Chapter 42: Chapter Thirty-Eigh (1/2)

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Translator: Antonia

It was more painful for the little-educated generals to hold a pen than to kill them! They, whining-faced, listened to Xiao Qingyu slowly explaining ‘Thirteen Effective Tactics to Defeat Enemies’, ‘Cavalry Tactical Rehearsal’ … Better to die!

They didn't dare to skip the lectures, because there would be exams the next day. If they failed…, they couldn't help shivering at the consequences.

At first, the worst was to copy books for and be beat slightly. (Imagine the picture of a bunch of burly men waiting obediently to be punished by a childe.) To their surprise, the naughty Duke Fang proposed an even worse idea!

He suggested Childe to use those who didn't pass the exams as punch bags for the soldiers at training filed! Both painful and shameful!

Xiao Qingyu looked at him, speechless. Then, Duke Fang came up with another idea. Or punish them to clean the latrine?

“…?” “…!?” “…!!”

Even Xiao Qingyu couldn't help making a comment: You were born in the same root. Why try to strangle each other to death!?

Compared with the generals, Duke Fang’s days were both miserable and enjoyable—it was enjoyable because he could spend every day and night leisurely with Xiao Qingyu in ecstasy; it was miserable—why did Zhang Jinya stay around his childe without leaving for a second?!

Our little buddy Zhang Jinya learned poetry, chess, guqin (a Chinese stringed musical instrument) and painting from Childe Wushuang, among which he was most talented at guqin. Even Childe Wushuang praised, “Jinya is born for music and grew with it. Either folk or classical music was at his fingertip. The good music lingers long in one’s mind.”

Zhang Jinya flushed, “I’ll be happy if I was one tenth as good as Childe…”

Childe Wushuang smiled, “That’s not true.” Then he closed his eyes to enjoy his performance without talking.

Two days later, Xiao Qingyu suddenly said, “I heard weapons in your tunes. Let me give you a musical instrument!”

Zhang Jinya opened his eyes wide in astonishment and gazed at the wooden piece in Childe’s hand. It was in the shape of a pearl and had four strings.

Xiao Qingyu said seriously, “It’s called ‘pipa’, having a crisp and mild sound but able to produce resolute tune of killing. You’re a talented boy. I hope one day this will help you become a world-renown musician.”

Zhang Jinya saw expectation in Xiao Qingyu’s eyes and momentarily became solemn. He respectfully kneeled to sternly take over the pipa from Xiao Qingyu, then kowtowed three times to finish the ritual towards a teacher, “Thank you for taking me as your disciple.”

On that day, Zhang Jinya officially became one of Childe Wushuang’s disciples.