All Geniuses (Seeking Likes, Follows, and Shares)

Middle Courtyard? Upper Courtyard?

Chu Ming felt confused.

The two youths were also curiously sizing up Chu Ming.

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

Baiyuan County had five small towns under its jurisdiction, and ever since he became the Archivist, he had visited each town's academy examination every year.

His purpose was to scout for promising talents.

Xu He was someone he had selected last year, and Xiang Changgu was someone he had discovered just a few days ago.

Finding one talented individual a year was already quite good; he hadn't expected to find two promising seedlings this year.

"Heh heh, you probably don't know the internal structure of Baiyuan Academy yet. Let me explain it to you."

Without waiting to see if Chu Ming wanted to listen, he began to speak.

"Baiyuan Academy is divided into Lower, Middle, and Upper Courtyards. Those who rank in the top three in the town's academy examination, or those who meet the standards for entering the academy in the Baiyuan County examination, can enter the Lower Courtyard for study."

"If you have good talent, like you, and can answer two and a half segments of Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy in the memory test, you can skip the Lower Courtyard and directly enter the Middle Courtyard for study."

"And for someone like Xiang Changgu, who can perfectly transcribe three segments of Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy, they can skip both the Lower and Middle Courtyards and enter the Upper Courtyard for study."

"You must be wondering what the difference between the three courtyards is, right?"

Feng Yuan took a sip of tea and continued, "The things learned in the three courtyards are roughly the same, and the teachers are also the same."

"However, the Lower Courtyard requires tuition fees, and you have to cover your own food, accommodation, and travel expenses."

"The Middle Courtyard is much better, with tuition and accommodation fees waived. You only need to worry about food."

"Additionally, students in the Middle Courtyard can borrow some books from Wenlan Study in Baiyuan Academy."

"As for the Upper Courtyard, in addition to waiving tuition and accommodation fees, there is also a monthly subsidy of three taels of silver, and you can borrow all the books in Wenlan Study."

"So, boy, don't get carried away just because you won first place in Willow Town's academy examination. You can only enter the Middle Courtyard, not the Upper Courtyard."

Seeing Chu Ming's confused expression, Feng Yuan felt a surge of satisfaction. This kid finally wasn't maintaining that infuriatingly calm demeanor throughout.

He had called Xu He and Xiang Changgu over precisely to spur them on, and it seemed to be working well.

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

The Upper Courtyard not only waived fees but also provided a silver subsidy, which was very tempting. He needed money for his martial arts practice.

Moreover, that Wenlan Study sounded like it had many books; he had to find a way to get in.

"Baiyuan Academy holds a promotion examination every six months, which tests advancement from the Lower Courtyard to the Middle Courtyard, and from the Middle Courtyard to the Upper Courtyard."

"However, the difficulty is extremely high."

Feng Yuan didn't answer this time. Xu He, standing beside him, said in a deep voice, "I have taken the Upper Courtyard examination twice and failed both times."

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

"If you want to enter the Upper Courtyard, you will displace someone."

"For example, you could displace Xiang Changgu. He entered the academy with you, but his foundation is weaker."

"However, a difference of half a chapter can be significant or minor. With your current strength, you have a chance, but you still need to work harder."

Feng Yuan said calmly, holding his teacup.

But as soon as he spoke, the atmosphere in the pavilion immediately changed.

Xiang Changgu's eyes were fixed on Chu Ming, his hostility palpable.

Chu Ming, however, was not afraid and met Xiang Changgu's gaze calmly.

They want to make us hostile towards each other, to compete and improve?

This Archivist is quite good at stirring up trouble.

But, for a teenager, no matter how talented he is, I won't get serious about this.

Feng Yuan continued to drink his tea, perhaps feeling that the atmosphere wasn't tense enough. He added, "Of course, your opponents are not only those in the Upper Courtyard but also the senior students in the Middle Courtyard who want to enter the Upper Courtyard, like Xu He."

