"Summoned by the Prefectural Yamen?" Upon hearing Dan Yangong's words, Wei Tu felt a wave of panic as well.
Given his current status and strength, he did not fear the Li Family or the Huang Family, but he was nowhere near daring to oppose the authorities.
But after the panic passed,
Wei Tu calmed down again.
If the Prefectural Yamen had truly come to arrest him, they would not have so politely sent a clerk to notify him, nor would they have given Dan Yangong time to rush to the residence. They would have directly dispatched officials and soldiers to surround the Dan Residence.
Moreover, although cheating in the Imperial Examinations happened time and again these days, a cheating case openly brought to light was something that had scarcely appeared in decades.
From this, it could be seen.
The Prefectural Yamen might not have come to arrest him, but instead had some other important matter for him...
"What could it be?" Wei Tu frowned slightly. The only connection he could possibly have with the Prefectural Yamen was the Martial Graduate examinations—the prefectural examination and the dao examination. As a commoner, he could hardly become involved in anything else.
"Brother Yangong, there's no need to panic. This probably isn't anything serious..." Wei Tu tightly clasped Dan Yangong's trembling hands, trying to calm him down.
—Many "criminals" were exposed not because others noticed anything, but because they themselves became uneasy.
A few breaths later.
Dan Yangong winced in pain, and the color returned to his face. He nodded, indicating that he understood, then had Wei Tu head to the reception hall to meet the clerk sent by the Prefectural Yamen.
After all, he was a scholar who had seen the wider world. Once he calmed down, he understood the twists and turns of the matter.
A quarter-hour later.
Wei Tu arrived at the rear residence of the Prefectural Yamen.
When he saw more than a dozen martial masters around his own age standing in the reception hall, he immediately felt as though a burden had been lifted from his heart, and his mind relaxed.
He began to wonder what Prefect He was up to, calling all of them—this year's Martial Scholars—to the Prefectural Yamen on the eve of the results announcement.
"Wei Tu, do you know why Prefect He called us here?"
After waiting for a while, Wei Tu felt someone nudge his elbow. He turned to his left and saw that it was a martial master from the same county named Wei Fei. He frowned slightly.
"I don't know."
Wei Tu answered simply.
—After entering the Prefectural Yamen, he adhered to three principles: listen more, look less, and speak less.
Seeing that Wei Tu was a man of few words, Wei Fei lost interest in asking further questions. He copied Wei Tu's manner and stood in a corner of the reception hall, waiting for the person in charge to arrive.
Shortly after.
As the noise in the hall gradually died down.
Wei Tu raised his eyes and looked toward Prefect He, who sat in the seat of honor in the reception hall, dressed in a scholar's robe.
"I have gathered all you worthy talents at the Prefectural Yamen today because there is a matter I wish to discuss with you..." Prefect He said after taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat.
After saying this, he gave a look to the servants beside him, signaling them to bring stools and chairs for the many martial masters standing in the hall.
The martial masters promptly took their seats.
"A few days ago, His Excellency the Governor gave instructions, saying that within Shannan Dao, a sect called Wu Yun Tower has emerged..."
"Wu Yun Tower enjoys taking in the Martial Scholars who participate in each dao examination as disciples. This act... undermines the foundations of the court and seeks to overturn the realm..."
Prefect He spoke slowly.
Hearing this.
Wei Tu's brows lifted ever so slightly without betraying his thoughts. Inwardly, he pondered why Prefect He had brought up Wu Yun Tower before them Martial Scholars.
This was the first time he had heard of a major Martial Way sect in Zheng State that spanned an entire dao.
Back in Qingshan County, he had seen some martial academies and martial arts sects, but none of them possessed much influence, and what they taught was all flashy fistwork and embroidered kicks.
At the very least, during the County Examination for Martial Graduates, he had seen few disciples from martial academies or martial arts sects who could last long enough to take the prefectural examination.
At this moment.
The Wu Yun Tower mentioned by Prefect He took in Martial Scholars from every class as disciples. In other words, the strength of its top experts absolutely could not be underestimated.
