Registering for the Academy Exam

Chu Ming raised his eyes to look, searching his memory. He had a vague impression, but the memory of the name itself was lost.

It was just like being stopped on the way to work in his past life by someone claiming to be your elementary school classmate and calling you by name, only for you to have completely forgotten who they were...

The original owner lived a reclusive life in the small town, occasionally visiting the pleasure houses in the town center to listen to music, and only knew a few people of his own generation. This person must be one of them.

The newcomer's attention, however, was not on Chu Ming's face, but rather on the small alley behind him: "Brother Chu, did you just come out of Wheat Valley Alley?"

"No," Chu Ming replied.

"That's good. You mustn't enter that alley; it's very sinister. If Brother Chu needs to relieve himself, well, that alley there, Wind-Facing Alley, just walk to the end."

As the youth spoke, his expression turned strange as he looked at Chu Ming: "Brother Chu, I see sweat on your forehead and your steps are unsteady. Has your illness not yet recovered?"

"You knew I was sick?" Chu Ming countered.

Very few people knew about the original owner's major illness.

"Doesn't Brother Chu fall ill every few days? My father often goes to your house, how could I not know?" The newcomer said, reaching out to pat Chu Ming on the shoulder.

"No, Brother Chu, what is that look? That last major illness must have damaged your brain; how do you not recognize me?"

"..." Chu Ming remained silent. He couldn't exactly say he truly didn't remember.

"My father, the physician who treats you," the youth said.

"Still can't recall? Fine, surely you remember the travelogue Sword Gourd Travels? You bought that from me."

"No, you still don't remember? Fine, fine, Huang Lu. My name is Huang Lu."

"Oh, so it is Brother Huang..." Chu Ming tried to respond halfway through, but the other party kept talking, giving him no chance to interject.

"Ah? Huang my foot! It seems Brother Chu's brain is truly broken. You must not have been taking the medicine my father prescribed properly, otherwise you would have been better by now. I am Lu Huang, not Huang Lu!"

"..." Chu Ming was speechless: "The physician who checks my pulse, his surname is Huang, right? Your father..."

"Hehe, it seems Brother Chu has been taking my father's medicine well; your brain isn't broken."

"My father's medicine is very sweet. You must take plenty of it; the more you take, the faster you'll recover."

The youth patted Chu Ming's shoulder and suddenly lowered his voice: "Actually, I prefer the surname Lu. Do you know why?"

Chu Ming shook his head in cooperation.

"Because the proctor for this private school entrance exam is surnamed Lu."

"If I share a surname with the proctor, perhaps I could... hehe, you know, gain some extra favor points..."

What kind of bizarre logic was this?

Chu Ming's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he feigned confusion: "Private school entrance exam?"

Seeing Chu Ming's ignorance, Huang Lu's small eyes darted around, his chin lifted, and he spoke with arrogant pride:

"Brother Chu is truly ill-informed. You should read fewer travelogues and spend less time at the pleasure houses. Brother Chu, you should be like me: capable in literature, poetry, and military strategy to govern a region, and capable in martial arts to kick..."

After gritting his teeth and listening to the other party's endless bragging, Chu Ming finally obtained the key information.

The private school entrance exam would be held in ten days. Anyone in town aged sixteen or under could sign up by paying one tael of silver at the private school before the exam.

"Brother Chu is also sixteen this year, right? Why not go and try? Perhaps the exam content will be a review of the travelogue Sword Gourd Travels, or a discussion on when it is most appropriate to visit a pleasure house. That's entirely possible."

The more Huang Lu spoke, the more conceited he became, even beginning to sound unintentionally sarcastic.

Chu Ming glanced at this fellow. With this manic way of speaking, he wondered if it was caused by stealing his father's medicinal herbs.

At the entrance of the private school.

Chu Ming paid the one tael of silver. Huang Lu watched, his face nearly stiff from smiling, looking every bit like a man whose devious scheme had succeeded.

