not care—he did not have the time to care. With great focus and self-assurance, he walked his own path. He left the lake shore and proceeded into the depths of the academy in high spirits. After finding a person, he was prepared to immediately begin his life of study…
After an hour, he stood alone in a courtyard that was overgrown with weeds, faintly chirping with insects. All on his own, he looked around, at a loss.
He could not find a person, not a single one. Previously, he believed that no matter how deserted and run-down the Orthodox Academy was, it would at least have a few teachers standing guard or some old man watching the gate. Unbelievably, even after searching the entire academy, let alone a person, he couldn't even find evidence that people had come here recently.
Behind the courtyard of the Orthodox Academy was its once lofty and magnificent main teaching hall, but now it was an eerie ruin. Everything from the second floor and up had already collapsed. Only half the body of the stone lion fountain remained, with several green plants growing from it and sprouting purple flowers from their stems, beautiful and sorrowful.
It was very obvious that these were not the marks left by the wind and rain, nor did it have anything to do with him. Ten-odd years ago, or even earlier, some fierce battle had most likely occurred here. The main teaching hall must have been caught up in the battle, resulting in its wretched state. Chen Changsheng silently thought, then shook his head and decided to investigate a building on his right that could still be considered to be in decent condition.
This building was made of a combination of wood and stone and was several zhang high. The stone wall was overgrown with ivy and moss, and the paint on its windows, doors, and beams was peeling off, giving off a dilapidated feeling. Above the stone steps of the main door hung a sign. He stared at it a long time before finally recognizing two of the words, confirming that this building probably had something to do with storing books.
He walked to the window and peered in. The light was rather dusky, but he could still make out clearly that the bookshelves within were densely packed with books. He was somewhat shocked, not imagining that the Orthodox Academy which had deteriorated away for so many years still contained so many books. The Orthodoxy had not taken them away, but did the Imperial Court not care either?
Books were the item in the world that he had first touched and that he was the most familiar with. Similar to how ordinary people recalled milk, he was innately intimate with books and they were able to provide his mind infinite consolation. At this moment when he was seeing all these books through the window, his downcast mood inexplicably began to improve.
He walked to the front door, wanting to push it open and enter, but then realized that there was a lock hanging over the door. This lock's surface was gloomy and lightless and the place at which it met the door was covered in a faint layer of green rust. It was incredibly old and he didn't know how many years had passed since it was last unlocked. More importantly, he could faintly sense an enormously powerful aura emanating from the lock.
He felt that this lock was most likely concealing some very powerful array.
No wonder the Orthodox Academy could have been in ruins for so many years yet its library could be in such perfect condition, not looted by some deft thief or some hoodlum lacking money for wine. Thinking about this, his mood improved even more, but he didn't know how he should open this lock. This was because he didn't have the key, nor did he know if the key still existed. Even if there was a key, where would it be? In whose hands?
He didn't even know who he should ask because there was nobody in this school.
He was not concerned that anyone would get in and steal all the books, and since he temporarily couldn't get in, he was in no rush. He walked towards the dormitory that he had passed before when he was searching for people. The dormitory of the Orthodox Academy was made up of several dozen small buildings and took up quite a significant area. Trees and vines were everywhere, and while this environment could have been described as tranquil and secluded in the past, now it was unavoidably rather eerie.
He randomly chose one of the houses, walked in, and was immediately assaulted with the stench of mold. He glanced at the dust in the room, the spider webs in the corners of the roof beams, and the damaged windows, and confirmed that it would be very difficult to clean this all up and that it would be impossible to tidy everything up in a short time. Shaking his head, he left, thinking to himself that moving his things from the inn would have to wait for now.
Standing by the stone path outside the house, he gazed at the dense foliage of the trees that blocked out the sun, gazed at the weeds between the trees, and gazed at the stone bench, so buried by vines that only a corner could barely be seen. He listened to the energetic chirps of insects, felt the aura of time in the gloom and those truths that had already been buried by time, and he slowly closed his eyes.
Several decades ago, countless young men and women of shocking talent walked side by side along this stone path, or sat next to each other on the stone bench. The forest would occasionally flash with sword glows and the sounds of voices reciting the Daoist Canon could be heard everywhere. From time to time, the sound of laughter would emerge from the house behind him. Then, the ringing of the bell from the distant Imperial Palace could be heard and these schoolmates would pound their rice bowls and merrily run off.
He opened his eyes. None of those scenes existed, only the deserted and still forest, the run-down group of houses.
The Orthodox Academy's location was at the very center of the capital, right next to the Imperial Palace, but it had already been forgotten by the entire world.
