Chapter 5: Border Barbarians, Golden Spoons, and Earth Mounds

I, Li Kaiyun, from the Jinghua Mausoleum of the Northern Province.

At the gathering of a thousand carriages, a short-haired middle-aged man dressed in a blue silk long gown stood at the front of a black lacquered carriage, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. As a weary old man shot out like an arrow, he spoke to the two strong men beside him on the two carriages.

It is one thing not to recognize the opponent's strength, but to act so arrogantly in front of the academy members is simply asking for trouble. Among the lake-side youths, there were certainly those who understood the situation; as their gazes swept over the pale-faced youth in the golden robe, their eyes were filled with unmistakable disdain. However, when their eyes fell upon Lin Xi, there was an added hint of amusement.

Li Kaiyun is a somewhat frail young man, with hair that appears quite yellow. Zhang Ping is the oldest among them and looks the most composed. According to the chubby boy Meng Bai, at least half of the pharmacies in the Xiangxiang Province belong to their family

It is the local officials with the power of recommendation who have given this power to an ordinary person they favor, rather than to their own direct descendants. The power of recommendation is quite rare, and once it has been used, one must accumulate a certain amount of military merit or other contributions to obtain it again. Meng Bai murmured softly, "Generally, good opportunities are given to one's own people, not to others, unless a local official recognizes someone with exceptional talent and recommends an outstanding individual. The recommending official will also receive significant rewards."

My name is Lin Xi, and I come from Ludongling in the Donglin Province. Lin Xi instinctively extended his right hand, and by the time he realized that this was not the custom of this world, the chubby boy Meng Bai had already assumed it was the custom of Ludongling. He happily wiped his hands on his blue silk shirt and shook hands with Lin Xi.

Within the campsite, loud noise and fighting are prohibited

Lin Xi understood this and shook his head, "No."

My name is Zhang Ping, from the Water Dragon Ridge in the Xiangxi Province.

In fact, it is quite simple. "Bianman" refers to those who have achieved sufficient military merit in the border army or those recommended by individuals with recommendation rights within the border army. "Jinshao" refers to the noble offspring who are naturally qualified to participate in the examination. "Tubao" refers to those recommended from the local area, which includes either wealthy merchants who have donated sufficient funds or local landlords who have purchased recommendation rights. In any case, there is no significant background.

The tents are constructed from thick white cotton fabric, with each one approximately five to six steps apart. At this moment, most of the youths who have come to take the test are gathered around this large area of tents near the stone tablet. Many are observing Lin Xi quietly, while some appear noticeably reserved and cautious, having retreated into the tents. However, there are also some youths who have gathered in front of certain tents, chattering animatedly.

"What exactly are 'Bianman', 'Jinshao', and 'Tubao'?" After laughing for a while, Lin Xi looked at the increasingly pleasing little chubby boy and asked.

"That means the local tyrant is promoting the worthy! This implies that your talent must be quite exceptional." Meng Bai immediately let out a loud exclamation

Looking at Lin Xi's pure smile and recalling Lin Xi's calm and composed temperament, the old man increasingly felt that Lin Xi was much more endearing than the other youths. However, thinking about how his actions today might have some adverse effects on him, the old man's brows furrowed slightly

Originally, the faces of these several robust and refined young men showed a sense of familiarity. However, upon hearing Lin Xi's response, their expressions all changed dramatically. One young man, who had a wolf head tattoo on the back of his hand, coldly remarked with a blank expression: "I said it didn't seem like it; how could someone who came out from beside us appear so weak?"

Haha. Then Lin Xi and Meng Bai couldn't help but laugh.

"You are not a barbarian, so are you a golden spoon or a dirt bag?" A chubby boy approached and asked Lin Xi, who was left standing there awkwardly by those few people.

Lin Xi, which department of the Qingluan Academy do you most wish to enter

"What are you chewing on?" At this moment, Lin Xi felt somewhat speechless, as he had no idea why he was brought here. As for any talent, he was completely in the dark. Not knowing what to say, he first asked this question, observing that Meng Bai had been chewing on something since he came over to greet him.

"That is still more than I know. To be honest, I have never even heard of the Southern Linxing Province. Is it located to the south?" Lin Xi said

The conflicting protagonist, referred to as Liu Bo by Lin Xi, appeared humble and downcast, as if nothing had happened. He calmly drove forward, dropping Lin Xi off in front of the stone tablet. Only when he turned to leave did he gesture towards the place where a thousand carriages were gathered, softly saying to Lin Xi, "If you fail to gain admission to the academy, I will be waiting for you there"

"Isn't someone from the local area... a bumpkin? Doesn't that make them a Muggle?" Lin Xi found it even more amusing and smiled at Meng Bai, saying, "These three terms don't seem to be very flattering."

The youth by the lakeside was immediately in an uproar

After the initial pleasantries, the most composed Zhang Ping looked at Lin Xi and asked this question

Before the fight, it was not mentioned that https://www.hetushu.com would be involved, but after the fight, this statement was made again. Isn't this clearly showing bias?

