After conversing with Xue Ru Shi, Jiang Wang finally grasped one crucial point: the position of chief examiner for the Southern Border Official Examination was a matter Shi Ming Qian absolutely intended to secure.

Su Guan Ying and Shi Ming Qian, one a high-ranking court official, the other a Nine-Rank Commander, naturally presented a unified front externally, working in concert to govern Xia. Yet, beneath this veneer of cooperation, an inevitable rivalry simmered. Both stood among the paramount figures within the Great Qi court, traversing the same official path, each possessing significant political influence.

Whispers of a Southern Border Official Examination had long circulated, but the lack of concrete details stemmed from the differing opinions between the Governor of Nan Xia and the Military Supervisor. Su Guan Ying and Shi Ming Qian, while united in the general objective of holding the examination, diverged on numerous points, significantly delaying the process.

The Governor of Nan Xia, by virtue of her office, held an inherent advantage. Shi Ming Qian’s focus, however, lay elsewhere. Compared to a meticulous grasp of the entire examination procedure, he leaned more towards controlling the chief examiner’s position. In the preceding period, these two formidable figures had engaged in no small number of subtle skirmishes.

Thus, Su Guan Ying’s casual act of handing the chief examiner position to Jiang Wang today could be seen as a brilliant gambit, checkmating Shi Ming Qian. If Shi Ming Qian were to harbor resentment towards the powerful Marquis Wu An as a result, so much the better. If Shi Ming Qian chose to tolerate this setback, she still incurred no loss. The Military Supervisor suffered a defeat, while the Governor remained victorious – she still emerged ahead.

It would be inaccurate, however, to claim that Su Guan Ying merely used Jiang Wang as a pawn. Being entrusted with the responsibility of this Southern Border Official Examination offered substantial benefits to Jiang Wang within the Qi officialdom. If handled skillfully… in the near term, he had acquired a legitimate means to partake in the immense wealth of the Southern Border, ready to feast at any moment. In the long run, the subordinate relationships he forged today could serve as powerful support should he aspire to enter the Military Affairs Hall or the Political Affairs Hall in the future.

Regardless of whether one aimed to be a commander or a prime minister, support for one’s political ideals was always necessary.

Had he known this beforehand, Jiang Wang would have declined Su Guan Ying’s offer at all costs. His purpose in coming to Nan Xia was truly pure: one, for the Grand Flame Forging Master’s legacy; two, for dedicated cultivation. He harbored no intention of becoming embroiled in the political contests of the Southern Border. If he truly desired a life in officialdom, he would have immersed himself in Lin Zi long ago; why wait until now?

Of course, in the eyes of some, compared to the relatively stable official landscape of Qi, the Southern Border was precisely an untapped fertile ground. For the Marquis Wu An, who had shone so brightly in the Qi-Xia War, choosing this precise moment to journey to Xia was considered an act of immense political acumen.

Even Xue Ru Shi held this belief. Otherwise, he would not have been so eager to pledge his loyalty.

Jiang Wang’s immediate acquisition of the official examination chief examiner position upon arriving in Nan Xia, executing such a “steady, accurate, ruthless” maneuver, undoubtedly solidified people’s conviction that he had come to Nan Xia to claim his share of the spoils.

To say that a young man of his worldwide renown had come to Nan Xia solely for quiet cultivation – who could possibly believe such words?

Some matters were difficult to explain, so Jiang Wang simply offered no explanation. He merely prepared a special gift and sent it to the Dong Ji Army garrison stationed in Chang Luo Prefecture. Regardless of Shi Ming Qian’s thoughts, his posture was in place. Had he not feared a lack of buffer, he would have even considered paying a personal visit. He only hoped these personal Governors and Military Supervisors wouldn’t casually drag him into their troubles.

