Above the Galaxy
Chapter 225 - 162: This Sword, I Cannot Strike!

Chapter 225: Chapter 162: This Sword, I Cannot Strike!

At five o’clock in the morning, when Tang Fei got up to train, he noticed that the light was still on in Chen Tianqi’s room, but there was no sound of talking or moving around.

Tang Fei did not pay attention to it, but instead started practicing the "Imperial Court Scripture" in the courtyard on his own.

The "Imperial Court Scripture" was somewhat like Tai Chi, complete with a cultivation technique and a mental method. Daily practice would bring improvements.

However, Tai Chi had been lost over the years, and people only knew the physical technique, not the mental method. Without the aid of the mental method, Tai Chi was merely a form of exercise for physical fitness.

After practicing for about half an hour, Chen Tianqi, with a pale face and messy hair like a bird’s nest, burst out of his room, handing over a stack of papers and eagerly said, "Brother Tang Fei, I stayed up all night and wrote fifteen poems. Can you help me see... help me see which one is better? I will send that one to the Dean..."

Tang Fei, looking surprised, asked, "Brother Chen, you didn’t sleep last night just to write poems?"

"Yes. Time waits for no one, if I don’t deliver the poems today, I might never get another chance..."

"Why?"

"Think about it, because the Dean chose you as a disciple, other students naturally want the Dean to be their master as well... They will make their move early this morning. I could seize the opportunity first because you gave me insider information... What if others also find out that the Dean likes poetry, and they send poems too?"

"Moreover, this morning they are assigning masters, and it will be a system random assignment... Once the master assignment is confirmed, it would be difficult to change later. Even the Dean, with all his authority, needs to consider the feelings of other teachers... So, I only had last night."

"Quickly help me see... see which one is good..."

Holding the stack of papers felt like lifting a thousand pounds to Tang Fei.

He randomly flipped to the first page, which read: Tonight, I can’t sleep, so I lit a cigarette. Is it the cigarette that keeps me company, or am I keeping it company?

Then he opened the second sheet, which read: I’m hungry, I want to eat the fattest meat, drink the largest bowl of wine. But, I’m a poet. I can’t be greasy, I need to distance myself from life.

The third sheet read: Without a doubt, Dean Xuanyuan Mingjing, is the most formidable dean in the world.

------

Tang Fei sighed softly, saying, "Brother Tianqi, the ornate style is no longer popular... The Dean said he hates ornate style the most."

"Ah? Really?" Chen Tianqi paused, snatched the stack of paper, and started flipping through it, saying, "Look at this one, and this one... I copied the style of Tang poetry, writing in five and seven characters..."

"How about this?" Tang Fei offered a sincere suggestion, "Why don’t you give these poems to Dean Si, and ask him to take them to the Dean, to see which one he likes best... After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and everyone’s aesthetic tastes are different."

"I might like something, but the Dean might not. I dislike something, but the Dean might cherish and repeatedly appreciate it."

Chen Tianqi thought about it, found Tang Fei’s suggestion reasonable, and said, "Alright, I will take them to Dean Si shortly, and ask him to pass them to the Dean as soon as possible."

Tang Fei patted Chen Tianqi on the shoulder, saying, "I wish you success."

"It will be. The Dean and I meet through poetry, with such a masterpiece that inspires a love for talent... If this gets out, wouldn’t it be a delightful master-disciple tale?"

"Of course," Tang Fei gave Chen Tianqi a thumbs up, saying, "I feel the romance just hearing about it. Both are men of sentiment."

"Alright, you go back to training, I’ll get ready. I didn’t sleep last night, I need to tidy up a bit."

"Go on, I’ll wait for you for breakfast," Tang Fei said.

Students at White Crane Academy didn’t need to cook; the academy had a cafeteria that provided meals. The day before, a senior student had already taken Tang Fei and others on a tour, and it seemed quite nice.

After showering, Chen Tianqi was also well-prepared, packing his entire night’s hard work tightly into a leather bag.

Tang Fei felt a bit sorry for the leather bag...

Sure enough, after arriving at the classroom, students began asking Dean Si for the liberty to choose their own master.

"Dean Si, I also want the Dean as my master..."

"Dean Si, could you also ask the Dean for us? Whether it works or not, we will appreciate you..."

"That’s right, I think the Dean should give everyone a fair assessment opportunity... If Tang Fei can, we can too..."

------

Dean Si smilingly observed these restless students and asked, "Yesterday, when Tang Fei stood up to ask questions, didn’t I ask if there was anything else?"

"How did you answer? You said no. The nerve! Now, you’re regretting it? Seeing Tang Fei being accepted as a disciple by the Dean, do you feel anxious and envious?"

"Dean Si, we just want to try and strive...."

"Yes, Dean Si, please understand our desire for advancement in cultivation..."

"Dean Si, please help us, we know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity..."

------

"I can’t help you," Si Yinchuan still smiled, but his words were blunt, "I discussed this matter with the Dean yesterday, the Dean said this is a one-time exception, never to be repeated..."

"..."

Everyone’s heart sank.

"Besides, the mentors assigned to you are all highly accomplished in cultivation, capable of maximizing the potential of their disciples... If after the results are out, any student wishes to change their mentor, it would be a disrespect to the mentors and the academy, and such students will be expelled from the academy..."

