Chapter 17: Relics? The Real Culprit?

"You don’t even know what a test companion is, yet you say you want to be mine?" Lin Buyu frowned as she looked at Xu Ye.

But judging from her gaze, this time she wasn’t particularly surprised.

“Forgive me, I haven’t read much.” Xu Ye chuckled sheepishly, brushing it off.

"The last step for a Confucian scholar to break through their realm is to participate in academic examinations of various ranks. Those who place highly receive the blessing of the Sacred Destiny artifact, thus gaining the opportunity for breakthrough," Lin Buyu explained to Xu Ye with a hint of helplessness.

"And what does that have to do with a test companion?" Xu Ye asked, confused.

"I'm currently at the Disciple level. To break through to the Sage level, I must join the biannual Talent Gathering Literary Examination. This exam requires two students to participate together, one as the main, one as the assistant—hence, the term 'test companion,'" Lin Buyu clarified.

"Two people taking the exam together? Like a duo queue?" Xu Ye realized.

"Duo queue?" Lin Buyu’s delicate brows furrowed.

"No, nothing. This kind of exam, you do need a good teammate. I was just helping you out, Miss Buyu. Don’t take it seriously," Xu Ye replied awkwardly, not really interested in exams.

"No, it’ll be you," Lin Buyu looked at Xu Ye seriously, then shook her head.

"What?" Xu Ye wondered if he’d misheard.

"Liu Muxuan’s father is a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel. Students in the city dare not offend him. Once they learned Liu Muxuan wanted to be my test companion, no one else would accept my invitation," Lin Buyu said, her expression a bit downcast.

"Of course, if you’re afraid of offending the Liu family, just pretend I never said anything. I’m not begging you," she added, turning away with a pout.

"Afraid or not, I’ve already offended him. It’s just… I really haven’t read much, and I worry I might hold you back," Xu Ye scratched his head.

"At least you’re aware of your own shortcomings."

Lin Buyu teased Xu Ye, but her mood seemed noticeably lighter.

"Just treat it as a bit of fun. I never expected to pass this time. I just don’t want to be laughed at," she added.

"Now that you say so, I feel much better," Xu Ye replied, relieved.

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop!

Just then, a sudden rush of hooves echoed down the street.

Xu Ye and Lin Buyu both looked up to see a carriage speeding toward the medical hall.

"Xu Ye! Get in the carriage!" As they watched curiously, a familiar face appeared at the carriage window.

It was none other than Xu Ye’s distant cousin—Xu Ruo.

"Get in the carriage?" The abrupt turn of events caught Xu Ye off guard.

"No more chatter, just get in!" Xu Ruo’s carriage had already stopped at the medical bureau’s entrance.

Whoosh! Seeing Xu Ye hesitate, Xu Ruo suddenly drew a white rope from her waist and tossed it at him. The rope seemed to come alive, swiftly binding Xu Ye.

Bang! Before Xu Ye could react, he was dragged into the carriage, tied up.

"Cousin, in broad daylight… this isn’t proper!" Xu Ye called out, his stomach churning from the jostling.

"I found that thing!" Xu Ruo replied with a sentence that seemed completely out of context.

"What thing?" Xu Ye’s expression grew serious, his heart guessing at something.

"The item Brother Xu Yuan left in the Academy! I can now confirm—the tragedy that befell the Xu family was no accident. Someone plotted against the Xu family, plotted against Brother Xu Yuan," Xu Ruo turned, gripping Xu Ye’s shoulder with a look of grief and anger.

Hearing this, Xu Ye paused, his heart pounding: "My guess was right. That skin-changing demon entered the Xu house not by accident, and certainly not because of the original owner of this body."

...

A while later.

When the carriage reached a secluded alley, the coachman slowed the pace.

"No regrets in knowing you in this life; may we meet again under the golden elm in the next." Xu Ruo murmured the last words Xu Yuan had left behind, her expression downcast as she handed a brocade box to Xu Ye.

"Three years ago, Brother Xu Yuan and I met beneath the hundred-year-old golden elm tree in the Academy. There’s a hollow under that tree only the two of us know about.

"We used to leave letters for each other in that tree hollow, waiting for the other to retrieve them. So when I heard those two lines, I thought perhaps he’d left something there again.

"To my surprise, I was right."

"This brocade box is what my brother left behind?" Xu Ye took the box.

"Mmm, see for yourself," Xu Ruo nodded absentmindedly.

Opening the box, Xu Ye found a letter, a jade pendant, and an old bamboo slip.

He unfolded the letter.

On the soft, fine white paper was written a column of strong and forceful characters—

"Ruo, upon reading this letter, I am likely no longer in this world.

"I know your nature; after my death, you will surely investigate everywhere. Fearing you might be implicated, I leave this letter.

"If you are determined to probe into this matter, you must first seek the Xu family’s sacred artifact—the Measuring Toad. Use it to smash this Listening Wind Jade. I have left clues within this jade.

"If you cannot find the Measuring Toad, do not continue investigating. For you and the Xu family of Yucheng, it bodes ill. One misstep, and the Xu family of Yucheng may meet the same fate.

"Ruo, I do not fear death, only regret leaving you. I hope this matter ends here.

"Also, if there are any survivors in the Xu residence, give them this bamboo slip. Find a remote city, conceal your identity. Unless a descendant becomes a Sage, none should set foot in the capital."

The letter ended here.

"If big brother knew there was trouble at home, why didn’t he warn us in advance?" After reading the letter, Xu Ye looked at Xu Ruo in confusion.

To him, this was a glaring doubt.

For if Xu Yuan had given just a single warning, the Xu family’s fate might not have been so tragic.