Chapter 145: Studying at Huai Mountain (Fourteen)
"I didn't expect Hanshan Jun to be so humble one day," another person said with a light chuckle.
The man referred to as "Hanshan Jun" was eight feet tall, dressed in flowing white robes, with a refined demeanor and handsome features, standing out like a bright pearl in the dark Weird Domain.
He smiled faintly, "Since it's a fact, how can it be called humility?"
"Her talent in Curriculum Assessment and policy essays is already impressive, and I didn't expect her to be so skilled in the Dao of cultivation as well. I checked her records; she hadn't even entered the Initial Realm two or three months ago," Hanshan Jun said, his brows slightly furrowed.
"That's not surprising. She probably had some kind of fortuitous encounter," the other person said, quite calmly.
"True, what's considered a fortuitous encounter is nothing before the Xiaoxiang House Master. After all, the House Master himself is like an Incarnation of Luck. Every time he steps out of his home, he can pick up ancient spiritual items, and just like that, he unknowingly collected all Eight Views of Xiaoxiang," Hanshan Jun couldn't help but tease.
It turned out that the other person was the master behind "Xiao Xiang House"—the Holy Land of Hunters of the Strange.
However, a piece of Xuan paper was pasted over his face, obscuring his appearance.
Dressed in coarse linen, with straw sandals on his feet and a segmented bamboo staff in his hand, he looked like a leisurely mountain dweller.
Upon hearing Hanshan Jun's words, a few muffled laughs emanated from behind the paper.
"Hanshan Jun, please don't make fun of me. If I were truly a Child of Luck, I wouldn't have to hide like this now."
"However, this young girl who made Nangong Wan so anxious to call us here quickly is indeed extraordinary. Perhaps..."
"She was indeed very anxious. I was originally in Chang'an dealing with official business, with piles of documents, not even daring to leave work, but she summoned me directly," Hanshan Jun said, utterly speechless, showing the Xiaoxiang House Master the brush still dipped in blue ink in his hand.
"From a thousand miles away, Hanshan Jun still carries a blue-inked pen with him. You are indeed dedicated and responsible."
"If I could, I would also like to put down this pen and enjoy the mountains and rivers like the House Master. No, you don't truly enjoy the mountains and rivers. The true enjoyment should be like Nangong, avoiding the world and only doing what she likes."
"Neither of us has that kind of fate," the Xiaoxiang House Master said lightly.
"Yes, once you embark on this path, there's no turning back," Hanshan Jun's eyes were as deep and cold as a winter pond.
With that, both fell silent.
After a while, the Xiaoxiang House Master finally spoke, "So, are we going to make a young girl like her walk this path as well?"
In his words, there seemed to be a hint of reluctance.
"For now, we're just observing her potential. More importantly, we should wait until she passes the Examination before discussing further," Hanshan Jun looked into the distance, his eyes profound.
At this moment, the small figure fell onto the arena again.
"True, whether she can pass the imperial Examination is still unknown. If she can't become an official, everything will be in vain," the Xiaoxiang House Master nodded.
...
Liu Sheng still didn't know she had been targeted.
She was just getting beaten again and again.
She continuously grew through the beatings.
Now, she, or rather, the world, could basically predict Nangong Wan's movements and trajectory.
However, her reaction speed still couldn't keep up; her muscles couldn't keep up with her mind.
This was not something the world could help with; she needed to continuously practice, preferably in combat, so that every inch of her muscles could keep up with her thoughts and react in time.
Of course, this was just the first step, just to avoid being continuously beaten.
The second step was to counterattack.
This required her to diligently practice the Lightning Whip, making the whip move as she wished, retracting and extending freely.
Currently, her aim was still a bit off, especially when facing a rapidly moving opponent—Nangong Wan.
"Alright, that's enough for today."
Nangong Wan's words were like heavenly music to Liu Sheng.
【Is Senior Sister Nangong tired from hitting?】
【Hmm, tired from hitting people.】
Liu Sheng looked at Nangong Wan, who gracefully leaped off the arena, with a long face, and could only support her nearly falling apart back, moving off the arena in a rather undignified posture.