Though Martial Scholar appeared to be merely the lowest scholarly title in the Martial Graduate examinations, in truth, every Martial Scholar was a formidable martial artist in their local counties and villages.
Calling them one in a hundred would not be an exaggeration.
"Could it be... Wu Yun Tower has martial masters of the Inner Qi Realm? Perhaps even Innate Realm Martial Masters of an even higher realm?"
Wei Tu pondered inwardly.
After pausing briefly, Prefect He continued, "I selected you all to come to the Prefectural Yamen. With your intelligence, I imagine you have already guessed why I summoned you..."
"I have discussed this matter with His Excellency the Governor. If you are willing to join Wu Yun Tower as undercover agents, then after Wu Yun Tower has been eradicated, those with merit will be rewarded according to their contributions. Those without merit will still be promoted three ranks in succession and granted one hundred mu of fertile land!"
"Furthermore, His Excellency the Governor is willing to offer an Inner Cultivation Manual as a reward for you all."
Official rank!
An Inner Cultivation Manual!
One hundred mu of fertile land!
These three enormous temptations were laid bare before Wei Tu and the other martial masters.
Everyone was deeply moved upon hearing them.
Wei Tu included.
"The more the authorities are offering, the more it means that infiltrating Wu Yun Tower will be anything but easy. There may even be danger to one's life..."
But Wei Tu quickly considered this point as well.
Unlike the other martial masters, who came from wealthy families, he had a family to support. He needed an official post to earn money and redeem Xinghua.
He could not afford the risk!
Besides.
Though these three benefits seemed immensely tempting, they were not worthwhile to Wei Tu.
Official rank and wealth...
Wei Tu was confident that he could earn a Martial Graduate title in the next Provincial Martial Arts Examination.
Once he became a Martial Graduate, these benefits would naturally follow.
As for the Inner Cultivation Manual...
Though Wei Tu greatly coveted it, becoming an undercover agent in Wu Yun Tower was by no means the only path to obtaining an Inner Cultivation Manual.
Governor Wang could use an Inner Cultivation Manual as a reward—meaning that after he became a military official, he might have another chance in the future to obtain one from the authorities.
Moreover, Wei Tu recalled that his martial grandmaster, the Golden Saber Hero, had failed to extend his lifespan after breaking through to the Innate Realm. Perhaps his master, Martial Graduate Dan, possessed a corresponding Inner Cultivation Manual, so there was no need for him to risk his life now.
One final point.
One must guard against others.
With more than a dozen people acting as undercover agents, Wei Tu could not guarantee that none of them would leak the secret. If that happened, once they entered Wu Yun Tower, they would be unable to call upon Heaven or Earth for aid.
"Prefect He, may we refuse this matter?" Very soon, a martial master with thoughts similar to Wei Tu's stepped forward.
Official rank, wealth, and an Inner Cultivation Manual—these three things were not lacking for everyone.
And even if they were lacking.
They would not risk such immense danger by becoming undercover agents in Wu Yun Tower and throwing away their lives.
"Of course you may." Prefect He set down his teacup and nodded, his expression unchanged.
Although Martial Scholars ranked below him, a prefect, in status, once they had earned a scholarly title, their standing was no longer the same as that of ordinary commoners.
They could meet an official without kneeling.
He could not simply manipulate them as he pleased.
To punish a Martial Scholar, there had to be a legitimate charge. Furthermore, the official documents had to be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for its judgment.
As soon as his words fell.
The martial masters seemed tempted and wanted to directly refuse, just as the previous martial master had done.
"If you go to Wu Yun Tower, aside from these rewards, I... am also willing to add one hundred gold and give my legitimate daughter's hand in marriage!"
Seeing this, Prefect He finally could not sit still any longer. Gritting his teeth, he said it.
Governor Wang was pressuring him. If he failed to handle this matter properly, he might not even be able to keep his official post.
And marrying his daughter to a Martial Scholar would not count as lowering her station.
Thank you to The Power of Ascension for the reward of 100 Qidian coins.
Also, I created a new group.
Anyone interested can join.
It's in the author's notes.
Before you continue