"Brother, the results will be posted tomorrow, yet you're still so calm. I truly admire you!"
Inside the Taoist temple, Wu Que and Huang Shang sat facing each other, sipping tea.
Looking at this future grandmaster, whose bearing was as refined as jade, Wu Que felt gratified.
A man's character was shaped by his upbringing and environment. Huang Shang's status and circumstances had not changed much yet, but his bearing was already beginning to take shape.
At this point, the moment he stood among a crowd, he gave the impression of a crane among chickens.
This wasn't just the view of a lovesick fan; Huang Shang had noticed the change himself.
After the Provincial Examination, he felt a connection forming between his Literary Qi and the Most Holy Sage.
Literary Qi wasn't like true qi, a tangible force stored in the dantian. It was more of an illusory thing.
Even now, Huang Shang couldn't explain it accurately.
That was because it had been growing at an astonishing rate lately.
In just over ten days, it had doubled!
By rights, if Literary Qi was equivalent to talent, then it should accumulate over time and have nothing to do with the imperial examinations.
After all, exams were merely a means of assessment. A person's knowledge and exam results couldn't be equated directly.
But the facts proved that the amount of Literary Qi was closely tied to the imperial examinations.
This power came not only from within, but also from the recognition of others.
The imperial examinations were a form of recognition.
Especially in the Great Song, where a reverence for learning had become the prevailing trend, the unseen blessing of the world was the most terrifying of all.
As Huang Shang sensed this power, he felt that the reason he was receiving such preferential treatment was that this was a low-martial world with thin ambient qi, and no one besides him could wield this power.
There were plenty of fine steeds, but few who could recognize them. Now that Literary Qi had finally found a kindred spirit, it naturally poured out to him in full measure, all at once.
That was the advantage of being the only one!
This also proved that he had done well in the Provincial Examination.
He had everything under control.
In truth, Wu Que wasn't worried either.
Even without any outside help, Huang Shang's learning alone had been enough to earn him top honors. Now that the Reincarnators were helping him one after another, he was sure to soar to new heights!
Wu Que and Nightingale had been running around, working hard these past few days. Their efforts hadn't been in vain. Now that Huang Shang had passed the Provincial Examination without a hitch, they were going to put on a grand show of their own to celebrate.
Now he was giving Huang Shang an advance warning. "Brother, I've had many clashes with the Ming Cult lately. They came from Persia and aren't of our people; their hearts must be different from ours. They may seek revenge. Be careful when the results are posted tomorrow."
Huang Shang's expression darkened. "Would they really dare harm the examinees?"
Wu Que said, "People in the martial world have always done as they please, without obeying the law. The Ming Cult is especially ruthless. They won't care about the scholars."
The power of scholars in the Song Dynasty was indeed immense, but only within the rules.
Outside the rules, who cared what some scholar-official thought?
And what was the Ming Cult? It was a professional rebel outfit!
There had been so many peasant uprisings in the Song Dynasty that no one could guess the total without looking it up.
More than four hundred!
In the Northern Song alone, which lasted just over a hundred years, there had been roughly two hundred recorded popular uprisings.
An average of one every six months.
The emperors of other dynasties: "Damn, someone's rebelling!"
The emperors of the Song Dynasty: "Oh, someone else is rebelling again~~"
That was the contrast.
But although there were many uprisings, they were all small in scale.
Most involved only a few hundred or a thousand people. Anything over ten thousand was considered enormous, so the regime remained relatively stable.
The Ming Cult had contributed quite a few of those uprisings.
They were rebelling all the time. Why would they care about examinees?
Huang Shang asked again, "Can we rely on the garrison?"
Wu Que smiled bitterly. "Hardly!"
The garrisons stationed across the southern circuits and prefectures of the Great Song had combat strength that was, to put it mildly, unimpressive. That was why the Ming Cult had chosen them as a target, and why the Beggar Sect had been able to grow so powerful there.
When the court was strong, the martial world was weak.
When the court was weak, the martial world was strong.
One waxed as the other waned.
Seeing Huang Shang's expression grow serious, Wu Que offered him a reassurance. "You needn't worry, brother. Just protect the other examinees. Leave the rest to us."
Huang Shang immediately understood. Wu Que and Nightingale were paving the way for him.
There were too many rebellions in the Song Dynasty. Though putting them down brought merit, it was like a general expanding the borders—no matter how much he accomplished, it couldn't change his standing. The people above had grown numb to it all.
But saving the examinees would be a tremendous achievement!
It would win him great renown among the scholars and help him with the Departmental and Palace Examinations to come.
They were paving the way for him to become the top scholar!
But it wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Having people run ahead of him and prepare everything would save him effort, but in the long run, it would also cost him control until he became a puppet.
And if he kept entangling himself with martial-world factions, it wouldn't be easy to break away from them later.
Of course, Wu Que was only warning him for now. There was nothing at all to criticize.
Huang Shang pondered, clasped his hands in a salute, then rose and left.
He planned to go to bed early and rest up.
As they watched Huang Shang's retreating figure, a waft of fragrance passed by, and Nightingale appeared. "Do you think he understands how much we care about him?"
Wu Que replied, "When parents love their child, they plan far ahead for him. We've gone to such pains for Huang Shang's future. Of course he can feel it!"
"From fangirl to mom fan? Ugh, that's so gross!"
Nightingale wasn't fond of fandom culture, especially the whole mom-fan thing. She yawned. "Forget it. I'm off to get my beauty sleep. Fighting the Ming Cult these past few days has worn me out. See you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow."
Wu Que replied, his gaze flickering.
The more Wu Que did for Huang Shang, the closer their relationship would become, and the less Huang Shang could do without him.
Whether it was his scholarly reputation or his official position.
That was the foundation of their contract.
Otherwise, Huang Shang was growing stronger so quickly that before long, he wouldn't need them anymore.
Of course, a kindness too great could breed resentment, so he had to plan for the future.
Sometimes, a kindness from the past could become leverage.
"When handling figures from the story, you need to know where to draw the line. Praise them when they need praise, put pressure on them when they need pressure."
"Now Nightingale and I are working together as one. Without her holding me back, I can go a step further and leave a deep mark on Huang Shang's life!"
"Then, even if the Queen and the Prince return, they won't be able to take him from us!"
At dawn the next day, before the fifth watch, the sky was just beginning to brighten. People were already packed outside the Examination Hall, gathered by the wall where the results would be posted.
Because the results were coming out today.
Forget arriving early in the morning—many people hadn't slept all night.
Even the old hands who had been perfectly composed in the examination hall couldn't keep calm today. Pale-faced, they waited for the Examination Hall clerks to hang up the list that would decide their fate.
Huang Shang was among them, waiting silently.
In the stifling, nerve-racking atmosphere, time passed slowly.
At last, the Examination Hall gates opened. Four clerks carried out a list and hung it up. Then they took their places on either side and pulled away the curtain.
In an instant, every examinee's eyes turned to the very top of the list.
That spot represented the Provincial Graduate!
The top scorer of the Provincial Examination!
The first to scale Ao Mountain!
At the same time, inside the Top Scholar Pavilion across from the Examination Hall.
One after another, cold, malicious gazes fell upon the examinees.
Thanks to readers "Tianjing Huntian Baojian" and "Marvel Iron Man" for their tips.
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