Chapter 410: The Announcement, Top Scholar Jiang Ning!

Chapter 410: The Announcement, Top Scholar Jiang Ning!



February 11, 2025

The evening sky was like molten gold pouring down, turning the heavens into a blazing sea of crimson.

Among the clouds, a vermillion bird seemed to spread its wings, and the golden-red glow descended from the heavens, coating the bluestone path beneath them in a layer of gilt.

"Uncle, do you think you can be the top scholar?" Jiang Yiming asked on their way back, "If you become the top scholar, does that mean you can ride a horse through the streets?"

"We'll find out tomorrow when the martial talent list is announced!" Jiang Ning strolled with his hands behind his back, the dark patterns on his black costume faintly visible in the glow of the sunset.

He didn't really care much about being the top scholar in the martial talent exam.

For him, becoming a martial talented scholar was enough.

Firstly, he would gain official recognition, and secondly, he would also qualify to participate in the summer provincial examination in the prefectural city.

That was the key.

As for the top scholar of the Dongling County martial talent exam, in his opinion, it was just a fancy title.

Moreover, with Yan Youjiao also receiving three top-tier evaluations, Jiang Ning felt that his chances of becoming the top scholar in the junior martial talent exam were slim.

It was easy to manipulate the martial talent exam's written portion.

And Yan Youjiao was the second son of Yan Duwei.

With Yan Duwei's presence, Jiang Ning didn't hold out much hope.

Even without mentioning the rift between him and Yan Duwei, or the fact that he had intercepted and killed Cao Rong, a capable general under Yan Duwei.

The father-son relationship between Yan Duwei and Yan Youjiao alone was enough to ensure that Yan Youjiao had a 90% chance of becoming the top scholar.

Back at home, the twilight sky was filled with curling kitchen smoke. Liu Wanwan stood at the doorway, her silver hairpin reflecting the evening glow.

On the Eight Immortals table in the front hall, steamed sugar and vinegar carp emitted white mist.

Facing the sumptuous dinner that had been prepared, the two of them ate heartily.

The martial talent exam had lasted almost an entire day.

In their hungry state, they could only rely on the dry food they carried to satisfy their hunger.

The next morning, Jiang Yiming rushed into the courtyard barefoot.

His clothes were damp from the morning dew, and he brought with him gusts of wind.

"Uncle!"

He rushed into the courtyard and saw Jiang Ning, a misty glow cascading from his head, and light bursting forth from every pore of his body.

"Uncle!"

Jiang Yiming spoke again, looking at Jiang Ning, who seemed like a celestial being, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration.

Jiang Ning slowly opened his eyes.

"What's the matter?"

"Uncle, the martial talent exam results will be announced at the fourth quarter of the morning!"

Seeing Jiang Yiming's eager anticipation, Jiang Ning didn't want to dampen his enthusiasm.

"It's still early!" He glanced at the sundial again and continued, "It's just the beginning of the fourth quarter, and there's still half an hour left!"

"Uncle, if we go any later, we won't be able to get a spot in the front row to see the list!"

Jiang Ning smiled, "Don't worry, with me here, I'll naturally get you a spot in the front row. Going early just wastes time!"

"And you haven't even had breakfast yet, what's the rush!"

Hearing this, Jiang Yiming said, "Then I'll go and tell my mother to hurry up with breakfast!"

With that, he dashed off.

Seeing Jiang Yiming's excitement, Jiang Ning shook his head and then smiled faintly.

The boy's vitality and enthusiasm were infectious.

Soon after, a crimson and black grinding wheel expanded from within his body.

The grinding wheel slowly turned, and where the crimson and black met, it also slowly rotated.

In his ears, the sound of roaring flames and surging waves echoed.

In the blink of an eye, the water and fire grinding wheel completely covered his body.

"Still not enough!"

Boom—

The water and fire grinding wheel continued to expand, growing larger.

At this moment, reality and illusion merged, and illusions transformed.

After the water and fire grinding wheel expanded to three feet, it reached its limit at a size of one zhang, and it became a solid grinding wheel that slowly turned.

At the second quarter of the morning, Jiang Ning and Jiang Yiming stepped out of the gate.

At this time, Xiaodoubao also tightly held onto Jiang Ning's finger with his little fist.

"Take it slow on the way there!" Liu Wanwan instructed.

"Mother, you don't have to worry about that! I have Uncle here!" Jiang Yiming said.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry, with me here, nothing will happen to them!" Jiang Ning also spoke up.

"Then go early and come back early!" Liu Wanwan said, and then added, "I heard that the top scholar will have a banquet, should I prepare the wine and food in advance?"

"No need!" Jiang Ning shook his head, "I probably won't be able to get the top scholar title! And even if I do, there's no need to hold the banquet at home, it's an official event."

