The examination began

In the courtyard in Willow Tree Alley, Zhao Feng swung his legs like windmills, darting low over the ground and stirring up clouds of dust.

[Wind God Leg Technique: beginner (265/500)]

"Even if the Wind God Leg Technique and Eight Extremes Fist can't mesh perfectly, combining them in a simple way should be no problem." He would use Eight Extremes Fist at close quarters, then switch to the Wind God Leg Technique when he opened up the distance and fought on the move. That would give him a basic combination. Or he could simply use it as a movement technique to evade attacks. That was Zhao Feng's idea, and he intended to give it a try.

The Martial Examination consisted of two subjects, the first being Archery and Horsemanship. Zhao Feng was confident, since his Archery had already reached mastery. He only needed to find time to practice and improve it as much as he could.

Saber techniques, however, were of no use in the Martial Examination, since the second subject involved only unarmed combat, with no weapons. He could set those aside for now.

He would focus on his fist and leg techniques while continuing to advance his Stance Training.

Thus, Zhao Feng practiced his stance and fists at the Martial Arts School during the day, then returned to the courtyard in Willow Tree Alley at night to practice his leg technique.

He strove to improve his stance and fist technique as much as possible before the Martial Examination began, and to bring his leg technique to minor attainment.

"Cousin, take a break. It's time to eat," Qiao'er said as she emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She now wore a blue skirt and a kerchief wrapped around her head. Her face had visibly filled out, and she looked much healthier and more spirited.

"All right." Zhao Feng entered the main room.

Steaming dishes already covered the table: a full two pounds of braised bear meat, a large pot of rich tiger-bone soup with medicinal ingredients, two home-style stir-fries, and an entire pot of rice. The ferocious beast meat and medicinal tiger-bone soup were for Zhao Feng, while Qiao'er ate some of the stir-fries and rice.

He had to admit that, young as Qiao'er was, years of working since childhood had made her a skilled cook.

With her taking care of his daily needs, cooking, and laundry, Zhao Feng could concentrate more fully on training. He no longer had to force himself to eat the ferocious beast meat he cooked himself, either. Qiao'er's cooking perfectly masked that dreadful rank smell.

"How has your studying been these past couple of days?" Zhao Feng asked between large mouthfuls of bear meat.

"Very well! I wrote more than two hundred characters today, and the teacher even praised me," Qiao'er said proudly.

She could already read some simple illustrated books. After returning from the private school, aside from cooking and washing clothes, she spent her time reading with relish.

"Qiao'er, do you want to take the examination to become a female official someday, or practice martial arts?"

"Of course I want to practice martial arts!" Qiao'er immediately declared, her eyes shining.

Zhao Feng was not surprised. Zihuai and Bao'er were studying for the sake of practicing martial arts, too.

Seeing that Qiao'er's body was beginning to grow sturdier, he decided that after the Martial Examination, he would teach her a method for tempering her qi and blood, muscles, and bones, and start laying her foundation. She could begin preparing for martial training.

At the Four Seas Trading House in the Inner City, the shopkeeper took the list Zhao Feng handed him and calculated the price.

"The treasure medicines, tiger meat, and bear meat you need, along with one bottle of Vitality Pills, come to one hundred and twenty taels and two mace of silver. We'll round it down for you."

Zhao Feng paid without hesitation. This was the largest single expenditure he had ever made.

To improve his strength as much as possible, he was willing to spend freely and prepare for the Martial Examination with everything he had.

He could obtain ordinary medicinal ingredients at cost from the pharmacies under the Wei Family, however rare or expensive they were. But certain special treasure medicines, such as several listed in his master's formula, had to be purchased from the Four Seas Trading House. Ordinary pharmacies did not stock them.

"Please wait a moment." Just as he was about to leave, a voice as clear as a silver bell rang out behind him.

Zhao Feng turned and saw a beautiful young woman in a lake-green silk skirt emerge from behind the counter, her eyes bright and her teeth pearly white.

"Were you calling me, miss?" Zhao Feng pointed at himself.

"Yes." The woman nodded. She was beautiful, but a hint of martial spirit showed in her graceful brows.

"This formula of yours is good, certainly, but don't take Vitality Pills within two hours before or after the medicinal bath. Remember that," she said.

"Oh?"

"The medicinal potency is fierce. Adding Vitality Pills would do more harm than good. Damaging your meridians would be no small matter," the woman said evenly.

