Chapter 60: Western Gate Defense

"Since we possess an immortal cultivation manual, we must naturally keep a low profile." "We shouldn't attract too much attention." Wei Tu shook his head slightly and added this remark. One of the main reasons he had chosen to forfeit the martial champion title was precisely because of the Five Yuan Spirit Body manual in his possession. If he hadn’t obtained an immortal cultivation manual, becoming the top provincial martial scholar and drawing the attention of the public wouldn't have been a problem. Given his martial background, there wouldn't have been much risk involved. But now— With an immortal cultivation manual in hand, claiming first place and receiving a seventh-rank military officer title would put him under scrutiny—creating an uncontrollable level of risk that could eventually endanger everyone involved. "Third Brother, you’re absolutely right." Fu Zhizhou nodded firmly in agreement. He was fully aware of how precious an immortal cultivation manual was. Even though he was an eighth-rank military officer and came from a military family in Xiaoyi Prefecture, before encountering the Five Yuan Spirit Body manual, he had never truly believed in the existence of immortals. In his mind, immortals were merely myths—something distant and intangible. However, after witnessing the manual, he realized that such things did exist, and it completely changed his worldview. If the Zheng Kingdom’s court or immortals themselves had strict regulations on controlling the spread of immortal cultivation manuals, then it was likely forbidden to leak such knowledge to the outside world. If discovered— The worst-case scenario might not just be punishment but rather complete extermination of one’s entire family and lineage. Given these risks, they had no choice but to be extremely cautious in their actions. Inside the carriage, Wei Tu shifted the conversation. "Fourth Brother, is your role as a Military Adjutant in the prefectural army as relaxed as it seems?" "If I receive an appointment, I’d prefer a position with fewer responsibilities as well." After suppressing Martial Luck Pavilion, all four sworn brothers had received promotions. Fu Zhizhou had also secured an opportunity to be transferred from the prefectural army to a county-level position. Instead of returning to his hometown in Xiaoyi Prefecture as a local military official, he had used his connections to remain in Qingfeng Prefecture—taking up an eighth-rank position as a Military Adjutant. He had done this specifically to provide support for Wei Tu, Wei Fei, and Kou Liang. "My job mostly involves handling the military logistics of Qingfeng Prefecture. The world is at peace, and there are no active wars—so yes, it’s a very relaxed position." Fu Zhizhou smiled as he responded. After acquiring the Five Yuan Spirit Body manual, his ambitions had shifted completely. He no longer cared about fame, wealth, or climbing the ranks. His sole pursuit now was cultivation and immortality. That was why he had deliberately chosen a relaxed official position—so he could focus on his martial training and immortal cultivation without distractions. Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded thoughtfully. "When the official rankings are released, and I receive my appointment, I’ll have to trouble you to help me find a similar position." Fu Zhizhou was not only well-connected through his family but also an active eighth-rank officer. Within Southern Mountain Dao’s Grand Governor’s Office, he had already built up his own network of relationships. If anyone could help secure a relaxed and stable appointment, it would be him. "No need to worry, Third Brother." Fu Zhizhou chuckled. "I’ve already spoken to Military Officer Jin from the Grand Governor’s Office. As soon as your ranking is confirmed, he will personally assign you an appropriate position." Hearing this, Wei Tu clasped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Fourth Brother." He made a mental note of this favor and silently promised himself to repay Fu Zhizhou in the future. A few days later. The official provincial martial examination rankings were released. Wei Tu made his way to the Martial Tribute Court to verify his results. When he saw that his ranking was indeed seventh place, all his concerns finally disappeared. Fraud and manipulation in the imperial examination system were not uncommon. While combat performance was the most important factor in determining rankings, there were also other elements at play—such as strategy assessments, internal recommendations, and bureaucratic influence. Since seventh-rank and eighth-rank military officials were different from miscellaneous-rank officers, the court could not afford to appoint illiterate and incompetent individuals. Only those who met all qualifications could receive such official positions. As he continued scanning the list, his gaze landed on the top-ranked martial scholar of this year’s