The Tian Ruo Prefecture examinations were scheduled to take place early next year. Therefore, in recent days towards the year's end, many scholars had already flooded into Tian Ruo City, beginning preparations for next year's examinations.
And so, with the prefectural exams not yet started, the book pavilions had remained completely closed off.
Yet somehow, on the highest floor of the third level of a book pavilion, somebody was leisurely sitting, braving the cold winter winds to drink hot tea.
Lu Gaosheng, wearing a white jade cloud-patterned ring on his right hand, watched Zhang San leaving and smiled, seeming to savor those parting words.
Judging from his appearance, he looked to be over forty years old, yet still retained his handsome vigor from his youth. His exposed smile, paired with his vivid and piercing eyes, exuded self-confidence.
Lu Gaosheng gave off the impression that he was someone who had always occupied lofty positions and was fully confident in his own abilities.
Just then, a man dressed like an attendant guarding the shadows in the corner of the third floor spoke up, "Sir, you've been watching that scholar in white leaving this whole time. Could something be amiss? Should I go investigate?"
Lu Gaosheng glanced at his subordinate and asked, "Scholar? Why are you so certain he is a scholar? I'm not so sure."
The attendant saluted and answered, "I was short-sighted. Although I used to be commander of the 'Feather Arrow Army' guards in the prefectural city, based on my eyesight, the man in white just now pulling a cart looked like an ordinary scholar in dress. Adding to that his thin, feeble build and strained steps pulling that cart, along with the many scholars entering the city recently, I made that judgment."
Lu Gaosheng laughed and said, "I am no warrior, but I can also tell your every word makes sense. However...did you not hear what I just said? That line about 'ten years of cold window studying'? I'm telling you, it was spoken by the one who just left."
The attendant knew that the gentleman before him was gifted with superhuman hearing, so he was not surprised that Lu Gaosheng could make out a conversation on the bustling streets from the third floor between a man and a child.
Yet the attendant did not understand, so he asked, "But subordinate does not grasp the meaning behind those words?"
Lu Gaosheng said, "The words themselves are easy to comprehend, nothing more than seeing through the so-called examination grounds of this world, which have long been existing in name only. But I could detect his tone was extremely casual, natural, seeming utterly indifferent."
The attendant was slightly taken aback, as if grasping something.
Lu Gaosheng surveyed the entirety of the third floor and continued, "A scholar, suffering bitter studies his whole life, just hopes to rely on these exam grounds to attain success and fame. A seemingly impoverished scholar pulling a cart, if he had such insights, then no matter how he tried to conceal it, his tone would inevitably contain some anger, indignance, even grief!"
But Zhang San had not; not only did he not, when he spoke his tone was as lighthearted as if the exam grounds had nothing to do with him whatsoever.
Lu Gaosheng observed people not by their external appearance, looks, or even as the attendant said, by whether their steps seemed powerful. He liked listening to how a person spoke.
Lu Gaosheng looked at the attendant and said, "You guessed he is a scholar, but I conjecture he is no scholar, not even a literatus, yet still entered the city today specifically..."
The attendant cried out in realization, "Today...isn't that the day of the executions?"
Lu Gaosheng mildly smiled, then leaned against the third floor railing to quietly watch Tian Ruo City's skies gradually clouding over.
Ten years of cold window studying?
Heh heh, ten years of cold window.
"But sir, by my reckoning, it's about time we set off too." The attendant reminded at the side.
Lu Gaosheng restrained his smile and said, "Yes, the show is about to start, yet the performer is missing, how boring. Let's be off then."
...
As master and disciple walked, they would occasionally observe this Tian Ruo City that in recent years had been increasingly prosperously constructed.
Naturally, it was Wang Xiaoer observing the prosperity, while Zhang San observed the streets.
Because Tian Ruo City had transformed virtually unrecognizably from ten years ago, Zhang San's original plans had changed. What he was most concerned with now was familiarizing himself with the layout of the city's streets as quickly as possible.
To a steady killer like Zhang San, not having full control over one's surroundings invoked a sense of unease.
