"I heard that five years ago, a candidate from West Hills got an A+ in six courses, and all the instructors at the college ran out to surround him because it was the best of the last century. Are you that person?

"That's right! So do you honor me and worship me now?

"I got three A+s, two D-s, and I gave up a test. It is said that this is also the unique achievement of the college in the past 100 years. In that case, why should I honor you and worship you?

"... Three A+, two D- and one scrapped. It is indeed rare and excellent. Well, you're a great character, and I'll admit for the time being that you're worthy of being my equal.

...

...

"You're from Xishan. Why did you come to study in the Tang Dynasty?

"I was born into a strong family in West Hill. My family's fortune is beyond your imagination. You know, a genius like me, I will inevitably inherit the family property as soon as I am born. The trouble is, however, I have a talented older brother who is just a little behind me. What's more, my brother has been very nice to me since I was a child and took care of me in everything. Besides, when the patriarch of my family decided to let me inherit the property, he didn't complain at all. In fact, I don't have any idea about inheriting property. I felt that my brother was the best candidate, but his qualifications did not allow me to refuse. The longer I stayed at home in Nishiyama and the better my brother treated me, the more uncomfortable I felt. So, I secretly ran away from home when I was 10 years old.

"Running away from home at 10? Didn't your patriarchs look for you everywhere?

"They must have been looking for me everywhere. But since they've failed, they'll surely find me hiding inside the Academy. What about you? Why are you studying at the academy and why are you risking your life upstairs the other day?

"Studying in the academy is for the official position of the Tang Empire. What's more, cultivation is, of course, the more fundamental reason. As for why I study so hard, it's because I have a lot of things to accomplish. If I don't fight for the rest of my life now, maybe I'll be killed in the future.

"What's so hard?"

"It's a story I can't tell you."

...

...

The written exchange by the west window of the old library begins with mutual questions about cultivation and mathematics and then extends to their shared lives. As time slowly passed, Ning Que recovered quickly and did not cough after taking the prescription of tangerine peel. Gradually, the two lads became more and more familiar and intimate, although they had not yet met.

Summer was the day before, and the temperature was getting warmer. At some point, the west window was closed, and the interior was filled with darkness. The smile on Ning Que's face, looking at the notes Chen Pipi had written in the past few days, gradually disappeared. He discovers a shocking detail: the guy named Chen Pipi says that if they can't find him elsewhere, his family might find him hiding in the academy. This indirectly means that there is no place in this world that his family cannot reach, and only the sacred and powerful academy can make his family a little afraid.

"In the Kingdom of the West Mountain... Is there such a powerful and majestic family?

Frowning slightly, Ning Que thought for a while, but couldn't figure it out, and then continued to read his notes. Yesterday, he asked for the first time in the letter if they could meet. Now he was naturally curious about Chen Pipi's answer, because he was sure that the guy was on the second floor.

Yesterday someone's handwriting was left on the paper: "When you enter the second floor, you will see me then."

Ning Que shook his head and replied with a pen: "The question is...... How can I access the second floor?

Haotian was so unfair that the young man's acupuncture points were blocked. No matter how much he read books in a deconstructed way, with an indomitable spirit, he couldn't really take a step forward on the path of cultivation. Right now, looking at the words "second floor", he couldn't help but be a little disappointed.

Putting down his pen, standing up, and looking at the quiet bookshelves around him, he laughed to himself and sighed. He found it both interesting and boring, and he wondered where the second floor was as he stood on the second floor of the building.

Suddenly, he frowned slightly, noticing a shallow scratch on the floor near the bookshelf leaning against the mountain wall near him. On dark wooden floors, the scratches are thin and light, making it difficult to see without looking closely.

After a brief silence, he walked over to the area, crouched down, and touched it gently. Later, Ning Que determined that it was caused by the friction that accumulated day after day. He looked up at the heavy bookshelves, and then his scratched fingers began to tremble slightly.

