Riches in Deep Mountains Bring Distant Relatives

"The Martial Arts Examination lasts for four days in total."

"Today is the first day, only assessing skill and courage... After the assessment is over, I'll go meet him..."

Wei Hong thought to herself.

Just as Madam Li had thought back then, Wei Hong wouldn't have paid much attention to an ordinary male relative from her maiden family. But a male relative who had the potential to achieve official success through the Martial Arts Examination was a completely different matter.

"As for what happened back then..."

"An apology should suffice."

Wei Hong's eyes flickered slightly.

She had managed to stand out among Master Huang's many concubines and become a secondary wife with a son, not just through her beauty but also through her methods.

She was confident that after offering Wei Tu significant benefits, her nephew would not only let go of his past resentment towards her but also be grateful to her from the bottom of his heart and cling to her side.

Of course.

Regarding the decisions she made back then.

Wei Hong had no regrets.

Discarding those who were useless and wanted to take advantage of her was a necessary strategy for her to live a better life in the Huang Residence.

If she hadn't done so, she would have ended up like those foolish concubines, disliked by her husband for sending benefits back to her maiden family, and utterly defeated.

Regarding Wei Hong's thoughts.

Wei Tu, who was participating in the next part of the skill and courage assessment, was unaware. While waiting, he received a note from Wei Hong and was stunned for a moment.

He hadn't expected his Second Aunt, Wei Hong, to be sitting among the gentry.

After reading the contents of the note, Wei Tu pondered for a moment, then rolled it up and tucked it inside his coarse cloth belt.

The note was simple: it asked him to wait in the plaza after the assessment, not to leave, and preferably to visit the Huang Residence.

"The poor are unnoticed in the bustling city, while distant relatives appear when one is rich in the mountains."

Wei Tu thought of this saying.

However, Wei Tu still felt grateful to Wei Hong. If Wei Hong hadn't helped him back then, it would have been impossible for him to obtain a complete Health Cultivation Technique with Stance Training three years ago.

Without the Turtle Breathing Health Cultivation Technique, he wouldn't be able to stand here today. Perhaps... it would have taken him much longer to break free from the Li Residence, join the civilian status, and become a Martial Master.

A moment later.

The second part of the skill and courage assessment—the Saber Dance—began.

The gentry focused most of their attention on Wei Tu, the dark horse of the County Examination.

Swords and sabers were extensions of fists and feet.

Martial Masters with good Saber Techniques generally had good fists and feet as well.

And to have good fists and feet, one must have a good master to teach them, and a lineage.

—This was a great opportunity for them to probe the background of this dark horse, Wei Tu.

Even the Martial Arts Examination examiner watched Wei Tu with anticipation, hoping that this Martial Master, who could lift a stone lock weighing "five hundred jin," would shine in this assessment.

In the civil examination, there were unwritten rules involving mentors, examiners, and tutors, where examiners and scholars had a master-disciple relationship.

The Martial Arts Examination was similar.

If Wei Tu won the championship, the examiner would also gain fame and fortune.

However...

The next moment.

The examiner was slightly taken aback.

Although Wei Tu's Saber Dance in the arena was fierce, with imposing saber might and a powerful aura, it was noticeably more mediocre compared to the previous few candidates, or rather... lacking.

"He must not have a good lineage. What a waste of these bones and muscles, this innate divine strength..." the examiner muttered to himself, shaking his head.

Then, the examiner pondered for a moment and said, "C-13, Wei Tu, Saber Dance, B-plus grade..."

Considering Wei Tu's excellent performance earlier, the examiner, with a touch of personal bias, raised Wei Tu's score from "Middle-B" to the "B-plus grade" tier.

"What a shame. I thought Qingshan County would produce another Martial Graduate, but it turns out he only has astonishing strength," Magistrate Chen said, shaking his head as he watched this scene from the high platform.

Although Martial Masters with astonishing strength were rare, they had no impact on his official career or on Qingshan County.

They were not worth his special attention.

At the same time.

Upon seeing Wei Tu's Saber Dance score, the gentry present finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If his Saber Techniques were not refined, it meant he had no good lineage. They no longer needed to worry about Wei Tu overshadowing their own nephews in the remaining assessments.

"B-plus grade?"

Hearing this score, Wei Tu was not disappointed. Instead, he felt a bit happier.

He only learned the Fist Manual of Tiger Crane Double Form Fist from Martial Graduate Dan in mid-October last year, and he learned the corresponding Saber Techniques even later.

He had only studied for about two months.

—To have his Saber Techniques rated "B-plus grade" in the "Saber Dance" assessment within two months was already a testament to his exceptional talent.

Wei Tu exited the stage.

He waited for the next assessment.

Soon.

The third and final item of the Skill and Courage assessment, "Drawing a Heavy Bow," began.

This subject tested strength and Martial Way foundation.

Insufficient strength meant one couldn't draw the heavy bow.

A weak Martial Way foundation meant one couldn't channel their strength effectively. When drawing a heavy bow, the person becomes like a bowstring; if one part is weak, even with sufficient strength, it's difficult to draw the heavy bow to a full moon.

Wei Tu's Health Cultivation Technique had reached great mastery. His entire body possessed no weak points in terms of strength. When he drew the heavy bow, he drew a four-stone bow nine times with each arm, finally concluding with the most difficult maneuver, "drawing the bow from the back."

In this assessment, Wei Tu smoothly achieved a "Middle-B" grade.

As for an "A" grade...

That required drawing a five-stone bow.

A five-stone bow required a strength of 500 jin.

Wei Tu himself struggled to lift 500 jin, let alone draw a five-stone heavy bow and perform various complex maneuvers.

To draw a five-stone heavy bow with ease, one would need at least six to seven hundred jin of strength.

The three Skill and Courage assessments concluded.

The onlookers dispersed like birds and beasts, and the officials on the stage also left one by one, with yamen runners holding up signs for "Silence" and "Clear the Way" to lead the way.

Soon, only the gentry who had come to observe remained in the City God Temple square.

Seeing this, the Martial Masters participating in the Martial Arts Examination also left in twos and threes, reuniting with their families.

A short while later.

Only Wei Tu remained alone in the spot where the Martial Masters had stood.

Fortunately, Wei Hong didn't keep Wei Tu waiting long. She walked over with a portly middle-aged man.

Behind them followed two or three blue-clad household servants.

"Brother Wei..."

When they were about thirty paces away from Wei Tu, Wei Hong suddenly quickened her steps, a smile appearing on her face as she greeted Wei Tu warmly.

"Second Aunt."

Wei Tu responded with a slight bow, his demeanor a bit reserved.

—He had always been uncomfortable with such overly insincere pleasantries.

He felt the same way when facing Li Yaozu.

And he felt the same way now facing Wei Hong.

However, he was different now. With the strength to establish himself in Qingshan County, he no longer needed to force himself to flatter others.

He would handle things as usual.

Gratitude and how one conducts themselves were two different matters, and Wei Tu was very clear about this.

Wei Hong didn't seem to mind Wei Tu's reaction. She gave him a look and pointed to the portly middle-aged man beside her, saying, "Brother Wei, this is your uncle. Say hello... Then, you'll come to the Huang Residence later. Your uncle and I will celebrate with you. After all... in this county town, I am your only family..."

Her words were rapid and clearly enunciated. As she spoke, her face took on a more sympathetic expression, as if pitying Wei Tu's past misfortunes.