Chapter 44

The wind howled through the night, the darkness deep, with no moonlight. Ye Qing slept soundly, and when he awoke, it was already dawn.

"Today... seven days until the exam, still some leisure time."

Ye Qing opened his eyes, the window faintly bright. He put on his clothes, got up, and pushed open the window. The rooftops of countless houses were all white, the east side glowing with a bright light, reflecting the pale golden splendor of the snow.

"Good omen indeed."

Ye Qing exhaled the stale air from the night, took a deep breath of fresh air, and, following the method of the Six Yang Diagram, habitually assumed a stance to inhale the purple qi.

At the moment the sun rises, yin and yang merge, generating one of the purest spiritual energies in the world, known as purple qi by cultivators.

When the sun finally rose, Ye Qing slowly stopped.

With the foundation of cultivation, not only did he open his spiritual eyes, but his constitution also became increasingly robust. Though he appeared to be a young man, his foundation was deep, not inferior to that of an adult.

However, accumulating the Dao foundation, even recalling the corresponding Dao techniques from his previous life, required a great deal of time, which was the most precious period before the great calamity.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but touch the notebook in his chest and then took out the copper cup to look at it.

After several months of accumulation, two-thirds of the green liquid flowed in the copper cup, which was the overflow from his body temporarily stored. In recent days, a strange phenomenon had occurred: a pale golden pearl floated and sank, faintly emitting a tidal sound.

"Master, shall we go down to eat, or shall Qianqian bring it up?" Qianqian's voice came from behind, accompanied by the rustling sound of dressing. After these days of living together, their daily life was harmonious, almost like a married couple.

Only, they had not consummated their relationship, so there was a hint of youthful sweetness in their ordinary life.

"Let's go down together." Ye Qing closed the window, blocking the cold wind, and then helped her dress. Winter clothes were layered, so it naturally took some effort, which added to the fun.

When they went downstairs, Qianqian's face was red, very pretty, but mostly hidden under a white hood, unseen by others.

In the spacious inn hall, people came and went, the warm air inside mixing with the cold air outside, creating a lively atmosphere.

Ye Qing entered the inner hall and suddenly paused, seeing a few young men, dressed in fine clothes, with an extraordinary presence, drinking quietly, their faces unclear.

Ye Qing slowed his steps and asked a waiter, "Who are these people?"

The waiter was taken aback, following Ye Qing's gaze, and saw many guests dining inside, including Western Region horse traders and wealthy merchants. However, what caught his attention were a few young scholars.

The waiter looked around, recalling the guests who had checked in the previous day, and replied, "Sir, you mean those young masters? They are all from prominent families in Cangzhou! Look, the young man in green is Yun Fanzhen, the second son of the Yun family. The young man on the left is Yang Shaolong of the Yang family..."

The waiter chattered on, and Ye Qing nodded from time to time.

After a breath, the waiter licked his lips and said, "Sir, do you see that young man with a face like jade?"

Ye Qing looked over and squinted his eyes when he recognized the face, "Yu Fan!"

"Ah, I see him. Do you know his background? Tell me more," Ye Qing remained calm, smiling and encouraging the waiter, who was parched, while subtly gesturing to Qianqian.

Qianqian nodded and tossed a piece of silver.

The waiter glanced at the beautiful woman hidden under the hood, not daring to look more, and pinched the silver in his hand, immediately becoming animated, "This young master is Yu Fan, the third son of Cangzhou's vice-magistrate Yu Cheng'en. Not only does he come from a family with deep roots, but he is also exceptionally talented..."

Ye Qing listened, his expression changing as he carefully observed. He noticed that many of the guests in the hall had calloused hands, the marks of knives and axes, a stern and deep presence, clearly not merchants. They were seated around Yu Fan, forming a protective circle, indicating they were secretly guarding him. It made sense; a young noble of this level would not travel without precautions.

Ye Qing dismissed the waiter, took Qianqian to a corner, and soon their meal was served: a carp, two vegetable dishes, and two bowls of rice porridge.

As he picked up his chopsticks, Ye Qing felt a chill. Meeting Yu Fan at this county exam made him truly realize the person's presence and recall his history.

He didn't know if there were any inside connections, but according to the rules set by the founding emperor, a vice-magistrate had the right to sponsor a son to become a scholar. However, at the level of a provincial candidate, there were strict restrictions from the Daoist sects, allowing only the assistance of fate, not to mention the higher level of a metropolitan candidate.

This young man, Yu Fan, had obtained fate at the Dragon Gate Banquet, becoming a scholar, a provincial candidate, and a second-rank metropolitan candidate.

When the great calamity came, he, who was originally destined for immortality, resolutely descended the mountain to save the people, alleviating the disaster. Many immortals had tried to dissuade him, as helping people during the calamity could earn merit but also entangle one in the calamity, leading to death and the loss of the Dao.

However, Yu Fan's actions truly resonated with the will of heaven, and he became unstoppable, truly a person of the calamity.

When the great calamity came, cultivators withdrew from the world to avoid it, but some, indifferent to life and death, came out to fight. Helping people and stabilizing the world could earn merit, but entering the world would have consequences.

The consequence was that while one could gain merit, the calamity qi would also grow heavier. Though one could enjoy a period of freedom, once the energy was exhausted, it would lead to death and the loss of the Dao.

This energy was fate and the Dao.

Some who responded to the calamity not only survived but became intertwined with it, fulfilling the will of heaven.