The splendor and beauty of the past were no more, its cheers and laughter gone off to parts unknown. There was only his lonesome self standing here.
He suddenly felt rather sad, although he only needed a short moment to quickly drive it out.
He suddenly felt that this place was okay as long as he could once more see those scenes.
...
...
He was able to see those lively scenes of the Orthodox Academy from several decades ago, able to see those young men and women of shocking talent, able to see those scenes of the past not because this was some special ability of Chen Changsheng's, nor because he was exceptionally imaginative. Rather, it was because he had read the relevant books.
After he tore down the ivy covering the academy's wall and saw the words 'Orthodox Academy', the records in the Daoist Canon concerning this school all gradually floated up in his mind. These memories became words, and these words became scenes that were deeply branded into his mind in startling clarity, allowing him to realize that he actually knew a great deal of this academy's history and matters.
This was not at all something difficult to understand. He could remember an unremarkable footnote in the Heavenly Dao Academy's regulation for admitting students and also remember the incomparably complex and entangled military code of Star Seizer Academy, so he should naturally have been able to remember the history of the Orthodox Academy and other related matters. The three thousand scrolls of the Daoist Canon contained far too many things.
At present, the Orthodox Academy might have only one student, and just as Nanny Ning had said, it might not even have any teachers, but as he was going to begin his studies in this Orthodox Academy, there were some things that he needed to do. For example, he needed to get the key to the library, and he also needed to apply for money—he remembered very clearly that for every school, the Great Zhou Imperial Court provided a relevant educational subsidy. As long as the school existed, a subsidy would be granted to them each year. Star Seizer Academy's subsidy was granted by the military, whereas the subsidy for the Orthodox Academy was handled by the Bureau for the Divine Education of Cardinals.
Fortuitously, the keys and register for the Orthodox Academy were also most likely kept there.
Chen Changsheng left the Orthodox Academy. With the guidance of his map, it didn't take long for him to reach the bureau. This was a very inconspicuous building. There were thirty-some stone steps in front of its front door and its stone pillars were extremely high, but it was still very inconspicuous. This was because several dozen redwoods were planted outside this building, obscuring all behind them.
No matter how fiercely the sun blazed, it would still find it very difficult to illuminate everything within.
The front door to the bureau was very desolate. Only after a long time would one occasionally sight a priest dressed in a black robe walking by. As Chen Changsheng ascended the stone steps, he felt rather strange. He then noticed that some place in the back of the building was very lively with many people chatting about something.
Walking into the bureau, he found the relevant clerk and said, "I want to get the register and keys."
"What register and keys?"
The clerk mumbled. His slightly narrowed eyes and uncaring and fierce look were not because he was expressing contempt, but because he had almost fallen asleep in the spring wind, half-dreaming about some fine fancy.
Chen Changsheng increased his volume, saying, "The Orthodox Academy's register and keys."
The clerk slowly opened his eyes, yawned, then walked to the window and washed his face. Somewhat soberer, he returned to the table, shot Chen Changsheng a rather annoyed glance, and then drew out a scroll from his sleeve. As he rolled it open, he asked, "Say again the name of your school."
This time, Chen Changsheng paid extreme attention to his pronunciation, articulating every syllable. "Orthodox Academy."
Without even thinking, the clerk felt this name to be completely alien. He stopped rolling open the scroll, raised his head, and looked at Chen Changsheng with a frown, asking, "When did the capital get another school? Did you put it on record? Paid all the taxes you need to pay? Who approved it?"
"It's not a new academy, it's the Orthodox Academy."
Ortho…dox…Academy.
The clerk wrinkled his brow in thought, feeling that he had heard this name somewhere before, but couldn't recall where. In these past ten years, he'd had countless dealings with each school in the capital, but he had never heard of any Orthodox Academy… Suddenly, he remembered.
His face instantly became extremely depressed, as if tears were going to be shed at any moment.
Chen Changsheng did not understand what was going on.
The clerk said with a chilly voice, "Are you joking around with me?"
Chen Changsheng felt rather lost, thinking, what sort of joke is Sir playing?
The clerk abruptly stood up and slammed his palm against the table, roaring, "Do you think this is a place for jokes!?"
Chen Changsheng wanted to say something.
The clerk furiously bellowed, "Just which school is a brat like you from! Daring to come and play tricks on your teachers!"
Feeling wronged, Chen Changsheng replied, "I really am a student of the Orthodox Academy."
The clerk stared at him like he was an idiot, saying, "Lie, continue to lie."