Half a day away from Qingzhou Prefecture, Xia Liu began urging them to hurry.

Gu Qingyan couldn’t pretend not to notice anymore. With a face full of reluctance, he said, “Brother Pei, are you leaving now?”

There was a trace of reluctance in Pei Xuan’s eyes as well.

He had spent many years roaming the outside world, constantly walking the line between life and death, his entire being always tense. Rarely did he get to enjoy such a moment of ease.

Once they parted, who knew when they would meet again?

If only he could stuff Gu Qingyan into his pocket and take him along.

Pei Xuan was startled by this sudden thought.

How could he think such a thing?

It was too improper.

Noticing the change in his expression, Gu Qingyan thought he was also reluctant to part. “Don’t worry, Brother Pei. I’ll do my best in the imperial exams and try to get to the capital as soon as possible. Then we’ll see each other again.”

Then he stared at him seriously, “Brother Pei, you won’t forget me, right?”

Pei Xuan would never forget: “Of course not.”

“Then remember to take good care of yourself, train diligently, and strive to become the best in the world,” Gu Qingyan said with a smile.

He himself didn’t have to work too hard—Pei Xuan’s efforts counted half for him. The feeling of coasting to victory was just too good, and Gu Qingyan was giddy with delight.

Pei Xuan, unaware of his secret ambition, only thought he was childlike and admired his skills.

Faced with those admiring eyes, he nodded without hesitation. “Alright, I’ll work hard and won’t let you down.”

Gu Qingyan was finally reassured. “Then I won’t hold you up any longer.”

He jumped onto the ox cart and waved goodbye. “Brother Pei, green hills won’t change, clear waters will keep flowing—until we meet again in the jianghu.”

Pei Xuan couldn’t help but smile. “If you run into trouble, just show my name card. Don’t hesitate.”

“Got it.” Gu Qingyan nodded eagerly. With such a golden thigh to cling to, it would be foolish not to.

He was only regretful that after signing in all the way, he’d collected a bunch of pearls but didn’t have anything good to give Pei Xuan as a parting gift.

After another round of urging from Xia Liu, Pei Xuan glanced at him and said, “Take care.”

With that, he spurred his horse and galloped off down the road.

Xia Liu quickly followed. After a few steps, she turned back and warned, “Train hard. I’ll check next time we meet.”

Zhang Nian hurried to respond, “Yes, Master Xia.”

Their group of fine horses galloped away, leaving only a trail of dust.

As soon as Pei Xuan left, Gu Qingyan felt a wave of disappointment. He looked toward the direction they went and sighed.

Zhang Nian tried to comfort him, “Young Master ranked first in the county exam. You’ll definitely pass the prefectural and provincial exams smoothly. In two years, you’ll be off to the capital for the final exam. You’ll see Lord Pei again then.”

Gu Qingyan was even more mournful: “Two years…”

How many sign-in rewards would he miss by then?

Zhang Nian was puzzled. “Brother Gu, I heard from Auntie that you only met Lord Pei on your way to Lingchuan County. How did your bond grow so strong in such a short time?”

“Lord Pei clearly had urgent business, yet he came just to see you off.”

Gu Qingyan thought to himself—this bond was carefully cultivated.

After months of correspondence, each of his letters had been long and detailed. Pei Xuan hadn’t replied at all at first, but later started sending letters back occasionally. That meant it was working.

Gu Qingyan felt he had already figured Pei Xuan out. The man was cold on the outside but warm inside, and especially liked listening to others talk.

Every time he praised Pei Xuan’s martial skills, Brother Pei’s ears would turn red.

What did that prove? That Pei Xuan didn’t talk much but was secretly quite vain.

Gu Qingyan had him figured out perfectly—if he liked being flattered, then he’d just say more. The more, the better.

“You don’t get it,” he said with a grin. “We may have only known each other for a short while, but the bond runs deep. We clicked immediately—better than people who’ve known each other for a lifetime.”

He hooked an arm around Zhang Nian’s shoulder. “Just like us. We’ve known each other even less time, but we get along great, don’t we?”

