With a sharp whoosh, a throwing knife shot sideways at Zhang Yiyu. She was jolted—this knife was so fast, ten times faster than before!
With a flick of her hand, the flying knife changed direction and returned to Lin Su's hand.
"Again!"
Another knife flew out, even fiercer than the last!
Again!
Again!
Lin Su raced wildly around the courtyard, sending sand flying and stones skittering. The throwing knife in his hand flew at Zhang Yiyu again and again, each strike fiercer than the last! It seemed every blow drained every ounce of his strength, yet the next knife carried even greater force, as though there were no end to it.
The western courtyard churned with flying sand and rolling stones for an entire night. Lin Jialiang, so close by, knew nothing of it, because all he saw was what Zhang Yiyu allowed him to see.
A sliver of fish-belly white appeared in the east. Lin Su sent out one last knife, then slowly collapsed. He was drenched as though washed in water, and his clothes had been torn to rags.
Zhang Yiyu held the throwing knife and stared blankly at Lin Su on the ground.
What was this? Genius?
In a single night, his throwing knives had reached such a level. In terms of strength and speed alone, he was no weaker than a Martial Ancestor. At dinner, he had still merely been a Martial Artist; in one night, he had skipped past Martial Master and pressed straight toward Martial Ancestor. He had crossed more than one major realm in a single night.
An hour and a half later, Lin Su probably woke because the sun was roasting his butt. The moment he awoke, Zhang Yiyu vanished from where she stood.
Lin Su looked down at himself, somewhat dazed. He climbed up and looked around, went into his room for a set of clothes, ran to the courtyard wall, leaped up, slipped into the woods beyond it, then flashed to the riverbank with another splash!
About half an hour later, he climbed back over the wall. His hair and face were washed, his clothes had been changed, and he looked every inch the graceful gentleman.
Zhang Yiyu was nowhere to be seen.
After yesterday's upheaval, his western courtyard had somehow suffered not the slightest damage. If he had not felt the surging power within his body, he would have thought yesterday had merely been a dream that was painful yet joyful.
The Five Realms Dao Flower was no ordinary person. With her protecting him, no matter how wildly he trained, he could not stir up any great commotion. What an excellent sparring partner.
Lin Jialiang came in, carrying Xiao Yao.
"Third Brother, the Provincial Examination is over, and a new task has arrived—the Metropolitan Examination. Ninety-one days remain!"
Lin Su cursed inwardly.
Has your human countdown started up again?
Was there no end to this?
"Third Brother, do not blame your elder brother for nagging. Your status is different now. You were the top scorer of the Provincial Examination; if you fail the Metropolitan Examination, you will become the laughingstock of the literary path! So no matter how unhappy you are, your second brother must push you!"
That was indeed the truth.
If the top scorer of the Provincial Examination failed to pass the Metropolitan Examination, that would truly be the greatest upset imaginable.
Lin Su said, "Second Brother, do not forget that the Metropolitan Examination is something we brothers must face together. Tomorrow, I will become the human timekeeper and go to your place to count down..."
Lin Jialiang beamed. "That is precisely what I had in mind. We brothers shall discuss and strive together... Third Brother, these are two model policy essays I collected. Your military policy essays are truly peerless, but the Metropolitan Examination's policy essay may not necessarily concern military matters. You need to absorb everything and make more preparations."
He handed Lin Su two manuscripts. They had been copied onto ordinary paper, and the handwriting had already faded badly. There were candle drippings and ink stains on them too. Judging by their appearance, they were truly... ancient in flavor and wonderfully authentic.
Lin Su picked them up and examined them carefully.
"Memorial on Commerce"—The Nation's Prosperity, all speak of profit. But where does profit come from? Commerce. Therefore, commerce is important; it is a weighty instrument of the state...
After reading it in one breath, Lin Su picked up the other piece.
"On the Calamities of Water Conservancy"—The Nation's Prosperity lies with the people, and the people's convenience lies in nothing more than water and land. Great Cang has thirty-seven great rivers; every year, more than half suffer floods and waterlogging...
He finished that one in a single breath as well.
His expression was rather strange. "Second Brother, you call these model essays?"
"Of course they are model essays! These are model essays from the Palace Examination twelve years ago. The policy essay topic was just three words: The Nation's Prosperity. Father even asked a friend in court to obtain these two essays..."
"Don't you think these model essays are utter nonsense?"
Lin Jialiang froze abruptly.
But Lin Su sat down and muttered to himself, "This is rather strange. How could essays like these, with such biased viewpoints and such bizarre arguments, be written for the Palace Examination? The standard is far too poor, isn't it? It should not be... Oh, I think I understand..."
What did he understand?
He understood why the policy essays of this world were so bizarre.
For one reason only: the sages of this world stood separately, and the views of each school were completely different. Once scholars stepped onto the literary path, they affixed a label to themselves.
For example, the first policy essay above had been written by someone from the Syncretist School. The Syncretist School valued commerce, so its followers magnified the role of commerce without limit and disparaged all other doctrines.
The second had been written by an agricultural school disciple, so he magnified agriculture without limit and denounced commerce as the source of national ruin.
How could policy essays stamped with such labels possibly find truly effective remedies for governing the world? Thus, it was hardly strange that their views were extreme and skewed.
By contrast, the true imperial examinations of China's Feudal Society began in the Tang Dynasty. Policy essays also entered the halls of the imperial examinations at that time. Yet by then, the forebears who had founded the various schools of the Hundred Schools of Thought had long since departed, their influence gradually waning. The views of the various schools had crossed beyond division and entered a stage of fusion; only then could there be an overall perspective and a view of the greater picture.
Under such currents of thought, the standard of policy essays rose markedly.
In this world, the sages still remained... Whether they themselves were still present or not, at least their influence remained unprecedented, and the boundaries between schools were sharply drawn.
That was why such bizarre policy essays emerged—each speaking past the other, using a biased prescription to govern the world.
Lin Jialiang completely misunderstood him. "Third Brother's military policy essays are of the highest standard, so naturally your sights are set higher. It is normal that you look down on these policy essays. But... model policy essays are hard to find in the world today. On the rare occasions fine works appear, they are collected by the great Aristocratic Clans. I fear it will be difficult for your elder brother to find better examples for you. This..."
Hidden in the shadows, Zhang Yiyu's eyes lit up. He wanted model essays!
Then come find me. I can bring you a few volumes of the model essays from my family...
She did not know why she suddenly had such a thought.
Lin Su said, "Second Brother, do not trouble yourself! How about this—I will write a few for you. You can use them for reference; they may prove helpful in the Metropolitan Examination..."
Lin Jialiang's heart shook violently, and his face suddenly flushed red.
Zhang Yiyu was stunned as well. Why was the script different from what she had imagined?
Before you continue