In the afternoon, I often come to the inn.
In the lobby, a banquet was going on.
Jingyun's Kongtong sect, Huitong's Lingshan Temple, and Wen Yi's time-honored Wen family all came here.
In addition, Meng Tiangang, the white-bearded old man, the wine Taoist, Mo Baicao and others.
Xia Qingshan was like a host, greeting the crowd eagerly and bringing out various fine wines collected by the Xia family.
Chu Xiu, Meng Xiaochuan, Gu Chensha, Jing Yun, Wen Yi, Huitong and others exchanged martial arts with each other in the courtyard.
Under the eaves on the east side.
Jiang Rou and Xia Chuxue stood together and looked at the talented people in the courtyard.
The landlady’s residence.
Zhu Yourong and the landlady stood in front of the window, secretly observing the scene in the courtyard. Their eyes fell on Chu Xiu most of the time.
"When you first met this guy, could you imagine that he would dare to kill Li Yuanhua?" The landlady glanced at Zhu Yourong and asked in a low voice.
Zhu Yourong shook his head gently, a smile appeared on his face, thinking to himself, who could have predicted this? I'm afraid even this guy himself has never thought about it, right?
"We have chosen the right person." Zhu Yourong whispered.
The landlady whispered: "I'm worried that if he really becomes a disciple, the weight of the two of us in his heart will become lower and lower."
"Probably not." Zhu Yourong shook his head and said softly, "The night before last, he promised me that he would help us seize the Apocalypse Sword."
"The night before last..." The landlady tilted her head slightly, "I'm curious, you have been sleeping with me, how did he meet you alone?"
"Um..." Zhu Yourong paused and said truthfully, "He drugged you and you fell into a deep sleep."
"Drugated?" The landlady was startled, and then black lines appeared on her pretty face, "This bastard..."
Zhu Yourong said: "Almost all the eyes of Chang'an City are focused on him. I'm afraid we won't be able to hide our identities for much longer. You have to be mentally prepared."
"When I said my surname was Mo, I was already prepared." The landlady looked at Chu Xiu and said leisurely, "How about we follow him first and let him come forward if something happens? Anyway, he can't even join the royal family. Dare to kill everyone."
"You...could it be?" Zhu Yourong hesitated.
The landlady's cheeks turned red, she gave Zhu Yourong an angry look, and said angrily, "I'm almost ten years older than him."
"You always have to leave a heir for Mr. Mo." Zhu Yourong teased in a low voice.
"You say it again?"
The two women got into a fight while having fun.
Under the eaves.
"Mom thinks your uncle has quite good taste." Jiang Rou said with a smile.
Xia Chuxue nodded subconsciously at first. When she realized what she was doing, her pretty face turned red, knowing that her mother was talking about the content of the letter.
Uncle Jiu Taoist once wrote in a letter that he wanted to bring her and Chu Xiu together.
"Mom, if you keep talking nonsense, I will go home immediately and not participate in the final exam." Xia Chuxue glared at her mother, Jiang Rou.
Jiang Rouhun didn't care and said leisurely: "Are you willing to do it?"
Xia Chuxue felt depressed for a while. She really couldn't bear to leave. There was a female senior in the academy who had already passed the exam with her in advance. After the final exam, she would be accepted as her direct disciple.
"Look at Xiao Xiu more and you'll like it." Jiang Rou chuckled. The more she looked at Chu Xiu, the more satisfied she became.
Xia Chuxue curled her lips and said in a low voice: "Aren't you worried that the Daqian royal family will deal with our Xia family?"
"I'm worried." Jiang Rou said softly, "Didn't you see that your father is drinking with you? These young people in the courtyard are all real talents, and they will definitely become famous figures in the future.
They have become friends, and their elders will become close to each other and even form alliances. "
"Is this so?" Xia Chuxue looked into the courtyard again, with a bit of envy flashing in her eyes.
Night is coming.
The banquet ended and everyone left one after another.
Chu Xiu rejected Jiang Rou's invitation and stayed.
He and Master Liquor were walking on the street outside the inn.
"What's life like when you sing while drunk?" the wine connoisseur murmured, smiling, "Some of the poems you wrote are indeed very good."
"Your disciple and I once aspired to be the top scholar." Chu Xiu chuckled, feeling a little emotional when he thought of the days he spent studying hard in Hanchuang before he was twelve years old.
"Mr. Qin asked Pindao to tell you that among the three final exams, the one you have the best chance of winning is the literary test." The wine master said.
"Oh?" Chu Xiu raised his eyebrows slightly.
The wine master said: "Even if it is a literary test, the possibility of you winning is very small."
Chu Xiu tilted his head slightly, "Why do I feel that your confidence in me will be gone once you come to Chang'an City?"
"That's because I know more things than you do." The wine Taoist sighed lightly, "I don't know if it's luck or misfortune that you chose to take this academy exam."
Chu Xiu frowned slightly and said, "Not to mention the literary test and the technical test, who do you think can beat me in the martial arts test?"
"Say it now, it may make you lose your fighting spirit." The wine Taoist said softly, "You should focus on the literary test first. When the literary test is over, you will probably know the gap between you and him."
"Gap?" Chu Xiu smiled.
The bartender squinted, "Is that funny?"
Chu Xiu asked: "Master, what do you think?"
