Ascending the Mountain

Prince Lee Peiyan looked at the monk as his eyebrows knitted slightly in displeasure. He had come to the opening as a representative of the royal family. However, his main motive for coming was to ensure that the agreement would be enforced. He had not expected any student from the Academy to beat Prince Long Qing. But he was slightly mad that no student of Tang nationality had stepped out bravely, but a monk in tattered robes had instead.

"Who is this monk?" He asked the official from the Ministry of Rites beside him with furrowed brows.

The official wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeves and replied softly, "He is a traveling monk from the Dadu Monastery of Yuelun Kingdom. He had applied earlier and was granted entry to the Academy today."

Lee Peiyan was startled. He looked as if he had something to say, but chose not to in the end.