The Courtyard Examination

A few days later.

Chu Ming finished his daily practice of the Wind-Slapping Palm and the Tiger Python Force.

[Wind-Slapping Palm (Great Success)]

[Progress: 21/100]

[Tiger Python Force (Minor Success)]

[Progress: 13/100]

"Ever since the Tiger Python Force reached Minor Success, my stamina has improved several times over."

"The Wind-Slapping Palm has also reached Great Success; now, even using only thirty percent of my strength, I can split a wooden stake..."

Returning to his room, he continued with his three books of poetry and history.

"I've been slacking on my reading lately to grind the Tiger Python Force. Since it's still early, let's see if I can max out the progress and advance."

[Reading (Minor Success): Eidetic Memory]

[Progress: 82/100]

[Progress: 83/100]

Two hours later.

[Progress: 99/100]

Chu Ming couldn't wait to turn to the next page.

[Reading (Great Success): Thorough Mastery]

[Progress: 0/100]

"It advanced!"

A sharp glint shot from his eyes.

"The entire General Theory of the Book of Songs and half of the Collection of Classics and Histories—I've finally ground [Reading] to Great Success."

"Thorough Mastery...?"

At this very moment, Chu Ming felt thousands of thoughts swirling in his mind: the stories from over twenty travelogues, all the poems from the General Theory of the Book of Songs, the history from the Collection of Classics and Histories...

The content he had read was no longer just etched into his memory; the threads began to resonate with one another, sparking a multitude of brand-new ideas.

Insight. Understanding.

His consciousness lingered on the thread of thought concerning the Sword Gourd Travels, and immediately, countless colorful threads of thought converged. Almost instantly, they spread out like a spiderweb...

Hum—

Suddenly, a strange, unprecedented sensation welled up within him.

"This is..." Chu Ming's eyes were tightly shut, "Internal vision?"

His flesh, tendons, meridians, and even his internal organs were all within his observation.

"My body is truly in poor shape. The meridians are thin, covered in cracks, most of the acupoints are blocked, blood cannot circulate in many areas, and the internal organs have varying degrees of damage..."

And this was his state after practicing the Tiger Python Force to Minor Success; before that, it must have been even worse.

Chu Ming opened his eyes, adjusted his mindset, and looked at the panel.

[Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense]

[Progress (Entry Level): 1/100]

[Evaluation: Derived from the thorough reading of various travelogues. Perception ability increased. When actively triggered, consumes mental energy to allow internal vision of one's own body.]

"So that's what Thorough Mastery means."

Having read over twenty travelogues, the content had fermented and fused in his mind, finally allowing him to comprehend the ability of internal vision based on the Sword Gourd Travels.

"In other words, I can comprehend special abilities through reading!"

Reading books to death, or reading books dead?

That only happens if you don't read enough!

"Let's keep reading."

At dusk, after Chu Ming had practiced the Tiger Python Force to 23, he sat down in the small courtyard and activated the Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense to inspect his body.

"Every time I finish the Tiger Python Force, I feel exhausted but refreshed. So that's why—it's clearing out the meridians."

Being able to see inside himself, he finally understood the benefits of practicing the Tiger Python Force: it accelerated his blood flow to strike against his blocked meridians.

The more meridians he opened, the better his body would recover.

However, the problem was also clear: the Tiger Python Force at the Minor Success stage could only accelerate blood flow to clear the meridians; it could not repair the damage to his meridians, acupoints, or internal organs.

This is also why, although his body is improving, it still cannot compare to that of an ordinary person.

In short, his foundation was damaged.

"Take it slow."

As he thought this, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Fang Xiao returned from outside.

"You have been... these past few days?"

Steward Fang had been leaving early and returning late these days, quite different from the old man who used to hole up in the small courtyard.

Chu Ming felt a bit strange, so he asked casually.

"Oh, I ran into an old friend and had some tea." Fang Xiao did not intend to tell Chu Ming that he had joined the Catching Yamen.

Chu Ming wanted to ask another question, but Fang Xiao hurriedly changed the subject, pretending to speak offhandedly: "By the way, Young Master, this old servant heard today that the private school is about to hold its academy examination, and it is a bit different from usual."

"They say the top three in the academy examination will not only be eligible for the county examination but will also be rewarded with a book co-authored by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites of the Great Qin Dynasty... called the Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy."

"I wonder what is so special about that Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy?"

The private school academy examination is about to be held?

The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

Chu Ming's heart stirred.

Before he had mastered Wind-Slapping Palm and Tiger Python Force, his plan had been to pursue an official career.

Relying on the powerful effects of the [Reading] skill, he couldn't be sure about becoming a high-ranking official—after all, climbing the ladder based solely on being well-read was not very realistic.

But becoming a minor official would certainly make for a better life than he had now.

And this idea had not changed even after he had "grinded" out martial arts skills.

Although I have martial arts skills to rely on, compared to the true martial artists of this world, they are not worth mentioning, let alone those who can move mountains and drain seas.

Living in a corner might save my life, but in the end, I cannot escape the fate of returning to dust.

The Great Qin Dynasty values both literature and martial arts; the path of the martial artist is not yet clear to me, and I know little about it. But if I can obtain an official position, I will have the opportunity to come into contact with deeper things.

Even the original owner's wealthy father exhausted every means to try and send his son into the imperial court.

Within the system, one is never comparable to the common folk who struggle for their daily bread.

If a great upheaval truly sweeps through, I can use my status as an official of the Great Qin Dynasty to learn the inside story first, so I won't be kept in the dark like the masses...

At the same time, I can use the power in my hands to explore more about martial artists.

However... before that, I must finish reading the Collection of Classics and Histories and the Complete Treatise on Agricultural Administration.

According to previous years, the content of the private school academy examination was drawn from the three books of poetry and history he was studying.

Fang Xiao glanced at Chu Ming from the corner of his eye. He had brought up the academy examination partly to change the subject, and partly to see if the young master had any intention of participating.

Those three classics were ones he had exchanged for from the private school; in this small town, only the private school could provide them, as they were the most widely circulated examination texts.

Originally, he couldn't understand why Chu Ming had sold his favorite travelogues to exchange for poetry and history books, but after witnessing Chu Ming's powerful memory, Fang Xiao had his own ideas.

Perhaps the young master had planned to take the academy examination all along.

The next day, after practicing Wind-Slapping Palm and Tiger Python Force, Chu Ming took some silver and walked out of the courtyard.

"Is the Young Master going to the pleasure house to listen to music?" Xiao Shan's voice came from behind.

"There is no music in the morning." Chu Ming paused.

"Oh," Xiao Shan said, not quite believing him, "I will help... accompany the Young Master."

"No need!"

Chu Ming revealed a stern expression, and Xiao Shan immediately became obedient, returning to the courtyard to do her own work.

He was not going to listen to music, but to the private school to see how he could participate in the academy examination.

He had originally wanted to ask Steward Fang to inquire, but he hadn't seen him all morning, so he had to go out himself.

Fortunately, after these days of practicing Tiger Python Force, his physical strength had increased significantly, so going out was not much of a problem.

Willow Town was just a border town with a small population. Chu Ming walked steadily along the stone-paved road, only occasionally seeing one or two people.

These people either walked in a hurry or had numb expressions; even when passing by, they acted as if they hadn't seen him at all.

Turning through a few streets, Chu Ming walked to the entrance of an alley and bumped into someone head-on.

"Brother Chu?" The person was about the same age as Chu Ming, around fifteen or sixteen.

An acquaintance?