Chapter 418 - 380: Dean

Chapter 418: Chapter 380: Dean

The third day of the seventh month. He Niu Martial Arts Academy.

The second floor of the Library Pavilion.

Chen Shouheng sat cross-legged, his gaze fixed on the scroll hanging on the opposite wall.

The True Intent Map of the Dragon Suppressing Palm.

One viewing cost fifty taels of gold, with a time limit of one hour.

This was already Chen Shouheng’s ninth time stepping into this secret room to face this True Intent Map.

Casting aside distracting thoughts, his Divine Thought extended toward the ancient painting.

HUMMM!

His consciousness blurred for a moment.

The next moment, his surroundings changed dramatically.

It was as if he were no longer in the quiet secret room, but standing upon a boundless, raging ocean.

Atop colossal waves that touched the sky, a blurry figure was locked in a fierce battle with a resplendent golden dragon.

The figure’s Palm Technique was incomparably fierce. Every palm strike caused the void to tremble and the waves to recoil. The clash of Palm Wind and the dragon’s breath produced deafening roars.

The golden dragon tore with its sharp claws and swept with its tail, each attack containing the terrifying power to rip mountains asunder.

A pure, majestic, and brutal battle intent—one that sought to subdue all powerful foes—permeated every inch of this world.

Chen Shouheng held his breath, concentrating. He stared intently at the battle intent within the scene, trying to grasp the secret to condensing True Intent.

He had returned to He Niu Martial Arts Academy this time mainly to prepare for next spring’s metropolitan examination.

He had two goals.

The first was to catch up on the knowledge he had neglected in his youth due to his focus on the Martial Dao—subjects like policy analysis, criminal law, military strategy, and tactics.

The second was to condense his True Martial Dao.

He had practiced the Tiger Subduing Fist for over ten years, and this Fist Technique had practically become second nature to him.

Perhaps because he had been immersed in this fist style since childhood, leaving too deep an imprint, Chen Shouheng found that although he later cultivated the more profound Five Directions Twenty-Four Solar Terms Wuxiang Fist, and even the Nine-Character Hand Seal, he had mastered them with great proficiency.

But whenever he tried to use them as a foundation to condense his True Martial Dao, he always felt an intangible barrier, his Heart Spirit unable to resonate with them.

It was as if the root of his Martial Dao was long since bound to the Tiger Subduing Fist.

The nourishment required to form his True Martial Dao had to come from this source.

He couldn’t think of a more reasonable explanation, but the predicament before him was all too real.

There was only one path left for him.

To seek a breakthrough starting from the Tiger Subduing Fist.

Last year, he had visited his master, Zhou Zhen, and asked how he could go to the Tiger Subduing Temple to view the True Intent Map of the Tiger Subduing Fist.

Zhou Zhen had told him that the Tiger Subduing Temple wasn’t stingy about it. Even an Outer Disciple could exchange enough merits for a chance to view it.

But the prerequisite was that one had to join the Buddhist Sect, as a Registered Disciple at the very least.

Chen Shouheng, however, was already a Divine Hall Grandmaster; becoming an Outer Disciple was out of the question. If he wanted to join, the only way was to be tonsured and become a monk.

The Tiger Subduing Temple did not discriminate against those who joined with existing skills; they only valued sincerity.

But to be tonsured and become a monk?

Chen Shouheng could only manage a bitter smile.

His parents, his wife... how could he sever such worldly ties?

That path was closed!

Helpless, he had no choice but to place his hopes on the Dragon Suppressing Palm, whose intent was similar to that of the Tiger Subduing Fist.

This True Intent Map of the Dragon Suppressing Palm in the He Niu Martial Arts Academy’s collection had become his only hope.

By drawing parallels, perhaps he could glimpse the opportunity to condense his True Intent.

Nine viewings, costing four hundred and fifty taels of gold, had not been entirely without reward.

