Chapter Two, in the spring rain, an old man and a young boy

I know that if I do not answer your question, you may continue to bother me along the way. However, I can honestly tell you that I do not know the answer to your question either, as ordinary people are generally not qualified to participate in the entrance examination of these three prestigious academies. I am also quite curious about the identity of the noble person who has the ability to recommend you for the entrance examination of the Qingluan Academy, but that person's status must be extremely high, so ...

There are also Xianyi Academy and Thunder Academy. The old man nodded and said, I just mentioned to you that half of the significant figures in our Yunqin Empire today come from Qingluan Academy, while the other half... mostly come from these two academies

The old man was momentarily taken aback, yet there was no hint of a smile. He nodded slightly and said, "It is good that you understand this"

The old man looked at Lin Xi with some curiosity, but all he saw was Lin Xi appearing to be deep in thought. "Uncle Liu, my interest in the Qingluan Academy has increased significantly."

"Why should one be imprisoned for merely speaking such words?" Lin Xi appeared surprised, yet inwardly he was amused. After more than ten days of interaction following the assassination, he had already categorized this elderly man named Liu as someone akin to his own mother in this world—stern in appearance but soft-hearted in reality. As long as he did not cross this elderly man's bottom line, he would not reveal his dangerous side.

Upon hearing the first half of Lin Xi's sentence, the elderly man, with his eyes closed, furrowed his brow once more. However, upon hearing the latter half, a chill in his heart dissipated as his brow relaxed.

Lin Xi asked: "What are the differences among the three colleges?"

"Why do you like to say such nonsense?" The old man's mood relaxed, he stretched his legs and adjusted to the most comfortable sitting position

Because the assassination never actually took place, and Lin Xi appeared courteous throughout the journey, the elderly driver was relatively mild in his demeanor and did not exhibit the iron-blooded aura that one would expect from someone who has walked through a sea of corpses. However, upon hearing Lin Xi's words at this moment, the previously calm and kind old man inexplicably became enraged. "Lin Xi, do not forget your father's instructions. Outside of Lulin Town, refrain from speaking such nonsense. Over the past ten days, you have asked me this question no less than thirty times. If you were in the imperial city of Zhongzhou, you might have already been thrown into prison."

Suddenly, Lin Xi called out to the old man.

"I am tired." The old man's face stiffened, and he dryly uttered three words before simply closing his eyes. Lin Xi's attitude left him with no choice; faced with such a polite and frail youth, he could not, out of his own impatience, resort to the same direct violence as he would with the talkative new recruits in the border army.

"You are very clever." The old man glanced at Lin Xi again and shook his head, "It turns out you have just read too many fantastical tales and bizarre writings by those wild and imaginative authors."

A moment of tranquility settled within the carriage

Two gray old horses are slowly walking along the muddy road, flanked on both sides by vast stretches of bamboo forest. The spring rain falls softly, creating a rustling sound, as tender bamboo shoots push through the moist mountain soil, vibrant and lush like the verdant life of early spring.

He suddenly realized that during these more than ten days, the performance of this young man from a wealthy family in Lulin Town, aside from being a bit eccentric in his speech, had truly exceeded his expectations. Even when missing the opportunity to find lodging, and having to sleep on the grass, this pampered youth showed no complaints. Even when he could only gnaw on hard flatbreads with tasteless cold water, the young man seemed to be in high spirits. Even when missing the opportunity to find lodging, and having to sleep on the grass, this pampered youth showed no complaints. Even when he could only gnaw on hard flatbreads with tasteless cold water, the young man seemed to be in high spirits

The three major universities, hetushu.com, what about the institute? Lin Xi was slightly taken aback

"Of course I can't, otherwise how could I be driving here so honestly?" The old man replied earnestly, and soon both the old and the young found the conversation somewhat amusing, unable to hold back their laughter.

Liu Bo, does our Yunqin Empire have flying swords? Are there immortals?

In the carriage, Lin Xi rested his head and seriously asked the elderly man with white hair, who was temporarily retreating to a corner of the carriage to rest.

"Going in and out is equivalent to being the mayor?" Such a thought emerged in Lin Xi's mind

In recent years, Qingluan Academy has not been particularly strong among the three major academies of the Empire, yet it is the oldest academy in our Yunqin Empire. Moreover, if it were not for the emergence of a figure like Dean Zhang from Qingluan Academy fifty years ago, our Yunqin Empire might not have such a vast territory today. The old man pondered slightly, his gaze flickering, fully aware that these words carried significant risk, yet Lin Xi's performance compelled him to speak them out.

Lin Xi looked at the elderly man who had clearly been softened by him, and felt a surge of excitement in his heart. This world was still completely new to him; he was like a traveler, filled with curiosity about everything.

The youth's gaze is clear and bright, filled with curiosity and anticipation

Since these three prestigious academies are so remarkable, why would they want me to go? Liu Bo, do you know who asked me to go?

Upon realizing this, the heart of the old man, which had been tempered to a hardness akin to iron through countless brushes with life and death, suddenly melted.

Aside from those who have graduated from Qingluan Academy, very few people possess substantial knowledge about it. To be honest, Qingluan Academy is not a subject I am qualified to comment on. Moreover, apart from those who have genuinely come from Qingluan Academy and the prominent figures in the capital of Zhongzhou, the rest of the populace knows little about it. Therefore, regarding my remarks about Qingluan Academy today, please refrain from mentioning them to anyone, as it could potentially bring unnecessary trouble upon us. The elder cast a glance at Lin Xi, his expression growing more serious.

