Chapter 106 - 105: Liyang
Chapter 106: Chapter 105: Liyang
After leaving home, Chen Shouheng first went to the county town to meet his master and two senior brothers, who were preparing to take this year’s Martial Examination.
The four of them then traveled together to the Commandery City.
Liyang City was more than two hundred li from Mirror Mountain.
Riding at a fast pace, the four of them arrived in a single day.
At dusk, the dark stone walls, dozens of feet high, snaked into the distance like a crouching beast, its end out of sight. The massive silhouette grew even more majestic and imposing against the darkening sky.
The city’s main street was a bustling scene, with carriages and pedestrians forming a constant, dense flow.
Shops lined both sides of the street, their signs and banners competing for attention in a vibrant display.
Juying Inn.
Its proximity to the Government Office’s examination grounds made it a popular lodging for candidates of the Martial Examination.
With the annual Spring Martial Examination upon them once more, the inn was packed to the rafters and filled with a clamorous din.
Candidates from every county had gathered here for the Martial Examination, their voices weaving a tapestry of clinking cups, boisterous laughter, curses, and heated discussions.
Their master, Zhou Zhen, led Chen Shouheng and his two senior brothers, Qian Laibao and Shi Zhongjian, to the Juying Inn, where he booked four rooms.
After they had settled their luggage, their master, Zhou Zhen, announced he had some business to attend to and departed in a hurry.
Chen Shouheng and his two martial brothers, weary from a full day of travel, found a square table in a corner of the main hall for dinner.
The food was served shortly after.
Qian Laibao, dressed in a fine brocade robe, curled his lip at the rather ordinary dishes on the table. "This Juying Inn has a big reputation, but the food is so plain. It can’t even compare to the Drunken Immortal Inn back on Mirror Mountain."
He wasn’t quiet, and his comment drew sidelong glances from a few people at a neighboring table.
Shi Zhongjian, however, silently shoveled rice from his bowl. His family was not well-off; he had to be meticulous with every expense for his cultivation medicine, and as for food, he made do with whatever was available.
Chen Shouheng sat between them. With a calm expression, he ate slowly, his gaze sweeping over their surroundings.
"Did you hear? Jiangzhou is paying special attention to the County Examination this year. They’ve sent a Lord Examiner down specifically for it."
"That’s right. I also heard a rumor that they’re accepting twenty fewer Martial Scholars this year."
"Isn’t everyone who passes the first two stages supposed to be accepted? That’s a rule set by the Court. How can they just change it on a whim?"
"Exactly! That rumor doesn’t sound very reliable, does it?"
In the inn’s main hall, the assembled candidates chattered away, eagerly sharing the latest gossip they’d heard.
The chatter reached their table, and Qian Laibao scoffed. "Whether or not you pass still comes down to strength."
Shi Zhongjian’s brow furrowed at the talk, and he began to eat more slowly.
Just then, a lean, middle-aged man in a half-worn silk shirt, his eyes glinting shiftily, slid through the crowd like an eel and silently appeared beside their table.
A false smile plastered on his face, he leaned in and lowered his voice. "Young masters, I don’t recognize your faces. First time in the Commandery City for the examinations?"
Qian Laibao shot him a sidelong glance. "What do you want?"
The man gave a sly chuckle, revealing two yellowed teeth as he lowered his voice even further. "The name’s Hou San, just making a humble living here in Liyang Commandery City. I happen to have a bombshell piece of news about this County Examination. I wonder if you gentlemen might be interested?"
"Oh? What news is that?"
Qian Laibao put down his chopsticks and looked at Hou San.
Hou San rubbed his fingers together in a gesture for money. "Two taels of patterned silver. No cheating, and guaranteed to be worth the price!"
"Two taels? Why don’t you just go rob someone?"
Qian Laibao’s voice shot up instantly.
At this, Shi Zhongjian’s brow furrowed even more deeply.
