Chapter 181: Friend and Sword

The horse carriage stopped by the lake.

Chen Chao stepped out and the Second Prince also happened to emerge from the pavilion to greet him. It seemed coincidental, but Chen Chao was well aware that things were definitely not as simple as they appeared.

Second Prince looked at Chen Chao with delight and congratulated him, "Commander Chen, your victory this time has indeed brought honor to our Great Liang Dynasty. This prince, on behalf of the Great Liang Dynasty, must express my gratitude to Commander Chen."

Chen Chao smiled and replied, "This lowly official is also a military official of the Great Liang Dynasty, so I should do something for the Great Liang Dynasty."

The Second Prince solemnly said, "Let's not talk about these matters tonight. You and I are just friends having a casual conversation."

Chen Chao nodded without saying much. After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two of them arrived under the pavilion.

On a stone table, there were only two wine flasks and two wine cups.

After the two sat down, Chen Chao sized up the surroundings, but quickly withdrew his gaze. He did not see the rumored splendid scenery. There were no pleasure boats or other pedestrians nearby. It was very quiet, with only the serene night.

In the distance, the chirping of insects could be heard. This was a very typical summer night.

The Second Prince smiled and said, "Commander Chen must feel put on the spot at the moment."

He got straight to the point, his words revealing some things without any attempt to hide them.

Chen Chao was rather surprised.

The Second Prince poured a cup of wine for him, pushed it over, and then picked up his own cup. After taking a sip, he exclaimed, "This wine has been buried underground for half of a sixty-year cycle. In the past thirty years, time has bestowed many things upon it, but ordinary people don't understand."

Chen Chao raised his cup, took a sip, and savored the fragrance of the wine spreading in his mouth. He asked, "How many years have you kept it buried, Your Highness?"

This was also a question that virtually went straight to the point without any concealment.

The Second Prince chuckled and replied, "Since this prince was born into the imperial family and am Royal Father's legitimate son, isn't it normal to have such thoughts?"

The struggle for the throne had always been a matter that a dynasty treated with utmost caution. Because if mishandled, it could affect the entire imperial court and even the entire world, leading a dynasty from prosperity to decline.

"Before Commander Chen came here, my royal brother's steward also came. However, Commander Chen still chose this prince. Just this show of favor makes this prince feel that tonight is worthwhile."

The Second Prince said, "When Commander Chen visits my royal brother's residence later, this prince won't mind."

His gaze was sincere, leaving Chen Chao unsure of what he was truly thinking.

Was this statement genuine?

It was difficult for Chen Chao to judge.

Chen Chao put down his wine cup, furrowed his brows, and said, "In truth, regardless of whether is it Your Highness or that First Prince, this lowly official really doesn't want to take sides."

It was better to be straightforward than to hide things.

There would be an answer to everything.

The Second Prince looked at Chen Chao and asked, "Wasn't this prince the first to pay attention to Commander Chen after the imperial banquet?"

"Naturally," Chen Chao replied.

The Second Prince smiled and said, "Then do you know what this prince did for you behind the scenes?"

Chen Chao shook his head.

The Second Prince said with a smile, "To be honest, those things were actually trivial. It was merely a small gesture from this prince."

Those deeds and gifts could be seen as the Second Prince's gestures of goodwill.

Regardless of the situation, it seemed that Chen Chao should choose the Second Prince in his decision.

Chen Chao was silent.

Suddenly, the Second Prince burst into laughter.

"Actually, this prince didn't come to make Commander Chen pick sides tonight."

The Second Prince poured another cup of wine and said, "It's just to have a simple conversation, nothing more."

Chen Chao looked at him, feeling a bit dazed.

He did not really believe this statement.

The Second Prince continued, speaking to himself, "In all these years of the Great Liang Dynasty, you are the first to win the Myriad Willow Convention. This prince isn't underestimating that girl named Xie Nandu, it's just that the literary exam and the martial exam are completely different matters. So your existence is a very important thing. You may have sensed it yourself too. Many places are currently looking at you. Even if this prince wanted you to take sides, this prince definitely can't do something like that either. Because once this prince does something like that, it would mean this prince doesn't understand the big picture. Do you believe this prince now?"

The Second Prince casually spoke while drinking wine, giving the impression that he was really having a casual conversation.

Such an attitude was actually quite excellent.

Chen Chao was silent for a moment before speaking, "It truly is difficult to choose."

The Second Prince nodded and said, "Of course this prince knows. This kind of choice is naturally the most difficult. It's best not to make a choice. You'll definitely become a pillar of our Great Liang Dynasty. Your opinions may be crucial for the future of the Great Liang Dynasty. But for now, we are just friends, and that will do."

"Don't think too much, this prince invited you tonight just to chat and see if this prince can be friends with you."

The Second Prince said with a slight smile, "Becoming friends with a future prominent figure of the Great Liang Dynasty will surely be a delightful thing."

