Chapter 800 – Side Story – Would You Like to See My Answer?

Not serving two lords.

Not serving two monarchs. These words discuss a loyal subject’s code.

Serving the new emperor means betraying the old emperor. Claiming to continue serving the old emperor incurs the new emperor’s wrath.

Few candidates took up their brushes.

Most could not even bring themselves to grind ink.

Sunlight hung on the examination hall’s walls. Even the sound of the wall’s shadow subtly tilting seemed audible.

Along with thousands held in silence.

“……”

Metropolitan examination questions are solemn, already a type of edict approved by the emperor. This remains true regardless of the questioner’s background.

The previous dynasty’s remnants had not yet faded. Most candidates had once served the old emperor. This was the most vicious question they could face in current circumstances.

‘It is as nasty as Desolate Day Extinction itself.’

The candidate thinking this was not only Hwa Yeon-bi of the Martial Dragon Alliance.

She sat in a seat where Literary Star’s back was visible. She had the appearance of a slender scholar, wearing a spacious robe with a square cap on her tied-up hair.

Scratch.

She took up her brush.

First, she wrote her name: Helian Hwa.

Hwa Yeon-bi gazed down at the three characters she had scrawled.

Recent imperial examinations had degraded into martial contests because of martial clans.

Even so, the metropolitan examination was still the metropolitan examination. Martial world epithets or false names were not permitted because the imperial family directly verified identities.

Meanwhile, around her, numerous scholars were cursing Jeong Yeon-shin through mental transmission before lowering their eyes.

Many thoughts swirled.

Hwa Yeon-bi’s thoughts were the same. Jeong Yeon-shin’s manifestation was itself like a Mind Sword to those who understood the political situation.

‘As requested by the old officials, the Desolate Fortress Lord does not seem to intend to release Literary Star. Of course, Desolate Day Extinction would not act like a gentleman… Then I can just focus on the examination.’

Hwa Yeon-bi fully opened her energy sense and even activated her Eye Technique.

Great Sun Empty Void Energy.

Great Sun Empty Void Eye.

This was how martial people focused on imperial examinations.

She sensed countless scholars’ movements. Picking out those likely to pass was her first priority. She skipped Literary Star initially.

Hwa Yeon-bi thought.

‘It will be difficult.’

Those who looked deeply learned were mostly trembling. Ink droplets from their brush tips constantly dripped onto the paper.

Those who repeated long studies inevitably had strange temperaments. They whispered as if insane.

“His Majesty tests us.”

“Like the sun setting on wilderness, shadows fall on the nation…”

Most were scholars distant from jianghu, true scholars who thought only of the nation, unlike jianghu clans who had the martial forest as refuge. Hwa Yeon-bi inwardly clicked her tongue. Right now, martial clans seemed better.

‘There are many.’

Clans were not just one or two. Enough for the Yan Family Martial King to enter Hwa Yeon-bi’s energy sense. Yan Family Head Yan Mun-hak, called Yan Family Fist Dragon until six years ago.

It seemed passing the exam was necessary even if he didn’t secure an official position.

He organized his thoughts in flowing strokes.

–To avoid this trap, I must cite Mencius’s words. The phrase ‘not serving an unworthy lord’ is the appropriate means. Meaning you need not serve a lordless monarch… But can I present such logic before that cruel emperor from Northern King origins? If he takes offense readily, he might incinerate my family’s jiangshi like Desolate Day Extinction’s conscience.

Whoosh!

He burned the paper he had written to that point with Samadhi True Fire, then freshly ground his ink. Truly refining his brush strokes like a scholar.

There were reasons.

A peaceful imperial power transfer was rare in Central Plains history. Even with the Desolate Fortress’s tacit approval. Gossipers interpreted it as support.

Even if the imperial family’s independent authority had problems, it was an unprecedented era of great peace. The nation’s power overflowed. There would be no problem even confiscating lands martial clans abandoned during past turmoil.

‘Because the Thirteen Evil Sects and noble families were annihilated.’

More than half were. This was what Desolate Day Extinction’s Desolate Fortress did during the chaos. Occasionally the Nine Sects and a few families helped him, but they should be viewed as one anyway.