Additionally, he was uncertain whether the location of Knowing Hall was the same as ten years prior.
The various major powers of the central lands were intermingled chaotically, especially Dark Building and Black Heaven Gate. Although Zhang San did not feel he had revealed any flaws thus far, just to be safe, it was necessary to figure out these two powers' sphere of influence within Tian Ge Prefecture, along with their locations.
In short, there were many things to do and consider.
Yet Wang Xiaoer had just uttered the same question for the eighth time today.
"Wow master, what's that over there?"
Zhang San silently cursed: Can't this brat just let me be quiet for a bit? Why's he acting like some country bumpkin who's never seen anything before?
But when Zhang San followed Wang Xiaoer's pointing and saw an outwardly ordinary tea house tower, he too was startled, because it was something even he had never seen before.
Of course it wasn't that he had never seen a tea house before, but rather never one that hung such an enormous banner.
The tea house was called "Wei Bo Building"!
Hung on the second floor was a tremendous banner with the inscription:
If unaware of all worldly affairs, how dare proclaim broad learning?
Wish the world could hear your voice?
Wish the world could know your writings?
Wish the world could hear your stories?
Knowing Hall offers utmost assistance - Wei Bo Building, fulfills your desires!
Zhang San thought...
Damn!
What the hell was this stuff?
This banner full of modern flair still containing a bit of domineering, with a touch of absurdity yet also giving people ample reason to place belief. Had he seen such a sight before?
Zhang San certainly had not.
Looking at Wang Xiaoer brimming with excitement seated on the cart, Zhang San said: "This...I haven't seen before either. It should be a newly emerged form of tea house. This banner though, how should I put it, has some attraction drawing people in."
Wang Xiaoer reacted with astonishment, "Even master you don't know? Wow...city folks really know how to play around."
It was then that Zhang San carefully examined this tea house, only to discover barely anybody inside. He ridiculed, "The building's name and banner seem pretty ostentatious, yet not a single customer."
Right as Zhang San finished speaking, a low curse came from a passerby behind him.
The pedestrian's voice was soft, but could not escape Zhang San's keen hearing.
"What backwater scholar with his book learning, doesn't even know Wei Bo Building? If not for everybody going to watch the excitement of the public executions issued by the prefectural administration today, how could Wei Bo Building be empty?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang San did not get angry, rather felt quite curious.
Logically, matters of sentencing people to death should happen at the execution grounds outside the city. Why would the prefectural administration have people executed within the city itself? Would an entire prefectural city establish dedicated execution grounds?
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
ave】 Shen Qingling was a man with peerless looks, a cunning mind, and the ability to play both the aloof noble and the innocent sweetheart—a master of seduction who could outplay any player. But after an untimely death, he found himself bound to a system and transmigrated into the tragic "true young master" of a melodramatic novel. In the original story, his childhood sweetheart treated him as a backup plan, his fiancée swore to break off their engagement for the sake of the "fake young master," and his own sister saw him as the family's disgrace. He was nothing more than a rat everyone wanted to stomp on. System 077: "Your mission is to change the original fate and conquer the goddesses." Shen Qingling: "Thanks for the invite. If seduction had tiers, I’d be max level." His childhood sweetheart knelt, begging for forgiveness: "Qingling, I was wrong. Please give me another chance." His ex-fiancée refused to marry anyone else: "Shen Qingling, I was blind before. In this life, I’ll marry no one but you." A yandere CEO went mad for love: "Shen Qingling, you can only like me. I’ll stop at nothing to make you mine!" His green-tea sister clung to him daily: "Brother, look at me, won’t you? I’m more obedient than them—I love you the most~" At first, they scorned and trampled on him. Later, they burned themselves like moths to a flame, all for his sake. His looks were his weapon, his sweet words the bait—heroines obsessed over him, villains turned to madness for him. Shen Qingling became a true male siren, igniting battlefield after battlefield of women fighting for his affection. Years later, when System 077—now one of the elites—was asked how to become as outstanding as it, it lazily exhaled a smoke ring and replied: "Just know how to cheer ‘666’ at the right time."
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
