Chapter 181 - 180: Guangye
Another half an hour passed before all the disciples who passed the assessment finally reached the summit.
At a rough glance, their numbers had dwindled by more than a third from when they first gathered outside the mountain gate.
The filtering power of the Heaven-Ascending Road was truly apparent.
The successful candidates gathered on the plaza. Those who knew each other spoke in low voices. The atmosphere was complex—a mix of relief at having survived an ordeal and anticipation for the future.
At some point, Zhao Anshi’s figure appeared silently at the front of the plaza.
His gaze swept dispassionately over the twenty-odd students present. Without any unnecessary words, he immediately began announcing the hall assignments.
"Zhang Yuanshan, Sincerity Hall."
"Li Jiyan, Chongzhi Hall."
"Wang Muke, Hall of Justice."
...
Zhao Anshi read the names at a steady pace, his voice betraying no emotion.
The disciples whose names were called had varied expressions. Those assigned to the Cultivation Hall and Sincerity Hall could barely conceal their joy.
Those sent to Chongzhi Hall and the Hall of Justice, however, mostly remained calm, accepting their fate with equanimity.
When he reached Zhou Shuwei’s name, Zhao Anshi’s gaze paused on her for a fraction of a second, but his tone remained flat. "Zhou Shuwei, Cultivation Hall."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shuwei offered a polite smile, as if this was the expected outcome. She seemed quite pleased with this upper-tier placement.
She subconsciously turned her head and glanced at Chen Shouheng with a hint of expectation.
Finally, Zhao Anshi’s gaze fell upon Chen Shouheng.
His expression seemed no different from when he had looked at the others, yet it also felt as if it held a hint of indescribable scrutiny, as if he were weighing something.
After a moment of deliberation, he slowly spoke. "Chen Shouheng... you will go to Guangye Hall."
The plaza instantly grew quieter. The expressions of the first few who had reached the summit, in particular, turned strange as they looked at Chen Shouheng.
They all knew that Chen Shouheng had reached the top even earlier than they had. ’How could he be sent to Guangye Hall?’
A few faint gasps and whispers rippled through the plaza.
As if he hadn’t heard these subtle reactions, Zhao Anshi added, "Since you are a Guard for the Zhou Family, that place is in need of manpower. It’s most suitable for someone like you... hmm, someone down-to-earth and willing to work."
As soon as he said this, the smile on Zhou Shuwei’s face froze completely, quickly replaced by a look of humiliation and anger.
This arrangement made her lose face as well, since Chen Shouheng was, after all, someone she had brought with her.
"Now, all of you, report to the Dining Hall."
After Zhao Anshi finished speaking, he turned and leisurely departed.
Zhou Shuwei’s voice was filled with indignation. "Lord Zhao... How could he make such an arrangement?! This is clearly... clearly unfair!"
Chen Shouheng, however, was relatively calm. "What’s wrong with Guangye Hall?"
Zhou Shuwei explained, "Guangye Hall... although it’s one of the six halls, its disciples must perform miscellaneous tasks and manual labor within the academy in addition to their daily Cultivation. While there’s a small payment in silver coins, it consumes an enormous amount of time and energy, greatly impacting one’s ability to focus on Cultivation. It has always been the assignment for those with relatively mediocre aptitude."
After listening, Chen Shouheng showed no signs of disappointment or anger. Instead, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.
’When I left home, Father gave me fifty taels of gold and several hundred taels of silver for expenses.’
’For an ordinary family, that’s a huge sum. But for Cultivation in the Spirit Realm, these silver coins won’t last long before I’m stretched thin.’
’Having a legitimate reason to work and earn silver coins within the academy to supplement my Cultivation needs isn’t entirely a bad thing.’
’It might delay my progress, but it’s better than just sitting around and burning through my savings.’
So, he instead comforted Zhou Shuwei, "Patriarch Zhou, there’s no need to be angry. It’s already difficult enough to be admitted into the academy for Cultivation. Exchanging some miscellaneous tasks for payment might not be a bad thing for me."
Zhou Shuwei looked at his calm, even magnanimous expression and was at a loss for words.
She finally sighed. "If that’s how you feel... then take care of yourself. If you run into any difficulties, don’t hesitate to find me."
Chen Shouheng cupped his hands. "Thank you, Patriarch Zhou."
