Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 148 There can't be two accidents, right?

Fortunately, the list of participants in the assessment was not announced directly. Everyone only knew the names of some "seed players" and thought that they were recommended by some unknown and remote county.

That was definitely a major upset.

People were completely baffled and inquired around, but no one knew where Lu Nuonuo had come from.

"What about my bet?" someone shouted. "Damn it, this can't be considered a house take all the winnings, can it?"

"Names not on the betting table don't count! Refund your money!"

"Wait a minute," the dealer said, sweating profusely. "This is a tie. Lu Xingzhou is still in first place! Lu Nuonuo doesn't count; we'll count Lu Xingzhou!"

"How could there be a tie? The top two scholars must be ranked, right?"

"The official rankings don't differentiate between individual champions; they only look at the overall list. It doesn't matter to the officials if they're not tied in individual categories! We've already said that this is a list that's been leaked privately. On the surface, these two guys surnamed Lu both refined six Grade 4 pills, and they're both of top quality. They're neck and neck, so they're tied for first place!"

"Then why did you mention Lu Nuonuo just now?"

"Because Lu Nuonuo is young! The person who leaked the list thinks she's number one! But who does the person who leaked the list think they are? Does the official body recognize them?"

People looked at each other in bewilderment. Indeed, the title of "top scorer in an individual subject" was just a popular one; the official ranking system did not include a separate ranking for individual subjects, and only the total score mattered.

If Lu Nuonuo were a name in a betting game, people might argue about who was number one, ranking them by age and cultivation time, but since Lu Nuonuo wasn't even in the game, it's only natural that those who bet on Lu Xingzhou won.

If Lu Xingzhou had been directly declared number one, he would have been considered a dark horse and would have sparked a lot of discussion. However, due to the unexpected impact of Lu Nuonuo, Lu Xingzhou's first-place finish now seems quite normal, and things have quieted down considerably.

Sheng Yuanyao finally squeezed in, her face beaming: "I bet on Lu Xingzhou! Pay up!"

The dealer looked at her sympathetically: "Miss Sheng, you bet on the overall leaderboard."

Sheng Yuanyao was furious: "Are you playing me?"

"Don't embarrass yourself." Pei Chuyun smiled and pulled her away, casually tossing a betting contract onto the stage with her slender hand: "For the alchemy bet, I've bet one hundred taels on Lu Xingzhou. What were the odds for Lu Xingzhou again? Come on, pay up."

Sheng Yuanyao: “…”

Looking left and right, only Pei Chuyun had won the bet; the odds seemed a bit alarming.

I was so stupid, how could I forget that I could bet on a single item...

I overheard snippets of conversation from the sidelines: “Judging by this, the overall rankings this year are bound to be a major upset.”

"Yes, these two surnamed Lu are so strong in alchemy. As long as they do average in the written exam and medical exam, they'll most likely be among the top. But there aren't many people even betting on Lu Xingzhou to be in the top five, let alone Lu Nuonuo..."

"It seems that only Miss Sheng and Miss Pei bet on Lu Xingzhou to become the top scholar... Miss Sheng bet on more of them."

"Could it really be Lu Xingzhou who won the top prize? If so, the Sheng family's salary from ten years of the Demon Suppression Division wouldn't be enough to match this one win. They could directly make a huge profit by acquiring a large estate."

Sheng Yuanyao's heart stirred slightly, and she quietly instructed her attendants: "Go and ask for me if Qingyao Garden is for sale, and how much it costs."

…………

“Regardless of whether the Dan Academy releases its rankings or not, the Rising Star Ranking really needs a new version.” In the Demon Suppression Division, Sheng Qingfeng was discussing with the old chief: “Although the usual six-month ranking change is not yet due, the changes are too drastic now. If we keep dragging it out, people will always talk about it, and in the long run, it will lose the credibility of the Great Qian Heroes Ranking.”

The old chief, who was no longer involved in affairs, nodded slightly upon hearing this: "Qingfeng... actually, you don't need to discuss this with me. It can be your first reform measure after taking office. For example, change the usual six-month ranking change to a three-month change."

Sheng Qingfeng thought the same thing, but outwardly he still had to give the old chieftain face. The old chieftain's recommendation of who to succeed him to the emperor after his retirement was also a crucial opinion.

Upon hearing this, he hurriedly said, "Chief, please don't say that. The Demon Suppression Division still needs your experience to lead it. Besides, who will succeed is still unknown. His Majesty hasn't decided yet."