"Hehe, Brother Chu, do you know how long I have studied poetry and books for this entrance exam?"

"Two and a half years?"

"Eh? How did Brother Chu know?"

"Just a guess."

"Haha, my father feeds me tonics every day. With two and a half years of effort, I will surely achieve a high rank!"

"By the way, Brother Chu, considering you are about to be at the bottom of the list for me... no, considering your pale face and frail body, next time my father prescribes medicine, just use my name and you'll get a discount."

You?

Forget it. One tael would turn into two, wouldn't it?

Chu Ming found an excuse to shake the man off and returned the way he came. From a distance, Xiao Shan came to meet him, holding a bowl of clear water.

"Young Master must be thirsty."

"A little."

After Chu Ming drank the large bowl of water, he practiced [Wind-Slapping Palm] and [Tiger Python Force] in the courtyard for a while. Once Steward Fang returned and they finished dinner together, he continued his studies.

The next day passed as usual.

Amidst Xiao Shan's lingering worry and fear, Chu Ming finished his day of practice.

The third day.

Chu Ming rose early to continue grinding his progress.

By dusk, the progress of his Wind-Slapping Palm had reached 76, while his Tiger Python Force had made significant strides, breaking through from Minor Accomplishment to Major Accomplishment with a progress of 13.

His Reading had not been neglected either; after burning the midnight oil, his progress reached 37, and he had finished the second book, Collection of Classics and Histories.

Willow Town Constable Office.

"My lords, a corpse has been discovered in Wheat Valley Alley," a junior constable reported.

"Wheat Valley Alley?" Chief Constable Hou reacted indifferently. "Has the identity been confirmed?"

"Confirmed. It is a runner from the Black Water Gang. The chest cavity was ripped open and the internal organs are gone, exactly the same as the previous two cases," the constable said, trembling with fear.

"That makes three," Chief Constable Hou said, his expression turning grave.

Beside him, Fang Xiao frowned slightly. "Chief Constable Hou, I will go take a look."

Just yesterday, Chief Constable Hou had discussed this case with him; he had not expected to encounter a similar incident again so soon.

Wheat Valley Alley.

Fang Xiao and Chief Constable Hou examined the corpse, which was already showing signs of severe decay.

"Brother Fang, have you noticed anything?" Chief Constable Hou asked, pinching his nose.

Fang Xiao slowly stood up, his voice low. "The wounds show clear tooth marks and claw gouges. At first glance, it appears to be the work of a wild beast."

"However, aside from the missing organs, the rest of the chest cavity is intact, which doesn't quite match the habits of a beast."

A wild beast would not simply rip open a chest and eat only the internal organs.

Chief Constable Hou nodded. "The previous two corpses were the same. Furthermore, although Willow Town is not large, we have city defense patrols; wild beasts shouldn't be able to get in at all."

"The probability of serial attacks without leaving behind a single hair or trace is infinitesimal."

"..."

Willow Town, at the end of West Street, in front of a small courtyard.

Fang Xiao and Chief Constable Hou walked side by side.

"Brother Fang, come to the office earlier tomorrow. The higher-ups are sending people down. Since people have died and we haven't caught the culprit, we still have to keep up appearances."

"Understood."

Fang Xiao opened the courtyard gate, just in time to see Chu Ming practicing the Wind-Slapping Palm.

"Hm?" Chief Constable Hou's gaze pierced through the gate, his eyes shifting slightly.

"Isn't Brother Fang's young master frail and sickly, with not much time left?"

"Why is he still...?"

"Brother Fang, was this intentional?" Chief Constable Hou asked in a low voice.

"What?" Fang Xiao's expression remained calm.

"Nothing." Chief Constable Hou chuckled.

Brother Fang is truly worthy of having served in the Tiger Armor Army; he is ruthless enough.

With his foundation severely damaged, moving about recklessly only consumes his remaining vitality, let alone performing actions that expend physical strength.

"Perhaps he just wants that young master to find release sooner."