I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 227 Thank You
Liu Su'an stood on the deck, watching the small boat sail away, his eyes full of admiration. He stroked his beard and sighed, "What a fine example of coming with high spirits and returning when the spirits are gone."

Such a refined and extraordinary person! I long to see his face, and to exchange a single word with him.

An old scholar took a big gulp of strong liquor and sighed, "This man is truly a man of character, indifferent to fame and fortune, and unconventional."

Another scholar pounded on the railing, saying, "How laughable that Fan has failed the imperial examinations, his hair turned white from exhaustion, and his blood dried up, all for the sake of fame and fortune. He has never had such a broad mind and lofty ideals. How laughable, how pitiful!"

"........."

The scholars discussed amongst themselves in hushed tones, some sighing with emotion, others reflecting on their own actions.

Someone picked up the wine pot, poured a cup, then put it down, feeling that he could no longer drink.

Suddenly, a gasp shook the entire room: "I know who he is!"

Everyone turned to look at that person.

He was a fair-skinned young man with wine stains on his robes and an excited expression. He was Zhang Huaiyuan, a county student from last year, who was quite famous for his talent.

Everyone pressed for an answer.

Zhang Huaiyuan said, "This gentleman and I were born in the same year. He won first place, while I humbly sit at the bottom."

Upon hearing this, someone exclaimed in surprise, "The top scholar in Brother Zhang's year was Xue Xiang."

"What? You're saying that person is Xue Xiang, Xue Xiang the Lamenter of Autumn!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured into a pot of boiling oil.

Some people gasped in shock, while others cried out in alarm.

"The Lamenter of Autumn? It's him!"

"Xue Xiang, the famous Xue Xiang!"

"A melancholy traveler who claims to have gathered the literary talent and elegance of a thousand years of history."

"It was him; only he would so easily part with such a timeless masterpiece."

On the deck, the noise was deafening, and the heat almost drove away the chill of the wind and snow.

An old scholar continued, “Everyone says he is exceptionally talented, unruly, and loves to fight. Yet, this man visited a friend on a snowy night, arriving in high spirits, only to return empty-handed, finding no trace of his friend. He is truly a naive and unrestrained fellow.”

Another refined scholar said in a low voice, "This shows that the rumors are mostly false."

Shen Xihua stood quietly to the side, listening to the discussions, her emotions rising and falling like the tides.

The figures on that boat still seemed to flicker in her eyes, as if they were about to be etched into the depths of her memory.

Suddenly, a man raised his cup and bowed to her from afar, saying, "Scholar Shen's encounter tonight is nothing short of meeting a celestial being; it is truly a rare and wondrous fate in this world. If it weren't for you, how could this work have come to be seen in the world?"

Another person laughed and said, "Absolutely, absolutely! To receive a poem from the 'Autumn-Sorrowful Scholar' shows that Shen Xiaoshu's demeanor and talent have caught the eye of the 'Autumn-Sorrowful Scholar.' It's truly a rare and precious thing."

A middle-aged man in brocade robes said, "I wonder if there are any spots left at Qingning Academy? I would like to send my daughter to enroll."

“Perfect timing. My younger sister is also somewhat literate and would like to become Shen’s student.”

"I am willing to sponsor Shen Xiaoshu to expand the scale of Qingning Academy."

For a moment, the entire deck was filled with voices questioning Shen Xiaoshu.

The group of female school teachers turned pale and were extremely annoyed.

They dared not utter a word of mockery, but inwardly they were all annoyed, wondering why such a miraculous encounter hadn't happened to them.

………………

The snow continued to fall.

It falls onto the eaves and piles up into a layer of light powder.

The bamboo shadows in the courtyard were sparse, rustling softly in the wind.

Xue Xiang had a small charcoal stove burning, and water in a copper kettle was boiling softly, with wisps of smoke swirling around his sleeves.

He sat in the spacious hall, flipping through a classic book, seemingly careless, but his mind was filled with thoughts of "A New Account of Tales of the World."

After thinking it over, it seems I don't have any good stories left.

The wind rose again, ruffling a few stray hairs at his temples.

With a creak, the courtyard gate opened.

Sect Leader Zhao strode in, wearing a red cloak that concealed her voluptuous figure. Her beautiful face was radiant with spring-like joy, and she smiled charmingly.

