Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 101 - 92: Qingyun County Captain, Underlying Currents Surge!

The poetry gathering is still two days away. After taking the Cyan Bamboo Token, Su Mu turned and left.

"Zhou Qing was originally a scholar in his youth, but he repeatedly failed the county exam, unable to even obtain the qualifications of a pupil... feeling disheartened, he gave up literature for martial arts, yet still regarded himself as a scholar and loved composing poetry... He always dressed in a scholar's blue robe and was keen to participate in poetry gatherings of all sizes…"

The contents of a secret letter that was to be burned after reading floated in Su Mu's mind.

He couldn't help but think of two historical figures who left their marks on the imperial examination, Fan Jin and Huang Chao, yet it was clear that Zhou Qing could not compare to them.

Fan Jin became a scholar at the age of fifty-four, passed the provincial exam a few months later, and was eventually appointed a third-grade minister of the Ministry of Communication, rising steadily through ranks.

Huang Chao was even more ruthless in Huaxia's history, uprooting the thousand-year-old power of the aristocracy, and when he could not enter Chang'an through the exams, he took it by force, leaving behind this timeless verse:

"When autumn comes on the eighth of September, after my flowers bloom, all other flowers will perish, their fragrant aroma fills Chang'an, and the city is clad in golden armor."

"The Shuangbai Poetry Gathering is an annual literary event in Qingyun County, and with the triennial provincial examination approaching, this year's gathering is bound to be even grander, Zhou Qing will surely not miss it."

Su Mu believed that given Zhou Qing's character, he would certainly attend. With the remaining two days, Su Mu stayed at the inn to cultivate.

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

To avoid drawing attention, Su Mu bought a set of blue scholar's robes from the market over the last two days. At dawn, Su Mu changed out of his combat outfit and into the scholar's cloak, heading towards Shuangbai Academy.

In the early morning, fine snow drifted in the sky, and vendors had already set up food stalls along the streets and alleys. Scholars also needed to eat, and this period was a good time to make money.

"Five bowls of wontons, extra scallions, please."

Hearing the robust voice ordering five bowls of wontons, the elderly couple running the stall were stunned.

"Young master, our wontons are quite filling. Many people find even one bowl too much. Are you sure?" the lady gently reminded him.

Su Mu was unmoved, and in front of both of them, he ate five large bowls of wontons and finished the soup. He then placed some silver on the table, got up, and left.

The elderly couple behind watched in dumbfounded amazement, clicking their tongues in wonder as they regained their senses.

"Only four-tenths full... but it's enough."

When he reached the academy, it was still early, but many people had already gathered outside. There were many who looked like scholars and also many townspeople who came to watch the excitement.

That day, two temporary, over-one-zhang-tall red lacquer bulletin boards were set up at the academy's entrance, specifically for the display of excellent poetry and paintings from the gathering.

Literature carries the Way, and exemplars of poetry and paintings need to be spread. The excellent works created during the two-day gathering would be first passed by word of mouth among scholars and citizens, then spread through official government bulletins, and further propagated by the scions of great powers in Qingyun.

Apart from titles, reputation is the second life of many scholars, the pursuit of a lifetime.

Su Mu first scanned the people present, his gaze sweeping over their faces and hands, finding nothing unusual, he then walked into the academy, which was guarded by officials and academy guards today.

Displaying the Cyan Bamboo Order, Su Mu smoothly entered the inner court.

Compared to the bustling outer courtyard, the inner courtyard still seemed quite deserted at the moment. Every time someone arrived in the inner courtyard, the scholars there would cast glances at them, and many hesitated when their gazes fell on Su Mu.

This scholar was tall, with a cold stern face and eyes bright as a hawk, seeming more like a warrior than a scholar.

Su Mu walked around the four venues of the inner courtyard but did not find Zhou Qing's figure, so he went to a bamboo grove, leaned against a few yellow bamboo stalks, and closed his eyes to rest.

Were it not for the matter concerning Zhou Qing, he would not have even heard of the Shuangbai Poetry Gathering, much less cared for it.

As the sky grew brighter and time passed, the number of people in the inner courtyard gradually increased.

"It's about to start!"

At a certain moment, Su Mu slowly opened his eyes and headed towards the University Hall.

In the center of the inner courtyard, beside the hall of learning, a temporary platform had been erected with bamboo a half month prior, with guest seats arranged and three armchairs placed.

