Chapter 138

The physical reward given by the system was an advanced medicine shaped like a pill.

Earlier, Shen Cui had thought about saving up ten thousand shopping points to buy a “High-grade Enlightenment Pill” for Mu Er Pang.

The specific description of the “High-grade Enlightenment Pill” was that it could significantly enhance one of the following attributes: intelligence, emotional intelligence, memory, imagination, or charisma.

Later on, Shen Cui saved up shopping points while also inquiring with the system.

She mentioned that besides Mu Er Pang’s exceptionally high luck value, his other attributes averaged around 80. In this situation, how much could the “significant enhancement” mentioned by the system actually improve?

The system didn’t lure her into a spending trap like before.

Instead, it honestly told her, “The higher the attribute, the harder it is to increase. Just like the first cultivation target with 90 points of luck, it’s almost impossible to increase. Now, his other attributes are around 80, so the so-called ‘significant enhancement’ would be at most around 5 points.”

Upon receiving this answer, Shen Cui temporarily put aside that plan because although growth from 80 to 90 was difficult, it was still possible.

Just like Wei Xi, who initially had an overall aptitude of 88, over the years, with his own efforts, the system’s assistance, and broadening his horizons after entering the perfectual school, his overall aptitude had risen to 90.

So, Shen Cui still hoped that during this period, Mu Er Pang would grow on his own. When his attributes reached 90 points later on and he couldn’t improve them further through his own efforts, then he could use this expensive medicine.

When Shen Cui first saw the shape of the reward, which resembled a pill, she instinctively thought it was the “High-grade Enlightenment Pill” worth ten thousand points.

Upon closer inspection, she realized it was different. It was a “Bone Cleansing Pill.”

The name sounded like something from a martial arts or fantasy novel, something that would enhance internal strength or cultivation, but in reality, it meant cleansing away “impurities.”

In martial arts and fantasy novels, the “impurities” in a person’s body would hinder their training.

In this realm, the “impurities” were the “settings” imposed on Mu Er Pang by the rules.

Receiving this item, Shen Cui felt a bit nostalgic.

After all, if she had received this thing three years ago, she could have directly cleansed Mu Er Pang’s “settings,” saving her the effort of guiding him towards learning and cultivating his study habits, and who knows how much mental energy and time that would have saved.

But it was understandable. If she had been given this thing at the beginning, the difficulty of her task would have been greatly reduced.

When she had cultivated Mu Er Pang onto the path of the proper imperial examination system and broken free from most of the constraints of the rules, then giving it would be more in line with the system’s purpose of providing only auxiliary enhancements and items.

What Shen Cui truly felt moved by wasn’t the timing, but after all this time of cultivation, seeing her chubby son work so hard, she realized that even now, there were still remnants of the rules’ “settings” left in his body?

The “settings” that these darn rules imposed on the youths in her academy were nothing good.

So Shen Cui planned to let Mu Er Pang take it when they were alone on the road.

But there was a problem. Previously, when Mu Er Pang had taken a system medicine, he was naive.

Shen Cui casually said it was a candy given by the Zheng family, and he believed it without question, complaining it tasted bad but still swallowing it.

Now that he was smarter, he wouldn’t believe such comforting words.

And without any illness, who would just take medicine for no reason?

Shen Cui, with a slightly complex expression, pondered silently. Mu Er Pang lifted his eyes from the book and asked, “Mother, what are you thinking about? It’s been almost half an hour. Whenever I have something on my mind, I always tell you directly. Why are you keeping secrets from me?”

Makes sense, there’s no need to beat around the bush with a child you’ve raised yourself.

Shen Cui reached into her purse, making a gesture of taking something out, but actually retrieved the “Bone Cleansing Pill” from the system’s inventory, then said, “I have one here…”

Mu Er Pang interrupted, asking, “Is it for me?”

Shen Cui nodded, “Of course it’s for you, this pill…”

Before she could finish, Mu Er Pang had already reached for the pill and put it in his mouth.

He wouldn’t chew it like a candy now, so with a quick swallow, it went down his throat.

Shen Cui asked hesitantly, “I hadn’t even said what it was yet, and you already ate it?”

Mu Er Pang leaned against the carriage wall, continuing to read, and chuckled, “If mother wants me to eat it, I’ll eat it. Can you really harm me?”

“Of course I wouldn’t harm you, but what if someone tricks you into thinking it’s good when it’s actually harmful…”

Mu Er Pang still smiled, “My mother Am i that foolish?”

Since he had eaten it, he didn’t ask much more.

Shen Cui didn’t dwell on it either, just patiently waited to see the effects.

The things produced by the system never had any side effects, and this time was no different for Mu Er Pang.

