Chapter 98

In August, after several rains, the autumn wind grew stronger.

It was said that after the prefectural examination, there would be seven days for grading, during which the thousands of candidates did not study but gathered in large groups to chat, drink, and talk, spending much more than before the exam.

In the early morning, all the candidates got up. To show their "future scholar's demeanor," they all pretended to be calm, not rushing to see the results but waiting in the inn, ordering wine and dishes due to their impatience.

The innkeepers were all smiling, directing their staff to serve dish after dish, along with longan and grapes.

Everyone drank and tasted, occasionally discussing.

In a private room on the third floor, Xiang Duo, He Mao, the Taoist, and Ye Qing were drinking.

"This third question, did you really write it like this, Daoist Ye? It's truly concise!" The Taoist read a test paper and sighed.

During these seven days, Ye Qing did not leave the inn, and the two soldiers and the Taoist took turns to protect him. Ye Qing got along well with them and joined in the conversations during his free time.

Even when the candidates asked about the essays, Ye Qing would calmly write them out, attracting attention—hundreds had seen him leave the exam early, and these candidates were well-informed, having already dug up his background.

The Dragon Lord personally promised "same rank as a scholar," which was originally limited to Nan Cang County, but after spreading, the whole state now knew. If he did not pass, it would be a laughingstock, but if he did, it would be well-deserved, and his name would spread throughout the state.

Hearing the Taoist's question, Ye Qing smiled, "This is just my personal insight. Is there anything wrong with it?"

Though he said it this way, his confidence was not hidden. His skin was fair and flawless, a body of great purity, which would be excellent even among official scholars.

The Taoist said, "Every word in this essay is golden. Daoist Ye, you are truly one of us. Why be bound by the trivialities of the court..."

This made Xiang Duo unhappy, glaring, "You rogue Taoist, how can you speak so recklessly? We read the sages' books to serve the court..."

He Mao laughed, feeling both amused and envious.

When they first met, Ye Qing was just a child scholar, but in the blink of an eye, he might become a scholar.

The treatment of being courted by the Immortal Sect was only for scholars, but Ye Qing had already enjoyed it. Even if he did not pass this time, he had a good backup plan.

"Since we have been together for so long, why hurt each other's feelings?" Ye Qing smiled, interrupting the argument, and stood up to bow to the surrounding candidates, "The results will be announced in the morning. Aren't you all going yet?"

"Waiting with the same rank scholars will also give us some of their noble aura." The candidates laughed, but gradually dispersed, as the results were imminent, and they were more concerned about their own futures.

"I won't go, disappointing you all." Ye Qing, not taking it seriously, said a few words and bid farewell to them, returning to his room upstairs.

Seeing the candidates finally unable to resist and rushing out, the Taoist smiled, "True scholars are not in a hurry, but those who are not scholars are very anxious."

He laughed heartily.

Ye Qing looked down at the crowd from upstairs and joked, "Have you read their faces?"

The Taoist turned and smiled, "After becoming a scholar, you can learn the art of reading auras. Though not everyone can learn it, one in ten can."

"But learning this does not mean you can understand everything. Auras and faces are interrelated and influence each other!"

Ye Qing chuckled, "If so, please read the faces of the three people at the table!"

The Taoist, intending to show his power to impress Ye Qing, paused and said, "Xiang Duo has some good fortune, but he will not pass this exam or any in the future. He will end up as a wealthy man, living a long life."

The Taoist continued, "He Mao has some ancestral virtue, but it is not enough. He will not pass this time, but he will definitely pass in the next two exams."

Seeing the Taoist speak confidently, Ye Qing smiled inwardly. It wasn't that the Taoist was wrong, but a great calamity was coming, and all divinations would lose their effectiveness. This was a heavenly secret, of course, he could not say. He asked, "What about me?"

The Taoist stepped forward, examining Ye Qing carefully, and said, "I will speak frankly. Your face is mysterious. At first glance, it seems harsh, but upon closer inspection, there are traces of a noble lineage."

"This indicates that you were born with a noble aura, but it was cut off, leading to poverty, which is reflected in your face."

"But now your aura is strong and rich, with a faint yellowish-green color, compensating for the deficiency. You may regain your original position, but there is a dark aura hindering you, indicating some calamity. There are many variables, and I cannot see through them."

Ye Qing, who had been skeptical, was surprised to hear his changes described so accurately. After a moment, he sighed, "This is all fate..."

The Taoist bowed, "What I say is based on the principles of fate. Whether it is true or not can be verified in the future. However, this is just a minor path in the Immortal Sect. The true path is eternal life."

Ye Qing did not respond, smiling. The sun came up, and the golden light shone on the green willows by the river, the streets deep and quiet, with no unusual signs.

Feeling his aura strong, the dark aura that had been troubling him had mostly dissipated, and the external dark aura was calm, as if he could check the results as usual.

