Martial Saint through Reading

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Challenge Complete! Seeking an Official Post?

”I can only say it’s just a wild guess, and the painting skill isn’t high either. Look at Lord Magistrate’s Five-Eyed Ferocious Wolf Painting—those five eyes are obviously one entity. He ought to paint a single fierce beast, but instead he paints five oxen?”

”But, I have to admit, his painting speed is truly fast. Su Zhe and Yann Xuan are only halfway done, and he arrived the latest, yet was the first to finish.”

”Is painting a competition about who’s fastest?”

”...”

Lord Magistrate’s Five-Eyed Ferocious Wolf Painting has already indicated the direction for the artwork, yet he still thought to split the five eyes apart and paint five Kui Oxen?

Su Zhe listened to the voices around him, paused only for a brief moment, then calmly continued his painting.

Chu Yu glanced over, a hint of disdain passing between his brows, recalling the fourth painting sent as a bonus at Rain Paint Tower. Su Zhe had called it ”adding legs to a snake,” and now it seemed the scholar truly was overconfident.

Just then, three figures hurriedly entered from the interior of the gallery.

”Master Yuan has returned,” someone whispered.

”It’s not just Master Yuan, those two... Lord Feng, Lord Liuu!”

The crowd was instantly startled; how could the two lords emerge from the gallery?

And it looked like they were in quite a hurry?

Su Zhe heard the commotion and looked up, a happy expression flickering between his brows—Liu Sitong and Feng Yuan were walking quickly toward him.

Lord Liuu actually brought Lord Feng to see my Five-Eyed Fierce Bear...

He suppressed his excitement, stood up without joy or anger, and bowed in salute, ”Lord Liuu, Lord Feng...”

Chu Yu quickly bowed as well.

As for Wu Tian, his gaze flickered away, his body doubled over, and his head bowed exceedingly low, as if afraid.

However, Liu Sitong merely glanced at Su Zhe, while Feng Yuan didn’t even look over, both passing Su Zhe’s group in a cold and urgent manner.

And the person they were heading toward was none other than the scholar whom Su Zhe had never looked squarely at, from beginning to end.

Scholar Chu Ming stared at the two who approached, his brows furrowing slightly; one of them was actually Feng Yuan.

Is this gallery challenge connected to Feng Yuan?

Behind him, Ning Hao and Liang Yuan’s hearts sped up, and if not for their disguise, their faces would have flushed red.

Feng Yuan, Baiyuan County’s Standard Eighth-Grade Official, and Liu Sitong, Baiyuan County’s Junior Seventh-Grade County Magistrate.

Two high-ranking officials, just walking straight toward me?

Could it be Brother Chu’s painting of the five Kui Oxen really succeeded in the challenge?

But no, even if he succeeded, it shouldn’t cause both lords to appear together...

Everyone present was lost in thought as Liu Sitong and Feng Yuan approached Scholar Chu Ming, lowering their gaze to the painting on the desk.

In an instant, the two’s pupils contracted, stunned on the spot.

On the scroll was precisely five one-legged Kui Oxen, each Kui Ox’s right eye matching the eyeball in the Five Eyes Map.

Liu Sitong abruptly looked up and fixed his gaze on Scholar Chu Ming, ”How did you think to use the Five Eyes Map as the basis to paint five Kui Oxen?”

Feng Yuan also locked onto Chu Ming in a flash, as if afraid he might escape.

At those words, everyone felt a tremor in their hearts.

Could it be the five Kui Oxen painted by the scholar really succeeded in the challenge?!

Su Zhe’s facial muscles twitched uncontrollably.

Behind him, Su Qian’s eyes were entirely captured by Scholar Chu Ming.

Chu Yu’s gaze flickered, uncertain what he was thinking.

Chu Ming, seeing Feng Yuan and Liu Sitong blocking his path, already understood—he must have gotten it right.

He extended his hand toward the scroll on the desk and said, ”These five eyes look like the right eyes of the five Kui Oxen in the gallery.”

”They look like?”

Just this single line brought joy to Liu Sitong and Feng Yuan’s faces.

The person before them was precisely the talent they sought!

”Haha, ’they look like’ indeed!” Liu Sitong laughed loudly, ”Young friend, come with me!”

