Chapter 145: Fourth Round
Gong Changan went to the back and saw three small main houses, much smaller than those in the front.
Walking in, he saw the furnishings were elegant, with dim sum and tea already laid out on the table.
“Wait here!” said the person who brought him, smiling. “Help yourself if you’re thirsty or hungry.”
Gong Changan thanked him and touched his stomach, which was indeed empty.
He sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and slowly ate the dim sum.
After eating and drinking his fill, a long time passed without anyone else coming in. He couldn’t help but yawn and curled up on the chair for a nap.
It was more than half an hour after Gong Changan entered that someone else arrived. Gong Changan saw it was the person named Ye Guanghan.
“Is it just you? Why aren’t the others here?” Gong Changan asked.
“Those who were eliminated have already left from the front. Only those who have advanced to the next round of the competition come to the back,” Ye Guanghan smiled at him. “Didn’t you know?”
“I didn’t ask, and no one told me. I still haven’t passed,” Gong Changan scratched his head.
“He’s still just a child,” Ye Guanghan laughed. “But you are indeed very clever.”
He sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and ate a few pieces of dim sum.
Seeing a chessboard on a nearby table, he invited Gong Changan for a game.
After they finished two games of chess, another person came in. This person also went straight for something to eat upon entering.
It was already past noon, and everyone was hungry.
By the time of the hour of the monkey, a total of seven people had arrived.
“I’m the last one,” said a person named Li Jia. “There are only seven people left for the fourth round.”
Eleven people were eliminated in this round, leaving only a few.
The crowd waiting outside surrounded each person who came out, asking questions.
Some of these eliminated individuals were filled with shame and anger, unwilling to talk further, and left.
Others were completely unconcerned, standing there chatting and laughing with the crowd.
“Oh my, the questions were truly tricky,” everyone couldn’t help but sigh after hearing them.
Zhu Hui stood there, staring straight ahead.
Feng Tianzhu and a few other youngsters gathered around him. Qiao Ziyu shook his head and said, “They all say Lord Zhu is unapproachable, but I don’t think that’s necessarily true. He cares about Changan just as much as we do.”
“I can see he cares a lot. I’m just a little worried about his neck; it seems to have stretched by two inches in this short time,” Feng Tianzhu said in a low voice.
“Chang Shun, we’re hungry. Go get us something to eat,” Xu Mang instructed his follower. “Get something hot; it’s a bit cold today.”
It was already the end of September, and it was indeed a bit cold, but no one was willing to leave.
Soon, the follower brought a lot of food. Qiao Ziyu cupped a portion in his hands and offered it to Lord Zhu: “Please enjoy, my lord.”
Zhu Hui looked at it, then fumbled in his sleeve and took out some money to hand to Qiao Ziyu: “Thank you, thank you, but I can’t eat your food for free.”
Only after Qiao Ziyu accepted the money did he pick up the bowl and slowly drink the noodle soup.
In the past, when San Jing Academy selected disciples, he had never been so concerned.
But this year was different. He had originally thought Gong Changan was just here to play. Who would have thought he could easily pass the first test?
This surprised him greatly, thinking the child was exceptionally intelligent. However, he didn’t hold out much hope, as there were still several written tests to come, and Gong Changan was too young.
But to his surprise, he passed the second round as well. He waited a long time for the third round but didn’t see him come out.
The longer time passed, the greater his expectations became. If this child could truly enter San Jing Academy, then…
He told himself not to indulge in fanciful thoughts, but he couldn’t help but wander his mind.
Finally, the last person to be eliminated also walked out.
Mister Hua Ying came out to announce the list of those entering the fourth round. Gong Changan’s name was first.
“Amazing! Changan! Truly worthy of being my sworn brother!” Feng Tianzhu, unable to even swallow his rice, sprayed it everywhere.
The other few were also greatly encouraged: “Amazing! Truly amazing! Changan is really something!”
These children were genuinely happy for Gong Changan, without a trace of jealousy.
“Hehehe, we’ve gained face too! If I hadn’t insisted on coming today, how could Changan have participated in the written test?” Qiao Ziyu said proudly. “When people find out our brother has entered San Jing Academy, hey! I’ll make sure they’re so envious their eyes turn red!”
“You’re the number one contributor!” Xu Mang said. “It’s truly thanks to you.”
“Lord Zhu, you’ve spilled your soup,” Feng Tianzhu reminded Zhu Hui while wiping his hands. “It’s burning my hand.”
“Oh, oh!” Zhu Hui suddenly woke up and quickly righted the bowl. “Sorry, sorry.”
In fact, it wasn’t just them who were happy; everyone else was also discussing Gong Changan.
“This child from the Gong Family is truly remarkable! The younger generation is to be feared! The younger generation is to be feared!”
“That child looks smart at first glance, definitely not someone who will stay in the shallows!”
But Gong Changan couldn’t hear these discussions. At this moment, the seven of them had been led to an open space.
Around them were placed weapons like swords and spears, bows and arrows, as well as stone blocks.
“This looks like a training ground?” everyone said. “Are we going to be tested on martial arts?”
Then, the tutors, all wearing cloaks, arrived. The group immediately bowed respectfully.
“Everyone, the fourth round is also the final round of the competition,” Mister Hua Ying said with a smile. “This fourth round will not test literary skills or mathematics, but rather your physical strength.
You only need to demonstrate one skill you excel at in this area, and if it catches the tutors’ eyes, you will pass.”
The few people looked at each other. Some of them clearly looked like pale scholars, lacking the strength to even kill a chicken.
They usually only focused on studying, so when had they ever trained their bodies?
But since they had come this far, they had no choice but to try.
They lined up according to age and took turns entering the arena.
Xiao Manlang was the first. After much consideration, he felt he couldn’t wield swords or spears, but he had pulled a bow a few times.
So he picked up the bow and arrow, and immediately a disciple from the academy set up an archery target.
Xiao Manlang pulled the bow with all his might, aiming at the target, but after shooting three arrows, not a single one hit.
He wanted to shoot a fourth arrow but was stopped: “Three arrows have passed; you cannot shoot anymore.”
The second person to enter was Lu Song. He picked up a sword and, imagining himself as a swordsman, swung left and right.
However, the sword became increasingly unruly, and several times he almost cut himself.
After that, he stumbled and barely managed to stand, but he was already panting from exhaustion.
The third was Ye Guanghan. He also chose a sword. Unlike Lu Song, his posture was agile, and he wielded the sword like a purple lightning bolt or white silk, dazzling the eyes.
When he finished his movements, he held his arms like embracing the moon, his face not flushed, his breathing steady. It was clear he had a solid foundation.
The remaining few were a mix of good and bad. Finally, it was Gong Changan’s turn.
The others looked at him with sympathy, as after all, what could such a small child know?
