Chapter 251

"Brother Pei, Brother Pei, Brother Pei."

"Hey, hey, Brother Pei!"

"Pei Ye!!" the newcomer shouted sharply.

Pei Ye turned his head. Zhang Zhang Dingyun was holding a fan high up. Seeing the youth turn back, his two raised eyebrows immediately curved downward: "Brother Pei, Brother Pei, please write your name on it."

Pei Ye chuckled: "What did you say that day at Bo-Wang Garden?"

"I said at the time that if you made the top four this year, I'd ask you to write on it too!" Zhang Zhang Dingyun laughed, "Looking at it now, it really was me having eyes but failing to recognize Mount Tai. The words 'top four' are truly an insult to Young Master Pei!"

Pei Ye immediately turned his head: "Li Li Piaoqing, what is this behavior of his called?"

The young girl said: "Arrogant at first, then humble later!"

"Pei Ye!" Zhang Zhang Dingyun grabbed his sleeve.

Pei Ye turned his head.

The little fatty raised his head and pouted: "I beg you."

"..."

Pei Ye took the small sword handed to him by the young girl and carved the two characters "Pei Ye," one stroke at a time, onto the handle of the fan.

Zhang Zhang Dingyun smiled with satisfaction, holding the blank fan face like a treasure, shaking his head and swaying: "Wait until I ask someone to paint a 'Sword Hero Breaking the Nether' on it."

Then he put this one away, took a new one out of his cloth bag, and trotted forward, calling: "Sister Xue! Sister Xue!"

He went straight away.

This was the dusk after the winner's tournament ended. Pei Ye had welcomed half a quarter-hour of cheering and exchanged brief pleasantries with the various lords on the high platform before being persuaded to go rest first.

That tall man, who was said to have come from Tianshan, took out a medicinal pill on the spot and gave it to him. After Pei Ye swallowed it, a warm coolness rose in his abdomen, and the pain subsided significantly.

Even though Pei Ye didn't know much about these things, he could guess the preciousness of this pill.

Li Li Piaoqing was the one who bowed and thanked him before Pei Ye, saying that the cost of the pill would be borne by Cuiyu, but the man named Gu Gu Yunfu shook his head with a smile, saying this was a bond of kindness formed solely with Young Master Pei.

There was no further conversation. After consecutive battles, the youth was indeed injured and tired, so they parted ways there and returned to the place where Cuiyu was staying.

"What about my reward?" Seeing that they had walked far away and there were no outsiders around, Pei Ye finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "When will it be issued?"

"You still remember the reward?" Li Li Piaoqing looked at him with a smile.

"One hundred taels of silver, the Copper Sparrow Talisman, the inscription 'Bo-Wang Jin Qiu · Champion,' one Ascension Pill, a sword from the East Sea Sword Furnace of the third-lower grade, the sword technique 'Crashing Snow,' and the title of Martial Scholar of the Divine Capital granted by the Han Pavilion." Pei Ye counted on his fingers, familiar with every item.

"The loser's tournament hasn't even finished yet!" Li Li Piaoqing couldn't help but laugh, "These things all need to be taken out of the treasury, especially the Copper Sparrow Talisman, which requires your name to be engraved first—wait until tomorrow; it will be awarded to you at the 'Title Granting' ceremony."

"Title Granting ceremony?"

"Yes, the Han Pavilion grants titles, the Han Pavilion grants titles. If you don't go to the Han Pavilion, how can you be granted a title?"

"Oh!" Pei Ye suddenly remembered—the champion is allowed to ascend to the ninth floor of the Catching Moon Tower!

"Right now, everyone just knows you are the champion. Only after you are truly granted the title tomorrow can you be recorded in the Bo-Wang Golden Register, sent to the Ministry of War in the Divine Capital, and become one of the three people recommended by Bo-Wang to participate in the Great Tang Ren-Wu Year Martial Examination." Li Li Piaoqing said with a smile, then paused, looking at him with curved eyebrows, "From now on, this will be your background, Young Hero Pei, Champion of the Bo-Wang Autumn."