"Uncle, I believe in you! No one is more deserving of the top scholar title than you!" Jiang Yiming said earnestly.

Jiang Ning smiled but remained silent.

Outside the training ground, it was almost time for the announcement.

The place was already crowded with people.

Some came alone to wait for the results, while others brought their entire families, filled with anticipation.

"Uncle, how are we going to squeeze through this crowd?" Jiang Yiming looked at the sea of heads in front of him, his face filled with frustration.

"Follow me!" Jiang Ning instructed.

He then bent down and picked up Little Bean.

Jiang Ning headed towards the crowd.

In an instant, a gentle force emanated from his body, causing the crowd to part.

Jiang Yiming quickly followed behind Jiang Ning.

The people who were nudged by Jiang Ning's True Energy turned around and, upon seeing him, quietly took half a step back.

Everyone present was a martial artist, and they couldn't help but recognize Jiang Ning's exceptional skills, especially those who had witnessed his consecutive top-grade performances in the training ground the day before.

Moments later, Jiang Ning, carrying Little Bean, had pushed through to the very front of the crowd, just one zhang away from the bulletin board where the results would be posted.

"Uncle, you're amazing!" Jiang Yiming exclaimed as he squeezed out from behind.

Jiang Ning smiled but remained silent.

At the same time, the commotion caused by Jiang Ning's arrival caught the attention of two people standing diagonally across from him.

One of them was Yan Youjiao, the second son of Yan Duwei.

The other was Yan Youhu, the youngest son of Yan Duwei.

"Big brother, congratulations! After today, you'll have made our father proud!" Yan Youhu exclaimed with emotion.

His words were met with silence.

Yan Youhu turned to look at his third brother, only to see him gazing off to the side.

He followed his brother's gaze.

His eyes suddenly froze.

It's him! Seeing Jiang Ning, he couldn't help but recall everything that had transpired at the Wu Yuan Martial Arts Tower.

"Big brother!" Yan Youhu spoke up again.

Yan Youjiao slowly turned around.

"Big brother, are you worried that he'll take the top spot?" Yan Youhu asked.

"I'm not worried!" Yan Youjiao shook his head. "Since he didn't surpass me in the first three events, there's no way he can beat me in the essay score!"

At this moment, Yan Youjiao was brimming with confidence.

It was as if he was speaking to his own younger brother, yet also to the distant Jiang Ning.

"Uncle!" Jiang Yiming began.

Jiang Ning patted his shoulder. "Stay calm, the results will be out soon. Whether I get the top spot or not doesn't matter to me!"

"Okay, Uncle!" Jiang Yiming nodded.

After a moment, a small gate opened, and a soldier in armor stepped out.

Everyone's attention immediately shifted to the silk fabric in his hand.

Some began breathing heavily, others clenched their fists, and many displayed various signs of extreme tension.

They knew that their future lay in that small list.

The comprehensive evaluation of the top grade meant that they had secured a place in the martial arts examination and would gain official recognition and a different status.

It also meant they had a chance to advance further in the martial arts examination.

The soldier walked towards the bulletin board, and under everyone's watchful eyes, he slowly climbed the prepared steps.

He then hung the yellow silk list and turned his gaze to the sundial on the east side of the training ground.

At the fourth mark of the Hour of the Dragon, the results would be announced.

The sun slowly rose, and the sundial's needle slowly shifted.

When the sundial's shadow pointed to the fourth mark of the Hour of the Dragon, the soldier suddenly struck the nearby drum with one hand.

As the drum's sound reverberated, the soldier released the hand holding the yellow silk list.

In an instant, the yellow silk list unfurled like a cloud dragon, and the ink characters gleamed with a golden-iron luster in the morning light.

"How can this be!"

Yan Youjiao's face showed disbelief as he saw the three enlarged and bolded names at the top of the list.

His hands clenched tightly, and veins snaked like snakes around his knuckles.

Yan Youhu also froze in surprise.

"Top graduate of the martial arts examination, Jiang Ning!" the soldier's voice boomed like a bell.

But before he could finish, his words were drowned out by the crowd's exclamations.

"I was right, the top graduate is indeed him!" someone exclaimed, beaming with satisfaction.

"This can't be! Yan Youjiao is the son of a Duwei, and he tied with Jiang Ning in all three outdoor events. How can he not be the top graduate?" an experienced person asked, perplexed.

"I won! I won!"

"Haha! I won too! I won!"

In an instant, the cheers drowned out the discussions.

Jiang Ning's face also showed surprise.

"Uncle, you really are the top graduate!" Jiang Yiming exclaimed, his face filled with excitement. Seeing his name missing from the list, he felt no disappointment.

His failure was already expected.

The outdoor evaluation results had dashed any hope of him becoming a Martial Talented Scholar.

