Chapter 97: (Extra Chapter for Moon Tickets) May All Liang Subjects Become Dragons

Raozhou Prefecture, Wuzheng Office!

Spanning ten thousand mu, several grand halls are arranged in orderly fashion, and before the main hall’s entrance stands a massive statue of a man holding a spear.

As a bell rang out across the grounds, Su Lingchuan and several others walked into the main hall.

Raozhou Prefecture oversees eleven counties; today is the day each county’s Wuzhengsuo director reports.

Inside the hall, eleven chairs were arranged; with two Wuzhengsuo directors absent, the remaining nine took their seats.

Su Lingchuan sat at the very bottom seat.

The Wuzheng Office’s seating order is based on the candidates’ rankings in the prefectural examination; Poyang County has ranked last for years, so it must sit at the end.

“Brother Su, I heard you reformed the martial academies in Poyang County and instituted a new sparring contest every three months. Now that three months have passed, how did it go?”

Hearing the man to his left speak, Su Lingchuan replied coolly, “Fine.”

This Brother Zhang is the Wuzhengsuo director of Yanshan County; in past contests, Poyang County came last, and Yanshan County followed closely behind—no wonder Brother Zhang is curious, fearing Poyang County might rise and push Yanshan to the bottom.

“I haven’t held contests every three months; I’m planning one every six months. Three months is too short to see real differences. Since your Poyang County’s new batch of students is strong, Brother Su, would you be interested in a joint sparring match between our two counties?”

Zhang Wang smiled warmly at Su Lingchuan; Brother Su had ambition, and he wasn’t lacking either.

This year, Yanshan County produced several promising talents; he was confident he could crush Poyang County.

Su Lingchuan’s eyes narrowed as he studied Zhang Wang’s smile, silently cursing: Does he think he’s already won?

The other county directors, hearing Zhang Wang’s words, watched with amusement; the sparring between Poyang and Yanshan—two perennial last-place counties—wasn’t worth watching, but the quiet rivalry between Brother Su and Brother Zhang? They were happy to enjoy the show.

“A joint contest between two counties? That’s a martial event worth celebrating—it’s got me intrigued. Is there any other brother willing to challenge my Guangxin County?”

“Brother Chen, sparring against your Guangxin County’s students? That’s asking for humiliation.”

The middle-aged man seated in the front row spoke, and the others sighed helplessly.

Guangxin County has ranked first overall in the prefectural examination for ten consecutive years; even in individual rankings, it has produced six number-one students in the past decade—its strength far surpasses the other counties.

Among the eleven counties under Raozhou Prefecture, Guangxin County has the largest territory and the largest population; other counties have around one million people, but Guangxin County has three million—naturally, it produces talent in abundance.

“Brother Su, what do you think?”

Seeing Su Lingchuan silent, Zhang Wang assumed he was uncertain and pressed again.

“If we hold a contest between our two counties, what are the rewards?”

Su Lingchuan didn’t answer, but asked another question instead.

“As for rewards, you and I—”

“The Wuzheng Office will determine the rewards.”

A deep voice rang out; Zhang Wang and Su Lingchuan immediately stopped speaking and rose from their chairs, as did the others.

From behind a screen on one side of the hall, an elderly man with sharp eyes slowly stepped forward.

“Director!”

Qiu Rufeng nodded and took his seat at the head, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on Su Lingchuan and Zhang Wang.

“Since you two mentioned a joint contest, I’ll announce something: aside from Guangxin County, the other ten counties will be paired off, and their new batches of students will compete. The Wuzheng Office will provide half the rewards; each county must contribute the other half.”

Qiu Rufeng’s words stunned everyone; Su Lingchuan’s eyes gleamed—his master cared deeply about this year’s students; clearly, he had broken through.

This meant the news he was about to report would be welcome to his master.

He had been hesitant—should he report it at all?

The reply from that Shu family member had been outrageous, demanding terms that made him wince—hence his hesitation.

But now, hearing his master’s words, he had made his decision.

The Wuzhengsuo directors were sharp; from the Director’s increased attention to the counties since the start of the year to today’s announcement, they had sensed much.

The Director had very likely broken through the seventh rank and entered the sixth rank.

Sixth rank allows one more step upward, but under Great Liang law, as Wuzheng Office Director, Qiu Rufeng could not advance further without both martial breakthrough and sufficient administrative achievements.

“The ten counties will be paired according to last year’s prefectural examination rankings—adjacent ranks form a pair.”

Qiu Rufeng set the arrangement; Su Lingchuan and the others quickly agreed—the Director’s plan was fair, matching strong against strong based on last year’s results.

“Do any of you have matters to report?”

