Accepting the challenge

He An woke from his dreams early that morning. The Dan Foundation in his lower abdomen felt swollen and full, yet he had never felt so refreshed and clearheaded. What astonished him most was that overnight, several of his wounds had scabbed over and shed their scabs, leaving only faint white marks on his skin, without the slightest scar.

What miraculous medicine was this? How could it work such wonders? Thinking of Han Chanjuan, sometimes sweet and docile, sometimes fiery and fierce, He An could not help letting the corners of his lips rise.

"Little An... I saved this for you. Aren't you going to try it?" Fan Dazhi had washed his face and was gnawing on a chicken leg. Beaming, he said to He An, "Last night, I was really afraid you'd suffer cultivation deviation. But you know how it is in that situation... no one else can help. Thank goodness... thank goodness your cultivation has improved again!"

"Just luck. Dazhi, why do you think we work so hard at cultivating?" In a good mood, He An took a set of clothes from the cupboard and put them on, then soaked yesterday's bloodstained robe in a basin of water.

"Hmm! To rise above the crowd someday, of course!" Fan Dazhi bit off a mouthful of frozen, rock-hard chicken and answered in a muffled voice as he chewed vigorously.

"No..." He An shook his head and said thoughtfully, "Only by making yourself strong can you keep others from bullying you and protect... the people you want to protect!" He finished fastening his sash and patted Fan Dazhi on the shoulder. "Let's go! Eating meat first thing in the morning-you'd better watch out, or one day you'll be as round as a ball!"

He An and Fan Dazhi went out together. The sky was frighteningly dark, with clouds piled overhead like slabs of lead, and heavy snow had begun drifting down.

By the time they finished breakfast in the Dining Hall, the narrow stone path leading to the classrooms was covered in snow. They joined the students walking in small groups along the main path, where countless footsteps had churned the snow into icy slush. In the distance, the classroom roofs were already a vast expanse of white.

Several female students swept past, laughing and chasing one another. One mischievous girl scooped up a handful of snow from a flower bed and threw it at her companion. Snowballs soon flew everywhere, and the girls' bright, birdsong voices mingled in a lively uproar, drawing repeated glances from passersby.

Without warning, a snowball flew over and struck Fan Dazhi square in the face. Snow scattered, and everyone burst out laughing. Fan Dazhi wiped his face in bewilderment. Once he saw the pretty female student who had accidentally hit him, he opened his mouth, but his face reddened before a word of reproach could escape.

The girl who had caused the trouble stuck out her tongue mischievously and hurried after her companions, leaving only a fragrant breeze and laughter like silver bells...

When He An reached the small square in front of the classrooms, his expression suddenly darkened. This was a busy spot that every student attending morning classes had to pass through.

A tall, powerfully built figure stood proudly amid the crowd. Snow covered his shoulders, and his robe concealed half his face. Facing the stream of people, he remained unmoving, like a great rock amid rushing rapids. It was Sun Biao.

Seeing He An approach, Sun Biao shook out his folded arms, scattering the snow from his shoulders. Once again, he took that "Challenge Letter" from inside his robe. Arrogance, disdain, and contempt flashed through his eyes as he looked at He An and stubbornly held it out, just as he always did...

To his surprise, He An accepted it.

This time, He An did not hesitate at all. Expressionless, he calmly accepted the "Challenge Letter," as though taking an assignment from his teacher in class.

"Tomorrow at noon, you and I fight!" Sun Biao said through clenched teeth, his voice low.

"Fine! But... I have one condition." He An smiled as lightly as drifting clouds in a gentle breeze.

"Speak!" Sun Biao raised an eyebrow. After just a few days, the fellow before him seemed different, though he could not say exactly what had changed.

"Since we're arranging a fight, simply winning or losing is meaningless. Why don't we add a little wager? The loser pays the winner a hundred taels of silver. How about it?" He An looked at the fierce, relentlessly persistent man before him.

"Fine!" Sun Biao agreed without a second thought. What a joke. A mere hundred taels of silver. Even if I lose, I won't have to pay out of my own pocket-someone else will foot the bill. Besides, could I possibly lose?

Many nearby students looked toward He An and Sun Biao. Over the past few days, this familiar scene of a challenge being issued had played out almost daily, and everyone had already lost interest.

Soon, news that He An had accepted the challenge spread through the Knowledge and Practice Institute. Even so, it stirred no great waves. Like that day's heavy snow, it caused the institute's students no shock at all.

In everyone's eyes, He An had avoided fighting all along. His current decision meant only that he could no longer endure being pointed at by a thousand accusing fingers and branded a coward afraid to fight, and was trying to preserve what little pitiful dignity he had left.

Everyone believed the match would end in a one-sided crushing defeat. After all, shrinking back and repeatedly avoiding a fight showed a lack of confidence. How could anyone else have confidence in him?

In the classroom, Yan Zhongjie was teaching rites, one of the "six arts of the gentleman." He explained that the auspicious rites were foremost among the five rites, consisting chiefly of sacrificial ceremonies to the heavenly gods, Earth Deities, and Human Spirits. Sacrifices to the heavenly gods: the Supreme Deity of Vast Heaven; sacrifices to the sun, moon, and stars... He spoke at length with great enthusiasm, while the students below listened drowsily.

He glanced at Fan Dazhi, who was nodding off in his seat, and felt deeply displeased. When he noticed that He An also seemed somewhat distracted, he could not help sighing inwardly. Lu Zhengqing often praises these two students, yet they're still such a handful...

