92: Lantai Secret Garden

The autumn chill deepened, and the leaves of the old elm tree in the courtyard of Wen'an Inn were already mostly dyed golden yellow.

Nearly two months had quietly passed since Su Ming and Xu Qing arrived at Yunshuo Prefecture city.

Xu Qing had returned.

He carried the scent of old book paper mixed with fresh ink.

"Brother Su, I'm back." His voice was slightly hoarse, but his face held irrepressible excitement.

He placed a tightly written scroll of paper on the table, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and drained it in one gulp.

"Hoo... This prefecture city truly is a place where hidden talents reside."

Su Ming put down the book in his hand and looked up at him.

"Tell me about it."

"Hanmo Studio in the east of the city is run by a retired old official who is the most well-informed." Xu Qing's eyes sparkled under the lamplight. "He said that the chief examiner for this Provincial Examination is Vice Minister Wang, who retired and returned to his hometown. This person particularly favors the Slender Gold Script and prefers essays that are sharp and vigorous in style."

"Juwen Pavilion in the south of the city is where scholars from all over gather. I heard that Young Master Li from Jinzhou Prefecture is known as the 'Lesser Saint of Poetry' and can compose on the spot. And Third Son Zhang from Heyang Prefecture writes the Cabinet Style Script divinely; it is said he has already gained the favor of Vice Minister Wang."

"And the west of the city..."

Xu Qing spoke eloquently and endlessly, categorizing and narrating the information he had gathered during this period. From the examiner's preferences to the backgrounds of popular candidates, and even which Stationery Shop had the best Weasel-Hair Brush and which inn housed the most examinees—he covered everything in detail.

He stirred up ripples of his own in the complex web of information surrounding the prefecture city.

Su Ming listened quietly; his powerful Mental Energy allowed him to easily remember every detail and quickly construct a relationship map in his mind.

"Master, Brother Xu is a Genius." Su Ming said inwardly.

"Not a Genius, but a Talent." Lin Yu corrected lazily. "Geniuses are used to break rules, Talents are used to utilize rules."

"Oh right," Xu Qing seemed to recall something, pulling a small slip of paper from his sleeve. "There's also an interesting anecdote."

"That Vice Minister Wang has an uncle, who is also a retired high official. He dislikes calligraphy and painting, and is not fond of music and dance. His only lifelong hobby is collecting all kinds of strange-shaped rocks. I heard that his mansion's back garden is filled with 'Exotic Stones' collected from various places, and he even gave it a special name, 'Garden of a Hundred Stones'."

Su Ming's knuckles tightened slightly on the teacup he held.

Exotic Stones.

"To Mortals, this is an anecdote. To us, this is a 'clue'." Lin Yu's voice carried a hint of amusement. "The probability of one or two Spirit Stones being mixed in with the 'Exotic Stones' of a Family that holds great power and can collect things from all over the world is much higher than finding one on a riverbank."

"However," Lin Yu changed the subject, "don't get any ideas. Even if there are no Cultivators there, that place is not somewhere you can currently investigate. Just make a note of it."

"Disciple understands." Su Ming suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his expression remaining as calm as water.

"Brother Su, the Literary Gathering at Tingyu Tower will be held in three days. The scale is quite large this time; it's said that most of the notable young talents in the prefecture city will attend." Xu Qing handed the invitation to Su Ming. "Boss Liu of Hanmo Studio strongly recommended it, saying it's a rare opportunity."

Su Ming took the invitation, his fingertips brushing the smooth paper surface. Two months of information gathering might find some verification at this Literary Gathering.

"We'll go together." Su Ming smiled. "Just consider it seeing the world."

Three days later, Tingyu Tower.

This was not a restaurant, but a small pavilion built in the center of the lake, with flying eaves, bracket sets, carved beams, and painted rafters, looking quite elegant.

One had to take a small boat to reach it.

When Su Ming and Xu Qing arrived, the pavilion was already crowded with people.

Most were young scholars around twenty years old, all dressed in well-tailored silk robes, wearing scholar's square hats, with jade pendants and sachets hanging from their waists, chatting and laughing in small groups.

The air was filled with the faint fragrance of incense and ink.

Xu Qing wore a faded blue cloth gown that had been washed many times, and Su Ming was also in ordinary cotton robes. The moment they stepped into the pavilion, they were like two drops of clear water falling into boiling oil, instantly attracting many gazes.

Su Ming and Xu Qing completely ignored these gazes; their attention was entirely drawn to the structure of the pavilion and the surrounding environment.

The Breath Concealment Art lowered Su Ming's presence to the minimum, making him seem like an inconspicuous attendant or Book Boy beside Xu Qing.