The day after Xue Ru Shi departed, Gu Yong also paid a visit. Having cultivated to the Outer Structure realm, he had chosen to surrender after the Min Xi battlefield had settled. His surrender occurred later than Xue Ru Shi’s, and his merits were far less significant, so after the war, he only served as a city lord. Naturally, he now also sought further advancement…

Gu Yong was not the last. The surrendered generals whom he and Chong Xuan Sheng had accepted in Xia almost queued up to pay their respects. The humiliating history of being forced to surrender by Jiang Wang’s sword force now, conversely, had all become sources of honor!

“I was personally intimidated by the Marquis Wu An!”

“I abandoned the darkness and embraced the light as early as the First Month, surrendering to the Marquis Wu An!”

And so on, the earlier the claim, the louder the voice. This, one might say, was one of the troubles of officialdom. Each person had their own demands and interests. Those who could swiftly advance in officialdom were certainly those who skillfully balanced various interests and relationships. The saying “one person attains the Way, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven” could, conversely, be interpreted as: if the chickens and dogs cannot follow you to heaven, then why should they help you attain the Way?

Amidst the stream of visitors, a subordinate general of Shi Ming Qian also made an appearance once. However, he spoke of nothing else, merely presenting a gift, stating it was to celebrate the completion of the Marquis Wu An’s residence here in Lao Shan. His meaning was quite clear: this rough and imposing Commander of the Dong Ji Army, always portrayed with an image of “fiery temper,” fully accepted Jiang Wang’s appointment as the official examination chief examiner, and harbored not the slightest resentment towards it.

Of course, what he truly thought in his heart remained unknown to outsiders. At least on the surface, this matter had been smoothly navigated.

“Your Marquis residence is truly bustling. The threshold has almost been trampled flat these past few days,” Lian Que said with a laugh.

At this moment, he was forging iron. Jiang Wang had specially arranged for a separate courtyard in a secluded area, equipped with all kinds of refining furnaces, grinding stones, iron hammers, etc., though the quality wasn’t as superb as at the Nan Yao Forging Master’s place, they were all complete.

Chu Yao stood in a horse stance nearby. Amidst the rising furnace flames, the surrounding temperature was quite high. The dark-skinned, thin boy’s face and body streamed with sweat, yet he remained motionless. Jiang Wang used a stick to tap his arm, then his leg, adjusting his stance, and said, “I originally thought of finding some peace in Nan Xia, but it seems unobtainable.”

“How can someone as influential as you find peace? Wherever you go, that place becomes the center of a vortex. Just like this piece of iron…” Lian Que casually used long tongs to toss a red-hot iron block into a water bucket, producing violent sizzling sounds. “Burned this red, how can it be quiet?”

“After this official examination concludes, I will close my doors and decline visitors,” Jiang Wang said, then asked, “After researching for so many days, have you discovered anything?”

“I said long ago, the Grand Flame Forging Master is gone. What inheritance, what honor, are all things without substance.” Lian Que was quite open-minded. “The water of Chi Tan is very suitable for quenching; one could say it’s among the most suitable waters for quenching, and at different temperatures, it produces different reactions. Finding this, I’ve already gained.”

Jiang Wang curled his lip. “I was still hoping to see you ascend to heaven in one step. Awakening some kind of reincarnation body… That Xie Ai in Snow Country directly became the Winter Emperor.”

Lian Que laughed heartily. “I wish! Unfortunately, I didn’t put in enough effort in my previous life, didn’t arrange things properly.”

“Then work harder in this life and make plans for the next.” Jiang Wang tapped Chu Yao’s forehead. “Calm your mind and spirit, don’t get distracted.”

To ask a lively nine-year-old child to stand quietly in a horse stance, while he himself chattered incessantly, in addition to the clanging sounds of forging, was indeed a bit difficult. But Chu Yao, though enduring hardship, didn’t complain.

Lian Que spoke again, “But since the Qi-Xia War, my cultivation speed has increased significantly. I wonder if it’s due to the Grand Flame Forging Master’s influence… What did you see when you suppressed the disaster water that time?”

