Chapter 38: Ranking on the Leaderboard (Please add to favorites and keep reading)

While Wei Tu and the others were speaking.

Outside the government office, several servants waiting in the adjacent alley for their masters caught sight of this scene. They hurried over, cupped their hands in salutation to Wei Tu and the others, and inquired as to what important matter had summoned so many martial instructors into the office late at night.

"Young Master Fu, is there any danger to my master entering the office? The Master and the First Madam are quite worried."

The leading servant, who recognized Fu Zhizhou, asked in a tense voice.

"The Prefect has summoned us martial instructors of this session merely to get acquainted."

"Your master will be out shortly."

Fu Zhizhou exchanged glances with Wei Tu and the others before offering a casual dismissal to the servant.

Although they had strictly refused Prefect He and refused to involve themselves, they did not dare to speak recklessly regarding the matter of the Wuyun Pavilion, lest they invite great calamity upon themselves and their clans.

They all understood the principle that if matters are not kept secret, one's safety is compromised; otherwise, they would not have risked offending Prefect He by refusing so decisively.

Hearing this vague answer, the servants did not dare to press further. However, accordingly, they felt somewhat relieved—at least, their master's entry into the office was not a matter of danger.

At this time, the servants from the homes of Fu Zhizhou and the other two, as well as the servants sent by Shan Yangu, also arrived to attend to them.

After the four men instructed the servants to return home and report that they were safe, they set off, walking along the main street toward Xuanhe Pavilion.

...

Half an hour later.

Xuanhe Pavilion.

After several rounds of wine, dawn was approaching.

Seeing that Wei Tu and the other two were satiated, Fu Zhizhou did not hesitate. He immediately called for the waiter to summon the manager, instructing him to prepare an incense altar and the necessary items for a sworn brotherhood ceremony.

"He's actually serious?" Wei Tu was secretly astonished by this sight. He had not expected Fu Zhizhou to be speaking figuratively; upon leaving the office, he intended to become sworn brothers with the three of them.

People of this era valued integrity and righteousness.

Especially among martial instructors, sworn brothers who pledged themselves through a blood oath were considered closer than biological siblings. To violate a "Golden Orchid Oath" would result in public contempt and eternal condemnation.

After all, biological siblings are born to you, but those with whom one forms a Golden Orchid brotherhood are people of kindred spirit and mutual affinity.

However, this matter brought many benefits to Wei Tu himself, so he did not stop it; instead, he was happy to see it happen.

The fact that Fu Zhizhou and the other two could perceive the danger regarding the Wuyun Pavilion within the government office and withstand the pressure from Prefect He undoubtedly proved that they possessed great vision and significant willpower.

Furthermore, like him, the three were martial instructors of renown who had ranked highly in this session's Dao Examination, showing great potential.

The four of them shared similar starting points, consistent goals, and now possessed a foundation of trust built from resisting Prefect He...

It could be said that no one was more suitable than them to become sworn brothers and plan their futures together.

A short while later.

Inside a private room in Xuanhe Pavilion, an incense altar had been set up. On the altar were the three sacrificial animals, an incense burner, a live chicken, a jar of wine, and a ledger.

The cover of the ledger was inscribed with the large characters: "Golden Orchid Register."

Next.

The four men arranged themselves in order of seniority based on age.

Among the four, Kou Liang, being twenty-four years old, was the eldest and was regarded by Wei Tu and the others as the eldest brother.

Wei Fei was second in age at twenty-three, becoming the second brother.

Following them were Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou.

After Fu Zhizhou announced his age, Wei Tu and Wei Fei were somewhat stunned. They had not expected that Fu Zhizhou, the one with the highest martial arts prowess, had not yet reached the age of twenty; he was only eighteen.

"No wonder he possesses such youthful spirit," Wei Tu mused privately.

"When the Fourth Brother was in Xiaoyi Prefecture, he was a famous martial genius. I originally thought he would participate in the next martial imperial examination, but I didn't expect him to join this session's examination alongside me..."

Kou Liang said with a slight smile after noticing the expressions of Wei Tu and Wei Fei.