“You’re right, Brother Gu,” Zhang Nian agreed readily.

With Pei Xuan gone, Zhang Cheng slinked over again.

“Finally gone. Brother Gu, your Brother Pei had such an intimidating aura. One look from him and I didn’t even dare to breathe.”

Zhang Cheng rubbed his neck. “Felt like a chill down my spine.”

Gu Qingyan laughed. “Zhang, you’re way too timid. My Brother Pei may look cold, but he’s got a great temper. Never harms the innocent.”

“I’m just afraid he might not think I’m innocent.”

Zhang Cheng thought this “great temper” claim was a stretch. In the days they traveled together, he never once saw Pei Xuan smile. That didn’t exactly scream “good temper.”

Still, he was a natural admirer of martial heroes. Now that Pei Xuan was gone, he finally dared to say: “But his martial arts were amazing. Almost on par with you, Brother Gu. Do masters only make friends with other masters?”

Gu Qingyan was speechless but decided to just let him keep the lovely misunderstanding.

Qingzhou Prefecture was just ahead. Feeling bored, Gu Qingyan opened his map to check the sign-in locations and plan where to go once he entered the city.

Zooming in, the Li residence appeared on the map.

He had lived there for fifteen years—he knew it well.

What surprised him was that the Li residence had three sign-in points.

Ordinary homes wouldn’t even show one. Not only did the Li residence appear, it had three.

One at the front gate, one in Madam Xu’s courtyard, and the last in Li Jingting’s—his old courtyard.

Gu Qingyan frowned and quickly swiped it away. He had no intention of dealing with the Li family again.

“Finally at Qingzhou Prefecture.” Seeing the city gate in the distance, Zhang Cheng couldn’t wait. “Sitting in that cart these last few days made my bones go soft. Once we’re in the city, I’ve got to relax.”

He turned to Gu Qingyan. “Brother Gu, the Zhang family has a residence here in Qingzhou. It’s not big, but there’s room for both of us. Why don’t you stay with me?”

Gu Qingyan shook his head. “I’ve already arranged a place to stay. I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

Zhang Cheng was surprised. “You have a place? Where? If it’s an inn, they’re noisy and crowded—not great for exam prep.”

Gu Qingyan actually didn’t know where he’d be staying, but based on past experience, signing in at the city gate usually gave him a house.

“I’ll tell you in a bit.”

Zhang Cheng grew more puzzled. If it’s already arranged, why not just say so now?

Worried that Gu Qingyan was too shy to accept his offer, he kept trying to persuade him along the way.

But Gu Qingyan refused to budge, much to Zhang Cheng’s disappointment.

[You have signed in at Qingzhou Prefecture city gate and received a residential estate in Qingzhou Prefecture.]

Gu Qingyan raised his eyebrows—just as expected.

The system was so considerate. From now on, wherever he went, he’d never have to worry about finding a place to stay.

“Zhang, I just remembered the address,” Gu Qingyan said cheerfully, and shared the location.

The scholars all had their own lodgings arranged—at the very least, even the worst-off had booked inns well in advance. The group parted ways at the city gate.

Gu Qingyan checked the address and asked for directions along the way. After circling around for a bit, he finally reached his destination.

One look and he couldn’t help but grin. The new house was quite close to the yamen—only two streets away.

Like the house in Lingchuan County, it was the smallest type of courtyard, with just one entrance, but despite its modest size, it had everything it needed. It was fully furnished and functional.

As Gu Qingyan stepped through the door, he couldn’t help but wonder—how exactly did the system get this house?

What kind of high-tech magic was this, that the system could offer a house as a reward?

He couldn’t figure it out right away.

The things Madam Liu had packed into the cart came in handy now. The two of them carried their bedding inside and laid it out, and just like that, the place was ready to live in.

Zhang Nian quickly made the bed and was pleasantly surprised after checking the kitchen.

“Brother Gu, the kitchen has everything we need. I’ll head out later to buy some groceries and cook. It’s cheaper and cleaner to eat at home.”

