Chapter 129: Returning to Guizhou

Outside the city of Wuzhou, Li Sanjian stood holding his horse, casting one last lingering look at the towering city walls before preparing to depart for Guizhou.

"Brother San, are you truly unwilling to stay?" Chen Ke'er asked, having come to see him off.

"My mind is made up," Li Sanjian replied with a nod.

"Master Li... take care on your journey," Cai Rongxue, who had also come to see him off, said softly.

"You take care as well," Li Sanjian responded after a moment of thought. "Once matters in Guizhou are concluded, I shall certainly come to pay my respects at Lady Cai’s grave."

Throughout their journey, Li Sanjian and Cai Rongxue had enjoyed each other’s company, and she had provided him with much assistance. As such, he felt it was only proper to visit her mother’s grave, located not far outside Guizhou, after the upcoming prefectural examinations.

"Many thanks, Master Li," Cai Rongxue said, bowing gracefully.

Li Sanjian then led his horse over to Chen Ke'er and said, "Ke'er, I do not know why you joined the Manichaean sect, but I wonder if I might speak freely?"

"Say what you wish," she replied.

Years had passed, and both had grown significantly. Li Sanjian had matured into a heroic young man, and Chen Ke'er had blossomed into a graceful young woman. Yet, there was a newfound distance between them; they were no longer the playful, inseparable companions of years prior.

"While I still do not understand what the Manichaean sect truly is," Li Sanjian continued, "is it appropriate for a young girl like you to be involved? Do you truly understand their doctrines? Or do you even know what the sect stands for? In my view, it would be best for you to leave the sect and depart from this place."

There were things Li Sanjian left unsaid. Religious sects of this nature often had ulterior motives, or members utilized them to achieve hidden agendas. For a girl in her teens like Chen Ke'er, such involvement was perilous. At worst, if she were indoctrinated or became hopelessly ensnared by the sect, the consequences would be dire.

*Why on earth did she join them?* Li Sanjian wondered to himself. He spoke out of old affection and because she still called him "Brother San," but whether she listened was ultimately beyond his control.

"I understand, Brother San," Chen Ke'er replied, her tone perfunctory and insincere.

"Even a journey of a thousand miles must have an end," Li Sanjian sighed inwardly. "You two should return here. Take care."

With that, he mounted his horse, bowed to bid them farewell, and whipped his steed into a gallop, heading toward Guizhou.

...

On the western bank of the Li River in Guizhou, Li Sanjian rode slowly. A gentle breeze blew as he gazed at the exceptionally beautiful scenery, his thoughts flowing like the tide.

In the third year of the Shaosheng era, Li Sanjian had left Guizhou for the capital to take the provincial examinations. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. He had grown from a sixteen-year-old boy into a man of nearly twenty, yet he had achieved nothing. Now, he had returned to Guizhou to sit for the Guangnan West Circuit’s prefectural examinations—everything had returned to the starting point.

While passing through Wuzhou, he had encountered the Manichaean sect, where Fang Shisan and Lü Shinang had tried to persuade him to join, leaving him both amused and exasperated.

*Join and believe in the Manichaean sect? How could that be?* he pondered. The imperial court’s vetting process for candidates was notoriously strict; should his involvement become known, he would surely be disqualified from the civil service examinations. It would be a loss far outweighing any gain.

Moreover, if the court deemed the sect a heretical or rebellious organization, his involvement would be viewed as treasonous, potentially bringing ruin upon himself and his family. This was the primary reason he had fled in such haste.

*With corrupt officials in power and a muddled emperor, is there any point in passing the exams?* He recalled Fang Shisan’s words and shook his head. *Muddled emperor?* He had once seen Zhao Xu; apart from looking somewhat frail, he did not appear to be a foolish ruler. In fact, upon learning more of the Emperor’s actions, he seemed to be a capable, if somewhat impulsive, young sovereign.

Besides, even if the court were corrupt and the people were suffering, what did that have to do with him?

Li Sanjian had no grand ambitions. He sought success in the examinations simply to earn a living, to ensure his family could live a life of comfort and dignity. As long as he achieved that, the turbulence of the imperial court was of no concern to him.

