Fortune Weighs One Stone Under Heaven, Wu Gan Holds Half a Dou; A Talented Woman Vanishes, a Scalding Hot Potato
The world's Fortune is shared by all, and Wu Gan alone holds half a bushel, demonstrating his profound talent and formidable abilities. In the past, when the Great Martial Dynasty invaded Jade City, Wu Gan personally wrote a proclamation, responding with powerful words. He won a great victory in the verbal battle, shaking the morale of the Great Wu army, and received the the Unseen assistance of Fortune. This led to the later situation where the Great Wu suffered a humiliating defeat, and Jade City remained as steadfast as a rock.
However, Wu Gan is getting old, Fortune stronger, making it increasingly difficult for him to bear the burden. He has many disciples, and several years ago he began to select disciples to inherit his mantle and pass on his Fortune.
However, "Fortune" is elusive and not something that belongs to any one family. Although Wu Gan has it in his hands, if his disciple is mediocre and cannot hold onto Fortune, even if he passes Fortune on, it will inevitably dissipate back into the world.
Therefore, a grand examination was established to select those of excellent character and profound knowledge, and to gradually pass on Fortune's destiny, dividing and passing it on from one's own person.
There are only two ways to obtain the world's Fortune. First, by seizing it from Heaven; second, by gaining the trust of others. This great test is imminent, and those who know the inside story cannot help but sigh, saying that a whale fall can bring forth all things, and the once talented young man in his green robes is now old and gray.
After resting in the pavilion, the group resumed their patrol along Mirror Lake. The Jiyin Academy was steeped in scholarly atmosphere; the sound of students reciting their lessons could often be heard among the trees and bushes, and auspicious foxes and birds could be seen soaring through the mountains and forests. To the southeast of Mirror Lake, a river extended out, known as the "Literary Abyss River."
The Literary Abyss River belongs to the Jiyin Academy. Originating from Mirror Lake, it flows past Hall of Ten Thousand Studies, Book-Gathering Pagoda, Gentleman’s Cliff... Its long history and profound meaning are evident. Su Kuo, who was traveling with Li Xian, told him that Wu Gan's 100th birthday would be some time after the major examination.
They patrolled the surrounding area thoroughly, finding no real danger. Although Wu Gan was old, he was protected by Fortune, and although not a martial artist, he was not someone an ordinary person could harm. The True Guard were there to maintain order and deter enemies.
That night, the atmosphere gradually became lively. The incense at the "Literary Fortune Pagoda" in the distance burned continuously, and students flocked to the building, hoping to draw good fortune slips and achieve good results in the important exam the next day.
There are ten examination venues, symbolizing the ten measures of literary fortune. They are named "Mirror Lake", "Erudition Altar", "Hall of Shameless Inquiry", "Flourishing Splendor Forest"... Each examination venue is meticulously prepared in advance. Among all the examinees, "Mirror Lake" is the best, reserved for those with the best character and knowledge. Otherwise, if someone steps into Mirror Lake and their mind is slightly disturbed, it will cause ripples on the lake.
Those of slightly higher rank, such as Li Xian, the Gold Steward, and the Mud Cavalry Commander, are not required to guard the streets. They can freely patrol and keep an eye on the situation at the academy to respond to any unforeseen circumstances. All those participating in the patrols must register their names, and the True Guard must check each other's records to avoid misunderstandings and embarrassing situations due to poor coordination. Xu Shaoqian, the Central Lang General the Gold-Seeking Guard, Gong Kuai, the Silver Cavalry Commander of the Divine Cavalry Guard, and Yang Zhen " of the Truth-Inspecting Guard, are the main figures in this mission. The patrol layout and garrison arrangements will be discussed and coordinated by the three of them.
Li Xian and the others happened to meet. Xu Shaoqian and Gong Kuai chatted happily. Although Gong Kuai was older, he lowered his head slightly during the conversation, Xu Shaoqian a little. Xu Shaoqian didn't know the reason, but he was quite pleased. Yang Zhen was about thirty years old, older than Xu Shaoqian. She looked young, with fair skin, and at first glance, she looked like a woman; she could be described as "beautiful."