But his instinct told him something was wrong. Ye Qing pulled down the bamboo curtain and smiled coldly.

Auras were not omnipotent. After hundreds of thousands of years of exploration, there were many ways to hide and deceive.

There was also a possibility that the Yu family had given up.

But Ye Qing, having lived several lives, had one strength: he never considered the lucky angle when facing reality.

"Even if I'm wrong, it's not a big deal. Those who pass will be notified by the government, just a matter of time."

He calmed down, sat down, and ate and drank, reading the essays—these were the best from the candidates, collected and copied by some candidates for exchange. His fellow townspeople had made extra copies and sent them to him last night, which he gladly accepted.

He had not had time to read them in detail before, but now, he found that there were indeed several good essays—after all, they were the elite of the state's eight million people, selected every three years, and there were always outstanding ones.

Especially the first few, some were powerful, some were elegant, all worthy of praise, including Yu Fan's work.

After carefully reading Yu Fan's work, Ye Qing reflected that his level was once inferior, but after seven years of refinement, his real level was now comparable.

But if he used the memorized essays, corrected, he was confident he could surpass.

A gentle breeze blew through the curtain, and the paper rustled.

After an unknown time, a commotion came from the street, carried by the wind into the room.

Hearing this, Ye Qing's body trembled, and he instinctively looked out, seeing a golden light fall. The light circled him, revealing a dense dark aura, black stripes forming a snake shape, opening its mouth to bite.

The snake hissed, resisting, but retreated step by step, disappearing in a moment.

"Is this really a method to deceive auras? Unfortunately, you are not the Dragon Lord, unable to deceive me!" Ye Qing exhaled, feeling refreshed and clear-minded.

"I guess it's... " He was about to go downstairs but held back, taking out the exam papers to read, but not really focusing.

After a while, he heard the commotion downstairs, and the sound of footsteps. In the next moment, several officials in red robes, carrying gongs and drums, and holding official attire, arrived on the third floor, smiling and bowed to Ye Qing, "Congratulations, Scholar Ye, you have passed as the top scholar, first on the list!"

"Top scholar?" Slightly surprised, a wave of joy hit him, making him momentarily dazed. The figures in front of him blurred, a familiar and indescribable feeling, as if he had experienced it before...

"Experienced? Yes, experienced, but it was the 24th place!" Ye Qing finally came to his senses, smiling bitterly, "I used to laugh at others, but now it's my turn!"

He bowed to the surrounding people, took out the silver and copper coins he had prepared, and scattered them.

The surrounding people were even more delighted, saying, "Scholar, put on your new clothes!"

Ye Qing did not refuse, took off his outer clothes, and put on the scholar's official attire. The attire was identical to official robes, a bright red robe, and official boots, but without patterns, distinguishing it from real officials.

Wearing the official robe, tying the belt, and attaching the scholar's copper seal, he looked impressive, and everyone cheered, saying, "What a fine official."

The Taoist saw that as soon as Ye Qing put on the official attire, a dense yellow aura enveloped him, and his originally red cloud aura changed, with something faintly hanging.

He sighed inwardly, "I wanted to recruit this young man, but now he is the top scholar, at least a same rank scholar. The Immortal Sect's plan to recruit him may fail—still, we have formed a good connection."

Unable to suppress his joy, Ye Qing's face was full of smiles, his heart filled with indescribable feelings: "Just the exam ranking, I could remain calm, but this is different! This time, I clearly know that it's not just my life, but also the lives of my loved ones, the crisis of the Ye family, and the hopes of many others..."

Thinking of this, he felt a heavy weight. After the guests left, Ye Qing returned to his room, tidied up, and suddenly felt a sense of awareness, looking back.

His gaze passed over the bustling crowd, and he saw a plain-looking man in the corner of a teahouse across the street, getting up to leave. The killing aura he had sensed before surged, and Ye Qing frowned.

"Daoist Ye?" The Taoist stepped forward, protecting him.

The two soldiers immediately gripped their sword handles, ready to investigate, but Ye Qing smiled, "This time, they are intentionally showing their presence. Whatever their purpose, it won't change the reality. I think I won't need your protection anymore."

"The order has not been withdrawn. As long as Scholar Ye is in the state capital, we will protect you to the end!" The soldiers said solemnly, bowing to the Taoist, not intending to leave.

Ye Qing smiled bitterly, more concerned about the safety of those far away. He thought, "Now I'm in the dark. I need to find out the situation quickly... As a scholar, especially the top scholar, I can mobilize more resources. Both the governor's office and the Immortal Sect will try to recruit me, increasing their offers, even giving me face whether they succeed or not."

"Sending a few messages can't be refused, right?" Thinking of this, he looked back at the Taoist.

The Taoist felt a chill and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that, Daoist Ye?"

"Oh, oh, no, no." Ye Qing chuckled, showing his bright white teeth, "Daoist, let's make a deal..."

The Taoist was speechless.

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