Chapter 41: Why Have You Stolen My Puppy?

Page 1 of 3

“The Healer’s Office’s Lin Buyu, though her melody could make the Yashan Zither and Se harmonize, composed only the tune without lyrics, therefore she is graded as second class.”

Half an hour later, the second round of the literary gathering within the Grand Hall of Great Hero came to an end, and the examiners announced the rankings.

Because Lin Buyu had written only the music and found no one to provide lyrics, even though her composition could stir the sacred instruments to resonate in harmony, she received only a second-class grade.

“Is it really all right to have only gotten a second-class grade this round?” Xu Ye, balancing the little spotted dog atop his head, sought confirmation from Lin Buyu once more.

At Lin Buyu’s request, he had not participated this time.

“No problem at all,” Lin Buyu replied with a confident smile.

She reached out to tease the little dog, then, a trace of excitement in her voice, continued, “Last round, we achieved double first-class. As long as none of the top contenders receive double first-class in the coming rounds, even if I get second-class again in the next, I’ll still secure third place in the gathering and obtain the blessing of the Heaven’s Mandate Sacred Relic.”

“That’s good, then,” Xu Ye nodded.

However, Xu Ye’s absence this round left those waiting for a spectacle sorely disappointed. Many had expected Xu Ye to pull off some astonishing feat again but were surprised to see him simply forfeit.

“Seems all he knows is a bit of chess—completely clueless about poetry or prose.”

“After all, he’s just a ghost-messenger, not a scholar.”

“Next round Lin Buyu will likely have to manage alone once more.”

As they prepared to head toward the Hall of Mystical Methods, the two happened to overhear a group of scholars gossiping ahead.

“See? So many people are just waiting for you to make a fool of yourself. Lucky you didn’t participate last time,” Lin Buyu shot the group a glare.

“So, you still think bringing me to the gathering is an embarrassment, don’t you?” Xu Ye, cradling the little dog, feigned a look of deep grievance.

“I—I do not,” Lin Buyu replied, a bit embarrassed.

“Then why wouldn’t you let me compete? If you let me take the stage, I’d definitely give those braying fools a good thrashing,” Xu Ye declared with gusto, even swinging a few mock slaps at the air.

“Is that supposed to be funny?” Lin Buyu could tell Xu Ye was teasing and put on a stern face.

“Buyu!” Just then, Bai Zijin appeared again, with Liu Muxuan still in tow.

“This round, I’ve achieved first-class!” Bai Zijin waved the first-class token before Lin Buyu.

Neither seemed the least bit abashed by their earlier behavior.

“Congratulations,” Lin Buyu replied flatly, then glanced at Xu Ye, signaling him to hurry on.

“Xu Ye, you’re not going to skip the next poetry-and-painting round too, are you?” Liu Muxuan asked with a sly smile.

“I’d like to join, but my Buyu won’t let me. I tell you, my poetry copying is really…” Xu Ye started to boast, but Lin Buyu yanked him away, giving him no chance to show off.

“Stop wasting words on them,” Lin Buyu chided, shooting Xu Ye an exasperated glare. She then snatched the little dog from his arms, muttering as she walked, “And I am not yours!”

“You misunderstand, Buyu. When I said ‘my,’ I meant we’re on the same team,” Xu Ye replied cheerfully, trailing after her.

“Isn’t that the same thing?” Lin Buyu shot him a fierce look and kicked him lightly.

This scene did not escape Liu Muxuan’s notice. To his eyes, Xu Ye and Lin Buyu were little different from a bickering couple.

“Boy, you dare compete for my woman?” he growled, fists clenched.

At this, Bai Zijin abruptly kicked Liu Muxuan and shot him a vicious glare. “She’s mine!”

“Yes, yes…” Liu Muxuan, changing expression in an instant, quickly swallowed his anger.

“Buyu, I won’t let you pass this recruitment gathering so easily. Unless you kneel before me and beg, you won’t get through,” Bai Zijin said, her smile tinged with madness as she watched Lin Buyu and Xu Ye departing.

Even Liu Muxuan, familiar as he was with her, felt a chill at that smile.

“With Lin Buyu’s skill at painting, even if no one writes poetry for her next round, she’ll at least get second-class—unless a double first-class appears, she’s certain to pass and be promoted to Sage. Then the Healer’s Office will surely value her again, and we’ll never get near her,” Liu Muxuan voiced his worries.

“If you can think of that, did you think I wouldn’t?” Bai Zijin sneered, then glanced down the road toward the Hall of Heavenly Kings. “To prevent exactly that, I specially invited Li Moyan from the Grand Academy.”

At the mention of Li Moyan, Liu Muxuan stiffened in shock. “How did you persuade the top scholar to come?!”

Page 2 of 3

Li Moyan is not only a personal disciple at the Grand Academy but also this year’s newly crowned top scholar—his reputation already echoes throughout the capital.

“Li Moyan loves collecting paintings from the former dynasty. I happened to have a Ladies-in-Waiting scroll from that era at home. Once he saw it, he agreed immediately,” Bai Zijin said with a proud smile.

“He promised me that if double first-class appears at this gathering, he’ll step in once as my cousin’s exam companion.”

...

Within the Hall of Mystical Methods.

As in previous rounds, after presenting their jade tokens, they returned to the waiting area to meditate until all candidates arrived.

“Buyu, take a look—this little dog’s trembling for some reason,” Xu Ye, having wandered the Buddhist hall, now returned to Lin Buyu’s side and placed the dog on her lap by the scruff.

“When did it start?” Lin Buyu asked, worried.

“As soon as we entered the hall. I didn’t have a chance to tell you,” Xu Ye replied.

“Could it have caught a chill and fallen ill?” Lin Buyu frowned.

Though a physician, she was not a veterinarian, and dared not use righteous energy to treat the pup.

“Why have you stolen my young dog?” Suddenly, an enraged shout came from the doorway. Looking up, they saw a bent, ugly monk striding into the hall, finger pointed accusingly at them.

“Master, this dog is ours—” Lin Buyu began.

“Hand it over!” The old monk interrupted, yanking the little dog from her arms. His grip was so rough the pup yelped in pain.

“Quiet!” The monk glared ferociously at the dog, which whimpered and cowered in his arms, only occasionally darting anxious glances at Xu Ye and Lin Buyu.

“Scholars, ha! Nothing but a pack of thieving scoundrels!” the old monk spat, shooting Lin Buyu a venomous glare.

Page 3 of 3