She took her embroidered shoes from under the eaves and walked barefoot into the hall.

The ten delicate toes are as if carved from pink jade.

She pouted and said, "I was wondering why you were keeping someone up until midnight yesterday, and then suddenly disappeared. Turns out you went to meet your sweetheart."

People went out of their way to visit Qingning Bookstore today, and wow, it was packed with customers.

They've also seen that Shen the Proofreader; he's quite handsome. You certainly have a sharp eye.

Xue Xiang curled his lip and said, "What are you spouting sour grapes for? I don't have that much free time. You wouldn't understand my affairs."

Sect Leader Zhao gave a soft hum, unfastened his cloak, revealing a thin, form-fitting nightgown underneath.

The nightgown was noticeably a size too narrow, and it felt tight against my body, but it did accentuate my stunningly beautiful figure.

Sect Leader Zhao leaned closer, her delicate nose twitching slightly, and hooked her arm around Xue Xiang's neck. "Everyone in the market is talking about how innocent and carefree you were last night, and even people who hear it are quite fascinated."

In fact, she herself knew that she was of plain appearance and not worthy of her husband.

She only managed to get him because he begged and pleaded, and she didn't dare to ask anything of her beloved.

"I only hope that when my beloved soars to great heights, he will not forget this humble concubine in this small Canglan City, humbly begging for your mercy."

As she spoke, she knelt before the table and leaned over it.

Xue Xiang then noticed that she had a snow-white tail stuck behind her.

After wagging its tail a few times, water droplets fell onto the floor.

With such a demon in mind, Xue Xiang's strong sense of the Wei-Jin spirit, his naivety and straightforwardness, were completely thrown to the winds.

"Sect Leader Zhao, are you determined to ruin my cultivation?"

Xue Xiang's eyes were filled with a bluish-red hue.

Sect Leader Zhao said, "It's because the young master is so handsome that many demons are eyeing him. They dare not even dream of keeping him in a golden house."

"While my husband is alive, I should have diligently gathered these berries; wouldn't that be a terrible waste?"

The white tail swayed gently, and the stream revealed the taut silk trousers.

Xue Xiang could no longer hold on, let out a roar, and plunged into the deep alley.

When traveling the world, one should not take Master Zhao's elegant residence as the central point.

After a night of hard work, Xue Xiang officially set off.

…………

Jiannan Prefecture, Liling County, Tongcheng.

The Tongcheng City Magistrate's Office was located on Sanxing Peak within the city. At 3:45 PM, the snow was falling heavily.

The wind swept through the mountain valley, making the flags of the Tongcheng City Magistrate's Office flutter loudly.

The snow on the eaves was half a foot thick, and the copper bells on the corners of the eaves were frozen and trembled slightly.

A charcoal fire burned in the hall, its bright red flames unable to dispel the chill in the air.

A map lay spread out on the table, the ink still wet.

The newly appointed magistrate of Tongcheng sat at the head of the table. He was about thirty years old, with a stern face and wearing a blue robe. His expression showed a hint of weariness. This was his nineteenth day in office.

The five people sitting on either side of the lower seat were all the heads of Tongcheng.

Except for Lu Dongxing, who was both the Chief Seal Officer and Deputy City Commander, all the other Chief Seals were present.

"The Black Wind Stronghold scourge has dragged on for more than three months, wreaking havoc in several towns. They even dare to rob trade routes. We, who follow the ways of the sages, do not care about the suffering of the people, nor do we think of eliminating this scourge for them. What use are we as officials?"

The Tongcheng magistrate said loudly, "There's no need to say anything else. Just tell me, will the troops be dispatched or not?"

Before Magistrate Xie could finish speaking, Chen Hanlu, the head of the Disciplinary Committee and its seal-bearer, coughed lightly and shook his head, saying, "Magistrate Xie's words are bold, but the last time we suppressed bandits, we lost more than forty people, and the compensation money is still nowhere to be found. There is widespread discontent in the city. If we launch another campaign now, the people will probably riot."

Huang Yao, the head of the Qing Dynasty's Ministry of Personnel, slowly straightened his cuffs. "Besides, the treasury is empty, and taxes are due at the end of the year. Where will we get the money and grain to mobilize troops? It would be better to appease them first and then wait for an opportunity to act."