”Where to?” Chu Ming did not move.

”...” Liu Sitong paused, then waved his sleeve with a smile, ”Naturally, to collect your reward—three hundred taels!”

Chu Ming clasped his hands in salute, ”Thank you, lord.”

Three hundred taels—enough to do so much.

As soon as his words fell, everyone present was shaken.

This inconspicuous scholar had truly succeeded in the challenge!

Lord Magistrate and Lord of the Classics personally awarding three hundred taels of silver!

Su Zhe’s face stiffened, his eyes fixed ahead, and, somewhat unwillingly, he sat down to continue his painting.

However, before he could sketch more lines, Feng Yuan spoke, ”Yuan Zhong, take down the Five Eyes Map and the Five-Eyed Ferocious Wolf Painting, no need for further challenges.”

The purpose of the Five Eyes Map had been achieved—someone had successfully solved it, so no further challenge was needed.

Yuan Zhong paused, glanced with some concern at Su Zhe, then walked to the display wall to remove the Five Eyes Map and Five-Eyed Ferocious Wolf Painting.

Su Zhe lowered his head, staring blankly at his half-completed Five-Eyed Fierce Bear Painting, his right hand gripping the brush so tightly it looked ready to snap, unable to sense the ink dripping onto his scroll.

For the Five Eyes Map, he’d spent over a year, thinking today he could hang his Five-Eyed Fierce Bear Painting in the gallery.

But who could have thought some scholar would suddenly appear from nowhere, simply paint five Kui Oxen, and the gallery would pull the challenge for the Five Eyes Map!

”Brother...”

”Brother Su...”

”...”

Liu Sitong and Feng Yuan led Scholar Chu Ming out of the gallery, while the fierce Ning Hao and Scholar Liang Yuan, due to their identities, had to remain behind.

Soon, the two noticed something unusual—the eyes of those in the gallery looking at them...

...

Inner Court.

Feng Yuan took out three Silver Notes and handed them to Chu Ming, each worth one hundred taels, totaling three hundred taels.

”Thank you, lord.” Chu Ming clasped his hands, preparing to leave.

”Don’t be in such a hurry to go,” Liu Sitong blocked his path, his face serious, ”What’s your name? Who are you?”

Feng Yuan also stepped close, as if to keep Chu Ming from leaving.

Chu Ming wasn’t nervous at all, and with Sword Gourd Spirit’s sensing, he knew only Feng Yuan and Liu Sitong were present—both with strength on par with ordinary folk.

There were also two hidden individuals with abundant Qi Blood.

Their aura was familiar—long-time acquaintances...

Shao Pengshu and Tan Hong from the Criminal Defense Bureau.

”My name is... Liang Hao,” Chu Ming paused, then answered without a change in expression, ”From Taihang County.”

He took Liang Yuan’s surname and Ning Hao’s given name, forming ’Liang Hao’.

The Great Qin Dynasty’s thirteen prefectures; Xirong County is in the west, Baiyuan County in Xirong’s westernmost region, bordering neighboring lands.

Taihang County, meanwhile, is in the southeast of Great Qin, far from Xirong County. Even if these two wanted to investigate, it wouldn’t be so easy.

Feng Yuan frowned, incredulous, ”Why did you come from Taihang County to here?”

”Simply traveling and happened upon this place,” Chu Ming replied calmly.

”Traveling?” Liu Sitong’s gaze shifted as he sized Chu Ming up and then said, ”Would young friend be willing to stay in Baiyuan County?”

As soon as he finished, Feng Yuan cast a confused glance.

The scholar’s identity wasn’t yet clear, how could he...

But Liu Sitong acted as if he hadn’t noticed, composed and confident, ”A young man your age, wandering the Great Qin, must have failed the imperial exams...”

He watched Chu Ming’s expression closely.

Normally, a young scholar traveling like this had mostly failed to earn an official title.

Chu Ming pretended his expression changed slightly, bowing, ”Not to hide it from your lordships, I indeed began traveling after failing the examination.”

”Then are you interested in seeking an official post?” Liu Sitong smiled softly.

Chu Ming felt a subtle stirring in his heart.

What were the Magistrate and Feng Yuan trying to say?