The excitement over the victory at Zhenyao (Demon-Suppressing) City, Xu Xue Nuo's breakthrough, and the imperial examination reform gradually subsided.
Life in Wu Kingdom returned to its usual rhythm. For most people, nothing in their daily lives had truly changed.
Several days earlier, the Qi Kingdom envoy delegation had already returned home.
Xu Ming, who had shone brilliantly at the banquet, had also attended the farewell, but this time, not as an attendant—he went as an official envoy of Wu Kingdom.
Of course, during farewells, it was mostly the adults exchanging polite pleasantries such as "Safe travels" and "Do visit Qi Kingdom someday." The younger ones didn't have much of a role to play in these formalities, which left Zhu Cici, standing by her mother's side, feeling anxious.
She desperately wanted to talk to her little sweetheart.
Finally, she managed to find an opportunity. Zhu Cici approached Xu Ming to bid him farewell and secretly handed him a pale pink jade pendant. Before Xu Ming could refuse, she bolted away.
Holding the jade pendant in his hand, Xu Ming found himself at a loss for words.
A token of affection?
When he got home, Xu Ming pondered what to do with the pink jade pendant.
Perhaps when she grew up, she would forget all about this incident—or worse, it might become an embarrassing memory, something she'd cringe at whenever she thought of it.
But still, it was a kind gesture. And since she claimed the pendant had the effect of nurturing a scholarly temperament, Xu Ming decided to keep it, treating it as her way of repaying him for saving her.
In the days that followed, Xu Ming continued his rigorous training.
Once he'd firmly established his foundation in the Mercury Realm, he went to the courtyard of Lady Wang.
Lady Wang prepared a body-refining medicinal bath using her family's secret recipe. After pouring the medicinal concoction into the water, she instructed Xu Ming to soak in it.
This turned out to be the most excruciating bath Xu Ming had ever taken.
It felt as if his entire body were submerged in molten lava, every fiber of his flesh on the verge of being torn apart and melted away.
Several times, Xu Ming couldn't help but scream out in agony from within the tub.
And no matter how unbearable the pain, the medicinal bath seemed to have a sobering effect, preventing him from losing consciousness. He had to endure it all with complete clarity!
Seeing Xu Ming on the verge of giving up, Lady Wang shouted sternly, "Hold on! You mustn't abandon the Mercury Realm's body-refining halfway! Otherwise, your martial path will be ruined forever!"
Gritting his teeth and clenching his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, Xu Ming pushed through.
After an entire day and night, the pain finally subsided. Xu Ming was so drained he couldn't even scream anymore.
The once-red liquid in the tub had turned into a muddy sludge, resembling a swamp—disgusting and foul-smelling.
Xu Ming figured this must be what those novels meant when they described "expelling impurities through the pores."
Seeing Xu Ming pull through, Wang Feng let out a heavy sigh of relief. Xu Pangda quickly called for the maids to heat up fresh water for Xu Ming to take a proper bath.
After thoroughly cleaning himself, Xu Ming stood in front of a mirror and noticed he looked noticeably fairer, and perhaps even more handsome.
He threw a punch experimentally. His punching speed and strength had significantly improved compared to before.
Moreover, despite his delicate appearance, he could feel that his skin, flesh, and bones had all become much tougher.
Previously, Xu Ming had considered whether he should focus exclusively on swordsmanship and set aside martial arts, thinking it might allow him to progress faster.
But now, Xu Ming abandoned that idea entirely.
Specializing in either swordsmanship or martial arts might indeed lead to quicker progress.
However, each had its own strengths.
For instance, sword cultivators excelled in offensive power but lacked defense, whereas martial artists were renowned for their unparalleled physical resilience.
It was common for most people to focus on only one path—it made sense, given the limitations of energy and time.
But he was different.
Xu Ming had a cheat-like advantage. Compared to ordinary people, he could progress steadily on both paths, albeit at a slower pace. Still, he believed his journey would be more solid and rewarding.
However, Xu Ming began to feel that aimless training in the courtyard wasn't going to cut it anymore.
He wanted to join the military.
Though Wu Kingdom didn't hold much cultural sway on the "international" stage, it was a nation founded on martial strength. Every family trained their sons in martial arts. The reason Wu Kingdom stood among the ten great human dynasties was largely due to its unmatched military training.
