Combat Emperor: Zhang Yu's Journey
Chapters... 121: Between Xuan Yin and the Xiao Clan
"Why bring me here? Can't you talk there?" Zhang Yu looked at Xuan Yin who was just silently standing in front of him.
Xuan Yin removed her hairband after making sure no one was around. Even so Zhang Yu was somewhat anxious about his actions.
"What are you doing? What if someone knows?" Zhang Yu tried to cover up while holding his hand.
Yet Xuan Yin paid no heed. He caught Zhang Yu's hand and looked at him fixedly.
For the first time Zhang Yu was a bit nervous. He swallowed his saliva with difficulty trying to calm himself down.
"Didn't you want to talk? What ...."
Before Zhang Yu finished his sentence, Xuan Yin advanced pushing his lips. In one moment they were united. Zhang Yu was of course surprised by Xuan Yin's bravery. But he didn't think to refuse.
Out of nowhere Zhang Yu saw a tear-crystal sphere dripping down his arm. Inwardly thinking, "He's crying? What's going on?"
But Zhang Yu let this stand. Only after Xuan Yin pulled his body back did Zhang Yu try to see more clearly his face.
The face that was smooth white like snow today was rather red and puffy.
"Say me if there's a problem. Tell me, I'll help you finish it."
Xuan Yin simply bit her lips then gradually rubbed the corners of her wet eyes. "I wish we could meet again after this. But maybe it'll never happen."
"What's? You said something?" The soft Xuan Yin sentence could not be heard by Zhang Yu. When Zhang Yu asked him, Xuan Yin simply kept silent then ran away leaving him.
Zhang Yu did not even have time to say anything. As he was about to catch up, Wu Zetian came from behind.
"Zhang Yu, it turns out you're here. I've been looking for you everywhere."
Zhang Yu only turned his head for a moment, but Xuan Yin had already disappeared from sight. He touched her lips, remembering what had just happened as if it was a farewell to her.
"Is he in trouble?" his inner.
Wu Zetian, who did not know what Zhang Yu was thinking, patted him on the shoulder as he remained silent as he spoke. "Actually who just left until you ignored me?!"
Instead of apologizing or answering his sentence, Zhang Yu walked away following Xuan Yin's departure.
Wu Zetian did not believe he would be left alone. He clapped his hands and then sneered in a loud voice. "Good job! You're ignoring me again! You don't remember who helped you measure time to take the exam?"
"Zhang Yu's! Wait for me!"
But Zhang Yu did not care. He was still stepping down that path looking for Xuan Yin's whereabouts.
...
The inner court arena. After the rest break was over, all the disciples who would follow the second round regrouped there, not least Zhang Yu and Wu Zetian.
While looking at the speaking elder Zhang Yu continued to search for the whereabouts of Xuan Yin that was nowhere before. Even now the six princes did not come.
"What's really going on?"
Zhang Yu continued to think about this. Even when his name was called to come forward, he was still pensive until Wu Zetian patted his shoulder a bit hard.
"What are you thinking? Quickly go upstairs."
Zhang Yu looked at the elder who was looking towards him. Once again look around then step up to the top of the arena.
"Gu Bei! Get on top!"
The disciple named Gu Bei stood up from his seat after his name was mentioned. But he did not dare to go up considering who the opponent he would face. "Chairman, may I admit defeat?"
The elder squinted his eyes. But I also can't think of anything else. "Alright, Gu Bei gave up. Zhang Yu won!"
"You can go back to your seat."
"Sorry Elder, can I do it at once?"
Zhang Yu's sentence was somewhat puzzling. The ten supervisory elders looked on in confusion. "Do you mean to do it all at once?"
"Sorry Elder. In the second round each examinee would max out fighting twice before being decided to become an inner disciple. Is that right, right? Therefore the disciple wanted to do these two fights at once." Zhang Yu refused to go down and took the decision to challenge all the participants who wanted to deal with him.
