The Fugitive Reappeared

The Age of Utter Darkness.

Demons plunged the world into chaos. Across the boundless land, disaster was everywhere, and humanity's only conviction was to stay alive.

Yet in that age, a figure emerged who shook heaven and earth: the First Literary Sage, also known as the Great Sage.

His Martial Dao subdued the eight wildernesses; his Confucian Dao enlightened the world.

His mastery of both letters and arms reached the divine. He was a peerless figure.

Inside the room, the dishes Wu had laid out remained untouched. Zhou Ling's account of the Great Sage's legends left Xu Qingxiao both awestruck and filled with longing.

It was already midnight.

Xu Qingxiao was still at Zhou Ling's home. After hearing the legends of the Great Sage, he could not help feeling overwhelmed with emotion.

"Still, what I know is extremely fragmentary. After all, the Great Sage lived far too long ago. Many of his deeds are recorded in ancient texts. If you're interested, you might find relevant books at the prefectural and provincial academies."

After sharing what he knew about the Great Sage, Zhou Ling told Xu Qingxiao that he could consult books at academies in the various prefectures and provinces.

"I understand, sir."

Xu Qingxiao nodded. He understood that Zhou Ling naturally knew little about the Great Sage.

But other thoughts were stirring in Xu Qingxiao's mind as well.

Which generation of Literary Sage did the Literary Palace in my mind belong to?

There had been five Literary Sages throughout history. It was difficult to determine which one the Heaven and Earth Literary Palace in his mind belonged to.

Though he had many questions and wanted to keep asking Zhou Ling, Xu Qingxiao held himself back.

First, Zhou Ling might not know.

Second, there was no need to ask too much.

In fact, after returning home yesterday, Xu Qingxiao had regretted asking about the Literary Palace. He could make up some excuse to cover it up, but that was only because he was dealing with Zhou Ling.

If Lord Cheng from Southern Yu Prefecture heard about it, he would be in trouble.

From now on, I'll have to rely on myself and avoid asking too many questions. I'm tangled in too much trouble already. I'm not afraid of being betrayed-I'm afraid of getting someone else hurt.

Xu Qingxiao weighed this carefully.

Doctor Zhao, for instance, had suffered an undeserved calamity merely for exchanging a few words with him. Xu Qingxiao did not want something like that to happen again.

"Qingxiao, setting our idle chat aside, there's something I'd like to ask you. I want to hear your thoughts."

Zhou Ling warmed a cup of tea and spoke.

"What is it?"

Xu Qingxiao was curious.

"You've already attained a rank in the Confucian Dao, so you count as a true scholar. If you want better prospects, you could sit the Prefectural Examination. Would you be willing?"

Zhou Ling spoke slowly, then took another sip of tea.

"Sit the imperial examinations?"

Xu Qingxiao was somewhat surprised.

He really had never considered taking the imperial examinations. After all, he was a runner and a martial artist. Shouldn't his future career path lead from constable to chief constable, then gold-badge chief constable?

At the very top, he would probably become the head of an organization like the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Studying? Imperial examinations? Those seemed rather distant.

"Yes, the imperial examinations."

Zhou Ling nodded, his tone firm.

"But sir, I'm only a runner, after all. Wouldn't it be somewhat inappropriate for me to take the imperial examinations?"

After some thought, Xu Qingxiao gave that answer.

It was not that he did not want to take them. He simply felt it might be inappropriate.

"There's nothing inappropriate about it. Learning doesn't care where you come from. What difference does it make whether you're a runner? You have righteous qi in your heart. You've merely spent a couple fewer years studying."

"Besides, Southern Yu Prefecture's Prefectural Examination is on the fifteenth of next month. I'm not expecting you to pass on your first attempt. The point is to show your face among the scholars. Southern Yu Prefecture has many learned men. Getting acquainted with them would help you build connections."

"Qingxiao, do you really want to spend your entire life in this little county?"

Zhou Ling's first two remarks did not move Xu Qingxiao, but his last question did.

Indeed.

Was he really going to spend his whole life in this county?

That was clearly impossible.

Xu Qingxiao did not aspire to become a king or a founding patriarch, but neither was he willing to spend the rest of his life in a small county.

Besides, with the threat of his Unorthodox Art hanging over him, staying here was even less possible.

Venturing into the wider world was certainly an option.

It was just that Xu Qingxiao had planned to lie low for a while. He was cautious and steady by nature, so he did not want to leave Ping'an County without any foundation.

The outside world was fascinating, but it could also devour people.

Now that Zhou Ling was suggesting he take the imperial examinations, Xu Qingxiao felt somewhat uneasy. He was not prepared.

Still, he understood Zhou Ling's intentions.

Given his current circumstances, there was clearly no way he could pass the Prefectural Examination. The main purpose was to meet more people and establish his own connections-to mend the roof before the rain came.

"Don't I have to take the local examination before the Prefectural Examination? And I don't hold any scholarly degree. Surely I can't take the Prefectural Examination directly?"

Xu Qingxiao voiced his question. Though he had attained a rank, shouldn't he follow the imperial examination process step by step?

He had not even taken the preliminary examination. Going straight to the Prefectural Examination seemed a little extreme.

"Ordinary people do have to follow each step, but you're different. You've already attained a rank, so you can skip the preliminary examination. With my recommendation, you can skip the local examination as well."

"Qingxiao, you look no older than twenty. Having attained a rank by twenty, you'll likely find plenty of people in Southern Yu Prefecture willing to befriend you. Then you can naturally leap out of this county's little pond."

Zhou Ling shook his head.

