Free Web NovelChapter 37: Chapter 35: Great Martial Arts Sect
"A summons from the Government Office?" Hearing Shan Yanggong’s words, Wei Tu felt a surge of panic.
With his current status and strength, he didn’t fear the Li Family or the Huang Family, but he was nowhere near the point of daring to oppose the Government Office.
But after the initial panic, Wei Tu calmed down.
If the Government Office truly wanted to arrest him, they wouldn’t have so civilly sent a clerk to inform him, giving Shan Yanggong time to rush to the courtyard. Instead, they would have dispatched Official Soldiers to surround the Shan Mansion directly.
Besides, while cheating on the imperial examinations happened frequently these days, it had been decades since a case was brought out into the open.
From this, it was clear the Government Office wasn’t necessarily here to arrest him, but rather had other important business with him...
’What important business could it be?’ Wei Tu’s brow furrowed. ’My only connection to the Government Office is through the Military Examination’s Prefecture and Daoist Examinations. Beyond that, as a commoner, I’m hardly involved in their affairs.’
"Brother Yanguo, don’t worry. This probably isn’t anything serious..." Wei Tu gripped Shan Yanggong’s trembling hands tightly, trying to calm him down.
’Many "criminals" get exposed because of their own anxiety, not because others figure it out.’
A few breaths later, Shan Yanggong winced from the pain, and the color returned to his face. He nodded, indicating he understood, and urged Wei Tu to hurry to the main hall to meet the clerk from the Government Office.
He was a Scholar, after all, and had seen something of the world. Once he calmed down, he also figured out the intricacies of the situation.
...
A quarter of an hour later, Wei Tu arrived at the rear residence of the Government Office.
When he saw more than ten other Martial Artists about his age standing in the hall, he was instantly relieved, and his mind relaxed.
He began to wonder what game Hex Prefecture was playing, summoning them, this year’s "Martial Scholars," to the Government Office the night before the results were to be posted.
"Wei Tu, do you have any idea why Hex Prefecture called us over?"
After waiting a moment, Wei Tu felt a nudge on his elbow. He turned his head to the left and saw it was a Martial Artist from the same county named Weii Fei, and frowned.
"I don’t know," Wei Tu replied simply.
’After entering the Government Office, I’m sticking to three principles: listen more, look less, and speak less.’
Seeing that Wei Tu was a man of few words, Weii Fei lost interest in asking further questions. He copied Wei Tu’s demeanor, standing in a corner of the hall and waiting for the person in charge to arrive.
A short while later, as the chatter in the hall gradually died down, Wei Tu looked up toward the main seat. There sat Hex Prefecture, dressed in the robes of a scholar-official.
"I have gathered all of you talented gentlemen at the Government Office today because there is a matter I wish to discuss with you..." Hex Prefecture said after taking a sip of tea to wet his throat.
After speaking, he gave a look to a servant beside him, signaling for them to bring stools and chairs for the many Martial Artists standing in the hall.
The Martial Artists then sat down.
"A few days ago, the Lord Governor gave a directive, stating that a sect named Wuyun Tower has appeared within our Shannan Dao..."
"Wuyun Tower recruits the Martial Scholars from each Daoist Examination to become its disciples. This action... undermines the Court’s foundation and is an attempt to subvert the state..." Hex Prefecture said slowly.
Hearing this, Wei Tu’s eyebrow twitched imperceptibly as he inwardly mulled over why Hex Prefecture would mention Wuyun Tower to them, the "Martial Scholars."
This was the first time he had ever heard of a Great Martial Arts Sect in Zheng Country that spanned an entire Dao.
Back in Qingshan County, he had seen some martial arts dojos and sects, but none of them were very influential, and what they taught was mostly flashy but impractical techniques.
At the very least, during the County’s Military Examination, he hadn’t seen many disciples from those dojos or sects who managed to last long enough to even qualify for the Prefecture Examination.