They had to grasp connections.

Hwa Yeon-bi’s Martial Dragon Alliance was the same.

There were rumors that Demon Clan eunuchs roamed the reorganized Eastern Depot. That Chief Eunuch Ming Yu, who became Han Chinese, targeted large landowner families.

The huge Demon Clan eunuchs had no mercy. A blood wind would blow on clans soon. At this moment, far behind Hwa Yeon-bi, Murong Su-ran might sigh while brushing.

– My father, Star Radiance Great Sword Lord died by the sword of Jeong Yeon-shin, and brother Murong Myeong-jun met his end at Desolate Fortress Divine Hero’s hands. Yet I draw a stroke before Desolate Fortress Lord courtesy. What use are dynasty names?”

Then she began writing new phrases on her blank answer sheet.

–A loyal subject serves one lord. Scholars should repay the new dynasty’s grace.

Then Murong Su-ran’s hand stopped. She continued on the paper where she had been refining her writing.

This was an era when long ears and great trees were cut and vanished in one sword stroke, when official-martial non-aggression became ridiculous jokes.

Many jianghu people drank ink. To ride the wave of rapidly changing circumstances, only passing imperial examinations worked. Finishing the metropolitan and palace examinations and meeting the emperor alone to prove being a clan well-matched to the current dynasty in both civil and martial aspects.

Not only her.

From the start, Hwa Yeon-bi as well as the Yan Family, Murong Family, and even the Peng Family’s head were all provincial graduates who passed as soon as the dynasty changed. They had grown harshly enough not to yield to Desolate Day Extinction in writing, at least.

‘They are originally clans close to government. Passing provincial exams is natural.’

Discussing civil and martial prowess, excluding Fan Dragon Zhuge Xian, Azure Qilin Namgung Se-jin, Divine Sword Sharp Wisdom Yeon So-ha, Desolate Fortress Divine Hero Hyeon Won-chang, Ma Family Great Gentleman Ma Se-in, and Crimson Demon Mad Blade Shin So-bin, they could only be near the top among clans.

Even so, the metropolitan examination was not easy, so only clans who had already failed several times were here.

It was regrettable for Hwa Yeon-bi too. Many sects now regarded the Thirteen Evil Sects as tributes to the Desolate Fortress.

“Hoo.”

Meanwhile, Peng Family Head, Peng Family Blade Marquis Peng Ya’s brush was as smooth as his Five Tiger Severance Blade. This befitted someone unexpectedly versed in Neo-Confucianism.

“Loyalty requires balance. The old dynasty’s virtue was sufficient, but stopping service was right because they could not handle the World Tree’s noble clan. The new emperor received heaven’s will to establish the nation, so loyalty must be given…”

That was it. She made a very uncomfortable expression because the emperor could twist that logic and frame her as a potential traitor.

Thud.

Suddenly, Peng Ya set down her brush and looked up at the sky. Hwa Yeon-bi sensed it. That face of Jeong Yeon-shin was drawn in that sky, and she had just been sliced by mental transmission like Transcendent Martial Art.

The examination hall’s massive walls.

Demon Realm masters inheriting the Yuan Dynasty martial lineage were surveying the hall. Julei Divine Light, along with an Eye Technique that became imperial martial arts through Northern Path’s secret techniques.

They spoke quietly.

“It is amazing. The Northern Emperor strikes out even a single word like a strong sword. Our emperor should learn that spirit.”

“Appointing him as Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander would be proper.”

“Not that.”

“The most vicious great warrior is the most powerful examiner. Not learning, but a life without retreat troubles them. Their evasion footwork will decide the examination’s outcome, but Six Star Lord Literary Star is a man who uses only advancing footwork, so he is already wrong.”

“The Northern Emperor’s intention?”

“Elevate him as Ceremonial Director Eunuch.”

“Drag this fellow out.”

When Demon Clan member Do Hyo was dragged out, many scholars finally took up their brushes. Some only praised the new emperor to survive, saying they would exalt founding virtue while disparaging the old emperor.

In that process, some coughed blood, jianghu people whose energy sense was severed by Jeong Yeon-shin’s gesture.

