Chapter 127: Release the Dogs

The entrance exam of the Martial Arts Academy contained five written tests and four martial tests. It seemed like written tests were more important than martial tests, but they weighed less.

When the Martial Arts Academy was established, there were only martial tests, and written tests were added later.

As Great Sui became more powerful and stable, the emperors paid more attention to scholars and civil officials.

Great Sui was established on the back of great military, but civil officials were the ones who managed the empire.

If generals managed the empire, it would become chaotic.

Soon after the First Emperor of Great Sui passed away, the Second Emperor changed the rules of the academy, adding the written tests. Although it was controversial at the time, the Second Emperor brute-forced the decision and made the change.

Then, there was Li Xiao who got excellent ratings in all nine tests and shocked everyone.

Later, the foresight of the Second Emperor of Great Sui became something that people praised. If the students of the Martial Arts Academy were all warriors, it wouldn’t be great for the military. The people with high cultivation strength might not be talented generals. Warriors who could kill many enemies were still fighters; they couldn’t command soldiers.

Great Sui didn’t lack warriors.

Even though written tests were accepted, the Martial Arts Academy still valued martial tests more.

For example, even though Fang Jie received excellent ratings in those five written tests, someone with excellent ratings in these four martial tests would be ranked higher; perhaps someone with excellent ratings in three martial tests would be ranked higher.

If Fang Jie did terrible in the four martial tests, he could only be a civil official in the military. Even though the civil officials in the military were different from the civil officials in the central government, it would still be pitiable not to be able to lead soldiers.

Fang Jie’s excellent ratings in the five written tests weren’t representative of his skills; the Emperor gave him the great ratings since he was well-liked.

If Fang Jie participated in the written tests, it would be great if he received high ratings in three of them. Therefore, Fang Jie valued these four martial tests and wanted to prove himself.

Before coming to the Martial Arts Academy this morning, Fang Jie spent the night at Smooth Spring Garden, and what the Emperor said to him in the last meeting made him not daring to slack.

“Since I met you twice already, it means that you have good abilities. However, the abilities that you showcased so far aren’t enough to surprise me. If you want to have a good future, get a few excellent ratings tomorrow during the martial tests. I’m not stingy on giving rewards. If you have the abilities, you can take more rewards from me.”

The Emperor was telling Fang Jie explicitly that he would be given important tasks if he pleased the Emperor with his strength.

How could Fang Jie let go of this great opportunity?

Since Fang Jie somehow arrived in this world, he wasn’t going to accept a boring life.

Right now, Fang Jie was laughing out loud while lying outside the small city in the training field, and he looked like a fool to those from big families; they looked at him with anger and disdain.

Fang Jie enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment. Also, being hated by others is always a sign of success.

In this exam, the first two martial tests were merged into one, but there would be two ratings. With two excellent ratings now, Fang Jie would be able to enter the Martial Arts Academy for sure. Now that he had seven excellent ratings, it would be unfair if he couldn’t enter.

After resting for about an hour, a professor on the city wall announced the third test, and it was mounted archery.

The warhorses that the Martial Arts Academy had were all kept in the training field, and this wide space was enough for the participants to showcase their horseback riding skills and archery.

Even if some participants hadn’t recovered from the prior two tests, they knew that they couldn’t lay on the ground and rest anymore unless they wanted to quit the exam right now.

However, they were too prideful to give up now.

They could fail, but they would never give up.

Zhang Kuang who had recovered most of his stamina pulled Fang Jie and said with a smile, “During the run, I told you that all participants from the military are looking at you. Since the Martial Arts Academy got established and soldiers like us are allowed to participate in the entrance exam, not a single soldier ranked in the top ten. Although it isn’t shameful, it is still uncomfortable to admit.”

Then, he pulled up Fang Jie and patted the latter’s shoulder. “Give it a bit more! We are all looking at you!”

“I don’t have great ambition.” Fang Jie smiled and said, “Please don’t put the burden of raising the morale of the soldiers on me; I can’t do it.”

“Who else could do it but you?”

“Rather than giving me the burden, you can give me some silver taels. The money would give me more motivation compared to burdens.”

Zhang Kuang rolled his eyes and looked at the soldiers who were preparing for the next test. He said feelingly, “Including me, every participant from the military wants to become a great hero. Who doesn’t want to be admired by everyone and bring honor to their families? Who doesn’t want to be ranked in the top three? However, we all know that we don’t have the chance anymore, but you do. It is great that you still have the chance. Otherwise, we would all feel depressed.”

Fang Jie looked toward the training field and said while shrugging, “Alright, although I don’t want to shrug off your hope, this test is mounted archery, yet my horse is still in Chang’an.”

At this moment, Fang Jie saw that pretty professor named Qiu Yu walking over with his red horse.

Zhang Kuang couldn’t help but laugh, and he said to Fang Jie, “You sure are handsome, and it is quite useful. All brothers would admire you if you take care of this examiner before taking care of the next test.”

“F*ck off!” Fang Jie cursed with a smile before dusting off his clothes and walking over.

“Thank you, Professor.” Fang Jie bowed before grabbing the rein from Qiu Yu’s hands.

Clearly, the red horse wasn’t used to this woman who had white eyes, and it was a little nervous.

When it saw Fang Jie, it became excited.

“Good job.” Qiu Yu nodded at Fang Jie and suddenly smiled upon seeing Fang Jie’s exhausted face. She said, “I’m going to be the main examiner for the upcoming test. I will allow you to bribe me. Don’t be stingy and give me your best offer. You should know that it wouldn’t be cheap to bribe me.”

After a moment of silence, Fang Jie probed, “There is a small business before my home that sells hot noodle soup and small steamed buns; the food is great.”

