Chapter 1554: Dominating the Inner Realm, A Date

On his deathbed, he recalled the words of the nameless scholar from hundreds of years ago. That single sentence seemed to become eternal, continuously echoing in his heart, until the moment he closed his eyes, until his body's Lifespan was severed, and he cast himself into the Soul Banner, becoming the main soul within it.

His Divine Sense emitted its final diffusion of life, spreading towards the Soul Refining Sect. It was at this moment that he saw a person with a very ordinary appearance who had fled from afar to this place and mingled among the crowd seeking to enter the Soul Refining Sect's mountain gate.

The instant he saw this person, Niantian's Divine Sense produced unimaginable ripples. He was shocked and horrified to discover that this person was none other than the scholar he had questioned hundreds of years ago!

Carrying confusion and an unanswerable conjecture, his Divine Sense dissipated, and his Nascent Soul became the soul of the Ten Thousand Grand Banners… Wang Lin was sent back to the State of Zhao's county town, standing beside the large tree outside the examination hall. In front of him, Dafu was still asleep, and everything before seemed like only a dream.

"Karma… I understand a little now…" Wang Lin looked up at the sky. He saw the white flying bird again; it circled and slowly vanished into the clouds.

He woke up Dafu, and under Dafu's sleepy gaze, the two returned to the inn. The bright moon hung in the sky, casting their long, long shadows onto the ground.

The County Imperial Examination results were posted a few days later. As the scholars anxiously waited, that day arrived. Those who made the list obtained the title of Cultivated Talent.

This title was the qualification to travel to Su City and participate in the Su City Imperial Examination. With this qualification, one had the chance to soar to prominence. Once one became a Su City Juren, they could proceed to the Capital City of the State of Zhao for the final struggle!

Furthermore, if one was exceptionally talented and gained the appreciation of Su Dao, the Great Confucian Scholar of Su City, their name would spread throughout the world. If they could become Su Dao's disciple, the honor they would receive would be indescribable!

This was the fervent desire of almost every student in the State of Zhao.

Among the countless students in the entire county town, fewer than fifty could obtain the title of Cultivated Talent. Wang Lin's name, though not at the very top, was among those dozens of people.

When Wang Lin saw his name, he felt none of the excitement he expected. He glanced at it calmly, then, taking the overjoyed Dafu—who was even more smug than him—he went to the County Yamen with his travel papers and calling card to verify his identity, collected the certificate for his Cultivated Talent title and the silver reward issued by the Imperial Court, and departed into the distance.

What excited Dafu was not Wang Lin becoming a Cultivated Talent, but the silver reward.

The events experienced over this short month had subtly changed Wang Lin, or perhaps, this was how he was meant to be. The nightly dreams persisted, and Wang Lin gradually adapted to them.

His mindset had changed; he no longer harbored thoughts of gain or loss, nor the confusion and fear of disappointment he felt initially about failing the exam.

What is gained remains, what is lost remains.

Nothing mattered; only by keeping one's original intention unchanged could the heart remain like still water, an ancient well undisturbed. Just like the Concept of 'seeing mountains as mountains, seeing mountains as not mountains, and seeing mountains as mountains again,' Wang Lin had changed far too much in this short month, even without fully realizing it himself.

The aura of a Great Confucian Scholar gradually began to manifest on him. Even among countless scholars and students, his straight spine and calm gaze made him stand out proudly, like a bright pearl.

As an Immortal, he coldly observed all cultivators; as a mortal, he was equally a hero among men!

"Life is like a dream, and I don't wish to wake from this dream." Wang Lin, carrying Dafu and shouldering his bamboo book box, left the county town amidst the cheers and celebrations of the dozens who had become Cultivated Talents, and the sadness of the many who had failed.

Just as he arrived, he left calmly and unhurriedly.

Dafu followed behind Wang Lin, constantly calculating the silver, occasionally grumbling a few words and looking heartbroken.

"Dafu, go buy wine!" Beside the county town gate, Wang Lin paused, his gaze landing on a wine stall not far away. He suddenly felt a strong desire to drink, even though he used to get completely plastered after just two cups.

"We barely have any silver left, and you still want to drink!!" Dafu rolled his eyes, clutched the lapel of his shirt with his right hand, and shook his head vigorously.

"What does this little bit of silver matter? A thousand gold pieces scattered will return again. Hurry up and buy the wine!" Wang Lin smiled and gave Dafu a push.

Dafu sighed and groaned in protest, reluctantly approaching the wine stall. After a round of bargaining that left Wang Lin dumbfounded—even resorting to shameless tactics—the wine vendor eventually gave a wry smile and sold Dafu two pots of wine at a very low price.

Even so, Dafu's expression twisted in heartache as he handed over the silver, muttering under his breath.

"Mine, oh mine, it's mine!"

Wang Lin laughed dumbfoundedly, took the wine pot, and drank a large mouthful, letting the liquor trickle down the corner of his mouth. Laughing loudly, he walked out of the county town. Dafu, looking miserable, quickly followed behind.