"Oh." Pei Ye didn't quite understand this sentence, but it brought up another matter in his heart, "What about you? Before, Lord Sui said he was considering admitting you into the Sword Academy. Is there any news?"

The young girl rolled her eyes: "Before Lord Sui arrived, I had already been knocked off the stage by Young Hero Pei's divine sword. What news could there be?"

"... That can't be blamed on me." Pei Ye stared, "If he had seen you being defeated by me without any power to fight back, you would have had even less of a chance."

The young girl was so angry she took a deep breath.

Pei Ye rubbed his chin and pondered: "It's okay, I will help you with this matter."

"Then thank you very much."

"You're welcome."

The two were quiet for a while, and the joking words gradually subsided.

In the evening sunset, with the misty willows of Scale Lake, the large group of people walked along the street, scattered and trailing behind one another. The youth and the young girl fell to the very back of the procession, and the sunlight stretched their shadows very long.

Li Li Piaoqing suddenly said softly: "Pei Ye."

"Hmm?"

"Congratulations."

"... Ah?"

"You are truly amazing." The young girl tilted her head to look at him, a soft smile on her face.

"... Not really." Pei Ye hadn't expected such a sincere sentence from her, and felt a bit embarrassed.

"You are." Li Li Piaoqing hummed.

This scene made the young girl's mood warm and pleasant. An inexplicable and gentle excitement echoed continuously in her heart. The young girl kicked her feet, her eyebrows slightly curved.

"Why do you seem happier than me?" Pei Ye couldn't help but laugh.

"Do I?" Li Li Piaoqing didn't believe it, squinting at him, "You must be much happier than me, you're just putting on an act."

"But you can't even hide your act." Pei Ye laughed.

"..." Li Li Piaoqing froze for a moment and stopped talking.

That's right.

Why was she so happy?

Pei Ye winning the championship—of course she was very happy; the Seven Serpents completely collapsing, Cuiyu's future becoming clear—she also felt open-minded; and the sunset, the moonlit night, the clear rain—this kind of weather representing quietness had always been able to make her happy and joyful since she was a child... However, there was indeed a happiness that didn't belong to any of these.

Until she realized that it came from the two shadows in her field of vision that were almost joined together.

The memory of that moonlit night suddenly scorched her gently, and the young girl's face turned crimson.

"Isn't it?" Pei Ye hadn't noticed anything and continued to laugh, "Although we are very good friends, my championship is mine. How can someone always be for someone else's—"

Pei Ye suddenly went mute and stopped there, his expression dazed, not continuing.

So the two were silent together.

"Pei, Pei Ye..." After a long time, the young girl suddenly said in a dazed, low voice.

"Hmm?" Pei Ye tilted his head to look at her.

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"... No, nothing." Li Li Piaoqing felt a bit discouraged. She felt her heart beating very fast and very chaotically, and for a moment, she really couldn't bring herself to say what she had just discovered.

—"Pei Ye... I seem to be very happy when I am with you."

The seventeen-year-old girl continued to kick her feet in a daze, her heart in a mess.

Pei Ye didn't notice the young girl's mood for a moment. He calmed down the emotions that had just surged, and someone in front was already calling him.

The youth responded with a smile and strode away.

This was the relaxed time after a great victory. There were still many matters to be carried out later, but at least before tomorrow ended, the youth could purely enjoy this glory and happiness.

—

The next day, early morning.

Light mist like gauze, the morning sun cast down cool light.

In Bo-Wang City, both sides of the main thoroughfare from south to north were already filled with people.

It had been raining for days, so there was no dust on the road, and it had been washed three times by the sluice gates last night, so now it was simply as clean as new.

The Martial Champion's parade has always been the most popular part after the martial competition ends. During the tournament, the martial field was large and the people were small, so many who were far away couldn't see the contestants' faces at all, and some who barely managed to see them felt it wasn't clear enough.

But when it came to the parade, it was different. People could see this new Martial Champion up close within three zhang, bringing relatives and friends to look carefully. Many people didn't or couldn't go to watch the competition, but they would all come to watch the Martial Champion's parade; after all, it was just a matter of walking out to the street.

