Chapter 461: Down Memory Lane
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
There were guards guarding the entrance of the martial arts academy, so not everyone could enter the martial arts academy on their own will. When Yan Liqiang arrived, two guards at the entrance kept staring and sized up his four-wheeled carriage. He went through the entrance of the martial arts academy and gently nodded to the two guards — they were overwhelmed by his gesture. They welcomed him with a smile and let him through without any questions.
“Do you know the young lord who just went in? How come we’ve never seen him before?”
Even after Yan Liqiang walked dozens li away from the entrance, he could still hear the two guards whispering behind him.
“Many people don’t usually come to the martial arts academy, but the young lord seems to be very familiar with the academy, so he might be a student whom we have never seen before. And did you see his carriage? It is estimated that not more than five people in the whole Pingxi Prefecture is qualified to ride on those four-wheeled carriages!”
“Ha, isn’t it just another four-wheeled carriage? I’ve seen more than one on the street…”
The other guard laughed, “You have bad eyesight. The four-wheeled carriage that the young lord rode on is different from the other four-wheeled carriages. It is definitely manufactured by the Gan Province Manufacturing Bureau. Although the other carriages can replicate its appearance, there are still differences in some parts. You’ll be able to tell as you see more. For someone who can ride in such a carriage, we can’t stop him if he intends to come in, even if he’s not a student here!”
“Ha, tell me the difference between the carriages manufactured by the manufacturing bureau and other carriages. I’ve heard a lot of talks that the carriages manufactured by the manufacturing bureau are one of a kind, but what is so special about them?”
“Ahem, I haven’t ridden on one, but I heard the lecturer of the martial arts academy mention that the carriages manufactured by the manufacturing bureau have two steel mechanisms at the bottom of the carriages which are connected to the wheels. They are flexible yet durable. With those two mechanisms, riding in those carriages isn’t bumpy like the other carriages. The manufacturing bureau also manufactured the carriage that is used by the Emperor of the Imperial Capital City…”
“I heard that the person who established the Gan Province Manufacturing Bureau was a former student of our martial arts academy!”
“Ahem, of course. When Lord Yan was still at the martial arts academy back then, I always saw him around. We are well acquainted and he would greet me every time we met. I bumped into him at a restaurant before and we even had a drink together. Let me tell you this, Lord Yan is a lightweight. Just a cup of wine is enough to cause his face to flush like a lady. Before Lord Yan left the martial arts academy for the Imperial Capital with Lord Sun Bincheng, he told me that I could always get someone to send him a letter if I came across any problems…”
“Ah, it turns out that Brother Hui is so familiar with Lord Yan…”
“I like to keep a low profile so I don’t show off. You’ve never seen me tell anyone that I’m close with Lord Yan, have you?”
Yan Liqiang broke into laughter as he listened to the conversation behind him.
Mount Thousand Pine remained the same. The small road and forest barely changed at all. Everything was still the same as when he was last here. Yan Liqiang walked through Mount Thousand Pine, feeling sentimental as he listened to the rustling of pine trees in the wind, as well as the chirping of birds and insects.
There was only one class per week at the martial arts academy. Since there was no class today, not many students were around. Furthermore, the weather today was great as the sun was bright and beautiful — it was a perfect time to take a walk. Hence, there were even fewer students inside the martial arts academy.
Yan Liqiang came to the martial arts academy to look for Shen Teng, Shi Dafeng, and Shi Changfeng.
Among all the people that Yan Liqiang knew, Shi Changfeng was the one who loved reading the most. On a day like this, most of the lecturers would have gone for an excursion, but Shi Changfeng would most likely be in the martial arts academy burying his head in books, meditating, or cultivating. Unless there was a special case, Shi Changfeng would be the one who stayed the longest at the martial arts academy.
Needless to say, Shen Teng and Shi Dafeng were at the martial arts academy even if the others were not there. Yan Liqiang heard that after he left Pingxi Prefecture with Sun Bingcheng, Shen Teng and Shi Dafeng changed completely. They started to work really hard.
Shen Teng and Shi Dafeng invited each other to go to the martial arts academy every day before daybreak. They started off by running around Mount Thousand Pine while carrying sandbags, then they would make a few rounds going up and down Mount Thousand Pine. They never missed a single class and when there was no class, they would stay in the martial arts academy to either practice their spear or sword skills and other fundamental martial skills, or spar with the other students at the arena. Those who joined the martial arts academy in the same year as both of them were terrified of sparring with them. Whenever anyone saw both of them, they would take a detour just to avoid them. The two of them ended up starting to challenge their seniors in the arena since the middle of last year. They even competed amongst themselves to see who had the most wins from sparring with their seniors…
While Yan Liqiang was cultivating in seclusion for the past six months, Shen Teng and Shi Dafeng had gone to Liuhe Town to find him, but they left after they found out that Yan Liqiang wasn’t at home. Now that Yan Liqiang was back from cultivating, it was only natural for him to find them at the martial arts academy. Not only that, but he was also planning to rope them and Shi Changfeng into something.
Yan Liqiang was familiar with the surroundings. After he reached Mount Thousand Pine, he did not go anywhere else. Instead, he headed straight to the tournament hall of the martial arts academy. Yan Liqiang predicted that there was a high possibility that both Shen Teng and Shi Dafeng would be at the arena today.
Yan Liqiang met some students of the martial arts academy along the way. They probably never met Yan Liqiang before, but they weren’t curious about him either. They merely swept their gazes across him before continuing on.
It was only when Yan Liqiang reached an intersection did a student of the martial arts academy who came from a small alley at the side meet him face to face.
“Ah…” The student’s mind when blank the moment he saw Yan Liqiang and suddenly became tongue-tied. Judging from his facial expression, it was as if he had never expected that he would meet Yan Liqiang here.
Yan Liqiang glanced at him and realized that the person was a classmate from Qinghe County. His name was probably Wang Hai, a student two years older than himself and placed seventh during that year’s Martial Arts County Trial. Although they didn’t interact much with each other, they were at least acquainted.
“Haha, long time no see, Brother Wang. May I know if Shen Teng and Shi Dafeng are at the arena hall?” Yan Liqiang smiled and took the initiative to ask while nodding to his fellow villager.
After hearing Yan Liqiang’s words, Wang Hai quickly responded with a nod, “Yes, yes, Shen Teng and Shi Dafeng have been hanging out at the arena hall for the past few days.”
“Oh, thank you!” Yan Liqiang nodded and walked toward the arena hall.
Wang Hai watched Yan Liqiang walk into the distance before he was suddenly swept by indescribable excitement. A strange emotion brewed inside his heart, “He still remembers my name…!”
…
The moment Yan Liqiang stepped through the arena hall’s entrance, he could already hear Shi Dafeng’s arrogant laughter, “Hahaha, how’s that?! Aren’t my fists amazing? Anyone else want to come up here to get a beating from me? Don’t waste time now, show me your manners as a senior…”