BXBX NOVEL Chapter 235 - 235: 170: Double Standards Scenario
Chapter 235 - 235: 170: Double Standards Scenario
Behind the young man on a fine horse, a large man with a stubble beard wearing a straw hat and ragged clothes was chattering endlessly. With him were two dogs, one black and one white, both with soft and glossy fur. This peculiar party, upon reaching the gates of the Anqing Mansion City, immediately caught the attention of the guard soldiers.
“Halt, what’s your business?”
The junior guard blocked Feng Qing’an, though his suspicious gaze fell mostly on the talkative man from northern Jiangyang. As a fellow martial artist himself, he could sense there was something unusual about this unkempt man.
“I’m a Child Student rushing to the Imperial examination. This is my travel pass, and this man, who I just met, has been bothering me constantly. He bizarrely wants to compare martial arts skills with me. I suspect he has some sort of mental affliction. I request you stop him and do a thorough investigation. ”
As Feng Qing’an was speaking, he rummaged through his pocket and took out his travel pass. Not just anyone could travel randomly– the orderly dynasty strictly controlled this.
“You’re the one with a mental affliction, thinking that you have the talent to take part in the Imperial examination!”
Jiangbei, who originally had no clue why someone like Feng Qing’an would want to take part in the Imperial examination, was even more irritated when he heard Feng Qing’an speak ill of him. In Jiangbei’s eyes, Feng Qing’an was the one who had a problem with his brain.
Why even bother with the Imperial examination when he has such abilities to make himself so intimidating right now? He only needs to show a fraction of his skills at the official’s house, and they would be begging him to take office.
“Insolence! You’re nothing more than a barbarian, yet you dare to disrespect the Imperial examination!”
Before Feng Qing’an could say anything, a nearby scholar wearing a Confucian robe and carrying a long sword immediately stared angrily at him. He held on tight to his sword hilt behind him, looking like he was about to draw his sword.
“Pompous scholars!”
Jiangbei glanced at the scholar with the sword, then ignored him. Though this scholar had traces of martial arts training in his body, he was nothing in the eyes of Jiangbei.
“A candidate from Jiangyang Prefecture, travelling all this distance! And these two dogs, are they yours too?”
The junior guard looked at the glossy-furred Black Mountain and then the handsome and elegant Bai Yao. He asked Feng Qing’an, only a noble son like him would bring two dogs. The coarse man behind him doesn’t look like the owner of these dogs.
“Yes, they serve as my protectors on my journey to the examination!”
“Alright, you may enter the city. Do not ride your horses on the city streets, dismount and proceed on foot!”
After studying Feng Qing’an’s youthful face for a while, the junior guard returned the travel pass to Feng Qing’an. Of course, he detected something unusual about Feng Qing’an, but his travel pass was undoubtedly genuine. Besides, it wasn’t unusual for someone daring to travel alone to attend an examination to have some skills.
“Thank you!”
Feng Qing’an dismounted from his horse, took the travel pass, and followed the crowd into the city. Meanwhile, the disregarded Jiangbei tried to get in but was stopped.
“Where’s your travel pass?
The junior guard squinted at the scruffy man in front of him.
“I lost it a long time ago! ”
Jiangbei looked at Feng Qing’an, who had already entered the city and disappeared into the crowd. He grew anxious and his tone became increasingly hostile.
“If you don’t have a pass, leave the way you came. You’re not allowed into the city!”
Generally, entering the city did not require a pass. The local villagers often came into the city to sell their goods. If they required a pass every time, the guards would be overwhelmed with work. The junior guard just found this man in front of him to be questionable.
“Do you know what I’m here for?”
At this point, Jiangbei lost all his patience. How dare a mere junior guard stop him! He reached out, grabbed the guard’s collar, and pulled him in front of him.
“What are you trying to do? I’m an officer in the army!”
The junior guard was both frightened and enraged. He had never expected this man to be so audacious to lay a hand on him. Furthermore, he found himself completely unable to resist.
“You’re just a petty officer. Listen, I am here to assume an official post. From tomorrow onward, I’ll be your superior officer. When you see me, you have to bow your head and call me sir!”
Jiangbei sneered. Of course, he didn’t want to conflict with Da Jin. He knew he had no power to resist them, so his only choice was to join them. But that didn’t mean he would let a petty guard disrespect him.
“You dare assault an officer!”
“Let go of the officer!”
Other soldiers at the city gates saw their superior being attacked and pointed their spears at Jiangbei, causing instant commotion at the city gate.
“Everyone shut up!”
The noisy surroundings irritated Jiangbei. His eyes sparked with bright light, projecting an intense pressure that made the soldiers drop their weapons in fear. The loud and rowdy bystanders were instantly rendered silent, terrified. “You have broken through to the Innate Realm?!”
The junior guard finally realized what happened. Though he was just a lowly city gate guard, he guarded the gate of the city of the Prefecture, so he had some insight.
“At least you have some discernment. I’m here today to assume an official position. What? Without a pass, I can’t enter the city?”
Seeing the change in the junior guard’s demeanor, Jiangbei relaxed and let go of him. Without playing by the rules, he wouldn’t have been able to even pass the city gates, let alone hold an official position. How ridiculous would that be? “Of course you can enter, please forgive my poor judgement, sir!”
The junior guard was quick-witted and began addressing Jiangbei as ‘sir’ in advance. He knew what level of martial artist he was. If he joined the official ranks, he would definitely be a military officer. Of course, he would only hold nominal power. But that was enough for him to handle Jiangbei..