Chapter 192: Once More

It was nearing evening.

Yu Lin left Louguan Tai.

Behind him, at the mountain gate, Qi Pingding and Yuan Tiangang stood, watching his departure with lingering reluctance.

Qi Pingding wanted to ask for more knowledge, while Yuan Tiangang merely wished to calculate the mysterious aspects of Yu Lin's body.

He was truly curious.

"Qi, old man, shall I help you?"

"Help with what?"

"The method you comprehended today, relying on you alone, might not even be created by the time you ascend to become an immortal! How about it?"

"Then, what do you want?"

"When the time comes, the name must include my two characters 'Tian Gang'; I don't care about the rest."

"...... Fine, such a hollow name I'll give you as well."

"A hollow name? This is a solid reputation! It can be passed down for thousands of generations! When the time comes, my Yuan Tiangang will also be revered by later generations as 'Yuan Zu'!"

"........... Understood."

Qi Pingding said no more; after seeing Yu Lin disappear, he turned and walked toward the inner hall, leaving a sentence:

"In the heavens there are the Thirty‑Six Tian Gang methods; we in the Human World thus incorporate the Earth‑Demon count, forming one hundred and eight methods."

Yuan Tiangang heard this and laughed, "What ambition!"

"Good, then one hundred and eight methods!"

"Tian Gang, one hundred and eight methods!"

"In a few days I'll go to Five Finger Mountain to seek instruction from that..............."

Zhongjia Village.

When Yu Lin returned and saw Du Ping at Zhong Kui's house, chatting merrily with the two siblings, he couldn't help but exclaim:

"No wonder Du Ping is the original spouse; after leaving for such a short while, he ran into them."

However, Du Ping was indeed as good as the myths described, even bearing many merits on his person, clearly often doing good deeds, truly a fortunate match.

The three, upon seeing Yu Lin return, exchanged greetings, asking him how things were, asking him how he was.

After Yu Lin answered each question, he performed a trick, pointing at the table; a spread of fragrant, steaming delicacies materialized on the surface, and he laughed:

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"Then eat first; we'll talk after we're full."

"Alright."

After eating their fill and drinking, night had already fallen.

Du Ping naturally stayed behind, sharing a bed with Zhong Kui.

Because the room's temperature was exceedingly comfortable, he quickly fell asleep, enjoying a restful sleep he hadn't had in a long time.

During the Wu De Emperor's reign, the imperial examinations were held once a year: local selections took place in the autumn and winter of the first year, with successful candidates arriving in Chang'an before year‑end; the following January they gathered in Chang'an to take the exam organized by the Ministry of Personnel, and the results were posted in February,

different from the later fame of successful candidates.

At that time, the scholar (xiucai) held the highest status and faced the strictest requirements, mainly testing strategic plans.

The admission standards were extremely stringent; mastery of literature and logic with superior insight ranked highest, candidates were divided into four grades, and those in the lowest were not admitted.

Because the difficulty was so great, almost no one could meet the standard, and it was gradually abolished.

There was also the Mingjing section, which examined the memorization and comprehension of Confucian classics (such as the Book of Rites, Zuo Zhuan, etc.).

It was one of the relatively pragmatic and primary channels for recruiting officials at the time.

The Jinshi examination mentioned earlier had just been reinstated, its status far less prestigious than in later eras.

Its main content was also policy essays, similar to the scholar exam, but with lower difficulty and requirements.

It is worth noting that at this time there was no supplemental test of miscellaneous prose or poetry.

The supplemental poetry test was a reform introduced in the later reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi; therefore, during the Wu De Emperor's era, the Jinshi exam tested essays on state governance strategies, not poetry.

Nevertheless, even so, the number of successful candidates was extremely small, as even now officials are mainly selected from major families.

Zhong Kui calculated the dates.

In about a month he will go to Jing Cheng.

Thus now he spends evenings cultivating the "Heavy Mysterious Perfect Scripture" taught by Yu Lin, and continues diligent study by day, having already declined all offers to teach elsewhere.

He only hopes to pass the exam next year.

Although for others, merely making it to Jing Cheng for the exam already counts as passing.

Today's imperial examinations are far too difficult.

Today.

No snow, no wind, clear sky.

Yu Lin lay on a chair basking in the sun, his gaze falling to the side.

A Daoist figure was walking toward here.

Yuan Tiangang.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Zhong Kui in front of the house, cradling a scroll and reading intently, and his eyes widened:

"Incredible, incredible!"

"That day the heavy snow blinded my eyes; I never examined you closely, Brother Zhong, but now that I see you, your visage is beyond words!"

Zhong Kui, seeing that it was the old Daoist he had rescued that day, smiled, "Is it truly so?"

Yuan Tiangang ran his fingers through his beard, lifted his head, exuding confidence: "My other skills may be lacking, but in the art of physiognomy, none in the world can match me."

Zhong Kui, impressed by what he said, asked again:

"Daoist priest, are you truly this formidable? Could I possibly pass next year's imperial examinations?"

Yuan Tiangang raised his hand: "Allow this humble Daoist to have a look."

He reached out toward Zhong Kui's face, and as his fingertips brushed the skin, he blurted out, "Pass! Pass the exam!"

Suddenly, his complexion changed abruptly:

"Hmm? Something's wrong, Brother Zhong, how could you go to the Underworld... *pfft! *"

Another mouthful of blood spurted out, and Yuan Tiangang fell straight onto the ground, splashing blood all over Zhong Kui's face.

Zhong Kui, startled by the sudden turn of events, was at a loss and stood there dumbfounded.

Beside them, Yu Lin rose helplessly and sighed, "It's fine."

"Alright, leave it to me."

He lifted Yuan Tiangang, tossed him onto a chair, and popped a pill into his mouth.

By the afternoon, Yuan Tiangang finally drifted back to consciousness, opened his eyes, and saw Yu Lin's face.

"Daoist priest, shall we continue the reading?"

"... This humble Daoist needs to recuperate first; we can resume later."

"... You are the most daring person I've ever met."

"You flatter me, you flatter me."

Yuan Tiangang sat up from the chair, and, seeing Zhong Kui absent, asked curiously:

"Fellow Daoist, what's his situation?"

"A stranger yet bearing the Underworld Destiny—truly astonishing to this humble Daoist!"

Yu Lin shrugged, "I don't know either."

"The world is vast; nothing is without wonder."

"Daoist priest, no need to be surprised."

Hearing that, Yuan Tiangang nodded, "Indeed, the world is truly immense."

"It seems this humble Daoist has read the signs well; you, fellow Daoist, see through it clearly."

Yu Lin did not continue the topic, but asked, "Daoist priest, what brings you to see me?"

"Just to read my physiognomy?"

Yuan Tiangang stroked his long beard, "I originally intended to read your physiognomy, but now I'm injured, so let it be."

"That's all, then."

"This humble Daoist observes the heavens day and night, and has seen a hidden dragon moving toward here; I presume it is a prince of the Royal family."

"I come specifically to warn you, fellow Daoist, not to get entangled with the Royal family."

"Wise prudence in preserving oneself is good."