Chapter 74: Injustice
Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Injustice
Two assessments were complete, taking up most of the day. An equestrian assessment was next.
There was a break of two incense sticks for the Martial Artists to rest.
It also gave the examiners time to arrange the horses.
"I hear you’re Fang Yue, from the White Tiger Boxing Hall?" A provocative voice cut through the air while he was resting.
"That’s right."
Fang Yue was surprised, sensing an inexplicable hostility from the other man.
He hadn’t offended anyone, and he didn’t know this person. ’Why does he look so eager to pick a fight with me?’
"My surname is Huang. My family owns Huang’s Tea House."
Huang Ziyu shot Fang Yue a defiant look, then turned and left.
He and Fang Yue were not in the same group.
The next assessment was about to begin, and he had to go "have a word" with someone first.
Because of the roasted tea incident, the Huang Family had already had a complete falling out with the White Tiger Boxing Hall.
How could they possibly allow the White Tiger Boxing Hall to produce another Martial Scholar? They had to suppress them by any means necessary.
He had already bribed the officials in charge of the equestrian assessment to give the Martial Artists from the White Tiger Boxing Hall inferior horses.
The best ones would be those with hidden ailments, unnoticeable on a typical day, that would only flare up during strenuous riding.
This would inevitably affect their scores in this event.
The Martial Examination didn’t require candidates to get an ’A’ in every event; even one or two ’B’ grades wouldn’t hinder them.
But if they received a ’C’ or ’D’ in any event, they would have no chance of becoming a Martial Scholar.
’Huang? Huang’s Tea House?’
Fang Yue’s gaze followed the man who called himself Huang. ’Huang’s Tea House introduced roasted tea... setting aside where they got the technique from... since the White Tiger Tea House is also in this business, friction between them was inevitable. The conflict really started the moment Huang’s Tea House opened.’
But Fang Yue hadn’t expected someone from Huang’s Tea House to also be participating in the Military Examination—and that they were planning to target him.
Just then, Fang Yue saw the young man, Huang, speaking with someone who looked like an official.
The official kept glancing in his direction.
Fang Yue narrowed his eyes. ’Looks like they’re planning to sabotage me.’
’They wouldn’t dare do anything overt here on the examination grounds. It must be some underhanded trick.’
Soon, the equestrian assessment began.
Before long, it was Fang Yue’s turn.
"Candidate from Da Liushu Village, Group C, Number Twelve, Fang Yue! Scholar Fang, step forward and receive your number plate."
"Fang Yue, you are number seven."
The official who called his name was the very same one who had been chatting so pleasantly with the young Mr. Huang.
Now, however, the man wore a stern, impartial expression.
He looked no different than he did when addressing the other candidates.
"Number seven is a fine steed."
Just as Fang Yue hesitated, a voice, lowered so only he could hear, spoke up.
Startled, Fang Yue looked up in surprise at the official in charge of the assessment.
The man offered a kind smile in return, one that seemed genuinely full of goodwill.
Though Fang Yue didn’t understand what was happening, he had a sharp sense that the man truly meant him no harm.
He subconsciously did as the man suggested and chose number seven.
The numbers, after all, were randomly assigned by the examining officials beforehand.
Without a compelling reason, one had to choose the horse corresponding to their assigned number.
’Why did he say that?’
Doubt gnawed at Fang Yue. According to his own reasoning... ’...the young Mr. Huang must be in collusion with this official. It’s certain they wanted to pull some dirty tricks on me during the equestrian test.’
’So why would the official turn around and tell me number seven is a fine steed?’
’It makes no sense.’
But there was no time for Fang Yue to figure it out.
Time was short. He had to proceed with the equestrian assessment first.
The assessment began.
Huang Ziyu stood in the crowd, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched Fang Yue.
He was just waiting for Fang Yue to fall off his horse and make a fool of himself.
Since the Huang Family had made their move, they had to completely suppress the White Tiger Boxing Hall.
Otherwise, once their opponent recovered, they would surely retaliate, forcing the Huang Family into a direct confrontation.
That would be a self-defeating outcome.
But gradually, Huang Ziyu’s expression began to sour.
He watched as an incense stick burned down, yet Fang Yue was still steadily completing the assessment.
Fang Yue’s horsemanship wasn’t spectacular, but he methodically completed each required task one after another.
Huang Ziyu was dumbfounded.
’How can this be? I already paid them off!’
His family had spent a full five hundred taels of silver for this.
’Did it all just go down the drain?’
"That guy must have a common background. He probably doesn’t get to ride much. What a waste of a fine steed."
"Exactly! If I’d had that horse, my score wouldn’t have been a mere B+. I’m sure I could have snagged an ’A’."
At this, several other Martial Artists standing near Huang Ziyu, who had already completed their tests, chimed in with jealous tones.
The horses for the equestrian assessment were matched randomly.
No one knew the condition of their horse beforehand, so it was common for skilled riders to be paired with poor mounts.
This meant they couldn’t perform at their true level and ended up with lower scores.
