Chapter 590

You watched Lady Zhao and the others fade into the distance, Xie Renfeng's words still echoing in your ears.

Li Yutong saw Xie Qi Yue and Xie Yuan walking toward the front of the Xie family's carriage line; now only the three of you remained, and she found the situation dull.

She cast a glance at Sima Mumu, sneered mockingly, then left, her jet-black hair cascading down to her hips, swaying gently.

Sima Mumu's face bore a helpless expression—on account of her mother's affairs, her own birth mother felt deeply indebted to Li Yutong.

Every household has its own hard-to-recite scripture.

Sima Mumu looked at you, head bowed in thought, and said: "Lord Guan, this whole turmoil ultimately stems from me."

"I've burdened you with unnecessary troubles."

You merely smiled, unconcerned.

Xue Hong, since Xie Qi Yue's departure, studied this ninth cousin of hers and recalled the strange atmosphere just now between her and the Xie family's second branch.

He got along well with Xie Yuan; Xie Guan's composure just now was nothing like the typical spineless bastards among the Nine Surnames.

"Brother Guan, how did you end up crossing paths with Xie Renfeng?"

"He may look refined, like a Confucian scholar, but his heart is narrow and his schemes deep… hard to truly trust."

Xue Hong advised kindly: "If you've angered him, you must… be cautious."

Hearing this, you glanced at the tall, seemingly simple-minded youth—his mind was sharp, and he had a keen eye for character.

And now that Xie Qi Yue was gone, he had shed the slightly "affected" expression he'd worn earlier.

You looked at him again.

Xue Hong wore a black robe with faint gold embroidery; though tall, he did not appear bulky, his frame resembling a tiger's back, wasp's waist, and mantis legs.

His black hair was tied back; the earlier simple demeanor had vanished, replaced by a stern face, sharp eyebrows, and eyes that burned with fierce brilliance.

You recalled what Xie Yuan had said: this man was the top martial cultivator among the Nine Surnames of this generation.

"Thank you for the warning, Brother Xue!"

Xue Hong waved dismissively; now that Xie Qi Yue was gone, he had no reason to linger.

"Mumu, Ziqian, we'll see you at the Qunfang Banquet."

"Brother Guan, see you later."

Xue Hong mounted the steed already waiting beside the carriage; hooves clattered as the white horse galloped past the line of carriages, drawing glances from all around.

Silver saddle gleaming on white steed, swift as a falling star.

Sima Mumu's gaze followed it until the white horse vanished from sight.

You praised: "Brother Xue truly has remarkable bearing!"

Sima Mumu finally snapped back to reality, saying with quiet admiration: "Brother Xue is the most openhearted among us. He's the eldest legitimate son of the Xue family, yet never abuses his status—he loves to right wrongs."

Zhu Ziqian nodded: "Last year, at the provincial martial examination, Brother Xue was top in Bianjing."

Besides the imperial examinations, the Great Qi also held a separate selection for martial cultivators, called the Martial Examination, similar in structure.

The civil examination had no age limit; the martial examination did—you must be under twenty-six.

It was divided into: provincial examination, minor martial test, major martial test, and the Martial Assembly.

The minor martial test was held in counties and prefectures; those who passed were called Martial Licentiates!

The major martial test occurred every three years, hosted in the thirteen prefectures, gathering martial talents from each province; those who passed became Martial Provincial Graduates.

The following spring, the Martial Assembly was held in the Great Qi capital.

The top scorer of the Martial Assembly was the Martial Top Graduate.

The Martial Assembly differed little from the civil examination, except in content: it tested horsemanship, archery, swordplay, stone-lifting, and finally military strategy.

But in civil arts, there's no first; in martial arts, there's only one.

The Martial Top Graduate had to fight his way up, one opponent at a time.

All through sheer personal skill!

The top scorer among the thirteen provinces was called "Wu Ling," symbolizing a bird's feather transforming into a phoenix's plume—signifying soaring success.

The Jingshi Circuit, where the Nine Surnames held sway, was the top of the thirteen circuits; its minor martial test champion was not called Wu Ling, but "Wu Lin," symbolizing a dragon's scales emerging—foreshadowing a dragon's rise across the four seas.

Your eyes darkened with thought—your father had once been first in the Bianjing provincial examination, and also the Jingshi Circuit's "Wu Lin."

But this so-called martial examination had long since declined.

Back then, the martial examination wasn't just a major imperial event—it was the grandest gathering in the martial world.

In the Great Qi's martial world, sects constantly fought over territory, seized trade routes, and seized control of river transport—deaths were common.

Where there are people, there is the martial world—especially among martial cultivators, brimming with blood and vigor.

The academies forbade it; with the Masters and Four Professors watching, the martial world was vast, yet also strangely small.

