Chapter 2 And All Things Speak to Me
Chapter 2 And All Things Speak to Me
The evening breeze blew across the old pond under the setting sun, and the twilight was reflected by the spring water into the library, filling the whole room with gold.
The sparrows outside the window come and go on the branches of the pear tree. Their passing figures cast shadows on the golden area, giving it a chirping feeling.
Just like the voices in Gu Zhuo’s heart.
To be precise, these sounds come from them.
The light of the sky, the shadows of the clouds, the dusk and the setting sun, the flying birds and the small white flower on the pear tree, and even all things in the world.
When Gu Zhuo opened his eyes again four years ago and saw this world, they had been with him, rarely quiet, often noisy, and never leaving.
In many past times similar to today, they would firmly stand on Gu Zhuo's side, and express their views and opinions to Gu Zhuo nervously, urgently or earnestly, without exception.
Perhaps it was because he was tired of the quietness in his previous life, so he felt that it would be nice to have some liveliness in this life. Gu Zhuo had never been tired of the sounds coming from all things in his heart, and besides... they wouldn't keep making noise forever.
He listened to the noisy sounds and looked quietly at the scriptures in his hands. When the dusk gradually faded and the sky turned deep blue, he returned the borrowed scriptures to their original place, chatted with the teacher on duty for a few words, left the library, and went to the cafeteria to prepare for tonight's dinner.
As the first academy in the former capital and still a world-class famous academy today, Cheung Chau Academy naturally covers a large area. It is a long way from the library to the cafeteria.
As usual, when Gu Zhuo's classmates saw him along the way, they would always wave and greet him enthusiastically. Those children of wealthy families who were proud of their noble status would also smile and nod to show their close relationship with him.
Even some professors who were known for their strictness in the academy showed their kind side to him when they met him, and smiled and said a few words to greet him.
Gu Zhuo was very familiar with this scene - the praise that Professor Liu gave him in a conversation not long ago was true.
Since entering Changzhou Academy, he has broken several records in the academy that had been dormant for many years, showing extraordinary talent that is rare among the young generation of the time. He is expected by his teachers but has never been arrogant about it. He is always gentle and polite to others, no matter their status.
It is only natural for a man like him to be loved and admired.
During these three years, the only thing that made the teachers and students of the academy feel puzzled and even slightly dissatisfied with Gu Zhuo was that he was too focused on his spiritual practice on weekdays and had never represented Changzhou Academy to exchange ideas with his peers even once.
Logically speaking, this would more or less affect his reputation, and it was inevitable that some rumors about his cowardice would spread.
However, everyone who had met him, even opponents from other academies, would spontaneously deny the claim that he was cowardly after meeting him, and would be inexplicably convinced.
As these anecdotes that hinted at victory without fighting spread, Gu Zhuo's reputation naturally grew.
In such a big city like Wangjing, the only person of his generation who is still qualified to be compared with him is Lin Wanyi.
This is also the reason why the two professors from Changzhou Academy, no matter how reluctant they were, had to seek help from Gu Zhuo in order to solve the trouble caused by Lin Wanyi in an open and clean manner.
……
……
After having dinner in the academy cafeteria, he took a few walks around the old pond. On the way, he stroked the big white dog of a classmate and said hello to the fat tabby cat lying on a branch... Only then did Gu Zhuo set out on the road back to the dormitory.
The dormitories of Changzhou Academy are composed of more than twenty six-story wooden buildings and less than ten small courtyards surrounding a small hillside. The green bamboos and green trees in the mountains are interwoven into a painting. Occasionally, lights shine through the gaps in the woods, which contrast with the moonlight, making it even more quiet and beautiful.
Gu Zhuo walked on the bluestone road, going up to a higher place, stepping on a few bamboo leaves from time to time, making a rustling sound.
Not far away, in the bamboo forest shrouded in the night, the two academy professors who were talking by the lake today were watching this scene with complicated expressions.
"Do you think we should thank him?"
"Thank you? Why?"
"Thank him for being so nonchalant. This way, the whole Wangjing will not suspect that I went to ask him to deal with Lin Wanyi today, and it will save some face for the academy."
When he said this, the old vice president had a smile on his face, as if expressing appreciation.
Professor Liu frowned and asked, "What do you think about the Tongsheng Pill?"
"I don't understand."
