Chapter 4, the punch that broke the nose.

However, what left everyone dumbfounded was that Xia Yubing appeared completely detached, merely watching the spectacle as if it were a show

It seems to be merely a newly prosperous place, a provincial bumpkin; if it were me, I would never be foolish enough to provoke that carriage. In another area, a young man with a slightly darker complexion, dressed in a lightweight silk long robe, stands out prominently. His black hair is styled straight and held back with a jade ring, exuding an innate noble aura of leadership. Surrounding him are five or six young men, each adorned with precious jade ornaments at their waists, dressed in luxurious fabrics, clearly indicating their wealth and status.

How?" The young man with a broad forehead looked at Lin Xi, whose expression was peculiar, with some surprise and asked.

The one who shouted this sentence was a young boy in a golden shirt with a tender voice. He had already gotten off the carriage, but seeing that the carriage sent to pick him up could not come down, a fierce and sinister expression appeared on his youthful face.

The old man stopped the cart, yet did not move aside; he simply sat quietly at the front of the cart, not even looking at the burly middle-aged man approaching him.

Although this carriage is worn, the door and window curtains are woven from the fur of the Illusory Spirit Rabbit, dyed with the juice of black vine flowers. This is a favored practice among the border tribes near the Longshe Mountain Range; it is breathable yet warm, and also waterproof and non-decaying. A dark-skinned youth with the surname Li, standing out among the crowd, sneered: "Those two gray horses are the gray-mouthed horses of the border tribes. They may seem unremarkable, but they possess the strongest endurance, capable of traveling a thousand miles by night. Now, these warhorses are already exhausted to this state... This carriage might very well have come from the Longshe border tribes. Moreover, you should consider that when we arrived, there were no representatives from the Qingluan Academy to guide us. It was only upon reaching this place that someone from the courtyard came to provide instructions."

Among this group of over a thousand youths, it is unknown how many outstanding talents and exceptional individuals there are

Brother Xia, you are already a lecturer? Not only Lin Xi, but even the elderly man catching the bus showed a strong look of shock in his eyes

The young girl was dressed in a simple blue blouse. Individually, her features may not be considered exceptionally beautiful, but together they create an indescribably fresh and charming impression.

... ...

This is simply courting death

At this moment, two seemingly exhausted gray horses let out a deep breath, producing a low sound. The four red high-headed steeds, which had been so proud just a moment ago, were suddenly startled, panicking as they dragged the carriage and bolted sideways.

The burly middle-aged man's eyes narrowed slightly, as he did not expect that an old man driving a dilapidated cart would dare to show him such disrespect.

The young man dressed in a pure black robe continued to walk ahead with a lantern in hand. His steps were both light and swift, giving the impression that mercury flowed within him. Despite moving at a speed akin to that of an ordinary person running, he showed no signs of breathlessness, still smiling gently and casually discussing the rules of the Qingluan Academy entrance examination with the elderly driver and Lin Xi.

The surrounding youths were immediately taken aback, "So, are you saying that this dilapidated cart was actually recommended by someone of extremely high status among the border tribes?"

"It's nothing." Xia Yanbing smiled slightly, turned around, and said no more. However, this understated remark, along with the phrase *illustration*, made him appear somewhat unique and proud.

The four blood-red steeds alone towered over the two horses of the opposing carriage, and the middle-aged man driving was brimming with explosive strength. From any perspective, the dilapidated carriage driven by the old man with murky eyes bore no comparison to the tall and magnificent brass-skinned carriage.

On a piece of open land approximately five miles from the cluster of tents where bonfires are lit by the lakeside, at least a thousand carriages have gathered, with bonfires illuminating the scene, creating a truly spectacular sight

This is unlikely to cause a commotion Most of the excited youths who came to watch the spectacle felt a sense of disappointment upon seeing Xia Yubing standing beside two carriages, and such thoughts arose in their minds

It seems you do not have much understanding of our Qingluan Academy, which is quite normal. The young man with a broad forehead appeared to have an epiphany, smiled, and said: "Before each of you candidates arrives, your information has already been transmitted from various places, so you need not worry about not being attended to tomorrow"

At the moment the old man's fist made contact with the bridge of the burly middle-aged man's nose, a sheen appeared on both the old man's fist and the man's face. "Crack!" However, the old man's figure merely swayed before he leaped back to the front of his car, while the burly middle-aged man's entire nose was completely askew, his face resembling a messy sauce shop, filled with disbelief and horror, as he was sent flying outwards, landing heavily and tragically.

The lecturer? Lin Xi's mouth immediately formed an 'O' shape.

