45: The provincial examination was approaching, and I met

Huangyun Tower.

Qin Chuan awoke from his desk, feeling a profound sense of wonder.

He casually tossed the login device to Wang Xuan:

"You try it too!"

After switching perspectives, Wang Xuan attempted to log in.

Unfortunately, according to the login device, there was no Virtual World currently accessible to Wang Xuan.

—Those places that clearly belonged to the martial way required a minimum entry standard of Xiantian.

Although Wang Xuan’s strength already surpassed ordinary Xiantian cultivators, his cultivation realm was stubbornly stuck below Xiantian, for reasons unknown.

"Never mind, I'll just be the only one exploiting this bug."

The rewards from White Deer Academy not only included Virtual World items whose usage was unknown, but even physical objects!

Qin Chuan was curious how those physical objects were distributed, but since it wasn't exam season yet, he could only continue to wait.

Thus, a question arose in his mind.

—Great Zhou possessed so many Virtual Worlds, clearly indicating a complete system.

But why had he never heard anyone speak of them?

Or rather—had the civilization's heritage in this world experienced a discontinuity?

White Deer could not answer this question.

He estimated that he would only be able to unravel this mystery when he could enter 'Yingtian Academy' or 'Jixia Academy' in the future.

As for now, the provincial examination was paramount!

—And he would explore White Deer Academy along the way.

On the fifteenth of August, the moon was full and the night long, filled with the warmth of wine.

After a small family gathering with his parents, the elders went to a clan gathering, while Qin Chuan found an excuse to leave alone.

In the Main World, during such festive occasions, he could have a few drinks with Master Qin.

But here, apart from Chen Zhou and Zheng, he likely wouldn't find anyone else.

Fortunately, after tomorrow, he would embark on his journey for the provincial examination.

Inspired by this, why not sing loudly!

"When did the bright moon appear?"

Inside the Prefectural Residence, the Mid-Autumn banquet passed in an 'atmosphere of harmony'.

Su Jun, dressed in a maid's outfit, looked like a sulking young wife, huffing and puffing as she battled the food in front of her with chopsticks!

Su Zhan sat to one side, shaking his head, and his expression was indescribably pleased as he watched Su Jun's frustrated appearance.

But soon, his happiness faded.

"Su Zhan! Don't bring your Jianghu (jianghu) habits here. My Su family is a Book Fragrance Family. Look at what you've turned Jun'er into."

Seeing his second brother's serious expression, Su Zhan felt an inexplicable fear and quickly sat up straight.

However, another person at the table who was not surnamed Su sat upright and properly at this moment.

Su Qing turned his head and looked, a smile in his eyes: "Little Daoist Wang, there's no need to be constrained. Just treat this as your own home. Hmm, may I ask what year Daoist Wang was born? Do you have siblings at home, and are your parents well?"

Upon hearing this, Su Jun immediately became displeased:

"Second Uncle! How can you ask such questions!"

Then she turned to Wang Xuan and said, "Master, let's ignore him!"

Seeing this, Su Qing felt a pang of toothache.

Just then, in the southern part of the city, a giant full moon rose into the sky, reflecting the original bright moon.

He no longer bothered to scold Su Jun, suddenly stood up from his seat, and murmured:

"Another timeless masterpiece. Is it really from this location? What a pity..."

With that, he shot another look at Su Jun, a look of disappointment.

Two days later, Ying Zhou was bustling with activity, as papers were widely circulated.

At the entrance of the Chen family ancestral home.

Qing Mo, who had just returned this morning, chattered incessantly to Qin Chuan about her experiences:

"Young Master! Those scholars on the street are acting like madmen. When they meet, they have to recite a few lines like 'a thousand miles share the beauty of the moon' or something. And, and... those storytellers have started praising Young Master again, saying that on the fifteenth of August, the Wenqu Star Lord descended!"

Qin Chuan shook his head and chuckled, but he didn't feel much complacency about it.

After all—he knew how that poem came to be; he was well aware of his own situation.

