79: Ha, how can someone who is ignorant and incompetent become an official!

"Old Zhou, nice! You got in so fast."

Hearing this, Zhou Yan was slightly startled.

You're quick too; it hasn't been long, and you've already maxed out your own favorability rating, jumping straight from "Fellow Daoist Zhou" to "Old Zhou."

Zhou Yan felt quite helpless about this.

Although this Daoist Priest Xiao's ideas were a bit eccentric, his Heart-Nature was genuinely pure and his conduct was indeed good. Thus, Zhou Yan couldn't be bothered to argue; it was just a form of address, so long as he was happy.

So, Zhou Yan followed Xiao Sheng's lead and spoke.

"Uh... Old Xiao."

"Go ahead and enjoy yourself first. I had an appointment with someone earlier; I'll come find you after I've met with him."

Xiao Sheng didn't try to stop him. He smiled, gave a couple of instructions, and then enthusiastically carried his wine pot, weaving through the guests once more.

Zhou Yan watched his busy figure and secretly shook his head.

Xiao Sheng was clearly fooled by that group of Pranksters. They didn't actually want Xiao Sheng to be labor; after all, how could a large Flower Boat like this, which they could afford to run, lack manpower?

They probably just wanted to see the comedic effect produced by a big man wearing women's clothing.

Fortunately, those people didn't harbor much malice, and Xiao Sheng seemed to be enjoying it, having not noticed anything amiss.

Nevertheless, later I should find someone in charge and have a word. Jokes are jokes, but don't actually treat my Daoist Priest as someone living a decent life.

Saying goodbye to Xiao Sheng, Zhou Yan began to pace through the expansive banquet venue, his gaze sweeping around, searching for the Judge Chen whom he had never met.

Inside the venue, the crowd was dense, Immortals and Mortals mingled, Scholars and Cultivators chatted happily, and the faint sounds of music could be heard.

Just as Zhou Yan was focused on finding his target, a young man dressed as a Literati, wearing a Confucian Headscarf and a Wide-sleeved Gown, quietly approached him, using the cover of the crowd without attracting attention.

The young man kept his gaze lowered, appearing to stroll casually, but his steps were precise, constantly adjusting his relative position to Zhou Yan.

"Bang!"

A medium-sized collision sound rang out.

"Ouch!"

The young man cried out in surprise, staggered back half a step, and his face instantly filled with anger.

"What is wrong with you? Don't you watch where you're going?"

Zhou Yan stopped, frowned slightly, and looked at the unfamiliar young man before him.

[Li Jue]

[Rank: Mortal]

[hp: 12 (+600)]

[Special Buff: Great Yu National Fortune Protection (Inferior)]

"National Fortune Protection?"

In the box containing the official uniform, there were also some notes and tips regarding the Great Yu Dynasty. Zhou Yan had flipped through them when bored and had seen descriptions related to the national destiny.

The establishment of a Mortal Dynasty gathers the Luck of the Human Race, which combines to form the national destiny.

Once the national destiny is formed, it naturally protects the collective of Mortals and the leaders under its rule.

Leaders are often considered as important as the Mortal collective, so the common people only receive collective protection, while the leaders receive individual protection.

Although the quality of the buff on this person before him was not high, it was definitely a National Fortune Blessing.

This indicated that he had already entered the official system and was considered a prospective leader, allowing him to enjoy protection that was usually only available to the Mortal collective.

Logically, Zhou Yan, as an official personally appointed by the court, should also have such a buff, but since he had only been an official for a few days, the National Fortune Protection had not yet solidified.

This also proved that the person before him had been in this system for some time to be able to condense the National Fortune Protection.

However, what concerned Zhou Yan more was that the reason the opponent's panel was so clear was due to the person's undisguised malice.

The red enemy marker on the mini-map was extremely noticeable on this boat.

Zhou Yan quickly recalled, confirming that he had never met this person before and had no previous grievances.

So, where did this hostility come from?

This guy was already a red marker before he even bumped into him, which is why Zhou Yan, aided by his Divine Sense, neither dodged nor avoided the collision, letting him run into him.

This person had probably been watching him in secret for a long time, and now was merely looking for an excuse to provoke trouble.

Seeing Zhou Yan merely observing him silently, and not immediately defending himself or apologizing like a normal person, the vexation Li Jue felt from being slighted grew stronger.

His original intention was to provoke Zhou Yan, or at least force him to lose composure, but he didn't expect the other party to be so calm.

"You bump into someone and still act so rude? Are you mute or something!"

Li Jue raised his voice, attempting to attract the attention of those nearby, and simultaneously moved forward, reaching out to push Zhou Yan.

However, to Zhou Yan, who was already at the Foundation Establishment Stage, Li Jue's speed was as slow as a crawling snail.