Gu Qingyan glanced around the room and agreed that the system was quite considerate.

Still, he didn’t rush to settle in. “A-Nian, keep unpacking. I need to go out for a bit.”

Zhang Nian immediately put down what he was doing. “I’ll go with you.”

“No need. I grew up in Qingzhou Prefecture—I know this place well. You stay here, or we won’t have a place to sleep tonight.”

“But…”

“I’ll be right back, don’t worry.”

Leaving the house, Gu Qingyan walked down familiar streets, memories stirring of the sorry state in which he had left a year ago.

As for Lady Xu, Gu Qingyan had long given up hope. All he wished now was that they would each live their own lives in peace.

But Cuihong, who had taken the risk to send him off, deserved a visit now that he was back in Qingzhou Prefecture—he wanted to see how she was doing.

Guided by his memory of where Cuihong used to live, Gu Qingyan made his way over.

“Cuihong?”

Just as he reached the entrance of the alley, he spotted a familiar figure. Her belly was slightly rounded—she appeared to be pregnant.

The woman looked up and, seeing him at the alley’s entrance, tears welled in her eyes. “Young Master!”

She ran forward a couple of steps, overwhelmed with emotion.

“It’s me.”

Gu Qingyan quickly stopped her. “Don’t run—careful of the baby. Are you married now?”

Cuihong beamed. “Yes! That day, you left me some silver. I figured that once you were gone, there was no point staying with the Li family. So I used the money to redeem myself and married my cousin. It’s been eight months now—we’re expecting in about five.”

Gu Qingyan looked her over. Though she’d tanned a bit, she looked healthy and even a bit more filled out than before. She must be doing well.

He felt reassured. “That’s good. I was worried that my departure might have caused trouble for you all.”

Cuihong snorted. “The lady of the house always looked down on us maids. This turned out for the best. It was easier to redeem ourselves that way. It’s just a pity about Sister Hongdou.”

“What happened to Hongdou?” Gu Qingyan asked.

That maid, who had served Lady Xu, had always treated him kindly. After he left the Li family, it was Hongdou who had taken a risk to send him a message—and even gave him her silver bracelet.

Cuihong pursed her lips but eventually replied. “When I left, I wanted Hongdou to come with me, but she said she couldn’t. I later went to the Li family to ask about her, but they wouldn’t even let me in. I asked a few maids I knew—they all claimed they didn’t know anything.”

“I even went to her family’s house, but her parents said she never came back.”

In a quiet voice, Cuihong said, “I have no idea how she’s doing now. That woman treats people harshly. After you left, she only got worse. Before I left, I’d heard some of the other girls had been punished. Hongdou even got beaten once.”

This made Gu Qingyan frown.

“Don’t worry. I’ll think of a way to see her,” he said.

He remembered Hongdou’s kindness. If she was doing well and wanted to stay, then fine. But if her situation was bad and she wanted to leave, he would help her.

Cuihong quickly tried to dissuade him. “Young Master, it hasn’t been easy for you to come back and get your life in order. Don’t get yourself involved in more trouble.”

She lowered her voice. “What if they find out and come after you?”

Gu Qingyan snorted. “Let them come. When I left the Li family, I didn’t take anything. What can they do to me?”

Back then, he had left in a hurry—largely because of Lady Xu’s cruelty and the devastating blow it dealt him.

But the Gu Qingyan of today was no longer someone the Li family could toy with.

He made a mental note to look into the matter and, before leaving, slipped Cuihong a few silver pieces.

Cuihong refused. “Young Master, I’m already happy just knowing you’re studying and planning to take the civil exams. That takes money—I can’t accept yours.”

“Just take it as a gift for your marriage and upcoming child. A little wedding present from me,” Gu Qingyan insisted.

He had noticed her hands were now rough and calloused—life after leaving the Li family hadn’t been easy.

“Take it. I’ll come visit you again.”

Cuihong’s eyes turned red with emotion. “Thank you, Young Master. The greatest fortune of my life is being able to serve you.”

