Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

After Chen Shouheng left, Zhou Shuwei didn’t return to the inn. Instead, as if compelled by some unseen force, she walked alone to the Zhou Family estate.

The once-bustling scene of carriages filling the entrance and servants as numerous as clouds was long gone, replaced by a suffocating stillness.

Across the familiar vermilion-lacquered main gate were crisscrossed sealing strips, each stamped with the bright red Official Seal of the Liyang Commandery Magistrate’s Office.

Zhou Shuwei stood on the opposite side of the street, the anger she had long suppressed finally erupting.

She had no intention of seeking out the old friends and proteges who were once close with the Zhou Family.

When people leave, the tea grows cold; when a tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

The world had always been a cold and cynical place.

She had tasted this bitterness all too well in the years since the Zhou Family’s decline.

At this point, unless it was someone who owed the Zhou Family a life-saving debt and wasn’t afraid of being implicated, who would be willing to get involved in this mess?

Her gaze went past the silent estate toward the Commandery Magistrate’s Office. "I’d like to see just what you’re all planning to do."

For the next dozen or so days, Zhou Shuwei stayed in Liyang.

Every morning at 7:00 AM, she would arrive punctually at the duty room of the Ritual and Education Department, as if reporting for roll call.

She didn’t cause a scene or make any noise. She would simply find a stool, sit down, and watch Wang Shuli, who looked as though he were sitting on pins and needles.

For Wang Shuli, these past few days felt like years.

The moment he saw Zhou Shuwei’s figure appear in the doorway, his scalp would tingle with dread, and he’d wish the earth would open up and swallow him whole.

He wanted to hide, but the last time he’d feigned illness, she had cornered him right at his home. That trick wouldn’t work again.

He wanted to ask his direct superior, Dean Li, for help, but for the past dozen days, Lord Li seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, not showing his face at the Government Office once.

When he asked his colleagues, they would only say vaguely that the Dean was away on official business and his return date was uncertain.

’I get a clerk’s salary to deal with an official’s problems,’ Wang Shuli lamented to himself. ’I don’t know what kind of bad luck I’ve run into.’

He complained endlessly in his heart.

’Wicked officials above and a troublesome citizen below.’

’A lowly clerk like me, caught in the middle... It’s like being stuck between a rock and a hard place.’

He felt as if there were spikes on his back; this life was becoming simply unbearable.

Just as Wang Shuli was about to be driven mad by the invisible pressure, the long-absent Dean Li finally appeared under the eaves of the Ritual and Education Department.

"Lord Li, you’re finally back!"

Wang Shuli looked as if he’d seen his savior, nearly lunging forward with a sob in his voice. "If you hadn’t come back, I... I was afraid I’d really have to resign due to illness and go home."

Dean Li was clearly in a good mood. He glanced at the frantic Wang Shuli and scolded, "Look at you, so pathetic. I was only away in Jiangzhou City on official business for a dozen days. Has that young lady of the Zhou Family left yet?"

"Left?"

Wang Shuli was practically bawling as he complained, "How could she possibly leave? She’s been camped outside my duty room every day. I can’t shoo her away, and I don’t dare curse at her. I... for the past dozen days, I’ve been driven half-mad by her!"

"Alright, alright."

Dean Li waved a hand, cutting off his complaints. "Take me to her."

"Yes, yes. This way, my lord."

As if granted a full pardon, Wang Shuli quickly stepped aside to let him pass.

Dean Li strode into the duty room.

He saw Zhou Shuwei sitting there quietly, her cold gaze fixed on him.

"Patriarch Zhou, I trust you’ve been well."

Dean Li took a few steps forward, greeting her with feigned familiarity.

They were clearly old acquaintances.

Zhou Shuwei’s voice was calm but laced with ice. "After hiding for over a dozen days, the Dean finally deigns to show himself?"

Dean Li’s expression hardened. He retorted sternly, "Patriarch Zhou, what is the meaning of this? I was in Jiangzhou on official business under my superior’s orders. How can you call that hiding? Patriarch Zhou, do not make baseless accusations and slander my name."

"Hah. That is a heavy accusation. One I, a humble woman, cannot bear."

