Watching the white crane swiftly recede and disappear over the horizon, the Dean muttered softly...
Beside him, Su Mo heard something that made his eyes widen:
"Is that old bastard Ning Wuya still alive? Why hasn't he died yet? How many years has he lived now..."
The Dean shook his head and turned to the emperor in his dragon robes. After a moment's consideration, he said:
"I set my seventh disciple a test before accepting him: he had to take first place in the examinations... I don't know whether his learning is enough. Ah... I only mentioned it in passing... I meant nothing else by it..."
The emperor bowed. "Su Mo is fully deserving of first place!"
None of the other candidates present felt the slightest resentment. Having witnessed Su Mo's talent, they saw absolutely nothing wrong with his taking the top spot.
First place... Su Mo deserved it!
But Su Mo did not think so.
His bright eyes were filled with disbelief...
Now that the Dean had said that, even holding the title was embarrassing!
Regardless of whether he could have taken first place on his own, from now on, whenever it came up, people would think the emperor had awarded it under the Dean's "tyrannical pressure."
My lifelong good name... Feeling somewhat wronged, Su Mo looked at Gu Yu.
The corners of Gu Yu's mouth twitched violently. His gaze brimmed with sympathy... I knew Old Yin Bi would dig a pit for him, given his usual ways. I just never expected the pit to be here...
The old... Dean glanced at Su Mo, seemingly understanding his thoughts, and said slowly, "You must understand... the way of heaven takes from excess to replenish deficiency; the way of man takes from deficiency to serve excess."
The Dean glanced at Su