Li Xian and the others hurriedly greeted everyone and inspected all ten examination sites one by one to confirm that there were no further mistakes. As dusk was falling, the group went to a small tavern outside the academy for a simple meal.
When they started talking about their families, they learned that Bai Yizhan, Xiang Poshān, Han Niannian, and others had studied at the Jiyin Academy in their youth. Aristocratic Clan families were aristocratic and had strict family rules. Martial artists were not just reckless men; they should be proficient in both literature and martial arts and have extensive knowledge of various paths. They just lacked the protection of Fortune.
After dinner, everyone dispersed. Li Xian was in charge of six streets on the southwest side of the "Jiyin Academy". He had half Terrain Map with detailed guard posts for the six streets.
There were a total of 37 garrison posts, overseeing various key roads and points, responsible for passage, security, martial law, and inspections. There were 120 Gold-Seeking Guard Cavalier and 56 Divine Cavalry Guard. Ordinary wardens, yamen runners, and ordinary soldiers were scattered throughout. Li Xian himself brewed some dried meat and carried a wine gourd at his waist. He routinely went to the various garrison posts to inspect the guards, distribute some dried meat, chat briefly, get to know each other, and give a few words of advice. Although the Jiyin Academy was located to the west, it was not actually under the jurisdiction of the Gold-Seeking Guard.
However, he needed to cooperate with the Gold-Seeking Guard) in their investigations. Li Xian's first case involved arriving at the Jiyin Academy, where he encountered no obstacles. Among the Gold-Seeking Guard in the Sixth Street were those from the middle and upper reaches of the street, whom Li Xian had never met before and were quite unfamiliar with. So he spoke a few more words with them.
After confirming everything was correct, Li Xian found a quiet place and slowly practiced his sword and spear techniques, sitting cross-legged to Turbidity Transport and hone his Sole-Self Heart Technique. Soon it was midnight, the wind and waves were still, and he was quite at ease.
Li Xian arrived at a lakeside, jumped onto a treetop, and lay down against a branch. He was full of energy and not sleepy at all. He bathed his whole body with the fresh air, enjoying himself leisurely. He could always steal a moment of leisure in his busy life and find joy in hardship. He had a sudden inspiration and started to play with golden light to pass the time. First, he kneaded a flat, golden stone and flicked it into the lake. The flat, golden stone skipped hundreds of times and created a ripple in the water.
It has its own unique charm.
Li Xian slowly kneaded and shaped the golden flat stone, making it even flatter, transforming it into a shape with a drooping belly and curved edges. He then launched it again, creating even more numerous skips on the water, each one continuous, which was quite a sight.
As his martial arts cultivation progressed, his martial arts evolved more comprehensively, and his extraordinary abilities became more pronounced. The golden light could then travel farther and with greater power. In fact, it wasn't just the Flicked-Finger Golden Light; many of Li Xian's martial arts techniques became stronger and more profound with his cultivation level.
Seeing the bright silver moon, Li Xian was captivated. He used the "Borrowing Light Through a Chiseled Wall" technique, capturing specks of white light with his fingertips. Li Xian then kneaded and shaped the moon with his fingers, displaying his "Skillful Hands" ability, and created a white jade rabbit.
With a flick of his finger, the jade rabbit leaped across the water, resembling a real rabbit. This "Flicked-Finger Golden Light" was quite amusing; Li Xian could knead it at will, and the golden light transformed into various shapes—like needles, tigers, rabbits, the moon... These many strange shapes did not actually increase the power of martial arts, but they displayed wondrous sights and could also hone the level of martial arts training.
It's wonderful to pass the time and enjoy the pleasure! They played like this until dawn, when the streets gradually became lively, the full moon disappeared, and the morning sun rose. Li Xian faintly caught a glimpse of a purple light and immediately used "Borrowing Light Through a Chiseled Wall."
However, the purple light was very faint, and Li Xian's martial arts were slightly lacking, making it difficult to borrow. He only caught a glimpse of the pale yellow morning light. Li Xian casually flicked it away, leaped down from the treetop, and headed towards the street.
The air was filled with the clamor of voices, a truly lively scene. Shops along the street were opening one after another, and the bustling atmosphere of the city was palpable. Students from all over flocked to the Jiyin Academy. Li Xian was arranging for the neighborhood officials to guide the flow of people along the street and maintain order.