Countless martial heroes and river dragons had no choice but to lie low.

So!

The sects devised a plan: send disciples to compete for rankings in the martial examination to determine the hierarchy of sects and divide territories accordingly.

Thus, for a time, it flourished—Bianjing's commoners spoke of it eagerly; the martial examination became a battleground for sects.

But later, during the conflict between the Third and Fourth Masters of the academy, many martial factions took sides, openly backing one camp or another.

Su Jing, descendant of Su Xiang, kept the martial examination but issued new edicts: candidates must be of spotless reputation and must have official guarantees from the Great Qi government.

Martial folk lived by the blade's edge; most carried blood debts—this rule barred many outright.

Second, even the Martial Top Graduate received no real appointment—effectively, the system was dead.

So!

Back then, though your father was a "Lin," he never entered the final Martial Assembly; instead, he joined the army.

He earned a marquis title through battlefield merit.

To top the Bianjing provincial examination, Xue Hong is clearly extraordinary—and as the Xue family's eldest legitimate son, he already surpasses Xie Yuan, Xie Qi Yue, and Sima Mumu.

Xie Yuan may be favored, but he is not from the main house, nor is he the eldest son.

The eldest legitimate son of a great family is entirely different from mere sons or daughters of the clan.

The eldest legitimate son holds supreme status—he inherits the family's bloodline, lands, wealth, official posts, status, and honor; in the Great Qi, this is called the Eldest Legitimate Son Inheritance System.

In that light, Xue Hong's friendship with you is almost a condescension—perhaps it has something to do with your cousin Qi Yue.

Sima Mumu said: "Brother Xue spent his early years serving in the Demon-Slaying Bureau; he only returned to Bianjing two years ago. Others don't know him well and think him reckless."

"But what others don't know is that Brother Xue, through his feats of slaying demons and purifying evil, has already been promoted to Battalion Commander."

Zhu Ziqian's expression turned surprised—the rank of Battalion Commander in the Demon-Slaying Bureau was no minor post; it held more real power than most officials in the court.

Zhu Ziqian frowned: "But as the eldest legitimate son, why didn't Brother Xue join the Divine Concealment Bureau instead of the Demon-Slaying Bureau?"

Sending the Xue family's heir to the Demon-Slaying Bureau was inherently risky.

The Demon-Slaying Bureau is no gentle place—demons and monsters are cold-blooded and merciless; they care nothing for whether you're a noble of the Nine Surnames or not.

The Divine Concealment Bureau breeds or tames demons—its danger level is far lower than the Demon-Slaying Bureau's.

Members of the Nine Surnames, if they avoid the civil examinations and military service, usually join the Divine Concealment Bureau to gain prestige.

Zhu Ziqian sneered: "But whether it's the Demon-Slaying Bureau or the Divine Concealment Bureau, it seems irrelevant to us."

You felt slightly puzzled—Zhu Ziqian had come with Sima Mumu and still hadn't left.

Zhu Ziqian bore the surname Zhu—he was not among the Nine Surnames.

You had just wondered if he was a distant relative of the Sima family.

The Nine Surnames generally looked down on other surnames.

Zhu Ziqian's words subtly mocked the Nine Surnames.

You wondered—could he come from a lowly background?

Sima Mumu, seeing Zhu Ziqian's expression, seemed to know his situation, but only smiled: "Let's not drift so far off topic."

"Lord Guan, would you care to join us for the Qunfang Banquet?"

"The Sima family's carriage is just ahead."

Zhu Ziqian turned to look—he understood this was Sima Mumu's attempt to court this Xie family bastard.

Xue Hong's approval had apparently swayed Sima Mumu.

Speaking of this!

You recalled what Sima Ting had told you: at the Qunfang Banquet, the Sima family would send a carriage to fetch you.

But today, you saw no sign of Sima Pan, the one who had delivered the secret manual.

From your recent interactions, Sima Ting was no careless man—and just days ago, Sima Pan had visited your courtyard.

Was today's absence suspicious?

"Lord Guan, what do you say?"

Sima Mumu gazed at you with soft, expectant eyes; as a woman of the Nine Surnames, such social maneuvering came naturally to her.

In your mind's eye, you conjured the "Five Dragon Auspicious Talisman"—a scene of five dragons soaring through clouds, chasing a luminous pearl, a talisman capable of attracting fortune and averting disaster.

A faint spiritual shimmer flickered in your gaze.

In your eyes!

Before you, the gentle woman's eyebrows were wreathed in a thick, crimson-black aura, nearly obscuring her eyes entirely.

Those near her also bore it—each face shadowed by a layer of gray mist.

This was a dire omen!

Yet one exception: Zhu Ziqian, beside Sima Mumu, showed no trace of this deathly aura.

Zhu Ziqian silently watched you, awaiting your decision.

