The sage was determined to die.

"I was careless."

Ji Bai slapped his forehead, regretting, "I should have gambled some money with you."

The pale-faced jailer's expression darkened. He reached for his empty purse, feeling slightly relieved, and said seriously, "Ji Bai, I consider you a brother. How could you test me with something like this?"

The dark-faced jailer silently reached into his bulging money bag and pushed it a few inches deeper.

Seeing that the three of them completely disregarded him, Yan Ming, who had never been treated so poorly before, felt ashamed and indignant. His tone became even more intense: "I am Yan Ming, the son of the Minister of Rites, and you and I are both newly promoted Jinshi."

Ji Bai took a bite of the fish sashimi without even glancing at him.

For the first time in his life, he revealed his status but received no response. Yan Ming's face began to crumble: "The sage said, 'Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.' Ji Bai, as a newly appointed scholar, you have already committed a heinous crime by beating Young Master Wei without cause. Now that Young Master Wei is seriously injured and bedridden, you are here feasting and drinking. How can you face the sages you have studied?"

The three-day banquet, which gathered almost all the newly appointed scholars, had already attracted everyone's attention. Seeing this, Yan Ming spoke even louder, clearly intending to stand on the moral high ground and crush his opponent.

Ji Bai originally didn't want to pay attention to someone who was of no help whatsoever to his self-destructive endeavors.

But he was worried that the man would get more and more agitated and end up spitting into his bowl.

Fortunately, he was already a seasoned actor. Ji Bai's eyes were glazed over, and he acted like a drunkard, waving one hand around as if shooing away flies: "Go away, go away! A man of integrity does not accept charity. I am just a poor scholar, and I cannot afford to have so many people lining up to beg for food."

Upon hearing this, not only Yan Ming lost face, but the group of people who had originally planned to follow him into the water were also filled with indignation. Immediately, someone rebuked, "Who wants to eat the food of a treacherous villain like you? They'd probably die from poisoning if they did."

The two men, one with a black face and the other with a white face, who were still eating and drinking: "..."

Their table had become the focus of the entire place. Even though Yan Ming wanted to punch the drunkard to death, he had to put on a gentlemanly demeanor when he thought that almost everyone in the restaurant was looking at him: "Ji Bai, don't misunderstand me. We just came to remind you out of kindness."

"As far as I know, Young Master Wei has always been kind-hearted and gentle. He doesn't look down on your background; on the contrary, he treats you like an honored guest. Yet you severely injured such an innocent person. Such behavior truly makes us uneasy."

Yan Ming took a few steps back, looking quite distressed: "The Book Mountain will open in ten days. At that time, we newly promoted scholars will represent the State of Qi to enter the Book Mountain. The Book Mountain is full of dangers. One wrong step could lead to eternal damnation."

"If you treat your friends with such deceit and treachery, what chance do you have against us? I ask you, who among you here would dare entrust your back to you?"

It must be said that when it comes to their own interests, Yan Ming's words become extremely persuasive to these newly appointed scholars.

"Young Master Yan is right." A scholar from a humble background glared at Ji Bai. "We don't want to be on guard against attacks from other countries while also worrying about being stabbed in the back by our own people."

"With Ji Bai around, I don't even dare to enter the mountain of books."

"His wolfish ambitions are blatantly obvious."

Ji Bai quietly admired Yan Ming's performance.

No wonder it smells like tea; it's because of my reputation.

Ji Bai burst out laughing, tilted his head, picked at his ear, and said disdainfully, "With such boldness in your words, does that mean everyone here is qualified to enter the Mountain of Books?"

"If I remember correctly, the list of candidates will be announced three days before the opening of the Book Mountain. There are eighty new Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) in Qi this year, but only eighteen will be able to enter the Book Mountain."

Ji Bai pointed at the newly appointed scholars opposite him one by one with his fingers, counting "one, two, three, four" in his mouth, and suddenly realized, "Exactly eighteen. No wonder Young Master Yan is so uncompromising. My apologies for my rudeness. It turns out that it was already decided in advance."

Ji Bai deliberately drawled out the last syllable: "The son of the Minister really has connections everywhere—"

These words instantly reversed the situation.

The quota for the Book Mountain is extremely precious and has always been decided jointly by the royal family and the Kui Xing Pavilion. Of course, it is not something that Yan Ming, the son of a mere minister, can influence. Not to mention him, even his father has no right to interfere.

Yan Ming felt that the temperature around him had dropped a few degrees.

Yan Ming felt like he was being tricked by Ji Bai, feeling the gazes of the onlookers in the restaurant were like needles sticking out of his back. He never expected that he would be tricked by Ji Bai here.

He was eager to defend himself, angrily saying, "Stop spreading rumors here! The quota for the Book Mountain is decided by the sages. If we ambitious people cannot go, then a despicable person like you should not even dream of it! If you have any conscience at all, you might as well voluntarily give up this quota and retain a shred of dignity!"

