A Scholar I don't think so.

The Tian Ruo Prefecture examinations were scheduled to take place early next year. Therefore, in recent days towards the year's end, many scholars had already flooded into Tian Ruo City, beginning preparations for next year's examinations.

And so, with the prefectural exams not yet started, the book pavilions had remained completely closed off.

Yet somehow, on the highest floor of the third level of a book pavilion, somebody was leisurely sitting, braving the cold winter winds to drink hot tea.

Lu Gaosheng, wearing a white jade cloud-patterned ring on his right hand, watched Zhang San leaving and smiled, seeming to savor those parting words.

Judging from his appearance, he looked to be over forty years old, yet still retained his handsome vigor from his youth. His exposed smile, paired with his vivid and piercing eyes, exuded self-confidence.

Lu Gaosheng gave off the impression that he was someone who had always occupied lofty positions and was fully confident in his own abilities.

Just then, a man dressed like an attendant guarding the shadows in the corner of the third floor spoke up, "Sir, you've been watching that scholar in white leaving this whole time. Could something be amiss? Should I go investigate?"

Lu Gaosheng glanced at his subordinate and asked, "Scholar? Why are you so certain he is a scholar? I'm not so sure."

The attendant saluted and answered, "I was short-sighted. Although I used to be commander of the 'Feather Arrow Army' guards in the prefectural city, based on my eyesight, the man in white just now pulling a cart looked like an ordinary scholar in dress. Adding to that his thin, feeble build and strained steps pulling that cart, along with the many scholars entering the city recently, I made that judgment."

Lu Gaosheng laughed and said, "I am no warrior, but I can also tell your every word makes sense. However...did you not hear what I just said? That line about 'ten years of cold window studying'? I'm telling you, it was spoken by the one who just left."

The attendant knew that the gentleman before him was gifted with superhuman hearing, so he was not surprised that Lu Gaosheng could make out a conversation on the bustling streets from the third floor between a man and a child.

Yet the attendant did not understand, so he asked, "But subordinate does not grasp the meaning behind those words?"

Lu Gaosheng said, "The words themselves are easy to comprehend, nothing more than seeing through the so-called examination grounds of this world, which have long been existing in name only. But I could detect his tone was extremely casual, natural, seeming utterly indifferent."

The attendant was slightly taken aback, as if grasping something.

Lu Gaosheng surveyed the entirety of the third floor and continued, "A scholar, suffering bitter studies his whole life, just hopes to rely on these exam grounds to attain success and fame. A seemingly impoverished scholar pulling a cart, if he had such insights, then no matter how he tried to conceal it, his tone would inevitably contain some anger, indignance, even grief!"

But Zhang San had not; not only did he not, when he spoke his tone was as lighthearted as if the exam grounds had nothing to do with him whatsoever.

Lu Gaosheng observed people not by their external appearance, looks, or even as the attendant said, by whether their steps seemed powerful. He liked listening to how a person spoke.

Lu Gaosheng looked at the attendant and said, "You guessed he is a scholar, but I conjecture he is no scholar, not even a literatus, yet still entered the city today specifically..."

The attendant cried out in realization, "Today...isn't that the day of the executions?"

Lu Gaosheng mildly smiled, then leaned against the third floor railing to quietly watch Tian Ruo City's skies gradually clouding over.

Ten years of cold window studying?

Heh heh, ten years of cold window.

"But sir, by my reckoning, it's about time we set off too." The attendant reminded at the side.

Lu Gaosheng restrained his smile and said, "Yes, the show is about to start, yet the performer is missing, how boring. Let's be off then."

...

As master and disciple walked, they would occasionally observe this Tian Ruo City that in recent years had been increasingly prosperously constructed.

Naturally, it was Wang Xiaoer observing the prosperity, while Zhang San observed the streets.

Because Tian Ruo City had transformed virtually unrecognizably from ten years ago, Zhang San's original plans had changed. What he was most concerned with now was familiarizing himself with the layout of the city's streets as quickly as possible.

To a steady killer like Zhang San, not having full control over one's surroundings invoked a sense of unease.

Additionally, he was uncertain whether the location of Knowing Hall was the same as ten years prior.

The various major powers of the central lands were intermingled chaotically, especially Dark Building and Black Heaven Gate. Although Zhang San did not feel he had revealed any flaws thus far, just to be safe, it was necessary to figure out these two powers' sphere of influence within Tian Ge Prefecture, along with their locations.

In short, there were many things to do and consider.

Yet Wang Xiaoer had just uttered the same question for the eighth time today.

"Wow master, what's that over there?"

Zhang San silently cursed: Can't this brat just let me be quiet for a bit? Why's he acting like some country bumpkin who's never seen anything before?

But when Zhang San followed Wang Xiaoer's pointing and saw an outwardly ordinary tea house tower, he too was startled, because it was something even he had never seen before.

Of course it wasn't that he had never seen a tea house before, but rather never one that hung such an enormous banner.

The tea house was called "Wei Bo Building"!

Hung on the second floor was a tremendous banner with the inscription:

If unaware of all worldly affairs, how dare proclaim broad learning?

Wish the world could hear your voice?

Wish the world could know your writings?

Wish the world could hear your stories?

Knowing Hall offers utmost assistance - Wei Bo Building, fulfills your desires!

Zhang San thought...

Damn!

What the hell was this stuff?

This banner full of modern flair still containing a bit of domineering, with a touch of absurdity yet also giving people ample reason to place belief. Had he seen such a sight before?

Zhang San certainly had not.

Looking at Wang Xiaoer brimming with excitement seated on the cart, Zhang San said: "This...I haven't seen before either. It should be a newly emerged form of tea house. This banner though, how should I put it, has some attraction drawing people in."

Wang Xiaoer reacted with astonishment, "Even master you don't know? Wow...city folks really know how to play around."

It was then that Zhang San carefully examined this tea house, only to discover barely anybody inside. He ridiculed, "The building's name and banner seem pretty ostentatious, yet not a single customer."

Right as Zhang San finished speaking, a low curse came from a passerby behind him.

The pedestrian's voice was soft, but could not escape Zhang San's keen hearing.

"What backwater scholar with his book learning, doesn't even know Wei Bo Building? If not for everybody going to watch the excitement of the public executions issued by the prefectural administration today, how could Wei Bo Building be empty?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang San did not get angry, rather felt quite curious.

Logically, matters of sentencing people to death should happen at the execution grounds outside the city. Why would the prefectural administration have people executed within the city itself? Would an entire prefectural city establish dedicated execution grounds?