Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"The Prefecture City is under curfew now. If we go out and are found by the patrolling government officials, it won’t do us any good."

"We should just stay the night here at Xuanhe Tower."

After the banquet, Kou Liang glanced at the sky. Estimating it was already the second watch of the night, he made his suggestion.

While their sworn brotherhood wasn’t a secret, it wasn’t necessarily a good thing for too many people to know about it.

"Third Brother mentioned before that he’d teach me about the provincial Military Examination after the banquet. Tonight, I’ll share a room with him." Fu Zhizhou’s eyes lit up as he heard this, and he quickly agreed.

Xuanhe Tower had multi-person rooms, but those were all common rooms with large shared beds. For military officers like them, staying there would be beneath their station.

The better rooms were all doubles.

"A room with Wei Tu?" Upon hearing Fu Zhizhou’s words, Weii Fei’s brow twitched, and he felt a pang of displeasure.

’He was worried that if Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou grew closer, he, the one with the lowest status among the four brothers, would be alienated.’

"Then I’ll share a room with Second Brother."

Kou Liang didn’t notice Weii Fei’s unease. He just nodded and went along with the arrangement Fu Zhizhou had suggested.

Kou Liang was the eldest sworn brother.

The arrangement was quite suitable.

The four had no objections.

That evening, Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou shared a room.

During that time, the two of them discussed the provincial Military Examination and the method of reaching the Qi Sensing Realm by progressing from external to internal techniques.

For the former, Fu Zhizhou helped Wei Tu formulate an examination strategy.

For the latter, Wei Tu helped Fu Zhizhou by passing on his martial arts experience.

Both men benefited from the exchange.

"Fourth Brother’s fist and foot Pile Skill has long since reached Great Success. All he’s missing now is grasping that elusive Qi Sensitivity..."

"When I first developed Qi Sensitivity, I started by practicing my boxing forms several times. After I had completely emptied my mind..."

Wei Tu taught patiently.

The fact that Fu Zhizhou had placed ninth in the previous provincial Military Examination spoke volumes of his Martial Arts prowess. He had long since perfected his fist and foot techniques.

The only thing separating Fu Zhizhou from him now was the ability to perceive that elusive Qi Sensitivity and generate Inner Strength.

"Thank you for your guidance, Third Brother." Fu Zhizhou picked up a brush and wrote down every word Wei Tu had just said on paper.

Seeing this, Wei Tu couldn’t help but marvel internally. ’No wonder Fu Zhizhou passed the Military Examination at just eighteen. In addition to his superhuman talent in Martial Arts, his diligence and attention to detail are clearly indispensable.’

"Please, Fourth Brother, tell me about the provincial Military Examination again. I’ll write it down too," Wei Tu said sincerely, following his example.

As he finished speaking, Fu Zhizhou couldn’t help but break into a smile, handing the brush and paper to Wei Tu.

’At that moment, his estimation of Wei Tu rose even higher.’

He had met few men who could disregard their own pride and were not ashamed to learn from those below them.

In all these years, Wei Tu was the only person he had ever seen not only notice this habit of his, but also immediately adopt it.

...

「The next day.」

The four men said their goodbyes. As was his custom, Wei Tu paid a visit to the Shan Mansion in the Prefecture City. He called on Shan Yanggong and Mrs. Min of the Shan Family, taking with him a letter they had written for Shan Wuju. Only then did he and Weii Fei ride back to Qingshan County Town together.

After returning to Qingshan County Town, more than ten days went by.

The rewards from the Xiang Army Government Office for the military officers who had helped destroy the Wuyun Tower branch were finally issued.

Because Wei Tu had twice earned great merit, his official grade was raised two levels and his position one, promoting him from Capital Army Envoy to a clerk in the Xiang Army Government Office.

The position of clerk was a civil service role within the Xiang Army Government Office, primarily responsible for managing case files and other secretarial duties.

Although the official grade was still Miscellaneous Grade, its status within the Xiang Army Government Office was much higher than that of a Capital Army Envoy.

