Can't Believe It

Fang Xiao's gaze narrowed instantly.

"Chu Ming?" Chief Constable Hou froze; the name sounded familiar.

Suddenly, his expression shifted violently as he barked, "Say that again. Who?"

"Dad..." Wu Chun was startled, failing to understand why his father reacted so strongly to the name. "Chu Ming. His name is Chu Ming."

The moment the words left his lips, Chief Constable Hou turned to look at Fang Xiao. "Brother Fang, is that young master of yours also named Chu Ming?"

"Yes." Fang Xiao nodded in response, though his heart sank with helplessness. It seemed he could no longer keep the young master's martial arts training a secret.

But given the young master's steady temperament, he shouldn't have been the type to get into a fight.

"That young master participated in the Academy Exam today, didn't he?" Chief Constable Hou asked again.

"Yes." Since he couldn't hide it, Fang Xiao decided not to bother.

Smack—

However, the moment he nodded, he saw Chief Constable Hou land a heavy slap on the top of Wu Chun's head.

"You brat, if you're going to make up an excuse, at least make it believable! That Chu Ming is frail as a reed; he wheezes just from walking. He won't live much lon..."

He cut himself off abruptly, realizing he had said the wrong thing.

That young master didn't have long to live, but he shouldn't have said it in front of Fang Xiao.

Wu Chun clutched his head, squatting on the ground with his facial muscles twisted in pain, the scene of him being sent flying flashing through his mind.

Frail as a reed? Wheezing from walking?

He was more like a tiger descending from the mountain!

"Dad, we aren't talking about the same person, are we..."

The woman at the side, seeing this, fussed over Wu Chun with great heartache. "Chief Constable Hou, if you don't want to handle this, then my son and I have truly suffered eight lifetimes of bad luck..."

Chief Constable Hou felt a headache coming on; this woman was making a complete fool of him.

"Enough!" His tone was cold and sharp, his eyes filled with authority. "Tell me the whole story from beginning to end!"

The Catching Yamen fell silent instantly, the atmosphere turning tense.

The woman stopped her fussing, and Wu Chun stopped his act.

"Speak!" Chief Constable Hou was satisfied, his voice carrying more weight.

Wu Chun stammered, "Dad, that Chu Ming... he won first place in the Academy Exam and had a private meeting with Lord Archivist. I remembered Mom's advice and went up to try and befriend him. Who would have thought he'd come charging out carrying a stack of books half a man's height, moving like a tiger? Then I just... I got sent flying."

"..."

After he finished, the Catching Yamen grew even quieter.

Chu Ming won first place in the Academy Exam?!

And he sent Wu Chun—who had practiced martial arts and was stronger than his peers—flying?!

Chief Constable Hou's mind conjured the image of the pale, thin youth in the courtyard who wheezed while walking.

Did that make any sense?

At the same time, Fang Xiao's gaze intensified, a flash of astonishment crossing his eyes.

The young master won first place in the Academy Exam?!

Counting the time, it had been less than twenty days since he helped the young master sell his travelogues and bought him three books of poetry.

It was true that the young master had an astonishing memory, and it was true that he had intentionally mentioned the exam to encourage the young master to participate, but he had never imagined the young master would take first place.

Furthermore, what was this about a private meeting with the Lord Archivist?

"The Archivist... could it be that Lord Feng?"

While he was lost in deep suspicion, the expression on the face of the woman sitting slumped on the ground became quite colorful.

"Wu Chun, why didn't you say so earlier? If Chu Ming won first place in the Academy Exam, he's bound to be a big shot in the future. Why on earth were you blocking his path?"

"Mom?" Wu Chun squinted at her, confused; this wasn't what they had discussed.

The woman acted as if she hadn't seen him. She stood up skillfully, smoothed out her clothes and her slightly disheveled hair, and moved to stand beside Chief Constable Hou. "This must be Brother Fang. Hou Ping often mentions you at home."

She looked every bit the virtuous and kind mother.

Wu Chun tugged at the hem of her skirt from behind, only to be met with a sharp kick to the shin.

"I asked Hou Ping to invite Brother Fang to our home for a meal a few days ago, but Hou Ping refused. So, I had to come myself."

