Chapter 156: Chapter 156: All Civil and Military Officials Gather! Grand Banquet for the Entire County

Those seated in the main hall were either seventh-grade officials or possessed exceptional talent or abilities.

Chu Ming was merely an eighth-grade Imperial Scholar, but was able to sit there thanks to the favor of County Magistrate Xiao He.

The moment they entered the main hall, they immediately attracted a lot of attention.

"Shen Yu? Why is he here?"

"Lord Zhang, you might not know, but Shen Yu is no longer the eighth-grade instructor of Baiyuan County; he has become a senior fifth-grade Chief Historian."

"Chief Historian?!" Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions changed.

"The young man beside Shen Yu is Chu Ming, isn’t he the most talked-about young talent in a hundred years in our Xirong County?"

"The most talented? Haha, I think he’s just a wet-behind-the-ears kid."

"Shh, keep your voice down. Our official rank may be higher than Imperial Scribe Chu, but think about it, an eighth-grade Imperial Scholar being able to sit here, what does that imply?"

Several of the officials present were of sixth-grade rank. Upon hearing this, their eyes flickered.

"I heard that the young man was personally promoted by County Magistrate Xiao."

"County Magistrate Xiao used to be the Crown Prince’s Tutor. Even the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince would have to address him as Grand Tutor Xiao."

"It seems the rumors are true; otherwise, how could that young man sit here with us?"

"..."

The conversation among these officials was hushed, and because the main hall was large, Shen Yu could not hear clearly, but he could vividly see the sidelong glances and scrutiny from those people.

"Chu Ming, it was arranged by Your Seventh Highness for you to sit here."

Shen Yu said softly, seemingly trying to reassure Chu Ming.

He feared that Chu Ming, being young and inexperienced, might act inappropriately because of the discussions.

Chu Ming slightly nodded, calmly poured a cup of wine for Shen Yu, and selected a piece of fine osmanthus cake for his bowl: "Don’t worry, Brother Shen."

Seated here were at least Senior Seventh-Grade officials, or individuals with special talent or ability. One could say everyone present outranked him, but Chu Ming was unfazed by this.

He heard the discussions far clearer than Shen Yu, mostly about being the most talented and promoted by the County Magistrate.

Just as Shen Yu said, standing out attracted jealousy easily.

Seeing Chu Ming so composed, Shen Yu finally eased his furrowed brow slightly.

The two hadn’t been seated for long when suddenly, from outside, came the sound of footsteps, like armored soldiers walking.

Indeed, shortly after, several individuals clad in armor and with stern expressions entered the main hall.

"It’s the Commander of the Tiger Armor Army, Xiang Yue, and Commanders Guan Zhen and Huo Buyan." Some officials immediately recognized the arrivals.

"The one behind, that should be Jiang Zhan, renowned as the greatest martial arts talent in a hundred years, Jiang Qingshi, right?"

"The elderly gentleman next to him is..."

"That old man isn’t simple either, I heard he’s a person of enlightenment, recently taken as a personal attendant by Commander Xiang."

Chu Ming glanced up, his eyes landing on Fang Xiao.

The long-unseen Housekeeper Fang had changed into Tiger Armor Army armor. Although his temples were still white, the elderly look on his face had significantly diminished.

Sensing this, Chu Ming was delighted in his heart.

Housekeeper Fang had broken through to the Strong Bone Realm, and it was not just the initial stage; it seemed his limb bones had all been tempered.

"It seems the cultivation technique deduced before leaving was well-suited for Housekeeper Fang."

Xiang Yue entered the hall, scanned the room, saw Chu Ming, but given the many eyes on him, his gaze didn’t linger on Chu Ming.

The officials who made eye contact with him all cupped their hands in salute.

The Commander of the Tiger Armor Army held a higher position than the County Magistrate, having been a great contributor to defending Xirong County for decades. Who dared not show respect?

Xiang Yue’s face was stern, and he seemed indifferent to those saluting him, directly taking a seat near the top of the hall.