Of course, in his previous life, Ye Qing heard about Yu Fan's demise three days before his own, after ten years of struggle, unable to overcome the calamity.

But this already proved Yu Fan's worth.

In his previous life, Ye Qing had avoided and resisted, while Yu Fan had faced the challenges head-on, the difficulty being many times greater.

Of course, in his previous life, Ye Qing had let one term pass, with a three-year gap between them, so they had little interaction. Now, Ye Qing had caught up, and they were in the same term, creating competition and a connection of fate.

"Even though Yu Fan is second at the Dragon Gate Banquet, without me, he would be the top. I have already taken a third of his fate. To protect myself and develop, I don't know how many more struggles lie ahead."

"This Yu Fan, as a son of fate, I don't want to compete with, but stabilizing the refugees and the human order in the Southern Cang Prefecture is something I must seize." Thinking of his previous life, Ye Qing's eyes grew distant.

"Not doing so would lead to destruction in the great calamity, but it's too early to talk about this now. Without my own strength, it's just a castle in the air..." Ye Qing glanced at Yu Fan, "In the world, when one rises, the other falls. This is the way of the righteous path."

Following Ye Qing's gaze, Yu Fan sensed it and turned his eyes, his gaze deep, a hint of spiritual energy within. He was surprised, "Oh? Who is it? It's Brother Ye, come and join us."

Upon hearing this, the young scholars around Yu Fan turned their gazes, and the guards also paid attention to Ye Qing.

"Brother Yu, your demeanor is remarkable, I am deeply impressed. However, I have just arrived from the county, having traveled through wind and snow for three days, and my body is not well. I hope we can have more opportunities to interact in the future," Ye Qing bowed deeply, speaking humbly.

He casually asked the waiter to pack the food and send it upstairs, then led Qianqian back.

Yu Fan's gaze darkened, holding his wine cup, his face solemn.

The young scholars around him continued to chat, and Yu Fan, looking at Ye Qing's retreating back, his gaze dark. The failure at the Dragon Palace Banquet was one thing, but this was his territory...

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled, and the scholars at the table looked at each other, finally someone asked, "Brother Yu, do you know that person?"

Yu Fan nodded, finishing his drink, and said frankly, "I met him at the Dragon Gate Banquet. He is a good young scholar, just a bit young."

The scholars were not surprised, raising their cups, "In this exam, who could match Brother Yu? You will surely be the top of the county exam."

This was not flattery. Yu Fan was a young genius, his literary talent stunning. Even at the Dragon Gate Banquet, the Dragon Lord felt he was not inferior to "Observing Peace." It was only due to a special resonance that Ye Qing was chosen, showing his strength!

His literary talent was among the best, almost unmatched in the entire prefecture, and with the background and fate of a vice-magistrate's family, there was no reason for him to lose.

Yu Fan smiled slightly, not being modest, but thinking, "I have investigated Ye Qing. He is from a scholar family in the county. Even with good literary talent, it would be difficult for him to become a scholar. But with the Dragon Lord's favor, he is probably sufficient."

"Originally, this person had nothing to do with me, but he has taken my opportunity and diminished my prestige. This is truly hateful, and I must make him pay, to show him my power!"

"Moreover, my family is only a prominent family in the prefecture, not reaching the state level. If this person becomes a scholar, it will be difficult to influence him in the state exam."

"In this county exam, I must take some action. I don't ask for much, just to delay him by three years."

The Dragon Lord's fate needed time to digest, but after three years, it would be fully absorbed, deeply rooted, making it hard to stop him.

Speaking of which, Ye Qing, leading Qianqian, hurried back to the courtyard, closed the door, and sat at the table, his face serious, tapping his fingers on the table.

Qianqian was a bit worried and silently poured a full cup of tea for Ye Qing.

"Nothing..." Ye Qing took the cup and drank it in one gulp, drinking several more cups before calming down, muttering.

He had just had a thought but immediately suppressed it. For such an enemy, even a thought could cause a reaction, sensed by someone in the shadows, even investigated—thus, he must hide his intentions, which was why he left hastily.

After a moment of silence, Ye Qing opened his eyes, and a flash of light appeared in the room. He stretched out his hand, and the skin on his hand was as smooth and white as jade, faintly glowing, the sign of a pure body.

Ordinary people's bodies contain various impurities, but cultivators can purify them, and at a deeper level, even their thoughts will not leak out—this is the path of the Daoist sect.

If not, the leakage of qi just now would have caused significant alertness from the other side, leading to great trouble.

Ye Qing, pulling Qianqian, quickly returned to the courtyard, closed the door, and sat at the table, his face serious, tapping his fingers on the table.

Qianqian was a bit worried and silently poured a full cup of tea for Ye Qing.

"Nothing..." Ye Qing took the cup and drank it in one gulp, drinking several more cups before calming down, muttering.

He had just had a thought but immediately suppressed it. For such an enemy, even a thought could cause a reaction, sensed by someone in the shadows, even investigated—thus, he must hide his intentions, which was why he left hastily.

After a moment of silence, Ye Qing opened his eyes, and a flash of light appeared in the room. He stretched out his hand, and the skin on his hand was as smooth and white as jade, faintly glowing, the sign of a pure body.

Ordinary people's bodies contain various impurities, but cultivators can purify them, and at a deeper level, even their thoughts will not leak out—this is the path of the Daoist sect.

If not, the leakage of qi just now would have caused significant alertness from the other side, leading to great trouble.