The examinations began Chen Hour Shi (7-9 AM), with the busiest time of day being Mao Shi (5-7 AM). Southeast of the academy stood the "Virtue-Extending Gate," where students had to present their credentials to enter. Li Xian, riding his Binds the Wind, was busy but organized. He methodically arranged the wards officials, each fulfilling their duties and cooperating effectively, ensuring no chaos on the six main streets. The crowds gradually thinned out around Chen Hour. Li Xian found a shop, had a simple meal of soy milk and fried dough sticks, but still couldn't relax. The major examinations had begun, and vigilance against thieves and troublemakers remained crucial at key locations.
Li Xian patrolled the various posts, inquiring about their duties. If any of the Cavalier or Divine Cavalry Guard felt hungry, he would help them buy food to tide them over. The Gold-Seeking Guard, Divine Cavalry Guard, Truth-Inspecting Guard, and Wind-Chasing Guard had begun their inspections a few days ago, and the area around the academy was quite safe, making it difficult for anything unusual to happen.
The wind was calm, and it was noon. Li Xian played with the silver ball, activated the mechanism, and the silver ball transformed into Silverfrost Bow. He activated the mechanism again, and the bow retracted, its interlocking links turning it back into a silver ball. Li Xian looked around; no thieves appeared, no villains caused trouble. Under the sunlight, the precious bow shimmered with silver light, but at this moment it had no use.
Suddenly, I thought, "I am very familiar with these six streets. It would be difficult for the thief to hide there, so there should be no major problem. I might as well go to the academy for a tour and take a look at the important academic examination. Speaking of which... I should have accompanied my younger brother when he took the academic examination back then."
He then entered the academy, conducting Li Xian routine inspection, which was within his authority and unimpeded. He soon arrived at a place called "The Hall of Shameless Inquiry," an openwork pavilion with no walls to obstruct its view.
The situation inside the building was immediately apparent. Each floor was furnished with a hundred desks, and there were four floors in total. A teacher with a solemn expression walked around the students. It was late summer, and the cicadas were chirping incessantly, but the occasional breeze from the lake could soothe the students' restlessness.
Li Xian was not allowed to enter the building, so he patrolled outside and peered into it. He saw that the students had different expressions: some were frowning in thought, some were pounding their chests and stamping their feet, some were writing furiously, and some were scratching their heads and pulling their hair.
A female teacher walked up to a young disciple, her eyes showing approval, and nodded repeatedly. She patted the disciple on the shoulder, then turned and looked around. At the very front of each level, there was a bronze incense burner.
Above was a large incense stick, half-burned. With their future uncertain, everyone was writing with all their might. Li Xian thought, "So this is what the grand examination is like. The murderous intent and the future are all contained between the brushstrokes. Though no blood is seen, peril lurks within. Such a grand event is rare indeed. I'll go and take a look elsewhere."
Walking along the path, the flowers and grasses were fragrant and the scenery was beautiful. Soon we came to a stone tablet with the inscription "Bamboo Contemplation Grove". We saw thousands of desks set up in the grove, and students were writing furiously.
The sounds of ink being dipped, paper being scribbled, and sighs mingled with the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind. Li Xian suddenly thought, "Seeing their worried and anxious faces only makes me feel more at ease. They're probably just detached, even gloating. The Jiyin Academy is vast and beautiful; it's truly excellent. In my leisure time, I can come here for a stroll. Although I won't steal their Fortune, accumulating knowledge is always beneficial. I can also come here to consult with the sages and borrow books. I just wonder if they'll even pay me any attention. Haha."
Without disturbing them, he continued along the path. After a short while, he came upon a Mirror Lake. Looking into the distance, he saw a few people gathered around the lake shore. The students of Mirror Lake Li Xian School were all learned and of excellent character.
He was considered the most promising student to inherit Wu Gan's mantle and gain his Fortune. Li Xian glanced at him and immediately knew he was different. The disciple of the mirror had a calm expression and sharp eyes, clearly understanding the exam questions.
He possessed a natural composure when answering questions.
