The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS
Chapter 292 - 104 "Chance Encounter

Chapter 292: Chapter 104 "Chance Encounter

Although he still didn’t understand why Zhuge Longsu only allowed Ouyang Yan to go, Ninth Prince Feng Jiu had lost much of his suspicion regarding the Laba Porridge feast.

If Divine Origin was truly going to announce its settlement in Northern Zhou, do you think Zhuge Longsu could still be so leisurely?

Northern Zhou had been established for three hundred years, and the Confucian sector had already integrated with the state. Welcoming the Esoteric Sect would inevitably lead to the loss of Confucian support for Northern Zhou, but with the absence of a single dominating power, the Confucians would ultimately struggle to regain their past glory.

Therefore, although he didn’t know how Zhuge Longsu found out that Emperor Feng Tianming wouldn’t welcome the Esoteric Sect, he must have been sure that the news was one hundred percent correct to send Ouyang Yan in his place to the feast.

So, four hours later, when he was about to leave with the prepared Ouyang Yan, Ninth Prince Feng Jiu covertly signaled to a student who was waiting outside the academy gate.

And that signal caused the following scene...

"Stop!"

The academy’s carriage was just making its way to the streets of Divine Capital when Feng Jiu, who had drawn up the carriage curtain, seemed to see something he cared about a great deal and immediately called for a halt.

"Feng Jiu, what’s the urgency?" Ouyang Yan, who was sitting opposite Feng Jiu, curiously asked.

"Mr. Ouyang," Feng Jiu replied, "I just spotted a good friend whom I haven’t seen for a long time, so I apologize for the impropriety."

"Oh? Who might that be?" Ouyang Yan asked with interest.

In the past, Ouyang Yan was more inclined towards his junior brother Eighth Prince Feng Qiwu, but with the sudden imperial decree changing the family feast to a banquet for Hundred Officials and summoning mages of the Esoteric Sect to chant prayers and blessings, the first to know were all the princes.

Among all the princes, those with the deepest connections to Mountain River Academy were none other than Ninth Prince Feng Jiu and Eighth Prince Feng Qiwu. Yet, to Mountain River Academy, only Feng Jiu came to deliver the message, as Feng Qiwu was still in the Imperial Palace.

Certainly, Feng Qiwu was deeply beloved by the Emperor and unlike Feng Jiu didn’t feel quite as isolated, struggling to decide whether to stand truly with Mountain River Academy. He remained non-committal, taking a neutral stance. But Feng Jiu’s action had garnered Ouyang Yan’s appreciation, making him more approachable now and even more interested in Feng Jiu’s friends than before.

"This person is none other than Meng De, who has previously competed alongside me in the Literary Arena to bring honor to the academy," Feng Jiu replied.

At that, Ouyang Yan became genuinely interested and said, "You mean Meng De, who was injured and became deaf?"

At the beginning of the year’s Literary Arena competition, although Mountain River Academy had won, it had been a pyrrhic victory with heavy casualties among the participants. Meng De, one of the survivors who had sadly left the Academy due to his injury causing deafness, naturally attracted the attention of the academy’s teachers and dean.

"Quick, call him over," Ouyang Yan urged rapidly.

"Yes, Mr. Ouyang."

Shortly after Feng Jiu left the carriage, he brought Meng De, who had brought glory to the academy, back with him.

The carriage, originally intended to represent the academy at the Imperial Palace feast, was not small. It could seat eight comfortably, so adding one more was not an issue at all and still allowed Qing Yu to pay his respects properly.

"I greet Mr. Ouyang," Qing Yu said as he paid his respects.

"No need for formalities," Mr. Ouyang stopped Qing Yu’s attempt to show etiquette, and asked with concern, "Meng De, you left the academy to seek medical treatment. Now that you’re back, have you been cured of your deafness?"

At those words, Qing Yu’s expression turned slightly somber as he sighed, "Mr. Ouyang, Meng De has visited numerous famed doctors, all of whom said the brain was injured but not the ears. This condition is nearly impossible to cure. Only by advancing to the Divine Origin Realm might there be a chance of healing without medicine."

"But you can..." Ouyang Yan was taken aback and gestured towards Qing Yu’s ears, meaning you clearly understand what I’m saying.

"Mr. Ouyang, I noticed earlier that Junior Brother Meng De was always watching your lips when you spoke. I think he’s reading your words through lip reading," a young man in the white uniform of the academy spoke up from next to Ouyang Yan.

Once the young man finished speaking, he smiled at Qing Yu and said, "Junior Brother Meng De, it’s been almost a year since we last parted."

"Senior Brother Zeng Yue," Qing Yu recognized the young man’s name.

Zeng Yue was also a participant in the Literary Arena contest. Known for his upright and resolute character, he was the first to respond to Lin Chenfeng’s call to arms, using the Confucian forbidden technique "Green Blood Illuminating the Red Heart" with a disregard for his own life, truly a gentleman.

After the Literary Arena, Zeng Yue was treated by a Divinity Realm warrior like Zhuge Longsu, who transferred Primordial Energy to heal him. As Mountain River Academy was not lacking in heavenly materials and earth treasures, he was fortunate not just to recover from the aftermath of using "Green Blood Illuminating the Red Heart," but also his power greatly increased.

Most importantly, he was specifically nurtured by the academy and brought to the banquet by Ouyang Yan, which showed the importance the academy placed on Zeng Yue.

"Senior Brother is observant, noticing that Junior Brother was using lip reading to understand Mr. Ouyang’s words," Qing Yu said with a feigned bitter smile, "knowing that I might not be cured until reaching the Divine Origin Realm, I couldn’t spend my days communicating with others only through writing. That’s why I taught myself lip reading."

"It must have been hard for you..." Ouyang Yan sighed.

Lip reading wasn’t easy to learn unless Qing Yu had exceptional eyesight to remember every movement people made while talking.

Ouyang Yan mentally assembled a series of setbacks that Qing Yu must have faced while learning lip reading, and felt a sense of guilt toward this student who lost his hearing for the sake of the academy.

After the conclusion of the Literary Arena, the academy had not paid attention to this student due to various upheavals. Only after all was settled did Ouyang Yan learn that the student had gone to seek treatment long ago, and he regretted that Wu Qu had not informed him at the time, leading him to scold Wu Qu severely.

"Now that you’re back, stay. Next spring, return to the academy to continue your studies," Ouyang Yan suggested.

"Thank you, Mr. Ouyang."

"By the way, Mr. Ouyang," Qing Yu said suddenly, as if just realizing something, "where are you and the two senior brothers going? I wouldn’t want to delay your business due to my arrival."

As he said this, Qing Yu looked anxious, seemingly concerned that he might cause Mr. Ouyang to be late.

"It’s nothing important; there is no hurry," Ouyang Yan waved his hand and said, "It’s a coincidence that you are here, so come with us to the feast."

"To a feast? What feast?"

"Junior Brother..." Feng Jiu leaned in and quietly relayed all the details to Qing Yu.

In truth, Qing Yu was fully aware of the situation—he had guessed as much when he learned that Mountain River Academy was also invited to enjoy the Laba Porridge, but he pretended otherwise to deceive Ouyang Yan and Zeng Yue, hearing it once more from Feng Jiu.

"I see." Qing Yu straightened his robes and sat upright with propriety.

The carriage continued on its way, and after the guards at the entrance to the Imperial City confirmed their identity, it slowly entered the Imperial Palace of Northern Zhou.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.