Jiang Wang pondered, “I saw the spectral image of a Chi Wen with a dragon head and fish body, weeping sorrowfully to the east, just as the legends describe. On your destiny plaque, I felt the responsibility and burden of the Grand Flame Forging Master. Your increased cultivation speed is likely related to your destiny plaque undertaking some of that responsibility.”

Lian Que mused, “Then perhaps I should also go to the disaster water and try once?”

“…At least wait until you reach the Divine realm,” Jiang Wang advised.

“Divine realm, Divine realm, how can it be so easy to reach? Do you think everyone is like you?” Lian Que clipped out the cooled iron block, threw it onto the anvil, and shouted again, “Chu Yao, can you reach the Divine realm?”

“Of course!” Chu Yao had no grasp of the concept of the Divine realm, but he responded loudly. As soon as he opened his mouth, his strength dissipated, and he couldn’t maintain the horse stance, falling onto the ground with a thump.

Lian Que laughed heartily, as if there was a furnace boiling within him. He picked up the large hammer and smashed down heavily—

The iron block instantly became an iron cake.

“Forging iron, refining pills, cooking, doing anything requires attention to heat. Dealing with people requires even more.”

“Have you ever walked a night road?”

“I’m talking about, on a small road with no one around, no lamps, no moon, no sound. You look in any direction, and it’s all dark, dark… What does that look like?”

The speaking woman sat on a bench, her posture very straight. Her voice, however, drifted, never settling on a definite point.

“Like a monster with a gaping maw, ready to devour you at any moment,” she answered herself.

She lightly flicked a finger, and a spark landed in a tobacco pipe. Her full lips, framing a white jade tobacco mouth, created a wonderful contrast, a unique kind of beauty. She quickly took a few puffs, emptying the dry tobacco.

“Hoo.” She exhaled a long stream of smoke. She raised a single finger, shaking it lightly.

“No, no, no, you have no power. You’re just an ordinary person.”

“You, who have no ability to resist the darkness, walk alone on a night road. Then, a group of shouting, robust men suddenly appear. What do you think? Are you afraid?”

The smoke she exhaled dispersed, revealing the swollen, slightly greasy face of a man opposite her. This face managed to contort into a smile.

“No, why would I walk a night road then? Why go to a deserted place? I could just go home early.”

The man’s arms were spread wide, tied to a standing wooden pillar with ropes soaked in tung oil, rendering him immobile.

The woman took another puff of smoke, glancing at the silk clothes on the man’s body. “Have you ever worked overtime until very late? Could you not afford a house in a prosperous area, only live in sparsely populated suburbs? Have you lived in that kind of shed, built of thatch, with only one shaky door that would fall down with a gentle push… Have you had these experiences?”

“No…” The man shook his head. “No…”

“So you cannot understand.”

“But this situation is a minority, isn’t it? Who works overtime until midnight… Uh, I mean, we can enforce a curfew, not allow anyone out after dark.”

“You are a rare talent.”

“I sincerely think for the people.”

“Alright, alright, I said some things weren’t true just now. It wasn’t a deserted small road; it was a noisy main street. It wasn’t a moonless night; the lights were red, and the wine green. It wasn’t that no one saw everything; there were many people nearby, many people walking by…”

This time, the woman’s face was visible. Her hair was tied back with a jade ring, her long eyebrows and eyes were cold, distant without reason. Her beauty held a kind of world-weary feeling. She knocked out the tobacco ash and said, “But the powerless you is real, and the group of people facing you is also real. Everything that happened afterward… your being devoured, is also real.”

“How, how could that be?” The man’s expression was strained. “In broad daylight, how could such a thing happen? The court would not allow demons to run rampant.”

“Of course, of course.” The woman nodded, her lips curving into a polite smile. “Let’s introduce ourselves properly. My surname is Zhao, my name is Zhao Zi. The first ‘Zi’ of Liang Shi. Right, just one word.”