The mirror reflected an elderly man with white hair, his back hunched, needing a cane to lean on, taking each step with utmost care. His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, his skin drooping, and his eyes, though strained to open, were barely slits, as if he were already drowsy.
He leaned on his cane, slowly observing the students answering questions, his State of Mind as calm as High Antiquity. The students, noticing Wu Gan's observation, were immediately stirred; ripples spread across their faces, making it difficult for them to remain calm. Li Xian pondered, "This old man, with his white hair and advanced age, must be Wu Gan. Scholars rarely live long. Recently, I've been diligently apprehending criminals, and many of them are quite old, sixty or seventy. Although they show signs of age, their bodies are robust, and their lifespans are still long. Living to a hundred is extremely easy."
"But my wife once told me that scholars, from the age of thirty, bear the Fortune on their shoulders, and what they feel, experience, and understand is indescribable. In terms of seniority, they must be ranked high. Take Wu Gan before us, for example, who carries half Fortune —how formidable! He is only one year older, yet he has lived more than an ordinary person who has lived to be a hundred. Even at a hundred years old, his seniority is still extremely high. Although martial artists live long lives, they cannot use their longevity to claim seniority; they absolutely cannot bear such a title, and would only shorten their own lifespan!" "It's like an eighty-year-old man kowtowing to a three-year-old child—how could he possibly bear it?"
Li Xian was filled with curiosity, thinking, "Xiao Fan Fan's master, Fu Haoran, is a renowned scholar who once served as a celestial Celestial Official and enjoys great acclaim. Xiao Fan became his disciple, yet I have never met him. Perhaps, being a fellow scholar, he bears some resemblance to this Senior Wu Gan. I shall take a good look." He stared intently. He saw that Wu Gan's movements were slow, indicating he knew nothing of martial arts. At first glance, he seemed unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, he appeared even more ordinary. Suddenly, Wu Gan turned his head and looked at Li Xian, their eyes meeting briefly. Li Xian found this very strange, and bowed respectfully.
Wu Gan stared intently, his expression unchanged, but he didn't look away for a moment. Li Xian thought to himself that this was strange, wondering, "Could it be that Senior Wu is looking at something else, and I just happen to be blocking his view?" He immediately moved aside.
Seeing Wu Gan slightly follow him, his movements subtle, yet Li Xian's Double Pupils allowed him to see clearly. He thought to himself, "This is strange. Could it be that my appearance here wearing a mask is rather abrupt? Oh well, never mind too much, I'll just leave first."
He bowed again and quickly turned to leave. Wu Gan withdrew his gaze and continued to examine the students' scrolls. This major examination lasted for three days. Li Xian was bored and patrolled around, slowly honing his Flicked-Finger Golden Light, using the "Pinched Light" property to pass the time.
Three days later, the grand exam was over, and the students breathed a sigh of relief. Some ran around joyfully, while others were dejected. Li Xian and the others withdrew from the patrol and returned to normal. The ten-day patrol was rewarded handsomely. Ordinary Cavalier were rewarded with "three coins of lean meat" and "thirty military merits". The Gold Steward was rewarded with "five coins of lean meat" and "one hundred and fifty military merits". This was better than several fourth- or fifth-rank important positions.
During his patrols, he received the same daily Essence Soup and "five coins' worth of fine meat." After receiving his reward, Li Xian consumed it all. With the added benefit of the Consumption, his body's essence was replenished once more. He honed his martial arts skills, digested the essence, and felt his martial arts prowess, realm of martial arts, and broadened horizons gradually increase.
He couldn't help but sigh, realizing that although his past trips to Jade City were indeed fraught with danger, it was the right decision. A stable supply of "Essence Treasure" was hard to come by. Li Xian was insatiable, digesting the information quickly, and his martial arts progress was remarkable.
There is noticeable progress every day.
After the major examination, Li Xian resumed his daily tasks: taking on important missions, chasing down thieves and criminals, honing his martial arts skills, and selling the precious cicada...
Though repetitive, it was not boring; there were occasional dangers, but the gains were plentiful; the steps were steady, but there was not much to say. The big exam was over, but the turmoil was far from over.
On August 24th, the results of the major exam were released, causing a stir throughout the city.
