Chapter Forty: The Idol!

"Brother, are these all men heading to the capital for the imperial examinations?"

The female family members were naturally separated from the men by a second campfire, situated slightly further back. After inquiring about some details, Zhang Rui rose and went over to the family side, leaving the other fire to the scholars and the guards who had come to rest.

Compared to Zhang Rui, a sorcerer who might be tainted with evil spirits, the tall, imposing guards made the scholars—men who held the status of *juren*—feel much more at ease. In their hearts, they wished Zhang Rui would simply stay away.

Zhang Rui was a man of perception; he had no intention of making himself unwelcome. Upon returning to the family group, he found a spot with a good view and closed his eyes to rest, using the time to contemplate the true motives of the man surnamed Yang.

He had not expected his restless younger sister to sidle up to him just as he was lost in thought.

"What is it?" Zhang Rui opened his eyes. He noticed their mother looking over from nearby and sighed, instantly understanding what they were thinking.

"Mother wants you to... spend more time getting to know them," Zhang Meng whispered, her face reddening.

Zhang Rui curled his lip. Before they had even left, his mother had made it clear: if possible, she wanted her daughter to find a husband among the scholars heading to the capital.

The reason was simple. The family could not hope to marry into the prestigious, high-ranking households of the capital. Although Zhang Rui had become a capital official, he was merely a low-ranking sixth-grade functionary, which meant little in a city teeming with nobles. Combined with their modest family background, finding a truly excellent match was unrealistic.

Conversely, the scholars heading to the capital offered a much broader range of possibilities. Every *juren* had the qualifications to eventually become a *jinshi*—they were "potential stocks" for the future. With Zhang Rui’s status as a capital official, he was well-positioned; while he might not land a scion of a top-tier family, finding a *juren* from a respectable, well-to-do household was well within their grasp.

Zhang Meng was more than happy with her mother’s proposal. Since her brother had become an official, the unmarried women of the family stood to benefit the most. Her third sister had married early; even with their eldest brother’s new position, she remained stuck in her husband’s village, still feeding pigs, her life’s trajectory largely unchanged.

Zhang Meng, however, had come of age at the perfect time. Her brother was already a capital official before her marriage, providing her with a range of choices far superior to what her third sister had ever known. This was why she had agreed without hesitation when her mother suggested breaking off her previous engagement.

Her former fiancé had been a local scholar from a reasonably well-off family—already an improvement over her third sister’s situation—but the prospect of marrying a *juren* was a different matter entirely. If she were lucky and her husband passed the *jinshi* examinations and became a county magistrate like her brother, she would instantly transform into a Magistrate’s Lady. Her fate would be as different from her third sister’s as heaven is from earth.

"Moderation is key," Zhang Rui said in a low voice. "I am only a sixth-grade official, and it is uncertain whether any of them will even pass the *jinshi* exam. Being too eager will only make us look desperate."

Zhang Meng pouted at this, but their mother, who had been listening, nodded. "True. My son is such a young official; he has already been courteous to them, which is enough. Too much enthusiasm would indeed be improper." She turned to her daughter. "Don't be impatient. Once we reach the capital, your brother will have plenty of chances to interact with those scholars. He will naturally find someone suitable for you."

Zhang Meng grinned and giggled foolishly.

"Compose yourself! Look at you!" Their mother tapped the girl on the forehead, and Zhang Rui shook his head with a faint smile.

Compared to their second brother, Zhang Yu, the fourth girl was clearly more pragmatic, though her mind was not complex; she was often a bit naive. Honestly, he worried that she would be mistreated if she married a scholar. Unfortunately, neither his mother nor his sister would listen to reason. He could only hope that his own career would continue to run smoothly so that he could provide her with the support she needed, ensuring she wouldn't suffer too much.

However, Zhang Rui had no intention of considering anyone from that group outside.

The scholar surnamed Yang behaved strangely. Leading his fellow students to this specific spot felt calculated, and his motives seemed far from simple. Zhang Rui’s arrival had been an accident, which was why the man had gone out of his way to alienate the scholars from him. After today, Zhang Rui decided he would depart at the crack of dawn. If any of them wanted to follow, he could look after them on the road; if they were foolish enough to stay, he likely wouldn't see them in the capital again.

***

"Brother Yang, I think that Magistrate Zhang might be annoyed with us."

With the group growing larger, a third campfire had been lit. The guards and the scholars couldn't find common ground for conversation, so they sat with the coachmen instead, leaving the scholars in the furthest corner, where they could speak more freely.

"I think so too..." a plump scholar agreed, chewing on dry rations.

The others rolled their eyes. Obviously. A young official from the capital had treated them with such grace—providing hot soup and inviting them to warm themselves by the fire—only to be met with such cold indifference. Anyone would be annoyed.

"Let him be," Yang Jie said dismissively. "We aren't on the same path anyway."

"That is true," many agreed.

Only Qi Xuan, who had been the first to greet Zhang Rui, frowned inwardly. At first, they had been rattled by the mention of the official’s status as a sorcerer, and they had followed Yang Jie’s lead in shunning him. But now, he wondered if that had been necessary. The man had been kind; why offend him just because he was a sorcerer?

In the officialdom, the world was dominated by sorcerers; the highest positions in the imperial court could only be held by them. Could one really afford to offend a superior just because of that? Now that he thought about it, it seemed Yang Jie had been guiding them from the start, including now—many of them were subconsciously following his rhythm.