In her heart, she couldn’t help but feel indignant on the young master’s behalf. Such a good young master—yet Madam Li cast him out without a second thought, without a shred of affection.

Gu Qingyan turned back to leave. Deep down, he didn’t want any further entanglement with the Li family.

The two children had been switched at birth and mistakenly raised for fifteen years. Now that Li Jingting had returned, Lady Xu had shown her cold and ruthless side.

The Li family heirloom that belonged to the Gu family had already turned to dust and disappeared.

There were no debts left between them. Living their own lives without interfering with one another was the best outcome.

Only… Hongdou…

Gu Qingyan thought to himself—he’d need to find another way to gather information. The Li family was large, and if he was willing to spend money, he’d surely be able to learn something.

When the time came, he would ask Hongdou what she wanted. If she wanted to leave, he would pay to redeem her and arrange a good life for her.

If she still wished to stay with the Li family, then knowing she was well would be enough to put Gu Qingyan at ease.

Suddenly, Gu Qingyan remembered the book in the system.

The last time he’d read it, the story had stopped at the part where Li Jingting failed the county exam. Afterward, he feigned illness to deceive Lady Xu.

He opened [The True Young Master Passes Every Imperial Exam with Flying Colors] and checked the latest text that had appeared:

Li Jingting was anxious and uneasy. His once-photographic memory had vanished. Since returning to the Li family, he felt mentally sluggish. Where once he could memorize a book after reading it once, now even after reading it ten times, he still struggled with halting recitation.

He knew that if this continued, he wouldn’t even pass the county exam. He had managed to deceive them this time, but would he have to fake illness every time from now on?

Li Jingting found a solution. As long as he had a good teacher, he believed he could progress rapidly and soar to great heights. The tutors at the Li family clan school were too mediocre, which was why his studies had only declined.

Gu Qingyan raised his eyebrows—so the loss of the family heirloom had also taken away Li Jingting’s gifted intellect, leaving him with average aptitude.

Li Jingting set his sights on Hongshan Academy.

He had originally planned to use Assistant Minister Li’s influence to gain entry, but to his surprise, the academy showed no favoritism and rejected him outright.

Li Jingting cursed Hongshan Academy for being blind and arrogant, unable to recognize talent.

Later, he befriended Lu Yanhe from Hongshan Academy. With a bit of scheming, he finally secured a spot at the academy. This even earned him praise from Assistant Minister Li, reaffirming his belief that he was destined for greatness.

Gu Qingyan frowned. So Li Jingting had actually gotten into Hongshan Academy.

He still had a letter of recommendation from Lu Yanchi for Hongshan Academy in his possession. However, since the academy was near Qingzhou Prefecture and far from Lingchuan County, Gu Qingyan had never planned to enroll.

Who would’ve thought that, after all this, Li Jingting would manage to find a way in?

Hongshan Academy was famous across all of Great Zhou. It had even produced the top scorer in the metropolitan exam three times in a row, a testament to its prestige.

Gu Qing’an curled his lips. Just getting into Hongshan didn’t guarantee success. If Li Jingting couldn’t adjust his mindset and work hard, then even the best teachers would be of no use.

The plot in [The True Young Master Passes Every Imperial Exam with Flying Colors] was too brief. Aside from sensing Li Jingting’s anxiety, Gu Qingyan didn’t gain any useful information.

He sighed, set the book aside, and decided to visit the Li household tomorrow to inquire further.

Having made up his mind, Gu Qingyan headed home.

“Gu brother!”

A voice called out.

Gu Qingyan turned around in surprise and saw Lu Yanchi jumping down from a carriage and hurrying over in a few quick steps.

Lu Yanchi’s face lit up with joy. “Gu brother, it really is you!”

“Brother Lu?” Gu Qingyan also found the encounter unexpected.

Lu Yanchi grabbed his arm and refused to let go. “I was just thinking about you, and here you are! Gu brother, why didn’t you come to Hongshan Academy? I’ve been waiting for you all this time. I kept hoping you’d show up, but you never came.”

Just then, another person stepped down from the carriage.

