The World Would Not Help Him; Yet He Was a Golden Flood Dragon

The Qiongtian Prefecture comprised nine counties.

It takes nine colors from the world: blue, red, yellow, green, crimson, orange, purple, blue, and black.

Yellow Jade County is far more prosperous than Qingning County. Upon arriving in the county, one is immediately struck by its lively local atmosphere.

Li Xian's long hair was secured with bamboo strips, and his longbow was stored in a wooden box and carried on his back. He wore loose clothing, perfectly concealing the long sword at his waist.

He looked perfectly normal, but his handsome appearance always drew glances from passersby.

"Selling tofu!"

"Hot tofu, fragrant tofu!"

"Come and see! There's a sugar figurine!"

"These vegetables were just picked yesterday, come and have a look, gentlemen."

Various shouts and calls.

"A bowl of hot tofu, please." Li Xian had been traveling all day and was already hungry. When he arrived at the tofu stall, he smelled the aroma and wanted to eat something warm.

"Okay."

The vendor scooped up a bowl of steaming tofu with a wooden ladle, sprinkled some brine on top, and drizzled on some chopped green onions. A bowl of hot tofu pudding was ready.

"Sir, three coins." the vendor said with a smile.

"Become."

After paying, Li Xian squatted down and slurped up the hot tofu, finishing it all. He felt much warmer, but for a martial artist, one bowl was definitely not enough.

"Three more bowls, please."

Li Xian gave him another ten coins.

"Okay, okay, plenty of tofu, sir, eat slowly." The vendor beamed.

"Yes, I've heard that this county has been quite lively lately?"

Li Xian casually inquired.

"It's incredibly lively there," a vendor said, bringing over a bowl of tofu. "The Winter Examination results were released recently, and wow, there are dozens more powerful officials above us now."

"I'm illiterate and can't understand the articles, but maybe I should give it a try. Who knows, I might even be able to become a high-ranking official in the literary world."

"Please enjoy, sir. I'll get you some more."

Li Xian took the wooden bowl, which was obviously much thicker. The steam hit her face, melting the frost on her eyelashes.

The previous bowl filled my stomach; this one I will savor slowly.

"Speaking of the list of successful candidates, where is it located? I'd like to go and take a look," Li Xian asked.

"It's not far; there are several places with them."

"Notices were posted in front of government offices, in some large restaurants, and even in some bustling streets and alleys."

The vendor said.

"I see." Li Xian asked, "I heard that this year's list of successful candidates is somewhat different from previous years?"

"Oh," the vendor said, "You know what. In previous years, every Flower Plucker gentleman came from a prestigious family. But this year, for some reason, it's a poor boy."

"But a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime. You might ask, isn't this talent and learning a treasure in itself?"

"For ordinary people, being a little foolish, a little silly, or a little clumsy is also a blessing, isn't it?"

Li Xian's heart sank slightly; it seemed this matter was true. He then asked, "I didn't expect you to be so talented."

"Hey-hey."

The tofu vendor scratched his head. "Like I said, I can't read or write, but I do know a little bit about those poems and phrases."

"Sir, here's another bowl. Please enjoy it slowly." Seeing that Li Xian had finished eating, the sensible man handed him another bowl.

"It seems you're quite knowledgeable about this academic examination system?" Li Xian asked.

"The Winter Examination are held every year in Yellow Jade County, so it's impossible not to study them," the tofu vendor said self-deprecatingly. "Besides, for us ordinary people, Literary Dao is more tangible and accessible than Martial Dao."

"Of course, that's what they say, but in reality, very few ordinary people Flower Plucker each year."

"What usually happens to the students who Flower Plucker after the academic exams?" Li Xian asked.

"Hmm..." The vendor paused, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Those who pass the Flower Plucker exam can report to the Prefectural City. The Prefectural City has an academy where Flower Plucker students can study."

"I wouldn't know if it goes any further."

The concept of destiny Fortune is something that ordinary people find difficult to explain.

"Okay, thanks."

After eating four bowls, Li Xian's hands and feet felt warm.

