Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 39: The Path

Outside the Traveler’s Inn, a burly junior official stood with a scroll in his hand, casting a cold gaze ahead.

It was only when he saw Lu Chang’sheng helping Wang Heihou along that his expression softened a little.

"These gangs are getting bolder by the day. They even dare target this year’s Child Scholars and folks from Jixia Academy!"

Lu Chang’sheng could hear the hint of ’three cups as penalty’ in the official’s words, and his heart sank just a bit.

There must be another reason hidden in all this!

Luckily, judging by his tone, the man’s annoyance was real—but thinking he’d be able to get the city’s big shots to act just by saying so was wishful thinking.

Thinking this, Lu Chang’sheng set Wang Heihou down to the side and hurried over, pulling out a money pouch he’d long prepared—the Xunzi Sleeve.

"Thanks for all your trouble, sir!"

The official’s eyes brightened slightly.

You could say this job—delivering scrolls—was the default way for all the officials of Great Yuan to grease the wheels. That’s a rule everyone’s come to accept!

For junior officials like him, it’s a plum job.

Just a single round brings in no small amount of silver coins, and you don’t have to worry about getting black marks on your record.

He reached out, weighed the pouch in his hand, and instantly broke into a wide grin.

"Congratulations, Lu Tongsheng!" He leaned in, lowering his voice, and said, "Lu Tongsheng, I suppose you had some quarrel with the Traveler’s Inn gang, huh? But now’s not the time for trouble—better watch yourself! The city bigshots need help from these gangs lately, so it’s tough for them to crack down."

"Do you know what it’s about, sir?"

"Heh, of course—it’s all tied to the Red Water rebellion!" At that, the official cut himself off, turning serious: "Credentials delivered. Now I’ll take my leave. Don’t forget, after the Advanced Scholar Exam is over—just after the start of October—report to Jixia Academy!"

"Safe travels, sir!"

The official swung himself onto his horse and galloped off.

Folks who deliver paperwork like this, of course, never travel on foot—otherwise, their efficiency would be crap.

Lu Chang’sheng opened up the document to find his name front and center on the first page, stamped with the date and his place of origin and all the other info.

"Finally got it!"

He couldn’t help feeling a hint of joy.

Child Scholar, in the real sense, isn’t exactly an official rank. If you looked back over a hundred years ago, even in Great Yuan, Child Scholars didn’t count as government officials.

Only Advanced Scholars did!

But several emperors after that favored the literati and snubbed the martial, so Child Scholar was included as a kind of rank—and obviously, the bar’s gotten way higher.

"Best head back—this isn’t the place to linger."

He turned to help Wang Heihou away, soon reaching the city gate.

Li Nangua, Zhao Hu and the rest were waiting there. Seeing Wang Heihou’s pale face, they were all worried and angry.

"Let’s get inside the city first," Lu Chang’sheng said.

······

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

Instead of going back to the West Gate, the crew stayed at the place Lu Chang’sheng had rented.

The place was a bit cramped, but since they all came from the countryside, nobody cared.

After a couple days of rest, Wang Heihou’s color was much better, and it was just like the Shaving Knife Gang’s manager said—they hadn’t used any heavy methods on him. If they had, a quick rest wouldn’t cut it.

On top of that, there were some strange goings-on lately—lots of shady people lurking nearby.

They didn’t seem hostile, just watched from afar for a while before leaving.

Lu Chang’sheng was curious, but after thinking it over, right now, the only ones who could really count as enemies were the Shaving Knife Gang.

Plus, a couple days ago their folks already got a warning from that credential-delivering junior official—even if they had a grudge, they’d have to be fools to strike back two days later.

If they did, they wouldn’t just be ruthless—they’d be stupid!

"Inside the city, the big bosses run the show. Never mind little gangs like Shaving Knife—hell, even a top-tier gang like Nujiang wouldn’t dare stir trouble here!" Zhao Hu tried to help Lu Chang’sheng relax.

"So—what’s your plan now?"

Everyone turned to Lu Chang’sheng.

"For now, just wrap up all the stuff for this year’s Child Scholar. After that, we’ll see." Lu Chang’sheng said.

"You’ve got a real knack for studying. Maybe..."

Zhao Hu’s words caught everyone’s attention—they all lit up a bit.