"There's really nothing we can do about this..." Ji Bai glanced helplessly at the pale-faced jailer.

The other person instantly understood a lot from his eyes.

The pale-faced jailer wanted to help Bai defend himself, but he didn't expect that although the kid's name was Bai, he was actually a black wolf in sheep's clothing.

He completely reversed the situation with just a few words, faster than he could drink a cup of tea.

The pale-faced jailer tapped the table lightly to attract everyone's attention, and said with suppressed laughter, "Ahem, everyone, you may not know this, but Ji Bai is the only Jinshi from Qi who has been admitted to Shushan ahead of schedule this year. He already has a spot in Shushan and will not take up one of the eighteen precious spots in Qi."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Being accepted into the "Book Mountain" in advance, as long as one doesn't die in the "Book Mountain," is equivalent to having one's literary heart locked in ahead of time.

Those who lack literary talent are not worthy of becoming scholars.

Most of the people present knew Ji Bai's background: he was just an orphan without parents. Although he was exceptionally talented and passed the imperial examination, he offended the national advisor, which basically ruined his future career.

But once he enters the world of books and develops a literary mind, things change.

"No, impossible—"

Yan Ming felt as if every hair on his body stood on end, and his face felt like it had been slapped, leaving a burning pain.

No one doubted the pale-faced jailer's words; with the Holy Way above, no one dared to joke about the Book Mountain Annotations.

Because it would truly be punished by heaven.

Ji Bai lowered his head and sipped a glass of wine. To Yan Ming and the others, this action was naturally seen as a petty person gloating over their success. To the onlookers, it was seen as a master strategist. To those with ulterior motives, it was seen as a sign that this young man was so cunning, deliberately digging a pit for Yan Ming to fall into...

Only Ji Bai thought to himself, "Talking too much really makes me thirsty."

"Speaking of which," Ji Bai said, glancing at the scholars beside Yan Ming who were caught in a dilemma, "you all had a good time criticizing me earlier, and I don't really care. But without the Yan family's help, I'm afraid it would be difficult for you all to enter the mountain of books, wouldn't it?"

The scholars had lost all the arrogance they had displayed when they criticized Ji Bai, and their faces were now filled with embarrassment.

"Mortals live for a maximum of a hundred years, but once one possesses literary talent, even the lowest level of literary talent, one can extend their lifespan by more than two hundred years. You all must work hard in the future, because I don't want to be able to visit your graves after you've passed away."

What a vicious mouth.

Several resentful gazes were simultaneously fixed on Ji Bai, but he treated it as if raindrops had fallen on his shoulder and brushed it off lightly.

"you--"

One of the scholars was clearly furious, but unable to win the argument, he could only turn and leave.

Yan Mingjun's face turned red with anger, his teeth grinding together, but he could only weakly threaten, "Ji Bai, with such arrogance, aren't you afraid of being completely isolated and helpless after entering the Mountain of Books?"

Ji Bai simply gave a curt reply to this.

"Wild beasts always roam alone, while cattle and sheep travel in herds."

Yan Ming almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Oh, right," Ji Bai said with a sly smile, as if suddenly remembering something, "Young Master Yan is Young Master Wei's close friend, isn't he? If you see him, please pass on my message. If it weren't for that kick that landed me in jail, how could I have comprehended a trace of the Holy Path while in prison and then been admitted to the Book Mountain ahead of schedule?"

"In retrospect, it's all thanks to him for risking his life to help me."

"Just as you said, the Grand Tutor's grandson is kind-hearted and soft-hearted."

Yan Ming stumbled as he fled, his back view looking even more disheveled.

.

One hour later.

Within the Imperial Preceptor's residence, every five steps revealed a new scene, with incense and candles burning day and night amidst pavilions and waterside terraces.

In the bedroom, Wei Zhiyuan lay on the bed, his face ashen and pale. Blood kept flowing from his severed leg, staining the white gauze crimson. He had been in excruciating pain these past few days, never having suffered such a loss since birth.

"Ugh, this medicine is so bitter—"

Wei Zhiyuan vomited all over the maid, and the medicine bowl smashed into her face with a "bang," instantly causing a bruise to appear on her eyebrow.

He gestured for the maid to leave, and she dared not make a sound. She picked up the medicine bowl and left silently.

Wei Zhiyuan looked weakly at the kneeling servant below and asked in a hoarse voice, "Is that bitch dead?"

The servant was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat, but dared not lie: "Reporting to young master, Ji Bai has already been approved by Shushan and released from the imperial prison."

"He...he was still at the Zhenlong Restaurant saying, 'Thank you, young master, for helping me to attain enlightenment in prison.'"

Wei Zhiyuan reached out and picked up the vase from the bedside table, smashing it at the servant.

"Get out, all of you, get out!"

"Ji Bai, I'll make you wish you were never born!"