Chapter 1, Ten Years

There were not many people left behind Wen Leyang. Although the age requirement referenced is twelve years and above, disciples of the Wen family only begin to grasp the essentials of poison techniques at the age of twelve. Without several years of rigorous training, they would not achieve significant accomplishments. A disciple like Wen Leyang, who participates in the grand examination at the age of sixteen, is already considered quite young.

Wenbu grass, seedlings do not exchange, cannot die on Crow Ridge

The third disciple held up a pill, and without even asking, Wenthunhai directly tossed the pill into his mouth and chewed it vigorously. After swallowing, he smacked his lips and said: "Eliminated! Black fox ear, moss salt, and love bean—these three ingredients are originally quite good, but the refining was insufficient, the proportions were incorrect, and most critically, the strawberry leaves were missing. Ugh, it's nauseating!"

Similar to the previous two occasions, this year's examination of Wen Jia over the past decade still did not yield any disciples who could meet the standards

The second disciple still bowed and paid his respects, while a layer of shimmering, enchanting green moss silently spread over, quickly growing from the ground onto Wen Tunhai's body. Upon seeing this, the disciple was both surprised and delighted, hurriedly fumbling to take out the antidote. However, Wen Tunhai let out a cold snort, stomped his foot fiercely, and the moss that seemed to want to burrow into his skin instantly withered to a yellow hue, falling off like bran: "Eliminated! The moss poison has some peculiar effects when used in medicine. You thought you could take a shortcut by using it to harm the enemy, but in reality, it is nothing but a joke, utterly worthless. When your poisonous moss climbs onto your body, the enemy has plenty of time to stab you to death!"

Watching a group of younger siblings cheer and jump with joy, Wen Leyang also smiled happily, revealing a mouthful of neat, white teeth. He pulled a carrot from his pocket and stuffed it into his mouth; this has been his one obsession since childhood: carrots

The fourth... ...

The Ten-Year Grand Examination is a family rule passed down through generations in the Wen family, and it is also an opportunity for the young disciples of the Wen clan to leap over the dragon gate. Only by passing this grand examination can one inherit the extraordinary secret arts left by their ancestors and become a core member of the Wen family. However, everyone knows that this grand examination is extremely difficult to pass

In the warm spring of March, the grass grows lush and the orioles fly, the gentle breeze is pleasant, and the red apricots bloom beyond the wall

Several elderly individuals from Wengjia Village stood at the entrance, laughing heartily. All unmarried descendants of the Weng family returning home, regardless of gender or age, were given red envelopes. The envelopes did not contain Renminbi, but rather a stack of thin gold leaves, which felt pleasantly heavy in the hand

The three families have been passed down since ancient times and have gradually entered the world, yet the number of people who still remember the saying "Wen does not grow grass, Miao does not interact, and one cannot die on Crow Ridge" is dwindling.

The eighth day, March 26

Several elders exchanged amused glances, and among this group of young boys who had left the village, only Wen Leyang had this sentiment, always thinking of the children back home

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Wen Leyang has always been an honest young man in the family, cheerful all day long. His siblings often tease him, and he laughs heartily along with them, never holding grudges, which has earned him a good reputation among them

The village chief and head of the Wen family in Wenjiacun, Old Master Wen, had long been waiting on the stone platform. Wen Leyang's uncle, the former county chief Wen Tunhai, who had fallen from grace due to his mother-in-law's influence, stood respectfully in front of the old gentleman

... ...

In the following seven days, every night in Wenjiacun, a grand banquet was held, with the entire family drinking and laughing together. Every day, they had fried eggs and stewed lamb, causing everyone, regardless of age or gender, to have nosebleeds from the feasting.

Wen Leyang is a pure-hearted young man, currently chewing on a carrot while ascending the mountain. He is also a direct disciple of Wen Bucao, sixteen years old, and is studying in the county town. At this moment, he is hurrying back to the mountain. He appears to be just an ordinary village boy, slightly slender in build, with an average appearance. However, he exudes a sense of sincerity and kindness, and there seems to be nothing particularly special about him, except for his bright eyes, which convey a feeling of genuineness.

The other Wen family members were all amused, as no one expected Wen Leyang, who usually loved eating carrots, to have such a talent for humor. Some clever youths secretly regretted it; had they known that the skills they had painstakingly honed were so inadequate, they would have preferred to create a little joy for themselves with a Wangzai steamed bun rather than be humiliated by their uncle.