examination. "The champion is… You Hong?" Wei Tu frowned slightly. "You Hong took first place?" It was a name he had not expected to see at the very top. Wei Tu’s expression froze when he saw the name of the provincial martial champion. He distinctly remembered that You Hong, while performing well in combat trials, had only placed third in the rankings. With that result, being the runner-up was understandable, but becoming the champion was highly questionable. Even if his strategy assessment ranked first, it shouldn’t have been enough to secure the top spot. "So, there was corruption in this year's provincial martial examination as well… "Good thing I decided not to stand out and fight for the champion title." Wei Tu felt a wave of relief. If he had placed first in combat trials but still failed to claim the champion title, he would have been forced into a confrontation with the hidden forces manipulating the rankings. Blocking someone’s future was tantamount to creating a blood feud—a matter of life and death. "It makes sense, though." "The martial champion title is too significant." "Not only does it grant a seventh-rank military officer position, but it also ensures additional promotion opportunities in the court." "Why would the powerful clans of Southern Mountain Dao allow such a title to fall into an outsider’s hands?" Wei Tu quickly understood the underlying political forces at play. Before the examination, Fu Zhizhou had warned him that You Hong hailed from a prestigious military family and had a formidable background. This was a family that wielded influence, and it was only natural that they would ensure their own kin secured the most prestigious rank. Whether it was the martial champion or the literary top scholar, those who received first place were always given preferential treatment in the imperial court. If two people of equal merit both made military achievements, the one with a past title as martial champion would be promoted first. "What a shame." Wei Tu glanced at the second-place finisher, Shi Zhen, and shook his head. "Shi Zhen will undoubtedly face suppression from You Hong’s family." His own experience three years ago, when Prefect He had attempted to suppress him, was already a difficult struggle—but Prefect He was a civil official whose influence could not easily extend into the military system. You Hong’s family was different. They were a military clan deeply embedded within the military bureaucracy. If they decided to suppress Shi Zhen, they could do so effortlessly. "From now on, unless absolutely necessary, I will never fight for first place." Wei Tu silently vowed to himself. If he hadn’t backed out of claiming the champion title, he—not Shi Zhen—would be the one suffering now. After confirming his final ranking, Wei Tu lost all interest in lingering in the prefectural city. He bid farewell at the Dan family residence, then returned to Qingmu County. A few days later. The official appointment decree for Wei Tu’s new post arrived at the county military office from the Grand Governor’s Office. "Western Gate Defense?" Wei Tu read the bold characters on his appointment scroll and remained silent in thought. Strictly speaking, his official title was "Defense Officer of the Prefectural City", an eighth-rank military position equal to Fu Zhizhou’s Military Adjutant post. However, his specific responsibility was defending the western gate of Qingfeng Prefecture’s capital city. Thus, he was commonly referred to as "Western Gate Defense Officer." "This is a fairly relaxed post as long as there are no military conflicts." "On top of that, gatekeeping allows for additional income from taxation." Wei Tu nodded to himself. While officially enforcing the collection of tolls at the city gate, there was always an opportunity to profit from those who wanted to bypass certain regulations. Still, before he left the county, there was one last formality to take care of. "Before departing, I need to pay a visit to County Captain Xu." "After all, he was my direct superior in the county." Wei Tu carefully placed his appointment scroll into his sleeve. Then, he took out ten taels of silver, went to the west market, and purchased a few high-quality gifts. With everything prepared, he headed toward the Xu family estate. Inside the Xu residence. When County Captain Xu received the news of Wei Tu’s arrival, he immediately instructed the kitchen to prepare twelve specialty dishes. After ensuring his clothing was in order, he personally stepped outside to greet Wei Tu. Once seated in the main hall, County Captain Xu stroked his beard and let out a long sigh. "Brother Wei, when you resigned from your post to take the provincial martial examination, I thought you were just young and reckless." "I assumed you would fail this year’s attempt." "Yet here you are, ranking seventh in the provincial martial examination and securing an eighth-rank military officer title!" "Truly admirable—I'm envious beyond words!"