I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 79 - 67 Alas, I’ve been hit!

All dreams of power and splendor fade, in this world, one should not be startled by honor or disgrace. Just idly pass this life.

Now that the three prefecture exams are over, Xu Qing walked out of the examination hall, intending to return to the teahouse to listen to storytelling.

It had been three days since he recounted "Strange Tales" to Guo Dongyang. After these few days of refinement, the other party should now be able to sit down and critique it.

As for the results of the prefecture exam, Xu Qing did not care much.

He thought that before he narrowly escaped death and regained life, he had gone through several crucial exams.

The nine-year exam, the twelve-year exam, the sixteen-year defense...

For these key exams, hadn’t he always completely indulged himself after each one?

Now, as he attended the county and prefecture exams, naturally, he would be no different.

However, the other candidates of this year were all burdened with heavy thoughts. Though they had already left the examination hall, many still lingered in front of the Government Office, repeatedly reviewing their gains and losses.

"I see the two of you brothers in excellent spirits. It seems that when the list is revealed tomorrow, you are bound to be among the top three."

"That truly makes one envious. With the two of you, I fear I will just be lost among the crowd in this spring exam!"

Known as the number one talented man of Jin Sect, Zhuang Zijun approached, lavishly praising the Wu Family brothers who were leaving together.

But would the always proud and arrogant first talent so easily admit that others surpass him?

In the next moment, Zhuang Zijun’s followers, some fawning candidates aspiring to climb the social ladder, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

"Brother Zhuang, you are too modest. The Wu Family brothers are indeed decent at poetry, but as for academic discourse... I heard that Brother Zhiyuan’s family still runs a Paper Mache Shop."

Someone flattered and disparaged, aiming to please this number one talent of the Prefecture City.

"Forgive my ignorance, but what is this Paper Mache Shop?"

"On Qingming and Double Ninth Festival, you must have heard of burning paper money and paper mache? The Paper Mache Shop sells such items..."

"That is truly unfortunate. With such a background, their perspective must be no match for Brother Zhuang’s. Aspiring to write excellent academic discourse seems impossible!"

Zhuang Zijun, who once lost face at the Jade Shadow Pavilion, allowed others to comment. When he felt it was enough, he turned his head and said, "You should not judge by appearance. Though Zhiyuan and Wencai may lack in academic discourse, their poetic talent and knowledge in classics are incomparable to you."

Wu Wencai looked at Zhuang Zijun, who appeared modest on the surface but had hidden barbs in his words. Feeling irritated, he stepped forward to retort but was pulled back by Wu Zhiyuan beside him.

"Everyone, Wencai and I have an appointment today, so we must excuse ourselves first."

Some common but self-important scholars remained behind, entertaining themselves.

Wu Wencai hadn’t walked far when he couldn’t help but ask, "Brother, why do we retreat? Uncle’s Paper Mache Shop has not evaded a single tax. If not for Uncle’s hard work day and night to cut and supply us with paper, how would we have today’s knowledge..."

"Why in their eyes, are we of lesser status?"

Hearing this, Wu Zhiyuan stopped and looked at Wu Wencai, shaking his head slightly.

"Wencai, do you still remember Mr. Guo’s golden words?" He laughed freely and sighed, "When a person is wealthy, many will gather around; when in poverty, true hearts are revealed."

"Rather than engage in endless disputes with irrelevant people, we might as well spend a moment with those who are truly in harmony."

As Wu Zhiyuan’s words fell, the frustration in Wu Wencai’s heart immediately disappeared.

"I have been too petty." Wu Wencai expelled a deep breath and sighed, "No wonder Brother Xu can befriend Mr. Guo. You see, every time he finishes an exam, he vanishes without a trace and never competes for fame or gain..."

Wu Zhiyuan felt the same: "Their realm is one we may never attain in our lifetimes."

They had no idea that the people they spoke of, one was a book lover wandering the world with a free spirit, the other was an immortal soul, drifting between mortal and divine realms.

Such a chasm is insurmountable for ordinary people.

But they were also content to be ordinary.

Human life spans just a few decades, but even at seventy, old men still fish.

Now that the Wu Family brothers chose their own paths, it was the right way for them.

Whether Zhuang Zijun who sought vanity after the prefecture exam or the Wu Family brothers who saw the truth of their path would meet again, and what the scene would be like, only time could tell.

...

On the road, as the Wu Family brothers were discussing Xu Qing, they heard someone’s voice from behind.

"Let’s go together. I invite you to the teahouse for some tea. Just now, Old Guo has new stories to tell. If we go early, we might get to hear a couple of them."

Wu Wencai was surprised, "Brother Xu, how come you just left the hall? I thought you would have left early like in the county exam."

Xu Qing had a helpless look: "I intended to, but I ran into an acquaintance in the exam hall and chatted for a while, so I was delayed."

The acquaintance he referred to was Zhang Jun, who once served as a Government Official at the Linhe Government Office.

Later, they had another encounter under the loft of Miss Shuyu at the Book Phoenix Pavilion.

This former ordinary Government Official, who decided to risk everything for love and wealth, had fought bravely against the Celestial Heart Sect robbers to protect the Crown Prince and was noticed by the eunuch beside the Crown Prince, who gave him a chance to follow the dragon (the emperor).

To this infatuated man driven by love, Xu Qing tried to say something several times but never managed to utter the words.

Zhang Jun had a delicate appearance combined with a certain fierceness, which the old eunuch beside the Crown Prince had also taken a liking to.

Xu Qing still remembered when the eunuch called him away, Zhang Jun addressed him as godfather.

If nothing unexpected happens, by the time the Crown Prince returns to the capital, Zhang Jun will probably lose a few pounds of flesh at the very least.

Perhaps after severing the root of his troubles, he would stop being so infatuated with women?