This desire of Zhang Yu was truly unusual and could be said to be unprecedented. The ten supervisory elders looked at each other still deliberating.
"can't. We know you have the ability. We also know your chances of becoming an inner disciple are greater than anyone else. But rules are rules. You can't do it haphazardly" said the elder angrily.
"Go back to your place," the elder concluded his sentence.
All quiet. Wu Zetian was silent as well. He did not know what was inside Zhang Yu's head. Since meeting him earlier Zhang Yu was very strange. He thought it would be fine, but now Zhang Yu was getting weird.
"Murid Zhang Yu, what exactly does he want?" ask elder.
Zhang Yu was still focused on the disciple sitting in the second round participant's seat. Seeing that they had no voice, he raised his hand.
"Elders can see for themselves. No one wants to face me. Even if I follow this round to the end, I will get away without fighting. Therefore, rather than wasting time, it was better to decide early."
The ten elders lost their word as Zhang Yu said this. I can't deny it but I want to deny it.
One elder got up from his seat then looked at the dozens of disciples who were about to follow the second round. "Nobody of you wants to deal with it?"
Silence again.
They are smart enough not to answer this question. Who would want to go head-to-head with Zhang Yu and bury the desire of being an inner disciple? Not a single one.
By choosing silence they would probably lose one ration to become inner disciples. But at the same time one of those who should have faced Zhang Yu was still fighting and snatching one inner disciple robe.
"Guang Zhou, don't you want to face Zhang Yu either?" ask the elder to the man sitting quietly in the back corner seat.
All eyes were on him. Guang Zhou himself was quite famous in the academy. With an ability that could be compared to an inner disciple, and his mysterious demeanor, he hid an unimaginable strength.
But Guang Zhou also refused to confront Zhang Yu. "Sorry Elder, but I don't want to fight him either."
Even though in his heart Guang Zhou was eager to fight against Zhang Yu. But he saw Zhang Yu as having one very important affair. So rather than face them in a state of unfocused, better look for another opportunity to pit against the force.
The elder sighed because out of the eighties disciples none of them dared to come forward to face Zhang Yu.
"Since no one advanced, Zhang Yu became the first outer disciple to become an inner disciple on this year's exam."
All applaud congratulating. But Zhang Yu who was in a hurry immediately left the arena after taking out the inner disciple token that the elder had given him.
Wush...
He disappeared from sight. The ten elders sighed helplessly. "How can a test be like this? But also can't do anything because all the disciples would rather give up than face it."
...
The residence of the Head of the Academy.
Wang Chen was sitting leisurely in the gazebo while writing something on a sheet of paper. Before long Zhang Yu came in a hurry like being chased by a demon.
"Teacher, is Yin'er here?"
Wang Chen rolled up the paper before tying it with a ribbon. "It seems like he told you the problem."
Zhang Yu was stunned. "The problem? What problem do you mean, Teacher?"
Wang Chen seemed to have said something wrong. He immediately pulled it back. "What problems? There's no problem here."
Zhang Yu tilted his head in disbelief. "i'm serious. Tell me what problem is Yin'er facing?"
"What problems? No problem ...."
"Teacher!" cut Zhang Yu.
Wang Chen was speechless to see Zhang Yu's emotionless face. Anxious, worried, all mixed into one.
Huft....
"The story is long ...." Wang Chen sighed.
"I want to hear it. Complete," he added.
Wang Chen sighed again. "Do you remember what Master said at the time?"
Zhang Yu was silent to remember. "That time". Suddenly his face froze when he managed to get his memory.
"What is this about the matter that made him hide his identity? The matter you said is related to the ancient clan?"
Wang Chen nodded. "really. Although it had hidden its identity, it was eventually discovered when it was twenty-two years old when the moon goddess' body was active. Last month the envoy of the Xiao Clan came and ...."
"Wait on! Xiao Clan?" Zhang Yu's eyes twitched hearing the teacher mention his mother's clan name.