Qiu Yu rolled her eyes and walked away, and Fang Jie scratched his head in embarrassment.

After taking five steps, this pretty professor said without stopping or looking back, “Tomorrow morning.”

“Ok!” Fang Jie nodded with a dumb smile.

While preparing for the test, Fang Jie was looking around for someone.

In fact, he had been looking around since this morning. He was trying to find Xiang Qingniu, the person who would always boast but was timid before women.

Xiang Qingniu had said that he was a supervisor in the entrance exam this year.

The written tests were over, and there were only two martial tests left.

Not seeing that little fatty, Fang Jie wondered if he lied again.

Before seeing Chen Qingshan again, Fang Jie always felt like Xiang Qingniu wasn’t a big figure.

After Chen Qingshan said that Xiang Qingniu asked Spiritual Master Xiao to send people to find him, Fang Jie was shocked since Xiang Qingniu looked nothing like an unworldly master.

Fang Jie would rather believe that Da Quan was a great daoist instead of believing Xiang Qingniu.

If Xiang Qingniu wrote something, Fang Jie wouldn’t even trust the comma.

Later, Fang Jie finally believed Xiang Qingniu, but the latter was missing now.

At least Xiang Qingniu hadn’t appeared in Fang Jie’s vision, so Fang Jie was sure that he wasn’t here.

That shameless fatty would have instantly run over to brag to Fang Jie if he was in the training field.

As a result, Fang Jie started to worry.

Something big must have happened for Xiang Qingniu not to come here and brag to Fang Jie about his power.

On top of Xiang Qingniu, Fang Jie didn’t even see a single daoist. If Spiritual Master Xiao came to Chang’an to view the entrance exam, why wasn’t he here?

Fang Jie was worried because he had a guess.

Seeing the participants each getting a horse and gathering around, Fang Jie shook his head and got rid of the messy thoughts. Then, he caressed the mane of the red horse and asked with a smile, “Are you ready?”

The red horse didn’t respond; it only wanted to find new grass to eat, but it was disappointed. It seemed like in its eyes, these people and other top-tier warhorses were nothing compared to fresh and juice new grass.

There was a mountain named Godly Spring outside Chang’an, and the world-famous Godly Spring Manor was on this mountain.

Godly Spring Manor was known for its liquor, and even the Emperor used its liquor in parties.

Godly Spring Mountain wasn’t tall; it looked like Wolf Breast Mountain Range beside Fangu City from afar.

The curvatures of this mountain were graceful. People would instantly think of words such as magnificence when they thought of mountains, but Godly Spring Mountain was more graceful than magnificent.

Godly Spring Mountain wasn’t far from the training field; only about one hour was needed for a one-way trip.

When the training field was built, most of the materials came from Godly Spring Mountain. The medium-sized forest in the training field was moved here from Godly Spring Mountain, and many resources were used to make it happen.

Godly Spring Manor was built half-way up the mountain. It was heard that it was built when the Second Emperor of Great Sui came into power, and it was built by the descendant of a general who helped the First Emperor establish Great Sui.

That descendant wasn’t interested in becoming an official and loved making liquor. About 100 years later, all his descendants had no official positions, but Godly Spring Manor was extremely famous.

The Liquor Pool was in the depths of the manor. In fact, it was inside a giant cave in the mountain.

The entrance of the cave was small, but it was spacious inside. The temperature inside the cave was suitable for storing liquor.

The treasures of Godly Spring Manor were a few jars of liquor that were stored for dozens of years, and they were stored in this cave.

The jars were full in the beginning, but only more than half could be seen now. Of course, no one stole it.

It was heard that the liquor was viscous enough to form string-like lines when being touched, and the aroma could make people drunk before they walked into the Liquor Pool.

When Fang Jie was preparing for the mounted archery test, two special people appeared outside the Liquor Pool of Godly Spring Manor

One was a little fatty in a black daoist robe. He was young, and his fat face looked like a big steamed bun that just came out of the steamer. People would want to pinch his cheeks when seeing him.

The other was a daoist in a red daoist robe, and there seemed to be a slit on his forehead. It was hard to tell his age, and his facial features were defined.

In the entire Daoist Sect, only three people were qualified to wear black daoist robes. One was Spiritual Master Xiao of One Qi Daoist Temple on Pure Joy Mountain, one was Spiritual Master Zhang of Three Pure Daoist Tempe on Wudang Mountain, and the last one was Xiang Qingniu who seemed unreliable.

“This is the place?” Xiang Qingniu tilted his head and asked the red-robed daoist beside him.

Phoenix-Chirp Daoist oversaw punishments in One Qi Daoist Temple, and he was usually cold and scary. With his prestigious status, he appeared dignified all the time.

However, this cold daoist looked humble and respectful before Xiang Qingniu.

“Little Uncle-Master, this should be the place.”

Xiang Qingniu nodded and took a few steps forward. Then, he cleared his throat and spoke loudly into the cave, “Bald donkeys, listen up! You are surrounded! It is meaningless to resist! Surrender, and you will be given lesser sentences. I will count to one. If you don’t surrender, we will release the dogs!”

“Eh… Little Uncle-Master, is counting to one too short?”

“Dumb! I can start at ten!”

“Oh, my bad.”

“Damn it! Do you think I’m bluffing? One!” Xiang Qingniu said this toward the cave and not toward Phoenix-Chirp Daoist. “Do you think I’m joking?”

The dozen small daoists behind him each dragged a tough mastiff dog. These dogs were vicious. Even though these little daoists all had cultivation strength, they had a hard time controlling these dogs.

“Release them! Release them inside!” Xiang Qingniu said while pouting, “Second Senior Brother had told me before that bald donkeys are most afraid of dogs!”