The vice president's smile never faded. He looked at Gu Zhuo in the bamboo forest and said, "Given his temper of always knowing when to advance and when to retreat, how could he make such a request that obviously crosses the line?"
Tongsheng Dan is ranked above the ninth level. It is extremely magical and can be used to break through the realm.
But the most important effect of this pill is undoubtedly to improve aptitude and increase lifespan...and what Gu Zhuo lacks the least is aptitude and lifespan, so this precious pill has little effect on him.
If one wants to consolidate the foundation of Taoism and cleanse the darkness in one's heart, there should be a more appropriate choice.
No matter how they thought about it, they couldn't understand why Gu Zhuo would set his sights on Tongsheng Dan.
Professor Liu was silent for a while, then shook his head and said, "I am very sure that when he talked to me today, he was not deliberately making excessive demands to reject me, but was really negotiating terms with me."
Then he looked at the old man beside him and asked, "You won't blame me for agreeing to Gu Zhuo, right?"
"Didn't you promise to apply for the Tongsheng Pill for him? If so, why should I blame you?" The vice president said with a smile: "Can you blame you for causing trouble and forcing me to give Gu Zhuo another lesson?"
Professor Liu was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously asked, "What class is it?"
The vice president put away his smile and said expressionlessly, "Of course, it is to teach him a lesson called reality, and to teach him the truth that greed is insatiable and the snake swallows the elephant."
Professor Liu frowned and said, "If something unexpected happens..."
"What kind of surprise could there be?"
"The worst that can happen is that he persists in his refusal, causing the academy to lose face and allowing Lin Wanyi to continue to play around. Is this an unbearable price to pay?"
The vice-president looked indifferent and continued, "If all else fails, have someone come out and say a few words to let the world know that Gu Zhuo is not afraid of fighting, but is unwilling to fight with Lin Wanyi. Will he turn against the academy and walk out of the door just because of this?"
……
……
The night wind blows through the forest, full of rustling sounds.
Gu Zhuo walked slowly, looking at the small courtyard that was already in sight, listening to the conversation carried by the wind, without any abnormality in his expression.
Even though the two academy professors were quite far away from him, and even tried to use Taoism to cover up their voices, he was still aware of them.
"What are you going to do now?"
A voice sounded in his heart, as gentle as the moonlight, no... it was the moonlight itself.
Gu Zhuo paused and said, "I haven't decided yet."
As he spoke, he pushed open the gate and walked in. He casually waved his sleeves and used Taoist magic to light the lights, making the darkness fade away.
The sound coming from all things never ceases for a moment.
"No, no, I'm really going to be pissed off by these two! How can they be so shameless?"
"You're still a role model for a teacher. No wonder this lousy academy is getting worse year by year. It really deserves it!"
"You spend the whole day thinking about asking people to fight for you, but you're not even willing to pay them after they've fought to their deaths. And you're still thinking about teaching you a lesson and telling you what reality is? Ridiculous! It's really fucking ridiculous!"
"How about this, let's make a plan tonight. Let's go to a dark, windy and cloudy night and use seventy or eighty thunderbolts to blast that old man with wind and rain. If he doesn't die, he'll be roasted to a crisp. How about that?"
"If you are old and still alive, you are a thief. If you are a thief, you should be struck by lightning. I have no objection to that."
"Stop talking, these two people must die!"
Gu Zhuo understood why they were so angry.
The two academy professors stood deep in the forest. Their conversation, concealed by Taoism, seemed secret, but in fact, every word that fell into their ears was so clear and loud.
Yes, to them, the conversation between the two college professors just now was a loud conspiracy, the utmost contempt and disdainful ridicule, and an unabashed face-to-face humiliation.
Anyone would be angry about this.
Gu Zhuo didn't care.
Or rather, he was more like used to it.
The gentle voice from the moonlight sounded in his heart again, repeating the previous sentence - what are you going to do now?
"How much time do I have?"
Gu Zhuo thought about it and answered the question irrelevantly.
The moment he finished speaking, his heart suddenly became quiet and no longer noisy.
A dead silence.
I don’t know how long it took, but a voice as heavy as a mountain finally gave an answer.
"Only one year at most."
"That's enough."
Gu Zhuo smiled, turned around and walked towards the bathroom, and said softly, "There's still time for me to wait."
(End of this chapter)