Chapter 16
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Winter gave way to spring. As the snow melted, rivulets formed, running down the mountaintops. Sticking close to the Sea of Mountains, it was no surprise the road ahead was thick with mud, creating difficulties for travelers.
Currently, Xu Zhenyan and Lee Shin's carriage were caught in the congestion, waiting for the way ahead to be cleared up.
'Many of these carriages should belong to aspirants like myself.'
Laying flat on his back, Xu Zhenyan put his feet on the windowsill. If someone looked at it from the outside, they'd only see a pair of black slippers sticking out.
"Should I have them make way, young master?"
The bodyguard's voice came from outside.
Before they departed, housekeeper Bo offered to send a convoy to escort their carriage, mainly for the purpose of clarifying their status.
As it was, an observer might only note the good craftsmanship of their vehicle, but wouldn't be able to tell anything about its occupants.
"No, it's fine. We're still making good time, aren't we?"
Brushing strands of silky, black hair out of his face, Xu Zhenyan shielded himself from the afternoon sun. Although the temperature was rising, the watery rays still didn't provide much warmth.
"It may take a while for them to fill it up with gravel. While we're here, perhaps we should introduce ourselves to the other travelers? It might be a good idea to get acquainted with your fellow students ahead of time."
Lee Shin's tone was careful. To him, it was already surprising that Xu Zhenyan didn't immediately run off the moment a distraction presented itself. The boy had stayed in the carriage for most of their journey, not speaking much at all.
Such uncharacteristic behavior made the bodyguard a tad uneasy.
After thinking it over for a while, Xu Zhenyan declined.
"I'm not interested."
He then closed his eyes, content to wait and rest until the roadwork finished.
One would think that, having already lived and died once, a person would resolve to make the most of every moment. And indeed, Xu Zhenyan felt that way—which is why, after never really getting the opportunity to do so before, he'd never pass up an afternoon nap.
Soon, the sounds of regular breathing sounded from the carriage, but Lee Shin, feeling somewhat exasperated, could only shake his head.
Sighing, he drew up his legs under him and, sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes as well. However, he was still very aware of everything happening around him.
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After about an hour, during which there was little progress, a group of people neared their carriage, led by a moustached man.
The convoy of carriages, blocked as they were, had long since gathered together by the side of the road. Having little else to do, the travelers mingled among themselves, exchanging greetings and introductions.
While many of them were indeed escorts for academy aspirants, there were also merchants, farmers and laborers. Naturally, groups started forming, roughly divided by identity.
However, Xu Zhenyan's carriage stood out, off to one side as it was. Indeed, many of the people present were curious about it, being that it bore the styles of the capital.
Arriving in front of Lee Shin, the moustached man, appearing like a confusion scholar, half-bowed in greeting.
"Good afternoon, esteemed sir. This lowly one is Qin Baofeng, an official from the nearby Twin Rivers settlement. Given our current predicament, my companions and I thought to invite sir and his ward for an afternoon lunch. Just now, the cook has started grilling the Rainbow Cod, a specialty from the local area…"
The man started talking and didn't stop, describing the menu like a waiter at a five star restaurant. To the spectators, it was very surprising as Xin Baoqeng was not a person of low status. For him to act so servile could only mean the outwardly unremarkable carriage was transporting someone of esteemed status!
Lee Shin listened to the man go on with half an ear, already understanding what had happened.
"Do we know each other?"
Waving his hand irritably, he cut Qin Baofeng off in the middle of his sentence.
The confuscian scholar bowed again, smiling awkwardly.
"Two years ago, I was summoned to the capital to personally deliver a report on the Southern Sea of Mountains district. At that time, I was fortunate enough to witness a martial demonstration by the Judicial Sector…"
He trailed off toward the end, not wanting to say too much lest it offend the other party.
Lee Shin rubbed his chin, coming to an understanding. Naturally, as a martial arts expert, his duties in the Xu family involved more than babysitting the third young master. Qin Baofeng must've run into him while he was going about Xu Tianwang's business.
Giving the scholar a single nod, he glanced over his shoulder, through a sectioned window that revealed the inside of the carriage.
"Should I accept the invitation, young master?"
After getting up early and being on the road all day, the two of them hadn't eaten anything yet. He thought there was a good chance Xu Zhenyan might appreciate a good meal.