Therefore, it is best not to make unfounded guesses; it is better to stay out of this matter. Otherwise, we may not understand the thoughts of that esteemed person, and if we inadvertently cause displeasure, we could find ourselves in serious trouble. Before the old man finished speaking, Lin Xi chuckled, stuck out her tongue, and continued speaking.

Lin Xi was taken aback, his mouth agape, "How far can that flying sword travel? In our Yun Qin Empire, how many people are capable of achieving that?"

"Then what about you, Liu Bo? Can you use a flying sword?" After muttering to himself, Lin Xi slightly raised his head to look at the old man and asked earnestly.

For him, the titles of mayor and town supervisor are merely different in name, and in reality, there is not much distinction between them

Lin Xi was momentarily taken aback, then exhaled sharply and asked the elder, "Uncle Liu, could you elaborate a bit more?"

In fact, even among the border troops, the punishment that those barbarians find most unacceptable is not the whipping with a python whip, but rather being confined alone in a dark room for half a month, and the size of those dark rooms is roughly comparable to that of this carriage

Lin Xi's mouth opened wide, yet for a moment, he was at a loss for words, his heart filled with immense shock

The spring rain falls gently, and the horse-drawn carriage struggles to advance along the muddy road

A few absurd words, when spoken by Lin Xi, surprisingly convey such clarity and coherence

"A thousand steps, that is quite impressive," Lin Xi murmured to himself. Even if it were just a hundred steps, the existence of something like a flying sword would be enough to redefine this world.

A silence enveloped the carriage, broken only by the sound of spring rain falling on its roof

"Good and books." Lin Xi nodded with certainty

Flying swords and flying through the sky are achievable by some, but it is impossible to reach the level depicted in those tales of immortals and strange phenomena. Just think about it, if it were truly that powerful, wouldn't it allow for the arbitrary assassination of high-ranking officials?

The elderly man was astonished

The old man glanced at Lin Xi and said, "Apart from those who graduated from these three prestigious academies, very few people have a deep understanding of them. This is because the students from these three academies, upon graduation, are already equivalent to the level of town supervisors. Moreover, most of them will soar to great heights, which is beyond the comprehension of ordinary individuals like us. However, you need not worry about this; if you truly enter the Qingluan Academy, you will naturally become very clear about it."

The weak stop at a hundred steps, while the strong can kill at a thousand steps. I do not know how many people in the entire Yunqin Empire can achieve this, but I know it is very few. The old man pondered, "I have only seen three such strong individuals in total."

Liu Bo, since you promised my father to take good care of me, you surely do not want to invite any trouble because of my careless words. Moreover, we are already halfway through our journey. Although I have seen quite a bit of the scenery along the way, I still know nothing about the Qingluan Academy we are heading to. You should at least tell me a little about it... But Lin Xi's soft voice still reached his ears, "Also, after so many days, if you don't talk to me, I will be bored to death. At that point, I might even get sick from the boredom."

Did that noble figure, in such a short time, discern this potential within him, which is why he recommended him to take the examination at Qingluan Academy? Startled, the old man’s body trembled slightly, and the carriage he was leaning against shook with a loud sound, causing much of the rainwater that had accumulated in the corners to fall.

Indeed, this is merely an ordinary, frail boy who has never left Lulin Town. Although he finds it quite strange, he is, after all, not among those elite border troops he is familiar with, who can march through dangerous territories for over ten days without uttering a single word.

What kind of place is the Qingluan Academy?" As the laughter subsided, Lin Xi turned to the old man to seek his guidance again

Liu Bo's meaning is that there are no figures in this world who can wield flying swords, perform astonishing spells, or move mountains and fill seas

"In fact, it's not really nonsense," he said, looking at the old man who clearly had many stories to tell. He smiled and continued, "I have read quite a few interesting books, and in those stories, some remarkable characters can fly out with their swords, traveling thousands of miles to take heads, and they can also soar through the skies and traverse the earth, moving mountains and filling seas. Although I have never left Lulin Town and there aren't many knowledgeable people there, the two of us, young and old, will have to cross half of the Yunqin Empire, and there will surely be many dangers along the way. Not long ago, I heard my father mention that a merchant caravan from Ludongling was robbed by bandits. Since you dare to take me on this journey alone, and I can see no trace of worry or tension on Liu Bo's face, and you seem very familiar with the route, I believe you must also be one of those skilled individuals from the stories, which is why I asked you such a question."

In simple terms, it refers to a powerful figure who teaches the use of flying swords, a place where significant individuals emerge. Upon hearing the words "Qingluan Academy," the elder's face clearly displayed a serious and respectful expression. "Currently, at least half of the influential figures in our Yunqin Empire come from Qingluan Academy"

The elderly man, with his hair turned gray and wrinkles on his face resembling the marks of time and hardship, gazed intently at the young boy across from him

Although the old man who arrived with the carriage that day had made it clear that as long as one could enter the Qingluan Academy, they would at least secure a minor official position, and that the position would certainly not be low, he had never anticipated that the Qingluan Academy would be such a place. This world seems to be becoming increasingly interesting