"Fairy Su, do you know this candidate?" asked Yu Zhiyong, the Grand Commander of Qingzhou, beside her. Governor Hou Sen also turned to look.
"I had the good fortune to meet Brother Zhao in Big Stone County. We once fought side by side," Su Qingwan said.
At those words, both Yu Zhiyong and Hou Sen immediately grew solemn and examined Zhao Feng's records again.
Whatever open struggles and hidden schemes played out among the officials and the Imperial Court, the Pure Moon Convent remained impartial and uninvolved. It concerned itself not with court affairs, but with the common people.
Yet no one dared dismiss the Pure Moon Convent's stance. After all, it was the leader of the righteous path, the foremost Daoist order as conferred by Emperor Taizu.
Thus, at this Martial Examination, which involved the various factions at court, Su Qingwan's casual remark gave everyone much to ponder.
"Just watch. This man won't hit more than five targets," Gu Rong said with certainty as he watched Zhao Feng from among the Yichuan Nine Yang Gate's contingent.
"Exactly. Senior Brother Gu is right. I think he's even giving the fellow too much credit. He should burn incense in thanks if he manages four hits," said his junior brother Yan Xun beside him.
The other junior brothers nearby also echoed their agreement.
Just then, Zhao Feng rode onto the track as a horn sounded.
Zhao Feng lifted the reins. The Yellow-Maned Horse gave a long neigh, its four hooves flying as it shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Meanwhile, on the wooden platforms thirty paces away on either side, quick-handed soldiers were already tossing Wooden Targets into the air one after another in an irregular pattern.
The targets flew high and low, left and right, sometimes diagonally, sometimes