NOVPUB
Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Seal Keeper and Miss Zhan Have a Very Good Relationship
After concluding his official duties at the Xingtian Department, Mu Yan escorted the Vermilion Bird to Baoxiang House.
This place is a renowned restaurant in Ding’an City, famous for its exquisite dishes that attract many nobles and dignitaries.
Upon seeing Mu Yan, the Shopkeeper respectfully bowed and escorted him to the second floor.
Mu Yan settled down in the largest private room.
Soon after, the Shopkeeper brought someone in. The man’s face was lit with joy, but upon seeing Mu Yan in the seat of honor, his expression darkened.
"Why is Lord Mu here?" It was the veteran Zhang Zhao.
The corners of Mu Yan’s lips lifted slightly as he said: "My Zhan Lan is on her way, no rush."
Zhang Zhao gave him a sidelong glance, thinking: What does he mean, ’his’ Zhan Lan? The way it sounded was quite irksome to the old man!
"It’s good as long as Miss Zhan comes. I, an old man, can wait!" Zhang Zhao limped to a seat.
However, one person after another arrived in the private room, and Zhang Zhao quickly realized something was amiss.
"One-Ear, what are you doing here, old coot?"
"Shao Yizhi, you shameless dog, how come you’re here too?"
"Scar-Eye, weren’t you sick? You seem lively enough!"
The three veterans, Wang Chen, Li Qiang, and Zhao Feng spoke angrily: "Miss Zhan invited me here. What business do you, old one-legged cur, have here?"
All four men turned their murderous gazes towards Mu Yan.
Mu Yan stood up respectfully and said, "Elders, please don’t be annoyed. It is the junior who invited you all for a meal, and it concerns Miss Zhan."
"You all know well that I, the Seal Keeper, have a very good relationship with Miss Zhan." Mu Yan intentionally drew out the words ’very good’.
The four veterans glared at him, as if wanting to cut him down, thinking: If Miss Zhan had such an ’excellent’ relationship with this playboy, it’d indeed be an absurdity!
Mu Yan continued: "We all hope for Zhan Lan to come out on top in the Martial Arts Examination, don’t we?"
Zhang Zhao shot Mu Yan a glare. "Of course!"
The other three veterans nodded in agreement.
A smile played on Mu Yan’s lips as he said, "Miss Zhan once saved my life, and I’ve always been grateful for that. The martial exams in our Nanjin are extremely dangerous, sparing no quarter, with real swords and spears and fate in their own hands."
The four elders looked at Mu Yan. Before the martial exams in Nanjin, a life-and-death agreement must be signed.
During the contest, a competitor may surrender, but if one insists on competing despite being outmatched and gets killed by the opponent, there’s no blame to be allocated.
Mu Yan went on to say: "I believe none of you wants to see Miss Zhan getting hurt or facing other dangers. Nowadays, our military examinations are often overly focused on martial skills, neglecting the assessment of military strategy. Yet for a general, the ability to command and deploy troops is much more important than swordplay. Therefore, I propose that this year we advise the emperor to include an assessment of military strategy."
All four veterans were stunned; Mu Yan had never shown interest in the Martial Arts Examination before.
What is this all about today?
Yet his suggestion seemed worth considering.
Li Qiang nodded in agreement, "Indeed, the current martial examinations resemble a cycle of challenges. The stronger contestants end up being repeatedly targeted towards the end, resulting in exhaustion."
Zhao Feng also nodded, "Exactly. Groups gang up against strong individuals, which is why recent martial examinations seem to have become rather watered down."
Zhang Zhao furrowed his brows, "I think Lord Mu is right. We should redefine the rules more clearly. Besides, assessing military command capabilities is indeed necessary. Our Nanjin’s Martial Arts Champion shouldn’t be some brute skilled only in martial arts, someone who’s utterly thoughtless on the battlefield, leading our soldiers to their doom!"
