At this moment.
As the waiter's words fell one after another, when Wei Tu and the other two emerged from the Prefectural Yamen, the stone hanging over their hearts finally dropped back into their stomachs.
With the Martial Scholar title, the three of them were now registered as "martial households," no longer "common households." It would no longer be easy for Prefect He to deal with them.
"From this day forth, the sky is high enough for birds to fly and the sea wide enough for fish to leap. If we endure Prefect He for this one year, the four of us will have bright futures ahead."
As the eldest brother, after Fu Zhizhou tucked in a gratuity and saw off the Xuan He Tower proprietor and waiter, Kou Liang patted Wei Tu and the other two on the shoulders, rallying their spirits.
No feast under heaven lasted forever.
Near noon, the four left Xuan He Tower, bade one another farewell, and exchanged their respective contact addresses.
They awaited the day they would meet again.
After the provincial examination ended, Martial Scholars who had obtained their titles could report to their local authorities and receive official appointments from the County Yamen.
Naturally, the four would not remain long in the Prefectural City of Qing Feng Prefecture.
However, since Wei Tu and Wei Fei were not only from the same prefecture but also the same county, they agreed to travel together when they departed.
"Third Brother, were the things you said at the Prefectural Yamen true?" Wei Fei smacked his lips. "Were you really just a stableman before?"
If Wei Tu truly came from humble origins, then Wei Fei's speculation during the County Examination martial selection had been wrong. Wei Tu had not cheated during the "sparring match"; he had merely happened not to encounter an opponent who made trouble for him.
His results in the prefectural and provincial examinations afterward undoubtedly proved this as well.
"That is indeed the case."
Wei Tu nodded.
Hearing this, Wei Fei still wanted to press further, to ask how Wei Tu had practiced martial arts to such an extent despite his background. But seeing that Wei Tu did not wish to say more, he shut his mouth resentfully.
Third Brother is from the same county as me. I'll find out once I ask around when we get back. It's not as though he's some unknown figure.
Wei Fei thought.
As they neared the Dan Residence in the Prefectural City, Wei Tu and Wei Fei parted ways. They agreed to leave the Prefectural City together three days later and return to Qingshan County.
"Young Master Wei, the Examination Hall has already sent someone to the residence to offer congratulations. You placed twelfth in the provincial examination and earned second-class Martial Scholar status."
The moment Wei Tu met Dan Yangong, Dan Yangong excitedly told him the news.
"That's second-class Martial Scholar status!"
Dan Yangong clicked his tongue in admiration.
Among literary scholars, there was likewise a classification similar to that of Martial Scholars: first-class Scholars, second-class Scholars, and third-class Scholars, each receiving different treatment.
He had studied for many years, yet like Wei Tu, he had only managed to place as a second-class Scholar.
And now Wei Tu had practiced martial arts for barely three years, yet he had already achieved what Dan Yangong had. How could this not fill him with emotion?
"Thank you for your congratulations, Brother Yangong." Hearing Dan Yangong's words, Wei Tu smiled as well. He cupped his hands in salute and spoke.
There were four great joys in life.
Sweet rain after a long drought, wedding candles on the bridal night, meeting an old friend in a foreign land, and having one's name inscribed on the golden list.
Obtaining the Martial Scholar title happened to be the last of these joys: having one's name inscribed on the golden list.
Next, Dan Yangong led Wei Tu into the reception hall, where the two exchanged pleasantries for a while.
At this point, Dan Yangong also asked about the summons from the Prefectural Yamen the night before.
After pondering for a moment, he said, "I heard Zhang Li say that the martial masters summoned by the Prefectural Yamen this time were not limited to you alone. When you left afterward, you were with several other martial masters. One of them was named... Fu Zhizhou?"
Zhang Li was the servant from the Dan Residence who had waited for Wei Tu outside the Prefectural Yamen the previous night.
"As for this matter..."
After uttering those words, Wei Tu fell silent briefly, then shook his head at Dan Yangong.
He indicated that he could not speak of it.
