Participating in the Martial Arts Examination

In the courtyard, Dan Fang's expression immediately turned grim as she walked out of the living room. As if venting her frustration, she kicked the piles of snow stacked by the wall fiercely with her embroidered shoes and loudly berated the maidservant clearing the snow in the yard.

Her harsh words were sharp, and Dan Fang knew that Dan Wu Ju and his wife inside the house would surely hear them.

Then, Dan Fang led her son, Dan Yi Wu, away, not even sparing a glance at her skirt soaked with snow water.

The burly man in brocade followed.

From entering to leaving, Dan Fang's husband had not spoken a word, except for a few auspicious greetings when he kowtowed to pay his respects.

"My family has met with misfortune." As Dan Fang left, a rare look of desolation appeared on Dan Wu Ju's face.

He stared blankly at the gate. Decades had passed, and this mansion, newly built in its time, had become yellowed and dilapidated.

The courtyard walls, seldom exposed to the sun, were covered in moss and vines from the bottom up. Dry vines were entwined with several stalks of yellowed wild grass...

Dan Wu Ju's gaze shifted slightly, and he saw several sections of the corridor railings where the paint had peeled off. The fir wood inside had turned black and was rotting terribly.

This old residence should have been a testament to the family's prosperity for nearly a hundred years, enough to boast to their ancestors after death and become the envy of the neighborhood...

But at this moment, not a trace of joy welled up in Dan Wu Ju's heart.

"Master, I'll be leaving now." Seeing this scene, Wei Tu knew he shouldn't stay here any longer, so he bowed and bid farewell.

Dan Wu Ju nodded in agreement.

—It was the first day of the Lunar New Year, a family reunion. Wei Tu, an outsider, was indeed not suitable to stay here for long.

A disciple of the inner circle is not a biological child, after all.

Exiting the living room.

Wei Tu took a few deep breaths of the cold air outside. The chill that seeped into his chest through his nostrils cleared his head.

Just now, when he spoke those words, he had been conflicted. After all, he was living under someone else's roof, and it wasn't good to refuse directly.

But deep down, he truly didn't want to be someone's servant anymore. On the day he redeemed himself, he had considered two paths: besides taking the martial arts examination, there was also the path of a swordsman.

The deed of indenture stored at the Li Family's residence, he and Xinghua had scraped together enough money to buy it back.

At the Dan Family's, he didn't want to sign another intangible deed of indenture, locking himself here.

"There's a little over a month left." Wei Tu looked up at the snowflakes dancing in the wind and strode towards his own side room.

Today's events were just a minor interlude; he wouldn't let them derail his future.

Health Cultivation Technique.

Tiger Crane Double Form Fist.

He would continue to practice them.

More than ten days later.

Dan Fang found an excuse and, with her son Dan Yi Wu and her husband, left the Dan Family.

As they departed, according to their prior agreement, they took a good horse from the Dan Residence's stables.

A few days later.

Dan Yangong and Madam Shan Min also left the Dan Residence. However, unlike Dan Fang, Dan Yangong said goodbye to Wei Tu as he left and invited Wei Tu to stay at his home when he went to the Prefectural City for the Prefectural Examination, telling him not to be polite.

Wei Tu agreed to this.

He didn't like Dan Fang, but he didn't dislike Dan Yangong. If there was a chance, he also wanted to "mend fences" with the Dan family.

He had never forgotten the kindness of Dan Wu Ju's teachings.

Time passed.

Finally.

It was February of the twenty-fourth year of Qing'an, and the Qingshan County Martial Arts Examination was approaching.

Wei Tu bid farewell to Dan Wu Ju, preparing to leave the Dan Family to participate in the martial arts examination.

However.

Just as Wei Tu, with his luggage on his back, had stepped out of the Dan Family's courtyard, Dan Wu Ju rode out on horseback and stopped him.

"The martial arts examination includes mounted archery. Without a familiar horse, how can you achieve good results?"

