A round of drinking lasted the entire afternoon. Throughout the gathering, no one spoke of Wei Dayong's failure in the unified examination. Instead, Wei Yunhai spent most of the ti recounting his days of battle in Poluo Country. Even Chen Yang listened with the utmost seriousness. Chen Yang held a deep admiration for the older generation; from the bottom of his heart, he considered them the undisputed Tianwu heroes.
As night fell, with stomachs full but spirits still high, Chen Yang and Yang Hu decided to return ho. Before they parted, Wei Dayong's throat bobbed, seeming to hold back words. Wei Yunhai simply patted his shoulder. "Get ready," he said. "Tomorrow, we're heading to Cangyun City."
Wei Dayong's fists clenched, and he nodded firmly. He was a man from Hanyun Valley. When had Hanyun Valley ever produced cowards?!
「The next day.」
Early in the morning, Chen Yang arrived alone at the Advanced Studies Academy of the Martial Departnt, which was under the jurisdiction of the Elders' Court. It was filled with a sea of young, energetic faces, yet compared to other academies, there was an added air of solemnity here.
The conversations among the students were dominated by Wei Dayong's failure in the examination. The general consensus was that his talent had bred arrogance and overconfidence, leading to his downfall. Their words held a hint of pity, but far more prevalent was the schadenfreude.
Whether in the workplace or an academy, envious people were never in short supply. We're the sa age, from the sa school, so on what grounds are you better than in every way? What's more, you co from a poor, rural background. On what grounds?! In the eyes of many, people from impoverished origins like you are supposed to scrape by at the bottom of society, generation after generation.
Chen Yang listened to all of this without a change in expression. Eventually, he ca to a stop before the announcent board where the results were posted.
Zuo Long.
The na at the very top was dazzlingly brilliant, shining like a star in the heavens.
As for Wei Dayong, it took Chen Yang a mont to find his na among the dense list.
Chen Yang could imagine what Wei Dayong must have felt upon seeing this list. Despair. A heart turned to dead ash. Perhaps even the vows he had once made collapsed in that single instant?
「At the sa ti.」
Inside one of the academy's conference rooms, the scent of tea mingled with the sll of tobacco. A dozen or so n, all over sixty, were either drinking tea, smoking, or glaring with wide, unfriendly eyes at Su Yan. In contrast, Su Yan himself held his teacup, gently blowing on the floating leaves, a look of serene contentnt on his face.
The vice dean, Yu Feng, who sat opposite Su Yan, spoke in a heavy tone. "Su Yan, as the dean, how can you claim there's an issue with the unified examination results? Are you not just slapping your own face? Moreover, you're insulting this prestigious academy and blaspheming the Zuo Family. Everyone witnessed how hard Zuo Long worked before this examination!"
Su Yan took a slow sip of tea and said pointedly, "So, a student who usually can't even score a hundred points on both subjects suddenly places first in the unified examination?"
Yu Feng was speechless.
"I am indeed the dean," Su Yan continued, a hint of mockery in his smile, "but have any of you ever heard of a dean who doesn't even have the authority to grade the papers? You, Yu Feng, are the real dean. In fact, every single person here has more authority than I do."
"Hmph!" A director of instruction nad Fan Zhiqiang scoffed. "Since you're so well aware of the situation, you'd better watch your mouth and stop spouting nonsense. Otherwise, you won't even get the chance to retire here peacefully, understand?"
Su Yan didn't take offense. He simply smiled and said, "I spent decades at the Discipline Court, you see. I developed a habit of speaking my mind directly. If I've offended any of you, please don't take it to heart. It's just a professional habit."
The crowd fell silent. What does he an, 'speaking his mind directly'? Is he implying this year's examination was unfair and that Mr. Long's results are questionable? What kind of apology is that? To hell with his professional habits!
Watching the group of old n fuming, Su Yan couldn't feel more pleased. A smirk involuntarily touched his lips.
Just then, Su Yan's deputy stepped forward and whispered sothing in his ear.
"Oh?" Su Yan's eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "Hurry, invite him in."
"Yes, Dean." The middle-aged man turned and left.
Yu Feng's eyebrow twitched. "Not just anyone can co in here, Su Yan," he said ominously. "Please be mindful of the potential consequences."
"He is young and accomplished, a man of great prestige. He certainly qualifies," Su Yan said, sweeping his interested gaze around the room. "You probably haven't t him. I'll make the introductions shortly."
"Don't tell he's also from our Martial Departnt?" soone asked, their curiosity piqued.
Su Yan nodded. "Of course!"
"Ha!" Yu Feng scoffed. "Speaking of young, accomplished, and prestigious n, who else in the entire younger generation fits that description besides Mr. Long? In my opinion, Su Yan, you're simply going senile."
His words sparked a round of roaring laughter from the others.
Su Yan remained silent, an unreadable, mocking smile on his face.
TAP, TAP, TAP.
The sound of two sets of footsteps approached from the hallway. Everyone instinctively turned to look.
A young man followed Su Yan's deputy into the room. He appeared to be in his thirties and gave off a mature, composed first impression, but beyond that, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him.
"Is this the young, accomplished man of great prestige you were talking about, Su Yan? Are you trying to make us die of laughter?"
The newcor was, of course, Chen Yang. He walked slowly into the room under their collective scrutiny. Yu Feng's gaze was the most derisive, his tone brimming with undisguised scorn.
"Co, sit here," Su Yan said, standing to greet him. He then gestured to the others. "These are the true authorities of the academy. They personally managed the grading for this year's unified examination." His unspoken implication was clear: these n were the masterminds.
"Ridiculous." Yu Feng took out a cigarette and lit it slowly. "Take a good look at who's in this room. A young man like you should know his place and remain standing to pour our tea and light our cigarettes."
Su Yan said nothing, just watching Yu Feng with that sa infuriating smile.
CLACK.
Yu Feng slid his teacup three inches forward. "Here. Fill it up."
"A young man should know how to read a room," Fan Zhiqiang lectured in a condescending tone. "You should be quick to do things like this without being told. Learning that lesson will be good for your future."
Chen Yang just smiled, picked up the teapot, and walked over.
Seeing him comply, the disdain on Yu Feng's face deepened. He asked haughtily, "You're not a kid anymore. Have you ever fought on the front lines?"
"What's wrong, are you mute?" Fan Zhiqiang added.
Chen Yang, now standing beside Yu Feng, replied calmly, "I've fought in a few."
"Oh?" Yu Feng's interest was piqued. "Which campaigns? Tell us about them."
"The early war in Night Quiet Valley, the battle in Hundred Flowers Valley a few years ago, and the recent National War," Chen Yang answered.
PLOP.
The cigarette Yu Feng had just placed between his lips dropped to the floor.
Everyone in the room exchanged stunned glances. Soone who served under the Forr Chief Military Commander? Or maybe...
Yu Feng instinctively turned to Su Yan. "Why didn't you introduce him?"
"Did you ever give a chance to?" Su Yan replied with a placid smile.
Yu Feng was speechless.
The vice dean's face turned a deathly pale, as if his parents had just died. If this man had rely served under the Forr Chief Military Commander, Su Yan wouldn't have been so enthusiastic.
That left only one other possibility.
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