Chapter 58: Registration Qualifications
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
As the Northern Mountain Village villagers discussed about Fang Zhengzhi’s participation in the Law of Dao examinations, the Southern Mountain Village had started an emergency meeting.
Ding Qingshan’s expression seemed rather ugly.
In reality, after he knew that Fang Zhengzhi had shifted to the Northern Mountain Village, his expression had never been happy. Because, within the time of less than a month, almost the entire outskirts of the Cang Ling Mountain had been occupied by the Northern Mountain Village.
Ding Qingshan had tried to think of other ideas, but unfortunately, they were completely useless.
After which, he had even considered informing the Divine Constabulary about Fang Zhengzhi’s whereabouts so that the Divine Constabulary would take him away. Unfortunately, within the entire eight years, the Divine Constabulary had never again set foot upon the Southern Mountain Village.
He had also mentioned this to the Hall of Dao’s Sir, Wang Anhua, but Wang Anhua only smiled. Nobody knew that Wang Anhua had already informed the Divine Constabulary a long time ago.
Hence, the only reply he received was these three words, "I don’t know".
"Today is the eighth year, if we can’t pass again this time, then…" Ding Qingshan’s seemed rather anxious, because, he remembered very clearly the scene from eight years ago.
"Brother Qingshan, don’t worry! This time, I have full confidence! Furthermore, Huer is also well prepared, I am confident that he will pass the county examinations!" Li Zhuangshi’s voice rang out.
Ding Qingshan looked at Li Zhuangshi and nodded. Just as the previous village chief, Meng Bai, expected, even though Li Zhuangshi indeed stepped out of his boundaries eight years ago, but he was indeed the Southern Mountain Village’s only hope.
Because, within these eight years, Li Zhuangshi was the only person who had successfully passed the county Law of Dao examinations.
He just needed to enter the First-Class Roll in the capital examinations in order to achieve success.
"What do you feel… about the possibility of Fang Zhengzhi passing the Law of Dao examinations?" Ding Qingshan looked at the crowd once again and expressed his worries.
"Impossible!" Li Zhuangshi promised.
"Brother Li, how can you be so sure?" Ding Qingshan knew that there was resentment between Li Zhuangshi and Fang Zhengzhi. After hearing Li Zhuangshi’s words, he was indeed dubious.
"If we talk about the combat examinations, Fang Zhengzhi would definitely be able to pass the county Law of Dao examination. But for the theory examination, he would definitely not be able to pass! How can a person who self-studies understand the words of the wise men? What he read, is only surface-level! Furthermore, there are two rounds of theory examinations in the county, if he isn’t able to pass these two rounds, he won’t even have the opportunity to participate in the combat examinations!" Li Zhuangshi explained to Ding Qingshan.
"But what if?" Ding Qingshan was still slightly uneasy.
"There is no what if! Going back a million steps, even if he really had the capability of passing the Law of Dao examinations, he would still not be able to pass it. Brother Qingshan don’t worry!" Li Zhuangshi seemed very sure of himself.
"Why is that?" Ding Qingshan asked puzzledly.
"Because, he doesn’t even have the qualifications to register for it!" Li Zhuangshi laughed out loud coldly.
...
It was already one day before the Law of Dao examinations.
The sun rose up high in the sky. After breakfast, Fang Zhengzhi casually packed his luggage in the small courtyard, and outside the small courtyard, there was a crowd of villagers pointing things out.
"Zhengzhi, aren’t you going to participate in the examinations? Why haven’t you left yet?"
"That’s right, the sun is about to reach its highest point!"
"I saw that the Southern Mountain Village’s side had already left once the sky started to brighten, don’t you need to reach the county early to make preparations?"
The villagers "enthusiastically" inquired Fang Zhengzhi, even though their tone wasn’t very nice, but their faces were filled with smiles. They didn’t have any ill-intent at all.
"I have completed my preparations!" Fang Zhengzhi smiled and mounted the Silver Scale Horse.
Qin Xuelian once again ran out from within the house, holding a few big bags of roasted meat wrapped in yellow paper. "Zhengzhi, take these meats to eat on your journey, don’t be hungry!"
"Ok, thanks mum!" Fang Zhengzhi received it and then lightly pulled the horse reins.
The Silver Scale Horse let out a delighted, low neigh, then gradually made its way around the villagers, and strode unhurriedly towards the entrance of the village.
"Sister Xuelian don’t worry, Zhengzhi will come back within a few days, he won’t take too long!"
"That’s right, I heard the theory exam in the Law of Dao Examinations is really hard!"
"If Zhengzhi can’t pass the theory examinations, he can return right after?"
"That’s of course!"
"That’s great! After a few days I can follow Brother Zhengzhi up the mountains to hunt again!"
The villagers discussed spiritedly, even Qin Xuelian wasn’t angered when she heard these chattering. "I believe he still might be lucky and somehow make it pass the first round with his cleverness?"
"Ha ha ha…" The villagers laughed and then dispersed.