Fang Shisan and his cohorts expressed deep dissatisfaction with the court and the injustices of the world, hinting at rebellion, which had terrified Li Sanjian into fleeing.

*Rebellion?* Throughout history, how many had succeeded? The vast majority met a grisly end—extermination of their kin and bodies strewn across the wilderness. They were filled with grand passions but possessed lives as fragile as paper. Li Sanjian was clear-headed enough to recognize this.

*Professor Huang?* As he approached Guizhou, deep in thought, he suddenly noticed Huang Huan, the professor of the Qinzhou County School, standing at the city gate with several others, watching him with a smile.

*How is he here? How did he know I would arrive today?* Li Sanjian sighed inwardly. It was a case of fearing the worst. He felt ashamed to face Huang, who, along with Su Shi, could be considered his mentor.

"Li Sanjian, a student from Lingnan, pays his respects to Professor Huang," Li Sanjian said, dismounting and forcing himself to approach and bow.

"Haha, so you have returned?" Huang Huan stroked his beard and turned to his subordinates with a smile. "This is the Li Sanjian from Qiongtai and Danzhou I have often spoken to you about."

"Indeed, a young man of talent and promise."

"So, he is the one who popularized the method of punctuation in Lingnan? To think he is so young."

"Indeed, otherwise how could he have been the top scholar of Guizhou?"

The officials showered him with praise until Li Sanjian felt utterly embarrassed. Flushing, he quickly replied, "How can a failed candidate like me deserve such praise from you gentlemen? I am deeply ashamed."

"Haha!" Huang Huan patted his shoulder. "One should not judge a hero by success or failure. Do not speak of yourself as a failure. Haren, I have already heard of your situation. The affairs of the court are not entirely your fault. Come, join me in the city. I have prepared some light wine to wash away the dust of your journey."

"Many thanks, Professor Huang," Li Sanjian replied. "I shall accept your kindness, but I must ask: why are you in Guizhou, and how did you know I would arrive today?"

Huang Huan was the professor of Lingshan County School and the magistrate of the county—a fact Li Sanjian knew—but his presence here was puzzling.

"I calculated the time and had people inquire about you daily. As soon as you crossed into Guizhou territory, I received word," Huang answered.

"I am deeply moved," Li Sanjian said, bowing again. "I am ashamed to have failed your expectations. When I was in Lingshan, you once told me that 'haste brings no success.' I did not heed your words then, but now I see the truth in them. I am filled with regret—alas, it is too late!"

Huang had previously urged him to enter the prefectural school and then the Imperial Academy—a slower but surer path to success. Li Sanjian had insisted on taking the shortcut of the civil service exams, only to fail and return to square one.

"You," Huang chuckled with a knowing air. "Facing setbacks in one's youth is not necessarily a bad thing. A sharp blade is honed through grinding; the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold. This is the meaning of finding sweetness after bitterness."

Huang paused before adding, "As Heaven maintains its vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement. As the Earth's nature is yielding and devoted, a gentleman should hold the world with virtue."

*Striving for self-improvement!* Li Sanjian was deeply moved. *Regret?* There was no cure for regret in this world. Regardless of the path ahead, he had to press on. Whatever the outcome, he had to face it with a smile. Only then could he be a true man of character. He felt ashamed for having voiced his regrets.

"I shall keep your words in my heart, Professor, and never forget them," Li Sanjian said, bowing deeply.

"In truth, I share some of the blame," Huang noted. "There were things I did not tell you, and you were too inexperienced to understand the workings of the court. Had I warned you earlier, things might have been different."

"What do you mean, Professor?" Li Sanjian asked, puzzled.

"Let us go. This is not the place to talk. Come to my residence, and I will explain in detail," Huang said.

"Brother Haren! Brother Haren!" Just as Li Sanjian was about to agree, a stout official came running toward them, shouting.

The portly man, dressed in green robes, arrived before them, drenched in sweat.

"Gongming?" Li Sanjian’s eyes lit up. He stepped forward and embraced the man. It was none other than Zeng Gongming.

"Brother Haren! To think I would live to see you again!" Zeng Gongming wept as he hugged him back.

Li Sanjian was left both touched and amused—they were both not yet twenty, yet Zeng spoke as if they were octogenarians.