Weii Fei, also for his merits, was appointed to fill Wei Tu’s former post of Capital Army Envoy.

Seeing this arrangement from the Government Office, Wei Tu and Weii Fei couldn’t help but shake their heads.

Two years had passed. Only after earning these merits had the two of them finally managed to counteract the suppression from Hex Prefecture and be "restored to their original posts."

If it hadn’t been for Hex Prefecture, they would have been appointed to these positions from the very beginning.

"If we hadn’t earned merit for quelling the rebellion in Siyang Town, we probably would have languished in our old posts for the rest of our lives."

On the afternoon they received their Appointment Certificates, Wei Tu and Weii Fei went to Cuiyun Tower. They ordered a fine spread of dishes and chatted over drinks.

As they spoke, the two were filled with myriad emotions.

If not for Fu Zhizhou’s "reminder" two years ago, they never would have prepared their Refined Armor in advance, secretly honed their Martial Arts, and earned the merit in Siyang Town that led to their promotions.

It was safe to say that without the "wild card" that was Fu Zhizhou, Hex Prefecture’s suppression would have left them stuck in their original posts for the rest of their lives.

This just went to show the "severity" of Hex Prefecture’s retaliation against the four of them.

Of course, this was all assuming one ignored Wei Tu’s progress in Martial Arts over the past two years.

This was just looking at it from the perspective of normal progression.

"After those ruffians under my command heard you got promoted, Third Brother, quite a few of them have gotten ideas. They’re thinking of sending a matchmaker to ask for Sister Caixia’s hand in marriage..." Weii Fei teased.

Two years ago, Wei Tu had tried to arrange Caixia’s marriage within the Xiang Army Government Office, wanting to find a decent man for her.

But the soldiers of the Xiang Army were a pragmatic bunch. They knew Wei Tu and Weii Fei had likely offended a superior and been demoted, so when Wei Tu tried to play matchmaker, not a single one of them agreed. They were all afraid of getting implicated.

Of course, there were some soldiers who wanted to marry Caixia, but those who did were either too old or their families were too poor to be suitable.

Thus, Caixia’s marriage prospects were delayed for two years.

"Are there any suitable candidates?" Hearing Weii Fei bring this up, Wei Tu quickly asked.

Caixia had been kind to him.

He and Caixia had entered the Li Mansion in the same year and had a good relationship.

He naturally hoped Caixia would marry into a good family.

"There are two suitable candidates." Seeing Wei Tu’s interest, Weii Fei pondered for a moment before carefully replying, "One of them is named Quanshun. He comes from a clean background and runs a tea business. You visited his shop once."

"The other is named Yue Jing. He’s a runner at the Xiang Army Government Office, a sharp fellow."

"You’ve dealt with him before too, Third Brother."

Wei Tu trusted Weii Fei’s judgment. He nodded and said, "I’ll discuss these two with Caixia and let her see which one she prefers."

’Weii Fei was a former Head Coach. He had a good understanding of the character of the soldiers under him, so his judgment shouldn’t be too far off.’

「Five days later.」

Caixia met with Quanshun and Yue Jing separately. She chose Yue Jing, who, despite having less wealth, had better prospects.

Soon, only the final step remained before their engagement was official: the matchmaker’s formal proposal.

Seeing this, Wei Tu thought for a moment, then called Yue Jing into his room at the Xiang Army Government Office alone. "This sister of mine has a good character," he said. "At the Li Mansion, she cherished her body and never had to serve the masters of the house."

"Later, she was defiled by one of the masters..."

Wei Tu briefly explained Caixia’s past.

But he did not specify which master of the Li Mansion had defiled Caixia,

sparing the Li Mansion some face.

"Chief Clerk Wei, we common folk don’t place that much importance on chastity."

"When a pretty maidservant is let go from a great house, anyone with half a brain can guess she must have had some kind of relationship with the masters."

"But these maidservants, even after being released, are still highly sought after..."

Seeing Wei Tu being frank about Caixia’s past, Yue Jing hesitated for a moment before speaking his mind without any reservation.