At this moment, two people were seated on the left and right armchairs. One of them was an elder with white hair, kind and gentle features, currently serving as the dean of Shuangbai Academy, Lu Qingshu, a renowned Confucian scholar in the Qingyun area, known as Scholar Qing Shu.

The person conversing with him naturally also had a notable status, wearing a light cyan official robe, was Wu Xun, the parental official of Shuangbai Town.

Just then, a commotion occurred in the outer courtyard as a student hurriedly came to report, "Lord Li has arrived!"

The two on the stage immediately stood to welcome him. Though Lord Li had not yet arrived, the clear sound of clanging armor reached them first, led by two teams of Cyan Cloud Elite Soldiers wearing brightly polished silver armor, with long sabers at their waists.

Clad in a dark cyan rhinoceros-patterned official robe, with a square face and stern, upright features, a middle-aged man about forty years old strode forward, with a long-breathed elder in black combat attire following a step behind.

"A Muscle-Enhancing Martial Artist, with an aura above that of Black Insect Elder and Zhou Tiande... at least a Second-Time Tendon Transformation martial artist. Besides him, there is another Muscle-Enhancing Martial Artist."

The elder in black combat attire had an extraordinary aura, and Su Mu also noticed another sturdy man within the ranks, deliberately hiding his aura.

But Su Mu's five senses were incredibly keen now, with just a glance he saw through the trick and the extraordinary quality of the Cyan Cloud soldiers leading, each one being an Entry Level Refining Force Martial Artist.

Looking around, there were nearly forty Cyan Cloud soldiers accompanying, including two Seventh-Grade Muscle-Enhancing Martial Artists and forty Ninth-Grade Refining Force Martial Artists in total, a formidable force indeed.

"Such a formation, it seems this County Captain Li... is here not just for the poetry gathering, but it is none of my business, I only want Zhou Qing's head."

Li Qiu, Qingyun County Captain, with a Junior Eighth Grade official rank, as the position of the Qingyun County Chief Clerk was vacant and the Demon Slayer Bureau long declined, he was effectively the second most powerful in the Qingyun County Government Office.

"This one greets Lord Li."

"Greetings, Lord Li!"

Li Qiu nodded in response, surveyed the surroundings, and said in a loud voice, "I have seen the high spirits of Qingyun scholars during my journey. I am sure you have been looking forward to the poetry gathering. Let's begin."

Following this, Lu Qingshu and Wu Xun fell back one step to follow, and Li Qiu took his seat as the honored guest on the stage, officially commencing the Shuangbai Poetry Gathering.

An old scholar from the academy took the stage to announce the topic of the first round of poetry composition.

"Among the Three Friends of Winter, pine and cypress are the first. Thus, the first topic of the gathering is pine and cypress."

Amidst the crowd, Su Mu's gaze stopped on Li Qiu, this Qingyun County Captain—his duty involved the county's security and labor mobilization, and he had the authority to deploy the Cyan Cloud Army.

Judging by his rank, he was two levels lower than the Demon Slayer Director Li Zhihe, who could sit with the County Magistrate. Still, the aura of destiny Su Mu observed around this County Captain was no weaker than Li Zhihe's, even faintly surpassing it.

However, the fortune of these two people on their bodies is not as good as the person who sold the couplets a few days ago.

"It seems that even if one is from the government office... the rank of an official does not represent everything."

Su Mu murmured to himself and silently withdrew his gaze.

The poetry gathering had not been underway for long before Su Mu had yet to spot Zhou Qing's figure, but he was suddenly startled. He saw two sneaky figures, both of whom he recognized.

One was Wu Qiao'Er, the daughter of Wu Lie, the Master of the Weapon Refining Workshop.

As for the other, she was a woman Su Mu had encountered at a shared table in Baihe Town. At this moment, the two were emerging from the depths of the inner courtyard, followed by someone Su Mu recognized as the person accompanying the woman at the shared table that day.

"This person's identity is indeed not simple."

Su Mu glanced at the three people and silently withdrew his gaze, but his brow furrowed slightly. Uncle Wu had always treated him generously, having the three masters of the Weapon Refining Workshop personally teach him the treasure-making art.

If Zhou Qing showed up today, he would have to keep an eye on Wu Qiao'Er and not let her be harmed by that villain.

"But he probably won't appear until later in the morning."

On the first morning of the poetry gathering, County Captain Li would always be present. The elder in black martial attire and the Cyan Cloud Elite Soldiers were also there. Unless Zhou Qing was out of his mind, he wouldn't choose to appear at that time.

