[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-martial-saint-through-reading":3,"chapter-martial-saint-through-reading-martial-saint-through-reading-chapter-11":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Martial Saint through Reading",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},874370,1148,"Chapter 11: Early Celebration","martial-saint-through-reading-chapter-11",11,"\u003Cp>Some boys were still writing feverishly, but one was reported by someone beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can go home now. You broke the academy exam rules—your score is void.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? Mr. Luu, my father is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could finish, Luu Hong picked up his pen and drew a thick stroke across his exam paper, rendering it ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It doesn’t matter who your father is—no one can break the rules set by the Great Qin Dynasty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words were loud enough for everyone in the outer hall to hear; even Feng Yuan in the small courtyard could catch them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go home.\" Luu Hong didn’t bother with the boy on the verge of a meltdown, and continued collecting papers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of thing happened almost every monthly exam. As long as it wasn’t too excessive, he usually looked the other way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was different this time—a lord was sitting inside the courtyard, testing him earlier, and now that he’d caught an opportunity, he had to perform well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gathered all thirty-something papers and said in a calm, deep voice, \"Marking the papers will take around two hours. You can go home, or wait here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finished speaking, he left the outer hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Luu Hong’s figure disappeared, the outer hall burst to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chix Lin and Guan Chong sat together, surrounded by over a dozen boys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Chix, how was it?\" Guan Chong asked with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chix Lin shook his head lightly, \"Didn’t do well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But anyone with eyes could see he was pretending—his lips could hardly hide the smile, and he claimed he did poorly? Who was he fooling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, I didn’t do well either,\" Guan Chong pulled a book from under the desk, \"Still need to work hard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone was truly disgusted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boys who had been gathered suddenly felt as if they’d swallowed a fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of you can be falsely modest, but why drag us down with you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boys dispersed, seeking others of similar academic level to chat in threes and fours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all knew it was unlikely they’d make the top three in this exam, but before the scores were out, there was always hope wasn’t there?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe the three—Chix Lin, Guan Chong, and Luu Xian—would have an off day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chix Lin glanced at the seriously reading Guan Chong, and got goosebumps. How could someone pretend so much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tonight my father is holding a banquet at Cyan Bamboo Pavilion to celebrate my imminent entry into Baiyuan Academy. If you’re free, you’re all welcome to come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Going, absolutely, Cyan Bamboo Pavilion, I’ve never eaten there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What could possibly be more important than Brother Chix’s invitation? Of course we’ll go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, Brother Chix is about to enter Baiyuan Academy—he’ll definitely become an official someday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boys who’d been disgusted quickly flocked over, all taking turns to lavish praise on Chix Lin as if he hung the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chix Lin looked smugly at Guan Chong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it comes to acting, you’re not on my level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Luu, Brother Guan, how about joining?\" Chix Lin asked confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His family were small wealthy merchants in Liuu Town, and Cyan Bamboo Pavilion belonged to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group glanced at Guan Chong, then at Luu Xian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Chong clenched his hand under the desk—he couldn’t compete with Chix Lin’s family, nor with Luu Xian, whose father was a private tutor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So all he could do was study desperately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he failed this exam...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, I’ll be there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way he’d fail—even if Luu Xian and Chix Lin took the top two spots, he’d be third, which also got him into Baiyuan Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they’d still be classmates in the future, so the relationship had to be maintained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about Brother Luu?\" Chix Lin looked at the boy seated alone near the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luu Xian paused, then nodded gently, \"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, Brother Luu, Brother Guan, we all come from Liuu Town. We should stick together, so we don’t get bullied once we’re at Baiyuan Academy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truth be told, Chix Lin really only wanted to invite Guan Chong and Luu Xian—the others were just there to cheer them on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh...can I go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as everyone was singing the praises of the trio, a timid voice sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. Today, everyone’s invited. Including you, Huang Lu, and your friend...what’s his name again?\" Chix Lin looked both disdainful and proud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chu Ming, his name is Chu Ming.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Lu hurriedly replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no one cared about him, let alone his answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chix Lin just glanced over, then ignored him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh heh, Brother Chu, we scored big—it’s rare to get a meal at Cyan Bamboo Pavilion. Do you know, it’s the fanciest restaurant in Liuu Town...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Lu seemed long used to being overlooked. After confirming they could go to Cyan Bamboo Pavilion, he excitedly started rambling to Chu Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chu Ming sat at the last row’s desk, his gaze calm, only nodding occasionally, as a token show of interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inner hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luu Hong was quickly grading the papers when Feng Yuan entered with his attendants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lord Feng.\" Luu Hong quickly bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm.\" Feng Yuan nodded slightly, picked up the exam papers on the desk, and leafed through them, sometimes shaking his head, sometimes nodding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, his eyes brightened, pausing on one paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This boy, Guan Chong, answered quite well.\" He paused, then looked at another, smiling wider, \"Mr. Luu, your teaching is excellent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luu Xian’s exam paper had very few errors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for your praise, Lord Feng. My son does have some talent,\" Luu Hong said, not at all modest when it came to his son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what about one named Chix Lin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m grading it now, please hold on.\" Luu Hong immediately read through the paper in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, he finished grading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Compared to Luu Xian and Guan Chong, he’s a bit behind...\" Feng Yuan picked up the paper, his face expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Chix Lin’s answers were solid and he’d almost surely make the top three, it just wasn’t much of a surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put the paper down and looked at the stack still ungraded, \"Which paper is from that boy in the far corner? Has it been graded yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The far corner?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luu Hong was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized whom Feng Yuan meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sifted through the papers under the inkstone still ungraded, \"Lord Feng, you mean the boy named Chu Ming?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When collecting papers earlier, he’d checked everyone’s name. Chu Ming had caught his attention, since Feng Yuan had mentioned him but he hadn’t had time to mark it yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when Feng Yuan heard this name, his brow furrowed slightly: \"Chu Ming?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third son of the Chu Family, Baiyuan County’s wealthy merchants—ordinary people didn’t know, but as a Senior Eighth Grade Official, he’d heard about the illegitimate son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loves travelogues, brothels, never studies; after his mother died over a year ago, he was sent to a small town under Baiyuan County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never paid attention to which town exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing the name, and hearing the earlier chatter—travelogues, brothels...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It couldn’t be just coincidence; it was probably the same person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But...is it really him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such calm eyes—could they belong to someone who only seeks pleasure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And, if he went by the habits of Chu Family’s illegitimate child, it hardly made sense for him to show up for the academy exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he pondered, Luu Hong found Chu Ming’s exam paper and began marking it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he graded, the more animated his expression became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brows would occasionally relax, only to furrow again in the next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finished marking the final essay question, he stared at the paper, scrutinizing it over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impossible!\" No matter how many times he checked, the answers were almost textbook-perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a handful of mistakes, and those mistakes made him want to laugh and cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the five wrong spots, three were originally correct, but then crossed out, overwritten—ending up wrong after repeated edits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impression was...he knew the answer but doubted it, and eventually wrote it wrong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But looking at it, there was something almost deliberate about it...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Intentionally answered wrong?\" he murmured again.\u003C\u002Fp>",1366,"2026-06-03T05:21:42.301Z","2026-06-03T05:21:48.149Z",1,"novelbin.me","bcdf2eb1d1c5d15b4936dfe43eacbf29e58261df04f1c5252b9c577429c03306","martial-saint-through-reading-chapter-12","martial-saint-through-reading-chapter-10",238,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmartial-saint-through-reading-cover.jpg"]