Chapter 56

No matter how hurried he was, Yang Ji still arrived late, and his heart was filled with a mix of emotions.

Although the "Literary Examination" and the "Martial Examination" were different, missing the "Literary Examination" did not mean he could not participate in the "Martial Examination." However, it had a significant impact on Yang Ji's life plans.

Moreover, after eight years of hard study and painstaking efforts, he did not even get a chance to participate in the "Literary Examination" to prove himself, which left Yang Ji feeling extremely frustrated.

"Hehe, young man, are you here to participate in the 'Literary Examination'?"

Suddenly, an elderly voice laughed from the side of the street. An old man was tapping the ashes from his pipe, smoking his tobacco pipe intermittently:

"Those officials just left. If you chase after them, you might still catch up."

The old man pointed in the direction they had gone.

"Old sir, thank you."

Yang Ji was overjoyed and hurriedly followed the direction the old man pointed. After chasing for about a few hundred meters, he indeed saw several officials who looked like they were carrying a thick stack of papers walking down the street.

"Gentlemen, please wait a moment."

Yang Ji quickly caught up.

"Are you here to register for the 'Literary Examination'?"

The leading official, dressed in a blue robe, was around thirty-four years old, with black hair and a refined demeanor.

"Indeed, I am."

Yang Ji hurriedly bowed.

"The imperial examination requires early registration. Didn't you know this?!"

The official sternly rebuked. Officials were always strict with students who did not even remember the registration time.

"I know I was wrong."

Yang Ji quickly replied. At this moment, any argument was futile.

"Fill out the registration form."

The two officials said. Although they were somewhat dissatisfied with Yang Ji's "hurried" attitude, they still handled the matter with propriety and did not make it difficult for him.

In this world where "martial arts are revered," the status of officials was very low. Few people were willing to study hard, so having more students was a good thing. Officials would not deliberately make things difficult.

Yang Ji took the pen and quickly filled out his information.

"Wow! Your handwriting is quite good!"

Seeing Yang Ji's writing, the two officials couldn't help but exclaim, feeling a sense of surprise. They had already assumed that Yang Ji was a student who was confused and muddled, but they never expected his handwriting to have such a refined and unique style, far beyond what an ordinary person could achieve.

"Boy, how long have you been practicing your handwriting?"

One of the officials asked curiously.

"Eight years."

Yang Ji smiled and replied.

"Interesting. Someone who can write like this doesn't seem to be a muddled student. Be more careful next time. —— Do you have your documents?"

The two officials asked.

Yang Ji quickly took out the household registration certificate prepared by the old steward. The two officials carefully examined it, nodded, and then handed Yang Ji a small wooden token:

"This is your admission ticket to the examination hall. Don't lose it."

"Thank you, sir."

Yang Ji took the token and bid farewell to the two officials.

"Next... I need to find a place to stay."

Yang Ji thought to himself. The "Literary Examination" was still more than half a month away, and during this time, Yang Ji could still make adequate preparations. However, after asking several inns, he found that they were all fully booked.

The "Literary Examination" and the "Martial Examination" were held together, and during this period, Pingchuan City was filled with students participating in the examinations. Due to the large number of participants, there were not enough rooms, leading to the widespread practice of sharing beds. This was popular among the students, as it provided mutual support and encouragement.

Therefore, the inns in Pingchuan City added more beds, further promoting this trend. Some inns even refused to accommodate students who did not agree to share beds to make more money.

As for single rooms, they were not entirely unavailable, but they were few and very expensive.

Although this situation was somewhat excessive, the imperial court had always tacitly approved it, and it only lasted for a few months every three years.

The "Literary Examination" and the "Martial Examination" were major events for the imperial court, and from the court's perspective, it was essential to solve and ensure the accommodation of these students.

After asking several inns, Yang Ji finally found a room on the second floor. The room was quiet and elegant, and Yang Ji was satisfied with it.

"Fortunately, I came early. Otherwise, I might not have been able to find a place to stay."

Yang Ji thought to himself.

Just as Yang Ji entered the inn, the news of the "Shuangjiling" incident spread throughout Pingchuan City, causing a great stir. The "Literary Examination" and the "Martial Examination" were major events for the imperial court, and the appearance of the "Black Wind Bandits" so close to "Shuangjiling" was unprecedented.

Rumble!

In just a moment, the ground shook, and dust rose as a troop of the Han Dynasty's elite cavalry charged towards Shuangjiling. The riders had bloodshot eyes and a fierce aura, clearly indicating they were elite soldiers. They quickly disappeared towards the eastern horizon.

"Gentlemen, let's part ways here."

"Sure, I'm Han Bin!"

"Fang Buzhong!"