He shared a slight resemblance to Lu Yanchi, but was even more refined in appearance, holding a folding fan and exuding a graceful demeanor.

“Third Brother, aren’t you going to introduce us?” the man said with a smile.

His gaze fell on Gu Qingyan, and though the latter was plainly dressed, his striking looks made the man’s tone gentle and friendly.

Lu Yanchi smacked his forehead. “Look at me, I got so excited I forgot my manners.”

“Big Brother, this is Gu Qingyan, the friend I always talk about. He’s the one who saved my life when I was kidnapped by mountain bandits. He’s my savior.”

“Gu brother, this is my cousin and eldest brother, Lu Yanjun. He became a tongsheng at thirteen and a xiucai by fifteen. If he passes the provincial exam next year, he’ll definitely become a juren.”

Lu Yanchi clearly held his eldest brother in great admiration.

He leaned over and whispered in Gu Qingyan’s ear, “My brother’s name is renowned throughout Qingzhou. There’s not a single scholar in the prefecture who doesn’t know it.”

Gu Qingyan felt a little embarrassed—he had never heard of him.

It wasn’t really his fault for being ignorant. Back when he was studying at the Li family’s estate, his efforts were half-hearted and inconsistent. Even his elementary studies were shaky, let alone knowing the names of famous scholars from outside.

“I’ve long heard of your name,” Gu Qingyan replied politely.

Lu Yanjun looked at him and suddenly chuckled. “Third Brother, what you said is laughable. It’s clear that Qingyan has never heard of my name.”

Being exposed like that, Gu Qingyan wasn’t the least bit flustered. “It’s true that I was ignorant before. But now that I’ve met you, Brother Lu, I can see you are indeed a fine-looking man—no wonder you’re the top scholar in Qingzhou Prefecture.”

At least in terms of appearance, Lu Yanjun was indeed outstanding.

Wait a minute—Lu Yanjun?

He had seen the name in Li Jingting’s book before: Lu Yanjun, Lu Yanqi, and Lu Yanhe. Those names clearly sounded like brothers from the same family.

Lu Yanjun smiled and said, “Brother Gu, you flatter me. But you’re the impressive one—so young and yet you dared to venture alone into a tiger’s den and save so many lives. That’s truly remarkable.”

“It was just a small effort, not worth mentioning,” Gu Qingyan said with a light chuckle.

Lu Yanqi pulled on his arm and said, “Ah, come on, don’t be so modest! Brother Gu, come on—I’m taking you to the best restaurant in Qingzhou for a drink. This time, you absolutely must not refuse!”

Gu Qingyan quickly said, “I only just arrived in Qingzhou today. My home’s not even in order yet—I really don’t have the time.”

Lu Yanqi looked disappointed and was about to insist. “What’s there to worry about? I’ll send someone to help you get settled. Come, come, come!”

“Ahem,” Lu Yanjun interrupted his impetuous younger cousin. “Qingyan, did you come to take the prefectural exam?”

“That’s right,” Gu Qingyan replied with a smile.

“Then you should get some proper rest,” Lu Yanjun said. “The exam’s only ten days away. You ought to focus on preparing for it.”

“Third Brother, there’s no need to rush the invitation. Once Qingyan ranks high in the exam, you can treat him then. Wouldn’t the meal be even more enjoyable?”

“You’re right, you’re right!” Lu Yanqi nodded quickly. “Sorry, Brother Gu—I was being too hasty.”

“Where are you staying?” Lu Yanjun asked. “It’s getting dark. It wouldn’t be safe for you to go back alone. We’ll take you home.”

Gu Qingyan couldn’t decline, so he ended up riding in the Lu brothers’ carriage.

Unlike his own ox cart, the Lu family’s carriage was spacious. Even with three grown men inside, it still felt roomy.

But Gu Qingyan wasn’t familiar with the two brothers, and being in a closed space with them made him uncomfortable.

Noticing his unease, Lu Yanjun smiled and handed him a piece of pastry. “Qingyan, try this—see if you like it.”

He spoke gently and looked kindly—he was the kind of person who easily put others at ease.

