Chapter 90: Fruits
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
The invigilator's sweat finally broke out. Indeed, the way the dealt with this problem was somewhat problematic, if it was escalated, the person in the worst position would be him.
No wonder Fang Zhengzhi would accept the search so willingly, and even took the initiative to suggest…
Seems like Fang Zhengzhi is just waiting for him?
The invigilator's gaze shot to Li Zhuangshi who was behind him, and felt the urge to rip Li Zhuangshi into eight chunks.
"If invigilator feels that searching the entire examination would be too troublesome, then at least you should be searching the people in this room? Just now they were searching very happily…" A bright smile lighted up Fang Zhengzhi's face.
"Search this room…" The invigilator swept his gaze across the dozens of examinees in the room, and finally made up his mind. "Search!"
When the surrounding examinees heard this, their expressions instantly turned bitter. The wheel of fortune reversed! Just now, they were indeed searching Fang Zhengzhi very happily, but now, it was about to be their turn to be searched.
The invigilator's movements were very swift, because the longer they dragged, the worse it was for him.
Within fifteen minutes, the search of dozens of people in the examination room had been completed.
The invigilator gazed at the roomful of scholars crying out their complaints, and let out a sigh. His gaze returned back to Fang Zhengzhi. "Is this okay now?"
"There is still one person, did invigilator forget?" Fang Zhengzhi used his glance to signal to the Li Zhuangshi standing behind the invigilator.
"Him? He isn't from this examination room… Li Zhuangshi, prepare to be searched!" The invigilator wanted to say something, then had second thoughts. He had already searched this entire room of people, and this one person wouldn't amount to much.
Instantly, he reached his hands towards Li Zhuangshi. His actions were rough, and didn't have any intention of bearing any "tender, protective feelings" towards Li Zhuangshi. After all, everything was caused by Li Zhuangshi.
"This… invigilator, why would I bring in materials?" Li Zhuangshi was taken aback, and instinctively wanted to dodge. But, he was very quickly held down onto the ground by the invigilator.
"Slash!" A tearing sound rang out, and a hole was even torn in his shirt.
The invigilator's actions were indeed rough. After holding back for so long, controlling the anger in his stomach, now that he was searching Li Zhuangshi, he naturally wanted to take his revenge.
When the surrounding scholars saw this scene, their eyes were rounded with shock.
Some who weren't as brave even shut their eyes, and didn't dare to look directly.
Li Zhuangshi cried out, "ouch ouch!", and struggled intensely. But, how could he retaliate against the strength of the invigilator? A pair of huge hands searched about Li Zhuangshi's body, and occasionally pinching a few times.
"Huh?" Just as the crowd thought that things were more or less about to be over, a letter was suddenly found by the invigilator.
"Quick, look. There is a letter!"
"Could it be…"
"Don't tell me he was the one who brought in materials?!"
Li Zhuangshi was currently suffering on the ground, when the suddenly heard the word letter, he raised his head. His face instantly turned a deathly shade of white.
What is this about? Why… why do I have a letter?!
This is simply impossible!
Li Zhuangshi's eyes were now round with shock, and stared at the invigilator with disbelief while he slowly opened the letter. Inside it, were the contents he passed to Fang Zhengzhi.
Letter? In my pocket?
In a flash, Li Zhuangshi felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Then, he recalled the scene when he entered the examination venue. Fang Zhengzhi was chatting with him inside the door. At that time, Fang Zhengzhi stood too near to him, so near that it was somewhat strange.
But, at that moment, all he thought about was to achieve his goal with underhanded means, and simply didn't notice Fang Zhengzhi's hands at all.
"You… you sabotage me, this… this letter is clearly on your body, I personally gave it to you…" Li Zhuangshi suddenly pointed his finger at Fang Zhengzhi, and his expression was filled with malevolence.
But, the malevolent expression disappeared in a flash. Because, very quickly, he noticed the cold glance that shot out from the invigilator's eyes.