"Tsk tsk, the Feng Shui of this place is quite good." Lin Yu's voice rang in Su Ming's mind. "Built near the water, the moisture is abundant. Although there's no Spiritual Qi, living here for a long time can nourish the body and mind of Mortals. These scions of influential Families certainly know how to enjoy themselves."

A young Young Master dressed in a sapphire blue brocade robe was being surrounded by the crowd in the center.

He held a Xiangfei Bamboo Fan, his face was fair, but his eyes carried a hint of arrogance.

"That's Wei Ziang, his father is the Prefecture Magistrate's Assistant of the Prefecture Office." Xu Qing introduced in a low voice to Su Ming.

At this moment, Wei Ziang was speaking eloquently and at length.

"...Speaking of the greatest repositories of books in the world, it must be the Lantai Secret Garden in the Capital. My Cousin entered the Hanlin Academy last year and was fortunate enough to see the Secret Garden's catalog—now that is truly vast!"

"I heard that it contains not only the Chronicles of the previous dynasty but also countless rare and valuable editions. And even..." Wei Ziang deliberately paused, creating suspense and enjoying the expectant gazes of the crowd.

He lowered his voice, speaking with a boastful sense of mystery.

"It even houses the Records of Spirits and Strange Objects written by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau of the previous dynasty! What is recorded there are Mountain Spirits, Ghosts, Immortals, and strange tales. Of course, such forbidden books cannot be viewed by anyone other than a Hanlin Scholar; ordinary people don't even have the right to hear about them."

Su Ming's heart abruptly constricted.

Lantai Secret Garden! Records of Spirits and Strange Objects!

These words exploded in his mind like a clap of thunder.

A strong desire nearly surged out from the depths of his heart.

He immediately wanted to grab Wei Ziang and ask for details.

"Calm down!" Lin Yu's voice was like a basin of ice water poured over his head, instantly extinguishing the flame in his heart. "Disciple, restrain your mind! Look at you, your heartbeat is erratic! Your Spiritual Power almost leaked out!"

Su Ming was startled, immediately composed himself, and forced his gaze away from Wei Ziang.

He turned his head and whispered to Xu Qing beside him, "The refreshments in this pavilion smell quite good."

His voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough to be heard by a few people nearby. His tone was calm, as if he had truly only come to join the fun and was completely uninterested in the shocking secret just revealed.

Xu Qing was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood Su Ming's intention and nodded cooperatively: "Yes, it smells like Osmanthus Cake."

Wei Ziang had originally wanted to enjoy the shocked or envious expressions of these two Poor Scholars, but instead, he only saw them discussing food. He immediately felt like punching cotton wool, let out a dull snort, and turned his head away.

Su Ming picked up a cup of tea and took a small sip. The warm tea slid down his throat, soothing his turbulent emotions.

Lantai Secret Garden.

He memorized this name.

This became a more specific and determined goal on his path to the Imperial Examination.

The subsequent proceedings of the Literary Gathering were the conventional poetry recitation and couplet matching.

Xu Qing did not hide his abilities, but he did not try to steal the spotlight either. He composed a Seven-Character Regulated Verse poem praising autumn; its meter was precise and the Concept was fresh and distant, drawing a few moderate praises, successfully integrating him into the circle.

As for Su Ming, he remained silent throughout, merely helping Xu Qing grind the ink when he composed his poem, acting like the most dutiful Book Boy.

No one paid him any more attention... After returning from Tingyu Tower, Su Ming did not go elsewhere but spent most of his time around the Prefecture School.

He avoided the bustling Bookstores and specifically chose secluded alleys to observe the people and happenings around the Prefecture School.

That afternoon, Su Ming was walking slowly along the tall wall of the Prefecture School.

The autumn sunlight filtered through the old locust tree by the wall, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Suddenly, he stopped.

His Spiritual Sense captured a trace of unusual fluctuation.

That fluctuation was very faint and cold, completely different from all the mixed auras around. It wasn't hot like a Martial Artist's Vital Energy, nor chaotic like an ordinary person's, but like a tame, extremely small stream, carrying a unique sense of order.

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat.

He looked in the direction of the sensation.

Not far away, a young scholar wearing a faded blue gown was carrying several scrolls and walking out of the side gate of the Prefecture School.

He looked two or three years older than Su Ming, his figure was thin, his face slightly pale, and a Lingering Melancholy hung between his brows, making him appear somewhat aloof.

He walked very slowly, seemingly immersed in his own world, indifferent to everything around him.

That trace of cold fluctuation came from an inconspicuous black Jade Pendant hanging from his waist.