The Martial Champion wouldn't set off from the north until the Si hour. Now, besides the bailiffs clearing the street, the people running back and forth on the street were knights riding large, handsome black horses, who were announcing the final results of the entire martial competition after the loser's tournament ended.

Some people fought their way up from the loser's tournament, some held their positions, and others were injured, defeated, or withdrew.

This announcement only started from the top sixteen. One rider first ran past holding a large flag with "Sixteen" written on it, followed by eight riders in order, each holding a double-sided flag embroidered with a name, while also calling out the names.

The loser's tournament was indeed not useless; it really reshuffled the rankings. The results, which were finally posted at the entrance of the Prefecture Yamen and were being announced by the knights at this time, were as follows:

Top Eight: Li Li Piaoqing, Gu Guang, Zhang Zhang Mozhu, Zhang Zhang Zongyuan

Top Four: Zhang Zhang Junxue, Shang Qijiao Shang Huaitong

From the first encounter in the martial arts hall at night, she was captured by the sword path temperament on the young man. Now, this amazingness was fully displayed to everyone, and the young girl felt a pleasant and inexplicable satisfaction in her heart.

Champion: Pei Ye

Zhang Zhang Mozhu and Gu Guang had fought their way back up, but Shang Qijiao Shang Huaitong had withdrawn from the battle, allowing Yang Yan to win without a fight, falling to the top four.

"I definitely have to fight. It's thirty taels of silver more, and one more sword—swords can also be sold for quite a lot of money." In the Cuiyu courtyard, Yang Yan said with a stiff face, "At worst, I'll split ten taels each for Pei Ye and Zhang Zhang Junxue."

After a night, Pei Ye's complexion was much better, and he bargained: "You have to give me twenty taels."

He had already taken off that dark green martial uniform. The second set of clothes that the young girl had made for him that day was finally taken out, and he was wearing it neatly and carefully at this time.

It was indeed not a style suitable for wearing on the martial field, and the youth's complaints at the time seemed completely unreasonable.

A green robe cut from brocade, the color was much lighter and brighter than the martial uniform. It was tailored to his body, fitting perfectly. Seven kingfishers of different species, postures, and sizes were leaping and flying on it, woven in dark green thread, appearing vivid without being frivolous or eye-catching.

The outer garment was a long, matching-colored jacket woven with auspicious clouds and mountain mist. The tailor's craftsmanship was extremely high, actually embroidering a sense of three-part mist, adding a touch of elegance to its preciousness.

This item was called "Jade in the Clouds," and the silver spent on it was three times that of the martial uniform.

Li Li Piaoqing helped him tidy up his clothes, and even forcibly drew his eyebrows. Qi Qi Zhaohua pointed out that he should wear a piece of jade at his waist. Pei Ye thought for a moment and tied the jade gifted by Zhu Zhu Gaoyang onto it.

Today's "Title Granting" ceremony starts from the Mingde Archway in the north of the city, first performing the "Martial Champion's Parade," dismounting at Bo-Wang Garden, then ascending the Han Pavilion, performing the award and title granting, and finally, the Martial Champion will meet the whole city as the champion on the Lin Feng Terrace on the ninth floor of the Catching Moon Tower. This ceremony is then complete.

One reason is to bestow the glory that the champion deserves, and the other is to show the champion's splendor to the people. The prosperity of martial arts originally stems from these many details.

At this time, the Si hour was approaching. Pei Ye turned onto his horse and, amidst the farewells of everyone, lifted the reins and headed out of the courtyard.

"Twenty taels is twenty taels." Yang Yan finally leaned forward and frowned, "Remember to bring 'Crashing Snow' back properly."

On the street in front, the announcing knights had already set off, and the large flag shouted all the way: "Martial Champion parades the street!"

"Martial Champion parades the street—"

"Martial Champion parades the street—"

Amidst the announcements, Pei Ye rode out on his horse and passed under the archway. The people who were already crowded on the street suddenly burst into cheers. Pei Ye stood on his horse with a smile, appearing very quiet—even though he had always loved to show off, he still felt a bit embarrassed to go through this kind of process.

He looked up.

From the north of the prefecture city, all the way to Bo-Wang Garden.

