My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 131 Part 1

Chapter 131 Extra (17) The Story of Da Taohe

Less than a quarter of an hour's walk from the lecture building, one would pass a rather small training ground.

Although studying was the top priority in the academy, most of the students were, after all, young men who needed a place to vent their energy.

Moreover, since the new emperor ascended the throne, he had placed importance on the physical fitness of scholars. The evaluation standards for horsemanship and archery had been raised, and among candidates of equal scholarly merit in the imperial examinations, those proficient in these skills and possessing greater physical strength were given preferential consideration for official posts.

Because of this, in recent years, the academy had also started to place greater emphasis on physical fitness.

Although horseback riding wasn't feasible in the mountains, there had always been places for running and training. The academy's training ground had been expanded several years ago, and a Cuju field was built along with it.

Both horsemanship and Cuju were effective for building physical strength. However, horsemanship wasn't something scholars from poor families could practice regularly, while Cuju could be practiced as long as one had people. For this reason, Cuju saw much wider participation.

Being skilled at Cuju undoubtedly made one the center of attention within the academy.

When Shen Qingyue arrived at the training ground, many scholars who had finished classes and passed by, discovering the Cuju match, had already gathered around the sidelines. Perhaps the match was exciting, as the crowd erupted in waves of cheers.

"You go back first."

He instructed his page boy to take the book box back to the dormitory building, while he himself walked leisurely towards the training ground.

Just as he reached the edge of the field, a Cuju ball flew straight across half the field, immediately breaking through the goalkeeper and scoring into the goal.

The scholars standing on the periphery, their blood boiling with excitement, immediately shouted "Excellent!"

Feeling that wasn't enough, they quickly put down the book boxes they were carrying and applauded.

"That tall fellow is far too skilled! In such a short time, he's already scored four goals in a row!"

"He looks unfamiliar, probably a new student who just enrolled this March."

"Looking at this situation, Class One is going to lose today."

"It's good that someone has come to take Class One down a peg! Saves them from always ordering people about and thinking they're the most formidable on this field."

The faces of the several scholars chatting carried a sense of excitement, their eyes full of strong anticipation for the drama.

Shen Qingyue raised his cool, detached eyes and gazed toward Huo Anding on the field.

The young man had removed his outer robe and academy uniform, now dressed in a white cross-collared underrobe with fitted sleeves, paired with black trousers tucked into black cloth boots—presenting a thoroughly practical look. Were it not for his face, he might easily be mistaken for a military cadet.

Although his attire was somewhat improper, the kind that would make a Confucius master criticize his lack of decorum, compared to his usual appearance draped in the academy uniform, he looked even more upright and tall.

His body was slender, his legs long, and he stood a head taller than the other scholars. But on the field, he didn't appear clumsy in the slightest; instead, he was exceptionally agile and nimble.

When blocking opponents, his strength was solid as a wall. When the Cuju was at his feet, it was as if it had been oiled and recognized its master, completely following his foot.

Even if it was luckily hooked away by someone, in no time it would return to him again, dispatched wherever his wind-swept figure commanded it to go.

"Scored!"

"He scored again!"

Amidst another cheer, Huo Anding kicked and scored another goal.

The opponents on the field gritted their teeth in anger, while the spectators off the field were boiling with excitement. More and more people came to watch the match.

Shen Qingyue looked at the young man on the field, his cheeks flushed red from the intense activity. He raised his hand and wiped the sweat with the back of it, his entire face as if it had been soaked in water.

Amidst the cheers, the main character lacked the expected joy. Instead, his brows were furrowed, and his lips were pressed tight.

It seemed he wasn't here to play Cuju, but more like he was venting.

Shen Qingyue took a slight breath, and a feeling of discomfort and guilt rose in his heart again. He was just about to go fetch some water when, as he lifted his gaze, the person on the field also suddenly looked in this direction.

The young man was slightly startled, then his brows instantly relaxed, and he smiled.

"Hey, the ball!"

A teammate kicked the Cuju ball towards Huo Anding's direction, but unexpectedly, he took a long stride with his legs, ignored the Cuju, and ran straight to the sidelines.

"What are you doing? The Cuju."

Shen Qingyue looked at the person who had run up to him, his brow twitching slightly.

"Weren't you not coming? Why are you here now?"

As Huo Anding spoke, the smile vanished from his face, asking a bit sullenly: "Did you just finish your work and decide to stop by for a look?"

Shen Qingyue gazed at the sweat-dampened figure before him, his pale lips parting slightly: "Wasn't it you who wanted me to come and watch?"

Hearing this, Huo Anding's mouth twitched. He tried to suppress the smile on his lips, but it showed in his eyes.

"If you come just because I told you to, then why didn't you come earlier?"

Shen Qingyue pressed his lips together: "Hurry up and go play Cuju. We'll go to the dining hall to eat later."

"You'll wait for me?"

Shen Qingyue gave a soft "en."

Huo Anding's smile bloomed instantly: "Just you wait and see."

Finished speaking, he quickly ran back onto the field.

After Huo Anding left the field for that short moment, the game had started to become somewhat chaotic.

He returned to his team, turning his back to retrieve the Cuju from an opponent's feet with movements that were swift and hard to predict. The field once again returned to its fervent heat.

The young men chased and defended, shedding the propriety and humility of the classroom, their sweat pouring forth enthusiastically in the June weather.

"Excellent!"

Cheers from on and off the field rose one after another.

Although Shen Qingyue didn't play Cuju, he understood the rules. Seeing Huo Anding score goals in a hundred different ways, a faint, almost imperceptible smile also appeared on his face.

Soon, the red team Huo Anding was on achieved an overwhelming victory.

The victorious red team members on the field happily huddled together in a group hug.

People from off the field also crowded around: "Fellow student, may I ask your name? Play a match with us next time too!"

"How did you execute that 'Extracting Firewood from under the Cauldron' move? I didn't even see it clearly before the Cuju went from the blue team to your feet, and then it scored."

"Yes, yes! Please teach us!"

Shen Qingyue looked at Huo Anding, surrounded in the middle, like a general being revered after winning a battle. The young man was precisely at the height of his spirit and vigor.

A clear breeze brushed across the mountain. He lowered his eyes, concealing the slight smile that had floated onto his lips.

"So, how was it? My Cuju skills are passable, right?"

Huo Anding hastily brushed off the scholars who came seeking techniques or inviting him to future matches. Afraid that Shen Qingyue would get tired of waiting and leave, he slipped out from the crowd and ran up to him.

"En."

The two walked shoulder to shoulder towards the public dining hall.