The matter of Wu Yun Tower was of great importance and classified as an official secret. It might even involve Innate Realm Martial Masters.
Legend had it that Innate Realm Martial Masters could not only live for two hundred years, but also possessed all manner of mysterious methods, such as spiritual secret arts...
According to Fu Zhizhou, Innate Realm Martial Masters could use spiritual secret arts to easily beguile ordinary people's wills and force them to reveal the secrets they knew.
After leaving the Prefectural Yamen.
Wei Tu discussed the events at the Prefectural Yamen with Fu Zhizhou and the other two.
During that time, Fu Zhizhou did not hold back, telling them some of what he knew about Innate Realm Martial Masters.
Wu Yun Tower might contain Innate Realm Martial Masters.
And the authorities did as well!
For this reason, the four agreed that they must never casually reveal what they had seen and heard in the Prefectural Yamen that night to outsiders, not even close friends, parents, or elders.
For now, the matter of Martial Scholars infiltrating Wu Yun Tower had not been exposed. But what about the future?
Once it was exposed, the dozen or so martial masters who had gone to the Prefectural Yamen that night would surely suffer. Innate Realm Martial Masters dispatched by the authorities would personally interrogate them.
Their friends and relatives would suffer the same treatment as well.
Therefore.
For everyone's safety.
Wei Tu, Fu Zhizhou, and the other two had to bury this matter deep in their stomachs and never casually reveal it to anyone.
"Could this matter be even more important than the Huang Family affair... when Young Master Wei took the County Examination?"
Seeing Wei Tu's expression, Dan Yangong was slightly startled. He soon formed some conjectures regarding the sensitivity of the Prefectural Yamen matter.
He was a quick-witted man as well, and immediately changed the subject, asking about the three martial masters who had left the Prefectural Yamen alongside Wei Tu.
There was no need for Wei Tu to conceal this.
He told Dan Yangong everything about the sworn brotherhood.
"This is a good thing." Dan Yangong expressed his approval. "Four people becoming sworn brothers and working together is always better than one person fighting alone."
The two spoke until evening.
At an appropriate moment, Wei Tu brought up his intention to take his leave and return home. "In three days, I'll be heading back. If Brother Yangong and Shiniang have anything you wish to send to Master, please prepare it soon, and I'll take it with me..."
"You are thoughtful." Hearing this, Dan Yangong nodded in reply.
As he spoke, a smile filled his eyes and brows. The more he looked at Wei Tu, the more satisfied he became, feeling that his "suspicions" of Wei Tu during the New Year had been utterly groundless.
A scholar who never left his door could still know the affairs of the world.
Dan Yangong had seen many people who, after gaining power, treated their former benefactors with contempt. People like Wei Tu, who preserved their original heart without arrogance or impatience, were few and far between.
"I'll go inform my mother and wife, see whether they have any letters for Father..."
Dan Yangong rose to his feet, cupped his hands toward Wei Tu in salute, then turned and left the reception hall.
Three days later.
Wei Tu traveled with Wei Fei, and the two rode fast horses toward Qingshan County.
Along the way.
Through his conversations with Wei Fei.
Wei Tu learned some details about Wei Fei's family and background.
On the surface, Wei Fei was the young master of the Wei Family in the county town. In secret, however, he was an adopted son of the Gang Leader of the Green Tiger Gang.
This was the first time Wei Tu had heard of gang forces in Qingshan County's county town, and he could not help asking a few more questions.
"When I was in the county town, I never heard of gangs like the Green Tiger Gang. Is it because these gangs operate in secret, or..."
Wei Tu asked casually.
—The Li Residence placed certain restrictions on servants and maids leaving the residence. They could only depart after requesting leave and stating where they intended to go. Thus, he knew very little about the specific forces within the county town.
"The authorities are powerful. What gang would dare oppose them? Our Green Tiger Gang is merely a pack of thugs raised by the yamen..."
"If we appeared openly in the county town, it would be the same as slapping Magistrate Chen across the face."
Wei Fei tightened the reins of his fast horse and paused briefly on the official road. With a self-mocking expression, he spoke.
Before you continue