"Appeasement is worse than suppression."

Feng Shuangru, the head of the Imperial Household Department, smiled and gently waved his feather fan. "The Black Wind Stronghold is a major bandit problem. It is rumored that the bandit leader has reached the Core Formation stage. If we can recruit him, he can be used by the court."

All the officials in charge spoke up, but none of them echoed Xie Chengling's words.

The people weren't openly defying them; the reasons they gave were all plausible.

After the speech, a sense of dejection filled the hall.

Snow seeped in through the cracks in the door and melted into a puddle of cold water on the blue bricks.

Xie Chengling lowered his eyes and stared at the pool of snowmelt, remaining silent for a long time.

The wind howled outside, making the door knocker clang.

Xie Chengling suddenly looked up, his eyes like knives, "Black Wind Stronghold robs people every month. How many people in Tongcheng have died or been injured? You are afraid of death, afraid of lacking silver, afraid of taking responsibility, but has anyone ever been afraid of the people losing their lives?"

The hall was extremely quiet.

A spark popped from the charcoal fire.

Someone muttered under their breath, "You flatter me, sir."

Xie Chengling slowly rose, walked to the door, and pushed it open. The wind and snow rushed into the hall, swirling up the documents on the desk.

“If Tongcheng does not suppress the bandits, there will never be peace. If you do not act, I will personally take my bow and arrow and wipe out this bandit scourge by myself.”

The dim firelight shone on his shoulders, making his silhouette appear exceptionally solitary and upright.

The seal holders exchanged glances, each with a mocking look in their eyes.

Just then, a clerk rushed in from outside, covered in snow, and knelt down with a thud.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, above the Academy of Arts... dark mist is spreading and lingers!"

A murmur rippled through the hall.

The clerk continued, "Several old scholars in the city say that this is due to the taint of the city's fortune and the magistrate's lack of virtue. The students of the city's academy have already gathered at the literary academy, and they are discussing it extensively."

The group of palm-printers looked at each other, their expressions subtle.

Chen Hanlu gave a sinister smile. "Tsk tsk, this is quite rare. Since ancient times, the Academy of Arts has been said to have aura that can touch the heavens. If it is truly shrouded in black aura, it is definitely not a good thing."

Huang Yao stroked his beard slowly, seemingly sighing and laughing, "The world is ever-changing, and fortunes change. The common people may not understand reason, but if the Academy is in chaos, I'm afraid even you, sir, will find it difficult to be at ease."

Feng Shuangru closed her feather fan. "Celestial phenomena are often connected to people's hearts. Since everyone is talking about it, it's probably not just a rumor."

After a series of evasive responses, the atmosphere in the hall immediately cooled down.

Xie Chengling's face was ashen. He flicked his sleeve and said in a deep voice, "Enough. Meeting adjourned!"

The charcoal fire suddenly leaped, scattering sparks everywhere.

The crowd left with indifferent expressions.

After everyone had left and the hall was empty, Xie Chengling's face turned so pale it could drip water. "Those local old officials are really detestable."

He was certainly aware of the banditry and the dark side of the Academy, but it was just a show of force being put on him.

The real mastermind behind it all must be Lu Dongxing, the deputy city magistrate who did not attend the seal-holding meeting.

If I hadn't come to Tongcheng, Lu Dongxing should have taken over as the city magistrate. Now that he's been deprived of his position, he's naturally unwilling to let it go. With government officials hindering the city, public resentment rising, Black Wind Village causing trouble, and now this "black aura warning," Tongcheng has been turned into a pot of hot porridge by this scoundrel.

Xie Chengling raised his hand to rub his temples and sighed, "You surnamed Lu... you certainly have some tricks up your sleeve."

He was gritting his teeth when suddenly a commotion arose outside. Judging from the noise, it was the sound of several people leaving the stage and making their handprints.

Xie Chengling rushed out of the hall, taking three steps at a time. He saw a person standing quietly outside the hall, covered in snow from head to toe.

The snow underfoot was even more extreme, reaching above the knees.

This shows that the person has been standing here for quite some time.

Chen Hanlu, Huang Yao, and Feng Shuangru surrounded the "snowman," marveling at it.

Xie Chengling was overjoyed when he first saw the snowman, but then became dazed.

