Have We Run Into a Ghost's Wall?

The two circled around and around in the woods, Wu Dazhi's face full of anticipation:

"When I have money, I'll build a new house. Our old house is too outdated."

Also, I think those maids are quite pretty; I'll take them all as my own."

Old Madam Wu clapped her hands and said, "Then our Wu family will have someone to carry on the family line! My son, you're so clever!"

After walking for more than an hour, Wu Dazhi said, "Hey! Have we taken the wrong road? Why haven't we arrived yet?"

Old Madam Wu shook her head and said, "I don't know, didn't I just follow you?"

Wu Dazhi looked around and asked in confusion:

"Logically speaking, we should have finished the time it takes to drink a cup of tea by now."

It's been almost an hour and a half now, and I have blisters on my feet. Why haven't we arrived yet?

After walking for more than two hours, Old Madam Wu wiped the sweat from her brow and said, "Son! Why aren't we there yet? It feels so far!"

Wu Dazhi, panting, said, "I'm so thirsty! Are we trapped in a maze of ghosts?"

Old Madam Wu trembled with fright and said, "We were tormented all night last night, could we have encountered those strange things again today?"

The trees nearby chuckled, "This mother and child are really something. They weren't satisfied with yesterday's excrement, and they dare to come back today?"

"So what are we going to perform today? This 'ghost wall' thing isn't fun!"

"Perform something a little bloodier..."

Wu Dazhi then saw a figure sitting deep in the woods.

He quickly walked over and asked, "Hey, bro, what exactly is this place?"

The man suddenly turned around.

This turn of events terrified Wu Dazhi; the person's face was completely obscured by hair, both in the front and back!

"Wow--!"

Wu Dazhi was so frightened that he screamed and backed away.

Old Madam Wu was also trembling with fear, her voice trembling. "What... what is this thing?!"

The person slowly stood up, their body floating upwards.

Suddenly, his head cracked open with a loud "snap".

A moment later, bright red blood gushed out with a "plop," splattering everywhere.

Wu Dazhi and Old Madam Wu were Lili frightened that they fainted.

The next day, Wu Dazhi woke up to find himself lying on the street.

He and Old Madam Wu were naked and embracing each other when he let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Wu Dazhi burst into tears; he had no idea how he had experienced so much in the past two nights.

Suddenly he asked the person next to him, "What time is it now?"

The man replied, "Is it already past 9 AM?"

Wu Dazhi finally burst into tears. "It's all over! I have to participate in the scientific expedition today, what am I going to do?"

People around were watching the commotion and said, "You two are quite something, showing up at the market in broad daylight. What are you trying to do?"

Wu Dazhi was in no mood to talk about this. He nudged his Old Madam Wu awake and said, "Mother, what if we miss the imperial examination?"

Old Madam Wu felt extremely cold. Looking down, she exclaimed, "Oh no, oh no... Where are our clothes? How could they be gone?"

Wu Dazhi had no time to care about any of that.

He borrowed a set of clothes from his sister's house and rushed to the examination hall. Fortunately, he made it in time.

He entered the examination hall and saw Zhou Fusheng diagonally opposite him. He glared at Zhou Fusheng and said fiercely, "It's all your fault! Just you wait, once I pass the exam and become a scholar, I'll make your whole family kowtow and apologize."

Zhou Fusheng glanced up at him, too lazy to even acknowledge him.

What's so great about being a scholar who only passed the county-level imperial examination?

Every day, they saw high-ranking officials from the imperial court in their mountain stronghold. Anyone below the fifth rank was considered a nobody.

Zhou Fusheng calmed down and focused on the exam; this was the prefectural examination.

The prefectural examination was significantly more difficult than the county examination.

He answered the questions diligently, while Zhou Wanwan ate her breakfast attentively.

The Old Scholar Tree brought more than a dozen kinds of breakfast. Zhou Wanwan said helplessly, "I came here to participate in scientific research, not to eat breakfast. Isn't this too extravagant?"

Qian Jinbao, sitting across from him, looked at the breakfast spread on the table, swallowed hard, and said:

"You brat, what exactly do you do?"

She ate such a good breakfast, better than I ever ate.

What are you eating? Crystal dumplings? Can you finish them all by yourself? If you can't, can I have a bite?

Zhou Wanwan ate a few crystal steamed dumplings, then took a bite of lotus seed and lily bulb soup. The taste was absolutely amazing.

After finishing her meal, she patted her stomach and then ate almond milk cake and fresh meat shumai before seriously starting to answer the questions.

The Old Scholar Tree quickly removed all the bowls and chopsticks.

This prefectural exam was really too easy; Zhou Wanwan could finish it in half an hour.

She answered the questions carefully, and then went straight to bed.

The Old Scholar Tree was genuinely worried that Zhou Wanwan would get cold, so it laid a silk quilt on the small bed.

Zhou Wanwan for more than two hours before being woken up by the Old Scholar Tree.

She mumbled sleepily, "Is it time for dinner?"

The Old Scholar Tree shook its head and said, "They'll be collecting the exam papers soon, you'd better get ready."

Zhou Wanwan stretched and said, "This prefectural exam is so boring."

The prefectural examination consisted of three sessions, and the three days passed quickly.

Next came the provincial examination, which was overseen by the provincial education commissioner.

The prefectural examination allows for a ten-day break, and Zhou Wanwan plans to visit the Jianghu Alliance.

She bought several shops in the Jianghu Alliance and has been selling some of the good products made by the Jianghu Alliance Black Wind Stronghold in these shops.

I just don't know how business is.

The Old Scholar Tree led Zhou Wanwan to the Jianghu Alliance Jianghu Alliance, which actually had other entrances.

The Old Scholar Tree led Zhou Wanwan into the Jianghu Alliance from the other end.

At one end is a cemetery, and at the other end is a sheer, towering cliff.

In the very center of the cliff, there is a huge, black hole.

The only way to get in is to climb down the cliff face with your bare hands.

Fortunately, the Old Scholar Tree was as steady as a rock, and directly led Zhou Wanwan into the Jianghu Alliance.

This will save a lot of trouble.

Upon arriving at the Jianghu Alliance, Zhou Wanwan quickly found her family's shops.

Zhou Wanwan owns a pharmacy, a clothing store, a restaurant, and an arms shop.

These are all very profitable businesses.

As soon as I arrived at the shop, I saw it was bustling with customers.

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said, "Iron Crutch Li, business is pretty good, isn't it?"

When Iron Crutch Li saw Zhou Wanwan, he smiled and said, "Miss, you've finally arrived! I must say, business here is booming. Look at our restaurant, it's packed every day."

Zhou Wanwan looked at her restaurant. The first and second floors were for dining, while the third, fourth, and fifth floors were for guest rooms.

Renting this restaurant required a lot of money, and the interior has been completely renovated.

The restaurant's decor used to be like a cemetery, but now it's become much warmer.