The Wuzheng Office oversees all martial affairs in Raozhou Prefecture—its duties are numerous—but as Director, Qiu Rufeng did not need to handle trivial matters personally.

Whether Director, Wuzhengsuo director, or academy head, most of their time was spent cultivating; daily affairs were delegated to deputies.

“Director, I have something to report.”

Seeing no one else speak, Su Lingchuan paused, then said: “In Poyang County’s Wuzhengsuo, there is a student and his instructor whose story exemplifies the very essence of martial education. The student is Lin Chen; his martial hall instructor is Yu Yongnian…”

Working while studying, winning the sparring contest, two letters…

Su Lingchuan recounted slowly, omitting Lin Chen’s mastery of Clear Wind Palm.

He had originally planned to reveal it, but now that his master had arranged the county contests, he decided to tell him privately.

The Wuzhengsuo directors listened, moved by his words.

From Su Lingchuan’s account alone, the image of a poor student relentlessly pursuing martial cultivation rose vividly before them, along with the instructor’s care and guidance—this master-disciple bond deeply touched them.

All of them had climbed from Qi Refining step by step; many had reached this point only because of their masters’ nurturing.

The difference was that Lin Chen and Yu Yongnian were ordinary youths and an ordinary instructor, while their own masters had been ranked cultivators.

But as Wuzhengsuo directors, they were perceptive; precisely because these two were ordinary, their master-disciple bond would resonate powerfully with the broader student body.

This was the power of moral education!

As for how a fisherman’s son could win the contest—whether there was cheating—they did not doubt it.

If there had been cheating, Brother Su would never have spoken of it.

Poyang County’s martial tradition had long produced rare cases of poor students rising to prominence.

“Excellent!”

Qiu Rufeng’s old eyes narrowed as he spoke loudly: “When the founding Emperor ordered the establishment of the Wuzheng Force, he inscribed these words: May the Great Liang martial path flourish, and may all Liang subjects become dragons. Lin Chen and Yu Yongnian are a living embodiment of the Emperor’s grand vision. Su Lingchuan, if your Poyang County has such a master and disciple, you have not served as director in vain—you have earned the merit of moral education!”

Beside him, Zhang Wang and the others stared at Su Lingchuan with strange expressions; Brother Su had just claimed a ready-made honor.

The deep bond between that master and disciple had nothing to do with Brother Su.

Su Lingchuan quickly bowed respectfully: “Director, your praise is excessive. I merely reported the facts. If Lin Chen and Yu Yongnian’s story inspires more students to pursue the martial path and encourages instructors to treat students with sincerity, that is my honor—I dare not claim credit.”

“Merit is merit. The work-study policy is excellent. Our Great Liang martial academies are not the private domains of the nobility—they belong to all Liang subjects. The Wuzheng Office will issue a decree across the prefecture, naming these two as exemplars of martial education. All other counties must implement the work-study policy, ensuring no ambitious youth is left behind.”

“Yes!”

Chen Jing and the others quickly agreed; the work-study policy was indeed good. Students willing to humble themselves and work in the martial halls must have unwavering martial resolve—such students were truly worth cultivating.

“If none of you have matters, return to your posts. I hope the county contests three months from now will bring me some surprises.”

Qiu Rufeng departed from behind the screen; the others gathered around Su Lingchuan.

“Brother Su, your moral education merit is substantial—you must treat us all.”

“Brother Su, how exactly does the work-study policy work? Could you share a copy of the official document? I’d like to study it.”

Su Lingchuan smiled and agreed to each request—but treating them? Impossible!

As Wuzhengsuo director, he should receive a hundred contribution points this time; the final amount would be confirmed only after the Wuzheng Office verified no fraud.

But even a hundred points would cost dozens to fulfill the demands in that Shu family member’s letter.

For officials like them who had entered the ranks, official position was not their primary motivation—the real reason they accepted office was the contribution points.

On the martial path, to stand still is to fall behind.

After entering the ranks, breakthroughs demand far greater resources; unless one belongs to a truly ancient and wealthy clan, the best way for a ranked cultivator to gather what’s needed is to serve in government and exchange contribution points for essentials from the imperial treasury.

Refined weapons, martial elixirs, even cultivation scriptures—no other force possessed a more complete collection than the imperial treasury.

Seeing Su Lingchuan’s refusal to spend, Zhang Wang and the others gave up pressing him; they rose and left the hall. But Su Lingchuan did not leave the Wuzheng Office—he turned and headed for his master’s residence.

“Master!”

With no outsiders present and his master dressed in casual robes, Su Lingchuan performed the disciple’s bow.

“Does Lin Chen have other special qualities?” Qiu Rufeng asked calmly.

“Nothing escapes your notice, Master.”

