Chapter 1424: Chapter 35: Above Smoke Cloud Lake
Great Chu Imperial City.
Dark clouds veiled the moon, unable to obscure the myriad of lantern lights.
In early spring, at the shores of Smoke Cloud Lake, crowds of visitors were drawn, flower lanterns and painting boats drifted with the waves, reflecting a scene on the water akin to a fairy tale realm illuminated by candlelight at night.
Aboard a small boat.
"Teacher, has your health improved during this time?"
Wearing a clean and neat black cloth robe, Chu Guo, with an umbrella sword girded at his waist, lifted the boat curtain. His first act was to respectfully bow to the man in green robe across the tea table.
In a short year, the young lad had grown considerably, his height shot up, and much of his childishness faded from his eyebrows and eyes, yet his overall aura became much more formidable.
In this year.
He began learning how to become a qualified emperor.
Agriculture and people’s livelihood, law and penal systems, finance and economics, governance and anti-corruption, etiquette and education... Chu Guo’s aptitudes were exceptional, and these foundational subjects were relatively simple for him. Most importantly, taking advantage of the temporary cessation of warfare at the Northern Border Great Wall, during this time, Chen Jingxuan taught this "disciple" military strategy and the art of recognizing and controlling people, hands-on. Small tests occurred every week, and major exams once every four weeks. Despite being normally amiable and generous, Chen Jingxuan was quite rigorous when it came to teaching. The student he aimed to cultivate was the future "monarch" who would lead the entire Da Chu Dynasty and its millions of citizens.
Chen Jingxuan was a good teacher.
Fortunately.
Chu Guo was also a good student.
He climbed and struggled up from the lowest ranks of the Li Kingdom, having firsthand knowledge of the hardships of people’s livelihood, never generating the slightest thought of retreat, regardless of how laborious or complex the coursework. Out of twelve hours a day, Chu Guo almost only napped for half an hour, and besides studying, he practiced Primordial Energy. This "new king" allowed all officials in Great Chu to see hope for the dynasty’s rejuvenation, a young monarch not inferior to Emperor Chu, and even exceeding him in some aspects, full of edges yet without harm, possessing ambitions that had not been exposed.
Half of this could be credited to Chen Jingxuan, and the other half... was probably due to another teacher of Chu Guo, who wasn’t often in sight but left a profound influence.
The owner who gifted the umbrella sword "Spring Breeze Grass."
"Thanks to you, it’s been alright."
Chen Jingxuan sipped his tea quietly and asked, "Today is the day of the ’major exam,’ are you sure you want to take it on this boat?"
The Great Chu strove to flourish.
Having weathered the toughest phase, the burden of the Book Tower gradually lightened.
Chu Guo had already begun taking over the affairs of the dynasty, big and small.
It won’t be long.
Everything will get better.
"A mere boat’s swaying is nothing, it won’t hinder the exam."
Chu Guo sat down, smiled, and said, "I heard that the teacher stays in the Book Tower day after day, pondering exhaustedly, deducing military affairs. This world is vast, not just a mere patch of land, so given how laboriously the teacher works daily, he should indeed take some time to admire the scenery. The Smoke Cloud Lake in the Imperial City looks good, and tonight, quite a few visitors are casting flower lanterns, wishing for good fortune..."
"You do have the heart."
Chen Jingxuan smiled.
The so-called exam.
Actually involved him personally selecting some exam questions, listing them on silk paper, and handing them to Chu Guo to answer. The difficulty steadily increased, and lately, with peace in the Northern Border, Chen Jingxuan then passed on the deduced war scenarios of the Da Li Dynasty to Chu Guo. This young emperor’s deducing ability was quite remarkable, perhaps due to the inheritance of the Great Chu Royal Bloodline, Chu Guo constantly excelled at major exams, satisfying Chen Jingxuan. If this young man lacked Imperial Blood, Chen Jingxuan would consider accepting him as a true disciple and cultivating him as the next Book Tower Master.
...
...
An hour of the exam.
Chu Guo tackled the exam on the boat, while Chen Jingxuan silently left the inner room, going to the railing of the boat to watch the distant wavering fireworks at night.
Smoke Cloud Lake was vast.
More than a dozen large and small painting boats drifted upon the lake.
Their own boat was quite unremarkable.
Fireworks filled the sky, and despite being several miles away, one could hear the genuine hustle and bustle from the shores.
"..."
Chen Jingxuan stood silently at the railing, recalling this long and short year.
Chu Guo’s words, for a brief moment, touched his heartstrings.
How long had it been since he last witnessed the outside world?
Not long ago.
His mentor Yan Xin had visited the Book Tower, asking him just how much longer he intended to be "trapped" here?
At the time, Chen Jingxuan merely smiled and shook his head.
He did not feel it was a "trap."
The grand enterprise of the world required him to step forward, exhaust his computational prowess within the Book Tower, grasp fortune, which was his "Heavenly Destiny."
Yet now, he suddenly sensed a wave of fatigue.
Chen Jingxuan was still young.
However, due to overuse of the Roundness Instrument... his lifespan was running short.
He knew this.
Many could discern the air of decay upon him.
Precisely for this reason, he became more tied to the Book Tower, needing to hide himself within unnoticed dust.
"Buzz buzz buzz."
The Ruyi Order at his waist suddenly trembled.
Chen Jingxuan’s body stiffened slightly for a moment; those who could contact him through this constantly carried Ruyi Order were few.
A certain fellow.
Had "disappeared" for a very long time.
...
...
The mist of the Divine Sea gradually dissipated.
A figure in a black robe emerged from the heavy fog of Smoke Cloud Lake.
"Oh."
Xie Xuanyi glanced around, teasing with a laugh, "Is the sun rising from the west today? State Preceptor Chen actually goes for a walk after dinner?"
The Ruyi Order could, many times, change according to Divine Thought, but if the holder did not expend additional Divine Thought, then the illusion would be constructed by the surrounding environment.
Xie Xuanyi noticed it all at once.