He didn’t feel any discomfort, just a bit drowsy after reading for a while.

Shen Cui let him take a nap.

Mu Er Pang hadn’t been asleep for long when Shen Cui received a system notification:

[System Prompt: Subject 1 has completed bone cleansing. Attribute values are as follows: Intelligence 92, Emotional Intelligence 90, Memory 92, Imagination 88, Charisma 88, Luck 90. Overall aptitude: 90.]

Shen Cui’s eyes inexplicably welled up with tears, not just because her chubby son’s attributes had upgraded.

Upgrading was indeed a good thing, but in reality, by saving up more shopping points and using a few “High-grade Enlightenment Pills,” or if Mu Er Pang continued to work hard for a few more years, he could achieve the same results.

She was touched because she now realized that this was the true talent that Mu Er Pang, as the younger brother of Mu Yunchuan, should have!

This was acknowledged by the system, something that truly belonged to him!

Two or three quarters of an hour later, Mu Er Pang woke up.

It’s well known that sleeping on a carriage can be uncomfortable, but when he woke up this time, he inexplicably felt relaxed.

Not only did he not feel any discomfort, but his mind also seemed a bit clearer, as if he were back at his home academy.

Taking advantage of his good state, Mu Er Pang continued to revise his poetry.

After all, wasn’t he about to meet Mr. Lao Buyu and Mei Ruochu soon?

Although the two gentlemen hadn’t assigned any homework, as students, they should still be somewhat self-disciplined.

It’s strange, though. He had revised these poems several times already, and previously felt there was nothing more to fix.

Yet today, upon another look, he could find several areas he wasn’t satisfied with.

After rushing on the road for so long, Mu Er Pang spent several days revising his poetry.

In the blink of an eye, a few days passed, and the mother and son returned to the capital city.

When they returned, it was evening. Several young men were still at the Perfectual school, while only Lao Buyu was at the academy.

As the sun set in the west, the academy was quiet. Lao Buyu sat in the courtyard, staring into space with a teapot beside him.

He sighed and recited poetry, somehow making Shen Cui feel like he was a lonely old man.

But as soon as Lou Buyu noticed their return, his vitality returned instantly.

He jumped up from his chair, “Headmaster, Hanshan, you’re finally back!”

Well, now he didn’t seem like a lonely old man anymore, more like a lonely child!

Shen Cui suppressed a smile and gestured for Mu Er Pang to go inside and settle down, then asked, “Have things been going well for everyone while we were away?”

Lou Buyu said it was hard to say, hesitated, and then contradicted himself, “It’s not bad, actually. The children go to school as usual, and I’m here at the academy as usual. Food and drink are taken care of by the servants from the Wei family… But it doesn’t really fit the definition of ‘well.'”

Their daily routine remained the same, but it felt different without Shen Cui and Mu Er Pang.

The atmosphere at the academy changed suddenly, becoming no different from any other place, as if something was missing.

As they were discussing this, Wei Shu, Wei Xi, Mei Ruochu, and Cui Fei returned together, chatting as they walked.

“The poem Professor assigned today is really difficult. I still haven’t figured out the source of the poem.”

Mei Ruochu nodded, “It’s a bit obscure. Think about it some more. If you can’t figure it out, I’ll tell you later.”

As they were speaking, they looked up and saw Shen Cui standing next to Lao Buyu.

They immediately forgot about the poem and hurried over, eagerly asking if their journey had been smooth, and if they had suffered from the long days of travel.

Shen Cui answered each one, carefully looking them over one by one.

Although she could see their attributes in the system, seeing them safe and sound with her own eyes was a relief.

When Mu Er Pang finished settling down and came out of the house, the young men were even more excited, surrounding him and taking turns giving him sturdy hugs.

Of course, everyone at the academy was concerned about his performance, but for now, they greeted him warmly without mentioning it.

Mu Er Pang didn’t keep them in suspense. He quickly addressed their concerns, saying, “I did alright in the exams. I had a stroke of inspiration while writing poetry and fortunately got the top spot. I didn’t disgrace our academy!”

“Good!” Lao Buyu, who had just calmed down, became excited again.

“There’s a poem that goes, ‘A flash of inspiration is like magic, causing others to waste ink and vermilion.’ What a brilliant flash of inspiration!”

Shen Cui thought the quote sounded more like Daoist poetry, and it seemed a bit out of place here, but everyone was so happy that she didn’t mention it.

After a brief celebration, the young men finally calmed down from their excitement.

Lao Buyu adjusted himself and quickly prepared to give Mu Er Pang extra lessons.

It was already mid to late February, and the provincial exam in April was just around the corner.

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