"His Majesty has already told me... These past few days, his mind has been focused on the Pill Academy. Right now, alchemy is his top priority... Once this matter is over, we should hear back from him."

Sheng Qingfeng was overjoyed: "Then I thank you very much for your guidance, Chief."

The old chief smiled and said, "When I was your age, I was also eager to climb the ranks, turning my ruthless and authoritative job into that of a corrupt official... Now that my time is up, looking back, it all seems like a dream. Qingfeng, you will realize at a certain age that nothing is more important than your own cultivation... No wonder so many sect leaders just stay aloof in the mountains and don't want to get involved in this mortal world."

Sheng Qingfeng did not answer.

The old chief sighed: "I know you are different from others... Your Sheng family has served in the Demon Suppression Division for generations, and your fathers and grandfathers all sacrificed their lives in office. You appear to be as compliant as everyone else, and you are more tactful than anyone else, but that is just you protecting yourself. In reality, you have backbone and want to do something... Yuan Yao will follow your lead."

Sheng Qingfeng finally said, "I dare not accept such praise. But if everyone were like those so-called sect leaders, living a carefree life with a bamboo staff and straw sandals, who would actually do the work? Take the Dongjiang demon case, for example; it was Yuan Yao who was investigated. In the Menggui City demon cultivator case, it was the prefect who made the final decision. Where are the top-tier sects now?"

"So you're the only one who can succeed him; no one else is worthy." The old chief stood up and patted him on the shoulder. "If nothing unexpected happens, the appointment letter will arrive in the next couple of days. As for the new talent list and such, you can handle that. This old man can't keep up with the changes, so I won't get involved in the affairs of the young people."

Sheng Qingfeng stood up to see him off, saying, "Take care, Your Excellency."

The old chief took a few steps, then suddenly remembered something and chuckled, "That Lu Xingzhou is really making waves... Is he and Yuan Yao in that kind of relationship?"

Sheng Qingfeng was surprised that his old leader would bring this up, and said with a wry smile, "Why should the headmaster bother with the children's affairs..."

“This is not just a matter for the children… This person is stirring up trouble, and the Rising Stars List simply cannot accommodate this dragon.” The old chief lowered his voice: “Even Princess Chaohuang may not be able to row this dragon boat alone.”

Damn, what does that mean again? Sheng Qingfeng had a lot of things to say stuck in his throat, and he stared blankly as the old chief left.

"Vice-Sir, Vice-Sir, the results for the Pill Academy have been released!" A subordinate rushed in from outside: "Everyone will be recruiting according to the list. Should our Demon Suppression Division make a move?"

Sheng Qingfeng was stunned: "The results are out so soon this year? Didn't the exam just end?" "His Majesty personally oversaw the process, and I heard the examiners were working through the night grading the papers."

"Damn it, go check it out!" Sheng Qingfeng rushed out the door.

As for alchemists, the idea of ​​"finding a son-in-law from among those listed on the imperial examination list" is rather uncommon. Alchemists are all Daoist cultivators, and most Daoist cultivators are solitary practitioners who spend most of their time practicing alchemy without moving. Regardless of whether they are monks or not, they are not very suitable as sons-in-law. However, it is quite common for various forces to recruit them in advance.

Of course, there are also those who try to marry into wealth, often nouveau riche with little savings.

The Demon Suppression Division also needs to recruit alchemy and medical talent. They reserve these individuals before they even enter the Alchemy Academy for further study, ensuring they become members of the Demon Suppression Division upon graduation. It would be one thing if other departments snatched them up first, but it would be a waste of national talent if they were recruited by powerful families like the Huo or Pei clans.

Sheng Qingfeng rushed to the main gate of Dan Academy, where a huge crowd was already gathered, eagerly waiting for the person inside to come out and post the list.

Even with so many people around, Sheng Qingfeng immediately spotted his daughter's ponytail jiggling in front of him. Old Sheng was furious; he reached out and grabbed the ponytail.

"Who's pulling your grandma? Are you looking for death?!" Sheng Yuanyao pulled out half of her knife with a "clang" and turned her head angrily.

The next moment, his angry face turned fawning: "Vice-Commander Sheng~ What brings you here..."

"With so many people here, what are you doing crowding around here? Is this something a young lady of high birth should do? Don't you care about your image?" Sheng Qingfeng angrily pointed to the restaurant next door: "Look at that lady surnamed Pei upstairs, how elegant she is! Why are you acting like a monkey?"