"It is you!" The invigilator was furious.
No wonder Li Zhuangshi reported Fang Zhengzhi so confidently, he wanted to impute Fang Zhengzhi. But, the progress of things seemed to have met with an accidental.
The person reporting had become the one cheating?
"Uncle Li, I think… you should think clearly, if you were banned from participating in the Law of Dao examinations, what should you do…" Fang Zhengzhi shook his head as he gazed at Li Zhuangshi, whose expression was filled with both horror and rage.
"No! It won't happen… I cannot be banned from the examination, this is my last chance! Cai… Cai Yongfeng… Young Master Cai save me!" Li Zhuangshi suddenly leapt up from the ground, and charged towards the door.
At the door, Cai Yongfeng dressed in brocade clothes looked at Li Zhuangshi with a dark expression.
"Young Master Cai, it's you, it's you who said that as long as I sabotage Fang Zhengzhi, you will help me in the theory examination, quick… quick help me to plea for leniency!" Li Zhuangshi grabbed onto Cai Yongfeng's sleeves, and his forehead instantly filled with terrified sweat.
"You really know how to accuse people wrongly! People like you should be banned permanently from the examination! Useless thing!" Cai Yongfeng's expression changed, and then flick his hands and forced Li Zhuangshi away.
Then, he turned around and left without a second glance.
Li Zhuangshi stood stunned on the stop. He looked at the leaving Cai Yongfeng, then turned around and looked at Fang Zhengzhi who was sitting at his table, and a teardrop began to flow down his cheek.
He only wanted to pass the Law of Dao examination, he had also worked hard. But, after three rounds of examination, he was completely unable to pass the capital examination. Now, it was the last year of hope for him, yet for some unfathomable reason, he encountered this situation where every scholar was gathered at the River of Trust Examination.
Helplessness, desolation…
Just as he was on the verge of giving up, Cai Yongfeng appeared in front of them, promising that as long as he sabotaged Fang Zhengzhi, he would be able to help him during the theory examination.
The theory examination, for three times in a row, he was stuck at the theory examination.
Li Zhuangshi was really unhappy. He had also hesitated and knew the risk of doing this. But, what could he do? Passing the examination based on his abilities alone? He really didn't have the confidence.
Suddenly, he felt that this scene in front of him was very familiar.
Eight years ago...
He planned to sabotage Fang Zhengzhi. Even though he managed to preserve his life, but he was physically punished very rather badly.
And this time, he evidently wasn't as lucky.
Both times, he wanted to harm others, but instead was the one who was harmed.
...
Li Zhuangshi was taken away. He didn't speak any further. But, at the last moment of leaving, his gaze was fixated on Fang Zhengzhi. In those eyes, were tears and regret, but there was not a single trace of hate left...
Fang Zhengzhi similarly looked at Li Zhuangshi.
In reality, he had given Li Zhuangshi a chance, and, it wasn't just once.
As long as Li Zhuangshi ceased his plan in time, this plan wouldn't have been possible at all. If he didn't report Fang Zhengzhi, it wouldn't be possible for Fang Zhengzhi to cause the invigilator to search his body.
Everything seemed to be what Li Zhuangshi inflicted upon himself.
But, Fang Zhengzhi knew that this incident wasn't concluded yet. Because, the real culprit behind the scenes was Cai Yongfeng. Number fifty-six in the Hidden Dragon Roll, Cai Yongfeng.
"Divine Seal Advanced Stage?" Fang Zhengzhi twitched his mouth and closed his eyes slightly. Very quickly, a world filled with swirling white mist appeared in front of his eyes. On the ground was a humongous patch of crystal-like lake, and within the lake was a huge tree that reached into the Heavens. Its branches were lush and dense and each piece of leaf was as sparkling and translucent as a green jadeite.
And on the huge tree, countless numbers of multi-coloured fruits hung. Each fruit was as dazzling as the multitude of stars that filled up the night sky.
...