Fang Zhengzhi did think of giving up. However, upon thinking about Qin Xuelian's and the villagers' looks of anticipation when he left, he could not bring himself to return without some achievement.
Furthermore, would he be able to escape even if he withdrew?
Since we only live once, Fang Zhengzhi decided not to give up. That being said, he had no intention of butting his head against a brick wall.
"Why do you think King Duan wants me to fail?" Fang Zhengzhi did not really understand. He had no feud with King Duan. He had not even met King Duan.
"I think it has something to do with Chi Guyan." Yan Xiu answered.
"Jealousy?" Fang Zhengzhi felt that this was quite the farfetched reason.
"Possibly, but more importantly, it should have something to do with the Divine Message. You must have heard about it!"
"Mm, the the Double Dragon Roll Champion would shock the world, and bring peace to the world? However, isn't this referring to Chi Guyan?" Fang Zhengzhi was confused.
"Yes, King Duan thinks it's Chi Guyan, and so does the Crown Prince. Even the Sages have said that it is Chi Guyan, but what if you defear her?"
"Defeat Chi Guyan? Haha... I doubt that it's possible?" Even though Fang Zhengzhi had said he would at the banquet, it was just a ploy to gain some support. He did not actually think that he could defeat Chi Guyan.
"Yes, everybody thinks that it is impossible. However, you're in the Heavenly Reflection State now. Other than Chi Guyan, you're only the second person to attain this state before 15 years old! What would the others think?" Yan Xiu looked at Fang Zhengzhi.
Even though Yan Xiu was not particularly interested in politics, his background gave him a good understanding of it.
"..." Fang Zhengzhi seemed to understand, "You think that I shouldn't have broken through?"
"You should have only broken through after the Imperial Examination. Once you pass it, you would have the right to enter politics. When you're finally appointed as an official, more eyes would be on you." Yan Xiu explained.
"So, what you're saying is, they don't want me to become an official?" Fang Zhengzhi understood what Yan Xiu was getting at. If he was just a peasant, his death would not cause that much of a commotion. However, if he was an official, there would be investigations into his death.
In the ancient world he knew, the murder of an official could escalate all the way to the palace.
"Yes, I think that King Duan doesn't want you to become an official!" Yan Xiu nodded.
"I understand now. So what you're saying is, if I want to live, I need to pass the Imperial Exam and become and official? And this will make them hesitate?"
"Exactly!"
"I've really stirred up a hornet's nest!" Fang Zhengzhi finally realized the gravity of his actions and words.
If he had just waited to fail in the challenge two years down the road, he may not be in this much trouble. However, his breakthrough into the Heavenly Reflection Realm meant that he was now in the eye of the storm.
No matter how much he tried to avoid it, trouble will come looking for him. Since that's the case, he had no other choice. He had to fight to the end!
"You just said that King Duan deals with the military affairs, so, who deals with the politics?" Fang Zhengzhi had to know his opponent if he was to fight to the end.
"Other than the sages, the Crown Prince is the main leader." Yan Xiu answered.
"The Crown Prince? King Duan..." Fang Zhengzhi had seen cases of power struggles before, but he never expected to be in the middle of one.
Sadly, this was not a repeat of the history he knew. If he knew who would come up on top, he would just pledge allegiance to that camp.
But now, he had no idea...
How was he going to play this game?
Since he did not know, his best shot was to remain neutral.
Fang Zhengzhi had some ideas on how he was going to achieve this. A power struggle was always incredibly vicious. If he took sides too early, he would not be able to extract himself from the furball.
Remaining neutral was the best strategy he could adopt.
"If the Crown Prince is the Chief Examiner of the examination, would it be better for me?" Fang Zhengzhi asked after some thought.
"At least it'll be better than King Duan." Yan Xiu answered.
"Then, what can I do to make the Crown Prince challenge the hosting rights for the exam?" Fang Zhengzhi did not really understand the inner workings of the palace.
"If the Crown Prince heard about your breakthrough, then I think the Crown Prince will be able to guess why King Duan wants to be the Chief Examiner of the examination. He should try to interfere. However, King Duan left the Golden Scale City a day earlier. Based on his speed, we can never catch up to him. Even if we do catch up, it would be impossible for us to get news to the Crown Prince fast enough." Yan Xiu said listlessly.
