When Su Lin reached the main gate, he could see an old man waiting for someone. When this old man saw Su Lin, he gave him a kind smile. This old man was none other than Uncle Hong. When Su Lin saw his uncle, he quickly forgot all his past thoughts, smiled, and moved forward in his uncle's direction.
"Hmmm, let me guess-you do your best you can and make your paper as perfect as you." After hearing his uncle's words, Su Lin understood what Uncle Hong meant. When someone only wants you to live happily, they don't care what you do in your life.
In the room, Su Lin was talking to his uncle about his exam. "Uncle, when I write about heaven, I can only manage to write a few lines. When I start writing my poetry, I initially can't think of anyone, which makes my heart fill with confusion. But then, I write about mountains and seas, and I finish my paper with a question: Can evil exist without good, or are they inseparable?"
When Uncle Hong saw the light in Su Lin's eyes, his heart was filled with emotion. It was the first time he had seen Su Lin so happy. From the day he met him until now, he tried to forget everything he knew about Su Lin's past.
"Okay, okay, you've said enough. Now it's time to eat our meal and drink some wine-just to remember this day," said Uncle Hong. Saying so, Uncle Hong and Su Lin started eating their meal. When they finished, Su Lin suddenly asked Uncle Hong about going outside for a while. After hearing this, Uncle Hong smiled at Su Lin and handed him seven pieces of copper.
"Make good use of them."
In the capital market, there were many types of shops. Some sold food items, others sold iron and wooden items. Su Lin was very excited after seeing them again. He gradually stopped at many shops, watching his surroundings. When a shopkeeper showed him something, Su Lin could tell at a glance that this young boy was from another place, and this was his first time seeing such items. After all, it was not their first time seeing someone like that.
When Su Lin reached the end of the street, he was silent in his thoughts. He couldn't understand one thing: as rumors say, immortals can be seen in the capital, but he had only seen them when he entered the city.
While pondering, he heard a voice behind him. The voice was gentle but also commanding.
"Young man, I think you lost your way."
When Su Lin looked behind him, he saw an old man. In one hand, he held a wooden stick to balance his ancient figure.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not lost, sir."
"Oh, then it was my misunderstanding, junior. And if you don't mind, what is your name, junior?"
Hearing this, Su Lin looked up and down at the old figure. Once he was sure the old man had no ill intentions, he bowed and addressed him in a kind voice.
"Junior pays his respect to senior. My name is Su Lin, and I am new to the capital. I only wanted to see the capital, so I was misunderstood."
Hearing Su Lin's words, the old man smiled and replied, "It's okay. I see many people like you in the capital. You probably came here to attend the imperial exam. By the way, Su Lin, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Feng Yin, and I run a shop nearby."
After hearing the old man's words, Su Lin gave a soft smile and offered his final greetings before trying to move in a different direction. Suddenly, he thought of something and politely asked,
"Senior, could you do me a favor? May I join you on your way?"
Hearing this, the old man gave a meaningful look and then headed towards his shop.
"Come. In so many years, you are the first person to ask me something like this. I know, as a scholar, you need to gain understanding and experience to achieve your goals. Now, you want to understand me-what fate is."
Hearing this, Su Lin started to follow him, and they left the street together. They shared their experiences about their lifestyles and ways. During their walk, Su Lin made some judgments about this old man. Unlike Uncle Hong, this old man was an outstanding individual. In his early years, he held a ministerial position in the capital, ranking second only to the prime minister, and everyone called him Master Yin. But after experiencing many things, he left everything behind and started his family business.
"Master Yin, I am very grateful to you. After hearing your story, I have gained a much deeper understanding of some matters," Su Lin said. Unexpectedly, a tear welled up in Su Lin's eyes, and when he realized this, he couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably. Seeing this, Master Yin understood everything that had happened to Su Lin.
After some time, Su Lin left Master Yin's shop and headed towards his inn.
"What do you think of this child?" asked an old man sitting on a wooden chair in the inn, drinking tea, in a cold voice.
"He has potential, but don't forget, there is only one place-and you have already chosen seven. The eighth-what are you planning, Feng Yin?" A sharp voice, capable of penetrating anything, responded from behind Master Yin. Anyone hearing it could tell this voice belonged to someone who had killed countless beings in his lifetime. When Master Yin turned his head to see the figure, only a shadow remained. After a quick glance, the shadow stepped forward and disappeared.
Hearing this, Master Yin looked at the sky and muttered softly, "Just a clone, and dear to order me."
At the inn, Su Lin was eating his meal with his uncle and discussing his encounter with Master Yin. "Su Lin, I know you're curious about many things, but don't forget that the results will be announced in two days. Be prepared," his Uncle Hong reminded him before leaving for a walk.
After Su Lin finished his meal, he went to sleep in the inn bed. As he lay down and looked at the ceiling, he pondered many things. When he was just a child, Su Lin and his mother lived alone in a small wooden house near a village at the corner of a river. He didn't remember much about his past, but one thing he clearly remembered was that when he was around four years old, his mother handed him over to a couple and told him she would come back. But she never did. After some time, that couple sold Su Lin at a slave market. After many encounters, Su Lin met Uncle Hong.
Initially, Su Lin was indifferent towards Uncle Hong because, in every child's heart, there is kindness and purity. But they were mercilessly killed by others. Slowly, Uncle Hong helped restore that kindness and purity within Su Lin. From then on, Uncle Hong gave him the name Su Lin.
"Thank you, Uncle Hong, for coming into my life. When I pass the imperial exam, I will fulfill your every dream-if you want to see my children, let it happen," Su Lin thought before falling into a deep sleep.
At a wine shop, an old man was drinking alone; it was none other than Uncle Hong. After finishing his business, he left the shop and was now walking on a quiet road. Currently, anyone wishing to see their surroundings could only rely on the moonlight.
After some time, Uncle Hong approached the inn. He heard a voice behind him-filled with ancient aura-but when he turned to see where it came from, he saw only an old man. The old man held a wooden stick in one hand for balance, and his eyes reflected deep, profound intelligence.
"Brother, I think you lost your way," said the voice, which belonged to none other than Master Yin, or Feng Yin.
Note: hello readers i know you can mistaken about master yin or feng yin names they are one person but after few chapters i will change it to feng yin but don't say me to change it right now because there is a reason why i write this character in this way.