“My name is Chen…”

“Good, little Chen, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” the woman named Zhao Zi said. “I have a question I want to ask you.”

The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Please… please ask.”

“Do you think this world is fair?”

The man thought seriously for a moment before answering, “Very fair. One part effort, one part harvest.”

The smoking woman said thoughtfully, “Why did you slap that woman passing by yesterday?”

“I was just joking with her; she actually cursed at me.” The man, even now, felt indignant. “Adult, look, what is my identity, what is her identity? Of course, I also had my faults; I can apologize to her.”

The woman sighed lightly. “So that’s it. This world is unfair, but those with power don’t feel it.”

“How could that be? This world is very fair. My power is also something I cultivated painstakingly.”

“Good.” The woman smiled. “Thank you for helping me resolve my doubts.”

“You’re welcome. This adult, isn’t there some misunderstanding between us? My father is the Prefect of Jiang Yong…”

The woman didn’t listen to the end. She extinguished the dry tobacco, stood up from the bench, and walked gracefully towards the outside. She left only one sentence: “Burn him. Burn for a full twelve hours.”

The man surnamed Chen shouted, “No, don’t! Adult, let’s talk this out, we can negotiate the terms!”

But the woman had already left the premises.

Here was a dilapidated temple, covered in cobwebs and dust. The statue’s eyes were corroded away by who knew what, looking forward with empty sockets. Half of its ears had also fallen off, so it likely couldn’t hear prayers.

Three figures, dressed as a fisherman, a merchant, and a laborer, walked in from somewhere. They circled the man tied to the wooden pillar for a moment, carefully calculating the amount, then began to smear a kind of white ointment on his body.

“What are you doing! What are you doing! Why?” The man tied to the wooden pillar struggled desperately. “What are you plotting? Money? I can give it, a lot! Techniques? Weapons? Women? What do you want?”

The fisherman and the laborer made no sound. The person dressed as a merchant leisurely said, “It’s time for you to understand the truth of this world clearly.”

“What truth? What truth! What did I do that you have to treat me like this? Speak up! Say it!”

“That woman? She’s just an ordinary woman, and we are all extraordinary cultivators! Why do you care about ordinary people? Besides, I didn’t kill her; she’s still alive and well! Even if I sinned, my sin doesn’t warrant death. What did I do to deserve death? Whether it’s Xia law, Qi law, or the law of the Three Punishments Palace, my sin doesn’t warrant death! You have to speak according to the law! What are you doing? Don’t smear it on me! Stop! This isn’t fair, this isn’t fair!”

“You’re right.” The person dressed as a merchant covered his mouth with one hand, making his remaining shouts into muffled sounds. With the other hand, he smeared the white ointment all over his face, saying slowly, “Not fair, that is the truth of the world.”

After meticulously finishing the application, he took out a square cloth and began to wipe his hands. After cleaning all five fingers, he placed the white square cloth over the man’s face. With a light flick of his finger, a wisp of flame jumped out, and the ointment on the man’s body began to burn.

Then the three figures filed out. The person dressed as a laborer, walking last, thoughtfully closed the temple door, leaving the agonizing screams of the Jiang Yong Prefect’s son confined within this dilapidated temple.

“He won’t burn to death prematurely, will he?”

“How could that be? The amount I calculated is just right; it will definitely burn for a full twelve hours.”

“I just thought you smeared a little more.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I saw it too.”

“But I wasn’t the only one who smeared it; didn’t you all smear it properly?”

“But the amounts we smeared were all very standard.”

“Mine was also very standard! If you don’t believe me, just stay here and watch; I’ll be responsible for every quarter hour less!”

“Then let’s still go, it’s strangely eerie…”

“No, now you say it’s eerie. Isn’t this corpse incineration paste something you researched?”

“A gentleman stays far from the kitchen, don’t you understand?”

Their voices gradually faded into the distance.

“Will a fair world ever come?”

Who knows who asked.

“Of course.”

Who knows who answered.