Martial Saint through Reading

The group exchanged little along the way; Hou Wuchun, usually fond of talking, sat obediently beside Shao Pengshu, only chiming in occasionally.

His gaze toward Chu Ming was somewhat different; his address shifted from ’Brother Chu’ to ’Lord Chu,’ making him seem much more distant.

Once the carriage stopped at the academy gates, the four stepped down.

Feng Yuan walked side by side with Chu Ming; Shao Pengshu and Hou Wuchun kept close by.

Although the Criminal Defense Bureau rarely entered the academy, the circumstances now were exceptional, so Shao Pengshu had to stay with Chu Ming at all times.

The bureau’s Flying Fish Suits carried an intimidating effect; the junior examinees didn’t dare look directly, let alone gossip.

Yet the expressions on their faces were quite varied.

The junior examinee walking with Mr. Feng?

Mr. Feng actually brought Chu Ming back again, and now the bureau follows—did Chu Ming commit a crime?

As soon as the four disappeared from sight, the junior examinees erupted into heated discussion.

"The Criminal Defense Bureau has entered the academy; that Chu Ming kid must have committed something."

"It’s no small matter," a junior examinee said, feigning expertise, "I know that Flying Fish Suit—not your average captain. Looks more like an arresting captain, maybe even a criminal captain."

"Criminal Captain, Senior Eighth Grade!"

"Yeah!"

"..."

The rumor that Chu Ming had committed a grave crime swept the academy like the wind, spreading rapidly.

...

In the long corridor before the Middle Courtyard, Luu Xian had his head buried in a book.

"Have you heard? Chu Ming’s in big trouble, caught by the Criminal Defense Bureau."

What?

Luu Xian jerked his head up, his face full of shock.

This time, he wasn’t gloating; his first reaction was worry.

Though Chu Ming had always bested him, Luu Xian had never wished ill on him. At most, if Chu Ming faced punishment from the academy tutors, Luu Xian could feel a little psychological balance.

"Brother, where did you hear this? What did Chu Ming do?" He leaned in toward the junior examinee, asking urgently.

The Criminal Defense Bureau’s here—what could Brother Chu have done?

"No idea what happened; just heard about it. The bureau’s Senior Eighth-Grade Criminal Captain came personally."

"What?!" Luu Xian felt his heart skip, gave up on reading, and hurried toward Yunqi Courtyard.

Meanwhile, in a small pavilion at the end of the corridor, Xu He and Xiaang Changgu were listening intently, their brows gradually furrowing.

Junior Brother Chu committed a crime?!

So when Mr. Feng brought Junior Brother Chu earlier, was that...?

Both felt shaken inside.

The bureau’s criminal captain is here—just how serious is this?

Momentarily distracted, Xu He spoke first: "Sigh...what a pity. Junior Brother Chu acts too reclusive, and he’s from some small place like Liuu Town, ended up on the wrong path."

The words sounded sympathetic, but if you listened closely, the feigned concern was obvious.

Xiang Changgu shot Xu He a look, a strange glimmer hidden deep in his gaze.

He had always seen Xu He as a senior, a friend.

As for Chu Ming, he only regarded him as a rival; their competitive hostility was grounded in both being favored by Mr. Feng, never anything beyond that.

But Xu He’s cold remark just now made him feel his senior’s callousness.

Such cold-hearted people are best not deeply befriended.

...

Yunqi Courtyard.

Feng Yuan had already left; Shao Pengshu sat in the yard, while Ning Hao and Liang Yuan stood nervously nearby.

Hou Wuchun stood off to the side, sizing up the two curiously, his gaze flickering.

Too skinny—just like Brother Chu...Lord Chu, also so thin. Reading really doesn’t do much good.

After a moment, he turned to look at the west room.

Lord Chu really, with such advanced cultivation technique, doesn’t train properly but comes to the academy to study. So many days, and still so frail...

Pah!

Just as he was watching, his head was suddenly slapped from behind, yielding a crisp sound.

"What are you looking at? Go tidy up that room; you’re staying here tonight." Shao Pengshu harshly pointed to the side.