A thoroughfare.

The long street was bright and clean, gongs and drums were noisy, and both sides were packed with countless enthusiastic and curious faces. Today, almost all the splendor and liveliness of the prefecture city were squeezed onto this street.

And in the center of the long street, there was only his horse.

Flowers scattered and drums sounded, the Si hour had arrived. The somewhat dazed youth came back to his senses, looked back at his friends who were cheering and waving, also revealed a smile, lifted the reins and drove forward, and the handsome white horse went "da-da" forward.

Both sides suddenly burst into even more violent cheers.

The cheers behind him hadn't ceased, and the people in front couldn't help but bend over and peek. In such an atmosphere where ten thousand people were watching, listening to the solid footsteps of the steed under his crotch, the anxiety in Pei Ye's heart gradually disappeared.

When he first arrived at the prefecture city, he stood in front of Bo-Wang Garden, wearing tattered clothes, with shallow knowledge and no name. Whatever people said, the youth was completely ignorant, and even his horse was just for show.

At that time, he couldn't have walked this kind of road.

The sword is old and worries about the thorny road; nameless, one fears seeing the spring breeze.

Now, it was not so.

He was truly a genius swordsman who ranked first in the Jin Qiu Wu Bi, his name was sung in the prefecture city, and countless people wanted to see this face. Under him was a real steed, and on him was a precious brocade garment. From inside to outside, there was no place that couldn't stand scrutiny.

Therefore, at this time, the gazes were not scrutiny, but all glory bestowed upon him.

Pei Ye straightened his body and shook the reins, the horse's speed increased, the fine wind brushed his face and collar, in front of him was the thoroughfare, and on both sides were countless faces facing him, countless gazes gathered on him.

Pei Ye's heart was truly gradually filled with glory and satisfaction that could overflow. Those gazes roasted him warmly. He rode his horse in the spring breeze, waving his hand with a smile. In a trance, he looked forward with full expectation to his future path.

—

Bo-Wang Garden.

A white shadow like a dragon, the youth rode his horse and flew in.

It was also petals filling the sky, gongs and drums welcoming him, and the people who had been waiting for a long time immediately burst into cheers.

Chang Chang Zhiyuan, Li Li Weiru, Master Huang, Zhao Zhang, Bai Bai Sibing, and many others were all here. Pei Ye turned off his horse, his smile hadn't ceased, his complexion was ruddy, and he bowed to everyone one by one. Then he looked up, and that calm and quiet lord was standing at the entrance, looking at him with a smile.

The old man always had this temperament of being as calm as a pine amidst the flying flowers and beautiful scenery, which also solidified the emotions swelling in Pei Ye's heart. He walked up and bowed respectfully: "Lord Sui."

Sui Sui Zaihua looked at him and smiled slightly.

The ritual officer struck the tripod and rang: "Please Martial Champion, go to the Han Pavilion to be granted a title!"

All the officials stood silently and stepped back, giving way to the road to the entrance of the building for Pei Ye.

From the moment he entered Bo-Wang Garden, the ritual attendants were visibly more numerous. Compared to the lively celebration outside the street, the sense of solemnity and dignity here took the upper hand.

Pei Ye looked up at the Catching Moon Tower. This wasn't his first time coming to this high building, but standing under it and looking up, he felt its height even more.

Zhao Zhang laughed: "Please Lord Sui lead the Martial Champion first, we will just follow behind."

Sui Sui Zaihua nodded slightly, and Pei Ye followed the old man up.

As soon as they entered the building, the noise outside was blocked. The old man didn't speak either, the morning sun shone through the window, and for a moment, the sound of the two of them stepping on the building became the most distinct sound in their ears.

Both the old and the young had light footsteps, and before long, they had left the officials behind.

In this quiet and regular sound, Pei Ye's mood gradually calmed down, just following silently.

In this silence, the old man suddenly smiled gently: "I actually still don't believe you."

"What?" Pei Ye froze.

"Because you know that even if you really killed him, you wouldn't pay any price." Sui Sui Zaihua said slowly, "It doesn't prove that you can really abandon profit for righteousness."

