Li Tianqing wiped his hands and picked up the Independent’s token that was placed aside, examining it, he said, "The design on this token seems to be that of the Ancient Chinese Gods from legends, known as Fu Xi and Nüwa. Such patterns are extremely rare now, and the legends of these two Ancient Gods have been lost. Even in my Li Family’s collection of books, there are only scattered words and phrases recorded."
He flipped the token over and said, "The measuring tools in their hands are called carpenter’s squares, also known as calipers. My family has a bronze square with a movable vernier, used for precise mapping. It is said that Fu Xi and Nüwa invented the compass and square to determine shapes and construct various tools. Later, when people spoke of rules and standards, they referred to these two objects. To use the compass and square as a token is indeed rare."
Chen Shi said, "This is an Independent’s token."
Li Tianqing hastily put down the token, as if fearing he was too slow, and with a solemn expression, he said, "To possess this item is to risk beheading!"
Chen Shi didn’t take it seriously and put the token into his pouch, then continued to examine the geographic map.
Seeing his nonchalance, Li Tianqing said, "Little Ten, you have no idea how dangerous this item is! Independents are a group of lawless ruffians with numerous crimes, and they have long been targeted by the authorities! These fellows are immensely disrespectful to the True God, and the Heaven Listeners are also at odds with them, often hunting Independents. Carrying this item will bring danger!"
"My grandfather was a Five Lakes Independent," Chen Shi said.
Li Tianqing hesitated upon hearing this.
He had heard of the name Five Lakes Independent; they were notorious among Independents, said to be the founders of the Southern Taoist Talisman, their methods extremely strange and despised by the righteous paths of Jianghu.
However, he had met Chen Yindou, Chen Shi’s grandfather, who appeared to be a very serious old man, not like the image of an evil cult figurehead.
"Not all Independents are scoundrels," Li Tianqing said.
"I am also an Independent," Chen Shi said.
Li Tianqing paused for a moment, then took out a token from his pocket and placed it in front of Chen Shi.
This token was also an Independent’s token.
Chen Shi was slightly startled, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Li Tianqing sighed and said, "Xiao Wangsun gave it to me casually when he was guiding me. He thought my talent was good, and becoming an Independent, I could learn better things. I went back to the Li Mansion to specifically look up the patterns on it, that’s how I know so much. However..."
He paused, wearing a proud smile, "I joined the Independents much earlier than you did! Obviously, Xiao Wangsun thinks I’m stronger!"
Chen Shi didn’t argue with him.
When he joined the Independents ten years ago, he hadn’t yet had his Divine Embryo severed, and he also accompanied his grandfather to the Independents’ gathering, much earlier than Li Tianqing.
"The autumn tribunal is held in August, while the Independents’ gathering is on the seventh day of June, a difference of just over a month,"
Chen Shi suggested, "The Independents’ gathering lasts more than one day, possibly several days. Why not attend the gathering first, then go to the autumn tribunal?"
Li Tianqing hesitated for a moment and said, "However, I still need to make a trip home. If I don’t return to the Li Family, they will assume I died outside and won’t treat my mother kindly. Why don’t we meet in the provincial city of Gongzhou, and then we can proceed to the Henggong Mountain Mist Ridge together?"
Chen Shi laughed and said, "You go back home first, I need to review my studies as well."
Li Tianqing stood up, laughing, "This time, you and I will definitely obtain the titles of top scholar and second scholar in the autumn village examination and be in the top three!"
He was quite excited and whispered, "If we achieve the status of Scholars, we can go to the Western Capital and find Little Gold."
"Little Gold..." Chen Shi’s gaze flickered.
Li Tianqing glanced at him and straightened his chest, "I’m a year older than you, Little Gold won’t like a little boy."
Chen Shi scoffed, "Counting the eight years I’ve been dead, I am twenty years old, a perfect match for Little Gold."
Their gazes met, sparks flying from their eyes.
At that moment, Black Pot placed its front paws on their shoulders, and as they turned their heads, they met Black Pot’s gaze, reading the suggestion to reconcile from its expression. They then put aside their grudges.
Li Tianqing said, "There’s no time to delay, I’ll head home first! Little Ten, I’ll see you in Gongzhou!"
Chen Shi watched him go, whispering, "I will definitely be the top scholar, as for Little Gold... But to speak the truth, Tianqing’s abilities are not to be underestimated, if I don’t work hard, he will definitely surpass me."
A strong sense of urgency rose in his heart, and he quickly washed his clothes and laid them out to dry. Then, taking many ancient books, he went to study diligently under the old willow at Huangtu Gang, consulting Zhu Xiucai on any points he didn’t understand.
In a short time, Chen Shi’s knowledge improved by leaps and bounds.
After six or seven days, Zhu Xiucai said with a sigh, "Little Ten, I have taught you all my knowledge, there’s nothing left to teach. You may leave your apprenticeship now."
Chen Shi was both excited and somewhat uneasy, "Teacher, I still feel there are many deficiencies in my understanding, I find it hard to fully comprehend the teachings of the sages and Confucius..."
Zhu Xiucai scolded, "Tut! How can you speak such discouraging words? The words of Confucius and the sages should be reflected upon thrice daily and never neglected. Xunzi said, ’A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles, only through practice can one comprehend the true essence of Confucius and the sages.’"
Chen Shi solemnly said, "I have learned!"
Zhu Xiucai’s expression softened and he said, "You are now a Scholar, and I was also a Scholar before my death, your knowledge is no less than mine, why belittle yourself? The world is vast, and you are free to explore it."
Possessed of ambitious feelings, Chen Shi immediately bid Zhu Xiucai farewell. He brought three bundles of incense to his milk mother’s grave, then turned away from Huangtu Gang and returned to the village to pack his belongings.
Once his preparations were complete, he saw the villagers spontaneously coming to see him off, led by the likes of Elder Wu Zhu and Granny Yu Zhu.
——Huangpo Village had been fragmented, but after Creation Little Five fled, Hu Xiaoliang then used his mana to reassemble Huangpo Village, and the villagers were all safe, albeit a little startled.
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