Chapter 119: Registering for the Military Examination (Please Subscribe)

"Ah, it’s a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. Lanxin, why have you never mentioned having a twin sister? I thought you were practicing your swordsmanship and wanted to play a joke on you. I didn't expect things to turn out like this."

Upon hearing Wu Lanxin’s voice, Fang Xian hurriedly released Wu Lanxiang’s long legs and helped her stand straight. He spoke to Wu Lanxin with an air of composure, acting as if nothing had happened; he knew that as long as he didn't feel awkward, the awkwardness would belong to everyone else.

"Is he really the Imperial Son-in-law?" Wu Lanxiang, blushing, ran to Lanxin’s side and whispered.

"Congratulations to the Imperial Son-in-law for topping the imperial examinations. The Princess is inside, waiting to dine with you," Wu Lanxin gave her a sharp look before turning to smile at Fang Xian.

"Indeed. I’ll reward you later. By the way, Lanxiang, is it? Your sword style is quite suited for the battlefield, but it’s too rigid. You must learn to soften it appropriately to achieve a balance of hardness and gentleness," Fang Xian nodded, offering her a few words of advice.

"Scholar-Champion, how is it that no government official has snatched you up to be their son-in-law yet?" When he met Wu Qingluan, her first words were to tease him.

"I’ve already been snatched up by the Imperial family; who else would dare? I came straight here to pay my respects to the Eldest Princess as soon as I returned," Fang Xian said with a smile as he sat down and clinked his wine cup against hers.

"I saw what happened earlier. Are you interested in those two little girls? And what about that girl from the Situ family? She seems to be gazing at you with longing as well," Wu Qingluan asked, tipping her head to finish her drink before pouring more wine.

"I have no interest in the Situ girl. Although I taught her some medical skills, I have no other intentions. As for Lanxin and Lanxiang, they are your handmaidens; I will defer to your arrangements," Fang Xian replied, shaking his head.

He was well aware of Situ Yan’s feelings for him, but he already had enough women around him and had no desire to incur more romantic debts. He believed that once he left, Situ Yan would eventually find her own happiness. As for the twins, being Wu Qingluan’s personal maids, they would likely accompany her as part of her dowry and eventually become his concubines. However, the timing of such arrangements was entirely up to Wu Qingluan, and Fang Xian would not engage in any illicit affairs behind her back.

"Now that you have placed first in the examinations, what are your plans?" As they drank and chatted, Wu Qingluan asked him.

"Although I have the merit of treating the Crown Prince and hold the title of Scholar-Champion, I suspect the Emperor will still hesitate to marry off the Eldest Princess to me. To ensure there are no mishaps, I intend to participate in the martial arts palace examination in half a month," Fang Xian explained.

"You want to take the martial arts exam? That requires at least the rank of a Guerrilla General. Shall I arrange a post as a Guerrilla General for you in the Martial Guard?" Wu Qingluan was well aware of the qualifications, and she knew Fang Xian only had one path forward.

"To convince the Emperor to grant me your hand, my status as a divine doctor combined with being both a civil and martial champion should suffice. I have this Guerrilla General medallion; I obtained it when Hong Tianzhi sent men to negotiate terms for the mountain stronghold. Xia Zhenghong checked it and said it was genuine, but I need you to have someone verify if it is officially registered with the Ministry of War," Fang Xian said, producing his medallion.

"The medallion is authentic," Wu Qingluan said after inspecting it. She immediately called Wu Lanxiang in and handed it to her, instructing her to verify the registration with both the Ministry of War and the Imperial Secretariat.

In the afternoon, the room was filled with the sounds of their activities until nightfall, when Wu Qingluan quietly returned to the Eldest Princess’s mansion with her entourage. Fang Xian returned to his small courtyard and proceeded with the routine of treating Uncle Seven.

He performed acupuncture while channeling his mysterious energy, using both methods in tandem to clear the old man's blocked meridians, reconnect those that were severed, and guide the chaotic energy into the recovering pathways. After nearly two months of treatment, the meridians were largely restored and the chaotic energy had been smoothed out. However, the brain was still affected, and the recovery process would take considerable time.

Today was the first time Fang Xian attempted to treat Uncle Seven’s brain. He proceeded with extreme caution, using his energy to protect the vital areas throughout the process, and kept the pace incredibly slow. Half an hour later, he withdrew the needles, drenched in sweat. The treatment was physically and mentally taxing, and while his energy could be replenished, the mental exhaustion required time to heal.

"The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things. The beginning of the Dao is the origin of all things; the end of the Dao is the destruction of all things," Uncle Seven suddenly spoke.

Fang Xian looked at him in shock, but the old man immediately reverted to his previous state, as if he hadn't spoken at all. Fang Xian memorized the words, intuiting that they were profound, though he lacked the context to fully understand them. Still, he was overjoyed; this brief moment of clarity suggested that Uncle Seven could be saved.

Based on his condition, Fang Xian suspected that Uncle Seven might have been a master beyond the Transformation Realm. During the treatment, he discovered a phantom space within the old man's body where all internal energy flowed, unlike ordinary martial artists whose energy resided within their meridians.

He had asked Wu Qingluan about this; after breaking through to the Transformation Realm, a warrior’s meridians expand, and their internal energy increases manifold, allowing for external projection and flight. However, even a Transformation Realm master does not possess such a phantom space. Fang Xian concluded this must be a characteristic of a "Xian" Grandmaster.

Together with Wu Qingluan, they analyzed that this was likely the legendary Dantian Sea of Qi, a hidden location capable of storing vast amounts of energy—the secret to breaking through to the level of a Xian Grandmaster. For ordinary warriors, energy is stored in the meridians and the flesh, but to advance further, one must open the Dantian to store more refined energy, as the body can no longer contain it.

The next day, Wu Lanxiang returned to the clinic: "Imperial Son-in-law, your Guerrilla General medallion is real. It is registered with both the Ministry of War and the Imperial Secretariat as a Guerrilla General under the Golden Guard."

With this confirmation, Fang Xian immediately took his medallion to the Ministry of War to register for the martial arts palace examination, quickly causing a stir among the officials there.