Jiang Ning shook his head, "I never expected this! With Commander Yan present, who would have thought I'd still get the top spot?"

"You're amazing, Dudu!" The little girl, who was in Jiang Ning's arms, had bright eyes, filled with admiration.

At this moment, the little girl also realized that Jiang Ning was at the top of the rankings.

Jiang Ning smiled and pinched her chubby cheeks.

"Let's go, let's head back!" He then said.

"Okay!" Jiang Yiming nodded and followed behind Jiang Ning.

The crowd was suddenly pushed back by an invisible force as Jiang Ning led Jiang Yiming out of the bustling center.

On the other side.

From the county government's main gate.

A group of people, beating drums and gongs, made their way towards the mansion where Jiang Ning resided.

This was a group sent to deliver the good news and plaque to the residence of the top military scholar.

Being the top military scholar was an immense honor.

When Jiang Ning and Jiang Yiming returned to their mansion.

They saw that many people, including children, had gathered outside their residence.

"Uncle, it seems the group delivering the good news has arrived before us!"

Jiang Ning nodded, "That's probably the case."

"Young Master!" Lvyi, who was waiting at the entrance, quickly greeted Jiang Ning upon seeing him.

"Give these children some candies and copper coins!" Jiang Ning instructed.

"Yes, Young Master!" Lvyi responded promptly.

Then she turned back to prepare inside the mansion.

After that, the two of them stepped over the threshold and entered the front courtyard.

"Higher, higher!" Jiang Ning immediately noticed Jiang Li directing the workers in the front yard.

Two workers were holding a plaque high, intending to hang it above the main entrance of the hall.

On the dark plaque.

The two large characters 'Top Scholar' were prominently displayed.

At this moment, Jiang Li's face was flushed with pride.

"Dad, Mom!" The little girl, holding Jiang Ning's finger, spoke first.

As her voice rang out, Liu Wanyuan and Jiang Li turned around.

"Little brother, you've come at the perfect time!" Jiang Li's face was still flushed with excitement as he strode over.

Jiang Ning's achievement of gaining official rank brought him more joy than ever before.

Even compared to the honor brought by Zhao Yulong's previous visit, the top military scholar in the preliminary examination was even more significant.

But for him, achieving official rank held a completely different meaning.

"Big brother, big sister-in-law!" Jiang Ning, seeing Jiang Li and Liu Wanyuan, released the little girl's hand, allowing her to run towards Liu Wanyuan with excitement.

"Little brother, the messenger with the good news is waiting for you in the hall!" Jiang Li spoke again.

Jiang Ning nodded, "Let's go there first!"

"Okay!" Jiang Li nodded.

Entering the front hall.

An elderly man with a goatee and muttonchop sideburns stood up to greet Jiang Ning upon seeing him.

"Congratulations, Commander Jiang!"

As his words fell, the old man took out a note from his sleeve and presented it to Jiang Ning with both hands.

"Commander Jiang, the top scholar banquet will be held at Zhaixing Tower on the eighth floor tonight, starting at the fourth quarter of the ninth hour. Please don't be late, Commander Jiang!"

Jiang Ning took the note and nodded, "I will be there on time."

He knew that the top scholar banquet was a tradition and custom.

Although he wasn't particularly interested in it, there was no need to be unconventional.

Moreover, as far as he knew, all the officials and nobles attending the banquet would bring gifts, which would amount to a considerable income.

Seeing Jiang Ning nod and take the note, the old man immediately waved his sleeves and bowed.

"The matter has been handed over, so I'll take my leave!"

"Wait!" Jiang Ning spoke up.

The old man stopped in his tracks and then saw Jiang Ning take out a silver ticket.

"Please accept this as a token of appreciation for the messenger's hard work."

The old man's eyes discreetly glanced at the amount on the ticket.

Upon seeing that it was worth a hundred taels, a hint of joy appeared on his face.

He silently took the silver ticket from Jiang Ning and slipped it into his sleeve.

"Commander Jiang, you're so generous!"

The old man then left the front hall with a smile on his face.

At the same time.

Jiang Ning also heard the cheers of the children outside the mansion walls and the pleasant sound of copper coins falling.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

On the other side.

In the military camp's tent.

"Father, I don't understand!" Yan Youjiao clenched his fists, and the veins on his tightly gripped fingers coiled like snakes.

"You don't need to understand!" Commander Yan looked at his second son and said calmly.

"Father, I'm your son!" Yan Youjiao glared, his voice filled with anger.

"I know!" Commander Yan nodded.

"Since you know, why won't you help me?" Yan Youjiao asked, his tone filled with accusation.

"Since you know I'm your father, you shouldn't speak to me like this!" Commander Yan said calmly.

"Father, I'm not satisfied! I'm not satisfied at all!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end