The Jade Pendant's material was ordinary, even somewhat rough, but engraved on it was a Rune that Su Ming did not understand but could feel the energy flowing through it.

That was a Magical Artifact!

Although it was a low-grade, auxiliary Magical Artifact that probably only served for Focusing the Mind and Calming the Spirit.

But it was genuinely something belonging to another world.

Su Ming's breathing instantly became somewhat rapid.

This was the first time he had personally seen someone in reality who might be related to "Immortals"!

Subconsciously, he wanted to step forward and ask.

"Stop!"

Lin Yu's reprimand exploded in Su Ming's mind like a thunderclap.

"What are you trying to do? Rush up and ask, 'Fellow Daoist, where did you buy this Magical Artifact?' Do you think this is buying cabbage at the vegetable market?!"

Lin Yu's voice was filled with the rage of disappointment.

"Did you feed The Way of Cautious Survival True Explanation I taught you to the dogs? Unknown enemy situation, do not act rashly! You don't even know who he is, his background, or his temperament, yet you dare to approach him? What if he has a Golden Core Stage Grandmaster behind him? What if he is a murderous Demonic Cultivator? What if he takes you for a Robber trying to steal his treasure and attacks first?"

The series of "what ifs" instantly calmed Su Ming down.

A layer of fine cold sweat seeped onto his forehead.

He had indeed been impulsive.

The excitement of finding a "Kindred Spirit" almost made him forget that his greatest reliance was never courage, but caution.

"Master, I..."

"What 'I'! Stand still right where you are, focus your eyes on your nose, and your nose on your heart, and pretend you saw nothing!" Lin Yu commanded. "Wait until he's far away before you speak!"

Su Ming took a deep breath, forced himself to turn around, and pretended to study a nest of ants in the corner of the wall.

His heart was still pounding rapidly.

Only when that cold aura completely disappeared around the corner did he slowly straighten up.

"Master, Disciple knows his mistake."

"It's good that you know your mistake." Lin Yu's tone softened, carrying the weariness of having taught a lesson. "Disciple, you must remember. In the World of Cultivation, curiosity kills the cat, and it will certainly kill you. Any Cultivator who lives long is a Master of disguise and a reconnaissance expert. Before you have absolute certainty, the best response is to ignore."

That evening, Su Ming described the appearance of that scholar in detail to Xu Qing.

"A young man carrying several old scrolls, coming out of the Prefecture School's side gate, pale-faced, and aloof?"

Xu Qing pondered for a moment. "I think I know who you are talking about."

"Oh?"

"His name is Yan Zisu. He belongs to the Yan Family of Yunshuo Prefecture." Xu Qing explained. "The Yan Family, strictly speaking, is considered an old established Family. But that's ancient history from a hundred years ago; they have long since declined. I heard that their ancestors produced several 'Fangshi' skilled in painting and Talismans, and they even drew House-Guarding Talismans for a Prince of the previous dynasty, enjoying prestige for a time."

Fangshi!

Su Ming's heart leaped once more.

"Unfortunately, somehow the Yan Family declined with each generation. By Yan Zisu's generation, the clansmen scattered, and the Family wealth was exhausted. He is the only one left, guarding the Ancestral Home, maintaining a nominal presence at the Prefecture School, barely scraping by on some Inherited Assets."

Xu Qing sighed, showing some sympathy in his words.

"This person is aloof and doesn't socialize. He spends all day poring over Ancient Texts he dug up from who knows where, and his academic achievements haven't been notable either. His Classmates at the Prefecture School all consider him an Oddball."

Su Ming listened silently.

Yan Zisu. A declining Fangshi Family.

These fragments of information pieced together a vague outline in his mind.

A lonely explorer guarding Ancestral Heritage but unable to find the entrance.

Wasn't this just another version of himself?

"Brother Su, why are you interested in this person?" Xu Qing asked curiously.

"Nothing much, I just happened to see him today and thought his demeanor was a bit unique." Su Ming replied casually.

He did not ask further.

The information was sufficient.

He knew that this Yan Zisu would be the long-term, key target he needed to observe discreetly in this prefecture city.

That night, Su Ming sat cross-legged on the bed, but his mind could not be completely calm.

Lantai Secret Garden, Yan Zisu.

Two clues: one far away in the Capital, high above the Imperial Court; the other close at hand, yet hidden among the Common Folk.

They both pointed toward the mysterious World of Cultivation.

"Master, I feel... the path seems a little clearer."

Lin Yu's voice was calm. "You may observe Yan Zisu, but you must never make contact."

Lin Yu changed the subject, his tone becoming lighter.

"Disciple, the most important thing right now is still the Provincial Examination a month from now."