1. Agree to accompany Sima Mumu and ride in the front carriage. (Warning: This may lead to great disaster, peril to life, likely no chance of survival.)

2. Disagree with this matter, and follow the Xie family's carriage. (Hint: You may encounter great disaster, crisis at the door, with slim chances of survival.)

3. Choose to go to the Qunfang Banquet alone. (Hint: Ten deaths, no life.)

4. Agree with this matter, but merely follow behind the Sima family's carriage. (Hint: You may encounter great disaster, but fortune and misfortune are intertwined; it may also lead to favorable development.)

5. Participate personally. (0/3)

Ten thousand zhang of radiant light poured forth from the great tripod, and the characters upon it slowly stabilized.

Yu Ke looked at the five options above and pondered slightly.

Especially the third option—this was the first time since Xie Guan's simulation began that a "ten deaths, no life" hint had appeared.

This Qunfang Banquet does not seem simple!

Yu Ke could only sigh—Xie Guan really had it hard.

The Qunfang Banquet hasn't even begun, yet already at the Xie Fu's gate, such danger looms.

From the simulation, it seems only Xie Renfeng harbors ill intent toward Xie Guan!

Where did this ominous sign come from?

Eliminate participating personally!

From the above options, both agreeing and disagreeing lead to crisis.

There seems to be only one choice.

Yu Ke did not hesitate—he made his selection immediately.

4. Agree with this matter, but merely follow behind the Sima family's carriage. (Hint: You may encounter great disaster, but fortune and misfortune are intertwined; it may also lead to favorable development.)

【You pondered briefly, then shook your head.】

【"This matter is likely inappropriate."】

【Simu Qing's expression turned slightly disappointed; whether or not to ride in the carriage was unimportant—it was merely an offering of goodwill.】

【Xie Guan had indeed gained some reputation in Bianjing recently, but many still dismissed him as merely a Xie family bastard and paid him no mind; yet upon meeting him today, her impression of his speech and bearing was undeniably refined.】

【Of course, the most important point was!】

【Simu Qing knew that her fourth uncle, Sima Ting, had recently taken keen interest in this man.】

【Her relationship with this fourth uncle was neither good nor bad; Sima Ting's appointment as Military Governor of Jiannan had been an unexpected turn of events, both within the imperial court and within the Sima family.】

【Simu Qing indeed harbored the desire to cultivate goodwill with this newly appointed Military Governor of Jiannan.】

【Seeing his refusal, she understood clearly: Xie Guan had no intention of forging ties. It was a pity.】

【Zhu Zhiqian also withdrew his gaze, turning toward another direction—the Xie and Li family caravans, already far down the road.】

【The street rang with crisp hoofbeats!】

【The Xie family's Lady and Xie Yuan and others had already gone far ahead.】

【"However, Miss Muqing, I have one unseemly request."】

【You looked up and smiled: "The day I made an appointment with General Sima at the Qunfang Banquet, he arranged a carriage outside the Xie Fu."】

【You wore a look of slight embarrassment: "General Sima had arranged the carriage, but I misremembered the time, delayed its arrival, and thus missed the arrangement."】

【"Could Miss Muqing help me secure a carriage? Would that be difficult?"】

【Simu Qing's eyes lit up, and she laughed quickly: "That's easily done! I've long heard that Young Master Guan and my fourth uncle are close friends."】

【Simu Qing called over a servant and gave orders; a carriage at the rear of the Sima family's procession was promptly vacated.】

【Today, for the Qunfang Banquet, each family had brought extra carriages, just in case.】

【For Simu Qing, within the Sima family, arranging a few carriages was no problem.】

【You expressed gratitude: "I truly appreciate your help, Miss Muqing."】

【Simu Qing smiled: "You're too kind. Not only because Young Master Guan is close to my fourth uncle, but also because of Qi Yue and Xie Yuan—I'll help whenever I can."】

【Seeing the hour was late!】

【"Young Master Guan, we'll be off!"】

【Simu Qing and Zhu Zhiqian took their leave and boarded the lead carriage.】

【You bowed slightly, watching them depart.】

【A servant respectfully led you toward a carriage at the rear of the procession.】

【The coachman was an old man, who quickly bowed.】

【"Thank you."】

【The servant hurriedly replied: "We dare not."】

【You lifted your robe and stepped into the carriage.】

【The cabin was small, able to hold four or five people, and a warm brazier had been thoughtfully placed in the center, lending a touch of warmth.】

【Once seated, you lifted the curtain and saw the main gate of the Xie Fu slowly closing, pushed by two servants.】

【The coachman's voice came from outside the curtain: "Young Master, be ready—we're starting."】

【You replied softly.】

【"Giddy—"】

【The carriage jolted into motion, slowly pulling away.】

(End of Chapter)