"..." Pei Ye only then reacted. The old man was mentioning the conversation in the study that day, and he said somewhat dazed, "I didn't think that much."

"Because at that time, you had nothing." The old man laughed, then said softly, "Look, now that you have glory, aren't you proud and radiant?"

"..." Pei Ye couldn't refute this. In fact, he hadn't expected the old man to remember that conversation for so long, and he wasn't prepared for how to continue this topic.

Fortunately, the old man stopped there. In front of them was already the ninth floor. The doors that were usually sealed were already open. Those doors that were usually open needed carpets and flowers to show the specialness of this moment, but for this lintel, as long as it was opened, it was solemn enough.

This was Pei Ye's first time coming to this place.

It was already different in structure from the first eight floors—the stairs didn't go straight up and down, but were like a nine-turn corridor, leading to many different small pavilions.

Sui Sui Zaihua also stopped his footsteps for a moment, quietly looking inside.

Pei Ye was a bit dazed. He should have been the host, but this place... where had he been?

Fortunately, Sui Sui Zaihua only paused for a moment, then immediately lifted his feet and stepped forward, going straight ahead, not confused by the fork in the road at all.

Pei Ye followed behind, and after a while, understood what the Han Pavilion was.

"'Han' means brush, ink, and articles. The handwriting of successive inspectors is left inside." The young girl explained to him at the time.

Sure enough, now stepping onto this floor, on the four walls, many papers of different sizes, both new and old, were hung on the walls. The ink marks on them were also both new and old, all of which had been solemnly and completely protected.

The layout of the Title Granting ceremony had been completed, and the ritual officer was waiting quietly, but the lords behind hadn't arrived yet, so the two stood idle for a while.

Pei Ye stood by the wall and took a look. The first scroll had already turned yellow, and the signature at the end was "Winter of the Bing-Yin Year." Pei Ye was really dazed, and shocked: "Isn't this... more than seventy years ago? Has this building been here for so long?"

Sui Sui Zaihua laughed: "Naturally not. Bo-Wang Garden only started construction more than twenty years ago. The ink marks of these successive officials before were collected after the Han Pavilion was built."

"... Oh." Pei Ye nodded slowly, "More than twenty years ago..."

He muttered and found a very short ink mark, the signature on it was "Autumn of the Ding-Si Year of the Locked Scales · Yu Yu Chaocai."

"That is the current inspector." The youth muttered to himself.

But he saw Sui Sui Zaihua also standing in front of this ink mark, looking at it quietly.

"Do you recognize it?" The old man looked at these short sixteen characters.

Pei Ye felt that he should have recognized it, but obviously this person had accomplishments in calligraphy, and the style was quite unique, so Pei Ye didn't recognize it again.

He reluctantly frowned and said: "Ancient..."

"'Ancient scholars are first poor, then worried; living in the world, striking the oars in the middle of the current.'"

Sui Sui Zaihua finished reading, turned around and moved forward: "Later, this person was harmed by treacherous officials."

"..."

At this time, a group of officials followed behind, scattered.

Once they entered this pavilion, they all became silent.

The officials were arranged on both sides according to their rank and position. Sui Sui Zaihua, Zhao Zhang, and Chang Chang Zhiyuan stood at the end of the room.

Pei Ye stood quietly in the center of the pavilion hall.

A flag was unfurled upstairs, and the gongs and drums in Bo-Wang Garden fell silent. Incense burned quietly in the pavilion, and the ritual officer held the register and read: "Pei Ye, a candidate from Fenghuai, seventeen years old, with excellent martial arts, recommended by County Magistrate Chang Chang Zhiyuan—Lord Chang, does this person meet the qualifications for the competition?"

Pei Ye's heart jumped—Yang Yan had also talked to him about wanting to win the champion's reward. Only then did he realize that this was truly a plan that made the two youths laugh when they heard it.

Chang Chang Zhiyuan said solemnly: "Pei Ye grew up in Fenghuai, has no crimes or cases, and his background is clean."

"Please Lord Chang sign and seal."

Chang Chang Zhiyuan signed, and the ritual officer held the register and continued: "Lord Chang is here, the identity has been verified, please Martial Champion go to the Lin Feng Terrace."