He gradually came to understand that whether it was "Dragon Suppressing" or "Tiger Subduing," the core True Intent lay not in the "dragon" or the "tiger," but in the acts of "suppressing" and "subduing."

He seemed to understand the principle, but how exactly was he to put "suppressing and subduing" into practice?

The person in the painting battled the golden dragon in the great flood and seemed to eventually restrain it, but how?

Was it through greater power? Or some kind of technique?

Chen Shouheng had tried to use his own Tiger Subduing Fist Intent to simulate and attack it, but this only made him more agitated and restless. How could he even speak of subduing anything?

He had also envisioned all sorts of techniques, but they were all like castles in the air, with no solid ground to stand on.

"Subdue..."

He chewed over the idea in his mind, his brow furrowing ever tighter.

The raging storms and the dragon’s battle in the wild within the painting were still intense, but it felt as if they were separated from him by an invisible film. He could never grasp the key secret within.

Time passed quietly.

The hour was up.

He slowly opened his eyes, an unconcealable sense of loss within them.

’Am I really going to be stuck here?’

’Or is it just that my fated opportunity has not yet arrived?’

"Forget it!"

Chen Shouheng let out a long, heavy breath, but the weight in his chest did not dissipate with it. What remained was mostly helplessness.

He stood up, straightened his robes, and pushed the door open to leave.

Outside the door, the old man guarding the pavilion was dozing behind a small table by the window.

Chen Shouheng lightened his steps, walked over, and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your trouble, sir. I have finished."

The old man barely cracked open his eyelids. Without a word, he just waved his hand, signaling that he could leave.

By the time he returned to his dormitory from the Library Pavilion, the sky was completely dark.

He pushed open the wooden door to his dormitory.

Inside, Chen Shouye was sitting upright at the desk by the window, engrossed in a book by the light of an oil lamp.

His brow was slightly furrowed and his expression was focused. His diligent appearance made Chen Shouheng see a faint shadow of his former roommate.

Thinking of Song Zilian, Chen Shouheng couldn’t help but feel a little emotional.

Only upon returning to the Martial Arts Academy this time did he learn that Song Zilian had gone back to Wuzhou last year and had never returned.

News had come that he had already passed the examinations to become a Scholar, but no one knew when he would travel to the capital for the metropolitan examination.

Life at the Martial Arts Academy was full of such transient meetings and partings.

Arm in arm one day, scattered to the four corners of the earth the next.

Compared to Chen Shouheng, Shouye’s admission had been much smoother.

He was already a Divine Hall Grandmaster, so during the entrance’s Heart Inquiry test, unless the presiding Zhao Anshi had focused all his power on him alone, the widespread Divine Sense Skill would have almost no effect on him.

He was the first to step onto the stairs.

Perhaps because of his strength, Zhao Anshi did not test him separately and directly assigned him to Suixing Hall.

Unlike Guangye Hall, where students had to share the academy’s chores, the students of Suixing Hall only needed to focus on studying the classics and practicing their Martial Arts each day, without worrying about any other miscellaneous tasks.

In their youth, the two brothers had spent most of their time fooling around in the fields. Before they could even write neatly, they were sent by Chen Li to a martial arts hall to build their foundation.

Compared to the disciples of Noble Families, who had been immersed in learning since childhood and came from scholarly lineages, their knowledge of the classics, history, philosophy, policy analysis, and military strategy was pitifully lacking.

Only after enrolling did Chen Shouye truly appreciate how orderly, clear, and profound the path of scholarship could be.

Therefore, even after more than four months of study, he was still devouring all kinds of books like a man starved, desperately making up for his previous lack of knowledge.

Hearing the door open, Chen Shouye looked up. Seeing his elder brother return, a hint of confusion appeared on his face. "Big Brother, you’re back? I didn’t see you at the Dining Hall for dinner."

Chen Shouheng walked to the side of his bunk and sat down, rubbing his throbbing temples. "I went to the Library Pavilion."

Chen Shouye knew his elder brother had been troubled lately about comprehending his True Martial Dao. He asked, "Any progress?"