Han Bin and the other three students who had escaped the danger bowed to each other and then went their separate ways.

...

The room was silent. Yang Ji reviewed and flipped through the few books he had brought. Although he was confident in his eight years of preparation, he still did some additional preparation.

"The 'Literary Examination' is only half a month away, and only three candidates are selected. It is extremely competitive. However, whether it's poetry, literature, or calligraphy, I have reached the pinnacle in the past eight years and am not inferior to anyone. The rest can only be improved in other aspects."

Yang Ji pondered.

"Everyone studies the same content, and the results are likely to be similar. To stand out, there is no hope. Therefore, rote learning is not enough. I must transcend the books and focus on the artistic conception of the writing. —— These things are not found in books."

Yang Ji's thoughts were in turmoil. This was why he did not bury himself in books like others in the final stage.

The basic content of the "Three Classics" and "Five Canons" was already deeply ingrained in Yang Ji, and there was no need to review them. As for the rest, he could only see the exam questions during the examination.

Thump, thump, thump!

While Yang Ji was thinking, a series of footsteps approached, accompanied by the voice of a waiter:

"Sir, please this way. We have arranged a quiet and elegant room for you. Your roommate is also a student here..."

"Hmm? Someone is coming."

Yang Ji's heart stirred, and he turned around. The door creaked open, and a waiter with a white towel on his shoulder led a young man in a blue robe, who looked dignified and handsome, into the room.

"Ah, sir, you're here. This is your new roommate, also a student here. I won't say more; you two can get to know each other."

The waiter bowed and left with a smile.

"I am Fang Buzhong. I apologize for the disturbance. May I ask your name?"

Fang Buzhong, carrying a bag, hesitated for a moment and then smiled as he stepped in.

"Fang Buzhong?"

Yang Ji's eyebrows twitched, and he nodded: "I am surnamed Yang."

"So, you are Brother Yang."

Fang Buzhong bowed and was about to speak when he suddenly paused, looking at Yang Ji as if he remembered something:

"Hmm? Brother Yang, why do you look so familiar? Have we met before?"

"You must be mistaken. I don't remember meeting you before."

Yang Ji said calmly.

"Is that so?"

Fang Buzhong was taken aback and didn't know how to respond: "Then it must be my mistake..."

The atmosphere became slightly awkward. Fang Buzhong walked to a bed, put down his luggage, and started to tidy up.

"I have some matters to attend to, so I'll go out first."

After a moment, Yang Ji said.

"Hehe, go ahead."

Fang Buzhong waved his hand and smiled. They were both polite, and during the "Literary Examination" and "Martial Examination," many students became close friends, but many others remained acquaintances. Living in the same room did not necessarily mean they would become friends.

After Yang Ji left, Fang Buzhong's expression darkened, and his eyes glinted with a cold light, far from the refined and polite demeanor of a student.

Fang Buzhong did not tidy up the bed. He left the inn and mixed into the crowd, walking in a completely different direction, looking back every few steps, being very cautious.

Following some subtle signals on the street, "Fang Buzhong" quietly entered an inn.

"You're here."

As "Fang Buzhong" entered, he heard a low voice. On the bed, two ragged and dirty beggars sat smiling, as if they had expected him to appear.

"Why did your sect send only two of you?"

"Fang Buzhong" frowned, somewhat displeased.

If Yang Ji had seen these two beggars, he would have been greatly surprised, as they were the same two people who had tried to persuade him to join the cult in Jinan City.

"Hehe, don't blame us, messenger. Our sect had some matters to attend to, which delayed us. We just arrived in Pingchuan City."

One of the "beggars" smiled: "We didn't change our appearance because it was convenient. Now that we are in Pingchuan City, there is no need for that."

As they spoke, they took out a set of "scholar" clothes from their bags.

"This is the first collaboration between our Holy Sect and your Green Forest. Our superior asked us to inquire about the progress of the investigation into that person."

The two slowly changed into their clothes as they asked.

"How easy do you think it is? That person has a special identity and is very elusive. It's not something we can easily investigate. However, we have received news that he was spotted in the suburbs not long ago. In a month and a half, he will definitely appear in the city to participate in the 'Martial Examination.'"

"Fang Buzhong" snorted:

"Our people are already prepared, and everyone is in position, waiting for him to appear at the 'Martial Examination.' However, how is your side preparing? This is not just our responsibility. Have you prepared the bones needed for the ritual?"

"This... We have had some issues."

The two "beggars" trembled and hesitated: "One or two months ago, our 'Bone Messenger' sent to collect the bones was suddenly killed outside Jinan City!"

"What?!"

"Fang Buzhong" trembled, shocked.