Chasing Gambling Debts

The scholars returned, and the city welcomed them.

Countless family servants from prominent households greeted their young masters, offering warm wishes and showcasing the grandeur of their families.

Those poor scholars also had people to greet them, including wives, parents, siblings, and so on. In ancient times, there were no age limits for exams; even old men with white hair could participate. Therefore, it wasn't that all scholars were young and unmarried; there were even instances of fathers and sons taking the exam together.

For the wealthy young masters, passing the exam was merely icing on the cake.

For the poor scholars, passing the exam was a true leap in social class, garnering the greatest attention.

"My dear wife, if I succeed on the Golden Ranking this time, I will ride through the streets in the spring breeze, ten miles long, and I will not fail you for your years of hard work managing the household..."

Words like these were more potent than any love confession, often moving young women in coarse clothing to tears...

By the river, the little white fox reappeared. She poked her cute little head out from the grass, observing the group of triumphant scholars above. Her peach blossom eyes were full of charm. The allure of the Literary Way was truly boundless. Why did she like human poetry so much? Her mother said it was an illness, and if it was indeed an illness, she was likely beyond saving...

Suddenly, the little fox startled and dove back into the grass. Where she had been standing, a young girl in white appeared – it was Zhang Yiyu.

Zhang Yiyu gently brushed her hand, and a strand of fox fur floated up from the ground, landing on her fingertips. Zhang Yiyu sniffed lightly. "Little fox, there's no need to be afraid. You haven't stained your hands with human blood yet. I won't kill you. But remember this: humans and demons are fundamentally different. Dare to harm humans, and your end will be death and destruction!"

Though her words were soft, a terrifying aura of the Great Dao enveloped the entire area. The little fox trembled, her peach blossom eyes completely losing their luster...

The group of scholars above suddenly converged into a torrent, heading south of the city.

Whispers could be faintly heard on the wind, discussing the bets made before the exam!

Twenty-three scholars had made a bet with one person, and that person was Lin Su, who had shown considerable poetic talent recently. Their agreement was...

Zhang Yiyu's expression gradually became richer. This was the matter Boss Ding had mentioned; it would be fulfilled soon...

Suddenly, a voice reached her ears, and Zhang Yiyu froze.

Lin Su only took three hours to complete his exam and had already left the examination hall and Qiankun Academy yesterday.

The exam started at Chen Shi, which was noon.

He took three hours for his exam, so by the time he descended the mountain, the sun would be setting. Since he left early, he naturally couldn't take the examination hall's Book Boat and had to take a ferry across the river. Who else would be crossing the river at that time besides him?

Could the person who recited a War Poem yesterday and helped her defeat the Black Flood Dragon actually be him?

But the handwriting was completely different!

She had seen the two poetry manuscripts from Haining Tower on-site. The characters were no different from the standard script used in this world, and the handwriting wasn't even good; it could be described as quite crude.

The little fox, hidden in the grass, also heard this and felt a pang of annoyance. The great scholar Lin had already crossed the river yesterday? I was too playful. If I had acted sooner yesterday, perhaps I could have dealt with him last night...

The bet of 23 against 1 had attracted the attention of the entire city. A long procession followed behind the scholars, a large crowd surging towards the Lin family. Even the somewhat scatterbrained Zhang Yiyu began to sense something was amiss.

So many people?

Is that kid really L-running across the whole city?

Isn't this called bringing shame to his own doorstep—if his ancestors lived in the city...

Lin Su was wandering around the west courtyard. He had actually woken up very early, but he insisted on staying in the west courtyard. Xiao Yao was keeping watch for him outside. If anyone came, she would say the third young master was still asleep...

Xiao Yao was indeed greedy for food, but she had one advantage: her intentions were pure, and she was dedicated to her mission. Whoever gave her good food, she would listen to. Therefore, she guarded the door for Lin Su, not even going to the outhouse!

All morning, Madam Lin, who was as anxious as a cat, didn't see Lin Su...

But in the afternoon, a large crowd suddenly appeared outside the Lin mansion. Lin Jialiang was greatly shocked when he stepped out. Madam Lin, overhearing what was happening outside through a crack in the door, nearly choked on her breath...

My ancestors...

All the ancestors of the Lin family...

Open your eyes and see how this useless descendant...

Has completely botched a winning hand...

Where is the Family Law? Bring it here, no one stop me...