"You are aware, White Crane Academy has had precedents of expelling students..."

"..."

Everyone was silent.

Was this a threat?

Si Yinchuan looked around and said, "Think about it, does what you’re doing make sense? Can the Dean be a mentor to each and every one of you?"

"Yesterday, I asked, and no objections came up. Now that Tang Fei has succeeded, all of you are impatient to claim a piece for yourselves... Isn’t that shameful?"

"If you lack the courage and wisdom to be the first, then don’t be a follower or imitator... The first one might be praised, but the ones that follow are just annoying..."

"Alright, now the system will automatically assign a mentor to each student. After the assignments, report to your respective mentors," Si Yinchuan declared, "If anyone is unwilling to accept, please step forward now... I’ll have someone process your withdrawal."

"..."

Thus, no one dared to say they wanted the Dean as their mentor anymore.

Tang Fei glanced at Chen Tianqi, who was tightly clutching the leather bag resting on his thighs.

Si Yinchuan walked up to Tang Fei, smiling, "Didn’t the Dean ask you to come to see him when you got up today? Why haven’t you gone yet?"

"I thought Dean Si might still have something to tell me."

"No, you should go now, don’t keep the Dean waiting." Si Yinchuan said with utmost empathy, "If there’s anything, I’ll have the other students convey it to you."

"Thank you, Dean Si," Tang Fei said gratefully.

As he was preparing to get up and leave, Chen Tianqi suddenly and swiftly handed a leather bag to Tang Fei and then frantically signaled with his eyes.

Tang Fei nodded at him and left with the leather bag.

Chen Tianqi finally breathed a sigh of relief; his hard work had not been in vain.

When Tang Fei arrived at the grape courtyard, the Dean was sitting under a grapevine, drinking tea.

"Master," Tang Fei respectfully saluted Xuanyuan Mingjing.

Xuanyuan Mingjing put down his teacup and said, "Follow me."

"Yes, Master."

Xuanyuan Mingjing led Tang Fei to the backyard and pushed open the door to a vast, open terrace.

Surrounding them were exotic flowers and strange rocks.

Beside them was a bottomless precipice, with mountain winds howling and clouds tumbling.

It was as if they were in a celestial realm.

Xuanyuan Mingjing looked at Tang Fei and said, "I heard you have two swords, one called ’Indomitable’ and one called ’Fearless’... Show them to me, exert your full strength, and don’t hold back."

"Yes, Master," Tang Fei nodded.

He thought, why does Master want me to go all out without holding back? Could he want to steal my unique skill?

Then he thought, that’s not possible, he’s a Great Grandmaster ...

How could I suspect my own respectful teacher?

Tang Fei, you beastly thing.

If Xuanyuan Mingjing weren’t present, he would’ve wanted to slap himself hard.

So, Tang Fei picked up a twig, composed his thoughts, and focused his mind.

Then, he brandished a sword.

Tang Fei had invested much effort in the first and second sword techniques of the "Netherworld Scroll," practicing day after day, maintaining persistence with tens of thousands of strokes—even in his dreams, he kept swinging continuously...

Now, he would exhibit their full power in front of Xuanyuan Mingjing.

For his own honor.

And for the glory of these two swords.

After demonstrating both techniques, Tang Fei landed on his feet and respectfully stood before Xuanyuan Mingjing, saying gravely, "Please, Master, enlighten me."

"Um," Xuanyuan Mingjing nodded and asked, "Do you have a sword?"

"I didn’t bring it," Tang Fei paused and said, "Should I go back and get a sword?"

"No need, a dagger will suffice..." Xuanyuan Mingjing spoke, "Use the swordsmanship you just showed, and strike at me."

"Master?" Tang Fei looked at Xuanyuan Mingjing, what does this mean?

Asking me to strike at Master? Isn’t that fundamentally wrong?

Is he testing my loyalty? Testing whether I would ever betray or slay my teacher in the future?

"Are you not ready yet?" Xuanyuan Mingjing asked audibly.

Tang Fei clenched his teeth and replied, "Yes, Master."

He hadn’t brought a sword, though he did have a Dog Leg Knife and a dagger gifted by Phoenix in his belt; however, he hadn’t touched them.

He had just demonstrated swordsmanship with a twig, and now Master said to strike at him with a real weapon... What was his intent?

Tang Fei gripped the twig in his hands, seeking an opportunity to attack Xuanyuan Mingjing.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

As time ticked by, Tang Fei stood still, not moving an inch.

It wasn’t that he dared not or didn’t want to.

But he couldn’t find an opportunity.

Indeed, Xuanyuan Mingjing just stood there openly, with a poised and graceful stance, not showing any defense.

Yet, Tang Fei couldn’t find any opening to strike.

He simply stood there, yet was as transcendent as the Milky Way at sunset, like great rivers and oceans.

Profound and tall as mountains, gentle as the March wind.

He, along with the mountain, the wind, the brilliant sunlight, the plants and insects, merged into one.

Leaving you unable to spot a single flaw, unable to feel any spirit to fight.

First, Tang Fei felt tensed up, restrained, as if wrapped in a thin film.

Soon, he began to breathe rapidly, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Snap!

The twig in Tang Fei’s hand fell to the ground.

Looking at Xuanyuan Mingjing with a pained expression, he said, "Master, this sword... I cannot wield it."