"Let's go." The thin young man with a scar on his left eyebrow, who was leading, no longer paid attention to Lin Xi and turned to leave directly

The chubby boy became cheerful and grinned, saying: "You don't even know this? It seems you are just like me, a country bumpkin... By the way, my name is Meng Bai, and I come from Yangguanling in the Nanlinxing Province"

"There is a mound over there that came from Jinzhou, Jinzhou beef jerky, it's very delicious, though a bit tough." From time to time, Meng Bai chewed and pointed with his finger. Then Lin Xi saw a somewhat shy, square-faced boy nodding at her with a rather honest demeanor. "Why don't we go over there and talk? There are a few other mounds, and I can introduce you. We can't just stand here talking all the time," Meng Bai suggested. "You can also have some of the tough beef jerky while you're at it."

Lin Xi was suddenly choked by the old beef jerky he was chewing, coughing as he asked, "Does Qingluan Academy also have different departments?"

"Is he from the border troops?" Seeing that Lin Xi seemed to not understand, the leading young man, who had a scar above his left eyebrow, frowned and asked again.

Simple and direct, like an arrow shooting straight into the face of a burly middle-aged man

"Who is coming over?" Lin Xi was taken aback. The few people approaching had somewhat stooped, slender figures and short hair, yet they exuded an exceptionally fierce and refined aura. Moreover, they were considerably older than him, and two of them were even carrying long knives sheathed in black.

"It is not that he is not tough, but that old man is too formidable. That guy has even reached the Fabrication Realm, yet he still had his nose crooked by a single punch from that old man. I fear that old man has at least reached the Empowerment Realm." A tall youth with naturally brown long hair said to the round-faced boy.

Lin Xi walked while observing his surroundings

"What does 'Tu Bao Ju Xian' mean?" Lin Xi lowered his voice and continued to ask, feeling somewhat embarrassed

Only someone like Lao Bianman could possess such a fighting style and killing intent. To think that a master of this caliber would personally drive, we must investigate the background of this young man

"So it's a local bumpkin?" In the distance, before a campfire, a cold, black-clad youth with long hair looked at Lin Xi and Meng Bai, sneering inwardly, "I don't believe your talent is higher than mine, Wen Xuan Yu."

"What are 'Bianman', 'Jinshao', and 'Tubao'?" Lin Xi asked, looking at the chubby boy who was about the same age as him, half a head shorter, and had quite a few freckles on his face.

Lin Xi suddenly felt that the gazes of many young people around him had changed somewhat towards him

My name is Xiang Lin, and I am from Jinzhou Ling, Dashing Province

The fierce outburst of the weary old man in that moment left the majority of the youths wide-eyed. In their eyes, the image of the weary old man had completely transformed.

The two burly men beside him, seated in the two carriages, were similarly dressed in long blue silk robes. Their exposed skin displayed a pleasing bronze hue, as if coated with a layer of oil, glistening in the light. They stood upright, exuding an extraordinary presence. However, upon hearing the voice of the middle-aged man, whose gaze was sharp as that of a hawk, the two men slightly bowed, their eyes naturally revealing respect and humility, "Yes, my lord"

Sigh, it really can't withstand much; I thought I could enjoy some excitement for a while. Lin Xi heard a round-faced youth sigh as he walked past the first bonfire.

At that moment, Xia Yanbing, who had remained silent until now, spoke in a clear voice. After saying this, he paid no attention to Lin Xi and the weary old man in front of her, nor did he glance at the burly middle-aged man lying on the ground, whose mouth and crooked nose were oozing blood and foam, a sight of utter misery. He picked up the lantern and, amidst the fluttering fireflies, walked towards the several large tents in the distance by the lakeside

"Did they come from the side?" Just as Lin Xi was curiously observing the two young men, a few people walked over to him and asked.

Of course, these are not pleasant words; they are merely what everyone shouts at each other in mutual disdain. Meng Bai pouted, saying, "The Jinshao and Tupo find the border troops to be barbaric, while the border troops consider the Jinshao and Tupo to be unlearned and frivolous young masters. Jinshao thinks Tupo is rustic and lacking in insight, while Tupo believes Jinshao is arrogant and haughty. The one who just had a conflict with you should also be considered a Jinshao... By the way, you are Tupo, right? How could you have such a formidable bodyguard?"

Lin Xi thought for a moment, "I must be a country bumpkin. My parents only own a few shops, and Liu Bo has nothing to do with my family. It seems that a local official is the one who brought me here."

One minute, which is sixty breaths in this world later, Lin Xi and four "country bumpkins" sat inside a tent, chewing on the Jinzhou beef jerky that Lin had brought.

... ...

I know that the Donglin Province is located at the far east, but I have never heard of Ludongling. After holding hands with Lin Xi, the honest little chubby boy Meng Bai said.

"Alright, Liu Bo," Lin Xican smiled brightly, not glancing at the golden-robed youth still standing beside him. He walked towards the brightly lit bonfire, which for him was filled with a magical aura, reminiscent of the tent village at the Quidditch World Cup.