The young girl had roughly told him about this part last night, and the ritual officer had also handed over the process in advance. Pei Ye turned around and saw that at the end of this hall, there was indeed a platform protruding outside the building.

Pei Ye stepped forward, the sky light in his field of vision gradually brightened, until he stood on this platform, the youth was dazed by the wind for a moment.

The terrain in the south of the city was originally high, and building a nine-story platform on it was high above Bo-Wang, with eyes reaching the clouds and sky. Under his feet was the north-south main street. Looking forward, there were hundreds of roads and thousands of alleys, buildings arranged like scales, and at the end, it was already the towering city wall.

Truly seeing all of Bo-Wang.

Lowering his head, the people had all followed, slowly gathering in the streets and alleys, almost blocking seven or eight alleys. Looking at it, it was all moving heads.

At this time, seeing the youth step onto the platform, countless people waved and called out.

Afterwards, a thick singing voice sounded from behind, not knowing how far it spread: "The Martial Champion of the Bo-Wang Jin Qiu of the Xin-Si Year, Pei Ye of Fenghuai, identity verified, champion without doubt! Now awarding the ceremony—first gift, one hundred taels of silver!"

Cheers sounded under his feet, and a bailiff moved out a tray of silver and placed it beside Pei Ye.

Pei Ye glanced at it twice with his peripheral vision, knowing that he shouldn't touch it at this time.

"Second gift, one Ascension Pill!"

The bailiff held the tray and came out, and another exquisite small box was placed on the table beside Pei Ye.

This was not the first time Pei Ye had seen this box. This medicinal pill, combined with the Glazed Dragon Blood, could allow him to rush to the Fifth Life Realm in the short term.

"Third gift, the Copper Sparrow Heroic Tablet, inscribed 'Bo-Wang Jin Qiu · Champion'!"

Pei Ye couldn't help but peek first. Compared to the first two, this was probably more of a symbol of "identity." With this tablet on his body, others wouldn't see him as a country youth anymore, but as an outstanding hero who had won the Martial Champion.

This time, it was Chang Chang Zhiyuan who came out to award the gift. The old man's eyes were filled with overflowing gentleness, and he solemnly handed this tablet to the youth.

Pei Ye took it into his hand. This tablet was indeed the color of brass, and its texture and carving were much more exquisite than he had imagined. The edges were polished round but looked sharp, just a kind of lightness and thinness that didn't cut the hands, and the whole tablet exuded a sense of being one piece.

On the front, a nimble cloud sparrow was carved, and "Pei Ye" and a bunch of other characters were carved in the empty space; the back was dark-patterned and flat, leaving a large blank space, only carving a clear line of characters in the first row, decorated with Lu River winding and autumn leaf patterns, which was exactly "Bo-Wang Jin Qiu · Champion."

Pei Ye took this tablet, feeling a cold solidity.

"Fourth gift, a sword from the East Sea Sword Furnace of the third-lower grade!"

After the first gift, the feet were already completely silent. Like the youth, the people listened quietly to the name of each reward, each one so rich that it made people envious.

But no one felt that the youth didn't deserve this richness.

At this time, Pei Ye peeked again.

The bailiff held the tray and came out, and a red cloth covered a sword shape, placing it in front of him.

Pei Ye lifted it, his eyes immediately brightened.

I saw the green scabbard was as fine as fat, the gold patterns were like feathers, the handle was like green jade, the guard was like fish scales, and on one side of the sword guard, a line of small characters was carved: 【Award for the Champion of the Bo-Wang Xin-Si Autumn】.

The sword cast by the East Sea Sword Furnace started from "Bing," and there were many peculiar aspects, but at this time, I didn't know where this one should be.

Pei Ye gently pulled out a section, the autumn water light was restrained, and it came out of the scabbard without a sound. On the mirror-like sword body, 【Mountain Feather】 was inscribed in two free and easy calligraphic styles. Whether from inside or outside, this sword was far superior to the youth's own, and he was silent for a moment, and the next singing voice came from behind him.

"Fifth gift, sword technique 'Crashing Snow'!"