Every young man in Wu Kingdom who joined the army received systematic training.
More importantly, for a martial artist, blood and qi were essential to tempering oneself.
And the army was where blood and qi thrived most vibrantly.
Wu Kingdom's geography was complex, bordered by various other kingdoms and overrun with beasts and monsters within its borders. Enlisting in the military guaranteed opportunities for real combat—something impossible to find in the comfortable, peaceful life of the capital.
Only through bloody, flesh-and-bone battles could Xu Ming progress faster.
As for his family, Xu Ming wasn't worried. His mother was well-acquainted with Lady Qin and Lady Wang and would not suffer any mistreatment. Moreover, his mother was known for her quiet, unassuming nature in the Xu household, staying out of trouble.
Xu Ming shared his idea with Lady Wang instead of directly telling his mother. He feared his mother might not agree.
Hoping to gain her support, Xu Ming asked Lady Wang to help persuade his mother.
Lady Wang understood Xu Ming's intentions. She knew he wanted to use the military's blood and qi to hone himself and gain more life experience.
After all, in a peaceful environment, one could not forge a truly formidable martial artist.
Throughout history, which great warrior hadn't emerged from a sea of blood?
"Xu Ming, you don't have to take this path," Lady Wang said, shaking her head. "With the recent changes to the imperial examination system, your talents and growing reputation would ensure you a promising future as a government official. Why risk your life every day?"
"That's true, Aunt Wang," Xu Ming replied. "But my ambition doesn't lie in the court. The scheming and intrigue there aren't my style. I'd rather be a straightforward warrior—it suits me better."
Of course, Xu Ming didn't share his full thoughts.
It wasn't just that he didn't want to be an official.
While he found the court's dirty politics tiresome, his goal wasn't to simply become a warrior either.
Martial arts were merely a tool to strengthen himself.
Lady Wang stared directly at Xu Ming, her fingers drumming rhythmically on the table as she pondered. After a moment, she spoke seriously, "I can help convince your mother, but you have to promise me one thing."
"Anything, Aunt Wang," Xu Ming replied, nodding.
"You must participate in next year's Tongshi and the Xiangshi the year after," Lady Wang said firmly. "Only after you pass the Xiangshi and become a juren will I allow you to join the army."
Xu Ming froze for a moment, surprised by her demand.
But he quickly understood the good intentions behind his aunt's seemingly harsh condition.
Aunt Wang wanted him to earn the title of juren as a fallback before pursuing his military ambitions.
If his path as a warrior didn't pan out, having the status of a juren, combined with his current reputation, would ensure a way out. The Xu family could pull some strings to secure him a comfortable position. Even if they didn't, the Wang family could step in and help him land a minor government post.
Moreover, as a juren, entering the army would allow him to build his credentials. Later, if he decided to transition to the court, whether as a civil or military official, he'd find it easier to garner support.
It was clear Lady Wang had thought this through thoroughly.
"I promise, Aunt Wang," Xu Ming said with a nod.
"Alright, that's settled. Don't mention this to your mother for now; I'll tell her myself later. Besides, you probably won't pass the scholar examination anyway," said Wang Feng, waving her hand dismissively.
Xu Ming chuckled, recognizing his aunt's characteristic pride. He knew she was worried that if he told his mother about his plans to leave too soon, it would make her worry. Better to delay the news and soften the blow.
Another cycle of seasons passed.
On this day, Xu Ming turned nine.
For his ninth birthday, Xu Ming received a package. The messenger said it came from the Yunyi Marquis' residence in the State of Qi.
"The Yunyi Marquis?"
Xu Ming thought for a moment before recalling that this was the title of Zhu Cici's father.
He opened the package to find a bracelet. Dangling from the bracelet were two dice, each embedded with a red bean.
"Linglong dice are made of red beans; they speak of love deep to the bone."
These poetic lines suddenly surfaced in Xu Ming's mind. He remembered that this poem existed in this world too, written by a woman named Qi Yun from the State of Qi.
"She's just ten years old, though! How are ancient girls so precocious?"
Staring at the bracelet, Xu Ming could vividly imagine a ten-year-old girl carefully embedding red beans into the dice and threading them with red silk under the glow of a lamp.
Xu Ming put the bracelet on, storing it away on his wrist. He wasn't surprised that Zhu Cici remembered his birthday. After all, when she wrote that "play marriage contract" during the child game, it included their birthdates.