There are some decorative patterns on both sides of the bookshelf, which are complex in style and complex in meaning. The dust that accumulates inside the pattern, which is suddenly round or square, is irregular, taking on a very ugly and deformed shape. Every detail of the decoration in the old library is exquisite, except for the ugly decoration of the bookshelves against the walls. Confused and confused, he stroked his fingers gently, then closed his eyes, feeling every touch on his fingers.

Behind the bookshelves is the famous second floor? The real academy is behind the wall?

"You can try to open the bookshelf and see what's behind it.

Ning Que hurriedly opened his eyes and turned around. He noticed that the gentle and beautiful female professor was standing silently behind him, looking at him with warm and even a little encouraging eyes.

He couldn't understand the true meaning of the female professor's warm and peaceful expression, and just smiled wryly at the decorative patterns on the shelves. Occasionally, a few thoughts flashed through him to remind him of the feeling he felt when he saw the scarlet birds in the Vermilion Bird Avenue and those animal carvings on the eaves of the palace. He could vaguely guess something, and of course he didn't dare to make any disrespectful moves.

...

...

It was the midsummer of the thirteenth year of Tianqi, and Ning Que and Sang Sang had been in Chang'an for a few months. They run an old brush shop and eat some simple food every day. In addition, Ning Que was successfully admitted to the college. Their lives don't seem to have changed much, but in fact, this is not the case.

The young soldiers of the border city followed Chao Xiaoshu and experienced a bloody battle in the Spring Breeze Pavilion on a rainy spring night. In addition, he once entered the royal palace. In addition, the young man also took those cultivation books in the old library and studied hard for a few days. Undoubtedly, these experiences have helped him to look at the wider and wider world and make some interesting and talented people, which has greatly improved his qualities, both in terms of vision and spirit.

The most important thing in these months was the killing of his first friend, who ended the lives of censors Zhang Yiqi and Chen Zixian – the first step on his path to revenge. Fortunately, the deaths of these two enemies did not seem to have attracted the attention of the Tang government and the powerful Xiahou general.

"It's too hot, Chang'an's only drawback."

Ning Que lay on the bamboo chair, looked at the starry sky, shook his head, wiped the sweat on his face, and said, "When the morning comes, the sky will be cold." There is a lake next to the residence of the tea expert. Maybe staying here will be more comfortable than us?

Sang Sang took the towel and soaked it in the bucket of cold water, and said in a low voice: "Young Master, are you going to kill him, just because his residence is cold?" Is this revenge... So interesting?

Chang'an is a perfect city, except for its summers.

As we enter June, the sun is getting brighter and the temperature is getting hotter. Every street is filled with the summer heat, and the occasional breeze brings an unletary heat that causes the green, plump leaves to wither and the grapes on the lattices turn purple. What's more, aristocratic families had to take out ice cubes, and commoners opened doors and windows.

The doors and windows of all the shops on Lin 47th Street are open.

Dying from a stroke is clearly more terrible than the risk of being stolen. The toiling servants and laborers simply sat on the stone steps, lazily looking around, beware of the thieves, who also stayed at home to cool off. What's more, the shopkeeper and the master sit on bamboo chairs in the alley with buckets.

During the day, the trees block out the sun, and the narrow and quiet alleys are the place for them. In addition, when passing through narrow roads, the night breeze becomes cooler, so people feel more comfortable.

All kinds of bamboo beds and small square tables have completely blocked the narrow alleys. Residents lay on bamboo beds chatting and eating cold fruits and nuts on a small square table next to them.

For those who are accustomed to seeking pleasure in the midst of difficulties, he even devoured a bowl of spicy yopo noodles. The chili-induced sweat and the heat-stimulated sweat mix together, as if to tell yourself that the night is not that hot.

There is an occasional clear "pop" sound in the alley. It sounds like an adult beating up a naughty child, but in reality, it comes from people slapping their sweaty backs with soaked towels.

"I said no! Do you still want to find a concubine to warm your bed in such a hot weather?

The husband and wife of the fake antique shop quarrel every day about the concubine. The people of Lin 47th Street have become accustomed to it and even wonder if the couple is a special way of flirting.