Martial Saint through Reading-Chapter 48: Why Didn’t You Analyze?

Luu Xian’s smile seemed to suggest: Skipping classes, ignoring advice, attending the Poetry Book class, reading Political Book, and now unable to analyze, right? So what if you continued three lines? Everyone can do that.

At the same time, he felt a greater sense of balance. Through this class, he had basically confirmed that Chu Ming, who had always edged him out at Liuu Town Academy’s exams, would most likely be eliminated to the Lower Academy in the next promotion exam, and might even score lower than himself in the monthly test.

In his eyes, those who pass the academy exams have similar talent; everyone studies, so what matters is the time invested.

If Chu Ming starts off late, he’ll fall behind at every step.

The junior examinees below all had their own thoughts. Shen Yu pointed to a youngster sitting in the front row to collect the test papers.

That examinee was fair-skinned, looking gentle and well-mannered. Receiving the signal, he stood up unhurriedly and began collecting everyone’s papers.

Soon, the papers were handed to Shen Yu, and the old gentleman started marking them on the spot.

Shen Yu read very quickly, usually just glancing at a paper before moving on to the next. Occasionally he would pause—sometimes frowning, sometimes with a calm expression.

This caused the juniors’ hearts to race, unsure whether the paper where he paused belonged to someone who’d written well, or someone who’d done poorly.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had finished all twenty-some papers. Three were set aside underneath his hand, while the rest were placed off to one side.

Seeing this, the juniors’ hearts beat even faster, each of them glaring intently at the stage.

Luu Xian was the same, as were Ningx Hao and Liang Yuan in the front rows.

Chu Ming only looked up once before lowering his gaze again, flipping through Poetry, Politics, and Military.

Time was tight; he just wanted to finish reading Poetry, Politics, and Military so he could move on to other matters.

The sound of pages turning made Luu Xian and a few nearby juniors feel a subtle discomfort.

It was a strange feeling—disdain, irritation.

Are you pretending to be calm and reading at a time like this, just to show off?

Mr. Shen only cares about your analysis of poetry, not your ’diligence’ put on display!

Chu Ming naturally noticed the subtle glances, but felt nothing in his heart.

It was just a little quiz; he’d been through countless such tests.

Having lived two lifetimes, his mind had long since changed. How would he care about the stares of a group of teenagers?

Onstage, Shen Yu cleared his throat, scanning the twenty-some juniors below with a calm gaze—nervous, constrained...

Huh? Why is there still someone reading in the back row?

Trying to ease your nerves by reading?

After taking in everyone’s attitudes, Shen Yu picked up a paper and looked toward the mid-front row: "Ning Hao, your poem analysis is quite good. The three lines you continued also have some interest."

Upon hearing this, Ning Hao’s face lit up with a confident smile, as if he had already expected his answer would earn praise from the instructor.

The juniors in the hall listened, all casting looks of envy.

Luu Xian stared at Ning Hao’s back, his fist tightening under the desk.

One day, he too would sit in that spot, envied by everyone!

But in the eyes of Liang Yuan, next to Ning Hao, it looked—like pointless showing off!

Yet, just as everyone assumed Ning Hao would be excused from the next Poetry Book test, Shen Yu frowned and spoke: "However, your analysis goes too far, and you’re still using complex text. I don’t like it. It’s unqualified."

Huh?

He dislikes complex text analysis?

What kind of standard is this?

The books of the Great Qin Dynasty all use complex text, the most common written style.

If not complex text, are we supposed to use Mr. Shen’s own so-called simple script?

Shen Yu had indeed taught them simple script, but it was too crude, lacking the gravitas of complex text, and had never been embraced by the Great Qin Dynasty.

Not just the Great Qin—within Baiyuan County, barely five people would support Shen Yu’s simple script.

And even among these, it was hard to tell who genuinely agreed, and who was just currying favor.

There might not even be a second person.

Having all passed academy exams, these juniors held their heads high—how could they waste time on a set of self-made characters?

Ning Hao’s face flashed with dissatisfaction, but he dared not say a word.

Next to him, Liang Yuan nearly failed to suppress a grin—this was just like someone from Yunqi Courtyard, indeed.

Shen Yu took everyone’s expressions in, sighing quietly to himself. He picked up the second paper: "Who is Luu Xian?"

Luu Xian?

Who?

Me?

Luu Xian instinctively stood up, his excitement plain to see.

The older juniors in front all turned around, and the new ones on either side looked at him as well.

Luu Xian’s heart pounded like a drum.

Mr. Shen called on me?

My paper was right after Senior Brother Ningx’s—does this mean...

Ha! I knew it, hard work pays off in the end.

All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind. Luu Xian puffed out his chest, trying to appear steady, and replied: "Sir, I am Luu..."

"You’re Luu Xian," Shen Yu raised his eyebrow, interrupting, and asked oddly, "Your father is Luu Hong?"

"Yes." Upon hearing this, Luu Xian’s chest swelled even more, responding in a loud voice.

It was thanks to his father’s connections that he had entered Baiyuan Academy’s Middle Courtyard as the second-ranked in Liuu Town’s exams.

It seemed that this Junior Eighth-Grade Instructor was also connected to his father.

"Your analysis is a complete mess. It would be better not to analyze at all. If you wish to continue studying at the academy, you’d best discard those things your father taught you as soon as possible."

Shen Yu tossed Luu Xian’s paper aside, shaking his head.

What?

A complete mess?

Luu Xian was stunned.

Did I hear that wrong just now?

Wasn’t my paper among those set aside, right under Senior Brother Ningx’s?

He was praised, so how was mine a complete mess?

Did I mishear, or was Mr. Shen not talking about me?

But as sighs spread around him, he could only feel his face growing hotter, from his neck to his cheeks.

"Sit down." It was Shen Yu’s emotionless voice from the stage.

Luu Xian just stood there, as if he hadn’t heard, his face as red as a bride with her veil just lifted.

Seeing this, Chu Ming tugged at Luu Xian, and only then did he snap back, sitting down stiffly.

At this moment, Shen Yu picked up the last paper, his expression changing slightly as he looked down: "Who is Chu Ming?"

Chu Ming?

Luu Xian jerked his head toward the side, all his shame vanishing instantly.

Brother Chu’s paper was beneath mine, also being called on.

He remembered the large blank spaces on Chu Ming’s paper, not a single word of analysis...

Strangely, not only was he no longer ashamed, he even faintly hoped Mr. Shen would utter "a complete mess" again.

If not "a complete mess," then how do you judge a blank exam?

Utterly worthless?

"Brother Chu, Mr. Shen is calling you," Luu Xian "kindly" and "politely" whispered a reminder.

Chu Ming got up with some resignation.

As before, he immediately drew all the juniors’ attention.

Ningx Hao and Liang Yuan in the front rows looked at Chu Ming sympathetically. Their eyes seemed to say: We should tutor Junior Brother Chu well when we get back, so he doesn’t embarrass Yunqi Courtyard any more.

Shen Yu regarded Chu Ming calmly, picking up the paper. His voice was low: "Why did you not analyze? Do you think the verses I wrote are beneath you?"

As soon as he finished, everyone had the same thought.

This junior called Chu Ming—he’s done for.