Sheng Yuanyao glared resentfully at Pei Chuyun, who was watching the show upstairs. This Pei woman was also crowding around here just now; she was just taken away by Pei Yu... How did she suddenly become someone else's child?

Sheng Yuanyao declared righteously, "As the head of the Demon Suppression Division, I am here on official business! How can I be like those parasites of the Pei family, who only know how to eat!"

"Who assigned you this task? Are you openly disguising your business to me?" Sheng Qingfeng grabbed his daughter's hair and pulled her outside: "Go play with that Pei girl, this is none of your business!"

Sheng Yuanyao went upstairs looking disheveled and plopped down next to Pei Chuyun.

The candidates waiting for the results to be posted weren't in this building; most were crowded downstairs watching. However, Lu Xingzhou and his apprentice weren't here; they'd disappeared somewhere, and Sheng Yuanyao and Pei Chuyun hadn't seen them either. Upstairs were mainly young noblemen from aristocratic families watching the show, including Huo Heng, the third son of the Huo family.

Pei Yu was chatting idly with Huo Heng with a forced smile: "Brother Huo, isn't your family quite skilled in alchemy? I heard that a single elixir cured His Majesty back then. What, are you now recruiting people? Can't you train them yourselves?"

Huo Heng said calmly, "Brother Pei is joking. Even if the Huo family trains alchemists, they still need to go to the Alchemy Academy for further study."

"Oh?" Pei Yu smiled and said, "Brother Huo, do you mean that some of the outstanding individuals participating in this assessment were trained by the Huo family?"

"I wouldn't presume to call myself a mentor, but I'm sure I'll be a bit better than the average young alchemist."

Pei Yu said, "Judging from Brother Huo's tone... anyone who didn't know better would think that the Huo family has already reserved this year's top alchemist."

Huo Heng said calmly, "That's about right. Even if he's not the top scholar, he should at least be the second-best."

Hearing him say this, everyone realized that Xuanqing Daoist was basically being secretly cultivated by the Huo family. He was indeed the biggest favorite to win the championship, and even if he lost the top spot due to an accident, securing second place shouldn't be a problem.

There can't be two accidents, right?

None of these refined young men went to the gambling dens. The results were released too quickly this year, and they probably haven't heard any private news from the gambling dens yet... This Huo Heng hasn't heard about the deeds of the two people surnamed Lu, yet he's so confident...

Pei Chuyun's eyes darted around, and she covered her mouth with her fan, chuckling softly, "Young Master Huo, don't speak so confidently. Perhaps some people originally belonged to the Huo family, but no longer do they?"

Huo Heng glanced at her with some disdain: "A country girl brought back from outside, she's clueless. Does she really think everyone is willing to bear the name of betrayal?"

Pei Chuyun casually picked up the sugar on the table and watched the snow-white sugar slip through her fingers: "Then, does Young Master Huo dare to make a bet with this village girl? I bet that the Huo family could have had the top two scholars in the imperial examinations, but they were like sand slipping through our fingers, and we could only watch helplessly as they did not belong to us."

These words made everyone think that the Pei family was going to compete with the Huo family for the girl. Huo Heng thought so too, and sneered, "What will happen if you lose?"

Pei Chuyun pointed to a large pig's head on another table not far away: "Whoever loses, shout 'I love you' three times at that pig's head."

"Vulgar and uncultured." Huo Heng snorted coldly, but did not object, which meant he agreed.

"They're here! They're here!" A commotion suddenly arose from the crowd below. Meng Li, holding a scroll of yellow notice, pushed through the crowd with the help of a group of guards and hung the notice on the wall.

Everyone immediately looked towards the highest position.

Top scholar: Lu Xingzhou.

Second place: Lu Nuonuo.

The entire place was completely silent, and the restaurant was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

For a moment, no one cared about why Lu Xingzhou unexpectedly became the top scholar, or who Lu Nuonuo was... Everyone's eyes were on Huo Heng's face, filled with overwhelming malice and ridicule.

The Pei family doesn't need to compete with the Huo family for talent... The selection of the top two scholars in the imperial examinations itself shows that the Huo family originally possessed them, but now they are like sand slipping through their fingers, unable to watch them go, and they don't belong to them.

Pei Yu mimicked Huo Heng's earlier words, speaking sarcastically: "That's about right. Even if he's not the top scholar, he should at least be the second-best~ Hahahaha~"

Huo Heng's face turned ashen.

Pei Chuyun smiled slightly and pointed her slender finger at the pig's head: "Young Master Huo, please?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)