Chapter 116: Chapter 106: Climbing 2
But the Prefecture Examination meant facing formidable Martial Artists from over a dozen counties under Shanyang Prefecture’s jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the minimum requirement to even register for the Prefecture Examination was Marrow Transformation.
’Could it be that this Chubby has already reached Marrow Transformation?’
"Hmph. A bet’s a bet. I don’t associate with people who go back on their word."
The Chubby sneered, then turned and walked over to Hui Hengli, bowing respectfully. "Mr. Hui, why are you here all alone? Has that... Xiangjun not arrived?"
’Well, I’ll be. So it was this guy who intercepted Liu Xiangjun.’
At this point, Liu Chuanzhi finally understood. Anyone who could command such respect from Bai Xingqiu was definitely no ordinary person.
’Did we just pick a fight with the wrong person?’
He was already miserable from having sold his family’s land for a pittance after the rain ended the disaster, losing an untold amount of money.
And now, it seemed they had offended someone—and judging by the situation, it was the main guest of this banquet.
Liu Chuanzhi couldn’t just stand there. He hurried forward, his face already plastered with a sycophantic smile. "A misunderstanding, Eldest Young Master Bai, this is all a misunderstanding. We unintentionally offended this senior. Please, Senior, be magnanimous and forgive us."
"I’ll forgive you if you make him eat his shoe," Hui Hengli snorted.
He might look like a child, but with his level of cultivation, he could easily perceive whether these people were speaking the truth or lying.
Therefore, no matter how humble or subservient they appeared on the surface, he knew that in their hearts, they had already cursed him countless times.
Immediately, Liu Chuanzhi’s gaze fell on Zhang Wen.
His expression was calm, but the meaning behind it was clear: ’You caused this mess, you fix it.’
Zhang Wen stiffened his neck, refusing to endure the humiliation.
He knew no one here would help him, so his face darkened. "If you have the guts, kill me. Otherwise, I’m leaving."
Seeing this, Bai Xingqiu snorted and was about to say more.
"Sir, Miss Xiangjun has arrived."
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, the Madam’s voice rang out.
Then, a woman in a green dress, her beauty enhanced by a touch of makeup, appeared. She had an ethereal air about her as she approached gracefully, led by a maidservant.
She was exceptionally beautiful, yet she exuded a faint sense of detachment.
"Xiangjun greets you all."
The woman came before Hui Hengli and gave a graceful curtsy.
"Forget it, forget it. Get the hell out of my sight. Don’t be an eyesore and ruin my mood."
Hui Hengli had suddenly lost all interest. ’How utterly boring,’ he thought.
With that, he returned to his private booth to listen to the music.
Seeing this, Bai Xingqiu certainly wasn’t going to stay behind and immediately followed him.
As for Liu Chuanzhi and the others, after this incident, it was clear they had offended not only Eldest Young Master Bai Xingqiu but also the person he treated with such reverence. The feeling was as disgusting as having swallowed a fly.
So, without a word to Liu Chuanzhi, the rest of them simply left.
And in their hearts, they secretly resolved never to associate with this jinx surnamed Liu again.
~~~~~~
Xiahe County.
The fighting platform in the Martial Arts Arena of the County Magistrate’s Office.
Chen Liang held his breath and focused, staring intently at his opponent. He secretly gathered his strength, and then his whole body erupted with power.
His fist whistled through the air.
At that moment, Chen Liang felt he was in better condition than ever before.
The punch he threw was a peak strike, one that unified his very Spirit.
He didn’t know how much power it contained, but he was sure no one on this fighting platform today could block it!
Before the examination, he had bought a Martial Arts Manual that clearly listed all the seeded Martial Artists registered for the Martial Scholar test.
It detailed what Martial Arts they practiced, what they excelled at, and even analyzed each of their weaknesses.
It had cost him a full one hundred taels of silver.
’With the help of this Martial Arts Manual, by targeting their weaknesses, I’ll definitely succeed in becoming a Martial Scholar.’
"Die!"
Chen Liang roared inwardly and immediately attacked his opponent’s left side.
According to the Martial Arts Manual, his current opponent had an old injury on his left arm, making it a weak point.