"You must know that there are people outside the world, and there is a sky outside the world." The wine Taoist said, "Recently, you have been too frivolous."
Chu Xiu was speechless for a moment.
"You once told me an iceberg theory." The wine Taoist said softly, "Icebergs floating in the deep sea, the icebergs that can be seen on the sea surface, are only about 10% of the entire iceberg.
How much strength have you shown now? "
Chu Xiu remained silent.
By killing Li Yuanhua yesterday, he exposed too much of his strength and even relieved himself of the burden.
"Have you ever known each of the geniuses?" the wine master said, "Some people love fame and like to show off their strength; some people are very low-key and don't show off.
Just like that Mr. Qin, with just a broom, he killed all the troops sent by Emperor Qian, which was much stronger than Pindao. "
"Disciple is indeed a little complacent." Chu Xiu let out a breath.
"Kill Li Yuanhua, you have been targeted by the Daqian royal family." The wine Taoist's face became more serious, "At this time, you must not show all your strength, you must keep enough cards."
"My disciple is not worried about himself, but he is a little worried about his aunt and uncle." Chu Xiu said softly, "The Xia family has a great business. If the Daqian royal family suppresses them..."
"You don't have to worry about that." The wine Taoist said with a smile, "The one named Xia is not very strong. He keeps trying to deceive people one after another. Mr. Qin is planning to go to his home for retirement."
"Oh?" Chu Xiu raised his eyebrows lightly, as if he had some realization, "I owe him two favors."
The wine connoisseur said with a smile: "You don't have to think too much, the main thing is that Xia Mansion has enough fine wine."
"Then I owe my aunt and the others two more favors." Chu Xiu sighed.
The wine connoisseur raised his eyebrows slightly, "It's easier to repay their debt of gratitude."
Chu Xiu's heart moved, and he coughed softly: "Master, please stop trying to match up, let's talk about the final exam."
In fact, he overheard some conversations between Jiang Rou and Xia Chuxue in the afternoon, which was quite embarrassing at the time.
"..."
Nothing happened all night.
The next day.
A high platform rises from the ground in the busiest area of Zhuque Street.
The final examination place of Zhuque Academy.
Most of the people in Chang'an City were a little excited.
In the past, the final exams of every academy examination were basically held in Suzaku Academy, and only a few people were invited to watch.
This time, I finally tried it on Zhuque Street.
As long as you think about it, all the people can see it.
For a time, the whole city was buzzing with discussion.
Candidates who passed the inner court examination suddenly felt a lot of pressure.
Especially, they were extremely helpless when they knew that the first test of the final exam was the literary test.
Although Zhuque Academy has the word "Academy", most of the disciples it has ever recruited are martial arts practitioners.
The reason why Zhuque Academy is so famous in the Nineteen Prefectures is because all its presidents are the strongest in the Nineteen Prefectures.
Now, a literary test suddenly came up, and many people were caught off guard.
Totally unprepared.
"There must be a shady secret. This is all prepared for the person named Chu." Some dignitaries close to the Daqian royal family were indignant.
In recent days, while Chu Xiu has become famous in Chang'an City, several of his poems have also been widely circulated, and he has also been labeled as a 'talented scholar'.
After seeing that the first test of the final exam of Zhuque Academy was the literary test, many people thought of Chu Xiu's talent.
"Since Zhuque Academy is named after 'Academy', it is reasonable to take a test on literary talent." A Jianghu guest who was close to Zhuque Academy said with a smile.
Chu Xiu beheaded Li Yuanhua, a member of the Daqian royal family... He was praised by a large number of people among the people and in the world. Even when it was widely circulated, Chu Xiu became a bit legendary.
Chang'an City was bustling with activity, and Chu Xiu's name frequently appeared in various conversations.
Chu Xiu himself hid in a small pavilion of the Changlai Inn. He turned his ears to nothing outside the window, crossed his legs and fell into meditation, calmed down his recent agitated mood, and prepared for the final test.
Time is like sand at the fingertips, the sand rises and falls in the hand, and a day has passed.
The day of the final test is early morning.
Zhuque Academy.
Back mountain.
A high pavilion.
Chen Changsheng was wearing a black and white Confucian scholar's uniform, a light robe with loose straps, and holding a light yellow short stick, he walked out of the room gracefully.
Outside the door.
Mr. Wang Quan, the second gentleman, is waiting respectfully.
"Xiaoer, what do you think of my outfit?" Chen Changsheng asked with a smile.
Mr. Er looked up and down and said, "The legendary Confucian sage is nothing more than that."
"I've seen the portrait of the old Confucian sage, and he's not as good-looking as me." Chen Changsheng snorted.
Mr. Er quickly changed his words and said, "What my disciple means is that the master is full of scholarly energy and is even better than the Confucian sage."
"That's pretty much it." Chen Changsheng smiled.
Mr. Er said: "The questions for the literary test have been drawn up. Master, would you like to take a sneak peek?"
Chen Changsheng shook his head, "I read it first. Isn't this cheating?"
Mr. Er smiled and said, "Then I wish Master a successful start."
"If I win this game, I probably won't have any regrets." Chen Changsheng stood on the corridor and looked at the entire Chang'an City, his eyes becoming deep.
Mr. Er stood respectfully behind Chen Changsheng, holding his breath slightly.
"Let's go, let the world see, your master, my literary talent, should I be ranked first among the nineteen states?!"
