A punch that misaligned the nose

The carriage began its descent, advancing towards the breathtaking cluster of tents by the lakeside. The young man in a pure black robe continued to lead the way with his lantern, his steps both light and swift, evoking the sensation of mercury coursing through his veins. Despite moving at a pace akin to that of an ordinary runner, he showed no signs of fatigue, maintaining a gentle smile as he effortlessly conversed with the elder driving the carriage and Lin Xi about the regulations of the Qingluan Academy entrance examination.

"When the carriage and accompanying personnel reach the stone tablet, they must not proceed any further. You may find a nearby spot to rest while awaiting the results of tomorrow's examination. As for you..." The young man, with a broad forehead, extended a finger towards the lakeshore. "You may choose any vacant tent by the lake to rest in, or engage in conversation with other examinees. Each tent offers the same amenities, and food and drink are freely available. When a lecturer calls your name tomorrow, simply follow their instructions to take the exam."

"Lecturer?" Lin Xi's mouth formed an 'O' in surprise.

"What is it?" The young man regarded Lin Xi with mild curiosity, noting his peculiar expression.

"Nothing, I just find the title somewhat odd." Lin Xi swallowed the word "nonsense" that nearly escaped his lips and shifted the topic. "Brother Xia, you didn't ask for my name earlier. Will the lecturers you mentioned know my name and call for me?"

"It seems you are not well acquainted with our Qingluan Academy, so finding it strange is understandable." The young man appeared to have an epiphany, smiling as he explained, "Before each examinee arrives, their information is already disseminated from various regions, so you needn't worry about being overlooked tomorrow."

"Brother Xia, are you a student of Qingluan Academy?" Lin Xi asked earnestly, looking at the young man named Xia Yanbing. "I know nothing about the entrance examination. Could you enlighten me on what subjects will be tested?"

"I am currently a lecturer at Qingluan Academy," Xia Yanbing replied with a slight smile. "As for the content of the examination, it varies each year, and I am not privy to the specifics. However, I can assure you it will be entirely fair. The academy emphasizes two qualities in its candidates: talent and character. Beyond that, I cannot elaborate further."

"You are already a lecturer?" Both Lin Xi and the elder driving the carriage were taken aback by this revelation.

"It's nothing remarkable," Xia Yanbing replied with another subtle smile, turning away and choosing not to elaborate. Yet, this understated remark only served to highlight his distinctiveness and pride.

...

On a stretch of open ground about five miles from the cluster of tents where bonfires blazed, at least a thousand carriages had already gathered, creating a spectacular scene.

As Lin Xi prepared to disembark and walk towards the tents by the lake, he noticed the stone tablet that marked the boundary for the carriages was not far ahead. Just then, a grand carriage pulled by four blood-red steeds approached from another path. It seemed familiar with the lakeside and, lacking any guidance from Qingluan Academy personnel, forcefully cut in front of Lin Xi's carriage, depositing a youth clad in a golden brocade robe.

This youth appeared a year or two younger than Lin Xi and was about half a head shorter, with fair skin. However, upon catching sight of Lin Xi emerging from the carriage, he wore an expression of arrogance and disdain.

The carriage he descended from was adorned with brass embellishments, opulent yet heavy. The driver, a burly middle-aged man clad in a fitted blue outfit, after setting the youth down, proceeded directly towards Lin Xi's carriage, tilting his head at the elder as if demanding him to yield the path and allow him to continue towards the open area filled with carriages.

Witnessing the imposing demeanor of the approaching carriage, Xia Yanbing's eyes narrowed slightly, but after glancing at the elder in front of Lin Xi, his expression calmed, and he stepped aside to observe.

The elder halted the carriage but did not yield, remaining seated in silence, ignoring the approaching burly man.

The middle-aged man's eyes narrowed in surprise; he hadn't anticipated that the old man driving a dilapidated carriage would dare to show such defiance.

As the four blood-red steeds came to a stop mere inches from Lin Xi's two gray horses, a standoff ensued, with neither side willing to relent.

Both carriages had arrived late, and this confrontation quickly drew the attention of the thousands of carriages gathered nearby, as well as all the examinees by the lakeshore.

