The two embraced warmly, while the inn's small second clerk helped park the carriage and mounts they brought in the vacant backyard. Everyone stood, stretching their muscles, all grimacing from the aches after a day of weary travel that left them stiff and tired. Upon entering, the caravan still booked adjacent rooms for themselves, but didn't reserve one for Wang Anfeng this time. Anfeng stepped forward and rebooked a room for himself, then requested some eggs and soybeans from the chef. Egg whites and yolks, along with cooked soybeans, were stirred together in a bucket, with a handful of salt added. Then, Wang Anfeng carried it over to feed that lean horse. Feeding this horse cannot be delayed; otherwise, he worried the brute would get angry from hunger and kick the other horses apart. Master had said this horse developed its stamina from battling polar bears in extreme places, then went on conquering ordinary beasts, so ordinary horses don't stand a chance against it. Wang Anfeng kept his Blade Madman demeanor, and others were too lazy to bother him; he enjoyed the peace and quiet and delivered the warhorse feed to the lean horse, only after it finished did he turn to leave. The autumn night had a considerable chill, and in the Northwest, the daytime temperature was tolerable, but it got bitterly cold at night. The shopkeeper saw no one was around and hung thick cotton cloth inside the door to block the chilly wind seeping in through the cracks. Just as Wang Anfeng finished feeding the horse and was about to walk inside, he pulled open the door, and the curtain was flung aside as someone rushed out, nearly bumping directly into Wang Anfeng. Wang Anfeng sidestepped to avoid him, catching a glimpse of the person in a flash of light—a young man in his twenties, with sword-like eyebrows and clear eyes, though disrupted by a sword scar on his face, lending him a slightly hostile air. The young man's head was slightly lowered, seemingly fixated on the ground, offering no apology to Wang Anfeng, and like pursued by a fierce wolf, sped away quickly. Wang Anfeng frowned slightly, withdrew his gaze, entered the inn, returned the wooden bucket to the back kitchen, and originally planned to go upstairs directly to his room. But as he reached near the staircase, suddenly heard a tall young man beside slam the table heavily, and with an animated expression, exclaimed: "So, with Master Jiang joining the Imperial Court, we may hold some hope!" Hearing this familiar title, Wang Anfeng's steps instinctively paused. Three people sat at the table nearby. The one who spoke wore a scholar's cap, judging by his attire, he should be a scholar. But in the Northwest, even scholars carried an inherent bold spirit. Tall of stature, he seemed to reach the climax of his speech, loudly said: "Today, all recommended positions rest in the hands of the Three Noble Clans. To secure official position, one needs Silver Coin; after enrolling in the Imperial Academy, one must continually concede, live humbly. We study and practice sword for the sake of the country and realm, seeking a vast and clear world, how can we bow down to serve those Noble Clans as slaves?" "Spineless sycophants, facing true adversaries and greater challenges—apart from panic and begging for mercy—what else are they good for? How can they defend home and nation? Strive for the people?" "Now, officials recommend the Noble Clan, sons of Noble Clan enter academia then again serve as officials, officials for Noble Clan, Noble Clan for officials, generation after generation, like a cycle, endlessly! As time goes by, is this realm the realm of all people, or the realm of the Noble Clan?" "People have long suffered from the faults of the Noble Clan!" "I therefore do not wish to tour to pursue officialdom, it all comes down to having a stiff backbone and not able to kneel, wanting to sweep away the impurities, without such means, I can only sigh in regret." "Now Master Jiang enters the Imperial Academy, appoints as Grand Academician, with his noble character, will surely reform the Noble Clan's recommendation drawbacks, return the people a vast clean world. I have studied and tilled for years, yet upon hearing this, have renewed my ambition for officialdom." After speaking, he drank continuously, his posture bold and unrestrained, his eyes brightened the more he drank, without any hint of intoxication, noticed Wang Anfeng standing nearby, and without the reservation typical of scholars, laughed: "Does this warrior also seem interested in this matter?" Wang Anfeng maintained a calm expression and said: "This so-called Master Jiang, could it be Jiang Shouyi?" The tall scholar laughed, "Indeed." "Warrior, have you also heard of the Master's name? Do you believe that upon Master's entry to the Imperial Academy, the world atmosphere will cleanse of impurities?" Wang Anfeng paused, thinking of that gentle, mellow smiling middle-aged scholar, of the sound of music and tea fragrance, his heart softened unknowingly and said: "If it's others, I do not believe." Updates are released by N()velFire.net "If it's Master Jiang, I do believe..." "Ha! Warrior truly has good insight!" The scholar rejoiced and wanted to pull Wang Anfeng to drink together, just as he rose to pick up a wine bowl to fill, turned around, only saw his back—it was already ascending the stairs—and sighed with a voice of regret, muttering a few words, looked at the wine bowl in hand, smiled briefly, then tipped his head back and poured the Northwest's strong wine down his throat, settled the bill, and left singing with friends. PS: Today's update is presented... Four thousand eight hundred words in total~ split each chapter into two thousand four, seems a bit short... will find a way to supplement later