Upon hearing this, Xu He's eyebrows twitched, and he cast a helpless yet kind glance at Chu Ming.

He had been noticed by Feng Yuan last year and understood the Archivist's personality very well.

Although he appeared to hold a high position and had a stern demeanor, he was not entirely so; he would resort to minor tactics, such as this method of provocation.

It was true that competition in Baiyuan Academy was fierce, but it was mostly based on individual ability. It wasn't as simple as one person displacing another, nor was it that easy to do so.

However...

Xu He glanced sideways at Xiang Changgu, a glint flashing in the depths of his eyes.

The academy promotion examination in six months might indeed be an opportunity. Xiang Changgu had just entered the academy and lacked deep accumulation, making him a perfect breakthrough point.

Feng Yuan observed the changes in all three of their expressions. Xiang Changgu had the highest talent but was the youngest and easily provoked.

Xu He had been studying in the academy for a year, and in terms of vision and knowledge, he was above the other two, appearing the most composed.

As for Chu Ming... Feng Yuan unconsciously twirled his teacup, his gaze drifting.

Apart from a flicker of surprise when hearing about silver and the Wenlan Study, this kid remained as calm and collected as an old monk the rest of the time, appearing even more composed than he, an eighth-rank archivist, was.

Thinking this, he took a silver-white tablet and some silver from his robes and looked at Chu Ming: "This tablet is the identification for the middle courtyard of Baiyuan Academy. Take these two taels of silver as well."

"Thank you, sir." Chu Ming did not ask why there was silver; he simply took it.

"You brat." Feng Yuan's lips twitched. "The silver is a reward from me. Xiang Changgu entered the upper courtyard and received three taels; you are in the middle courtyard, so you only get two."

"Everything that needs to be said has been said. You may go." Feng Yuan continued to sip his tea.

Chu Ming let out a silent sigh of relief, cradling the heavy Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy, the identity token, and the two taels of silver as he hurried away.

Watching Chu Ming leave as if a great burden had been lifted, Feng Yuan suddenly felt the urge to call the youth back and have a proper talk with him.

However, just as he prepared to rise, the somewhat frail figure had already walked out of the secluded courtyard and vanished from sight.

"Whew... finally done." Chu Ming left the courtyard, passed through the inner and outer halls, and stepped out of the private school.

However, the moment his front foot stepped out, it hung suspended in mid-air.

"Look, Brother Chu is out!"

Over twenty youths were gathered at the entrance of the private school, and upon seeing him emerge, they excitedly rushed over.

"Brother Chu, I heard from Brother Huang Lu that you like reading travelogues. I happen to have two books right here." An unknown youth shoved two books into his hands without waiting for a response.

"Brother Chu, Brother Huang Lu said you enjoy listening to music at the pleasure houses. I have friends at the Fragrant Pavilion who can get us a prime spot. Shall we go?"

"..."

Chu Ming retreated a step, standing back inside the school, and said with a solemn expression: "Everyone, please make way. It won't be good if someone gets hurt later."

Hurt?

The group of youths had not yet realized the severity of the situation.

At this moment, two figures squeezed out from the crowd, one tall and one short.

The tall one was Wu Chun, who was more robust than any of the other youths, and the short one was Chi Lin, who had placed fourth in the strength test.

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

Bang—

Before Chi Lin could finish his sentence, he saw Chu Ming stride out. His pace was steady and swift, giving off the impression of a martial artist. Chi Lin's heart wavered, and he felt an inexplicable sense of timidity, causing his body to step aside instinctively.

Chi Lin had moved, but the tall Wu Chun, who was blocking the direct path, did not take it to heart and reached out a hand, seemingly to close the distance.

However... he never expected that he would fail to grab the frail-looking Chu Ming. Instead, because he grabbed at empty air, he lost his balance and took a tumble.

Looking back at the school entrance, there was no longer any sign of Chu Ming.

"How could that frail body have such strength and speed?" He widened his eyes, his mind filled with confusion and disbelief.