Several years ago, when he became the head of the Seventh Academy of Yunmeng, he also encountered a young man who staged a scene of standing in the snow by the gate of Xie's house.

He recalled once mockingly saying, "You are a madman, and I am not a famous scholar. Although your performance was brilliant, it will not become a historical anecdote and will not have any impact."

Now, the same scene has been repeated in Tongcheng.

He was promoted to city magistrate, a significant improvement compared to his previous position.

The person standing in the snow before us has already soared to great heights and become famous throughout the world.

What night is this? What time is this? It makes one feel as if they are in a dream.

"Lord Xie, this person is..."

Chen Hanlu couldn't help but ask a question.

Before Xie Chengling could reply, "Snowman" spoke up, "I am Xue Xiang from Yunmeng. I have come to pay my respects to my senior brother. When I arrived, you were on official business, so I dared not disturb you and stood quietly to the side until you had some free time."

He spoke so casually.

But it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, striking Chen Hanlu, Huang Yao, and the others right on the head.

"Yun... Yunmeng... Xue Xiang?"

"That... Xue Xiang?"

"May I ask if you are... a melancholy traveler?"

"........."

Chen Hanlu and the others bowed respectfully, their voices trembling.

"It is indeed Xue."

Xue Xiang returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "There are no other guests here to mourn the passing of autumn, only Xue Xiang, a junior scholar, who has come to pay his respects to my elder brother."

It turns out that this Xie Chengling was none other than Xue Xiang's senior brother, Xie Haiya.

Xue Xiang has made many enemies and also gained many benefactors throughout his cultivation.

But the one he valued most was Xie Haiya.

If Xie Haiya hadn't witnessed it firsthand, he would have had a very difficult time even getting started on his path of cultivation and further studies.

Now, he is famous throughout the world and his skills are deepening, while Xie Haiya has not made much progress.

But in Xue Xiang's eyes, this senior brother was a true mentor and brother.

On this journey, his first stop was to visit Xie Haiya.

The time he stood in the snow in front of the door was just to attract attention.

Now, times have changed, but he still pulled this stunt.

It was both a surprise for his senior brother and a way to create another story like "Standing in the Snow at Xie's Door" after "Coming with high spirits and leaving with a full journey".

However, when Xue Xiang finally admitted his identity, Chen Hanlu and the others were so shocked that they didn't know what to say.

Who is the Lamenter of Autumn? He is a renowned scholar.

He was also the chief disciple of the Master of Mingde Dongxuan, a well-known figure in the world.

They never dreamed that Xie Chengling, who seemed harmless and helpless, would have such a junior brother.

Everyone suddenly realized that their statements in the hall earlier were problematic.

"Thank you, Magistrate Xie. In my opinion, suppressing the bandits seems to be the most urgent task."

"I am willing to borrow money and grain from wealthy families in the city. We must not let the people suffer from bandits during the winter."

"Lord Xie, I will host a banquet at Dongxinglou tomorrow to welcome you and Beiqiu Ke back home."

"Old Chen, what are you trying to steal? If there's going to be a banquet, it's not your turn."

"Who is this 'Lamenting Autumn Guest'? What kind of place is Dongxing Tower? How dare anyone enter?"

"........."

The group of masters started arguing.

A pile of watermelons rolled across the ground with a gurgling sound.

But where would you find a watermelon in the dead of winter?

Everyone stared intently, and upon closer inspection, they realized that what they saw were not watermelons at all, but rather mangled, bloody human heads.

"Song Biao, the Winged Tiger".

"Touching the sky, Du Leng."

"These, these are all the bandit leaders of Black Wind Stronghold."

Chen Hanlu and the others were terrified.

Xue Xiang cupped his hands and said, "When I entered Tongcheng, I heard that these bandits had occupied Black Wind Village and were causing chaos in the area. I did not ask my senior brother for permission before I started killing people. Please forgive me, senior brother."

Everyone was stunned by these words.

Song Biao and Du Leng are both Core Formation experts, while the rest are all Foundation Establishment experts.

Such power is enough to wreak havoc on a city, let alone incite chaos in an entire prefecture.

But now, the heads of these people were rolling all over the ground.

The melancholy autumn traveler truly lives up to his name.