"Mom, didn't you say you were going to stand up for me? Why are you inviting him to dinner?"

"Shut up!" The woman glared at him fiercely before turning back with a pleasant smile.

"How about tonight? Brother Fang, bring Young Master Chu Ming along. I'll cook myself..."

"Madam!"

Chief Constable Hou couldn't watch any longer and interrupted, "Brother Fang, it's getting late. Let's leave it at this for today."

Fang Xiao nodded slightly. "I appreciate the Madam's kind intentions, but there have been frequent murders in Wheat Valley Alley recently, and I still need to go take a look."

"Just have a meal..." the woman tried to persuade him, but Fang Xiao dared not look back and hurried away.

At the end of the West Street, a small courtyard.

"Grandpa Fang is back."

"Mm."

"Young Master, time to eat."

Chu Ming closed Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy, stretched his back, and walked into the main room.

Steaming dishes were laid out on the wooden table, and at just one glance, he felt hungry again.

"Young Master." Fang Xiao bowed calmly.

"Eat, let's eat."

Chu Ming waved his hand and sat at the head of the table; only then did Xiao Shan and Fang Xiao sit down.

Although the two were servants, he couldn't be bothered with tedious formalities like eating at separate tables.

One meat dish, two vegetable dishes, and a soup—this was their dinner, specifically requested by Chu Ming.

Otherwise, sticking to the original diet of steamed buns and thin porridge, he would be hungry before midnight.

In the dim light, Chu Ming ate with his head down.

Xiao Shan did not reach for the dishes; she only took two bites of rice before putting down her chopsticks.

She wanted to save the food for the Young Master.

Fang Xiao also only ate the rice, leaving the dishes untouched.

When they were nearly finished, Fang Xiao finally couldn't hold back.

"Young Master, how is your progress with the Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique? Have you run out of medicinal soup? Should I go prepare some more tomorrow?"

"It's alright." Chu Ming finished two bowls of rice and downed a bowl of soup, feeling much more comfortable in his stomach.

"Young Master has extraordinary talent, but you must not be too eager for success. The medicinal soup is essential. With your comprehension, I believe it won't be long before you condense the second strand of blood energy."

The second strand of blood energy?

Chu Ming continued to eat.

After optimizing the Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique, he was already close to condensing the fourth strand of blood energy.

After speaking, Fang Xiao ladled some soup for Xiao Shan and asked casually, "Young Master went to the academy exam today, right? How did it go?"

"It was fine."

Fine?

Fang Xiao's brows twitched. Was the Young Master not planning to share the good news with him and Xiao Shan?

"When does the Young Master plan to go to Baiyuan Academy?"

Chu Ming raised his eyes slightly to look at Fang Xiao; he hadn't expected the steward to already know about his academy exam. "In a few days."

With the identity token in hand, he could go to Baiyuan Academy at any time.

However, he didn't intend to go within these next few days.

Baiyuan Academy was an unknown environment, and he needed to prepare thoroughly.

His main focus was his own strength; he wanted to condense the power of five strands of blood energy before heading there.

The fourth strand of blood energy was already more than half condensed and would be finished in these two days, and the fifth would only take another three to five days.

Every strand of blood energy he condensed was twice as potent as that of an ordinary martial artist, so five strands were equivalent to the power of ten strands for a normal warrior.

Ten strands of blood energy, which was the late stage of the Blood Activation Realm, made one a master in Baiyuan County.

By then, whether facing the Chu Family or unknown dangers, he would be better equipped to handle them.

Additionally, before entering Baiyuan Academy, he wanted to read more of Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy.

That way, he could free up time to borrow books from Wenlan Garden to further strengthen himself.

"Ah? Young Master, you're going to Baiyuan Academy?" Xiao Shan's small face changed instantly. "I thought only the top three in the exam could go..."

As she spoke, she suddenly realized something: "Young Master, you were in the top three?!"

"Mm." Chu Ming's gaze fell on the untouched rice by Xiao Shan's side, and he stood up. "I'm full."

With those words, he left directly and returned to his small room.

"Young Master..." Xiao Shan's eyes turned red.

"Stop looking, eat."

"I saved it for the Young Master."

"The Young Master left it for you."

"Really?"

"Mm."