Now, with Hex Prefecture mentioning that Wuyun Tower recruited Martial Scholars from every examination to be its disciples, it meant the strength of the top experts within Wuyun Tower absolutely could not be underestimated.
A Martial Scholar might seem to be the lowest rank in the Military Examination, but in reality, any Martial Scholar was a renowned Martial Artist in their local counties and towns.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they were one in a hundred.
’Could it be... Wuyun Tower has Martial Artists of the Inner Qi Realm? Or even Innate Martial Masters of a higher realm?’ Wei Tu wondered.
After a short pause, Hex Prefecture continued, "I have selected you to come to the Government Office, and I imagine that with your intelligence, you have already guessed why I have summoned you..."
"I have already discussed this matter with the Lord Governor. If you are willing to join Wuyun Tower as undercover agents, after Wuyun Tower is eliminated, those who perform meritoriously will be rewarded accordingly. Even those who do not will be promoted three ranks and granted one hundred acres of fertile land!"
"Furthermore, the Lord Governor is also willing to offer an Inner Power Heart Method as a reward for all of you."
An official position!
An Inner Power Heart Method!
One hundred acres of fertile land!
These three huge temptations were laid out brazenly before Wei Tu and the other Martial Artists.
Everyone was incredibly tempted by the offer.
Including Wei Tu.
’But such a huge reward from the Government Office also means that the mission to infiltrate Wuyun Tower will be anything but easy. It might even be life-threatening...’
But very quickly, this sobering thought surfaced.
’Unlike the other Martial Artists, who come from wealthy families, I have responsibilities. I need to become an official, earn money, and buy back Xinghua’s freedom.’
’I can’t afford to take the risk!’
’Besides, while these three benefits seem incredibly tempting, they aren’t worth it for me.’
’The official position and money... I’m confident I can earn a rank in the next provincial Military Examination. Once I become a Martial Graduate, those benefits will naturally follow.’
’As for the Inner Power Heart Method... Although I’m quite tempted by it, going undercover in Wuyun Tower is definitely not the only way to obtain one. Governor Wangg can use an Inner Power Heart Method as a reward—which means that after I become a Military Officer, I might have other opportunities to get one from the Government Office in the future.’
’Besides, I remember my grand-master, the Golden Saber Hero, failed his breakthrough to the Innate Realm to achieve longevity. Perhaps my master, Shan Wuju, already has a suitable Inner Power Heart Method. There’s no need for me to take such a risk now.’
’And one last thing. One must always be on guard against others. With over a dozen of us going undercover, I can’t guarantee someone won’t leak the secret. Once I’m deep inside Wuyun Tower, my calls to Heaven will go unanswered, and I’ll be utterly helpless.’
"Hex Prefecture, I wonder if we are allowed to refuse this matter?" Soon, a Martial Artist who thought along the same lines as Wei Tu stood up.
An official position, money, and an Inner Power Heart Method—not everyone was in need of these three things.
Even if they were, they wouldn’t risk their lives going undercover in Wuyun Tower and throwing their lives away.
"Of course, you can." Hex Prefecture put down his teacup and nodded, his expression unchanging.
Although a Martial Scholar’s status was lower than his as a Prefect, once they earned their rank, their standing was different from that of a commoner.
They could meet officials without kneeling.
He couldn’t just push them around as he pleased.
To punish a Martial Scholar, there had to be a legitimate charge, and the official documents had to be submitted to the Court’s Ministry of Justice for a ruling.
As soon as he finished speaking, the other Martial Artists seemed tempted to do the same, also wanting to refuse outright like the one who had just spoken.
"If you go to Wuyun Tower, in addition to these rewards, I... am also willing to add a reward of a Hundred Gold Coins and marry my own legitimate daughter to you!"
Seeing this, Hex Prefecture could finally no longer sit still. He gritted his teeth and spoke.
Governor Wangg was putting pressure on him. If he couldn’t handle this matter well, he might not even be able to keep his official position.
And marrying his daughter to a Martial Scholar was not considered a humiliation.
