Half a month later.
"My son has promise, truly has promise."
Master Li happily stroked his beard.
These days, he was overjoyed, not only triumphant in business battles, but even his son seemed to have suddenly become enlightened and was diligently studying.
Previously, when Li Xuan demonstrated a strong martial arts talent and defeated Zhao the martial artist, he didn't feel happy at all; he even reprimanded him.
But now... he is genuinely happy.
Happy, Master Li suddenly looked at the first lady beside him and said, "Madam, if Xiaoxuan really passes the exams, should we still honor the Tian family marriage?
What if he catches the eye of some high official and becomes a son-in-law?
What if he goes to the State City and passes the provincial exams, becoming a scholar?"
The first lady covered her lips and laughed, then burst Master Li's daydream bubble and said, "How long has Xuan'Er been studying?"
Although Master Li knew it was impossible, he was in a buoyant mood recently, so he patted his chest and said confidently, "My son, nothing is impossible."
"Possible, possible," the first lady said with a laugh.
Master Li also laughed along.
Whether it's possible or not, both of them knew full well.
The main thing was they were happy recently.
The flower thief had mysteriously vanished, and the family gained many benefits for no apparent reason. How could they not be happy?
...
...
Time passed...
Springtime.
The Li family prepared carriages, luggage, county documents, and silver taels for greasing the wheels.
They also sent martial artist servants along to escort the two young masters to the Hundred Flowers Mansion.
Because the second young master was still little, the second lady of Li Mansion also accompanied them.
Li Xuan brought Wei Yao along.
Ever since Wei Yao saved his life and guarded his room, she had become the personal guard of the eldest young master Li, accompanying him wherever he went.
...
Southwest of Xiongshan County, after traveling for about three days, they could reach Hundred Flowers Mansion City.
The most dangerous segment of the road was actually the half day after leaving the county town.
To the north is the last of the Red Flower Mountain's tail, and to the south near the hills of Chaotic Crow Ridge, a place where bandits rampage.
The leading martial artist Wang Tie, who was the leader during the previous siege of the demon panther, was a top martial artist in Jianghu, with strength similar to Zhao Kui. This time, he brought dozens of riders to escort the carriages out of town.
Once they passed the mountain range of Red Flower Mountain and Chaotic Crow Ridge, Wang Tie let some of the Li family riders return, while he continued escorting with four well-dressed riders and stayed at Hundred Flowers Mansion with the eldest young master and second lady, awaiting orders.
Nothing happened along the way.
The Li family party arrived outside the city of Hundred Flowers Mansion.
Once in the city, the group looked for a place to stay.
In fact, lodging in this mansion city had some distinction and was not like in the county town, where as long as you had money you could stay at an inn or restaurant.
In the mansion city, there are three types of lodging.
The first type is a shop.
Shops are usually privately owned, and anyone with money can stay.
The second type is a hall.
Halls typically only accept official guests or scholars coming to the mansion city for academy exams along with their entourage.
The proof for scholars to stay is a certificate similar to a county recommendation, a necessary document for both staying at halls and participating in academy exams later.
Of course, the magistrate of Xiongshan County had long passed away, and the temporary officer in charge of issuing county documents was entirely a Li family person, so the Li family could issue as many documents as they wished.
The third type is a lodge.
Lodges only serve officials; as long as you have an item that proves identity, you can stay for free, and the lodge will also provide meals and transport tools. Lodges in the State City even offer many additional services.
Li Xuan and his party naturally stayed at Yulan Hall in Hundred Flowers Mansion.
Yulan Hall is not in the outer city but in the inner city.
The outer city is full of mixed fish and dragons, but the inner city has very good security.
Wang Tie went to the Yulan Hall front desk and handled the check-in procedures for the master's family, and soon, a hall attendant led the Li family's group to an independent courtyard.
The restaurant and inn would simply be a building, with just one room for the resident.
But halls and lodges have a large estate-like area, inside there's not only a tower but also numerous courtyards specifically for official families and their relatives to stay.
This difference shows the distinction between official lords and Jianghu vagabonds.
Even if you are a grandmaster in martial arts, without official documents, you can only stay in a shop and not dream of coming here.
...
...
In Yulan Hall, the courtyard was quite elegant and tranquil.
After dinner, Li Xuan bathed, changed clothes to wash away fatigue, and then continued to read.
His spirit attribute was high, so he didn't feel tired, thus even by the fourth watch, the oiled paper on the window was still lit.
That night, Li Zhili also wanted to join him in reading, but after his bath, yawns came one after another.