At this moment, Zheng’s voice came from inside the house:

"Have all the things been prepared? Did you bring enough clothes? Be careful with the food on the road too. Qing Mo, that silly girl, only just came back now. I should have known to let her..."

Upon hearing this, Qing Mo stuck out her tongue and hid behind Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan looked at the bustling Zheng and quickly said, "Mother, don't worry. Everything that needs to be prepared has been prepared; nothing will be left behind. Even if we take ten thousand steps back, don't I still have money?"

Zheng frowned and said, "Don't show off your wealth again. Your mother said she would help you keep it safe and give it to you on your wedding day. Why are you so unwilling, you naughty boy? Are you sure you're not leaving with the Yingchuan scholars?"

Qin Chuan smiled bitterly: "Mother, you saw the situation last night. If I go with them, how can I have peace on the road?"

Zheng: "...That's true. When you arrive, you must not lose your manners, Qing Mo, you too!"

"Understood."

"Qing Mo will definitely take good care of Young Master!"

Outside the long pavilion, by the ancient road.

The master and servant walked slowly, leading their horses.

Qin Chuan didn't look like a scholar rushing to an exam; instead, he resembled a traveler on an autumn outing.

"Young Master, look, a little fox!" Qing Mo pointed into the distance.

Qin Chuan glanced down at her: "Hmm, I see the fox, and it is indeed quite small. It might starve its children in the future..."

Qing Mo: ヾ(owo)???

A few breaths later, Qing Mo finally understood the meaning of his words and immediately became angry.

Her face flushed red as she said, "Nonsense... It won't starve... Oh, it's coming over!"

At this moment, Qin Chuan finally saw a fox with mottled fur rapidly running towards them.

Qing Mo immediately opened her arms: "Little one, come quickly into big sister's embrace."

Qin Chuan looked down at the trembling fox in her arms and frowned: "Is it injured?"

"Hmm? Is it? How careless."

Qing Mo lowered her head to inspect it and indeed found a wound.

Just as she was about to bandage it, she suddenly felt something was wrong and cried out in surprise:

"Young Master, look."

Qin Chuan looked and saw two penetrating wounds.

"This is... Are there large wild beasts nearby? That doesn't seem right either..."

From the black blood seeping from the wound, Qin Chuan felt an extremely repulsive aura, accompanied by an extremely pungent smell of sulfur.

"This wound is probably poisoned. Help it remove the rotten flesh... Ask it how it got injured."

Qing Mo did as she was told. After a few words in fox-speak, her expression was very strange.

Qin Chuan asked, "What's wrong?"

Qing Mo hesitated for a moment, then said, "It said... it was injured while hunting."

"Hunting? What was the prey?"

"A... rabbit? That's what it said!"

Qin Chuan: ???

"Then that rabbit must have been truly desperate."

The two set off again.

For some reason, Qin Chuan's mind kept flashing back to the fox's gruesome wounds, as if they were trying to tell him something.

This uncertainty continued until they were outside Qiao City.

Yu Province was located in the Central Plains and was extremely densely populated.

As the capital of Yu Province, Qiao City had a large number of people entering and exiting.

Although it was already dusk, the long queue at the city gate showed no signs of diminishing.

Qin Chuan rarely used his privilege, otherwise, it looked like they would be queuing until dark. He entered through the 'exclusive passage' on one side.

As he entered, he noticed the soldiers in front of him constantly yawning.

This was not an exception—the entire line of soldiers at the city gate had heavy dark circles under their eyes.

Qin Chuan asked, "Sir, is daily patrolling very arduous? I see that you all..."

The soldier looked Qin Chuan up and down, then smiled bitterly, "Patrolling isn't hard, but this period is special..."

"Oh, how is it special?"

"It's nothing but those rural areas... but it's not convenient to tell you more. You're a Xiucai, right? Why are you asking about this?"

Qin Chuan looked at the soldier, who had suddenly become alert, said it was nothing, and did not press further.

After entering the city, following the directions given by Zheng, he quickly arrived at the entrance of a residence.

Two large characters were inscribed on the plaque of the residence.

—Cui Residence!