…………

…………

Deputy City Magistrate Lu Dongxing built a villa in the western suburbs of Tongcheng, named "Xianyunwu".

The villa is not large, but it is nestled against the mountain and overlooks the water, with an old plum tree in the courtyard in full bloom.

At this moment, he was wearing a mink coat, sitting under the pavilion, tea was brewing on the stove, and a green bamboo fishing rod lay across his feet.

The snow weighed down the bamboo branches, the stream was covered with ice, and the occasional fish swim by made him feel great.

"Xie Haiya, oh Xie Haiya,"

He muttered slowly, "You brought this upon yourself, so you can't blame me."

He sipped his hot tea, his brows relaxing.

Since Xie Haiya took office, he has lived in seclusion here, ostensibly to recuperate, but in reality to observe the tigers from the mountain.

The dark atmosphere at the Academy, the obstruction from the government, and the banditry in Black Wind Village were all carefully orchestrated by him.

With multiple approaches combined, he was certain that Xie Haiya would not be able to withstand more than a few rounds.

If we just hold on a little longer, the position of Tongcheng City Magistrate will soon be vacant again.

"Let's see how many more days you can hold out."

Lu Dongxing smiled and put down his teacup.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from behind.

Footsteps came from the snow, and a middle-aged man in a thick robe stumbled into the pavilion, covered in snow and panting heavily.

"Cao Temple?"

Lu Dongxing raised an eyebrow. "How did you manage to find me?"

His place was extremely secluded; apart from a few trusted confidants, no one else knew about it.

Cao Miao, the head of the Military Affairs Bureau, was one of his staunch supporters in Tongcheng.

Cao Miao looked anxious. "My lord, how can you sit still? The sky is falling outside."

"Hahaha……"

Lu Dongxing laughed loudly, "Just as I expected, it's good that the sky has fallen. I knew that Xie couldn't stop it. It seems that my multi-pronged approach has worked."

"My lord, has our sky fallen?"

Cao Miao wanted to cry but had no tears.

Lu Dongxing frowned. "What's wrong with your sky? With me here, I'll protect you."

Cao Miao stopped turning around and said loudly, "That Xie Haiya, I don't know where he came from, has a junior brother who calls himself Xue Xiang from Yunmeng..."

“Yunmeng Xue Xiang?” Lu Dongxing interrupted, “That name sounds familiar.”

Cao Miao's face turned pale. "Xue Xiang, the Lamenter of Autumn, the chief disciple of the Master of Mingde Dongxuan, that earth-shattering figure!"

Lu Dongxing's mind went blank for a moment, and he almost crushed his teacup. "Wh-what? He's Xie Haiya's junior brother! He's come to Tongcheng?"

"It's more than just that they've come."

Cao Miao, pressing his words with great speed, said, "As soon as he entered Tongcheng, he wiped out the entire Black Wind Stronghold, and the heads of more than a dozen bandit leaders were displayed on the city gate tower."

"Oh!"

Lu Dongxing cried out in surprise, "Black Wind Stronghold is destroyed? This, how is this possible, how is this possible..."

Cao Miao pointed wildly with both hands, "What's even more outrageous is yet to come. Xie Haiya held a banquet to celebrate his victory, and renowned scholars from the city's Confucian academy, the state academy, Nanxi, and Fuqiu all came."

A traveler lamenting autumn composed several poems, which resonated throughout the entire prefecture.

Lu Dongxing's fingers were trembling, and his eyes were twitching.

He wanted to speak, but his throat felt like it was blocked by snow, and he couldn't make a sound.

"Xie Haiya is currently enjoying unparalleled popularity."

Cao Miao was filled with grief and indignation. "Several of the chief officials are all circling around him."

"enough!"

Lu Dongxing slammed his hand on the stone table, shattering the teacup and spilling tea all over the floor.

His face turned bright red, and his eyes became bloodshot.

Cao Miao lamented, "During the banquet, Xue Xiang also said that he had already sent a letter to Song Sizun of the Guanfeng Division, and that all the letters he had copied from Black Wind Village had been sent to the Guanfeng Division."

Soon, the Bureau of Inspectors will send men to thoroughly investigate the bandit gathering at Black Wind Stronghold.

"what!!"

Lu Dongxing screamed and collapsed headfirst.

(End of this chapter)