Request

Chapter 29: A Request

"Thank you, Godfather." Chen Mo bowed gratefully.

Putting aside what would happen after he became a xiucai, just the opportunity to study and learn horsemanship now was incredibly rare for an ordinary person.

"The xiucai exam is held annually. With me vouching for you, you don't need to take the tongsheng exam. You can directly go to the prefectural city to take the exam this May," General Sun instructed.

According to Great Qian's regulations, xiucai were selected once a year, juren every two years, and jinshi every three years.

As for tongsheng, it wasn't an official imperial title, merely a qualification. Those selected by each county could then formally take the xiucai exam.

With Chen Mo having him vouch for him, he wouldn't need to take the tongsheng exam and could directly attempt the xiucai exam, saving him some trouble.

"Thank you, Godfather." Chen Mo thanked him again.

"Besides literacy and horsemanship, starting tomorrow, you will officially practice archery. Use arrows for practice. By May, see if you can pass the exam in the prefectural city.

Although it's rushed, with your talent, if you work hard, you might pass this year. If not, you can wait until next year," Sun Shouren continued his arrangements.

He didn't expect Chen Mo to pass the imperial examinations this year. Even with his good martial arts talent, passing the exams wasn't solely about fighting ability.

Moreover, even if his talent was good, he had been cultivating for too short a time and might not be able to compete with the many seasoned tongsheng in the prefecture.

However, he still intended to let Chen Mo try. Even if he didn't succeed this year, he could at least gain some experience.

"I will obey all your commands, Godfather." Chen Mo had no objections, but in his heart, he secretly resolved to obtain the imperial title this year if possible.

Once he had an imperial title, he could secure an official position and receive much better treatment.

It wasn't easy for ordinary martial xiucai to obtain official posts. They either had to rely on connections or start as minor officials with rank but no official position, slowly working their way up.

This was also because the number of martial xiucai was relatively small compared to civil xiucai. Civil xiucai didn't even have the chance to slowly grind their way up.

Given Chen Mo's background, if he could pass the imperial examinations, securing a colonel position under General Sun wouldn't be a problem.

Who would be a colonel anyway? Having his adopted son take the position would surely be better than someone else.

Once he became a colonel, he could start receiving ghost salaries. With that income, he wouldn't just be able to eat, but he could also afford additional medicinal soups to speed up the process of accumulating Blood Essence for the Mortal Transformation Pearl.

Chen Mo's cultivation had broken through, and he had undergone another Mortal Transformation. The amount of Blood Essence he consumed daily was more than double what it was before.

Furthermore, the amount of Blood Essence required for the next Mortal Transformation had also greatly increased.

Therefore, even though he was eating more than before, the amount of Blood Essence he could accumulate after deducting his own consumption was very little.

At this rate, he estimated that it would take at least another year or so before he could undergo the next Mortal Transformation.

If his Greedy Wolf Seven Kill Fist broke through during this period, the time required would be even longer.

To accelerate this process, he needed to eat better and consume medicinal soups that replenished Blood Essence.

Either way, it required a significant amount of money. The current treatment provided by the personal guard camp was good and sufficient for the vast majority of personal guards.

Their current meals were definitely better than those of many small to medium landowners with only a few hundred mu of land.

However, for Chen Mo, it was still somewhat lacking. If he could obtain an imperial title, these issues would no longer be a problem.

"You should cultivate diligently from now on and don't slack off. If you encounter any blockages in your Blood Essence circulation while cultivating the Greedy Wolf Seven Kill Fist, come to me. I will teach you an internal martial art to help you regulate your body," Sun Shouren reminded him at the end.

"Godfather, I have something I wish to ask your help with." Chen Mo bowed respectfully and spoke earnestly.

He had been contemplating this matter for a while. Before, he wasn't General Sun's adopted son, so it was inconvenient to ask, and he had to find a way himself.

Originally, he had planned to reveal his strength and demonstrate his value to gain a higher status, and then pursue this matter.

Now that he had become General Sun's adopted son, he could ask for his help with this matter.

Admittedly, this would incur a significant debt of gratitude, but he already owed General Sun a great deal. Adding one more wouldn't matter; he could slowly repay it later.

An adopted son was still an adopted son, not a biological son.

General Sun helped him not for free; he saw the future returns Chen Mo could bring.

Even so, Chen Mo was still very grateful to General Sun. The man wasn't his biological father or mother, so expecting returns for his help was only natural.

Regardless of the reason, as long as someone was willing to help him, he had to remember that kindness.

"What is it? Tell me about it." Sun Shouren gestured, inviting Chen Mo to continue.

"Reporting to Godfather, I fled here in hardship, and I wasn't alone. My foolish wife fled here with me. To survive, she had no choice but to sell herself to another. It was with that money from her selling herself that I was able to survive and join the army."

Chen Mo did not reveal the true relationship between Zhao Yu and himself to General Sun. This matter could not be disclosed yet.

If he wanted to redeem Zhao Yu, he had to have a relationship with her. Without a relationship, he wouldn't have been able to sell Zhao Yu back then.

If he denied this relationship and then tried to redeem Zhao Yu, even if he could get her back with General Sun's favor, it would undoubtedly be much more troublesome, and he might even have to expend more of General Sun's goodwill.

However, by maintaining this relationship and having the deed in hand, redeeming her would be no trouble at all.

Asking for help was already difficult enough; he shouldn't make it even more troublesome for the person helping him.

"If this is the case, why didn't you say so earlier?" General Sun's tone held a hint of surprise, and perhaps even a touch of blame.

"Reporting to Godfather, I dared not speak of this matter to you before. Today, I boldly request your help, Godfather, to redeem my foolish wife." Chen Mo bowed, pleading earnestly.

General Sun's eyes revealed admiration. Chen Mo was now his adopted son, and in the future, he would become an official of the imperial court after passing the examinations.

Yet, even so, he was unwilling to abandon his former wife, the one who had been with him through thick and thin. This was truly commendable.

It's easy to say that one should not forget friends from humble beginnings, nor cast aside a wife who has shared hardships, but not everyone can live up to those words.

Ever since he taught Chen Mo the Greedy Wolf Seven Kill Fist and noticed that Chen Mo's cultivation progress was significantly faster than the others, he had secretly sent people to investigate Chen Mo thoroughly.

He learned that when Chen Mo was still working as a stable hand, he had received a favor from a horse official. After being selected for the personal guard camp, it was highly unlikely Chen Mo would ever interact with that horse official again in his life.

However, before leaving, Chen Mo still bought a gift to thank the old horse official for his care, which showed that he was indeed a person who remembered kindness.

If not for this, why would he have so easily accepted Chen Mo as his adopted son? It was precisely because he valued Chen Mo's gratitude.

Looking at today's events, he became even more certain of this.

Chen Mo not only remembered kindness but also valued loyalty.

A person like this would surely repay him after he helped him, and even if Chen Mo rose to a high position, he would not forget the kindness shown to him.

"Is the indenture contract still with you?" Sun Shouren inquired.

Since Chen Mo was sold, the indenture contract must be in his possession. As long as he had this document, he could redeem the person with money.

"Reporting to my adopted father, the indenture contract is here." Chen Mo took out the indenture contract he had prepared long ago from his embrace and presented it with both hands on the table.