Taking the Prefectural Examination directly was indeed normally forbidden, but Xu Qingxiao had attained a rank and could skip the preliminary examination. After all, not everyone who took the Prefectural Examination had attained a rank.

With Zhou Ling's recommendation as well, it would not be a major problem.

Within the Confucian Dao, scholarly degrees were not actually important. What mattered was rank.

After all, degrees were bestowed by the imperial court, whereas ranks were acknowledged by heaven and earth. How could the imperial court be greater than heaven and earth?

At worst, one could serve a different imperial court.

But one could hardly change worlds to cultivate the Confucian Dao.

Zhou Ling's explanation tempted Xu Qingxiao.

On reflection, it made sense. Without the danger of his Unorthodox Art, Xu Qingxiao really would not have cared. Lying low until he became a great scholar before taking the imperial examinations would have been a fine plan.

But with that danger looming, he had to expand his world quickly.

Staying in Ping'an County always left him feeling starved of information.

Even a question about the Confucian Dao required him to consult Zhou Ling. Constantly asking about this and that would eventually arouse suspicion.

If he went to Southern Yu Prefecture and read more books, he would naturally come to understand everything.

One's surroundings shaped one's horizons.

Once he settled that point, Xu Qingxiao stopped hesitating. He nodded and said,

"Then I'm sorry for the trouble of asking you to recommend me, sir."

Hearing Xu Qingxiao's answer, Zhou Ling nodded in satisfaction.

"Yes, the recommendation is a small matter."

"But taking the Prefectural Examination isn't just about going through the motions. You still need to study."

"Come by often over the coming days. I'll prepare some books for you. If you happen to pass, that would be a pleasant surprise."

Zhou Ling spoke.

In truth, however, he wanted Xu Qingxiao to come over not so that he could pass the Prefectural Examination, but so that his ranking would not be too poor.

Pass the Prefectural Examination?

Zhou Ling knew perfectly well that it was impossible. Xu Qingxiao attaining a rank merely showed that he was suited to the Confucian Dao. But passing the imperial examinations on his first attempt?

That was difficult enough in itself, but the main problem was that Xu Qingxiao had hardly read any books.

If he could pass the Prefectural Examination under those circumstances,

then Zhou Ling would never attain the tenth rank in his entire life.

"All right. Then I'll be troubling you often over the coming days, sir."

Xu Qingxiao nodded.

"It's no trouble, no trouble. It's getting late. Why not stay here tonight?"

Zhou Ling smiled.

Having picked up a student who attained a rank overnight, Zhou Ling was already blooming with joy.

After all, with just a little guidance, Xu Qingxiao could pass the Prefectural Examination and then sit the imperial examinations in Capital City. He might even earn a degree. If he placed in the top three, Zhou Ling would be positively overjoyed.

He could not earn a degree himself, but if his student achieved a high placing, wouldn't his fame resound through every village for miles around? Even Southern Yu Prefecture would have to honor him as a distinguished guest.

This move-this was what they called saving the nation by a roundabout route.

Of course, personal motives were one thing, and cherishing talent was another. Zhou Ling was, after all, a scholar, and would naturally not overstep his bounds.

"You're too kind, sir. I'll go home to rest. For me, this isn't particularly late."

Xu Qingxiao politely declined.

He was not accustomed to sleeping in someone else's home. He might as well go back.

Hearing that, Zhou Ling said no more.

Xu Qingxiao rose, bid Zhou Ling farewell, and prepared to leave.

Zhou Ling also stood to see him out. At the last moment, however, he lowered his voice. "Oh, and don't go telling people you've attained a rank. Especially not your teacher's wife."

The unexpected remark made Xu Qingxiao curious, but it was no great matter. He nodded.

Soon, Zhou Ling and Wu saw Xu Qingxiao out the door before returning inside.

Xu Qingxiao gave it no further thought and headed straight home.

That night.

To get home from Master Zhou's house, he had to take the shortcut. The main road was not only longer, but he was also likely to run into colleagues. Exchanging pleasantries with them would be a nuisance.

So, as usual, Xu Qingxiao took the shortcut home.

Yet as he walked on,

Xu Qingxiao inexplicably felt that something was wrong.

His body felt hot and restless.

He had a rather bad feeling.

He paused only briefly.

Then Xu Qingxiao continued on, intending to get home quickly in case something happened.

About seven minutes later,

Xu Qingxiao stopped in his tracks.

His body had become far too hot.

It was as though he were standing beneath a blazing sun. His whole body burned and itched, leaving him deeply uncomfortable.

"What's going on?"

Xu Qingxiao frowned. He immediately sat cross-legged and circulated the Pure Yang Art, hoping to suppress it somewhat.

Unfortunately, the Pure Yang Art had no effect whatsoever. It even felt like pouring oil onto a fire.

Fortunately, Xu Qingxiao did not panic.

He immediately mobilized the Righteous Haoran Qi within him to see whether it could suppress the heat.

As the Righteous Haoran Qi emerged, it was like a cold spring flowing into his body.

All the burning heat and discomfort vanished, replaced by a refreshing coolness.

Bliss.

Utter bliss.

The sensation made Xu Qingxiao's body tremble involuntarily.

Yet just as Xu Qingxiao was savoring that bliss, a voice suddenly rang out.

"You can actually suppress the Golden Crow Power."

"Are you cultivating two Unorthodox Arts at once?"

"You've got quite the nerve."

As the voice sounded, an extremely familiar figure soon appeared before Xu Qingxiao.

It was that fugitive from Southern Yu Prefecture!

In an instant, Xu Qingxiao sprang to his feet, staring at the other man with extreme wariness.