They're All Geniuses (Please Follow!)

Middle Academy? Upper Academy?

Chu Ming was puzzled.

The two young men were also curiously studying Chu Ming.

Feng Yuan sat back down on the stone stool, watching the three boys with interest.

There were five towns under Baiyuan County. Ever since he had become Registrar, he had visited each town's Academy Exam every year.

His goal was to scout promising talents.

Xu He was someone he had selected last year, while Xiang Changgu was a recent find from just a few days ago.

Finding one in a year was already quite good. He hadn't expected to find two promising candidates this year.

"Heh heh, you probably don't know how things work inside Baiyuan Academy yet. Let me explain."

Without bothering to ask whether Chu Ming wanted to hear it, he launched straight into his explanation.

"Baiyuan Academy is divided into the Upper, Middle, and Lower Academies. The top three candidates in a town's Academy Exam, or anyone who meets the standard for admission to the academy in Baiyuan County's Academy Exam, can enter the Lower Academy to study."

"If you have good talent, like you, for example, and can recall two and a half passages from Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy, you can skip the Lower Academy and enter the Middle Academy directly."

"And someone like Xiang Changgu, who can recite all three passages from Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy from memory, can skip both the Lower and Middle Academies and enter the Upper Academy."

"You must be wondering what the differences are between the three academies, right?"

Feng Yuan took a sip of tea and continued, "The three academies teach more or less the same things, and the instructors are the same, too."

"But students in the Lower Academy have to pay tuition and cover their own food, lodging, and other expenses."

"The Middle Academy is much better. Tuition and lodging are free; you only have to pay for your meals."

"Also, students in the Middle Academy can borrow some of the books from Baiyuan Academy's Wenlan Study."

"As for the Upper Academy, tuition and lodging are free, and on top of that, you receive a monthly allowance of three taels of silver. You can also borrow any book in Wenlan Study."

"So, kid, don't get carried away just because you came first in Willow Town's Academy Exam. You can only enter the Middle Academy; you can't enter the Upper Academy."

Seeing Chu Ming's puzzled expression, Feng Yuan felt a sudden rush of satisfaction. At last, the boy wasn't wearing that infuriatingly unruffled expression that had stayed with him from beginning to end.

He had called Xu He and Xiang Changgu over for the very purpose of provoking and spurring them on. It seemed to have worked.

"How can I enter the Upper Academy?" Chu Ming asked respectfully.

The Upper Academy not only waived all fees but also gave its students a silver allowance. It was very tempting; he would need money to practice martial arts.

Besides, that Wenlan Study sounded as if it held plenty of books. He had to find a way in.

"Baiyuan Academy holds an examination every six months. It tests whether students in the Lower Academy can advance to the Middle Academy, and whether students in the Middle Academy can advance to the Upper Academy."

"But it's extremely difficult."

This time, Feng Yuan didn't answer. Xu He spoke in a low voice from beside him. "I've taken the Upper Academy exam twice already, and failed both times."

"The number of students in each of Baiyuan Academy's three divisions is fixed: ten in the Upper Academy, thirty in the Middle Academy, and a hundred in the Lower Academy."

"If you want to enter the Upper Academy, you'll have to bump someone else out."

"For example, you could bump out Xiang Changgu. He entered the academy at the same time as you, and his foundation is weak."

"Still, the difference of half a passage may or may not matter. With your current ability, you have a chance, but you'll need to work harder."

Feng Yuan held his teacup and spoke calmly.

But as soon as he said that, the atmosphere in the little pavilion turned sour.

Xiang Changgu stared intently at Chu Ming, his hostility unmistakable.

Chu Ming wasn't intimidated. He calmly met Xiang Changgu's gaze.

He wants us to turn against each other and compete, so we'll improve?

This Registrar sure knows how to stir things up.

Still, Xiang Changgu was only a boy in his teens. No matter how talented he was, Chu Ming wasn't going to take this personally.

Feng Yuan sipped his tea without a care. Perhaps he felt the tension wasn't quite enough, because he added, "Of course, your opponents aren't just the students in the Upper Academy. You'll also be competing against the Middle Academy seniors who want to enter it, like Xu He."

