After their trip down the mountain to borrow grain, Ning Qingtian spent the next few days doing nothing but reorganizing the entire stronghold.

He set new rules for the stronghold and repaired the main checkpoint, making Liangshan Po at least look more presentable.

Unlike before, where one glance was enough to tell it was a shabby, makeshift bandit den that looked like it could collapse at any moment.

During these days, Ning Qingtian also consolidated his cultivation and successfully stepped into the Realm of Eighth Grade in the Literary Path.

And from his observations and tests, he found that his Eighth Grade seemed far stronger than others of the same level.

At the very least, he could already overpower Yang Ba, who had only recently broken into the Eighth Grade of the Martial Path.

* * *

One clear day, everyone in the stronghold was busy with their tasks—everyone except Ning Qingtian.

After breakfast, he planned to go find his wife to ask her for more cultivation guidance.

But just as he turned to go back inside, he spotted someone running toward him from afar, shouting for him while running.

He frowned, looking closely, and realized it was Wang Wen, the minor leader he had promoted earlier.

Two days ago, Ning Qingtian had given Wang Wen five thousand taels of silver to open a hotel at the foot of the mountain in order to cover their tracks and gather information.

So seeing Wang Wen rushing up the mountain like this, Ning Qingtian immediately knew something must have happened.

He waited in place until Wang Wen arrived breathlessly.

Ning Qingtian did not hurry him, waiting until his breathing steadied before asking, “What is it? Why are you rushing up the mountain instead of guarding the hotel? Did something big happen?”

“Chief, the foolish emperor has actually reopened the imperial examinations.”

Everyone in the stronghold already knew that the chief carried a deep blood feud against the court, so none of them ever referred to the emperor respectfully.

“Reopened the exams? So what? What does that have to do with us?”

Ning Qingtian was puzzled.

Although he did find it strange that an exam system that had been suspended for almost five years was suddenly reinstated, he didn’t see what it had to do with him.

Did they expect him to take the exam and become a scholar?

Wang Wen gave him a strange look before adding, “Well… Ning Jin—your father—wants to see you. He says if you don’t come, he’ll jump into Liangshan Po and drown himself today.”

Ning Qingtian’s expression darkened instantly.

Mentioning this father meant revisiting the rather embarrassing reputation of the Ning family in Anqing Prefecture.

A hundred years ago, their ancestor became a ranked scholar in the imperial exam, which utterly changed the family’s fate.

From a line of farmers, they transformed into a family of scholars, abandoning farming entirely to spend their days chanting classical texts.

Yet for reasons unknown—perhaps their ancestor squandered all the family’s luck—none of the descendants produced even a single xiucai (official) in the past century.

Until Ning Qingtian’s generation, where the original Ning Qingtian had some talent.

Although he was a rigid, bookish type, if he could have taken the exam, he could at least have won the xiucai rank and improved the family’s situation.

But fate was determined to play with them: First, the imperial examinations were suddenly suspended right after he passed the preliminary test, and remained suspended for the last five years.

Second, although he looked neat and scholar-like, he caught the eye of a local bandit chief who wanted to drag him away as a “bride.”

The original Ning Qingtian died of fright the moment the armed bandits broke into his home.

That was when the modern Ning Qingtian transmigrated over.

Though he was equally weak, he couldn’t resist the bandits and simply went along with the situation.

Later, once he got along well with Yan Bailu, he revealed to his father that he was still alive.

He even begged his “wife” from time to time to give money or grain to the old man so he wouldn’t starve—but the old man never accepted any of it.

So yes, this strict old man was still his biological father in this world.

Ning Qingtian had considered bringing the old man up the mountain, but the old man swore he would never join bandits.

So father and son ended up living separately—one on the mountain, one at the foot of it—and they barely saw each other for three years.

But now that the imperial examinations had been reinstated, the old man suddenly showed up.

There was no way this was a coincidence, and Ning Qingtian felt a bad premonition.

“Alright, I understand. You may go.”

After dismissing Wang Wen, Ning Qingtian thought for a moment before deciding he needed to meet his father.

At the very least, since he was using the man’s son’s body, he couldn’t ignore the man’s life and death.

Especially when the old man was the sort who meant exactly what he said and was stubborn to the bone.

Just as he prepared to go down the mountain alone, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

His wife stepped out, saying, “Wait for me. I’m coming with you to meet Father.”

She had overheard the report from Wang Wen inside the room.

And the moment she learned the court had reopened the exams, she was stunned.

If she was here in the stronghold… who had the authority to restart the imperial examinations? And for what purpose?

She needed answers.

So upon realizing that Ning Qingtian was preparing to leave, she quickly followed.

Seeing that she insisted on coming, Ning Qingtian thought for a moment before agreeing.

If anything unexpected happened, having his wife nearby might be helpful.

Thus, the two of them—each with their own thoughts—walked together to Jinsha Beach, called for a boat, and set off down the mountain.

The boat soon reached the pier at the foot of Liangshan.

From afar, Ning Qingtian spotted an elderly man in a long black robe standing ramrod straight, scanning the surroundings.

Several Liangshan men stood nearby, watching him closely, as though terrified that he might jump into the great lake.

Once the boat docked, Ning Qingtian hurried over.

The old man heard footsteps behind him, turned around, and Ning Qingtian bowed deeply.

“Your son greets Father. It has been long—may I ask if Father has been well?”

The old man ignored the greeting.

He didn’t even look at Wu Qianlan behind him.

Instead, he turned and bowed solemnly toward the direction of the imperial capital, then said sternly, “Her Majesty the Empress has granted mercy. The imperial examinations will reopen in the ninth month of this year. You will participate, read your name at Donghua Gate, and restore the glory of our Ning ancestors.”