Very Dissatisfied

After the three finished talking, Su Ziji refused Zhang Sheng's suggestion to ride back in an ox cart and walked to the street instead. People flowed back and forth along the bustling road.

Though it was not lined everywhere with teahouses and taverns, tea shops, inns, and stores stretched one after another, making for a rare sort of prosperity.

"An age of prosperity?" Su Ziji's gaze shifted. Everything resembled the original dynasty, yet matters of ghosts and gods still deeply troubled him.

"Hm?" Just as he thought this, Su Ziji suddenly frowned and glanced back. He felt as if someone behind him had been following him, but when he looked, he saw only a flash of clothing and no one in the crowd. He could not make out who had been watching him. Once he started walking again, that feeling vanished.

"I didn't see them, but it probably wasn't an illusion. Someone was following me."

"It was probably Boss Zhang's man. So the two distinguished guests have left Linhua County? It seems I'll need to be more careful these next few days." Su Ziji's heart tightened. It seemed he would have to meet up with Yu Lü and Zhang Sheng every day. The Yu and Zhang households were powerful clans; surely Boss Zhang would not dare act rashly.

"Hmph, a mere jianghu gang dares run wild? Once I pass as a Cultivated Talent—no, a Cultivated Talent still won't be enough. Once I become a Provincial Graduate, I'll wipe out that beast."

"If he truly enrages me, a nighttime assassination would not be out of the question." With that thought, Su Ziji disappeared into the crowd.

Not far away, at Shen Family Tavern.

Whew!

Only after Su Ziji gradually departed and vanished through the doorway did the Wild Daoist finally let out a breath. A fine, dense layer of cold sweat had broken out across his back.

"A terrifying man." The Wild Daoist sat at the table, his face faintly green as he murmured, "With just that one glance, I felt stifled. That sort of bearing..."

"If this were a chaotic age, I would dare recognize him as a true lord and aid him in becoming a dragon. But unfortunately, this is the present day."

The Wild Daoist's expression shifted. He had studied the Dragon-Slaying Art and was more sensitive than most, but with peace under Heaven, all of this was empty talk.

"The time of Heaven has passed!"

The Wild Daoist sighed inwardly and looked outside. Shop after shop stood open, crowds packed the streets, and everyone wore smiles. This was the people's will; this was Heaven's Mandate.

"Even now, such a man is difficult to oppose. He is certainly not someone Boss Zhang can shake. But I have boarded a pirate ship, and Boss Zhang will never allow me to jump off."

"But should I not make preparations before the rain comes?" Thinking of Boss Zhang's and the Daoist's actions, the Wild Daoist suddenly made up his mind and waved a hand.

"Honored guest, what would you like?" The waiter, who had noticed him long ago, hurried forward.

"Bring me your signature dishes—two dishes, one soup, and a pot of wine. Do you have paper and brush? I need to write a letter." As the Wild Daoist spoke, he heard the waiter answer, "Yes, I'll bring them right away."

In the blink of an eye, the brush and ink arrived. The Wild Daoist swiftly wrote a line, tossed down a piece of broken silver weighing roughly one tael, and said, "Bring my food and wine. Also, deliver this note for me. Do it quietly. The rest of the money is yours."

As he spoke, he gave an address.

"Thank you for your reward, honored guest!" Two dishes, one soup, and a pot of wine cost only seven hundred copper coins, while one tael of silver was worth eleven hundred. Hearing that the address was nearby, the waiter smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits and bowed deeply. "Rest assured, I'll deliver it shortly. I guarantee even the dogs in that household won't bark!"

Dawn.

The weather had grown warmer still, but the dampness was heavy. Su Ziji yawned as he got up, washed his face and brushed his teeth, then checked the book chest he had packed the day before.

"Two sets of clothes to change into will be enough."

"I have enough silver as well. Besides, I'll be entering the prefectural city with Yu Lü, and there will be people looking after me."

"What matters now is memorizing the list of taboo names. I cannot make another mistake during the Prefectural Examination. That absolutely must not happen."

After checking everything once more, Su Ziji boiled two eggs for breakfast, slung the book chest over his back, and prepared to leave. But just as he was about to open the door, he suddenly froze.

A sheet of white paper had been tucked into the crack of the door.

"Who sent me a letter?" Su Ziji was somewhat suspicious. He picked it up and looked at it, then froze again. A picture had been drawn on it in faint ink wash, yet its outlines were clear.

It depicted a man who vaguely resembled him, while five blue-faced, fang-toothed evil ghosts tugged at his legs. Beneath it was a line of writing: "Mount Tong Temple will soon use sorcery to curse you. Take care."

In the past, Su Ziji would certainly have laughed. If Witchcraft truly worked, what need would there be for brains and blades?

But now, Su Ziji's heart jolted. The muscles in his cheeks twitched twice, sweat faintly seeped across his back, and he instinctively touched his waist. In an instant, killing intent surged up within him.

"Damn it, Mount Tong Temple wants to harm me again? They truly deserve to die!"

After breathing heavily for a moment, Su Ziji's face darkened like still water. Mount Tong Temple was unlike those two street thugs. Even if he could kill them, the authorities would certainly be enraged and investigate. When that happened, he would be unable to escape calamity.

"For now, obtaining official status is paramount."

"Once I reach the prefectural city, the best course is to hide within the Prefectural Academy."

With these thoughts, Su Ziji pushed open the door and headed toward Ye Bookshop, though he pondered, "Strange. Why does this handwriting seem somewhat familiar? Yet I can't recall where I've seen it."

Ye Bookshop.

The doors had not opened today. The inner room was deathly quiet; even the hissing from the medicine furnace beneath the eaves could be heard clearly. Ye Buhui was carefully fanning it, trying to keep the medicinal smoke from drifting into the room.

Ye Weihan sat against the wall, cushions propping up his waist and back. He could still smell the medicine and coughed softly from time to time. Hearing the sound, Ye Buhui hurried over. "Father, it's time to drink your medicine."

The medicine was thick and black, bitter beyond measure. Ye Weihan drained it in one gulp, then began coughing violently. Ye Buhui gently patted his back.

"Father, I'm not going to the prefectural city after all." After a moment, amid Ye Weihan's coughing, Ye Buhui suddenly spoke.

Ye Weihan's coughing abruptly paused. "You foolish girl, this is an old ailment of mine. You're refusing to go this time because I am ill—will you also give up the next time because I fall ill?"

"Father, this time is different." Ye Buhui lowered her head. Thinking of Doctor Zhao's words, she felt as if her heart were being clenched. "You even coughed up blood this time. Doctor Zhao said this relapse was severe. How can I rest easy leaving you home alone?"

Ye Weihan stared at her small face and sighed inwardly, but said, "Isn't Doctor Zhao still here? Once you leave for the prefectural city, I can stay overnight at Zhao Family Clinic. They can take in patients there, and it costs only thirty copper coins a night. Someone will also prepare the medicine. Why should you give up the chess tournament?"

He made it sound so easy that Ye Buhui choked on her words.

"I'm not going anyway!" She turned her face aside and said.

"You child." Ye Weihan was about to continue when there came a knock at the door. Anyone who could enter the inner courtyard must have a key. He called, "Is that Ziji? Come in quickly!"

Su Ziji entered and found Ye Weihan already sitting up. Looking closely, he seemed in slightly better spirits than yesterday, though he still coughed without pause.

"Consumption was almost incurable in ancient times." Su Ziji's emotions were complicated, but Ye Weihan immediately beckoned to him and said to Ye Buhui, "Make me some porridge for breakfast."

"Fine!" Ye Buhui shot Su Ziji a fierce glare, feeling very dissatisfied.