As the stars shift and the constellations change, a thousand years pass in the blink of an eye

As soon as Wen Leyang entered the village, he was immediately surrounded by his younger siblings. With a magician's flourish, he pulled out a large bag of candies from his backpack. These snacks are not particularly expensive, but they are rarely seen in the remote mountain village. Every time Wen Leyang returns home, he always remembers to bring a big pile for his younger siblings

After gently clearing his throat, the voice of the old master Wen resonated throughout the stone platform: "March 26 is the day of the ten-year grand examination for the disciples of the Wen family. As per tradition, all disciples under the age of thirty are eligible to participate. Those who pass this year's grand examination will officially inherit the ancestral teachings and become the inner disciples of the Wen family of Jiuding Mountain." As he spoke, the old man's eyes crinkled with laughter.

To outsiders, this place may seem like a remote village deep in the mountains, but who would know that this small village had already gained a notorious reputation for poison a thousand years ago, causing both the righteous and the wicked to avoid it like venomous snakes and scorpions, treating it with utmost caution

Once the elder finished speaking, Da Boweiyun stepped forward and said in a deep voice: "All disciples aged twelve and above, but under thirty, may take this as a reference. Feel free to use any means at your disposal; whether it be poison or testing medicine, as long as you can challenge me, you will pass!" He spoke lightly, yet none of the Wen family disciples dared to relax even slightly. In the previous two major examinations, this former county magistrate had said the same, resulting in the Wen family not having any inner disciples for twenty years.

The three forces concealed in the region of Shu have always acted independently, not qualifying as sects of the martial world, nor do they concern themselves with the conflicts of good and evil. They rarely take the initiative to provoke others, and naturally, other forces are also unwilling to offend them

Wen Tun Hai still wore that expression that no one cared for, without even asking, he directly picked up the pill and threw it into his mouth. After chewing a few times, a hint of astonishment finally appeared on his face, his bright eyes suddenly constricting, as if icy needles piercing fiercely into Wen Leyang's eyes: "Bastard, this is Wangzai Little Steamed Bun! m.hetushu.com. Get lost!"

On that night, there was little activity in Wengjia Village, and everyone's mood was rather poor. After all, no one from the Weng family had passed the major examination for thirty years. Only a few young and impetuous disciples felt that their elder's standards were too strict, and they gathered together to quietly discuss their grievances. Every household had turned off their lights early, and the small mountain village in the darkness fell into slumber amidst a somewhat oppressive atmosphere

Starting from March 19, the previously tranquil Wenjia Village in Jiuding Mountain, western Sichuan, suddenly became lively, as the decennial Wenjia Grand Examination was about to commence, prompting all direct descendants from afar to return.

All the disciples referenced earlier left in shame, defeated without exception. When night fell, it was finally Wen Leyang's turn. He held a small pill in his hand, white in color, appearing exceedingly pure.

Wen Leyang felt both nervous and excited, and had a strong desire to eat a carrot

The lukewarm sea impatiently waved its hand: "Get lost, next!"

In the southern region of Chuan, at Wuyaling, the Luo family is well-versed in the art of corpse manipulation. Those who have enmity with Wuyaling are not merely destined to die; rather, after death, their remains will not be spared either. They will be used as marionettes, condemned to a thousand years of unrest, with no hope of reincarnation or rebirth, destined to exist as living dead.

The ballad passed down through a thousand years sings of the three forces that absolutely must not be provoked in the world

Approximately one hundred young disciples of the Wen family lined up in an orderly fashion from oldest to youngest, each walking one after another to Wen Tunhai. Wen Leyang stood at the end of the line, his honest demeanor not at all apparent. He was a pure-hearted youth, currently queuing in innocence, awaiting a pure examination.

As the first light of dawn tinged the clouds on the horizon with red, a distant and resonant bell toll slowly filled the ears of everyone present. The tranquil mountain village awakened in an instant, and all descendants of the Wen family, regardless of age, wore solemn expressions, yet their eyes could not conceal the joy and excitement that lay beneath. Silently, they gathered together, hundreds of them, marching grandly towards the bluestone square behind the village.

Various types of vehicles from hetushu.com are parked at the village entrance, including large trucks, small passenger cars, and a double-row sedan, along with a tricycle. It is unclear which descendant of "Wen Bu Cao" boldly rode it up the mountain.

"Don't worry about it!" Wen Tunhai picked up his nephew and said: "Let's go, we are going to meet the elders!"