Guan Zhen, Huo Buyan, Jiang Zhan, and Fang Xiao sat further back.

"Old Fang, is that the young master you mentioned?"

Following Fang Xiao’s gaze, Jiang Zhan asked softly.

Fang Xiao nodded, then retracted his gaze.

Old Fang?

Chu Ming’s heart was stirred.

It seemed Housekeeper Fang had a good relationship with that Jiang Qingshi.

When he was at the base, Jiang Zhan addressed him as ’Fang Qingshi.’

"Housekeeper Fang looks much more imposing," Shen Yu remarked in a low voice, his eyes flickering with admiration, "The body refining technique of the Tiger Armor Army truly lives up to its name."

"Brother Shen, want to give it a try?" Chu Ming asked softly.

"Sigh..."

Surprisingly, Shen Yu did not immediately refute as he did last time, instead he sighed: "I actually have tried..."

He wasn’t a stubborn or rigid person, and had no prejudice against either literature or martial arts.

The fact that he dared to deduce the simplified script showed that Shen Yu was someone willing to try new things.

Most civil servants looked down on martial artists, considering them vulgar, but he was not like that.

"There are natural talents in literature, just as there are in martial arts. Though I might have exceptional talent in poetry and ancient shell script, when it comes to martial arts..."

Shen Yu gently shook his head: "I am completely inept."

"So, Brother Shen actually wants to practice martial arts?" Chu Ming’s eyes flashed.

Shen Yu took several sips of osmanthus wine, speaking in a peculiar tone: "You think these civil servants truly have prejudice against martial artists because they view them as crude?"

"And do you know why martial artists look down on civil servants?"

"The real reason is that most literati don’t have the aptitude for martial arts, so they can’t stand martial artists."

"Martial artists look down on literati because they aren’t cut out for studying."

"Put plainly, it’s envy and jealousy, disguised as prejudice, trying to seem indifferent but actually harboring contempt."

"Ridiculous, isn’t it..."

Shen Yu seemed to see through many things.

"In my view, throughout Xirong County’s history, there has been only one true master of both literature and martial arts."

Shen Yu’s gaze shifted towards Commander Xiang Yue at the top of the hall.

"You might not know this, but when Commander Xiang was twenty, he topped the list of the civil examination; in martial arts, he challenged multiple Martial Arts Hall Masters."

Master of both literature and martial arts?

Chu Ming was astounded, not expecting his master to have such an impressive history.

He suddenly understood why, at the base, when he mentioned his own name, Master was so pleasantly surprised.

"Sadly, being too outstanding isn’t a good thing. Commander Xiang was too dazzling at the time, ensnared by schemers, exiled to the military."

Shen Yu continued: "But a character like Commander Xiang isn’t someone petty tricks can trap. He endured with dignity for nearly ten years, eventually breaking through to the Refining Organ Realm..."

"You know the divisions of martial artist realms, right?"

Chu Ming silently nodded.

"I see, Fang Xiao is a martial artist, he must have taught you martial arts."

"Yes, he has."

Chu Ming’s heart was secretly shaken, no wonder Master had advised him to conceal his talents.

Shen Yu further recounted many of Xiang Yue’s exploits, such as how he defeated those who had wronged him, his victories in battles, and how he commanded the Tiger Armor Army with valor.

"Brother Shen, I actually have a somewhat special cultivation technique that should suit you."

"A special cultivation technique?" Shen Yu munched on osmanthus cake, responding indifferently: "Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique?"

He had once attempted to practice the Tiger Armor Army’s cultivation technique.

"No," Chu Ming shook his head.

"Not that..."

Shen Yu mused. He initially wanted to say that the Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique was the best, and since he couldn’t master it, other techniques were even less likely.

But on second thought, Chu Ming was only trying to help.

"Then after the banquet, let me have a look."

"Alright."

Chu Ming said, his eyes suddenly gleaming.

Here they come.

At the door, the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince, dressed in golden robes and wearing smiles, strode steadily into the hall.