Nightfall

Meeting Teacher and the Poor Guys Who Have No Status

Ning Que was startled as he looked at Tang Xiaotang who stood in the thicket. He sighed and asked, “Are you a ghost? Why do you follow me wherever I go? It’s useless no matter how fast I run.”

Tang Xiaotang had not even had time to react to his mean tone when the snow-white puppy rushed out from behind her and growled at Ning Que, displaying his sharp teeth. However, it still remembered how it had been tortured by Ning Que on the mountain path in the Wilderness, and only dared to growl at him from beside its owner. It did not dare to go near Ning Que at all.

“You run really fast. I almost thought that you were one of us from the Enlightenment Doctrine.” Tang Xiaotang said, “But you will never be as fast as me.”

Ning Que said helplessly, “My dear miss, why are you following me around?”

Tang Xiaotang said, “My brother told me to enter the Academy and become a student of the Headmaster.”

Ning Que stood still for a moment before he could ascertain that he did not hear wrongly. He had the urge to torch down the winter grass by the path before him. He said, “You and your brother are indeed both mad. You want to become a student of the Headmaster? Do you not know that he is the true leader of the Central Plains?… Alright, since he doesn’t appear often, he is at least a spiritual leader. Even if he did not get rid of you through some powerful means when he sees that you are from the Devil’s Doctrine, would he accept you as a disciple?”

Tang Xiaotang said confusedly, “My brother said that the Academy does not discriminate.”

Ning Que said, “Anyway, my advice is for you to give up. I cannot take you to the back of the mountain of the Academy. Furthermore, I am the most favored Youngest Brother now. Why would I want a junior sister?”

With that, he turned around and walked down the slope towards the Academy. However, Tang Xiaotang and the Little White Dog followed him no matter how fast he walked.

Tang Xiaotang laughed as she said behind him, “If the Headmaster knew that you were so shameless, he might not like you. He might even kick you out. Wouldn’t it be just nice for me to take up your spot?”

Ning Que thought to himself that he was willing to do anything in this life. He was used to sucking up to people. He thought of the generals in the City of Wei, and Master Yan Se. He had even managed to make Eldest Brother happy, how would the Headmaster of the Academy be able to escape from his grasp?

“Can we still, can we still meet? I have prayed before Buddha for a thousand years…”

At this moment, a song suddenly sounded from under the sloped stone path. The singer’s voice was not wonderful. It wasn’t hoarse, but had an odd whimsical feel to it. The lyrics, coupled with an out-of-tune melody made it sound like someone speaking, making it even more ludicrous and funny.

Tang Xiaotang turned around to look at it curiously.

The melody was foreign to Ning Que, but he seemed to have heard the lyrics somewhere. He suddenly grew alert, “How would anyone else other than himself know of this song?”

Looking down the stone trail, he saw a tall old man wearing a dark-colored fox coat. He walked up a slope with a painted meal box in his hand. Was it not the man on the balcony of the Building of Pines and Cranes last night?

…

…

Ning Que’s head hurt as he looked at the old man. He thought of the wooden rod that had hit him, and a cold smile appeared on the corners of his lips. He prepared to stop the man and give him a good beating.