Chapter 146: Final Victory
Gong Changan calmly stepped onto the stage, clasped his fists in a circular salute, and then bent down to pick up a Cuju ball.
He first weighed it and patted it, then tossed it up.
Those watching from the side all thought that this child was quite clever; none of the items on the field were useful to him, but the Cuju ball was somewhat suitable.
However, in the end, anyone could kick a Cuju ball a few times. Without any extraordinary means, how could one win?
But then they saw Gong Changan perform a Flower Ball skill as if it were flowing water.
The ball seemed to understand his thoughts, following his every turn and dodge, never straying far.
The crowd watched, dazzled, and couldn’t help but praise him repeatedly.
They never expected such a small person to possess such great ability.
Finally, Gong Changan balanced the Cuju ball on his toes and asked the tutors for permission, “This disciple is young and cannot wield these long weapons. May I demonstrate what I carry with me?”
“Oh, you brought weapons with you?” the round-faced tutor asked. “In that case, go ahead and demonstrate!”
To be honest, his Flower Ball performance had already won the tutors’ favor, they just hadn’t said it aloud.
Gong Changan took out the small throwing knives he carried with him. He glanced at the target, then threw several knives with both hands.
With whistling sounds cutting through the air, all the throwing knives struck the bullseye, not missing by an inch.
“Ha! What excellent Kung Fu!” Ye Guanghan exclaimed, clapping his hands. “Little brother, you are truly remarkable!”
The others looked at each other. Xiao Manlang sighed, “Compared to this child, we’ve all lived in vain.”
“Could this child be Nezha? Practicing Kung Fu since he was in his mother’s womb,” Lu Song said, his jaw almost dropping.
“Gong Changan,” the phoenix-eyed tutor extended his hand and pulled Gong Changan to his side, “From today onwards, you are my closed-door disciple.”
“Thank you, Tutor, for your appreciation. May I know how to address you?” Gong Changan was also excited, but he tried his best to appear calm.
“Tutor Zhuge Qianqiu,” the phoenix-eyed tutor said with a slight smile. His snow-white beard gently fluttered in the evening breeze, like an immortal descending to the mortal world.
The others felt a mix of emotions. They had been called outstanding persons since childhood and naturally held themselves in high regard, but today they finally understood what it meant to have someone better than you, and that the world is vast.
It was nearing dusk, and the sky was darkening.
Everyone was anxiously waiting for the courtyard to light up.
“They’re coming out! They’re coming out!” Someone had been watching the front hall door and, upon seeing people emerge, immediately moved forward.
“It looks like they were eliminated,” someone said. “Just wait and see.”
The four eliminated individuals walked down from the steps and returned to the crowd.
Everyone couldn’t help but feel regret for them, as they had reached the final round.
“Brother Xiao, you lost with honor. You’ve already done wonderfully,” a friend who accompanied Xiao Manlang patted his shoulder and draped a piece of clothes over him.
“Yes, yes, those who made it to the final round are already one in ten thousand. They are far superior to ordinary folks like us.”
Many people nearby agreed.
This made the eliminated individuals feel a bit better, but the regret in their hearts remained, perhaps something they would need a lifetime to overcome.
“Look! Look! The selected people are coming out!” The most exciting moment had finally arrived.
Mister Hua Ying walked at the front and announced to the crowd, “San Jing Academy is selecting disciples from the mountain this time. The final selected individuals are Ye Guanghan, Ding Ling, and Gong Changan.”
“Wow!!!” A wave of sound immediately erupted from below.
It was impossible to distinguish who was shouting or what they were shouting; it seemed everyone was shouting, so noisy and chaotic, yet incredibly impactful.
Ye Guanghan and Ding Ling stood at the front, their eyes moist amidst the cheers of the crowd.
Being selected for San Jing Academy was more glorious than becoming the top scholar; it could be said that more than half of their life’s wishes had been fulfilled.
But when Tutor Zhuge appeared before everyone, holding Gong Changan’s hand, the cheers seemed to be suppressed by an invisible hand.
Lanterns had been lit on both sides by this time. Illuminated by the candlelight, the tall, black-clothed Tutor Zhuge had frosty eyebrows and snow-white hair. Beside him, Gong Changan’s eyes were like black lacquer, and his spirit was high.
This old man and young boy were like Venus and an immortal boy descending to earth, completely devoid of worldly dust.
Finally, someone realized what was happening and shouted excitedly, “Incredible! Tutor Zhuge has taken a disciple!”
“This must be his closed-door disciple, as we’ve said before!”
“My heavens, this child must be a child prodigy reincarnated!”
“The Gong Family’s ancestral graves are well-placed! Two Jinshi scholars emerged recently, and now a disciple of San Jing Academy, and a closed-door disciple of Tutor Zhuge. Truly a lineage of talent!”
Gong Changan’s few young brothers were so excited they didn’t know what to do, jumping, shouting, and yelling. Several followers, frightened, stared intently at Feng Tianzhu, fearing he might have an episode if he got too excited.
“Heir Apparent, Heir Apparent, please do not get too excited,” the follower urged. “You must calm down, calm down.”
“Quick, quick! Get me my medicine!” Feng Tianzhu himself felt his heart pounding uncontrollably, as if it would leap out of his chest. “I only feel my hands and feet going numb now.”
The follower, flustered, fumbled to get the medicine for him. It was prepared by a medicine monk from the Western Regions.
He said that if taken in advance upon sensing something amiss, it could effectively slow down the onset.
“Brother Feng, how are you feeling? Are you alright?” Qiao Ziyu, though similar in age, was more mature and thoughtful. After all, he was the one who had persuaded Feng Tianzhu to come. If Feng Tianzhu had an episode, it would be embarrassing for him.
Seeing Feng Tianzhu’s complexion gradually return to normal, he finally relaxed.
“Hey, where is Lord Zhu? He was just here,” Xu Mang turned around and found Zhu Hui missing. “He waited this long, why not wait a little longer?”
“Lord Zhu seems to have gone over there,” the follower pointed towards a patch of trees in the distance, dark and unclear.
“What is he doing over there? Could he be in a hurry?” Feng Tianzhu asked, having recovered his breath.
“Lord Zhu seems to have an upset stomach,” the follower said. “I saw him hunched over, covering his mouth as if he were going to vomit.”
“My goodness, could that bowl of noodle soup have disagreed with him?” Xu Mang stared wide-eyed. “Everyone says he usually doesn’t eat much meat and fish. That noodle soup had shredded meat in it.”
Zhu Hui was poor and upright. Although his official position was not low, he always saved on his own food and clothing expenses, using the saved money to help the poor.
The follower had not misread; Zhu Hui had indeed left hunched over and covering his mouth, but it wasn’t an upset stomach; it was extreme emotional agitation.
He stumbled out of the crowd and finally hid in the bushes in a secluded spot, embracing a tree and weeping uncontrollably.
His tears flowed torrentially, like a dammed river breaking its banks. But he still dared not cry out loud, only managing suppressed sobs.
Through tear-blurred eyes, he looked at the lanterns lit in the distance.
Beneath those lanterns, obscured by other figures, was the hope he would protect for the rest of his life.