Heading into the bustling city, I came across a restaurant with a red list hanging from its second-floor terrace. Various names were listed on it, in no particular order.

"Li Xiaofan..."

Seeing his Younger Brother's name, Li Xian felt a surge of relief. "My Younger Brother really made the list. All his hard work studying late into the night wasn't in vain."

Even with his photographic memory, Li Xiaofan's hard work was still vivid in everyone's mind.

After their Li Father died, the two brothers had no money to buy books. Li Xiaofan would often wrap himself in his father's coat and hide next to the private school to eavesdrop.

They used every means possible, just to acquire a little knowledge.

Looking forward to the Winter Examination Flower Plucker.

To turn the two brothers' lives around.

Li Xian clenched his fists, his gaze turning cold. But as he looked through the list, he only saw thirty-six names.

There are a total of thirty-six people on the list.

"Now that my Younger Brother is nowhere to be found, the thirty-seventh person is the key to this trip." Li Xian went to three different lists, but each only displayed the names of those listed.

It wasn't until they reached the front of the government office that they saw the thirty-seventh person.

Zheng Caiqi

Thirty-seventh place.

He's the one!

Li Xian remained calm as he left the yamen. His next step was to find out which faction Zheng Caiqi belonged to.

Only by following the trail can we find out where my Younger Brother is.

I mustn't give myself away.

"Otherwise, it will alert them, making the situation even more unpredictable."

Although the student who Flower Plucker flowers has a special status, if he were to die a violent death, it would be enough to cause a great uproar.

But weakness is the original sin.

These factors only make the enemy wary. But this life is still in their hands.

Therefore, they were extremely cautious in gathering information.

Li Xian remained calm and started his investigation from the streets. After all, the other party was from a large and powerful family, and he was able to find out quickly that Zheng Caiqi was the seventh daughter of "Zheng Blood Palm," the leader of the Blackwater Gang.

He is his youngest son, whom he dotes on very much.

He sent a full thirty people to accompany him on his Winter Examination trip, at his beck and call.

The Blackwater Gang's main sphere of influence was not in Yellow Jade County, but Zheng Blood Palm did have a share in the county's rice shops, restaurants, and Escort Agency.

"Call..."

"Things are looking promising, let's move on to the next step!"

Li Xian exhaled, calming his emotions, and hid in the shadows, his killing intent concealed.

Night fell in the blink of an eye.

There were few pedestrians on the street, and only a few groups of people walked out of the Gambling Den together.

Li Xian waited for a long time, his eyes slightly narrowed, and quietly followed.

"Damn it, I lost money again."

"That damn Gambling Den, I'll take it down sooner or later."

"Ugh, what bad luck, what really bad luck! Aren't they all said that Flower Plucker masters are favored by heaven? My hands slapped that Flower Plucker master, but why hasn't my luck improved at all?"

"Maybe he didn't get enough of a beating. That kid's got a tough nut to crack; when asked if he has any family, he won't say a word."

"Look at his poor, pathetic appearance. Even with family, what waves can he make? If you ask me, he should obediently hand over that Flower Plucker position to my seventh young master."

"That's right, that's right. If Seventh Young Master goes to the Prefectural City and enrolls in an academy, our Blackwater Gang will benefit too, won't they? If we can also obtain a Fortune of mysterious fortune, hehe, the future will be bright."

"You mean that guy? How could he be so greedy? A lowly bastard like a stray dog, yet he insists on acting like a big shot."

"Seventh Young Master was furious with him. If it weren't for him, our Seventh Young Master would have earned the position of Flower Plucker fairly and squarely, based on his own abilities."

"What kind of world is this? Still dreaming of turning things around? What a joke!"

The men spoke freely, arms around each other, completely at ease. Their skin was dark, and although they were dressed in casual clothes, it was clear that they came from the Blackwater Gang.

Li Xian had been following for a while. He touched the long sword at his waist, circulated Dantian Inner Qi through his limbs, and slowly caught up.

That's just how the world is; when you're weak, everything becomes an obstacle.

"Xiao Fan, the world may not be on your side, but your brother will."

"You should be that Golden Flood Dragon!"