With this thought, Qi Xuan smiled. "By the way, I haven't asked before: Brother Yang has only been at Yuzhang Academy for a year, right? Where did you study before?"

"I was at an obscure little academy. After passing the *juren* exam, I studied on my own. I didn't even attend the local prefectural school, mostly to ease the burden on my family," Yang Jie sighed. "I was too arrogant, thinking I could pass the *jinshi* exam on my own. Now I see I underestimated the scholars of the world. Had I known, I would have been ruthless and spent the money to enter Yuzhang Academy six years ago."

"I see..." The others nodded. Most of them came from average backgrounds. The tuition at Yuzhang Academy was not cheap; it was unaffordable for sons of farmers, and even for those from well-off families like theirs, a few extra years of study were a heavy burden. Wanting to help one's family was only natural.

But Qi Xuan frowned slightly. Anyone who could pass the *juren* exam would have the support of local gentry. By that stage, one would gamble everything to secure a *jinshi* title while still young. The least one could do was marry into a wealthy family to fund a top-tier education. If he had been a *juren* six or seven years ago, he would have been in his early twenties—surely, some local gentry would have been willing to invest in him?

"Are you married, Brother Yang?" Qi Xuan asked.

"Why the sudden question?" Yang Jie looked up and smiled. For some reason, as Yang Jie looked over, a chill ran down Qi Xuan's spine.

"Oh, it’s just that we’ve known each other for over a year and I’ve never seen your wife visit. I was just curious. I assumed you were married, but if not, I might have a recommendation."

"Haha, I didn't know you were a matchmaker, Qi Xuan," the plump man chimed in. "I know everyone you know. If Brother Yang isn't married, which lady were you planning to introduce?"

Qi Xuan shot the fat man a look, then turned back with a smile. "I have an elder sister. If Brother Yang is unmarried, perhaps you could consider meeting her..."

"Uh..." The fat man choked and fell silent.

The others looked on curiously. Qi Xuan clearly came from a wealthy background and was the youngest among them. Their teacher had said that Qi Xuan had at least a seventy percent chance of passing the *jinshi* exam this time. Why would he not ask one of the other young men for his sister, but instead approach an old *juren* in his thirties?

Seeing their confusion, Qi Xuan gave a bitter smile. "It’s like this: my sister... was engaged before, but her fiancé passed away from a sudden illness before the wedding. Because of this, no one has asked for her hand in three years."

"Oh..." The group understood instantly.

The reputation of "cursing one's husband to death" before the wedding was indeed unfavorable, but given Qi Xuan’s family status and his own potential, he was more than a match for Yang Jie.

"I see..." The coldness in Yang Jie’s eyes vanished, replaced by a gentle smile. "It is rare for you to think so highly of me, Brother Qi. I am indeed unmarried. If I pass the exam, I would be honored to visit and meet her."

"Brother Yang, what are you saying?" Qi Xuan said righteously. "If we are discussing marriage, there should be sincerity. If you agree, our Qi family will not back down regardless of whether you pass the exam. Moreover, if the meeting goes well, our family can support you in continuing your studies at Yuzhang Academy. What do you think?"

This... The group looked on in astonishment. Qi Xuan was showing great sincerity. It seemed his sister’s marriage prospects were truly dire. Was she unattractive? But Qi Xuan himself looked so refined.

"Very well!" Yang Jie laughed heartily. "Since Brother Qi thinks so highly of me, it would be hypocritical to refuse. After the metropolitan examination, regardless of the outcome, I will pay a visit to the Qi residence."

"It's a deal!" Qi Xuan smiled as well.

Though his smile was hearty, his heart was ice-cold. This Yang Jie... there was definitely something wrong with him!

"Everyone, please rest. I must excuse myself for a moment."

"Take your time, Brother Yang," Qi Xuan said with concern. "It’s dark outside. Should I have a coachman accompany you...?"

"I’m not that delicate," Yang Jie waved him off and headed straight into the darkness.

Qi Xuan watched his retreating figure, his smile fading as he began to calculate.

After stepping out, Yang Jie headed toward the back of the temple. He circled until he reached the rear wall, checked behind him for a long time, and confirmed no one was watching. He pressed a spot on the wall, and to his surprise, a hidden mechanism in the dilapidated temple wall operated silently.

The section of the wall moved, and it opened to the space directly behind the temple’s main idol.

The idol worshipped in the temple was the widely known Lady Qingfeng, one of the ninety-six orthodox deities of the Taoist pantheon in this world, who governed the wind and rain of the four seasons. She shared the same duties as the Dragon God of the sea, and northern folk prayed to her for favorable weather.

But no one could have imagined that there was another side to the benevolent-looking idol.

It appeared to be Lady Qingfeng as well, but the carving was sinister, with fangs and a grotesque, eerie smile that made one’s hair stand on end at a single glance.

Yang Jie cut his wrist with a blade, letting the blood drip beneath the idol. He knelt and performed three kowtows, chanting, "Yang Jie of the Ghost Gate, humbly begs for the Lady to manifest her divinity!"

At that moment, unknown to Yang Jie, a thin, slight figure watched from a blind spot in the distance. It was Murong Yunji.

"Hmm... That fellow surnamed Zhang was right. There really is something wrong..."