Zhao Feng's expression turned solemn. He bowed with his hands clasped. "Thank you for the warning, miss. I'm deeply grateful."

"There's no need to be so polite. Take care."

The woman nodded with reserve, then turned and went back behind the counter.

Zhao Feng noticed that both the shopkeeper and the assistants treated her with great respect. She was probably someone of considerable standing in the Four Seas Trading House. Without giving it much further thought, he turned and left.

The days flowed past like water. Soon, more than half a month had passed, leaving only two days until the Martial Examination's County Trial.

In the courtyard in Willow Tree Alley.

Zhao Feng pushed off with one leg and shot low over the ground with a swish. His legs moved like a gale, carrying him to the other end of the courtyard in an instant. Then he touched his toes to the ground and swept through a wide turn like a great bird, his figure shifting unpredictably.

His legs repeatedly touched down and kicked him into the air as he darted through the courtyard faster and faster.

Watching from the doorway of the main room, Qiao'er could no longer make out his figure. She covered her mouth and gasped.

Only after several dozen breaths did Zhao Feng land lightly. White light flashed before his eyes, and a line of small text appeared.

[Wind God Leg Technique: minor attainment (1/1000)]

"I brought the Wind God Leg Technique to minor attainment in just over a month. That's a decent pace." He breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally reached minor attainment before the Martial Examination began.

From what he had learned in reaching minor attainment, this leg technique was not merely nimble and light. It also possessed the ferocity of a gale, and did not conflict with Eight Extremes Fist.

That made the results far better than he had expected. Over the next two days, he would do his utmost to make Eight Extremes Fist and the Wind God Leg Technique work together more smoothly and naturally.

On the second day of the eleventh month, in the sixteenth year of Jingzong's reign in Great Yan, dawn had yet to break.

Zhao Feng had already washed and dressed. Little Aunt and Qiao'er had prepared breakfast and set his clothes in order.

"Little Aunt, Qiao'er, the County Trial lasts three days. I'll be eating and staying at the Martial Arts School during that time, so don't worry about me. Just stay here without worrying. I've stocked vegetables, meat, rice, and flour." As he ate breakfast, he reassured Little Aunt and Qiao'er, whose faces were full of concern.

Since he would be away from home for several days, he had asked Little Aunt to stay with Qiao'er in the courtyard in Willow Tree Alley and keep her company.

"Yes, Feng'er. Go without worrying about us." Little Aunt was so nervous that she could not eat.

After finishing breakfast, Zhao Feng drew a deep breath, stepped through the gate, and headed to the Martial Arts School to meet his master and fellow disciples. This was the first truly momentous day since he had arrived in this world. It would have been a lie to say he felt no pressure. Unlike his earlier gate breakthrough, when the panel had given him confidence, this Martial Examination involved many other factors he could not be sure of.

I can't let outside factors affect me. He suppressed his unease.

White light flashed before his eyes, and the information on his panel appeared.

[Cloak Saber Technique: beginner (220/500)]

[Archery: mastery (478/4000)]

[Eight Extremes Stake Skill: mastery (520/2000)]

[Eight Extremes Fist: mastery (380/2000)]

[Wind God Leg Technique: minor attainment (20/1000)]

His strength was the bedrock of his confidence!

At the hour of the dragon, a solemn atmosphere hung over the Militia Corps' drill ground in Big Stone County, beneath a canopy of banners.

Fences enclosed the drill ground on all sides, and soldiers stood guard. Ordinary commoners were barred from entering. Yet the County Seat's prominent families, influential figures, and even ordinary wealthy households could all enter as friends and relatives. Such was the hierarchy of class.

Wherever it was held, the Martial Examination's County Trial was a major event, attracting martial masters of eligible age from across the county. Anyone who made the examination's list and became a Martial Scholar gained semi-official status. Not only would they receive reductions or exemptions from land tax and corvée labor, but their social standing would also undergo a fundamental leap.

Then a gong sounded, and the drill ground's gates opened. The martial masters who had long been waiting outside, dressed in various styles of close-fitting martial attire, filed in, divided into separate groups.

Huo Shan strode proudly into the drill ground with his disciples and his daughter, Huo Yao. For this County Trial, Huo Yao had made a special trip back from the Prefecture City to help the Martial Arts School handle paperwork and everyday arrangements, and to watch the trial.