As soon as her feet touched the training ground, the wooden figure impatiently retracted the arena, transforming into a streak of spiritual light and drilling into Nangong Wan's body.
In that manner, Liu Sheng almost heard a cheeky shout.
"Work's over!"
She really wanted to finish work too!
The Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who had been seriously watching Liu Sheng get beaten, no, receiving guidance from Teacher Nangong, were now sitting on the ground, heads bowed, fast asleep by the side of the training ground.
Everyone was tired too.
After a day, they had attended eight hours of classes and fought three matches.
Of course, for Liu Sheng, it was more than three matches.
Being tired was understandable.
Therefore, Nangong Wan said nothing, and seeing this situation, she could only shake her head and smile.
"Let them go back to sleep."
Then, she pinched her right index finger and thumb together, gently flicked them in their direction, and directly ejected them from the Weird Domain.
Turning back, she saw Liu Sheng's dirty and pitiful face from being beaten, and she chuckled.
"Senior Sister..." Liu Sheng knew Nangong Wan was laughing at her, and immediately felt a mix of grief and indignation.
"You want me to let you go too, right?"
After Nangong Wan spoke, she saw Liu Sheng's face instantly brighten, her large eyes sparkling and watery as she looked at her.
"Never mind. Seeing how you've been pushed all day, with such intensive training from the start, you must be a bit unaccustomed, right?"
"I'm tired, but I've gained a lot today," Liu Sheng said seriously, dropping her cute act. "Rather, Senior Sister Nangong has worked hard."
Liu Sheng was now genuinely determined to pass the imperial Examination, and currently, this was her only path.
So, of course, she had to put in every effort to close the gap with other Curriculum Assessment Xuezis.
Not just close the gap, but even surpass them, so she could stand out.
By now, there were only twenty-five days left until the Examination, which was not an easy task.
Before entering Huai Mountain, she might have had some confidence.
But after meeting several Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters and attending a day of classes, she instead recognized the truth—in the Dao of imperial Examinations, there were many who worked harder and delved deeper than her.
There were four such individuals on Huai Mountain alone, and how many more among the Xuezis throughout the world?
Fortunately, there was a Senior like Nangong Wan who taught with such dedication, and such a good auxiliary weird objects like Hongxing Elementary School. Of course, she had to utilize all conditions to improve herself.
"Hard work is nothing. I take money to do things for people," Senior Sister Nangong said with a laugh, taking out a Medicinal Pill for Liu Sheng.
Liu Sheng took it, seeing some tiger stripes and scale-like patterns on the Medicinal Pill, and smelling a faint bitter scent, she looked at Nangong Wan with a puzzled expression.
"This is a Dragon-Tiger Pill. If you eat it, you'll be full of vigor and all your fatigue will disappear."
"Do you want to eat it and let me give you a make-up lesson, or not eat it and go back to sleep?"
Nangong Wan smiled lightly, leaving the choice to Liu Sheng.
【Can I really choose?】
But Liu Sheng felt she had no choice.
She decisively popped the Dragon-Tiger Pill into her mouth and swallowed it.
Indeed, as soon as the Medicinal Pill entered her stomach, she felt a strong warm current surge into her heart, flowing to her limbs and into her head.
Her mind was stimulated by the warm current, instantly becoming refreshed.
Her whole body was filled with strength; she felt like she could go back to the arena and be beaten for another two hours.
Nangong Wan looked at Liu Sheng's response and nodded.
"Good, then let's begin."
Then, she raised her hand and gently brushed away the deep darkness above the training ground.
The darkness receded, and the sky outside the Weird Domain appeared.
The enormous face of the Supreme God pressed down heavily on the training ground, illuminating every corner of Hongxing Elementary School, and many distorted shadows rustled and hid, avoiding the divine radiance.
"First, I want to ask you a question," Nangong Wan said, looking at Liu Sheng's small face, which was illuminated snow-white by the divine light, her expression serious.
Liu Sheng withdrew her gaze from the sky, her eyes returning to Nangong Wan, waiting.
As soon as Senior Sister Nangong opened her mouth, she uttered a sentence that could stir up huge waves.
"Do you, believe in the Supreme God?"