Old Master Wen's gaze swept over the crowd, revealing a hint of amiable expression in his eyes, appearing to be an ordinary kind-hearted elder. However, when the old man is not kind, he can kill an entire chicken farm with just a snap of his fingers. In contrast, the other two elders of the Wen family, Second Master Wen and Third Master Wen, seem to exude a more sinister aura, standing rigidly behind Old Master Wen like corpses ready to rise from the dead, their eyelids drooping without a trace of expression.

Wen Tunhai is a disciple who passed the rigorous examination thirty years ago. From that day on, he became the only person in charge within the Wen Bucao clan, aside from the three elders.

In the western part of Sichuan, the Wen family of Jiuding Mountain is known for their expertise in poison. It is said that the Wen family's chili sauce is made from He Ding Hong, and their methods of administering poison are truly astonishing. During the Ming Dynasty, there was a group of notorious bandits who dared to rob even the imperial court. Unintentionally, they provoked the Wen family, resulting in the entire stronghold being wiped out, with not only all the inhabitants meeting a tragic end, but even the wild grass and trees withering overnight. For a full decade thereafter, the mountain remained barren, leading to the Wen family of Jiuding Mountain acquiring the infamous reputation of 'Wen Bu Cao' (Wen Family's Poisonous Name)

At midnight, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted, as if the heavens were being torn apart. Da Boren, in a fit of rage, kicked open the door of Wen Leyang's home and dragged Wen Leyang out of bed, furiously shouting: "Little bastard, what kind of drug are you giving me!"

Grandfather Wen Er and Grandfather Wen San exchanged a glance, their two cold and ruthless gazes meeting in midair, stirring up a layer of icy disappointment.

Wen Leyang's father rushed over wearing a coat, bewildered, and asked: "Elder brother, what happened?"

The current generation of the Wen family is working even harder than their ancestors. In addition to brewing medicinal wine and practicing their skills, they also have to attend school in the county town. After all, it is the era of technology, and the Wen family has quietly entered the world, engaging in various activities such as hetushu.com. Wen Leyang has an uncle named Wen Tunhai who became the county magistrate, but later he was dismissed from his position due to having too many mothers-in-law. Now, he is wholeheartedly following his great-uncle to refine medicine on the mountain.

The first disciple bowed and paid his respects. Before he could stand up, a pure white snake, as smooth as jade, with pitch-black eyes, suddenly darted out from his sleeve. With a whoosh, it lunged towards Wen Tun Hai, who did not even lift his eyelids. When the small snake shot in front of him, it emitted a sound resembling a monkey's cry, its dark eyes flashing with fear, its scales bristling. It twisted its body in mid-air and turned to flee, leaving a dark mark on the ground it passed. The disciple called out, "Xiao Bai!" Without regard for the ongoing examination, he turned and chased after it. When the small snake shot in front of him, it emitted a sound resembling a monkey's cry, its dark eyes flashing with fear, its scales bristling. It twisted its body in mid-air and turned to flee, leaving a dark mark on the ground it passed. The disciple called out, "Xiao Bai!" Without regard for the ongoing examination, he turned and chased after it.

Wen Tunhai snorted through his nose: "Eliminated! Treating a mixed-breed snake as a treasure, what a joke! Xiaobai... Hmph, do you think you are called Wen Xiaoxin?"

At the foot of Qiniang Mountain in Shu, there exists a clan of the Qingshao people, known for their expertise in witchcraft and worship of the celestial demon. They are characterized by their reclusive nature and eccentric behavior, with a clear distinction between gratitude and resentment, and they are quick to retaliate for even the slightest offense. Passersby must exercise caution when traversing this area, as it is imperative to avoid any contact with these Miao people. Otherwise, one might unknowingly leave behind a strand of hair or a nail, leading to the destruction of one's family years later, without ever realizing which words or actions offended the Miao people.

Wen Leyang shook his head at his uncle with a pained expression, saying: "It's not a small steamed bun; it's a small steamed bun flavor, it's medicine. You won't feel this medicine now, but when the time comes..."

Wen Leyang, with sleepy eyes, looked at his uncle. After a moment of daze, he suddenly recalled what had happened and exclaimed with pure surprise, "The medicine is working?"

Old Master Wen sighed: "Young disciples, go back and practice diligently; return in ten years for further guidance. Older disciples need not lose heart; you are, after all, the backbone of the Wen family. This legacy will eventually rest upon your shoulders!" Although the old man's words were framed this way, his expression was filled with an unmistakable sense of frustration. After saying a few more inconsequential remarks, he waved his hand to dismiss everyone.