Throughout the 360 wards of Jade City, notices and announcements were posted on notice boards. The scale of the commotion and the magnitude of the uproar were unprecedented! From the Lineage, young talents, and elders of Jade City to ordinary people, even Common Citizen and debtors, everyone paid close attention and discussed it over tea and meals. This grand examination included ten examinations, such as the "Thirteen Sages of the Mirror," the "Two Heroes of Shame," the "Six Heroes of Bamboo Thoughts," and the "Two Beauties of Fragrance," among others. Several people from each of these examinations performed remarkably well and were praised by Wu Gan.
The poems and calligraphy of the students circulated widely among the common people, attracting much admiration. Their fame far surpassed that of Li Xian. The neighbors exclaimed, "A bright future indeed! A bright future indeed! These prodigies are truly blessed to receive guidance from Wu Gan!" "More than that! More than that!" Indeed, their literary talent was first and foremost exceptional, which earned them the favor of the esteemed Master Wu Gan. Take, for example Bing Chunzheng, one of the Thirteen Sages of the Mirror, whose poem "Gazing at the Sun over Guanzhong" is magnificent and grand. "Magnificent and awe-inspiring! At his age, to compose such a poem—isn't that remarkable?" The crowd then commented, "These talented individuals are all truly gifted. But in my heart, the foremost is the prodigy, Tang Jilong. At the age of three, he watched his father practice swordsmanship and composed a poem ' Ode to the Sword.' Who can match such skill? His early wisdom and intelligence were even praised by his teacher, Zhang Yuhua. While Zhang Yuhua may not be comparable to Wu Gan, his own Fortune is certainly no less remarkable."
"No, no! Tang Jilong is indeed precocious. But his literary talent is far-reaching; what does it matter if he's a few steps ahead? I think Xue Huilan is the best. This woman's ' Discourse on Policy Discourse ' is 941 characters long, written in one breath. Her arguments are profound, and her writing is elegant. She is more deserving of first place." "Hahaha, fools argue, never seeing the point, only talking about their own shortcomings. How laughable! Tang Jilong and Xue Huilan are both very capable, but what are they compared to Li Zhihuang? Li Zhihuang entered the palace at thirty, no longer young, yet his poetry, prose, and ideas, their enduring appeal, who can match him?" Everyone held their own opinions, discussing who had the best literary talent. When the discussion got heated, they brought out poetry classics, dissected verses, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses word by word. This allowed them to showcase their talent and prove their own opinions. Meanwhile, others would nitpick and criticize.
It is said that all the gathering places in Jade City, such as restaurants, taverns, and eateries, are nothing more than this. Among them are many martial artists from various places who participate in the discussion, and their words are full of praise.
The various Lineage devised a plan to obtain copies of the works from the talented scholars, gathered their disciples for a family banquet, and together they appreciated and studied the articles. They even invited a teacher from the Jiyin Academy to explain the profound meaning within.
If any member of the clan is willing to learn, they will truly benefit greatly! If anyone in the clan can invite these talented individuals, they will receive even greater rewards from the Lineage. These talented individuals are currently enjoying great popularity, and all the clans and business leaders in Jade City are extending olive branches to them.
Restaurants and shops seized the opportunity to celebrate, hanging banners to congratulate the talented scholar on his success in the imperial examinations. Celebratory banquets were held, making the entire Jade City extremely lively, with fireworks, firecrackers, and lion dances adding to the festive atmosphere...
But it was at this moment...
A shocking event occurred: Song Ya, one of the Thirteen Sages of the Mirror, went missing. This caused a great stir, leaving Jade City in an uproar, with discussions rising like a tidal wave.
This Song Ya is the eldest daughter of the Song the Merchant. The Song the Merchant was originally a martial artist and was quite famous as a "Merchant Hero" outside Jade City. He would do chivalrous deeds while doing business. The Song the Merchant had two daughters and two sons, all of whom studied literature or martial arts and each showed remarkable talent.