"Lord...that’s the storage room," Ning Hao spoke carefully, "If you don’t mind, you may sleep in my room tonight."

"Yes, yes, Lord, I’ll squeeze in with Senior Brother." Liang Yuan quickly echoed.

Shao Pengshu eyed them coldly. "I mind."

With that, he slapped Hou Wuchun’s head again. "Why are you standing there? Go!"

Hou Wuchun, grimacing, went off to tidy the storage room.

Ning Hao and Liang Yuan watched Hou Wuchun’s painful expression, their own faces twitching.

This criminal captain hits hard—better say less, say less.

The two tacitly chose silence.

In the west room.

Chu Ming sorted his belongings with meticulous order, starting with the clothes Little Shan had prepared, then the books.

Next were the draft papers from his recent cultivation technique practice—not suitable to leave behind.

There wasn’t much; it didn’t take long to finish.

Just then, Shao Pengshu’s voice sounded from outside: "Young Master Chu, may I come in?"

Young Master Chu?

Ning Hao and Liang Yuan’s faces changed.

The bureau’s Senior Eighth-Grade Criminal Captain, addressing Brother Chu as ’Young Master’?!

Which house is Brother Chu from?!

In Baiyuan County, the wealthy Chu family seems only to be the East City Merchant Chu family.

But even the patriarch of the Chu family would greet a criminal captain respectfully, wouldn’t he?

Liang Yuan looked to Ning Hao; the two exchanged subtle glances.

Ning Hao: Don’t look at me, my father’s only Junior Eighth-Grade, not up to the captain.

Liang Yuan: So you don’t know which family Brother Chu belongs to either?

"Come in." Chu Ming paused, all conjectures done, sat at the desk, took brush and ink, and began writing.

Shao Pengshu entered, closing the door behind him, his stern expression replaced by a smile.

"Young Master Chu, you’re incredibly gifted. If Instructor Fang knew you became Standard Ninth-Grade Clerk in Baiyuan County within just five days, he’d be delighted."

Shao Pengshu praised him as soon as he entered.

Chu Ming stopped writing, his lips curling, replying, "Lord Shao isn’t here just to compliment me, is he?"

Shao Pengshu, hearing this, rested his hand on his sword, chuckling awkwardly, "Young Master Chu’s talent is so exceptional—fact, whether I praise you or not..."

"Lord Shao wants to ask about the continuation of that cultivation technique, doesn’t he?" Without waiting for Shao Pengshu to finish, Chu Ming interjected.

Shao Pengshu’s eyes flashed with keen light; his smile deepened. "Hehe, I wonder if Instructor Fang passed it on to you. I’ll buy it with silver taels."

After returning to the bureau, Shao Pengshu discussed with Tan Hong; that advanced cultivation technique was definitely passed to Chu Ming by Fang Xiao.

That strength technique greatly benefited him—not only strengthening his Qi Blood but giving new insight, condensing his eighth strand of Qi Blood.

If he could get the continuation, he believed he’d progress even further.

"No need for silver taels—just help me with one thing, Lord Shao." Chu Ming continued writing.

When copying the cultivation technique earlier, he simply implied it was taught by Fang Xiao.

He wanted to give Shao Pengshu the technique, but it was a designed iteration, concealing hidden mechanisms.

"Young Master Chu, just say the word, I’d do anything, even climb blades and walk through fire..."

"No need," Chu Ming said, speechless. "Just help me deliver a letter to Housekeeper Fang."

"That’s it?"

"Yes."

Chu Ming picked up the sheet from the desk, let the ink dry, folded it, sealed it, and handed it to Shao Pengshu.

The letter contained two things: first, a request for Housekeeper Fang to bring Little Shan to Baiyuan County; second—about the Blood Evil Sect, mentioned only in a subtle hint, which Housekeeper Fang would understand.

"Wait here, I’ll arrange for someone to send it right away."

Delivering a letter was nothing to Shao Pengshu; even if Chu Ming didn’t write, he’d have reported Chu Ming’s clerk appointment to Fang Xiao.

He hurried out, called Hou Wuchun, had him take the letter to the bureau to arrange delivery, then promptly rushed back inside.