Willow Town, private school.
Today was the day of the Academy Exam.
Young men had gathered in the school's outer hall, standing in small groups and quietly discussing something.
Off in a corner, Chu Ming stood alone, calmly surveying his surroundings.
The outer hall wasn't large. Its layout was much like a classroom from his previous life, with a teacher's desk at the front, rows of low desks below, and cushions for sitting cross-legged.
The spot where he stood was like the back corner of a classroom: inconspicuous and drawing little attention. Only a few glances swept over him.
But soon, he sensed an unusual gaze. He followed it and spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.
After bowing and scraping to the people beside him, the fellow ran over. "Brother Chu, you really came! I thought I'd mistaken you for someone else."
The newcomer was Huang Lu, whom Chu Ming had run into on the road a few days earlier.
Huang Lu's face was wreathed in smiles. His eyes practically shone as he stared at Chu Ming, and he draped an arm over Chu Ming's shoulder as if afraid he might run off.
"Brother Chu, now that you've come to take the Academy Exam, I can relax."
So you've got someone to come in last behind you, huh?
Chu Ming tried to push Huang Lu's arm away, but the other man only tightened his grip.
"Brother Chu, you can't leave. I went to so much trouble to talk you into—The silver we paid can't be refunded..." Huang Lu's eyes darted around. "Oh, right, you don't know those people, do you? I'll introduce them."
Did I ask?
Chu Ming glanced at him.
Never mind. They'd have to wait a while anyway, so he might as well listen.
"See that one? The one surrounded by seven or eight people, wearing a scholar's kerchief. His name is Chi Lin. He's been studying at the school for three years. He can recite poems from the General Theory of the Book of Songs at the drop of a hat."
"Now look to the left, at the one sitting there. That's Guan Chong. He's been at the school for two and a half years. Ask him anything from the Collection of Classics and Histories, and he'll know a thing or two. He and Chi Lin are rivals."
"And that one, in the clean scholar's robe? His background is even more impressive. You know Mr. Lu from the school, right? He's the examiner this time. That fellow's surnamed Lu, too. His name is Lu Xian, and he has a terrific memory. Get it? If only I'd been named Lu Huang..."
"As for everyone else...they can't compare to those three." Huang Lu lowered his voice to a whisper. "And they really can't compare to me. Heh heh."
But the outer hall was small. No matter how softly he spoke, people still heard him.
"Huang Lu, what are you muttering about over there? Trying to trick people into buying your dad's medicine again?" A boy half a head taller than Huang Lu came over, grabbed him by the collar, and turned to Chu Ming. "Kid, you can't just take that fellow's old man's medicine. You'll end up just like him. Hahaha!"
Huang Lu's feet dangled off the ground, but as soon as he heard the other boy say not to take his father's medicine, he immediately bristled.
"My dad's the only physician in Willow Town. When any of you gets sick, isn't it my dad who cures you?"
"Brother Chu used to spend every day listening to songs at the pleasure quarter. He was so frail a gust of wind could blow him over, but after taking my dad's medicine, he's now well enough to take the Academy Exam!"
"Right, Brother Chu?" Huang Lu gave him a pleading, conspiratorial look.
"..." Chu Ming regarded him impassively and said nothing.
When Huang Lu saw he wasn't answering, he grew even more anxious. "Brother Chu, help me explain. Didn't my dad's medicine cure you?"
He said this loudly, but then deliberately lowered his voice for the next part. "Brother Chu, I know you like reading travelogues. I've got a few books here even better than Sword Gourd Travels. If you put in a good word for me, I'll lend them to you for a few days..."
But the way he did it only made it look like he was covering his ears while stealing a bell.
Who in the hall hadn't heard him?
The tall boy holding Huang Lu couldn't help bursting out laughing. "Pfft! No wonder you and Huang Lu are so chummy. You're another pleasure-quarter regular who likes reading travelogues."
At this age, anyone who didn't study at the private school and instead liked travelogues and listening to songs at the pleasure quarter obviously had no great ambitions.
Chi Lin, wearing a scholar's kerchief, shook his head and lost interest in the spectacle.
Guan Chong turned away in distaste and picked up the Collection of Classics and Histories to study.
As for Lu Xian, dressed in his scholar's robe, he hadn't lifted his eyes once.
Outside the outer hall, two men sat facing each other in the middle of a small courtyard.
The man on the left was middle-aged and bore some resemblance to Lu Xian. He, too, wore a scholar's robe.
Facing him sat a man with a stern expression and an imposing presence.
The middle-aged scholar picked up the teapot, respectfully poured two cups of tea, then clasped his hands in salute. "Lord Feng, I didn't expect you to come in person."
"Heh heh. I heard that Mr. Lu Hong's eldest son would be taking this year's Academy Exam. I happened to be passing through Willow Town, so I came to have a look."
"If Xian'er knew you'd come here for his sake, he'd be delighted." Lu Hong bowed respectfully again.
Feng Yuan looked across the courtyard toward the outer hall. "Mr. Lu Hong, who do you think will take first place?"
"Well..." Lu Hong hesitated. "My son Lu Xian, Chi Lin, and Guan Chong are all contenders."
"What about the others?" Feng Yuan asked, taking a sip of tea.
"They still need to work harder," Lu Hong replied.
"Oh? Do you know that pale-faced boy?" Feng Yuan asked.
"Him?" Lu Hong followed his gaze and shook his head slightly. "I don't know that boy, but Lord Feng should have heard what they just said. He's a good-for-nothing who neglects his studies."
"Is that so?" Feng Yuan smiled without answering.
There were more than thirty boys about to take the Academy Exam in the outer hall. Every one of them looked somewhat nervous to him.
The wild-eyed boy and the taller one clearly had no learning to speak of.
The others were a little better, but not by much.
Even the three Lu Hong had mentioned were trying to hide their nervousness in their own ways. They were obviously lacking confidence.
And a lack of confidence meant a lack of ability.
There was only one exception: the pale-faced boy who looked as though a gust of wind could knock him over. He was composed, as if he weren't there to take an exam at all.
Even when others interrupted him, he still maintained a rare air of detachment.
For someone in his teens, that kind of temperament was truly unusual.
Was he really, as that wild-eyed boy had said, fond of listening to songs at the pleasure quarter and reading travelogues?
Or was he...an idiot?
Feng Yuan's gaze flickered. He had seen idiots before. They could indeed hide their emotions better, but their eyes gave them away.
That boy's eyes...were clear!
"Mr. Lu Hong, since you think those three can compete for first place, I might as well add another question to the Academy Exam."
Feng Yuan turned his gaze away and gestured. An attendant waiting nearby immediately came over and handed him a bundle.
He took out a thick, finely bound book and set it on the stone table.
"Lord Feng..." Lu Hong's expression shifted slightly, though inwardly he grumbled.
Lord Feng was the Registrar of Baiyuan County, a Principal Eighth Rank official. Never mind adding one question—even if he added ten, a private-school teacher from a small town like Lu Hong wouldn't dare object.
"Let's take three pages from this newly compiled Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy as the test material. Give them an hour to study it, then see who can remember the most. What do you think, Mr. Lu Hong?"
A test of memory?
Lu Hong had been a little worried that Lord Feng might set a question too difficult for his son Lu Xian. But when he heard they'd be testing memory, he immediately relaxed. "Memory is a gift. A scholar needs diligence, but talent matters too. This is an excellent test, Lord Feng."
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