Lin Jialiang's face turned ashen as he strode towards the west courtyard. Xiao Yao, with her eyes wide open and hands on her hips, was no match for him!

He directly reached out, lifted Xiao Yao, and entered the west courtyard. Lin Su was lounging under the shade of a tree in the courtyard, looking so lazy, he had probably been lying there for quite some time...

"Third brother, did you make a bet with over twenty people yesterday?"

"Did they come?" Lin Su retorted directly.

"They all came. The area outside the Lin family is practically a marketplace now. The entire city has come to watch the spectacle. Third brother, I really must say, do you know what L-running across the city means for you? Do you know..."

Lin Su raised his hand. "Second brother, do you trust me?"

His voice was deep, yet it carried a mysterious and infectious quality.

Lin Jialiang paused slightly.

"Don't worry, I can win!"

Lin Su stood up and strode towards the entrance.

Outside the Lin mansion's gate, a crowd of thousands had gathered. The twenty or thirty scholars at the front stood leisurely, fanning themselves. Old He from the Lin family was very nervous, but fortunately, the scholars had not brought anyone to force their way in.

They were merely standing outside the gate.

As Lin Su reached the gate, Madam Lin in the main hall immediately stood up and grabbed the walking stick beside her. Judging by the situation, the walking stick was about to serve as the Family Law today...

Before she could even leave the main hall, Lin Su had already arrived at the main entrance. He clasped his hands and bowed. "Esteemed brothers, why have you all gathered at the Lin mansion?"

Zhang Haoyue unfurled his folding fan and sauntered over, "Brother Lin, do you still remember the bet you made before the exam yesterday?"

"A bet with Treasure Brush and Treasure Paper, a vow written with ink, witnessed by All Sages, how could I forget?"

With that simple sentence, Madam Lin, who had just reached his back, nearly collapsed. My heavens, a bet written with Treasure Brush and Treasure Paper, who could possibly break such a vow? My genius son's path on the Literary Way is about to end. Ancestors, please don't give me hope only to snatch it away in despair. What has the Lin Family done to deserve this? Why us? For a moment, her mind was filled with confusion.

"It's good that you remember!" Zhao Ji stepped forward, "You left the imperial examination after only three hours yesterday. Your fellow students were worried that Brother Lin would flee Haining and break his promise, so..."

"Haha, so you were worried I'd run away!" Lin Su laughed. "Do you all know why I only took three hours?"

Zhao Ji smiled faintly, "If you don't know the answers, why suffer? Leaving early doesn't affect the result!"

Everyone behind him laughed. Anyway, the result is what it is. If I don't know the answers, can't I just slip away?

Lin Su said, "There's only one real reason: to defeat you all, I only needed three hours!"

Silence fell over the entire venue!

Madam Lin's body suddenly trembled. She turned her lifeless eyes to her second son beside her. Lin Jialiang was also looking at her, and a sliver of hope flickered in both their eyes.

"Hahaha..." Zhao Ji threw his head back and laughed. "You say you finished the imperial examination in three hours?"

"Yes!"

"Policy Essays... you understand them?"

"Better than you!"

Hahahaha, everyone burst into laughter. Do you know who you're talking to? Have you ever seen the astonishing Policy Essays he wrote before? You probably wouldn't catch up to him even if you studied for another ten years, yet you dare to claim you understand Policy Essays better than him...

The students outside erupted, and a torrent of vulgarities, completely unbefitting their status, began to fly.

Lin Su gently raised his hand, and the comments from the entire venue gradually quieted down.

"The bell of the Confucian Temple will be ringing soon. Why don't we all go witness the outcome right now?"

Dong dong dong dong dong dong...

Six resonant bell tolls echoed, spreading across the three thousand Confucian Temples of Great Cang.

The imperial examination was about to begin!

In any ordinary feudal society, grading the imperial examination would be a monumental undertaking. But in this world, it was simple and efficient. Basically, as soon as papers were submitted, they were graded. Don't ask me how it was done; the Sacred Hall is beyond ordinary comprehension.

And so, a large procession headed towards the Confucian Temple.

Lin Su was at the very front, followed by Zhao Ji, Zhang Haoyue, and the other twenty or thirty people he had made the bet with. Behind them were the other students participating in this imperial examination, and further back were the spectators.

This spectacle was something the entire city was watching.