Xu He's brows twitched when he heard that. He glanced at Chu Ming with an apologetic but friendly look.

He had been noticed by Feng Yuan last year and knew the Registrar's character well.

He might have looked dignified and imposing in his high position, but he wasn't quite so above such things. He'd use little tricks, too, like this sort of provocation.

Competition at Baiyuan Academy was certainly fierce, but for the most part, everyone relied on their own abilities. It wasn't really a matter of one person pushing another out, and it wasn't so easy to do, either.

Still...

Xu He glanced from the corner of his eye at Xiang Changgu, a glint flashing deep in his gaze.

The academy's promotion exam in six months might really be an opportunity. Xiang Changgu had just entered the academy and hadn't had much time to build up his knowledge. He could be the perfect opening.

Feng Yuan took in all three boys' changing expressions. Xiang Changgu had the greatest talent, but he was the youngest and easy to provoke.

Xu He had studied at the academy for a year. In both experience and breadth of knowledge, he was ahead of the other two, and seemed the most composed.

As for Chu Ming... Feng Yuan absentmindedly turned his teacup, his gaze wandering.

Other than the faint delight he'd shown at the mention of silver and Wenlan Study, the kid had been calm and unruffled the whole time. He seemed steadier than Feng Yuan himself, an eighth-rank Registrar.

Thinking this, Feng Yuan took a silver-white plaque and some silver from his clothes and looked at Chu Ming. "This plaque is your identity token for Baiyuan Academy's Middle Academy. Take these two taels of silver as well."

"Thank you, Lord Xie." Chu Ming didn't even ask why there was silver, and simply accepted it.

"You rascal." Feng Yuan's lips twitched. "The silver is a reward from me to you all. Xiang Changgu entered the Upper Academy, so he gets three taels. You're in the Middle Academy, so you only get two."

"That's all you need to know. You can go now." Feng Yuan took another sip of tea.

Chu Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Holding the hefty copy of Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy, his identity token, and two taels of silver, he hurried away.

As Feng Yuan watched Chu Ming leave as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, he suddenly felt like calling the boy back to give him another thorough lecture.

But when he started to rise, the slightly frail boy had already walked out of the quiet courtyard and disappeared from sight.

"Phew... finally done." Chu Ming left the courtyard, walked through the inner and outer halls, and came out of the private school.

But the instant he stepped outside, his foot stopped in midair.

"Look, Brother Chu's come out!"

More than twenty boys were gathered at the private school's entrance. The moment they saw him, they excitedly rushed over.

"Brother Chu, Brother Huang Lu said you like reading travelogues. I happen to have two books right here." An unfamiliar boy shoved two books into his hands without a word.

"Brother Chu, Brother Huang Lu said you like listening to music at the pleasure house. I have a friend at the Fragrant Pavilion who can get us a nice seat. Coming?"

"..."

Chu Ming took a step back, retreating into the private school. His expression turned solemn. "Everyone, step aside. Someone's going to get hurt if you don't."

Hurt?

The boys still hadn't realized how serious things were.

Just then, two more figures squeezed out of the crowd, one tall and one short.

The tall one was Wu Chun, whose build was more muscular than any of the other boys. The shorter one was Chi Lin, who had placed fourth in the strength test.

"Brother Chu, I'm hosting a banquet tonight at the Green Bamboo Pavilion... Ah!"

Thud—

Before Chi Lin could finish speaking, Chu Ming strode out. His steps were steady and quick, making him seem like a martial artist. Chi Lin's heart gave an inexplicable flutter, and he suddenly felt a pang of fear. His body moved aside of its own accord.

Chi Lin had moved out of the way, but the tall Wu Chun standing directly in front of Chu Ming didn't think much of it. He reached out, as if to pull Chu Ming closer.

But... he never imagined he wouldn't be able to grab the slender Chu Ming. His hand closed on empty air, and the sudden loss of balance sent him tumbling to the ground.

When they looked back at the private school entrance, Chu Ming was nowhere to be seen.

"How can that frail-looking body have so much strength and speed?" His eyes widened, his mind full of disbelief and unanswered questions.