Hou San slapped his chest, vowing earnestly, "Young sirs, this information is absolutely worth two taels. If it’s not, I’m willing to pay you back."
After a moment’s thought, Chen Shouheng took two taels of broken silver from his robes and slapped them on the table before Hou San. "Talk."
"This young master gets straight to business."
Hou San’s eyes lit up. He swiftly pocketed the silver, leaned in so his head was over the center of the table, and said in a rapid-fire voice, "This year, the Governor’s Mansion has overhauled the Eighteen Martial Arrays. The eighteen people defending them are, at minimum, at the Great Success stage of Blood Refining."
"The three leaders are supposedly veterans retired from the army, all at Qi Realm Perfection. In past years, you might have been able to get through with luck and teamwork, but this year... Heheh. You young masters had best be prepared."
Without waiting for Chen Shouheng to react, he ducked back, slipped into the crowd, and vanished.
Chen Shouheng was momentarily stunned by the news.
’That’s it?’
For someone like him, who had already broken through to the Spirit Realm, this so-called bombshell news was hardly a threat.
Spending those two taels of silver felt like a bit of a... waste.
The news, however, left both Qian Laibao and Shi Zhongjian dumbfounded.
Qian Laibao forced a laugh. "He must be a swindler. Three guards at Qi Realm Perfection, plus fifteen other Blood Refining cultivators backing them up? That’s almost harder than taking the Provincial Examination for a Scholar title."
But a closer look would reveal an imperceptible flicker of panic deep in his eyes, and his fingers tightened slightly on his wine cup.
His family’s wealth had allowed him to use medicinal resources to brute-force his way into the Qi Realm, but he stood no chance against army veterans at Qi Realm Perfection.
The color drained from Shi Zhongjian’s face, and his brow knitted into tight lines.
His family had supported his martial arts training for years. Once a modestly wealthy household with over a hundred mu of land, they now lived an exceptionally frugal life.
He had been counting on becoming a Martial Scholar to earn a year’s exemption from the family’s Land Tax and give them some breathing room.
This news struck him like a bolt from the blue, and his heart instantly seized with anxiety.
Just then, their master, Zhou Zhen, returned. His gaze swept over his three disciples’ varied expressions, and he seemed to guess what had happened. He sighed to himself and said, "Finished eating? If so, come with me."
The three of them scrambled to their feet and followed Zhou Zhen out of the noisy inn.
"Master, where are we going?" Qian Laibao couldn’t help but ask.
Zhou Zhen hesitated a moment before explaining, "I myself am from the Liyang Zhou Family. I’ve brought you here in response to an invitation, but also to help secure a future for you all. The Liyang Zhou Family has declined in recent years and can’t compare to the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes of Jiangzhou, but our family’s heritage remains. If you are interested, you can accept."
The group of four soon arrived at a quiet courtyard.
A bluestone path wound through several sparse bamboo groves, leading to a detached, two-story building.
The building featured upturned eaves and ornately carved window lattices. Bathed in the soft glow of lanterns hanging from the eaves, it exuded a tranquil elegance that stood in stark contrast to the boisterous, worldly atmosphere of the inn.
Zhou Zhen led the way in silence.
Qian Laibao looked around with curiosity.
Shi Zhongjian kept his head lowered, his expression grim.
Chen Shouheng calmly surveyed the residence. ’I wonder what Master’s purpose is in bringing us here,’ he thought to himself.
Zhou Zhen stopped before the building, straightened his robes, and then knocked gently on the door.
An elderly man in plain servant’s attire opened the door without a sound. He gave Zhou Zhen a slight nod and stepped aside to let the four of them in.
The building’s interior was simply yet elegantly furnished, and the faint scent of sandalwood hung in the air.
The old man led them straight to the second floor, stopping before the door of an elegant private room.
The light within the room was brighter, but an exquisite landscape screen partitioned the space, obscuring the view. Only the faint, graceful silhouettes of two figures could be seen behind it.