Zhou Shuwei couldn’t be bothered to engage in a war of words with him and got straight to the point. "Since Dean Li has returned to the Government Office, please issue me the documents to participate in the Provincial Examination."

A look of surprise appeared on Dean Li’s face. He asked, feigning curiosity, "Has Patriarch Zhou forgotten the time? The Martial Examination begins tomorrow. Even if I were to issue the documents for you right now, you wouldn’t make it to Jiangzhou in time. What use would they be?"

Zhou Shuwei knew he had deliberately stalled until this very moment, calculating the time perfectly to block her from taking the exam. Not bothering to argue, she said coldly, "You need not trouble yourself with that, Dean Li. Whether the documents are useful or not is my business. All you need to do is issue them."

Dean Li chuckled. He had long known this woman was difficult. Fortunately, he was prepared. Unhurriedly, he said, "It is not that I am deliberately making things difficult for you. The matter between your Zhou Family and the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau is still unresolved. According to the laws of the Court, I dare not issue the documents without authorization."

Zhou Shuwei stared at him. "Even if the Zhou Family has a legal dispute with the Textile Bureau, it’s a civil matter. It has nothing to do with me participating in the Martial Examination, does it? On what grounds are you withholding my documents for this reason, Dean Li?"

"Not so."

Dean Li shook his head. "Failure to produce textiles, delaying provisions for the Court—that is the crime of dereliction of duty, a punishable offense. How can that be an ordinary civil dispute?"

"As far as I know, a great deal of the silk from the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau is used for trade in the border markets, is it not?" Zhou Shuwei retorted. "With no evidence, how can you, Dean Li, claim that my Zhou Family’s forty thousand bolts of Official Tribute Silk were for an imperial commission?"

"I would not speak without reason."

As if waiting for this very question, Dean Li produced a document he had just obtained from the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau and handed it to Zhou Shuwei. "If Patriarch Zhou does not believe me, you may see for yourself."

Zhou Shuwei took the document, her eyes sweeping quickly over it.

The document bore the Official Seal of the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau.

In essence, it stated that the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau, by superior order, was required to produce six hundred thousand bolts of silk for imperial use this year. The Liyang Zhou Family was to supply forty thousand bolts of Official Tribute Silk, which were now overdue.

It requested the Liyang Commandery Magistrate’s Office to promptly assist in recovering the silk. If it was not recovered by the deadline, they were to be punished according to the law for the crime of delay and non-compliance.

Zhou Shuwei finished reading in silence, then said coldly, "This document only requests the recovery of the silk. On what grounds did the Commandery Magistrate’s Office seal my family’s estate?"

Dean Li hadn’t expected Zhou Shuwei to be so sharp, instantly turning the tables on him by questioning the sealing of the estate.

But having been an official for so long, he couldn’t truly be cornered. He immediately passed the buck. "I am only responsible for the Ritual and Education Department. I am not clear on other matters. If Patriarch Zhou has questions, please find someone else to ask."

Zhou Shuwei knew that arguing with this man was pointless. She said no more and turned to leave.

...

「Jiangzhou City.」

In the early morning, before the thin mist had completely dissipated, the area outside the Imperial Examination Hall was already bustling with traffic.

Martial Scholars from every commandery in Jiangzhou had gathered here.

They stood in small groups, a constant hum of conversation filling the air, creating a lively clamor.

Dressed in a simple blue robe, Chen Shouheng stood in a corner, deliberately concealing his aura.

"Silence!"

A moment later, a deep shout infused with Inner Strength boomed from within the gates of the Imperial Examination Hall, a voice like a great bell that rang clearly in everyone’s ears.

The clamor instantly died down.

The two heavy, vermilion-lacquered gates slowly swung open, and dozens of soldiers in martial attire filed out, lining up on both sides of the entrance with their hands on the hilts of their blades.

Then, an official wearing the blue robe of a Seventh Grade officer stepped out and stood atop the high steps, followed by two clerks.

"The roll call begins now. When your name is called, step forward for verification."

The blue-robed official opened a roster and began to call out names in a loud voice.

"Jiangzuo Tongzhou, Zhou Wen Yuan."

