Chapter 39: Returning to Qingshan County (Please add to favorites and follow for updates)

At this moment.

As the waiter’s words fell, the heavy hearts of Wei Tu and his three companions finally settled as they emerged from the yamen.

With the title of Martial Xiucai, the three of them were now classified under the "Martial Register" rather than the "Civilian Register." For Prefect He to target them would no longer be an easy task.

"From now on, the sky is high enough for birds to fly, and the sea is wide enough for fish to leap. Once we weather this year with Prefect He, the four of us will have a great future ahead."

As the eldest, Kou Liang—after Fu Zhizhou had provided the celebratory money and they had seen off the manager and waiter of Xuanhe Pavilion—clapped Wei Tu and the others on the shoulders to boost their morale.

No feast lasts forever.

As midday approached, the four men left Xuanhe Pavilion, bid each other farewell, and exchanged contact addresses.

They would wait for the day they met again.

After the Dao Examination concluded, a Martial Xiucai with official recognition could report to the local authorities to be formally commissioned by the local county yamen.

The four of them naturally would not linger long in the prefectural capital of Qingfeng Prefecture.

However, because Wei Tu and Wei Fei were not only from the same prefecture but also the same county, the two agreed to travel together upon their departure.

"Third Brother, was everything you said at the yamen true?" Wei Fei clicked his tongue and said, "Were you truly just a groom before this?"

If Wei Tu’s origins were indeed humble, then Wei Fei's suspicion during the county martial examination had been wrong; Wei Tu had not cheated during the "comparison test," he had simply been fortunate not to encounter any difficult opponents.

Subsequently, Wei Tu's performance in the prefectural and Dao examinations had undoubtedly proven this point.

"It is indeed so."

Wei Tu nodded.

Hearing this, Wei Fei wanted to probe further into how someone of such status could have trained their martial arts to such a level, but seeing Wei Tu's reluctance to say more, he shut his mouth sheepishly.

*Third Brother is from my county. I can find out more by asking around later; it's not as if he's a complete unknown,* Wei Fei thought to himself.

...

As they neared the Shan residence in the prefectural capital, Wei Tu and Wei Fei parted ways, agreeing to leave the capital together in three days to return to Qingshan County.

"Brother Wei, the examination hall has already sent someone to the house to offer congratulations. You placed twelfth in the Dao Examination—a Second-Class Martial Xiucai!"

The moment Wei Tu met Shan Yandong, the latter spoke of the news with an expression of great excitement.

"That is a Second-Class Martial Xiucai!"

Shan Yandong remarked with admiration.

Among the Civil Xiucai, there were similar distinctions, divided into First-Class, Second-Class, and Third-Class *Linsheng* (scholar-students), each with different benefits.

Having studied for many years, Shan Yandong had only achieved the rank of a Second-Class *Linsheng*, just like Wei Tu.

And now, Wei Tu had practiced martial arts for barely three years and had already achieved what Shan Yandong currently held. How could he not be filled with emotion?

"Thank you for the congratulations, Brother Yandong," Wei Tu replied with a smile, cupping his hands in a respectful salute.

There are four great joys in life

A long drought meeting sweet rain; the wedding night; meeting an old friend in a foreign land; and being named on the golden list.

Achieving the title of Martial Xiucai fell precisely into the last joy: being named on the golden list.

Next, Shan Yandong led Wei Tu into the living room, and the two exchanged pleasantries for a while.

At this time, Shan Yandong also inquired about the summons to the yamen the previous night.

He pondered for a moment and said, "I heard from Zhang Li that you weren't the only martial artist summoned by the yamen this time. When you left, you also left with several other martial artists. One of them was named... Fu Zhizhou?"

Zhang Li was the Shan family servant who had waited for Wei Tu at the yamen gates last night.

"As for that..."

After uttering those words, Wei Tu fell silent for a moment, then shook his head at Shan Yandong.

He signaled that he could not speak of it.