Seeing Fang Yue’s luck, they were naturally green with envy.
But this was the examination grounds. Even if they had the nerve, none of them dared to cause a scene.
’A B+?’
Fang Yue felt pretty good about that score.
His weakest event had turned out surprisingly well. Only Military Strategy and the combat test remained.
If he could just score an ’A’ in Military Strategy, he would land in the top ten of the Martial Examination based on his current ranking.
Then, as long as he held his ground in the final combat test, he could successfully become a Martial Scholar.
He had originally come just to gain experience; he never expected to get this far.
It was truly unexpected.
However, in the next moment, another thought occurred to Fang Yue.
’I’m afraid my Military Strategy won’t be good enough. Even with the knowledge from my past life and my recently improved calligraphy... I still have no real confidence in how it will turn out.’
’After all, it involves writing an essay, something I have no experience with.’
’I can only give it my best shot.’
~
By the time the equestrian assessment ended, the sun was already setting in the west.
The day’s tests were over. Fang Yue and the other Martial Artists dispersed.
After all, the Martial Examination was different from the civil service one.
It was a test of strength, plain and simple. Besides, having the candidates stay overnight would mean feeding all these Martial Artists—an expense that was no small sum.
The day’s events had been physically demanding.
To recover their energy, they needed substantial meals with plenty of meat.
The Government Office, of course, wasn’t about to foot that bill.
"Heh heh, Fang, from the look of you, you must have done well today! See, I told you! The dozen Protective Talismans I bought didn’t just bring me good luck, they brought you good luck too."
"Of course, I still have to thank you, Fang, for letting me have that woodshed. High eaves, high hopes! It was a good omen for passing the exams!"
"If I’d met you years ago, Fang, I’d have passed this exam long since. Come on! Tonight, we’re going to Yihong House! We’re not coming back until we’re good and drunk!"
Just as he stepped out of the examination grounds, Chubby’s voice rang out.
Fang Yue turned to see Chubby’s bulky figure dashing towards him at a surprising speed.
The flesh on his body jiggled with every step. ’He’s like a walking slab of premium pork belly,’ Fang Yue thought.
"Come on, let’s go together! Tonight, I’ll treat you to some real entertainment!"
Chubby said, trying to drag Fang Yue along with him.
Only because Fang Yue knew what kind of person Chubby was did he not suspect him of ill intent. Anyone else would have thought the man was up to no good.
After all, they had exams the next day.
The two most important ones, at that.
If anything went wrong, it would be a complete waste of an opportunity.
But Chubby insisted, pulling Fang Yue straight towards the Jade River.
Fang Yue struggled to break free, barely resisting the urge to kick the portly man.
’Good grief,’ Fang Yue thought. ’All this talk about drinking till we drop and "breaking the fast"...’
’As if I, Fang Yue, would abandon the examination for a night of debauchery. I’ve seen it all before.’
"Count me out. I’m going back to the inn," Fang Yue said, his tone mild but firm.
"It’s my treat! With all these Protective Talismans, we’re sure to pass! Come on, let’s indulge a little tonight, and we’ll definitely take the top spot tomorrow!" Chubby urged, the jade ring on his finger flashing ostentatiously.
This wasn’t just a mountain of glistening flesh; he was a mountain of glistening silver.
Except, this man had apparently taken the Martial Examination many times and never passed.
’Is he really not worried at all?’
’Maybe this is exactly why he never passes.’
’Going out for drinks and carousing in the middle of the exams... how could anyone have the energy to test the next day?’
’If he managed to pass, it would only be because the heavens were blind.’
"You’re really not coming?" Chubby pressed.
"No. My Military Strategy is weak. I need to go back and do some last-minute prep," Fang Yue said, shaking his head.
He patted Chubby’s shoulder and started walking back toward his inn alone.
"Last-minute prep? What’s the point of that? So boring, really. Fine, if you’re not going, I’m not going either."
Before he’d even finished speaking, Chubby realized Fang Yue was already several yards away.
"I’ll treat you to a big dinner tonight, that’s fine, right?"
He immediately broke into a run to catch up, shouting:
"Wait, wait for me! Let’s go back together!"
In the Martial Examination, if you didn’t advance, you fell behind.
This was especially true for the next day’s combat test, which was completely different from the one for the initial Martial Scholar qualification.
Everyone would be allowed to use weapons.
Even though they were Standard Weapons provided by the Government Office, their lethality was exponentially higher.
This was why, in the exams, those who practiced fist arts were at a disadvantage against those who practiced with weapons.
When others came at you with swords and blades on the examination grounds, and all you had were your fists, you were at a huge, Innate disadvantage.
Even among those using weapons, the gap between someone who trained with them regularly and someone who didn’t was significant.
For Martial Artists of the same realm, such a small gap was enough to determine victory or defeat.
So, for tomorrow’s assessment, Fang Yue had to give it his all.
Of course, if he were outmatched, he would concede immediately.
Because he had his Golden Finger, his Talent was constantly growing. Before long, he would be able to win easily with just his bare fists.