bookbashuk Chapter 17 Xiahou, you're awesome!
Chapter 17 Xiahou, you're awesome!
A simple wooden shed was temporarily erected outside the academy, with low eaves that blocked most of the sunlight.
Two middle-aged cultivators dressed in black Taoist robes stood upright outside the shed; both were registered elders of the Taoist Heavenly Edict Academy.
In the past, if these two were in a territory ruled by the Daoist sect, either of them would have been a powerful figure who guarded a region, wielded immense authority, and was revered by countless cultivators and mortals, firmly holding the power of life and death over the area.
In the inner courtyard, Su Yu and Mu You hid behind a building, watching the two from a distance.
"These people from the Daoist sect, I don't know what's gotten into them, they always like to cause trouble in the Tang Dynasty. This time they actually blocked the gate of the academy, looking for some kind of abandoned one. These people are simply insane."
"If you anger the second senior brother, come out and take the head off the Grand Priest of Heavenly Revelation."
"At worst, we can send our teacher to Peach Mountain to ask the leader of Xiling how he manages these charlatans."
Su Yu's lips twitched. He remembered Ye Hongyu, whom he had met yesterday. She must have come in the same batch as the High Priest of the Heavenly Decree.
Previously, Su Yu had thought that Chen Pi Pi's joining the academy had attracted many Taoist masters, but now it seemed that these people were not after Chen Pi Pi at all, but after him, Su Yu.
The Forsaken One, the one abandoned by the heavens, Su Yu is truly unlucky, being targeted by the most terrifying being in the world when he is at his most vulnerable.
Su Yu echoed, "Yeah, these charlatans are really annoying."
Mu You gave a sly smile and whispered, "Twelfth Junior Brother, let's wait a little longer. There will be a good show here at noon. You must not miss it."
"What kind of good show?" Su Yu asked curiously. Mu You wasn't one to make things up without reason; if she said there was a good show, then there definitely would be, and the scene would be very lively.
Muyou kept everyone in suspense, whispering, "You'll find out when the time comes."
So the two of them stood in the shade of the building and waited until a carriage that Su Yu found familiar drove up.
This was a gilded carriage, radiating powerful runic energy. Familiar sounds of birdsong could be heard from inside. Inside sat Li Shen, a prince who acted as a bridge between the emperor and Xiahou, but who himself had little real power.
On the carriage, the two characters "Xiahou" were bright red and eye-catching, almost glaring.
A rugged face appeared, his eyes fierce as he stared at the two Daoist elders guarding outside the shed, and he said sternly:
"Who gave you permission to build sheds on this road?"
"Do you know that this is an official road with many carriages passing by? Building a shed here will obstruct traffic, do you understand?"
One of the stewards frowned. He saw the name Xiahou on the carriage and felt a surge of resentment towards the Taoist retainer. "You, Xiahou, not only did you not help when Heaven sent down a prophecy, but you also dared to allow your subordinates to cause trouble here."
This is the academy. The steward knows very well that there are no carriages traveling outside the academy, because the carriages that are qualified to enter the academy belong to important figures in Chang'an City, or have some kind of connection with the academy.
Although Li Shen was a prince, he did not have the qualifications to drive his carriage here; it was merely to annoy them.
"Li Shen, the High Priest of the Heavenly Decree is here. Do not cause trouble. You should leave immediately."
"So what if it's a divine decree? Even if it's the High Priest of the Daoist sect, he can't just stand in the middle of the road and act like a rogue." Li Shen's voice rose a few decibels, his face carrying a hint of pride unique to the Tang people.
The steward's expression changed, and he snapped, "Li Shen, watch your words!"
"Do you know that General Xiahou is also a guest elder of my Daoist sect? Could it be that you came here on General Xiahou's orders?"
"Deliberately obstructing the High Priest of Revelation Online from carrying out his duties?"
Another elder said coldly, "Li Shen, do you know that we are carrying out Haotian's will, and by obstructing us, you are betraying Haotian's will? Do you want to be abandoned by Haotian?!"
Li Shen was stunned. Indeed, he had come here under someone's orders, but the person who ordered him was not Xiahou, but someone who made him feel fear.
In Haotian's world, betraying Haotian's will means death, not even for the Tang people.
Even in the Tang Dynasty, there were many Taoist believers. Once someone was branded as someone who had betrayed the will of the Heavenly Emperor, they would face the prospect of being an enemy of the entire world.
No one can protect him, and the academy certainly won't protect a scoundrel like him.
Behind a building in the distance, Su Yu and Mu You peeked out, each holding a handful of sunflower seeds.
Eating melons without eating melon seeds just doesn't feel right.
"Seventh Senior Sister, how did you know Li Shen would come here?" Su Yu asked in confusion.
Muyou said, "Of course someone told me."
Su Yu asked, "Who is it that has such great abilities?"
Mu You said, "It's Professor Huang He. Tianyu came last night. You were in Senior Brother's room at that time."
Su Yu nodded and continued eating sunflower seeds, but his wariness of Ye Hongyu deepened. He guessed that after meeting Ye Hongyu yesterday, Ye Hongyu and Tianyu must have talked about him.
However, Su Yutian's identity as an outcast should not have been exposed, otherwise the High Priest of the Heavenly Decree would not have come to his door in such a grand manner.
Su Yu guessed Tian Yu's idea: he wanted to use the meeting with the Master to ascertain the relationship between the Forsaken and the Academy.
Tianyu did this in an attempt to send a message to the Daoist sect through his own death.
He wanted the Master to kill him.
This situation, orchestrated by Li Shen, a mere mortal, directly disrupted the Heavenly Decree's plans. As the most sacred High Priest of the Daoist sect, he couldn't possibly waste time arguing with a mere mortal ant about whether someone was blocking the way or about loyalty to Haotian.
Li Shen, his face dark, raised his riding whip and pointed at the steward, saying, "This is Tang territory. Since you are standing on Tang territory, you should abide by Tang law. Tang law stipulates that no buildings can be erected here!"
"I don't care if you're some high priest of the Heavenly Decree or some elder of the Taoist sect, I want you to tear down this shed immediately."
The steward's face was ashen. He desperately wanted to step forward and kill Li Shen, but he couldn't.
Li Shen was Xiahou's confidant, a fact well-known to many in the Daoist community. Moreover, Li Shen was a prince of the Tang Dynasty, even though this prince had no real power or prestige.
Killing a prince of the Tang Dynasty is a very troublesome matter.
No matter how outrageous or rude Li Shen is, some official procedures must be followed, such as announcing that Li Shen has betrayed Haotian and ordering Haotian Dao Nanmen to punish him.
After today, Li Shen will surely die, but right now they have no way to deal with this almost insane Li Shen.
"Xiahou, you're something else, Xiahou!" The steward harbored a deep grudge against Li Shen, but he directed all his anger at Xiahou.
The dignified High Priest of Heavenly Decree was blocking the entrance to the academy when a rogue disrupted his plans.
A voice came from inside the wooden shed, saying, "I know the answer. Let's leave!"