He An had little interest in these lengthy ancient ritual systems. He quietly turned to look at Han Chanjuan's seat. It was empty, and the lovely figure he hoped to see was still nowhere to be found. A sense of disappointment crept into his heart.

Ding Wenruo sat beside the window, gazing at the vast white snowfall outside, her heart lost in bewilderment. After a long while, she turned her head, but everything before her seemed equally white and hazy. She heard the teacher speaking without knowing what he was saying, while her thoughts drifted far away like the windblown snow outside...

Tomorrow, he'll be fighting someone. Can he win?

He held back for so long before finally accepting the "Challenge Letter." Could it be... he's certain of victory now?

If he loses, will he feel disgraced and never again look so radiant, so...

Oh, honestly... it has nothing to do with you. Why are you worrying over nothing?

Ding Wenruo mused to herself, finally questioning herself in irritation. Suddenly, her cheeks felt hot. Unable to resist, she turned toward He An's seat, only to find him looking in her direction as well. Mortified, Ding Wenruo blushed and hastily lowered her head.

He An gazed at the heavy snow outside, feeling somewhat relieved. The snowfall is too heavy today. Perhaps carriages can't get through...

During the midday break, a group of male students gathered around He An, talking about something. A moment later, several began calling out over one another...

"He An, we're all backing you! You have to win!" One student waved his fist and shouted with a resolute expression.

"That's right! He An, beat that fellow until he's crawling around looking for his teeth! He's far too arrogant, sending 'Challenge Letters' again and again. That's provocation-blatant provocation..." a tall, straight-backed student loudly agreed.

"He An, cut loose and thrash him! Thrash him hard! Even if you really can't beat him and lose, I'll pay those hundred taels. My family has quite a bit of money..." The cross-eyed student who was usually the loudest stretched out his neck and hollered, as excited as a fighting cock.

"Hit him! Unless you beat him into complete submission, he'll think we're easy to bully. A few days ago, people were pointing at me when I went to the Dining Hall. Someone even said, 'There, look-that fellow studies in the same classroom as that coward He An'... I've had enough!" This normally mature, composed student threw his writing brush onto his desk and joined in indignantly.

"He An, they say Sun Biao practices the Mountain-Shifting Palm. It's tremendously powerful, so don't underestimate him. We'll all come cheer you on!" said a male student with a face covered in pimples, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"All right! Since Brother He An has accepted the 'Challenge Letter,' he must have a plan, and he'll certainly give it his all. Once he wins tomorrow's match, I'll host a celebratory feast at the Grand View Tower. Everyone's invited, and no one leaves sober!" Gu Qingzhou said with a hearty laugh. As soon as he finished, everyone roared their approval.

Ding Wenruo gazed at the drifting snow outside, listening to their conversation with her delicate brows slightly knitted. Normally quiet and graceful, she now felt inexplicably unsettled. It was as though a pebble had been tossed into the tranquil lake of her heart, sending ripples across it...

These men usually pretend to be so refined, yet the moment fighting and killing come up, every face lights up with excitement. They delight in brawling and flaunting brute courage, casting the sages' way of forbearance that our teacher so often teaches to the back of their minds... Only he... repeatedly declined an unreasonable, pointless challenge and fought back only when he had no other choice... Surely this is what a truly modest gentleman is like?

As Ding Wenruo's thoughts wandered, the class bell interrupted them. Pretending it was casual, she tilted her head toward He An's seat. The students gathered around him began dispersing, and an exceptionally handsome face beside him came into view and broke into a smile at her.

Ding Wenruo's heart fluttered, and in her momentary daze, she shyly pressed her lips together. But when she saw clearly that it was Gu Qingzhou, her pretty face immediately turned cold, as though covered in frost.

Outside, the snow fell ever harder, and the classroom grew colder. Two braziers were lit in the corners. Many students rubbed their hands and could not help stamping their half-numb feet, stirring the loose dust on the floor into the air.

He An spent the entire afternoon waiting in anticipation, but even when the final bell rang, Han Chanjuan had not appeared.

Because of the bitter cold, the Knowledge and Practice Institute dismissed classes earlier than usual. The kitchens began boiling ginger soup to ward off the chill. Through several green pines whose branches had bent beneath the heavy snow, white cooking smoke could be seen rising from the tall chimney.

He An and Fan Dazhi left the classrooms with the crowd, their footsteps crunching in the snow. Some students from the south had never seen such heavy snow before, and they ran about joyfully, laughing and playing...

Ding Wenruo pulled her white cloak tighter around herself and walked at an unhurried pace, unable to resist stealing a glance at He An nearby. Snowflakes clung to the bangs above her forehead, adorning her dark hair like a skyful of stars. The cold wind brushed her face, and a few snowflakes settled on her lashes. She blinked, and they quickly melted, running down her cheeks like tears...

"He... An!" Looking at the familiar figure amid the wind and snow, Ding Wenruo hesitated, then finally summoned the courage to call out.

"Oh... Wenruo... you haven't gone home yet?" He An replied, looking at the gentle, lovely girl a short distance away.

"Mm... tomorrow... you'll definitely win!" Ding Wenruo bit her lip, hesitated for a long while, then called out before turning and walking away.

The glare from the snow made He An's eyes swim. The girl in the snow gradually receded into the distance, her slender figure like a white lotus...