Only just past ten years old this year, a child who had traveled a long way, where would he have the energy left to read?
Even with the second lady's tricks of pinching ears, pulling eyelids, stir-frying bamboo shoots with meat, Li Zhili wouldn't revive at all.
The second lady could only give up.
The next day, the two young masters of the Li family brought their documents together to enroll, confirmed the exam time.
Upon returning, the cycle of intense competition began once more.
It was the time of the academy's examination at the Hundred Flowers Mansion, and many of those residing in the hall were there to take the exam.
Moreover, the owner of Yulan Hall deliberately arranged the students to stay together.
And thus...
Unconsciously, the atmosphere of intense competition emerged.
...
In the dead of night...
Li Zhili's eyelids felt as if they were filled with lead. Every time he mustered all his strength to open his eyes, they would quickly fall shut again.
Everything in front of him turned blurry, transforming into a hypnotic spell.
Slowly, not only did his eyelids feel weighted down, but his head also became heavy as if filled with lead, making it impossible to lift.
Li Zhili gritted his teeth and continued to persevere.
Suddenly, he lifted his head and glanced at the lit window not far away, where Eldest Young Master Li was clearly studying diligently.
Why was it apparent?
Because Eldest Young Master Li was genuinely reading.
Second Young Master Li turned his head slightly, noticing that his mother was still watching him.
He twitched the corner of his mouth.
'Brother, why?'
'Why do you treat me this way?'
'I hate you.'
'I hate you!'
A tearless man keeps his emotions in check, but Second Young Master Li's heart couldn't hold back its tears any longer.
...
A few days later.
In the still of night.
At Yulan Hall.
In a courtyard near the Li family's residence, a scholarly youth dressed in white gazed at the bright window next door, frowning slightly. Then he gritted his teeth, dismissing the idea of resting, and continued to study.
In the late hours of the night.
The white-clad youth glanced again next door.
The lamp was still lit, and there seemed to be faint sounds of reading.
The youth took a deep breath and muttered, "Does studying late make one exceptional?"
In frustration, he went to bed, but when the rooster crowed, he struggled to get up, only to find the lamp next door still burning!
"Did they stay up all night or get up again?"
"Damn it, damn it."
...
...
Half a month later.
Li Xuan ascended to the title of "King of Inescapable Competition."
Every student residing in Yulan Hall had heard of this character.
Some were indifferent, some sneered, but others found it intriguing.
Soon, students came to visit.
When the Li family guard reported, Li Xuan strode out and saw two young gentlemen and a young lady in the distance, all dressed in fine clothes, curiously looking at him.
The four appeared scholarly, exchanged greetings, and introduced themselves.
Upon learning that Li Xuan was the eldest son of the Li family from Xiongshan County, the expressions in the eyes of the three students changed from scrutinizing to regarding him as an equal.
Their fathers were either wealthy or noble in Hundred Flowers Mansion, naturally disdainful of associating with commoners.
They mainly came out of curiosity, as if the person were an ordinary student, they'd just watch for amusement.
But the Li family of Xiongshan was famous in the Hundred Flowers Mansion, worthy of their association.
Additionally, recent events in Xiongshan County had spread far and wide.
The three became inquisitive.
The four were of similar age and quickly bonded, recognizing each other as kindred spirits.
Among the three were two young men, Cao Wen, the youngest son of the prefect's family, and Lin Jianfeng, the only heir of the Lin family.
The young lady was also Cao Yi, the youngest daughter of the prefect's family.
The prefect's family needed no introduction.
The Lin family was a prominent family in Hundred Flowers Mansion, with the head of Qing River's twelve dock alliance as the patriarch's brother, and the patriarch himself was the head of Baisheng Commerce Association, a union of commerce and martial arts clan.
As the sole heir, Lin Jianfeng came for the exam mainly to expand his social circle.
The three could have easily stayed at home, but they came to Yulan Hall for the exam atmosphere.
...
Over several days, the four frequently interacted, composing poetry and essays, and became well-acquainted.
One day, as Lin Jianfeng bade farewell to Li Xuan, he suddenly smiled, saying, "Brother Li, after the exam, my Lin family will host a small gathering at Yanzi Dock in the southern part of Hundred Flowers Mansion. It's a cultural exchange where young talents from all over come together. Would you be interested in joining us?"
Li Xuan had come for the exam to break into more circles, gain more information channels, and purchase secret manuals, so he readily agreed, cupping his hands, "Then I shall not refuse."
Lin Jianfeng laughed heartily and said, "When the time comes, I will arrange for a carriage to pick you up, Brother Li."