The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 179: Scholar Juyul (2) - Mountains Beyond Mountains "No matter how outstanding one may consider oneself, there will always be someone in the world more outstanding than oneself. One must never forget humility." *** The location of the academy was quite remote. Far removed from the bustling district, it was an outlying area where the rustling of reeds and bushes blown by the wind seemed to sound louder than human voices. Steep cliffs and deep valleys. A single building situated with cascading waterfalls as its backdrop. The roof tiles were black, and the walls were white. In the courtyard stood a large pine tree upright, and on the fence, some unidentifiable vines grew entangled. In the air were the scents of pine and earth. And the faint spreading smell of ink. The building itself seemed to have been renovated from an existing structure, with old and newly added parts mixed here and there, but even that only added to its antique charm without feeling shabby. Truly a space befitting immortal leisure, Zhang Hualing twisted her lips. Perhaps because it was already close to evening, even though it was an academy, barely any signs of people could be felt. The only place where signs of people could be felt was one location. 'Behind the building?' As Zhang Hualing moved her steps, she saw a small vegetable garden spread out behind the academy and a man working the soil there. Just as the passersby had said about him being too young for a scholar, the man's appearance was far from mature even as an empty compliment. His face was white without a single blemish and his hair was black, truly the archetypal appearance of a pale-faced scholar. "Hmm." Whether the work of tending the vegetable garden wasn't going well, the man's face was locked in deep contemplation about how to overcome this difficulty. The appearance of someone who had never farmed in their life clumsily trying to imitate it. Zhang Hualing, thinking there was nothing more to see, spoke without hesitation. "Are you that scholar who bewitches people with wicked words that are of no help to the world?" The movement of the man who had been absorbed in farm work stopped. He turned his head to look at Zhang Hualing's appearance, then tilted his head and asked. "I am indeed a scholar, but I don't know what you mean by bewitching people." "You scholars always spout nonsense. You go on about the types of food to place on ancestral altars and how to arrange them, about the material of mourning clothes and how many times to bow, calling all that propriety and benevolence. What help does learning such empty formalities provide to life?" "Haha, how could learning consist only of such things? Knowing how to read and write, knowing music, knowing how to protect oneself, and knowing how to show respect to one another are also forms of learning." "How to protect oneself?" Naked mockery hung on Zhang Hualing's lips. "You dare discuss martial arts before me? And a mere scholar at that." "Even small children and frail elderly need ways to protect themselves. There's no reason a scholar cannot discuss such matters." "Oh, is that so." Zhang Hualing responded quietly. Her mouth was smiling, but deep anger had already settled in her eyes. She hadn't come to this place for any grand purpose. It was merely simple entertainment and killing time. But she couldn't stand watching a scholar who probably had never held a sword in his life dare to discuss martial arts. "Then try to receive this as well." Whoosh! Cutting through the wind, Zhang Hualing's fist headed toward the man's face. It wasn't a strike with great force. The main purpose was to lightly crush his nose bridge and humiliate him. "Oh my. Your hands are quick. And your temper is hasty too." However, the man evaded her fist far too easily with just a slight movement of his head. The slight surprise that appeared on her face was brief. Zhang Hualing threw a second punch with slightly more seriousness than before. "Resorting to violence during conversation is either because one has judged conversation with the other party to be useless, or because one lacks confidence in winning with words and tries to overwhelm with force. Did the young lady judge conversation with me to be useless? Or did you try to substitute violence because you lack confidence in your own words?" "You're the type to wag your tongue even in death!!" Fists, palms, elbows, knees, shins. Zhang Hualing's body techniques were as violent and domineering as her temperament. There were almost no feints to confuse the opponent or defenses to protect herself, but rather an attack-focused martial art that seemed intent on finishing the opponent before she could be harmed. This was one of the reasons why Zhang Hualing was counted among those the Seven Hegemons didn't want to fight even among themselves. If one exchanged blows with her, who disregarded even her own safety and poured out only attacks, there was no guarantee their body would remain intact even if they won. "Since what you harbor within is poison and malice, the light flowing from your eyes seems ready to devour people, and the words leaking from your lips are thorned. If you cannot control your own anger, the end will surely not be good." Then what on earth was this man who calmly wagged his tongue while being attacked by such a person? At first, she had somewhat controlled her strength thinking the man was an ordinary person, but now each attack she wielded contained the power to shatter rocks and dent even iron blocks. The speed was also such that common people who hadn't learned martial arts couldn't even perceive it. Yet the man was leisurely evading her attacks. His gracefully swaying and fluttering movement felt like leaves scattered in the air, making Zhang Hualing thoroughly irritated. She finally exploded. "Fine!! Then how will you handle this!!" Red heat rose from Zhang Hualing's entire body as intense energy waves spread throughout the surrounding area. The vegetable garden that had been moist with water dried up instantly, and the green sprouting shoots burned as they couldn't withstand the heat. At this, the man's eyebrows twitched, but Zhang Hualing, who already had heat rushing to her head, didn't notice this. Red Fire Demon Art. Raging Flames Racing Through Heaven. Her ultimate technique that charged forward carrying intense heat, smashing and burning everything that blocked her path. With this, even if he evaded the physical attacks, he would inevitably be caught up in the accompanying heat. The moment she was so certain of this. "Seeing you ruin the garden, you look less like a dragon and more like a wild boar." Along with a remark that seemed subtly angered, Zhang Hualing's body flew through the sky. 