The Song Family's rise to prominence was remarkable, and now Song Ya has passed the exam, becoming one of the "Thirteen Sages of the Mirror." It should be noted that of the ten examinations Jiyin Academy, only Jing was examined by Wu Gan! In fact, the grand examination hadn't even ended yet; Wu Gan had already reviewed all the students' papers and, after the on-the-spot examination, already had a good idea of their chances. Among the "Two Outstanding Scholars," "Six Heroes of Sizhu," "Two Beautiful Women," and "Seven Learned Scholars"... the most outstanding and exceptional were undoubtedly the "Thirteen Sages of the Mirror."
Seeing that Song Ya was about to gain Fortune, the Song Family was bound to become even more powerful. At this time, Song Ya's sudden disappearance was like a bolt from the blue. Song Ya lived in "Dream-Painting House," which was under the jurisdiction of Gold-Seeking Guard.
Ordinary missing persons cases are first investigated by the local constables. If the case is unusual, it is reported to the yamen (government office) for further investigation. If the yamen constables find it difficult to handle, the matter is decided on a case-by-case basis. If it is believed that the matter may endanger the safety of Jade City, it is reported to the Gold-Seeking Guard. The Gold-Seeking Guard's clerks then follow up on the case, determine whether it is true or not, and if it is true, it is assigned to an important post, classified according to rank, and posted on the Crimson Tower Notice Board.
If it is not true, it will be rejected directly. Although the Song family, including Song Ya and Song the Merchant, is prosperous, they are only ordinary in Jade City for the time being. Although Song the Merchant has martial arts skills, he can only feel anxious and helpless about this matter.
This should have been handled by the local constables.
However, the matter was too turbulent, and the magistrate was terrified and dared not handle it. He immediately presented it to the yamen. Although the county magistrate was a "Mud Face" official, he was in danger of being overthrown in such a storm.
He braced himself and proceeded with caution. But upon first contact, he was completely clueless. Whether to shirk responsibility or to avoid a genuine emergency, the county magistrate quickly claimed injury and reported the matter to the Gold-Seeking Guard.
This matter caused a great uproar. Just then, the "Thirteen Sages of the Mirror" of the Jiyin Academy, and many other students of the academy, jointly submitted a letter, speaking with certainty and emphasizing their condemnation of the villain. They said that such a dangerous matter had endangered the safety of Jade City, and asked the Gold-Seeking Guard to find the villain, restore peace to Jade City, and save Song Ya's life.
Thus, all the pressure fell on Gold-Seeking Guard, and precisely on Xu Shaoqian's head. Xu Shaoqian was overwhelmed and immediately cursed, declaring that he would personally take charge of such a major case, investigate it thoroughly, and punish the perpetrators as soon as possible!
This temporarily quelled the uproar, but the matter was extremely difficult to resolve. The fact that the thief dared to attack the Thirteen Sages of the Mirror during the heated discussions in Jade City showed that he was extremely confident, and it would be extremely difficult to solve the case in a short period of time.
Although Xu Shaoqian held an important position and was indeed talented, he was not particularly skilled at solving cases and catching criminals. However, he was very confident, and with everyone watching, Tao Xiangrong would definitely pay attention to this matter. If he handled it well, he would surely become famous, so he tried to take charge himself.
Even a brief encounter revealed a chaotic and tangled mess, far from easy. He attempted reconnaissance for two days, but to no avail. Now, feeling utterly trapped and filled with regret for his initial overconfidence, he was in a state of extreme anxiety when Lei Chong said, "Xu Central Lang General, I've recently heard the soldiers discussing this matter. If Li Xian had investigated it, he would surely have solved it by now."
Xu Shaoqian was immediately annoyed. Lately, he had increasingly noticed that Li Xian had stolen some of his thunder. He said, "Hmph! This case is complicated. Who can solve it immediately? Although Li Xian's name contains the character for 'immortal,' is he really a god? If he is a god, why don't he first cure the ugly disease on his face?"
These words already revealed Lei Chong's great dissatisfaction with Li Xian. Lei Chong had followed Xu Shaoqian for many years and had some understanding of his temperament; these words were perfectly timed, killing without drawing blood.
Xu Shaoqian coldly replied, "Hmph! In that case, I'll refuse to let this brat participate in this case. Let him go and handle other cases. I want to see if this little Gold Steward is more capable than me, a dignified Central Lang General!"