Pei Ye smiled slightly. He didn't need to look for it, he could imagine the excited look of the youth below clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. This time, it was Sui Sui Zaihua who walked out and placed a book that was old but well-preserved in front of him.

Pei Ye froze, but saw the old man didn't leave, but turned to face below, actually singing the last gift for him loudly himself.

"Sixth gift—Han Pavilion grants the title of Great Tang Martial Scholar!"

The old man turned around solemnly, held a flexible gold paper and spread it on the table, and handed the pen to the youth.

The text on it was already complete, leaving only a gap.

Pei Ye froze for a moment, filled in the four characters "Fenghuai Pei Ye" seriously and stroke by stroke here, dipped in red mud, and pressed his fingerprint.

Afterwards, Zhao Zhang, Fan Changshi, Bai Bai Sibing, and Chang Chang Zhiyuan pressed their official seals on this name one by one.

Sui Sui Zaihua rolled up this register, put it into a sturdy small iron tube, and handed it to the youth.

Pei Ye took it solemnly with both hands.

At this point, the Title Granting was complete.

The so-called Bo-Wang recommendation, entering the capital to take the examination—from now on, the youth was no longer nameless. Bo-Wang remembered his appearance, the Ministry of War recorded his name, and holding the register to enter the capital, he would participate in the unparalleled grand event that the entire Great Tang was watching.

Sui Sui Zaihua pointed to the Copper Sparrow Talisman and said: "This can usually be worn on the body."

"... Hmm." Indeed, even just in terms of aesthetics, this sparrow tablet was exquisite enough, not too big or too small, just right to be worn at the waist. Pei Ye lifted it up, and sure enough, there was a small hole for tying at the top.

The old man handed him a string with copper pieces, and said with a smile: "The end of the Title Granting has always had the link of the inspector gifting a poem. This morning, Lord Zhao gave this beautiful thing to me."

Pei Ye froze and took it. This copper piece was obviously just polished and carved, a thin piece, which was quite exquisite and unique. Once in his hand, the vigorous and free characters on the tablet first entered his eyes.

—"Who would believe in the hidden path before meeting? Now the name is finally revealed."

Pei Ye was heavily dazed.

Afterwards, he turned it over, and the full picture of this small lyric was carved in small characters on the back, saying:

"Can't bear to ponder the past, often see the old face at night. The lonely lamp sleeps in fear of the autumn wind, shaking off a branch of sorrowful dreams.

Who believes in the hidden path before meeting? Now the name is finally revealed. Traveling to the end of the world and meeting in the mirror, looking back, the icy heart does not move."

Pei Ye was dazed for a long time, half-understanding, until the old man gently patted his shoulder, held the 【Mountain Feather】 sword body and handed it to him flatly, and the other finger pointed to the countless pairs of eyes waiting below with their heads raised and peeking.

Pei Ye froze again, and somewhat hurriedly reached his hand into his bosom: "That... wait a moment."

He took out a sword tassel from his bosom, which was somewhat tattered and crude, with a small green jade pillar strung on it.

The hole of the new sword was much smaller, and the rope looked thick. Pei Ye somewhat clumsily stuffed it in bit by bit and tied it firmly.

Then he took the sword, turned to face the tens of thousands of eyes below that were holding their breath and looking at him, and took a deep breath.

He stepped forward and raised the sword high with his arm!

The small jade pillar jumped quietly in the morning sun, gongs and drums and flower rain exploded in Bo-Wang Garden, and the heaven-shaking cheers were like sea waves, spreading throughout Bo-Wang.

Still owe 28 chapters!

By the way, let's add, "Who would believe in the hidden path before meeting? Now the name is finally revealed" comes from Hou Meng's "Lin Jiang Feiyu Xian":

Who would believe in the hidden path before meeting? Now the name is finally revealed. For no reason, a good craftsman paints the appearance. Borrowing strength from the wind, one lift into the high sky.

Only after the blowing, the body gradually stabilizes, just suspecting a long journey to the Toad Palace. The sunset is red after the rain. How many people on the flat ground, look at me in the blue sky.

(End of chapter)