There was a moment of silence before a drowsy reply came from inside.
"Hmm, all right. I was just starting to get hungry."
The spectators watched curiously as the door opened slowly. When Xu Zhenyan stepped out, there was a collection of silent gasps.
'So handsome!'
The [Immortal Transformation Technique] really did its work, giving the youth an appearance that could only be described as otherworldly. His hair gleamed like black oil and his pale skin was as clear as crystal. He almost seemed like a spirit or deity, a being unsullied by the mortal world.
Qin Baofeng's eyes lit up. He, like many others, had certain expectations when it came to the nobility. However, as someone who wasn't rarified himself, but frequently interacted with their ilk, he'd come to realize those high-status individuals were just as human as the rest of them.
Yet, now and then, he'd encounter a member of the upper-class that made him wonder if they really were special, after all.
Xu Zhenyan, either unaware or uncaring of the gazes on him, tousled his hair, messy from his nap. Somehow, instead of seeming unkempt, it gave him a sort of unselfconscious handsomeness.
"You are…?"
Posing the question, he stuck an arm into the carriage, rummaging around before pulling out a lacquered, wooden comb. Being half-asleep, he only overheard some of the conversation.
Stepping forward, the man bowed and politely introduced himself. Then, he repeated his offer to Xu Zhenyan, keeping his head lowered all the while.
The boy nodded before glancing at Lee Shin.
"Alright, but since it's only the two of us, we'll need to borrow a guard or two to keep an eye on the carriage."
Hearing his young master, the bodyguard nodded. Usually, they'd depend on the inn they were staying at for security. However, if both of them went to lunch with nobody to look after their belongings, there was no telling what would happen. After all, there were a lot of people around—it wasn't unlikely that something would go 'missing'.
Qin Baofeng gave them a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry young master, I'll take care of it. And if something happens, well… I'll personally bear the consequences."
As soon as he finished speaking, he gestured from the carriage to one of his escorts.
"Go keep an eye on young master Xu's belongings, guardsman Po. If even a single thread of embroidery goes missing, I'll take it out of your hide!"
Given what he said not a moment ago, the words were extremely shameless. However, in this time and age where the master was king and the servant slave, nobody batted an eyelid.
Xu Zhenyan wasn't really worried either. Aside from some basic necessities, he didn't have many possessions.
Off to the side, a few spectators gasped loudly.
'Could he really be from that Xu family?'
Such were their thoughts.
As an old military family with a long history, their surname was recognizable to those with any knowledge of Yunqin's politics. In fact, though Xu Tianwang wasn't in charge of the Judicial Sector, his cultivation was certainly the most advanced.
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"To think you'll be mingling with children like these, Son! You musn't miss the opportunity to make connections."
Off to the side, a middle-aged merchant spoke quietly to his son. His name was Zhang Feng, a renowned drug-store owner from Xiaoxiang province. Although business demanded his attention, he didn't want to miss the opportunity of seeing his eldest off to Green Luan academy.
The child in question, a serious youth seeming perhaps two or three years older than normal age for enrollment, didn't look up from his work. He was standing over a makeshift bench, metal parts scattered in front of him.
"I understand, father."
Despite his words, his tone was noncommittal.
Zhang Feng sighed. If it were one of his other children, he'd certainly kick up a fuss. However, Zhang Ping was, quite simply, a genius. His talent for engineering and metalworking was extraordinary, at least among his local peers.
Casting one last glance at Xu Zhenyan, the merchant looked away.
"You need to work hard. Although your abilities are nothing to scoff at, you are still a frog in a well. Green Luan academy draws geniuses from all over Yunqin empire, and there are many…"
During his business dealings, he met all sorts of people. Even he, who was considered a savant with money, had met his match countless times over. He knew his son would certainly run into the same wall.
Zhang Ping nodded again, absentmindedly biting off a piece of dried meat.
"That's why I'm reviewing. That way, I can give myself the best chance to enter the Natural Arts department."
Zhang Feng looked at him, shaking his head inwardly. He'd wanted the boy to follow in his footsteps, studying statecraft, but there was no helping it. His talents didn't lie in that area.
"Well, while we're stuck here, I may as well take a few servants and make offerings at a local shrine."
Zhang Ping didn't even notice when he left, absorbed in his work as he was.
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