The gap in life levels between a Cultivator and a Mortal was displayed vividly at this moment.

Zhou Yan didn't even need to use any magical power; he merely took a seemingly casual half-step to the side, and Li Jue missed completely.

Furthermore, affected by inertia, he continued to stumble forward.

As Luck would have it, an official who had just turned around behind Zhou Yan became his "human cushion."

"Oh dear!"

A cry of pain rang out, carrying a mixture of genuine agony and astonishment.

"My old back! Who is so reckless!"

Zhou Yan looked over at the sound, only to see a thin-faced middle-aged man wearing a Subordinate Green Official Robe, grimacing as he rubbed his lower back, with the disheveled Li Jue hanging onto him.

Although Zhou Yan had never personally seen Judge Chen, Huo Zhongshan had already used magical power to outline Judge Chen's appearance inside the Grasshopper Toy, so he immediately recognized this person as the target he was looking for.

"Judge Chen?"

Zhou Yan called out tentatively.

"Scoundrel! Get up quickly!"

Judge Chen forcefully pushed Li Jue away, then awkwardly straightened his official robe, which had been pulled askew, and brushed the dust off himself.

When he turned to face Zhou Yan, Judge Chen had quickly put on a warm yet measured smile. He stepped forward quickly and said in a low voice.

"This must be Censor Zhou Yan, Censor Zhou, correct?"

"I, Chen, have been waiting here for a long time."

"That was a bit rude just now, I hope Censor Zhou can forgive me."

Just as Zhou Yan was about to return the courtesy, Li Jue, who had finally managed to stand steady nearby, spoke first, his tone carrying a hint of Yin and Yang sarcasm.

"I wondered why, earlier at the entrance, I saw this gentleman enter the venue directly without having to take the entry poetry exam. So, he has an official credential!"

He deliberately raised his voice, ensuring that the increasing number of attracted bystanders could clearly hear his words.

"To hold an official position at such a young age, tsk tsk..."

Li Jue shook his head and scanned his gaze between Zhou Yan and Judge Chen.

"I, Li, am untalented, and humbly serve as a Juren of this session. Among my contemporaries and even in recent years, I have never had the honor of meeting a 'Senior Classmate' as young as Your Excellency."

Judge Chen's face darkened, and he scolded, "Li Jue, stop talking nonsense!"

"Censor Zhou is an official formally appointed by the imperial court; how can you speculate about him recklessly?"

However, Li Jue acted as if he had grasped a handle, and far from being afraid, his voice became even more impassioned.

"Oh~"

"He is actually a Lord Censor? My deepest apologies!"

He turned to the growing crowd of Scholars and Cultivators and cupped his hands.

"Everyone heard that! This Lord Zhou is already an official in the Censorate at such a young age, so he must certainly be brilliant and extremely knowledgeable!"

He paused, then turned his gaze toward Zhou Yan, carrying an undisguised sense of challenge.

"Today is the Poetry Gathering, and all the wise men are present. Lord Zhou, I, Li Jue, though lacking in talent and learning, would like to seek some guidance from Your Lordship."

"I wonder if Your Lordship dares to compete with me publicly in poetry and literary talent?"

Without waiting for Zhou Yan's reply, he set the stakes himself, his tone becoming increasingly passionate.

"If I lose, I will certainly kowtow to Lord Zhou and apologize!"

"But if Lord Zhou unfortunately loses..."

He changed the subject and pointed to the Poor Scholars around him who were dressed in relatively simple clothing.

"Then I ask Lord Zhou to explain, in front of all the Scholars present, exactly how you obtained this official position?"

"Did you occupy an opportunity that rightfully belonged to someone who studied diligently in poverty?"

"As the saying goes: Without learning or skill, how can one be an official?"

"Your Lordship wouldn't happen to be the person described in that saying, would you?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the scene erupted in an uproar.

Li Jue's action was not only meant to publicly question Zhou Yan's talent, but also to pin the labels of "Child of the Powerful" and "occupying a quota" onto him.

This was an attempt to incite the emotions of the Poor Scholars present and mold himself into the image of a righteous man who dared to challenge the powerful.

He was certain that because Zhou Yan was young, even if he held an official status, he might not be able to surpass a Juren like himself, who had dedicated years to studying impromptu poetry.

If he could seize this opportunity to publicly defeat a Capital Official, his reputation, Li Jue's, would surely spread rapidly.

Zhou Yan calmly watched Li Jue's performance, having already roughly guessed the other party's scheme.

This was not a simple verbal dispute, but a carefully planned trap, the goal of which was likely to use him to gain fame.

He was new here and had no enmity with this person; there was likely something deeper hiding behind this incident.

And just as Zhou Yan's attention was drawn by the opponent, a hint of dissatisfaction flashed in Judge Chen's eyes.