Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 894 Jiangnan Top Rank
We've already had round after round of farewell banquets, said all the usual goodbyes without any new ideas, and heard all the auspicious blessings until our ears are calloused.

It seemed that Xu Xuan's trip to Luoyang to participate in the imperial examination was merely a formality, and that passing the exam and rising to high office was already a foregone conclusion.

"Sigh, I don't know what will happen when I go to the north. Forget about becoming the top scholar, maybe the imperial edict will just be a wanted poster."

Having already handed over all the affairs of Baoan Hall clearly before the New Year, Xu Xuan felt completely relaxed and carefree after attending the last banquet, ready to set off on his journey.

That morning, dressed simply, he strolled to the Qiantang Wharf, ready to board the passenger ship that had been prepared earlier.

Before they even reached the shore, they were stunned by the sight before them.

The dock was bustling with people, even more lively than the market during the New Year.

Men, women, young and old, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, and even some cultivators and spirits with different auras were mixed in, almost crowding the entire dock.

Xu Xuan: "..."

Who... leaked the news? And why made such a big fuss?
Could it be left blank?

Among the sycophants in our Baoan Hall who are skilled at flattery and creating a spectacle, it seems that only this Taihu Doctor has not yet gone north. The fact that he put on such an extravagant send-off scene seems to be in line with his usual style.

However, this time Yu Bai was truly wronged.

It wasn't that Chief Steward Yu didn't want to organize it; it was just that before he even had a chance to get started, he realized there was absolutely no need for him to handle it.

Xu Xuan's travel plans were no secret; he had already casually mentioned the date of his farewell at those banquets.

The news spread like wildfire throughout Qiantang and the surrounding areas.

Thus, the grand scene that has spontaneously arisen before us came to be.

It is worth noting that Qiantang County is home to two top-tier academies, Jintian and Chongqi, which are renowned for their literary tradition. Every year, at least seven or eight students pass the imperial examinations, a fact that the local people have long been accustomed to.

When an ordinary scholar or nobleman travels, it is considered respectable if he has three or five relatives or friends to see him off, unless he has a powerful family or a large community.

Therefore, only truly legendary figures could create such a grand spectacle.

Xu Xuan had seriously underestimated his terrifying popularity in Qiantang; he was a top-tier celebrity among top celebrities.

Even Yu Gong, the protagonist of the previous era, only found it novel for a short time; in the long run, he was surpassed by his successors.

In this bustling city, if the only topic of conversation is stories of child prodigies, who can't easily name three or four?
If we're talking about profound scholarship, how could he possibly surpass those old professors who have devoted their lives to studying the classics at the Jintian and Chongqi Academies?
The people of Qiantang are used to thunder in broad daylight, so how could they be as easily startled as ordinary people in other places?

Only truly extraordinary people and events in this place qualify to become legends passed down by word of mouth and endure through the ages.

Xu Xuan perfectly embodies all the qualities of a local idol. His journey has been filled with either accidents or stories.

First of all, he is a genuine local with impeccable political credentials.

Born in Wuyi Lane, his life trajectory from childhood to adulthood is clearly traceable. The neighbors all watched him grow up, and there were no unknown "outside elements" to dilute this sense of closeness.

This is crucial, as it maximizes the boost from regional identity.

When the people of Qiantang mention him, their tone is filled with the pride of "our own son".

Secondly, the experience was magical enough.

The legend of the Iron Palm Town of Qiantang began with the story of a weak scholar who beat a local bully to his knees and begged for mercy. This kind of contrasting topic has remained popular in any era.

The details of his subsequent descent from the mountain to solve strange cases and vanquish demons gradually spread through storytellers and ordinary people, with plot twists and mysterious methods far exceeding those of ordinary folk tales.

Furthermore, highly respected figures like Master Li tirelessly promoted his reputation for "benevolence and righteousness," elevating both his martial prowess and moral character.

Later still, he outshone many scholars at the Jiangnan Literary Gathering, discussed philosophy with a goddess by West Lake, ate alone on a pleasure boat without getting close to women, and became a close friend of Yu Gong despite their age difference...

These numerous anecdotes and stories have continuously maintained and increased his popularity.

Finally, he possesses immense merit.

The key factor in Xu Xuan's meteoric rise to become a true legend in Qiantang and even the Jiangnan region lies in the "Bao'an Hall".

The earliest and most direct beneficiaries of Baoantang's large-scale acts of providing free medical treatment, medicine, and talismans to ward off evil spirits in the Jiangnan region were the local people of Qiantang.

Over the past three years, they have pulled countless people back from the brink of death and saved countless families from breaking apart.

In ancient societies where human relationships were simple and honest, ungrateful people who would curse their mothers as soon as they put down their bowls were ultimately a very small minority.

Therefore, through word of mouth from countless patients and their families who were grateful, the name "Dr. Xu" has long surpassed the category of famous doctors in the local area, and has almost reached the level of "a living Buddha to all families".

Now that Xu Qiantang is going to Luoyang, it is only natural that the elders and fellow villagers who have benefited greatly from him should come to see him off and express their gratitude.

Thus, the scene of the dock being blocked occurred.

Upon seeing this, the loyal Stone King, who was following behind Xu Xuan, immediately stepped forward to clear a path for his boss.

With his powerful physique, which was like a mountain rock that had come to life, he could easily part rivers and seas, let alone part crowds of people.

He had just taken a step when his aura deepened, indicating that he was about to act.

But Xu Xuan gently raised his hand to stop him. "We're all from the same village, and they meant well. How can we force them? We can't let them feel disappointed."

