SFS Chapter 21 Surprise
Chapter 21 Surprise
Shen Yanshan wore a gentle smile.
"You've only been practicing for less than half a year, yet you've already completed the first volume of the 'Yi Mu Chao Yang Jing'."
"Your spiritual root can only be considered above average. I believe that you must have put in more effort than the average person to reach this stage of cultivation. That's good. While the aptitude of one's spiritual root is important, how far a cultivator can go on this path still depends on their personal perseverance and comprehension."
"Hardworking people are always more likely to be favored."
Shen Yanshan spoke meaningfully, and also took out a heavy cloth bag and handed it over.
"This is the reward you deserve."
"Thank you, Master." Zhao Cheng'an accepted the cloth bag with both hands, a look of surprise on his face.
Of the five people present, he had the shortest training period and hadn't held out much hope. He was surprised to receive a reward. He weighed it briefly; there were six spirit stones inside. This was equivalent to six months' worth of cultivation resources.
After offering a few simple compliments to the two, Shen Yanshan's expression turned gloomy.
Since there are things that satisfy him, there are also things that displease him.
Shen Yanshan's gaze swept over the remaining people, finally landing on Sun Fuli.
Shen Yanshan reprimanded him almost mercilessly, "Sun, your aptitude is the worst among us, so I can tolerate your slow progress. But I cannot tolerate you not putting in the necessary effort."
"You know yourself that what you've presented today is unworthy of the time you've spent learning it."
Sun Fuli lowered her head, her face deathly pale, and dared not utter a single word.
Shen Yanshan then said a few words to Xu Baiwei and Xiang Yunyuan, his tone indifferent, neither praising them highly nor criticizing them harshly.
"Alright, that concludes today's assessment. I hope you can surprise me next time."
After Shen Yanshan finished speaking, he waved his sleeves and turned to walk inside.
Several students behind him bowed at the same time.
"Thank you for your teachings, Master."
……
Leaving the study, I basked in the bright sunlight. The gentle sound of a distant stream carried on the breeze, and the oppressive atmosphere dissipated somewhat.
Chen Heng left without saying another word.
Sun Fuli and Xu Baiheng looked at her back with envy in their eyes.
They were already of noble birth and possessed spiritual roots, making them exceptional individuals, even if they were one in ten thousand. However, during the recent quiz, they clearly saw the enormous gap between themselves and Chen Heng.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that fireflies rival the brilliance of the moon.
Such a comparison was too stark, even somewhat cruel. Coupled with being publicly reprimanded by the Master, Sun Fuli was deeply affected and looked rather dejected.
Xiang Yunyuan then walked up to Zhao Chengan.
Congratulations!
Zhao Cheng'an's expression was calm. "Just luck."
"There is never any such thing as luck on the path of cultivation." Xiang Yunyuan looked at Zhao Chengan with a hint of admiration in his eyes.
The two walked and talked.
"I passed the assessment about six months earlier than you, but now we're almost neck and neck. No... to be honest, I think you've already surpassed me. Do you have some special cultivation method?"
At this point, Xiang Yunyuan paused slightly, seemingly thinking of something, and lowered his voice: "Has Guo You provoked you in private? I warned him before, but it seems this guy really has a rebellious streak."
As he spoke, Xiang Yunyuan's expression gradually turned cold.
"Should we...?"
Xiang Yunyuan made a slicing motion across his neck. The meaning was self-evident.
Zhao Chengan shook his head.
Almost half a year has passed, and if Xiang Yunyuan hadn't mentioned him, he would have almost forgotten about him. He'd find it disgusting to step on a stink bug on the roadside. Besides, it might affect the teacher's impression of him, so there was no need to bother.
"Okay." Xiang Yunyuan shrugged.
……
It was evening.
The Imperial Palace of the Great Yin Dynasty.
The Qianqing Palace was the place where the reigning emperor reviewed memorials. Bright whale oil lamps were lit on the pillars on both sides, and the air was filled with the invigorating aroma of incense.
A middle-aged man with a weary face was sitting beside a large desk, reviewing the mountain of memorials piled up on it.
This middle-aged man was Zhao Cheng'an's father, Zhao Jinglong, the current emperor of the Great Yin Kingdom.
His temples were gray, and he looked to be in his fifties. However, the immense pressure of the past few years had caused his body to be somewhat hunched, and his eyes to be bloodshot.
"Why."
Zhao Jinglong opened the next memorial to the throne and saw the report on the famine and the refugees. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
With war raging outside and severe drought followed by floods inside, coupled with widespread displacement of people, the country is already showing signs of impending doom.
Does this mean that Heaven is truly going to destroy my Great Yin?
No, no, no.
"The Great Yin Dynasty has been passed down for over eight hundred years and has finally reached this point. It absolutely cannot perish in my hands."
Zhao Jinglong thought to himself.
"Your Majesty should rest early and not overwork yourself."
A woman with fine wrinkles on her face, but still charming, came over and draped a bright yellow cloak over Zhao Jinglong's shoulders.
This person was Zhao Cheng'an's birth mother, Empress Duanhui, née Shangguan.
Zhao Jinglong gently pressed down on the back of Shangguan's hand, his gaze filled with tenderness.
Lady Shangguan continued, "Your Majesty, I've had the Imperial Kitchen prepare ginseng soup with brown sugar in it. Please drink it while it's hot."
A maidservant carefully placed the cooked ginseng soup on the large table.
Zhao Jinglong sighed.
"It's fortunate that I have Your Majesty by my side; otherwise, I really might not have been able to persevere through this period."
"Your Majesty, you flatter me. I am but a woman. The reason why the Great Yin Dynasty has been able to hold on until now is entirely due to the bravery of the soldiers on the front lines and the concerted efforts of all the officials in the court."
A smile appeared on Zhao Jinglong's face.
"Haha, you're right."
Zhao Jinglong reached out and touched the porcelain bowl.
But at that very moment...
"Report—"
With a shrill voice, a eunuch, hunched over, rushed in from outside.
Over the course of more than a year, Zhao Jinglong had almost developed a stress response to this sound. Every time he heard an urgent report from the front lines, it was bad news. Either the border had been breached, or a general had been killed in battle.
He suddenly stood up from his chair, spilling the ginseng soup he was holding onto the floor with a loud crack. Porcelain shattered, and soup splattered everywhere.
Empress Shangguan, who was serving beside her, also showed a worried expression as she stared intently at the kneeling eunuch.
"Cough cough."
Zhao Jinglong coughed lightly twice, forcibly suppressing the panic in his heart and restoring his imperial dignity.
Only then did he speak in a deep voice, "What happened?"
"It's an urgent letter sent back by Lord Zhao Jingting, the Duke of Zhenguo."
"Jing Ting?"
Zhao Jinglong was shocked.
This man is the pillar of the entire Great Yin Dynasty. If anything were to happen to him, the current situation that the country has worked so hard to maintain would be rewritten, and the country would be in grave danger.
"Quickly, bring the letter up!" Zhao Jinglong said hurriedly.
To his surprise, besides a secret letter bearing the seal of the general, the items delivered also included a well-preserved wooden box.
Zhao Jinglong didn't think much of it and quickly opened the secret letter.
His gaze swept quickly across the letter, and after reading its contents, he remained silent for a long time.