Gu Qingyan took a bite. It was sweet and quite delicious.

Lu Yanqi couldn’t hold back and started chattering again. “Brother Gu, since you’re here for the prefectural exam, that means you’ve already passed the county-level one. Impressive, impressive! I knew you weren’t someone who could be kept in a small pond!”

“It’s a pity I missed the county exam this year. Otherwise, I could’ve taken the prefectural exam with you. Ah, if only I’d insisted on going despite being sick—it’s my parents’ fault for stopping me.”

“Brother Gu, once you pass the prefectural exam, you must stay and study at Hongshan Academy. Then we can be classmates!”

“Hongshan Academy is huge, and there are lots of fellow scholars who share your ideals. We’ll be able to spend time together often!”

Lu Yanjun gave a soft cough. “Third Brother, you’re talking too fast. How is Qingyan supposed to get a word in?”

Then he stuffed a piece of pastry into Lu Yanqi’s mouth to shut him up.

Lu Yanqi chuckled foolishly, winking at Gu Qingyan. It was clear that these two cousins had a close and affectionate relationship.

Gu Qingyan was amused too. He only remembered Lu Yanqi as someone who cried easily—a little crybaby. He hadn’t expected him to be like this in everyday life.

“Brother Lu, this is your eldest brother, so do you also have a second brother?”

Lu Yanqi swallowed the pastry and nodded, though his tone became a bit colder. “Yes, I have a second brother—he’s from my uncle’s family too.”

“What’s his name?” Gu Qingyan asked, then added casually, “I bet he’s just as outstanding a scholar as your eldest brother.”

“Him…” Lu Yanqi curled his lip.

Lu Yanjun, however, looked thoughtfully at Gu Qingyan, eyes narrowing slightly. “Qingyan, do you know my second brother, Yanhe?”

So his name was Lu Yanhe.

Gu Qingyan recalled that Lu Yanqi once mentioned their uncle was the dean of Hongshan Academy. As the dean’s son, Lu Yanhe recommending Li Jingting for the academy wouldn’t be difficult.

“I don’t know him,” Gu Qingyan smiled. “I was just curious.”

Lu Yanjun raised an eyebrow, not sure whether he believed that or not.

Gu Qingyan didn’t push the topic further. When they arrived, he quickly got out of the carriage. “Thank you, both of you. Let’s get together again another time.”

“Brother Gu, it’s settled then—once you’re done with the exam, we’re going to the restaurant for a proper meal!” Lu Yanchi called out reluctantly.

After the carriage had gone some distance, Lu Yanjun frowned and asked, “Did you mention our second brother to him?”

“No, of course not. Why would I bring up Second Brother?” Lu Yanchi quickly denied it.

Lu Yanjun sighed, “Maybe I’m just being overly sensitive. Perhaps he was just asking casually.”

Lu Yanchi felt uneasy and muttered, “Big Brother, after everything Second Brother caused, you and Uncle were the ones cleaning up his mess. If you ask me, you shouldn’t have helped him. Let him learn a hard lesson so he won’t dare mess around again.”

Lu Yanjun replied blandly, “I would’ve preferred that too, but Mother wouldn’t allow it.”

At the mention of their aunt, Lu Yanchi had nothing more to say.

He changed the subject and asked, “Big Brother, do you still have your notes from the prefectural exam back then? If you do, could you give them to Brother Gu? You know how bad the academy in Lingchuan County is. I’m worried Brother Gu might be at a disadvantage.”

“You like him that much?” Lu Yanjun raised an eyebrow. Although he also thought Gu Qingyan had good character and appearance, it was nothing exceptional in his eyes. A scholar from a small county like Lingchuan wasn’t worth the Lu family’s full effort.

“Big Brother, please, I’m begging you. Brother Gu is really special. I really like him—he even saved my life.”

Lu Yanjun smiled and agreed, “It’s nothing. I’ll have someone send them over later.”

When Gu Qingyan returned home, he had no idea that the moment he stepped inside, several pairs of eyes were still watching from outside.