When Fang Zhengzhi, who hadn’t journeyed too far away, heard Qin Xuelian’s words, he almost fell off the Silver Scale Horse and didn’t feel very good.
"Mum, you are my mum!"
…
"Ride!" After leaving the village, Fang Zhengzhi increased his pace. Even though the Silver Scale Horse wasn’t as noble as the Snow Tredding Dragon Stallion, he still had to spent twenty silver pieces in order to purchase it.
The entire Northern Mountain Village only had this one horse, and the Southern Mountain Village? Naturally it was impossible that it would have one.
If not for the Silver Scale Horse, Fang Zhengzhi would be forced to painstakingly follow the Southern Mountain Village, journeying in the dark before the sun even rose. The happiness he felt now didn’t need any further mentioning.
Galloping wildly the entire way.
Around two kilometres from the Huai An County, Fang Zhengzhi encountered the group of people from the Southern Mountain Village rushing to participate in the examinations.
Li Huer, who was the same age as Fang Zhengzhi, was also among the group. He wore a short robe, with his thick eyebrows and sturdy, dark figure, he bore some resemblance to Li Zhuangshi.
"Oh, Fang Zhengzhi, you really intend to participate in the Law of Dao examinations?" Li Huer just happened to turn around, and instantly saw Fang Zhengzhi riding the Silver Scale Horse. Even though his tone was sour, but when he saw the Silver Scale Horse, he was filled with envy.
"That’s right!" Fang Zhengzhi halted the Silver Scale Horse and rode alongside Li Huer and the rest of the group.
"Zhengzhi, even though there is some misunderstanding between our families, but we indeed still have the bond of being from the same village. I see you have also grown up, but this Law of Dao examinations is not the same as hunting on the mountains, it is too difficult! Unfortunately, I still have to prepare for the capital examinations, else I can take some time off to help you out a bit!"
Li Zhuangshi looked at Fang Zhengzhi and instantly assumed the position of a senior. In his heart, after this capital Law of Dao examinations, he would likely be recruited into the Divine Constabulary, and his future would be limitless.
"Uncle Li, in this capital examination, I hope you don’t screw up again?" Fang Zhengzhi smiled lightly, and pulled the horse’s reins. The Silver Scale Horse brayed loudly and galloped off into the distance.
Leaving behind a cloud of swirling dust...
Li Zhuangshi choked on a mouthful of horse-hoof mud, and coughed violently.
"Dad, why didn’t you tell him about the Law of Dao examinations qualification requirements just now?" Li Huer initially wanted to speak, but was interrupted by Li Zhuangshi, hence he was somewhat puzzled.
"What do you know? Fang Zhengzhi has too many tricks up his sleeves! I am afraid that if I tell him that now, with his cleverness, he might actually really think of an idea! Hence, the later he knows the better. When he is unable to enter the examination venue, he can only gloomily return back to the village, ha ha ha…" Li Zhuangshi gazed at the vanishing Fang Zhengzhi and laughed.
"Dad is indeed smart! Once dad passes this capital examinations, you will be able to enter the Divine Constabulary. When the time comes, you must make sure Fang Zhengzhi suffers the consequences!" Li Huer beamed with pride.
"Nonsense! You better remember this, Fang Zhengzhi is not our enemy!" When Li Zhuangshi heard Li Huer’s words, his expression instantly changed.
"Why isn’t Fang Zhengzhi our enemy? I don’t quite understand…" Li Huer was rather confused.
"Because his dad and your dad grew up together! We also entered the hunting squad together! Sigh… the truth is, eight years ago, I did that only because I was afraid of Fang Zhengzhi snatching your spot in the Hall of Dao. But in the end, he simply didn’t need to snatch your place in the Hall of Dao. Hence, the Li family ultimately owes the Fang family! But, even though I don’t wish to harm him, I also don’t wish for him to become stronger!"
Li Zhuangshi looked at Li Huer’s confused expression, and felt rather resentful that Li Huer didn’t meet his expectations.
"These few years, even though Fang Zhengzhi had occupied the Cang Ling Mountain outskirts, with some intention of becoming king of the mountain, but he didn’t completely eradicate everyone. Else, how can the Southern Mountain Village survive till now?"
"I understand!" Li Huer nodded.
"Uncle Li is right, even though my grandfather lost his position as village chief because of Fang Zhengzhi, but, I don’t hate him!" Within the crowd, a youth who was slightly older than Li Huer spoke. It was Meng Bai’s grandson, Meng Jiangshan.
…
The Law of Dao examination registration had already begun a month ago, even though it was only a day away from the Law of Dao examinations, but, the registration area was completely desolated.
Hence, without even queuing at all, Fang Zhengzhi stood in front of the registration official.
"Registration!"
"Hall of Dao token, Hall of Dao recommendation letter!" The registration official was yawning at this moment and prepared to pack up after an hour. When he suddenly heard someone wanting to register, then looking at the coarse blue robe the other party wore, he became slightly annoyed.
"Hall of Dao token? Recommendation letter? What are those?" Fang Zhengzhi’s face with filled with puzzlement.