Chen Shouheng gave a bitter smile and shook his head, his voice full of helplessness. "It’s still like trying to see flowers in a fog; I can’t make heads or tails of it. I seem to understand the principles a little better, but that final, crucial step still feels like an insurmountable chasm."

Chen Shouye wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but he didn’t know where to start.

For his own Nine-Character Hand Seal, their father, Chen Li, had already taught him everything, including the True Intent and the Transformation Technique. The path ahead was clear; he just needed to follow the steps to comprehend and cultivate it.

Although there was still a long way to go before he could master and condense his True Intent, he didn’t face the same kind of untraceable predicament as his elder brother.

Besides, since he hadn’t even comprehended it himself, how could he dare to offer any presumptuous advice?

In the end, he could only offer some dry comfort. "Maybe after a few more viewings, when the fated opportunity arrives, you’ll naturally understand."

Chen Shouheng sighed, and the room fell silent for a moment.

After a long while, he seemed to have made a decision. "Second Brother, I’m planning to ask the academy for a leave of absence and go home."

"Go home?"

Chen Shouye was startled. "The metropolitan examination next March is still a long way off. Even if you need to leave for the capital early, you could go home to prepare before the year’s end. Why are you in such a hurry, Big Brother?"

Chen Shouheng said in a low voice, "I’ve been counting the days. Shuwei is already eight months pregnant. These past few nights, I haven’t been sleeping well; I keep dreaming of her. I want to go back early and be there with her. I’ll only feel at ease once I can see her with my own eyes."

Chen Shouye immediately understood. "I see, Big Brother. With you by her side, Sister-in-law will feel more at ease too. Be careful on your journey. Please give a message to Mom and Dad, and to Jinru, for me. Tell them I’m doing well at the academy and they don’t need to worry."

Chen Shouheng nodded in agreement. "You need to take care of yourself here at the academy, too. Make sure to balance work and rest."

"Don’t worry, Big Brother."

The two brothers chatted for a little longer, then Chen Shouheng got up and started packing.

He didn’t actually have many belongings, so he was packed and ready in no time.

The next morning, Chen Shouheng first went to Guangye Hall to report to the hall’s Dean about his request for a leave of absence to return home and prepare for the capital examination.

Afterward, he went to the Dining Hall to handle the paperwork.

As he was now a Martial Arts Examination Champion Scholar and a Divine Hall Grandmaster, the procedures went surprisingly smoothly. Within two days, all the necessary documents were ready.

With everything settled, Chen Shouheng packed his simple bags and went to bid farewell to Duan Mengjing.

Hearing Chen Shouheng’s intention, he nodded and simply told him to be careful.

Just as Chen Shouheng was about to leave, Duan Mengjing stopped him. "There is one more thing."

"Do you have any other instructions, Teacher?"

Duan Mengjing said, "The Dean wants to see you."

"The Dean?" Chen Shouheng was stunned.

He had studied at the He Niu Martial Arts Academy for a long time, but he had never met the mysterious Dean.

’I’m about to leave the academy, why would the Dean suddenly want to see me?’

Duan Mengjing saw the confusion in his eyes and shook his head slightly. "Just follow me."

Filled with doubt, Chen Shouheng silently followed Duan Mengjing out of the student dormitory area and toward the back mountain.

They passed through a quiet bamboo forest, wound around several clear springs, and finally arrived at a mountain cliff shrouded in vines.

Pushing aside the thick vines revealed a narrow cave entrance, just wide enough for one person to pass through.

"Stay close, and don’t wander off."

Duan Mengjing was the first to bend down and enter the cave.

Chen Shouheng followed close behind.

The cave was quite narrow and dark at first, but after less than two hundred feet, a faint light suddenly shone from ahead.

Immediately after, Duan Mengjing’s figure disappeared.

Chen Shouheng quickened his pace, and his vision suddenly brightened, opening up to a wide, clear space.