The carriage began to descend, moving towards the incredibly magnificent tents and collection of books by the lakeside

Although he possesses some insight, it is overly ostentatious. When he criticizes others for their lack of knowledge, he merely reveals himself as a local bumpkin who has only recently come into wealth, yet he has insulted many in the process, unaware of how many grudges he has accumulated with that single statement. Not far away, a slender youth in a yellow shirt observes coldly, sneering inwardly.

The previously fierce and overbearing youth in the golden shirt appeared as if he had lost his soul, his face pale.

"Brother Li, why do you say such a thing?" A round-faced youth beside him, dressed in fragrant cloud silk, immediately voiced his confusion.

"He still looks like a person, but I didn't expect him to be an idiot." Among the crowd emerging from the lakeside tent, a tall girl with a ponytail glanced at the two opposing sides and immediately muttered, casting a disdainful look at the boy in a golden shirt whose face had also begun to twist into a somewhat ferocious expression.

The young boy appeared to be one or two years younger than Lin Xi, standing about half a head shorter. His complexion was fair, yet when he looked at Lin Xi, who had just revealed himself from the carriage behind, his expression was one of arrogance and disdain

Get lost

The two carriages arrived very late, and such a conflict immediately drew the attention of all the candidates gathered at the thousands of carriages and by the lakeside

The burly middle-aged man behind the wheel, as if he had heard the command to strike, with a loud crack, a black python-skin whip lashed towards the old man

"Get lost." What left them even more dumbfounded was that the old man sitting at the front of the car simply and directly uttered a single word.

But in that instant, everyone saw the once weary and aged old man suddenly pounce forward like a falcon towards the burly middle-aged man. The thick black python-skin whip swept over his head like a dark cloud. In the astonished gazes of all, the weary old man, exuding a terrifying aura of blood, struck the burly middle-aged man squarely on the nose with a single punch

"Brother Xia, are you a student of Qingluan Academy?" Lin Xi asked seriously, looking at the young man named Xia Yanbing. "I really know nothing about the entrance examination for Qingluan Academy. Could you tell me what subjects I need to take?"

Seeing the imposing presence of the carriage, Xia Yanbing, who was originally ready to turn and leave after arriving at the destination, felt a slight chill in her eyes. However, after glancing at the elderly man driving the carriage in front of Lin Xi, his gaze calmed down instead, and he chose to step aside and watch from the sidelines

The carriages and other accompanying personnel were not allowed to advance beyond the stone tablet; they could find a nearby place to rest while waiting for the results of the entrance examination tomorrow. As for you..." This young man with a broad forehead extended a finger and pointed towards the lakeside, "You can casually find an empty tent by the lake to rest in, or you can chat with other candidates. The conditions in each tent are the same, and food and drink are available for you to take as you please. When the instructor calls your name tomorrow, you can follow the arrangements to take the exam.

As Lin Xi was about to get off the carriage and walk directly to the cluster of tents by the lake, she noticed the stone tablet that Xia Yanbing had mentioned, prohibiting the passage of carriages, was not far ahead on the road. At that moment, a tall carriage drawn by four blood-red steeds approached from another path. It seemed quite familiar with the lakeside situation, and without any guidance from the Qingluan Academy, it forcefully cut in front of Lin Xi's carriage, dropping off a young man dressed in a golden brocade robe in front of the stone tablet and the books.

The carriage he jumped down from was adorned with brass patterns, magnificent yet heavy. The driver was a burly middle-aged man dressed in a blue outfit. After setting the young man down, he proceeded directly towards Lin Xi's carriage, simultaneously nodding to the elderly driver, indicating that the elder should move aside and allow him to pass through to the open space where thousands of carriages were gathered.

Four blood-red steeds came to a halt almost right in front of Lin Xi's carriage, as they approached the two gray horses. For a moment, the two carriages found themselves in a stalemate, with neither side willing to yield.

The younger people are increasingly fond of joining in the excitement and watching the commotion. Although there was no obvious movement at the gathering of thousands of carriages, a steady stream of youths had already rushed out from the tents by the lakeside.

I am currently a lecturer at Qingluan Academy. Xia Yanbing smiled slightly and said, As for the content of the examination, it varies each year, and I am not entirely sure. I can only assure you that it will be completely fair. When admitting students, Qingluan Academy places the utmost importance on two aspects: talent and character. As for the specifics, I cannot elaborate further.

"It's nothing, I just find this title a bit strange." Lin Xi forcibly swallowed the words "nonsense" that almost slipped out and changed the subject, "Brother Xia, you didn't ask for my name before. Will the lecturer you mentioned tomorrow know my name and call me?"

You really won't let me pass? The burly middle-aged man driving the shabby cart did not possess the gaze of those youthful talents. He never expected that this dilapidated cart would stubbornly block his way. His expression immediately darkened, and he grimly uttered four words.