Hwa Yeon-bi was included when Demon Clan eunuchs approached as smooth as clouds, intercepted her, and vanished.

Some were hit directly by the Luminous Wheel Technique and fainted with ecstatic faces. They were groups deliberately trying to witness the examination officers’ martial arts.

Mainly clans pushed out in succession struggles.

They steadily appeared until the first of three chapters, the examination held over three days, ended.

Jeong Yeon-shin paid no heed.

He stood silently even when bells rang dong, dong in the distance. Without moving a step from Literary Star’s presence. This was possible because no one questioned how wide the Desolate Fortress Lord’s energy sense was.

Many clicked their tongues. Of course, how would he release someone like Pangu Scholar?

Dim twilight fell.

“Hah…”

“This is maddening.”

Candidates submitted their answers and left the examination hall. Their faces mixed fear and resignation.

Emperor Black Return  constantly demanded by borrowing the blade called Jeong Yeon-shin. To completely forget the old dynasty.

Without distinguishing scholars from jianghu people, all were deflated.

Peng Ya muttered to the sky.

“Mencius’s meaning is balance… but where is balance before Desolate Day Extinction? It only tilts one way like the setting sun.”

Murong Su-ran adjusted her garment while grumbling.

“If I am dragged to the Emperor, I will act as my father did.”

Yan Mun-hak summoned a spirit messenger pigeon and immediately attached correspondence. The content ordered the evacuation of Yan Family martial treasures and jiangshi.

Jeong Yeon-shin sensed all of it but did not intervene. He remained until the examination hall doors closed and the sun completely set.

Thud.

Literary Star still knelt. The same posture as when writing his answer.

Literary Star asked with a bowed head.

“Did you see it?”

“Nothing special. A very model answer. ‘If not different from commoners then not a monarch, I only serve the one emperor under heaven…'”

Jeong Yeon-shin spoke calmly. Simultaneously, Literary Star’s lips rose faintly.

“To maintain the eight-legged essay format, there was no choice. It was my best.”

“Divine Sword Six Cultivation?”

“…I struck four times.”

Literary Star, who raised his head, said.

Jeong Yeon-shin nodded slowly. Then asked in passing.

“At Desolate Fortress, did you accomplish everything?”

“Yes.”

“It did not seem like it. The main fortress was chaotic.”

“Since the Fortress Lord returned, minor disturbances will soon be corrected. Just give some power to the General Administration. Even just being friendly with General Administration clerks is good.”

“That is something I do well.”

“…It seems the examination’s standardized writing could not convince you.”

“The question was not to detain you. It meant to give me grounds to send you off.”

“Pardon?”

“Why?”

“You presented it?”

“……”

“Because of the radical question, I only thought you came to suppress martial clans.”

Jeong Yeon-shin silently turned his body. Only his crimson robe fluttered desolately. Simultaneously, Literary Star caught him with a smiling face.

“Would you like to see my answer?”

He tapped his own large forehead.

His words continued.

“Since the Fortress Lord can now do anything with his upper dantian, look once. The Northern Kings and Nine Sects’ sect leaders, the Fighting God and Emperor Qian-ling, and even the world’s Southern Emperor. If leisure permits, events right after the Great Tree Battle too.”

Was it the Divine Sword Tactician’s insight? Literary Star’s clear eyes reflected Jeong Yeon-shin. Eyebeams brighter than the sunset for now.

Jeong Yeon-shin asked.

“Did you intend this from the start?”

“Of course.”

“Though you take examinations many times, you always seek life’s answers in one try.”

“I hear Your Lordship’s words…”

Jeong Yeon-shin touched the giant’s forehead. When he activated the Fan Dragon Flower Treading Technique, his vision turning to blue-green plains took but an instant.

Literary Star’s memories were the medium.

The greatest upper dantian of all time drew out past moments intact from all creation.

Whoosh!

A dry north wind scratched his sideburns.

Suddenly, Jeong Yeon-shin was looking down at Literary Star, shorter than himself. While his back faced young Great Master Beom-heo’s Hundred Step Divine Fist.

Rummmmble!

“……?”

Jeong Yeon-shin and Literary Star.

It was their metropolitan examination.