"No need to rush. Child Examination and Advanced Scholar Exam aren’t the same. With Child Examination, you’re just up against scholars from one prefecture, but with the Advanced Scholar Exam, it’s all of Great Yuan—plus, it’s where real rank is at stake!"

Why do people say Child Scholar is only half a rank?

Because a Child Scholar could join Jixia Academy as a student, but couldn’t become an official. Every Child Exam, the empire produces almost two thousand Child Scholars—but Advanced Scholar is different.

Every three years, maybe one hundred get through the Imperial Examination!

Pass, and you’re official!

The competition’s brutal and rare!

And most importantly—Lu Chang’sheng never wanted to be an official. His real goal was martial arts, building his strength, and extending his life!

"Yeah, I get it. Being a Child Scholar—talent matters, but so does money!" Zhao Hu thought of Zhao Qing, married off to Mr. Chen.

He had real talent, but after failing the exams over and over, it wore him down until he had to pin his hopes on his kids.

"Chang’sheng passed as a Child Scholar—shouldn’t we celebrate?"

Li Nangua murmured.

"No need for that! We’re all short on cash right now," Lu Chang’sheng shot her a look, rejecting the idea.

Still—there were some things people would follow him on, but not this.

The next morning, Lu Chang’sheng had just gotten up and saw Niu Dazhuang and Li Nangua busy in the kitchen.

Wang Heihou was chopping firewood off to the side, his face covered in dust. Once he saw Lu Chang’sheng, he grinned wide.

"You guys actually went and did it?" Lu Chang’sheng gave a helpless glare at them, tried to help, but Li Nangua shooed him away.

She put her hands on her hips, her tone leaving no room for arguing: "Just sit down for once. If you’re bored, grab a book. Who knows—you might pass the Advanced Scholar Exam, too!"

"Nangua’s right!"

Wang Heihou laughed.

After what happened last time, he seemed steadier than before.

Niu Dazhuang just kept cooking, sweating over a giant pot that filled the whole house with good smells.

He was getting better and better at it, especially after Lu Chang’sheng told him some things from his past life about food. He’d kept those in mind, and over at Xiao Market, he’d bought some things others thought strange to use in the kitchen.

Seeing all this, Lu Chang’sheng just kept on being the one everyone waited on.

"Where’s Mr. Zhao?"

Noticing Zhao Hu was missing, he asked out loud.

Not a moment later, footsteps sounded outside.

Zhao Hu pushed open the door, bringing in a handful of students paying long-term tuition, plus a few hired hands.

"Wow! Dazhuang’s cooking gets better every day!"

A little old man squeezed in, spotted Lu Chang’sheng, who wore his usual stone-faced look, and instantly felt awkward.

"Chang’sheng, look, it’s not that I’m not loyal—it’s just, I’m an old cripple, can’t really do much, can I?" said Zhang Village.

Lu Chang’sheng nodded and left him be.

He’d quietly reassigned him into the boss-and-worker category.

One by one, everyone crowded in. The little house was suddenly packed, but no one cared a bit—if there weren’t enough chairs, they just sat on the floor with their bowls and dug in happily.

After two years running things, the arrow-practicing young and strong still numbered thirty or so.

Lu Chang’sheng watched Zhao Hu and Wang Heihou blend in with the others and had a hunch about what was coming.

"Chang’sheng, how about my guys?" A bit later, Zhao Hu came over and sat down beside him.

"Not bad! But, it’s no easy road." He looked over at Wang Heihou, concern in his eyes. "Running with a gang means blood and blades—your life on the line. Are you sure about this?"

Wang Heihou went silent for a moment. "Gotta give it a shot. My big brother’s still home, so the Wang family won’t die out," he spat fiercely, "There’s no way I’m wasting away like this. If someone else can do it, so can I!"

"Heh, you punk. You’re growing on me every day!" Zhao Hu laughed.

Lu Chang’sheng shook his head and grinned, not stopping him.

Everyone’s got their own path—he could only offer advice now and then, not for a lifetime.

Besides, Wang Heihou really had grown up.

Looking at his character sheet, he realized he was already twelve.

Lost in thought, suddenly there was a knock at the door outside.

"Is Lu Tongsheng home?"