Wang Chen looked at Mu Yan with a questioning gaze, "But why doesn’t Lord Mu propose this directly to the emperor himself?"
Mu Yan casually took out Zhan Lan’s pink pouch and toyed with it in his hand, chuckling heartily, "I, a supposed villain, do have some integrity, and it seems inappropriate for me to suggest such counsel. After all, my proposal is merely to prevent Miss Zhan from being targeted—nothing but my own selfish interests."
When he mentioned the name "Miss Zhan," he looked fondly for a moment at that egregiously ugly purse.
This morning, he saw Zhan Lan painfully rotating her shoulder blade, which was exactly where Asi Han had injured her last time; she couldn’t get hurt again.
Wang Chen stared at the purse in Mu Yan’s hand and said, "Lord Mu, every year we serve as examiners, we will definitely protect Miss Zhan and prevent her from getting injured."
Mu Yan nodded and carefully put away the pink purse, saying, "Naturally, I trust the esteemed seniors, but I do not trust those who participate in the competition."
Zhang Zhao stood up with the support of the table. Everyone who qualified as a Martial Arts Student had gone through multiple rounds of selection, but inevitably, some had bribed their way into the final Martial Arts Examination.
Nanjin selected the top three from the Martial Arts Examination and granted them official positions.
First Rank Scholars included the top scorer, second place, and third place, giving out the titles of Deputy General, Assistant General, Guerrilla, and garrison commander.
Where there is bureaucracy, there are those who buy their way into office.
Thus, some people would stop at nothing to climb the ranks.
His eyes darkened with irritation as he looked at Mu Yan, this man was Nanjin’s number one corrupt official.
Yet now he was lecturing the four loyal officials on improving the Martial Arts Examination system.
What an eye-opener!
Wang Chen rose and whispered in Zhang Zhao’s ear, "Old man, take a look at the purse that was just in Mu Yan’s hand. Maybe it was a gift from Miss Zhan. Their relationship seems extraordinary!"
Zhang Zhao suddenly understood and looked disdainfully at Mu Yan. This guy was undeniably good-looking and strong, but he was a notorious villain in the Nanjin court!
If Miss Zhan ended up with him, she would be at a great loss.
He had to advise Miss Zhan in private, hoping she’d see through people clearly and not be deceived by Mu Yan’s handsome appearance.
As they spoke, all the delicacies from the mountains and seas were served along with nourishing soups, the fragrance instantaneously filling the nostrils of the four old men, who unconsciously picked up their chopsticks.
They exchanged glances with each other.
Mu Yan had silver; this meal was not to be missed. Their paltry salaries were not much, and this meal cost their monthly incomes. They lived so frugally, when would they have the chance to dine at Baoxiang House again?
To not eat would be a waste!
Seeing the four eating contentedly, the corners of Mu Yan’s mouth curved up. It seemed his niece could suffer a little less in this Martial Arts Examination.
...
Amid public anticipation, the day of the Martial Arts Examination’s final competition finally arrived. In the largest Martial Arts Arena in Ding’an City, thousands of spectators were seated on the high and low steps.
The weather was pleasantly warm and sunny, and families with the means to attend the event all came to see who this year’s Martial Arts Champion would be!
The Martial Arts Arena was surrounded by a circle of furnaces, stirring up a heated atmosphere.
A total of ten people had successfully made it through three rounds of competition to the final test.
The ten contestants stood in pairs, most of them solemn-faced.
Suddenly, one of the contestants let out a surprising bang amidst the tense atmosphere.
"Pfft!"
The participants on stage couldn’t hold back and covered their noses, laughing as the creator of the ungraceful sound nonchalantly spread his hands and said, "Don’t panic, lads. I’m just expressing my excitement, stay calm, everyone!"
Zhan Lan searched for the source of the sound, and when she saw the man’s face, she was filled with both burgeoning excitement and an urge to kick him in the backside.
This disgraceful oaf also came to participate in the Martial Arts Examination!