The younger crowd was particularly eager to witness the unfolding drama, and while the area of clustered carriages remained relatively quiet, numerous youths began pouring out from the tents by the lake.

"Looks like a promising figure, but turns out to be an idiot," remarked a tall girl with a ponytail, casting a disdainful glance at the confrontation. 

Dressed in a simple blue robe, her features, when viewed individually, were not exceptionally beautiful, yet together they exuded an indescribable charm.

"He seems to be just a local bumpkin who has recently come into wealth. I would never be foolish enough to provoke that carriage," observed another youth, who stood out with his slightly dark complexion and wore a lightweight silk long shirt. His straight black hair was secured with a jade ring, exuding a natural noble aura, surrounded by five or six companions adorned with fine jade accessories and luxurious garments.

"Why do you say that, Brother Li?" asked a round-faced youth in fragrant cloud gauze beside him, puzzled.

The four blood-red steeds were already taller than the two gray horses, and the middle-aged driver radiated explosive strength. By any measure, the tattered carriage driven by the elderly man was no match for the grand, ornate brass carriage.

"Though this carriage is shabby, the door and window curtains are woven from the fur of illusionary rabbits dyed with the sap of black vine flowers—a favored practice among the border tribes near the Longshe Mountains. They are breathable yet warm, and water-resistant, impervious to decay," the dark-skinned youth, identified as Li, sneered. "Those two gray horses are known for their endurance, capable of traveling a thousand miles overnight. If they appear exhausted now, it's likely this carriage has come from the border tribes. Moreover, consider this: when we arrived, no one from Qingluan Academy guided us. It was only upon reaching this point that personnel from the academy came to brief us."

The surrounding youths gasped in astonishment. "Are you suggesting that this dilapidated carriage is actually recommended by a high-ranking figure from the border tribes?

While possessing a certain level of discernment, he displayed an excessive eagerness to showcase it. To label others as lacking insight merely reflects the arrogance of a newly affluent local, inadvertently inciting ire among many. Unbeknownst to him, such words would sow the seeds of numerous enmities. Nearby, a slender youth clad in a yellow garment observed with a cold gaze, inwardly scoffing at the scene.

Among this throng of over a thousand youths, countless prodigies and talents were present.

"Are you truly unwilling to yield?" The burly middle-aged driver, lacking the keen perception of the gifted youths around him, was taken aback that this dilapidated cart would stand its ground against him. His expression darkened, twisting into a menacing scowl as he spat out four words.

"This is unlikely to escalate." The majority of the eager onlookers, witnessing the standoff between the two carriages and the indifference of Xia Yanbing, felt a twinge of disappointment as such thoughts crossed their minds.

However, what left them all utterly astonished was Xia Yanbing's complete detachment, as he merely observed the unfolding drama with an air of casual interest.

"Get lost." Even more shocking was the elderly man at the helm, who uttered a single word with a bluntness that left everyone speechless.

"You're courting death!" The voice that cried out belonged to the young boy in a golden robe, who had already disembarked but now revealed a sinister expression as he watched the carriage that had come to collect him falter in its stance.

"Step aside!" The burly driver, as if receiving a command to strike, cracked the air with a resounding whip of black python skin aimed at the elderly man.

Yet, in that fleeting moment, the onlookers beheld the seemingly frail and weary elder spring forth like a hawk, lunging toward the imposing middle-aged driver. The thick black whip soared overhead like a dark cloud. In the astonished gaze of the crowd, the aged man, exuding a terrifying aura, landed a powerful punch squarely on the driver's nose.

At the instant of contact, a glimmer erupted from both the elder's fist and the driver's face. "Crack!" The elder swiftly retreated to his position at the front of the carriage, while the driver, his nose grotesquely askew, bore a look of disbelief and horror as he was sent sprawling to the ground in a pitiful heap.

The two seemingly exhausted gray horses exhaled heavily, emitting a low sound, while the four once-proud red steeds, startled by the commotion, panicked and bolted sideways, dragging their carriage in a wild frenzy.

The previously fierce and domineering boy in the golden robe appeared utterly dazed, his face ashen with shock.