Combat Emperor: Zhang Yu's Journey
Chapters... 42: Imperial Academy
From Heishan City to Xue He City would at least take a quarter day trip. Nevertheless, Zhang Yu did not intend to rest even though the sky was gradually dark.
He traveled with a group of local merchants. Hiking on horseback through hills and deserts.
"Brother Zhang Yu, what exactly are you going to the capital for?" wu Zetian, the son of the merchant chief.
Zhang Yu glanced at a glance, he was a bit hesitant when he was about to say it.
"I myself went to the capital to join the Imperial Academy. You know, it's the biggest academy in the Xuan Empire." Wu Zetian explained proudly. A smile was painted between his thick lips.
Zhang Yu's eyes squinted. Did he not hear wrong? It turned out that Wu Zetian was about to join the Imperial Academy.
"I'll go there too,"
Zhang Yu's sentence made the smile on Wu Zetian's face disappear. He was still controlling his horse, his eyes looking at Zhang Yu with question marks.
"Is that true? ...." The 23-year-old fat youth fused his brows and the next second started shaking his head. "No-no. I don't remember you being part of the fifty new disciples accepted. You must be kidding me. Don't you?"
"Three months ago I got rid of over a thousand competitors and became fifty lucky ones. If you really belong to the fifty new disciples, I will definitely remember you because we have all faced each other in one battle arena."
Zhang Yu did not say anything to deny. He was not among the fifty new disciples. But he came with his teacher's token. It should be accepted this way too, right?
There is no certainty about that. But Zhang Yu had no choice but to come and give it a try straight away.
Two hours later, the group for the first time passed through the gates of Xue He City. Wu Zetian parted ways with his father's entourage to head straight for the Imperial Academy.
Of course Zhang Yu had the same route. The moment Wu Zetian realized it, his forehead definitely shriveled.
"Brother Zhang Yu, are you really going to the Imperial Academy? You'll be expelled once you get there if you don't have an identity token."
"You just calm down. If I get kicked out I just need to turn around, right?" reply Zhang Yu relaxed.
Wu Zetian shook his head while sighing. "Just hope they don't treat you harshly. They're afraid they're gonna think you're an intruder."
"You take it easy,"
Wu Zetian shrugged and chose focus to spur his horse faster.
...
After traveling for some time Wu Zetian and Zhang Yu finally arrived in front of the territory of the Imperial Academy.
Midnight does not make this place lonely. It appeared before the eyes of dozens of troupes escorting their sons who had gotten the chance to become new students of the Imperial Academy. Even so there was no sadness on their faces as they watched the child's back disappear behind the thirty-foot-tall giant door. They were all proud and delighted that the Imperial Academy was the most appropriate place to establish a foundation of strength.
"Brother Zhang Yu, you can see for yourself how the guard is so tight. The incoming token must show identity. If I can give you some advice, you better come back and wait another two years for the selection."
After saying Wu Zetian got off his horse as he walked towards the guard at the gate by showing his identity token.
Zhang Yu was silent for a moment there still on the horse. Seeing the gate about to close he came closer.
"What do you want to do?" ask the two disciples who are guarding the gate. Because fifty new disciples had already entered so there should be no more coming. But now comes another one. Of course they were wondering if there was a change in the number of new student admissions this year?
Zhang Yu was stunned for quite some time.
"I don't have any tokens. But ...."
"Are you playing us? No tokens can't enter. Go there!" They immediately kicked out in annoyance. One disciple then went inside the gate pulling a lever to close the gate.
Another student waved away. "Never come if you don't have an identity token."
Zhang Yu was not even given a chance to say anything. He clucked softly then took out his teacher's purple jade.
"See this! I'll leave after you see it."
The student was initially indifferent. Even ignoring Zhang Yu. In their minds all the items are not important. As long as no identity tokens are allowed to enter.
However, when he first saw the purple gion in Zhang Yu's hand the expression on his face immediately changed. He waved at his friend who had previously pulled the lever and asked him to come immediately.
"Hold the gate!" yells.
The disciple who had previously lowered the lever to close the gate came immediately. "What's really going on? Doesn't he want to go?"
"Don't say much. Look what's in his hand." As his friend spoke a lot, he pressed his cheek then pushed his face forward the purple jade in Zhang Yu's hand.
Just like the first student. The disciple was also shocked when he recognized that the purple jade was none other than the teacher's token. A few moments later, however, his facial expression became suspicious.
"Is this genuine? You're not trying to cheat, are you?" tanyakanya.
Zhang Yu replied "That's real", but the disciple was still suspicious. Now he's challenging to do the checking.
"You can check it out. But one of you stays here and the gate stays in this state."
The two disciples raised their two eyebrows simultaneously. "Do you think we're gonna bring this jade slip?"
"I'm just doing some precaution. Anything can happen because we don't know each other." Zhang Yu said so straightforwardly without offending.
The two students looked at each other. Both then nodded their heads. "alright. We agreed!"
As per the agreement one student went to do a check. The other one stood in front of the silent gate while folding his hands.
No conversation while waiting. Half an hour passed and finally the disciple who left returned.
"How's it?"
"Original."
Upon hearing this answer the second disciple looked surprised. It turns out that it really is a native token. So it could be said that this man in front of him had a relationship with a teacher in the academy. Luckily he didn't say anything too much. If it were to offend him, it would become a problem later on.
The first disciple handed back the teacher token to Zhang Yu. "Come in. You're the fifty-first freshman."
Zhang Yu accepted the token and quietly developed a smile. "I won't be sad."