Chapter 93: Three Days (1/2)

Chapter 93: Three Days

Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations

This was cheating! And it was cheating very openly! The evidence was sufficient, and if such acts were condoned, could this venue still be an imperial examination venue?

The invigilator's expression grew cold. Just as he prepared to reach his hands out to confiscate the examination paper, he realised Fang Zhengzhi had already started writing.

King Wu asked the T'ai Kung, ”In general, what are the great essentials in the art of employing the army?”

The T'ai Kung replied: ”The ancients who excelled at warfare were not able to wage war above Heaven, nor could they wage war below Earth. Their success and defeat in all cases proceeded from the spiritual employment of strategic power. Those who attained it flourished; those who lost it perished.

Now when our two armies, opposing each other, have deployed their armoured soldiers and established their battle arrays, releasing some of your troops to create chaos in the ranks is the means by which to fabricate deceptive changes.

Deep grass and dense growth are the means by which to effect a concealed escape.”

Fang Zhengzhi wrote very quickly, and didn't pause at all, just as if there was a Law of Dao placed right in front of him. Wherever his pen landed, words flowed. In an instant, the twenty seventh chapter of the Six Secret Teachings - ”The Unorthodox Army” - was completely copied out from memory.

The invigilator's hand that was reaching towards Fang Zhengzhi's examination paper stopped forcefully in mid-air. His lips moved, as if he had just swallowed a fly, and forcefully swallowed back the words that were already in his mouth.

How was this possible?

He had initially almost confirmed that Fang Zhengzhi acted on purpose just now. But, why would things be like this? Writing out the entire text from memory just based on a random irrelevant sentence?

No matter how he thought, it was something that couldn't possibly happen…

”Then what was wrong?” The invigilator looked at the twenty-seventh chapter that Fang Zhengzhi wrote out from memory, and confirmed that not a single word was wrong.

Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi had written out everything right in front of him, hence naturally couldn't be suspected of copying. Then, where did the problem lie?

The invigilator frowned deeply, but still couldn't understand.

”Invigilator, do you still have anything for me?”

Fang Zhengzhi had already finished writing. The feeling of completing the entire paper was very satisfying. Raising his head to see the invigilator still standing in front of him, the edges of his mouth curved into a smile.

”No… nothing!” The invigilator really wanted to say something, but in the end, shook his head helplessly and left.

Fang Zhengzhi glanced at the leaving invigilator, then glanced at the surrounding examinees and smiled faintly. Actually, cheating was an art.

…

”Boom!” The gong signifying the end of the theory examination finally sounded.

Countless scholars began to cover their faces and break out in tears once the gong sounded. This time, the capital examination paper was too hard, and many people had left more than half their paper blank.

This represented that they were bound to miss the roll in this capital examination.

As he left the examination venue, Fang Zhengzhi didn't encounter Li Zhuangshi again, and instead saw Yan Xiu at the gate, his expression cold as ice.

Fang Zhengzhi couldn't be blamed. After all, Yan Xiu's position in the crowd was really too eye-catching.

A huge wave of scholars swarmed out of the venue, but, very mysteriously detoured around Yan Xiu, causing a strange void to appear in a two-meter radius around him.

Yan Xiu stood just like that among the crowd, like a crane within a flock of birds.

”How was it?” Yan Xiu asked.

”Not bad.” Fang Zhengzhi replied.

”How about the I Ching?” Yan Xiu continued to ask.

”Not a problem.” Fang Zhengzhi was confident.

Yan Xiu was silent, then looked up into the sky, as if thinking about something. A moment later, he retracted his gaze and looked at Fang Zhengzhi again.

”The combat examination, I will be roll champion!” Yan Xiu's tone at this moment was filled with confidence.

”I think I will be.” Fang Zhengzhi was just as confident.

Yan Xiu's lips quivered, as if he wanted to continue arguing, by in the end, he didn't speak further. Instead, he flicked open the Golden Bone Silver Thread Fan in his hand with a ”whoosh!”.

Revealing a vast mountain river illustration. An indistinct ray of light flashed. It was unclear whether that was due to the reflection of the sunlight, or the glow of the paper fan…

Fang Zhengzhi's gaze was fixated on that mountain river illustration, and a strange feeling welled up inside him. This illustration seemed too realistic.

”Is there a name for this fan?” Fang Zhengzhi was rather curious.