"If our aim is just for the Crown Prince to know I've broken through to the Heavenly Reflection Realm, then it's not difficult at all!" Fang Zhengzhi thought of someone immediately.
"You have an idea?"
"Mm!"
"What idea?"
"Advertisement, announcements, everywhere! As long as I can find this person, I believe that she would be able to spread the news to all corners of the kingdom in the quickest possible time!"
"You want the entire kingdom to know about your breakthrough?"
"Yes, since they will find out sooner or later, we should announce it and use it to our advantage."
"What do you mean?"
"We already know King Duan's intentions. I'm not sure about the Crown Prince and one other person!"
"Who's intentions?"
"The Sage's!"
"The Sage's intentions?!"
Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu quickly arrived at a small city near the Golden Scale City. Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu quickly arrived at a town nearby the Golden Scale City. Because they were riding the Snow Treading Dragon Stallion, the guards at the gate were incredibly respectful.
The moment they entered the city, they saw Su Jiu, dressed like a boy servant, waiting for them.
"Greetings, young master Fang!" Su Jiu smiled radiantly upon seeing Fang Zhengzhi.
"Su Jiu? Aren't you at the River of Trust Province? Why are you here?" Fang Zhengzhi was just about to go look up Wu Yuer. Meeting Su Jiu at the gates was too suspicious.
"We know that you have attained the Heavenly Reflection State, as such, I was sent here to congratulate you." Su Jiu replied promptly, already expecting Fang Zhengzhi to ask that question.
"You've been here the whole time?" Fang Zhengzhi was slightly emotional.
He had just attained the Heavenly Reflection State the day before. Furthermore, he was in the Divine Constabulary when it happened. Yet, Wu Yuer was still able to know that he had broken through and even arranged for Su Jiu to wait at the gates.
That could only mean one of two things. First, she had arranged for Su Jiu to wait nearby the Golden Scale City. Second, her sources extended to the Divine Constabulary.
"Before yesterday, I was at the Golden Scale City. Once master knew that you attained the Heavenly Reflection State, she had me leave the Golden Scale City and wait for you here. I just arrived." Su Jiu shook his head.
"I see, I have something to tell Wu Yuer, is she here?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
"She is already rushing to the capital. If you have anything to say, you can just tell me!" Su Jiu replied respectfully.
"Wu Yuer is going to the capital?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded. He did not know why Wu Yuer was going to the capital, but he did not question further, "I want you to tell everyone that I have attained the Heavenly Reflection State!"
"Master, how far do you want the news to go?"
"The capital!"
"That will take at least three days!"
"Mm, three days is not a problem, but I have a request."
"Please go ahead."
"I want this news to reach the ears of as many people as possible."
"I understand, please rest assured." Su Jiu pounded his chest in assurance.
"What about the silver that Wu Yuer gave me to congratulate me?"
"Isn't master going to give it to me?" Su Jiu looked on in anticipation.
"What do you think?"
"Haha... I'm just kidding. Master has prepared a thousand ounces of silver, please accept it!" Su Jiu smiled.
"A thousand ounces? I will reward you with a hundred ounces then!" Fang Zhengzhi rudely took the silver from Su Jiu and kept it in the Heart Protection Mirror.
Then, he retrieved a cheque for a hundred ounces of silver and threw it out.
"Thank you for the reward!"
At dusk two months later, the sun was slowly setting. It cast a golden crimson light on the high wall of the capital.
The capital looked like a ferocious beast crouching on the ground, its aura intimidating.
Even though it was close to night time, the roads leading to the capital were still packed with people. As the capital of the empire, it was incredibly prosperous.
The rivers inside flowed quickly and crisply.
The guards patrolled the walls, each one with a spear in one hand and dressed in bright armor. They were all incredibly solemn.
This was the core of the empire.
It was magnificent and sacred.
However, no matter how magnificent and sacred the place, there will still be people who don't belong. For example, there was a youth dressed in a blue long sleeved shirt entering the city, his sleeves fluttering in the breeze.
This would have been decent.
However...
The youth's expression was lazy. He was slouched on his stallion. If not for the fact that he was riding the Snow Treading Dragon Stallion, most people would suspect that he would fall off his ride.
Next to the blue sleeved youth was an impeccably dressed youth. He was much more solemn, in fact, a little too solemn.
He was so solemn he looked a little icy.
No one would have expected these two men to be a team. But the fact was that they were riding together at the same speed.