“Your description of Lin Chen’s cultivation level was vague, brushed over—how could I not know your intent? You’re hiding his strength to save it for the county contest.”

“I’m curious—what exactly is so special about Lin Chen that you’d go to such lengths to conceal it?” Qiu Rufeng’s eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing within.

Su Lingchuan chuckled and bowed: “Master, I won’t hide it—within just three months, Lin Chen has perfected Clear Wind Palm.”

Qiu Rufeng, previously calm, suddenly stiffened; his hand paused mid-stroke on his beard. He nodded slowly, voice low: “Perfected Clear Wind Palm in three months? That martial talent is indeed impressive.”

“Master, that’s not all.” Su Lingchuan’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Lin Chen has also brought Water Cloud Palm to Great Completion. This was an urgent report from Jingshui Martial Hall before I came to the prefectural city.”

“Water Cloud Palm… also at Great Completion?”

Qiu Rufeng’s relaxed demeanor vanished instantly. He leaned forward unconsciously in his rattan chair, eyes filled with astonishment and curiosity.

But then his brow furrowed: “You said Lin Chen is from Jingshui Martial Hall. If I recall correctly, Jingshui only accepts female students, and Clear Wind Palm is a technique of Qingfeng Martial Hall—what’s the story here?”

“Master, there is indeed a story. When Lin Chen first succeeded in Qi Refining at the martial hall…”

Su Lingchuan recounted everything: Lin Chen’s rejection by Qingfeng Martial Hall, Shu Suwan’s intervention, his enrollment at Qingfeng but residence at Jingshui, and finally why he left Qingfeng to join Jingshui.

If Lin Chen were present to hear this account, he would be stunned at how thoroughly this Director knew his own story.

“That Shu girl knows how to adapt,” Qiu Rufeng said first, then his expression darkened: “But the head of Qingfeng Martial Hall… and his deputy…”

“Master, Qingfeng’s head, Li Tianqi, is currently in a critical phase of breaking into the ranks. The hall’s affairs are handled by Qi He. I’ve already removed Qi He from his deputy position.”

“Not enough.”

Seeing his disciple’s puzzled look, Qiu Rufeng said sternly: “Lingchuan, I know many martial cultivators take government posts for the training resources in the imperial treasury. I know this. The court knows this too.”

“But remember this: accepting this salary means bearing this responsibility. The position of martial hall head may seem minor, but its influence on students is immense. You, as Wuzhengsuo director, may govern from afar—but the hall head cannot. If Li Tianqi wishes to focus solely on breaking into the ranks, let him resign as head and concentrate on his cultivation.”

Su Lingchuan’s heart tightened; though his master’s tone was calm, he felt an undeniable aura of authority.

“I understand. I’ll handle it immediately upon returning to Poyang County.”

Qiu Rufeng understood his disciple well—he was capable, but too stingy.

“Are you dissatisfied with the demands raised by that Shu girl in her letter?”

In front of his teacher, Su Lingchuan revealed everything without concealment, detailing every demand Shu Suwan had made in her letter.

“It’s not that I’m dissatisfied, it’s just…”

“Short-sighted!”

Qiu Rufeng roared, rising from his chair: “Without Lin Chen and Yu Yongnian, where would your teaching achievements come from? That Shu girl is securing benefits for Lin Chen—Lin Chen is a student of Poyang County, and you are the director of the Poyang County Wuzhengsuo. The farther Lin Chen advances on the martial path, the greater your own achievements as director will be. You should thank that Shu girl.”

Seeing his disciple turn pale, Qiu Rufeng snapped: “If you weren’t my disciple, I’d strip you of your directorship for that remark alone and send you back to Poyang County to exchange resources from the treasure vault.”

“I acknowledge my error.”

Su Lingchuan immediately bowed his head in apology.

“Leave.”

“Yes.”

Su Lingchuan bowed and turned to leave; but as his footsteps reached the courtyard gate, a voice came from behind.

“If Lin Chen truly makes a stunning breakthrough, a poor-family youth could become a model for the Jiangnan Dao—broaden your vision.”

Hearing his teacher’s words of insight, Su Lingchuan paused, a spark flashing in his eyes—he understood his teacher’s meaning.

He had only thought of Raozhou Prefecture, but his teacher looked farther.

“I shall forever remember your teaching, Master.”

He turned back, bowed once more, his eyes slightly red. Since he had entered the ranks, his master had not spoken to him so sharply in a long time—he realized there had been a growing distance between them.

So it was because his master had heard of Lin Chen and Yu Yongnian’s master-disciple affair that he felt moved and now offered him this guidance.

He owed gratitude to Lin Chen and Yu Yongnian, this master-disciple pair!

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(End of Chapter)