Chapter 233: Joint Evening Gathering of the Five Courts!

Chapter 233: Joint Evening Gathering of the Five Courts!

As the day dwindled...

After a day of training, everyone returned to their respective residences, carrying their weary bodies.

Upon returning to the Tianshu East Court, a group of young men indulged in a refreshing bath, and then sat side by side in the courtyard, relishing the rare leisure time.

"Brother Feng, Ouyang, what was your training like for the second phase today? It must have been exciting!"

Feng Mo, one of the roommates who didn't make the cut, asked with curiosity.

He Yiming and Yang Jun also perked up, clearly interested in this mysterious second phase training.

"Exciting? Oh, it was beyond exciting!"

Ouyang Jing stretched his arms, recounting how he spent a solid two hours in an area with double gravity, swinging a sword weighing over a thousand pounds and nearly dislocating his arm in the process.

It was hard to imagine how extreme Ling Feng and Li Bufan’s training was.

For a full two hours, these two didn't make a sound, but they were still practicing basic swordsmanship!

"Wow! I envy you guys so much!" He Yiming exclaimed excitedly.

"Envy..." Ouyang Jing rolled his eyes. "Forget it. Once you experience it yourself, you'll realize how fortunate you are to be doing weight training."

Speaking of which, Ouyang Jing seemed to remember something and his expression turned suggestive as he grinned at Zhou Kai, licking his lips. "Hey, Brother Kai, about what I mentioned last time, wanting to pursue your sister..."

Zhou Kai quickly pushed Ouyang Jing away. "Ouyang, if you're serious about it, just go after Little Yun yourself. As long as she likes you, I won't have any objections!"

"But you gotta help me!" Ouyang Jing scratched the back of his head. Despite being a flirt, he turned tongue-tied whenever Zhou Yun was mentioned, as if she were his kryptonite.

"What help do you need from me?" Zhou Kai shook his head. "I'm good at fighting, but this, I can't help you with!"

Feng Mo suddenly jumped up with a sly grin. "Hmph, for matters like this, you definitely need my opinion. Do you think I spend all my time in the library just reading? I've learned a thing or two!"

As Feng Mo spoke, he even smugly raised his eyebrows at Ling Feng, hinting at a little secret known only to the two of them.

Ling Feng's mouth twitched slightly. If this guy is giving advice, it is likely about getting into bed with someone...

That book, The Emperor's Concubine: A History of Romance, was still fresh in his memory!

Ling Feng didn't quite understand Feng Mo's method of flirting...

"To pursue a woman, firstly, you must cater to her tastes. Secondly, you must display personal charm..."

"Big Brother! You're my pillar of strength. I can't do anything without you!" Ouyang Jing persisted.

"Fine, fine! I'll go, okay?"

Ling Feng sighed inwardly, feeling like he was cursed to have such a brother who was all bark and no bite!

"I'll go too if Big Brother goes!"

Jiang Xiaofan initially wanted to stay and spar with Ling Feng. However, upon seeing Ling Feng's decision to attend the joint evening gathering of the five courts, he also wanted to see what a luxurious city party was like.

Thus, the seven-member group from Tianshu East Court, including Zhou Kai who was dragged along in the end, mobilized, with their destination being the Central Square of Tianwei Academy!

...

The Central Square, where all the students gathered for various tests, was spacious enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people simultaneously.

However, tonight's main focus was the eight hundred newly enrolled yellow-tier students at Tianwei Academy.

Because the joint evening gathering of the five courts provided an opportunity to meet the accomplished sky-tier students, the attendance rate of these newcomers was almost eighty percent or higher.

Around eighty percent of those admitted to Tianwei Academy hailed from prestigious families and clans from various regions. Therefore, friendships among students often symbolized alliances between families or clans.

Moreover, these relationships could extend beyond Tianwei Academy, forming beneficial alliances between families or clans and consolidating their positions.

However, such friendships were typically intertwined with interests. Generally, it was rare for help to be offered without some benefit in return; this was inevitable.

On the Central Square, the crowd thronged around, and blazing bonfires illuminated the night sky, making it almost as bright as day!

In the center of the square, a platform was erected, where beautiful songstresses performed various dance routines.

For Yang Jun, Feng Mo, and the others who hailed from wealthy families in different counties, such banquets and parties were nothing new. But for Jiang Xiaofan, it was a completely new experience!

He looked around, feeling everything was so fresh and exciting.

Ling Feng watched everything around him with great boredom. He had no interest in these social events of the imperial aristocracy. He thought he could spend his time better by practicing swordsmanship, alchemy, or studying the Classic Formula of the Medicine King!

On the other hand, Feng Mo's eyes darted around the crowd, presumably searching for beauties from other courts.

Ouyang Jing, amidst the crowd, searched for Zhou Yun's figure, his eyes filled with longing. He almost resembled the Amah Rock[2]...

1. The Three Lords and Nine Ministers system was a central administrative system adopted in ancient China that was officially instituted in the Qin dynasty ☜

2. According to a legend, the faithful wife of a fisherman climbed the hills every day, carrying her son, to watch for the return of her husband, not knowing he had been drowned at sea. In reward for her faithfulness she was turned into a rock by the Goddess of the Sea so that her spirit could unite with that of her husband. This rock is known as the Amah Rock, located in Hong Kong. It is used here to describe how Ouyang Jing was looking for Zhou Yun, like how the faithful wife of the fisherman waited for his return. ☜