The matter of Wuyun Pavilion was of grave importance; it was a government secret that might even involve Xiantian (Innate) Martial Masters.

Legend had it that Xiantian Martial Masters not only possessed lifespans reaching two hundred years but also possessed various mysterious methods, such as knowledge of spiritual secrets...

According to Fu Zhizhou, a Xiantian Martial Master could use spiritual secrets to easily bewilder the will of ordinary people, forcing them to reveal any secrets they knew.

After leaving the yamen.

Wei Tu and the three men, including Fu Zhizhou, had discussed the events at the yamen.

During the discussion, Fu Zhizhou had not withheld anything and shared what he knew regarding Xiantian Martial Masters.

Wuyun Pavilion might house a Xiantian Martial Master.

And so did the government!

Because of this, the four had agreed that they must never reveal what they witnessed in the yamen to outsiders, even to close friends or parents and elders.

Currently, the secret of the Martial Xiucai undercover at Wuyun Pavilion had not been leaked, but what about the future?

Once the secret was out, the dozen or so martial artists who went to the yamen last night would surely suffer; they would be personally interrogated by Xiantian Martial Masters dispatched by the government.

Their friends and relatives would face the same treatment.

Therefore.

For the safety of everyone.

Wei Tu, Fu Zhizhou, and the others had to bury this matter deep within themselves, never speaking of it lightly to anyone.

"Is this matter perhaps even more important than... the Huang family incident during the county exam?"

Seeing Wei Tu's expression, Shan Yandong was slightly surprised, but he quickly formed a certain suspicion regarding the nature of the yamen affair.

Being a sharp man, he immediately changed the subject and asked about the three martial artists who had left the yamen alongside Wei Tu.

To this.

Wei Tu saw no need to hide it; he told Shan Yandong everything about their sworn brotherhood.

"This is a good thing," Shan Yandong expressed his approval. "Four people forming a brotherhood to exert effort together is far better than fighting alone."

The two conversed until evening.

Wei Tu took the opportunity to mention his upcoming departure for home, saying, "I will be returning home in three days. If Brother Yandong or Mistress have anything they wish to send to my Master, please prepare it early so I can bring it with me..."

"You are very thoughtful," Shan Yandong replied with a nod.

As he spoke, his eyes were filled with smiles, and his gaze toward Wei Tu grew increasingly satisfied. He felt that his "suspicions" regarding Wei Tu during the New Year were truly baseless.

A scholar can know the affairs of the world without leaving his door.

Shan Yandong had seen many people who, after rising in status, developed an air of condescension toward their former benefactors. He had seen very few who, like Wei Tu, maintained their original character without becoming arrogant or impetuous.

"I will inform my mother and my wife immediately to see if they have any letters for your father..."

Shan Yandong rose, bowed to Wei Tu, and turned to leave the living room.

...

Three days later.

Wei Tu and Wei Fei traveled together, riding fast horses toward Qingshan County.

Along the way.

Through conversation with Wei Fei.

Wei Tu learned a portion of Wei Fei's family background.

On the surface, Wei Fei was the young master of the Wei family in the county town, but in reality, he was an adopted son of the leader of the Green Tiger Gang.

This was the first time Wei Tu had heard of the gang powers in Qingshan County, so he couldn't help but ask a few more questions out of curiosity.

"When I was in the county town, I never heard of gangs like the Green Tiger Gang. Is it because they operate in secrecy, or..."

Wei Tu asked casually.

—The Li residence had certain restrictions on the movement of servants and maids; they could only leave after requesting leave and stating their destination. Consequently, he knew very little about the specific powers within the county town.

"The government is powerful; what courage would a gang have to oppose them? Our Green Tiger Gang is merely a group of thugs kept by the yamen..."

"If we appeared openly in the county town, it would be like slapping Magistrate Chen in the face," Wei Fei said with a self-deprecating smile, pulling the reins of his horse to a brief halt on the official road.