Back then, Xu Ming didn't take it seriously, but now it seemed Zhu Cici had always kept it in mind.
Feeling a bit guilty, Xu Ming retrieved the marriage contract. Seeing that Zhu Cici's birthday was still two months away, he felt relieved.
Even though the journey to Qi was long, two months should be enough time to deliver something.
For such a literary girl, Xu Ming decided to compose a poem as her birthday gift.
But after finishing the poem, Xu Ming realized something felt off. Sending her a poem about longing would only deepen their connection, wouldn't it?
If this continued—exchanging gifts back and forth—the childhood jest might eventually turn real as they grew older.
After some thought, Xu Ming decided not to send the poem. Instead, he wrote a simple letter.
In the letter, Xu Ming explained that he was about to join the military and would no longer live at the Xu residence. He told her there was no need to send him birthday gifts in the future.
Finally, Xu Ming took advantage of the fact that the Tianxuan Goose was still asleep and plucked a dozen of its feathers to make a shuttlecock.
"Fifth Brother, Master Fang is here to see you. He's in the main hall, probably about the child examination next month," said Xu Xiaopang as he entered the room.
"Got it, I'll head over now," Xu Ming nodded. "Third Brother, can you help me pack this shuttlecock and letter? Please give them to Aunt and ask her to mail them to the Yunyi Marquis' residence in Qi for Miss Zhu Cici's birthday gift."
"Sure, leave it to me. You should go quickly, Fifth Brother," Xu Pangda nodded earnestly, taking the letter and shuttlecock.
After Xu Ming left, Xu Pangda prepared to complete his younger brother's request promptly.
But then he noticed a piece of paper on the desk, with writing on it.
Curious, Xu Pangda walked over and unfolded the paper to reveal a poem:
"In life, I knew nothing of longing.
Only when I learned it, did it torment me so.
My body like a drifting cloud, my heart like floating dandelions,
My breath faint as thread.
A wisp of lingering fragrance remains,
Yearning for the graceful beauty beyond my reach.
When does longing strike?
When lamps half-dim,
When the moon shines faintly bright."
As he finished reading, Xu Pangda shivered all over.
"This poem is so mushy! But it's really well written."
"Fifth Brother said this was a birthday gift for Miss Zhu. Since they're far apart, and this poem is all about longing, it must have been meant for her. He probably forgot to give it to me."
Xu Pangda carefully folded the poem and placed it into the envelope, planning to send it along with the shuttlecock.
A month later, Xu Ming took part in the child scholar examination (tongshi).
Normally, such exams didn't attract much attention. However, this was the first examination after the recent reforms, so the number of participants was much higher than usual. Even more importantly, Xu Ming was taking part!
Everyone was curious to see how a concubine's son, no longer bound by restrictions, would perform.
Crowds gathered outside the examination courtyard, eager to catch a glimpse of Xu Ming. They wanted to see the child prodigy who had composed the famous line "The mortal world cannot keep them; beauty fades from mirrors, flowers leave their trees."
"There he is!"
"Xu Ming!"
"Xu Ming, the young genius!"
"Xu Ming, you're so handsome!"
"Look this way, darling!"
"After the exam, come visit your auntie's house!"
When Xu Ming stepped down from the Xu family carriage on the day of the exam, people started calling out to him.
Though they had never seen him before, they recognized the Xu family's carriage, and there was only one young boy riding it.
Xu Ming hadn't expected to be so popular.
Faced with the crowd's enthusiasm, he gave a polite bow. Even at his young age, his elegant demeanor and jade-like gentleness made many older sisters and aunties swoon.
A month passed after the exam.
One day, a man came to the Xu residence, beating a drum and shouting, "Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Master! The child scholar examination results are out—Young Master Xu..."
Throughout Wu City, the announcement boards were crowded with people, particularly women.
Everyone looked up, and at the top of the list, there was one name:
"First place—Xu Ming, Xu Mansion."
Meanwhile, in the rear courtyard of the Yunyi Marquis' residence in Qi.
A ten-year-old girl was carefully embroidering, stitch by stitch.
Her fingers appeared a bit clumsy, but her expression was serious and focused.
"Miss! Miss!"
A maid came running into the courtyard.
"Miss, a letter has arrived for you—from Wu Kingdom!"