’By attacking his weakness, I can surely win with ease.’
But in the next instant, Chen Liang felt a sharp pain in his chest and abdomen.
He was sent flying and fell right off the platform.
"How could this happen? How? How could I lose!"
Lying on the ground, Chen Liang finally came to his senses.
His opponent had just knocked him straight off the platform. He was eliminated.
"Impossible! This can’t be real! I followed the Martial Arts Manual’s instructions exactly! How did I get sent flying?!"
Chen Liang couldn’t accept it. After all, he had spent one hundred taels of silver.
What’s more, he owed a high-interest loan to a gambling den.
’How am I supposed to pay that back now?!’
’No, I have to leave. I can’t stay here.’
Chen Liang knew how loan sharks operated. When they came to collect, they were ruthless.
Countless people had their arms and legs broken.
Just as he walked out of the gate of the Government Office’s martial arts field, the weather suddenly changed. A light drizzle began to fall, pattering against his face and body.
In just a moment, he was soaked to the bone.
"Quick, the kid’s over there! Stop him, don’t let him run!"
However, it was a case of what you fear is what you get.
Before Chen Liang could even leave the city gates, he was blocked.
"What are you doing? Get out of my way! Are you going to commit assault in broad daylight?!"
Chen Liang naturally recognized them as enforcers from the gambling den. The one in the lead was even a Martial Artist of the Bone Forging Pass.
Chen Liang immediately lost his nerve, but he still stiffened his neck and spoke.
’What if... what if they’re actually scared off?’
"Hmph. Paying your debts is the law of heaven and earth. With principal and interest, that’s 1,500 taels."
The moment Chen Liang heard this, the world started to spin, and he fainted on the spot.
~~~~~~
「Three days passed quickly.」
The rain had lasted for a full day, and the Xiahe River was flowing once more.
The water level in the village wells had also returned to normal.
Everything was back to how it was before.
Most of the newly planted tea saplings in the village had survived, and the ones that didn’t were replaced with new ones.
In just a few months, the tea trees would mature, and they would be able to harvest by the beginning of next spring.
The landlord had promised that after they paid their usual rent, he would buy all the remaining tea leaves.
Life finally had something to look forward to, and it seemed things would only get better.
The sorrow on the villagers’ faces was gone, replaced by smiles.
And after this incident, aside from those who had returned their land and were now slapping their thighs in regret, everyone else had unknowingly developed a deep sense of reverence for Fang Yue.
The Fang Family Mansion, in the Martial Arts Arena of Fang Yue’s courtyard.
Fang Yue slowly retracted his fist and wiped the sweat from his body.
Just then, a line of text flashed before his eyes.
[Time is fleeting, but heaven rewards diligence. Talent +1]
Fang Yue glanced at it. His Talent was still far from leveling up to ’one in ten thousand’; it was a long way off.
A quick calculation told him it would take about twenty more years.
By then, he would be in his forties. Although Martial Dao cultivation increased one’s lifespan...
...to reach ’one in a hundred thousand’ would take how many years? Nearly three hundred. No matter how high his Martial Arts Realm, he wouldn’t live that long.
’So, for a long time to come, this Golden Finger won’t be of much help?’
Fang Yue mused. An increase in Talent could raise his upper limit for strength, or in other words, his potential.
Talent Points also allowed him to master a corresponding Talent when his Cultivation Technique reached a certain stage, changing certain traits of his body.
’So, is the true use of this Golden Finger to practice more Cultivation Techniques and, through them, obtain more Talents?’
’Or... extending my lifespan?’
Fang Yue thought about his experiences over the past two years. ’There must be great secrets hidden behind this world.’
’Take the Earth Elemental Stone, for example, such a wondrous and magical thing.’
’Above the Martial Dao, there must be even stronger powers, a higher form of cultivation!’
’Therefore, to understand all of this, I must continue to strive and climb higher.’
’And the most convenient and direct way is to continue participating in the Military Examination. As long as I can attain a high enough position within the Great Wei Dynasty...’
’...then no matter what secrets there are, they will eventually be revealed to me.’
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