Zhou Shuwei nodded.
The two of them followed the group, making their way toward the Dining Hall.
...
「March.」
The situation in Lishui had already deteriorated beyond repair.
After Xiao Zhong and Ye Buping killed numerous officials in the Lishui County Magistrate’s Office, the State County was enraged and immediately dispatched ten thousand troops to station in Lishui County Town.
But the rebel army they led never fought the official army head-on. Like maggots clinging to bone, they ravaged the countryside.
They broke into smaller units and relied on their familiarity with the terrain, sometimes vanishing without a trace, other times launching surprise attacks. They specialized in hitting supply lines, striking and then running.
The official army was bogged down in the vast wilderness, caught in a dilemma and exhausted from the chase. For a time, they were powerless against the ever-growing rebel army.
Especially after last year’s turmoil, and with the current pre-harvest famine, their righteous army, far from shrinking, was continuously swelled by a tide of refugees who could no longer survive.
Jingshan County.
Although it bordered Lishui, it was still relatively peaceful for now, but a shadow of gloom hung over it.
On the open ground in front of the County Magistrate’s Office.
Dressed in crisp martial attire, Chen Shouye arrived on time, leading twenty-nine of his fellow disciples from the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall.
As soon as he reached the Government Office entrance, he saw that several dozen people had already gathered. They exuded a formidable aura; most were martial artists.
Besides the thirty-man team from the Tingtiao Martial Arts Hall, there were also quite a few familiar faces—all former disciples of the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall, who had also been conscripted.
"Junior Brother Shouye!"
Several former disciples of the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall brightened upon seeing Chen Shouye. They quickly cupped their hands in greeting, their faces showing the delight of meeting an acquaintance.
Everyone in Mirror Mountain now knew of the Chen Family’s great power, and Chen Shouye himself had broken through to the Qi Realm at a young age.
One of them stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Junior Brother Shouye, this journey is perilous. The Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall has already disbanded. We hope you will look after us."
Ever since the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall was shut down, their master, Zhou Zhen, had dejectedly returned to his hometown.
The Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall had become a scattered mess. Only the disciples who were close still kept in touch, but getting together was not easy.
Chen Shouye returned the salute with cupped hands, his reply concise: "We’ll look after each other."
In the midst of their pleasantries, Chief He from the County Magistrate’s Office hurried over, his face plastered with a polite smile. "Second Young Master Chen, you’ve arrived! We are truly grateful for the trouble you and your brothers from the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall have taken!"
Ever since his elder brother, Chen Shouheng, became a Martial Scholar, the Chen Family’s status in Mirror Mountain had risen daily, making them a true Gentry family.
This was especially true after news spread from the Kao Mountain Martial Arts Hall that Chen Shouye had broken through to the Qi Realm, further solidifying the Chen Family’s position.
When the government constables from the County Magistrate’s Office saw him, they naturally didn’t dare to act arrogantly.
"You’re too kind, Chief He. This is just our duty."
Chen Shouye’s gaze swept over the growing crowd. "I wonder what the specific arrangements are for this operation?"
Chief He lowered his voice. "Please be patient, Second Young Master Chen. County Captain Feng will be here shortly. He will explain everything himself."
Chen Shouye nodded and asked no more questions.
Before long, the sound of steady footsteps approached.
County Captain Feng Zhan emerged, dressed in his official robes. His face was solemn, and he was flanked by several government constables.
His gaze was like lightning as it swept over the assembly, instantly silencing the somewhat noisy scene. His voice was loud and clear as he got straight to the point. "Everyone! I have summoned you here today because this year’s tax silver must be escorted to the Commandery City."
"However, the road to the Commandery City passes through Lishui County. I’m sure you have all heard about the current situation in Lishui. The rebel army is rampant, and the route is treacherous. To ensure the tax silver is completely secure, we have requested all experts at the Blood Refining Realm and above within the county to assist the County Magistrate’s Office’s Soldiers in a joint escort."
A slight stir rippled through the crowd.
Feng Zhan continued, "I, Feng, hereby promise that all who participate in today’s escort, regardless of whether you are from a martial arts hall, will receive fifty taels of silver per person upon the successful and safe delivery of the tax silver to the Commandery City. Compensation for the injured will be doubled, and for the deceased, five hundred taels."