Yu Han and Zhang Tao sat side by side on the train. It wasn't overly crowded. Considering how no one was talking, Yu Han assumed that it must be a custom to stay quiet during train rides. Even the talkative Zhang Tao went quiet once the train started.
Although the train was quiet, Yu Han's mind was loud and full of thoughts. He couldn't tell if those were his thoughts.
He didn't remember discussing the next State Examination…
He shook his head to physically pull himself out of his head. It felt surreal. Words he didn't know before popped up in his mind out of the blue, confusing him more than it had to. He could swear he wasn't a politician before losing his memory, but the amount of knowledge flooding his head was unbelievable even for him.
Uncomfortable by the traffic in his head, he pinched at Zhang Tao's sleeve.
"What?" Zhang Tao whispered loudly, his voice loud enough that it echoed in the train.
Yu Han leaned into Zhang Tao's ear, a gesture he had just learned from the man himself, "What is State Examination?"
Tao turned to Yu Han in disbelief, "Aren't you about my age? You look my age…"
"I am. I just want to know about it randomly."
"Randomly? Just like that?"
With each sentence, Tao's voice was getting louder. Yu Han glanced around the train, and it seemed people were submerged in their phones, books, or staring out the window. No one seemed offended. Maybe he was thinking too much.
"Just like that," he replied, "I think I heard it somewhere…"
Tao held his chin as he pondered, "Could it be…" he glanced at Yu Han, "Could you be a soon-to-be State Official before losing your memories?"
Yu Han chortled, "I don't think so. It just randomly occurred to me. What is it anyway? I just need to know that."
"Well, to put it simply, State Examination is for people who want to join the Officialdom. It's one of the hardest exams, held only once a year. It's actually being held three months from now, but I suppose Zhongping State is already preparing for it." Tao explained before leaning into Yu Han's ear, "You know, I heard His Majesty preside over it himself."
Yu Han narrowed his eyes, "How do you know so much?"
Tao giggled, "Everything is just a click away. I suck at cultivation, so I have to be good at one thing, no?"
Unlike Yu Han's first impression of Tao, he had a bubbly personality. Yu Han didn't feel trapped in his mind after talking to Tao even if it felt like violating the train rules.
Sure, he wanted to start an illegal business in the future and had wild knowledge and ambitions. But he was a nice guy. Yu Han wanted to remain friends with him. Anything was better than slipping back into his mind; a domain he was unfamiliar with.
Within 30 minutes, the train reached the city of Beishu, a city that closely neighbored the Meitong Tea Village. While the tea village was uphill, Beishu was much below the hills and mountains, still surrounded by mountains from all angles.
The village kids all took the train to go to school. All the kids walked their way to the school from the train station. The city was far different from the small village. Tall skyscrapers, built in a traditional yet futuristic style, surrounded them.
Soon, the school building entered Yu Han's vision. It was even more majestic than the skyscrapers they had just passed by.
Tao took Yu Han to the administration office as ordered by his father. Yu Han presented Zhang Meng's letter to the admin right away.
The admin was a middle-aged man who couldn't help but tease his beard after every two seconds. Even while reading the letter, he kept playing with his beard. Suddenly, he looked up at Yu Han.
"Zhang Tao," the admin uttered, "Your father says this kid is a temporary student. Why is he temporary?"
Tao stepped forward, "That's because he has to leave for the Capital in a few days. He's just here for the experience."
The admin slowly nodded before setting the letter on his desk, his eyes stuck on Yu Han.
Yu Han felt slightly uncomfortable under such a watchful gaze. It seemed as if the admin was scanning Yu Han with his eyes. Suddenly, the admin frowned and turned his gaze away from Yu Han.
"Unfortunately, you can't join the school. Might as well wait till your Capital trip and try at schools there," the admin shrugged.
Tao's eyes widened, "But why?"
The admin shook his arm and gestured to the boys to leave. Defeated, Tao grabbed Yu Han's arm and guided him outside. Yu Han was confused, but he didn't see the situation as something bad.
"What are you going to do?" Tao asked Yu Han with a frown. He seemed more worried for Yu Han than he was.
Perplexed, Yu Han shrugged, "Go back?"
"You don't care that you were refused from a school?"
"Should I care…?"
Tao gasped, "No way… You don't even realize the situation!"
Of course, he didn't. He just woke up yesterday from a God-knows-how-long slumber. He wasn't even sure how to navigate his own emotions let alone read the situation.
"Being refused from a school means something is wrong with you," Tao explained patiently, although he was internally panicking, "Maybe your meridians are blocked… Or you are Spiritually Cripple…"
"Oh."
"Don't 'Oh' me!" Tao dumbfoundedly shouted before desperately grabbing Yu Han's arms, "That just means your whole life is wasted! Here in Zaohua, you can't make a living without having at least Third Grade Spiritual Prowess. All our tasks are done through cultivation. If you can't even do that, not even a farmer will hire you!"
Yu Han didn't feel worried. It was strange. He should've felt worried the moment Tao mentioned he was a cripple. But instead, he felt calm. His feelings felt foreign even to him. He was internally worried something was truly wrong with him, but couldn't show any concern on his face.
Tao sighed, "Either way, you have to keep living. I understand it must be hard to live as a cripple." he suddenly started patting Yu Han's shoulder, "Don't worry. I'll hire you when I graduate and start my business."
Yu Han forced a smile, "It's fine really. The admin said I can try going to schools in the Capital."
"So optimistic!" Tao praised him, "You're truly a real man!"
Tao left Yu Han after some more alleviating words. Tao had a class to attend and believed Yu Han could return on his own.
As Yu Han found himself alone again, the voices in his head returned—this time, much clearer than before.
'Do I look like I have time? The State Examination is right around the corner, and you still haven't found the boy!'
The furious voice, although coming from his mind, seemed not his own but someone else's. Even his feelings felt like someone else's as he was suddenly angry for no reason.
He shook his head to physically remove him from his headspace, took a deep breath, and walked out of the school.
He felt like an alien in this world.
It was so cold yet he felt warm. People were covered in layers and layers of clothes, yet he was fine with just one layer.
He was suddenly a cripple, wanted by the government, and a kid whose data wasn't even noted.
Who was he? He couldn't answer it in a million years. From feeling nothing, to feeling anger, to suddenly feeling hopelessness; his emotions were a mess. If anything else went wrong today, he would go crazy.