Having finished speaking, Kou Liang said no more. He took a dagger from his waist, grabbed the wing of the live chicken on the altar, and made a forceful slice.

Instantly, the chicken's neck was severed, and blood splashed into the wine jar.

Immediately after, Kou Liang used the knife to slit his own palm.

Crimson blood dripped from the tip of the blade into the wine jar.

Then, Wei Tu, Wei Fei, and Fu Zhizhou each took the dagger and repeated Kou Liang's actions.

The blood-wine in the jar was swirled evenly and poured into four coarse porcelain bowls.

The four men drank the blood-wine together, beginning their blood oath and reciting the vows.

"We four gather here today to form a brotherhood. Heaven is our witness, and the thick earth is our proof..."

"...To forge a brotherly bond, to entrust our lives to one another, to aid each other in fortune and peril, to share in blessings and calamities, and to stand together through hardship..."

As each vow was recited, the four men addressed each other with respectful titles according to their order, and they named their alliance the "Righteous Society."

The name "Righteous Society" was proposed by Wei Tu and received unanimous approval from Kou Liang, Wei Fei, and Fu Zhizhou.

As the words fell, at that very moment, the sky outside happened to brighten.

"The results are out!"

"The results for this session's martial Dao Examination have been posted!"

Outside Xuanhe Pavilion, there was a sudden clamor of voices. Many martial instructors emerged from their guest rooms, rushing excitedly toward the Martial Merit Academy to see the rankings.

"Congratulations to Martial Instructor Fu for scoring second on the list! You are the second place in this session's martial examination, a First-Class Martial Scholar..."

At that moment, the manager of Xuanhe Pavilion knocked on the door of the private room and offered his congratulations to Fu Zhizhou from outside.

Xuanhe Pavilion was a famous establishment in Qingfeng Prefecture that provided full services. Not only did it offer basic lodging and dining, but it also provided services to assist scholars and martial instructors in checking the examination results.

Two hours earlier, Fu Zhizhou had already paid a sum of silver to request Xuanhe Pavilion to monitor the results for him.

Therefore, upon the posting of the results and learning of Fu Zhizhou's ranking, the manager immediately stopped his work to come to the room where Wei Tu and the others were to offer congratulations.

"Congratulations, Fourth Brother."

"To secure the position of second on the Dao Examination list, a First-Class Martial Scholar."

Wei Tu and the others offered their congratulations.

Although they had long known that Fu Zhizhou's performance in the Dao Examination was excellent, the official confirmation of his rank was still a matter worth celebrating.

"I only wonder about us..."

Wei Fei's face showed a look of worry.

Although he did not believe Prefect He had the power to interfere with the Dao Examination results, what if? What if they failed the martial imperial examination and lost their official status...

Hearing this, a sense of unease also rose in Wei Tu's heart.

"Rest easy."

"Prefect He would not dare to act recklessly. An official of his type seeks stability. Even if he had the ability to alter the Dao Examination list, he would not dare."

Fu Zhizhou suppressed his smile and offered a few words of comfort to his three newly recognized sworn brothers.

"Manager, take your time!" Just then, the voice of a waiter from Xuanhe Pavilion rang out from outside the room.

The waiter said breathlessly, "I haven't finished telling you the rankings of the guests in Room No. 3 of the Heaven Suite!"

"What?"

"The other three... they also made it onto the Dao Examination list?"

The manager of Xuanhe Pavilion looked astonished. Although he hadn't said the words, the expression on his face revealed his shock.

The Dao Examination was no easy feat; for one person among the four to be selected was already a stroke of luck. How could there be a second person among them?

"The guests from Room No. 3 of the Heaven Suite are all on the Dao Examination list posted at the Martial Merit Academy!"

The waiter replied hurriedly.

Then, he read out the rankings of Wei Tu and the other two.

"Martial Instructor Wei Tu, twelfth place in this session's martial examination, a Second-Class Martial Scholar."

"Kou Liang... seventeenth place in this session's martial examination, a Second-Class Martial Scholar."

"Wei Fei... thirty-fourth place in this session's martial examination, a Third-Class Martial Scholar."