Dan Wu Ju dismounted and tossed the reins of the Green Dappled Horse in his hand to Wei Tu.

"I know you don't want to take advantage of the Dan Family's wealth. I'm lending you this Green Dappled Horse. You can return it after your examination."

"However, by then, you might have achieved official status and be able to buy this horse."

Dan Wu Ju said with a smile.

Hearing this.

Wei Tu hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He tightened his grip on the reins in his right hand, accepting Martial Graduate Dan's offer.

He wasn't a complete stranger in the Dan Family's home; he wouldn't refuse the daily necessities provided by the maidservants.

However... a warhorse was still too precious.

His redemption silver only amounted to eight taels and eight qian.

This green dappled horse was worth more than ten skilled strong servants like himself.

He dared not accept such a valuable item lightly. But the Martial Arts Examination was too crucial. If lacking a familiar horse affected his performance and led to a loss due to a minor issue, it wouldn't be good.

"I know there's been some friction between us, Master and disciple, because of what my youngest daughter said," Martial Graduate Dan said, walking up to Wei Tu and patting his shoulder.

Then, he chided, "But how can we martial artists be so petty and ungracious? It's so unpleasant."

"When you return successful, Master will host a feast for you. We'll drink heartily and eat heartily, and forget all about trivial matters concerning women and children."

His words were rough and full of vigor, his voice like a booming bell, making Wei Tu's eardrums itch and almost causing him temporary deafness.

"Yes, Master..." After a brief pause, Wei Tu recovered. He glanced at Martial Graduate Dan and replied with a smile.

Half a year had passed.

Martial Graduate Dan looked like he had aged ten years. There was more white hair at his temples. Although still robust, he was quite different from when Wei Tu first met him.

After speaking, Wei Tu bowed deeply to Martial Graduate Dan again, then mounted the green dappled horse and rode away from the river valley where Danjia Village was located.

After riding for about seven or eight li.

Wei Tu slowed his horse, sighed softly, and recalled Martial Graduate Dan's words.

He wasn't purely a martial artist. Practicing martial arts, cultivating, and participating in the Martial Arts Examination were all efforts he made to transcend his social class.

However, if drinking heartily with Martial Graduate Dan could make him forget past grievances, he would be willing.

"I wonder if my future child with Xinghua will be like Dan Fang..."

"If so, I suppose I'll have no choice."

Wei Tu shook his head, suppressing his stray thoughts, then flicked the horsewhip and galloped away.

Returning to Qingmu County Town.

Wei Tu planned to find an inn, rent a lower-floor room, and then stable the green dappled horse in the inn's stable while awaiting the Martial Arts Examination in a few days.

Now.

He was no longer a groom for the Li Family, so it wasn't appropriate to stay with them again.

However, as soon as Wei Tu walked into an inn, he was startled by the price quoted by the proprietor.

The rent for each room had increased severalfold compared to before.

Even the price for a firewood storage room was several times higher than the price for an upper room previously.

Upon hearing the innkeeper's explanation.

Wei Tu finally remembered that the civil examination's county-level test had just taken place a few days ago, and many scholars from the villages around Qingmu County had come to the county town to participate in the Imperial Examinations.

At this time.

It was difficult to find a room in the inns.

"The county test is divided into the main examination and three supplementary tests."

Yesterday, the case files (rankings) were posted at the county yamen. In three days, it will be the supplementary tests for the county examination, and many candidates will be eliminated.

"The prices will be a bit cheaper then..."

"Why don't you rent a room for now?"

The innkeeper continued.

Hearing this.

Wei Tu shook his head, walked out of the inn, turned, and led his horse towards the Li Family's residence, intending to shamelessly ask to stay there temporarily for a few nights.

He already owed Li Yaozu a favor, so owing another small favor wouldn't hurt.

Thank you for the 100 Qidian coins reward from "Ascending Power," and the 100 Qidian coins reward from "Beacon Fire Connecting the City."