The morning passed in a flash, and County Captain Li, along with the elder in black martial attire, quietly disappeared, while the Cyan Cloud Elite Soldiers had left over half of their numbers.

Deep within the academy, in a quiet study, several Cyan Cloud Elite Soldiers were guarding the entrance.

"Are all our people here?"

"Lord Li, all our people and the thirty elite soldiers brought by the young lady have arrived, totaling seventy. These seventy are all elite soldiers of the Cyan Cloud Army."

The burly man whose clues Su Mu had noticed earlier was now reporting in front of Li Qiu, who had a map spread open on his desk.

"Good, dispatch ten men to protect Xuan'Er. Commander Ling, you will lead the remaining sixty men out of the academy through the back mountain and first lie low on Xiaobai Mountain." Li Qiu pointed a finger at a hill marked by a cinnabar circle.

"Once night falls, make a swift night raid on the enemy camp. Before dawn, you must take down this rebel army stronghold and capture the Sharp Gold Banner Master. If the task proves impossible, just leave one person alive."

"As you command!" Commander Ling clasped his fists.

Having given his orders, Li Qiu rose and said to the elder beside him, "I must trouble Elder Wang to go with Commander Ling."

"If I leave, who will protect you, my lord?" The elder in black martial attire showed hesitation.

"No worries, as the Qingyun County Captain and a court official, I am protected by the Great Yan Kingdom's fortune. How would common thieves dare attack me? It's fine for Elder Wang to go."

"As you command." The elder clasped his fists in response.

Li Qiu stood with his hands behind his back: "I shall await your victorious news in the academy."

What was happening in the study deep within the academy, the participants of the poetry gathering outside were completely unaware of, and the poetry gathering continued outside the courtyard.

"The second round of the poetry gathering, with the theme 'Plum!' "

The old scholar announced the topic for the second round of the poetry gathering on stage. Many scholars furrowed their brows, knowing that among pine, bamboo, and plum, plum poems were the most numerous.

Poets have adored plums throughout history, their numbers countless over the centuries.

Even in this world, it wouldn't be considered an exaggeration. Plum poems far outnumber those about pine and bamboo, making plum the flower most poetically celebrated, which implies that writing an outstanding plum poem is truly difficult.

At this moment, yet another unexpected figure appeared in the academy—a little beggar who had been chased away the other day.

The little beggar walked leisurely from the depths of the academy, and upon spotting Su Mu in a corner, he recognized him immediately and walked over with a smile.

"Brother, why don't you write a poem?"

Su Mu, curious about this person, asked, "Where did you come from?"

"I had good luck. A section of the academy's back fence had been in disrepair and collapsed, so I came in openly and justifiably."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu was momentarily stunned, guessing that this fellow had sneaked into the academy by climbing over a wall and yet could boast about it so righteously. He was quite an amusing fellow.

"Brother, would you like to buy a poem?"

At this moment, Su Mu's eyes suddenly sharpened. He noticed a pale-faced scholar entering the outer courtyard, with his hand slightly curled in his sleeve, heading toward the poetry stage.

"Selling poems?" Su Mu's gaze was already fixed on that figure. Hearing the person in front of him planning to sell a poem to him, he figured this guy probably thought he was a sucker.

If that's the case, it's only polite to reciprocate!

Su Mu's heart stirred, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth, "Three days ago, you sold me a lower couplet; this time, why don't I sell you a poem instead."

"Oh? You want to sell me a poem?" The person showed a hint of disdain and arrogance in his eyes, "Then I will listen with bathed ears. If the poem isn't good, you'll need to buy my poem at triple the price. My poem goes for a hundred silver."

"Agreed, you can set the price for this poem."

"Brother, please!"

"A few plum branches by the corner wall, blooming on their own standing cold..." Su Mu thought to himself, 'Forgive me, Wang Wengong,' then stepped forward and recited.

The person laughed silently upon hearing this. Though the lines weren't inferior, they were merely mediocre at best.

Daring to show off such mediocre verses?

Su Mu appeared unfazed, walking into the crowd, his calm tone concealing a turbulence of veiled intentions.

"From afar, not snow it seems..."

"For hidden fragrance it must be!"

(Apologies for the late update due to my trip. Normal updates will resume tomorrow. Thank you to all the friends who voted for the monthly tickets, much appreciated!)