A tall, handsome young man stepped out from the crowd and walked calmly up the steps, presenting his documents and Scholar’s Official Certificate.

A clerk took them, carefully verifying his appearance, place of origin, and age against the roster. Once everything was confirmed to be in order, he signaled for the man to pass.

The other clerk marked the name on the roster with a vermilion brush and stamped it with an Official Seal.

The roll call proceeded in an orderly fashion. The called candidates stepped forward one by one and entered the Imperial Examination Hall after their verification was complete.

About fifteen minutes later, it was finally Chen Shouheng’s turn.

"Liyang Mirror Mountain, Chen Shouheng."

Chen Shouheng stepped forward at the call of his name.

At the side, a clerk carefully examined his credentials before signaling him to pass.

Inside the Imperial Examination Hall, the ground was paved with blue-green bricks, and ancient cypress trees towered toward the sky.

The candidates who had arrived earlier stood in various spots, and the sound of hushed whispers could be heard from time to time.

Chen Shouheng found a spot in a corner near a corridor pillar and quietly spread his Divine Sense.

’As expected, Qi Realm Perfection is the standard here... Hmm?’

A thought stirred in his mind. ’That one in the southeast corner holding a sword should be in the Spirit Realm. And that tall fellow to the northwest... his Divine Intent is contained within, he’s also in the Spirit Realm... Including me, there are five of us at the Spirit Realm.’

Just then, a voice spoke up.

"Are you Chen Shouheng from Guangye Hall, Chen?"

Chen Shouheng was surprised to see a tall, handsome young man standing before him with a smile.

"And you are?"

He found the man’s face quite familiar, but for a moment, he couldn’t recall his name or which hall he was from.

Seeing the flicker of confusion in Chen Shouheng’s eyes, the young man’s smile widened. He took the initiative to introduce himself. "I am Li Jiyan, and I train at Chongzhi Hall. I was quite surprised when I heard your name just now; I almost thought it was someone with the same name. I never expected we would be taking the same examination. What a coincidence."

"So it’s Brother Li."

Chen Shouheng immediately cupped his fist in salute as realization dawned on him.

The Martial Arts Academy had many disciples, and the various halls didn’t interact closely, so it was perfectly normal to find someone familiar but not know their name.

But for the other person to recognize him was a bit of a surprise.

"Don’t call me Brother. We entered the Martial Arts Academy at the same time. I was quite indignant back then when you, Chen, were the first to reach the summit yet were assigned to Guangye Hall."

Li Jiyan’s expression didn’t change as he gave a faint smile.

Chen Shouheng nodded and smiled. "The Martial Arts Academy must have had its reasons for that arrangement."

Li Jiyan seemed very friendly. He lowered his voice and said, "Are you taking the exam this year, Chen, because you heard the questions have changed and came to give it a try?"

Chen Shouheng paused. ’The questions have changed?’

That was news to him.

He immediately shook his head.

Li Jiyan’s gaze swept casually around them. Seeing that no one was paying attention, he lowered his voice even more. "My family has some connections in Jiangzhou City, so I’ve heard some rumors about today’s exam questions. If you need it, I could share some of the key details with you to improve your chances."

Chen Shouheng’s heart immediately tensed.

Li Jiyan’s words were tantamount to hinting at leaked exam questions.

Within the Martial Arts Academy, students from different halls rarely socialized.

This had been especially true in the last year, with the atmosphere turning foul and toxic.

Factions were rampant and infighting was endless. The camaraderie between fellow disciples was all but gone, replaced by a desire to see one’s rivals dead.

He had no deep friendship with this man, yet Li Jiyan was being so open and frank in their very first real conversation.

’Is it simple camaraderie, or does he have an ulterior motive?’

After all he had been through, Chen Shouheng had become far more cautious.

Knowing this was a dangerous game he could not afford to get involved in, he put on an apologetic expression, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother, my apologies, but I’ve been struck by a sudden stomachache. I need to use the latrine. Please forgive my rudeness."

Without waiting for Li Jiyan to respond, he turned and headed for the latrines.

Li Jiyan watched Chen Shouheng’s clean and decisive departure. A faint trace of surprise flickered in the depths of his eyes as he muttered to himself, "Interesting..."