'Huh?' Sudden floating sensation. And with the intense impact felt in her head, Zhang Hualing lost consciousness. *** "Oh my, what is this. What a terrible thing! Black horns! We must dispose of this child immediately!!" "What are you saying, my lord? Disposal! This is a child who inherited the blood of you and me!" "Don't speak such soft words, madam. All horns other than White Horn are treasonous. It means that treasonous blood flows in either my or your ancestors! What do you think will happen if this matter leaks out?" "When did the Heavenly Dragon Great War end? And when did the Antler Emperor forbid indiscriminate horn hunting and discrimination? Even on those streets, those with horns and those without live together without any concern, so how can you speak such cruel and terrible words!" "Only lowly ignorant people and rough martial warriors live such lives. Is there even one person with horns among the high-ranking officials of the nation? Hidden discrimination is more frightening than open discrimination—this is the way of the world. If the daughter of an official receiving the imperial stipend is such a monster, what do you think people will say behind our backs? Get rid of her immediately, immediately!" "As long as dirt doesn't enter these eyes, no, even if dirt enters them, I cannot allow that!!" (E/N: It's a chinese saying that essentially means 'As long as I do not die') *** Terrible headache. Zhang Hualing, who awoke from a murky stupor so heavy that even that headache seemed light, clutched her head and frowned. A small room filled with the scents of earth and wood. And a somewhat rough-textured blanket covering Zhang Hualing's body. From Zhang Hualing's perspective, who usually only stayed at the most expensive and luxurious accommodations in cities, the bed that felt not just modest but like rags made her momentarily show an expression of disbelief. "How did I end up in such a shabby place...?" But that was brief. Soon Zhang Hualing's body, which had been searching through her memories, froze with a start. Hearing rumors about some scholar and seeking him out. Having an argument and lightly throwing punches. Contrary to expectations, finally using her ultimate technique when she saw the scholar easily evading her attacks. And after that, consciousness being cut off along with a dizzying impact. At the conclusion indicated by that series of memories, Zhang Hualing muttered in a state of shock. "...Lost? I did? To a mere scholar?" It couldn't be possible. No, it shouldn't be possible! Clatter! It was then that something clinked and bumped at Zhang Hualing's feet as she sprang up from her spot. Zhang Hualing reflexively examined the spot and soon realized what it was. It was jewelry. Splendid earrings and hairpins. Flower-shaped hair ornaments. All were things she had been wearing. Probably they had fallen during the battle, or things that would interfere with laying her down had been gathered in one place. That in itself was understandable. But 'something' among them firmly caught Zhang Hualing's gaze and wouldn't let go. White and red. Something made from ivory and agate that at first glance looked like an ornament to be fitted over horns like a cap. However, in reality, it wasn't used for fitting onto horns. It was meant to disguise one of the broken and missing horns as if it were intact. Zhang Hualing's face instantly flushed red. A wound from the time when she was still immature, weak, and had to crawl on dirty mud floors instead of in brilliant light. Among the various scars she had tried to cover up with splendid clothing and accessories as if nothing was wrong, or had tried to deceive others' eyes with, this was the most humiliating. At the fact that a mere pale-faced scholar had discovered this, Zhang Hualing's body trembled. She could no longer endure it and kicked the door open as she went out. Bang! The door that opened so forcefully it completely fell off and rolled around the courtyard. As Zhang Hualing stepped outside as if flying, she saw the scholar quietly sweeping under the pine tree. He looked at the door rolling on the ground, straightened his eyes, then looked steadily at Zhang Hualing. Zhang Hualing, unable to control her rage, shouted. "You bastard!! What's all this about being a scholar? You've been hiding your true identity!!" "I don't know what delusions you're having inside, but I am indeed a scholar. Rather than that, don't you have a single word about blowing off someone else's door?" "Earlier I was caught off guard, but don't think the same thing will happen this time!!" "You don't listen." Boom! As Zhang Hualing's legs forcefully kicked off the ground, shock waves reverberated throughout the surrounding area and her body shot forward like an arrow. Befitting her declaration not to be careless anymore, the charge with red energy wrapped around her entire body like armor was much more fierce and swift than before. However, it wasn't enough to change the outcome. Tap. Right after the tip of the scholar's broom lightly contacted Zhang Hualing's stomach, her body flew through the air on its own, regardless of its owner's will. The technique of Borrowing Flower to Graft Tree that perfectly utilized the opponent's force. Thud! As Zhang Hualing, who had been thrown to the ground as if she had fallen from a great height, couldn't control her body from the physical and mental shock, all her belongings were placed with a thud next to her head. The scholar declared. "This is an academy, not a place for showing off strength. Since one cannot demand normal conversation from someone whose heart is troubled, I won't demand compensation for the crops and door. Please leave now." It was the moment when the lofty pride of the notorious Lady of Trampling Fire was torn to shreds.