......

......

The night was long and lanterns hung in the vicinity of the library. Countless luminous pearls illuminated the library as bright as day. However, there were not many students studying inside because of the previous rumors of hauntings. Although the academy had come forward to tell the students that it was all baseless, it was clear that no one believed such words.

Only a few bolder students continued to come to the library in the middle of the night to study, while the rest of the students had no intention of coming back here at night.

Xie Nandu looked at the mosquitoes buzzing around the lanterns at the entrance before entering the library.

Arriving before a familiar bookshelf, she casually pulled out a volume on sword cultivation techniques, opened it, and then started reading.

Since that night when she read about that sword cultivation technique here, she had not returned. The Myriad Willow Convention was indeed important, so she could only put aside her sword training. However, in reality, she just chose not to come here to read about sword cultivation techniques. In reality, she had never stopped practicing swordsmanship.

At present, she already had a flying sword, although it was just a wooden sword.

As she flipped through that volume on sword cultivation techniques, Xie Nandu quickly closed it again.

When she said she wanted to practice swordsmanship, no one actually stopped her. Whether was it that senior brother in the North or the Dean, they had given her great support. But it seemed like she was still missing something.

Those so-called sword cultivation experiences would be given to her by someone and people would give her sword cultivation techniques. But it seemed like she was still missing something.

"You're still missing a sword."

At some unknown time, the dean suddenly appeared here.

This academy's dean casually pulled out a volume on sword cultivation techniques from the bookshelf and said without looking up, "For a sword cultivator, the most important thing is to have a sword. Of course, it could also be two swords... or even more."

As the Dean said, he looked up at Xie Nandu and continued with a faint smile, "The best flying swords in the world are from Sword Qi Mountain. Unfortunately, that sword from this century has already been forged three years ago. Otherwise, you could have given it a shot."

In the eleventh year of Tianjian, many things happened in the Great Liang Dynasty. One of them was that the Hundred Year Sword from Sword Qi Mountain had been forged and taken away by a young sword cultivator. The swordsman still had no reputation at present, but since he could bring away that renowned sword called "Wild Grass," it was clear that he would soon become another sword immortal of the current era.

Xie Nandu looked at the dean and solemnly bowed, saying, "This disciple wishes to make a trip to Sword Qi Mountain."

Since she had chosen to become a sword cultivator and embarked on the path of sword cultivation as well, then she would definitely need a sword. That was an undeniable fact.

The best swords were at Sword Qi Mountain, so she naturally had to go and see.

The dean said, "Those people at Sword Qi Mountain are obsessed with forging an unparalleled sword that surpasses all predecessors and will never be surpassed. They're all lunatics. They don't care if you're from the academy or any other institution. Unless you offer a sufficient price, they won't let you take away any of their swords."

Xie Nandu frowned and asked, "What's the price?"

Although she had read about Sword Qi Mountain in books, she knew very little about it.

The Dean narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, "Countless amounts of skygold currency, and then you also have to offer them something they don't have. And as for what they don't have, it naturally refers to the materials needed for sword forging. Lastly, you'll owe a favor. That's how those people are. That's how they make cultivators from all over the world not dare to mess with them.

With just forging swords, Sword Qi Mountain might have the best swordsmiths in the world, but they might not necessarily have brilliant sword cultivators.

Therefore, how a sect thrived in this world was never that simple.

"Teacher has probably made preparations since you're speaking up."

Xie Nandu looked at this Dean in front of her. Many people might feel surprised upon first encountering the Dean, but only those who truly understood him would know what kind of person this Dean really was.

The Dean looked at Xie Nandu and sighed, saying, "I know your mind isn't on the academy or the Xie Family."

There were some words the Dean had never said to Xie Nandu before. Tonight was a good opportunity to talk about it.

Xie Nandu looked at the Dean and asked, "Has Teacher never thought about that matter?"

There was a deep clarity in her eyes.

The Dean looked into her eyes and said, "If I hadn't thought about it, your senior brother wouldn't have been fighting in the North all this time."

Among the Dean's 72 disciples, there were a considerable number of them who died in the Northern Frontier.

Xie Nandu was silent.

"I'm deeply aware that it will take a lot of time."

The dean sighed emotionally and said, "But it seems that young people are the most unwilling to endure. As one endures, their spirit diminishes. Even if they haven't aged, they will become old. I can really understand that feeling."

Putting down that volume on sword cultivation techniques, the Dean said, "The desolate north is a knot in the heart of the human race. How much time do you think it will take for you to resolve it?"

Xie Nandu shook her head.

It was hard to say.

The Dean said, "When I previously accepted you as my disciple, I had actually considered entrusting the academy to you, to make you the first female dean in the history of the academy. Just thinking about it seems interesting."

As the dean spoke, there was excitement in his eyes. He did not seem to be joking at all.

"But unfortunately, it seems you're not interested."

The Dean shook his head.