Xu Xuan said with a smile, his tone gentle.

As we all know, our "Holy Father" is not someone who is keen on empty fame, but he would never deliberately maintain an aloof attitude in order to be different from others, wouldn't that be committing the great taboo of being detached from the masses?

This is absolutely impossible.

He didn't go over to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with each villager because the dock was too small and there were too many people, making it impossible to move around freely.

At this moment, those with sharp eyes finally spotted the person in question.

In an instant, the already heated scene exploded like boiling oil being poured on water!

"Ah!!!! Young Master Xu!!! Look this way!" A girl screamed excitedly, her voice cutting through the noise.

"May Lord Xu triumph in the capital and win the imperial examination! We, the twelve beauties of Xiuchun Pavilion, will burn incense day and night to pray for your success..." A madam's enthusiastic yet subtle blessing rang out from somewhere.

"That one! The one in the black outer robe is Xu Xuan! Look!" someone pointed out accurately.

"No! It's the one who took off his outer robe and rolled up his sleeves!" someone immediately corrected, clearly indicating that the information was outdated.

Some restaurant waiters even took the opportunity to loudly solicit customers: "Today, Guanhailou Restaurant celebrates Mr. Xu's journey north, so all drinks are 10% off! 10% off!"

"Master Xu! Look at me! Just look at me! Ahhhhhhh!!!!" This was from excitement to the point of being incoherent.

"Master Xu! When you go to Luoyang, you must bring the same invincible spirit you had when you fought all over Qiantang! Crush those northerners!" This is the bold and unrestrained type who thrives on chaos.

Amidst the chaos, a remarkably clear yet somewhat abrupt cry stood out: "Dr. Xu! I...I have a hidden ailment, please take a look at it before you leave!!!"

As soon as he said that, the surroundings fell silent for a moment, and countless eyes turned to him.

The man who had shouted immediately blushed with shame and indignation. He covered his face with his sleeve and plunged into the nearby canal with a "plop" in an attempt to escape.

Anyway, there were all sorts of shouts at the dock, the noise rising higher and higher, the atmosphere so frenzied that it almost overturned the willow branches on the shore.

Magistrate Ximen had to urgently dispatch more yamen runners and officials to maintain order, and they also had to busy themselves retrieving the drowning person. The river was making a constant "plop, plop" sound, and anyone who didn't know better would think they were cooking dumplings.

Surrounded by the surging crowd and bizarre blessings, Xu Xuan suddenly felt that he could no longer stand there and feel ashamed of the enthusiasm of his fellow villagers.

He took a deep breath, neatly took off his outer robe and handed it to the Stone King behind him, then carefully rolled up his sleeves to reveal his strong forearms, and then tidied his hair which was slightly messed up by the wind.

"Cough cough!"

He cleared his throat and a signature, soothing smile spread across his face.

Upon hearing the sound, Magistrate Ximen looked over, a sense of anticipation rising in his heart.

Xu Xuan was the top scholar in this year's provincial examination, the best among the candidates from Yangzhou. He was a man of outstanding literary talent and his poetry was renowned. Such a farewell scene deserved a moving farewell poem to live up to the occasion and become a celebrated story.

So he held his breath and prepared to appreciate the talented scholar's impromptu poem.

Xu Xuan faced the crowd, his feet together and then naturally separated, his body straight as a pine tree, and then he raised his arms.

Ok?
Magistrate Ximen was slightly taken aback, not expecting that he would have to put on a show before composing a poem.
Could it be some newly emerging poetic ritual?
Immediately afterwards, Xu Xuan bent both arms, with his upper arms level with his shoulders and his forearms perpendicular to the ground. He loosely clenched his fists, with his hands at chest height, and looked straight ahead with a calm and determined expression.

Then, place the left palm firmly on the right fist, with the thumb tucked in.
Snapped!
A clean, crisp, and powerful standard fist salute.

Ok? !

Magistrate Ximen was completely dumbfounded. What kind of etiquette is this?
He racked his brains but couldn't recall any record of this in the Book of Rites or any other classic text. Could it be that he had become so lazy and outdated in his studies because he had been away from Bailu Academy for so long?

Before he could figure it out, Xu Xuan's voice rang out. Though not loud, it clearly reached the ears of everyone present, drowning out all the noise:

"Thank you for your kindness and deep affection, folks! I will remember it all! Words cannot express my gratitude as I depart. I, Xu, will now perform a set of palm techniques for you all to send you off on your journey and to express my thanks!"

Magistrate Ximen felt a buzzing in his head, as if a gong was being struck inside his skull.

What the heck? Boxing?!

On this dock where scholars head north and crowds bid farewell, you're not reciting poetry, but instead practicing martial arts?!

I couldn't believe my ears.

However, the surrounding people of Qiantang paid no attention to the magistrate's inner turmoil and collapse. After a moment of silence, they burst into even more enthusiastic cheers!
"it is good!"

"Master Xu is truly generous!"

"Master Xu is so considerate of us! We can't understand those poems and essays that are so literary! But his martial arts are great, we can at least watch the show and learn a thing or two!"

The crowd immediately became excited, craning their necks in anticipation, and the atmosphere was even more heated than when they were looking forward to a poem.

The scholar-like man, dressed in a simple blue robe, strolled slowly to the riverbank. He appeared frail, but his feet seemed firmly planted.

Suddenly, he sang in a loud voice: "Heaven and earth possess righteous energy, which manifests in various forms!" His voice was like metal and stone, reverberating through the clouds and sky.

(End of this chapter)