It was noon. Under the scorching sun, the two walked further and further away. The aura of loneliness and solitude that clung to Wang Lin's back seemed to have dissipated, replaced instead by a sense of freedom and unrestraint.

"Young Master, where are we going?" Dafu's voice carried from far away across the world.

"Su City. I heard the Osmanthus Wine there is good. I'm going there to wait for someone." Wang Lin took another drink, decided to untie his hair, and his laughter echoed.

Su City is located five hundred miles south of the State of Zhao's Capital City. The city is vast, with several Silver Dragon Streams winding through it, giving Su City the atmosphere of a water country.

Su City got its name from Su Dao, but it is also where almost all the talented scholars of the State of Zhao gather. Where there are talented scholars, there are naturally beautiful women.

Pleasure boats are constantly present on those Silver Dragon Streams, hosting singing and dancing day and night, making it quite lively. Talented scholars recite poetry, beauties perform dances, and music and string instruments permeate the air, enveloping the entire Su City in a rosy hue.

Alongside the fame of its beauties, Su City is known for its many large and small wine shops selling Osmanthus Wine. Su City's Osmanthus Wine is extremely famous; it is said that even the high officials and nobles in the Capital City often send people to Su City just to buy it.

Su Dao, the contemporary Great Confucian Scholar of Su City, loved this wine in his early years, drinking it to gain insight into the vastness of heaven and earth. After his name became renowned, the Osmanthus Wine became even more widely known.

Two months of travel passed in a blink. Wang Lin and Dafu rode in a simple carriage along the official road heading to Su City, drinking the wine they bought along the way and looking outside. Occasionally, Wang Lin's drunken laughter could be heard.

"Young Master, stop drinking! You're terrifying when you drink! It's only been two months, just two months, and look how much wine you've drunk! You've drunk almost all the silver!!" Dafu's voice, thick with tears and conveying extreme heartache, rang out from the carriage.

"If you keep drinking, even if we reach Su City, we won't have any silver left for lodging! Go on, keep drinking, keep drinking!" Dafu's nagging had become increasingly frequent over the past two months.

Yet, instead of annoying Wang Lin, Dafu's behavior evoked a sense of familiarity and closeness.

"It's fine. You are the attendant and steward. If we run out of silver, just go earn some back." Wang Lin laughed playfully, drinking his wine and watching Dafu sitting beside him with a bitter expression.

Amidst Dafu's incessant chatter, twilight arrived. The setting sun cast a red glow that was not harsh but extremely soft. The carriage slowly swayed its way closer to Su City.

Su City was vast, appearing like a majestic fortress from afar, but this was only its exterior. Inside, it was filled with the gentle charm of Jiangnan's waters and moon.

After paying the carriage fare, Dafu nearly cried as he looked at the few pieces of silver remaining in his hand. Most of the travel expenses had been converted into wine and consumed by Wang Lin.

Unknowingly, Wang Lin's tolerance for alcohol had improved; he was no longer the person who would pass out after two cups.

After getting off the carriage, Wang Lin tidied his attire. Dressed in white, his figure was elegant, his long hair flowed loosely, and he held a wine pot. The scholarly air that once covered his face had long dissipated, replaced by a sense of unrestraint.

Walking along the streets of Su City, they saw numerous pedestrians, most of whom were scholars and students, along with many women dressed in beautiful clothes, adorning Su City.

Although Wang Lin's appearance was ordinary, the aura he carried was extremely unique. As he walked down the street, he attracted many gazes, including flirtatious looks from several women. Wang Lin maintained his usual composure, drank his wine, and continued forward.

Dafu followed behind. For the past two months, he had hardly gone a day without a bitter expression, and he was sighing non-stop even now.

In the twilight of Su City, as the moonlight spread, the sounds of music drifted lazily from the pleasure boats on the streams. Wang Lin stood on a bridgehead, gazing at the boats in the river. The touching zither music wrapped around his ears.

"Young Master, who exactly are we waiting for?" Dafu secretly glanced at the women dancing gracefully on a nearby pleasure boat, swallowed, and his eyes sparkled.

"I am waiting for someone from my dream. He will come and give me a pot of wine. If he truly appears, it will confirm a conjecture of mine." Wang Lin spoke softly, his expression calm.

"Are we just going to stand here and wait? Why don't we find a cheap inn first…" Dafu said cautiously, looking at the empty wine pot in Wang Lin's hand. He was terrified Wang Lin would ask him to buy more wine.

Wang Lin shook his head, a half-smile appearing on his face. He glanced at Dafu and spoke slowly.

"I recall we prepared quite a bit of silver, especially the reward silver we collected from the County Yamen…"

"Did we? Uh… I forgot…" Dafu blinked, looking embarrassed.

"Take out what you've hidden away, go buy this Young Master some Osmanthus Wine, and rent a small pleasure boat. We'll live on the boat for the time being." Wang Lin smiled and turned away, no longer looking at Dafu.

A breeze blew in at that moment, rippling the river surface and tousling Wang Lin's hair. The wind was gentle and warm, not cold, and along with it came the continuous sound of zither strings.

"Will you come…" Wang Lin murmured.