"So this is the North Sea State Capital, Xiao Mo. It’s so lively."
Bai Ruxue and Xiao Mo had just walked into the North Sea State Capital when they saw the streets bustling with pedestrians. All sorts of vendors lined both sides of the road, hawking their wares.
"It is pretty lively," Xiao Mo said, nodding.
It was already winter, and a recent heavy snowfall had covered the entire city in a thick blanket of white snow.
But this did little to conceal the city’s boisterous energy.
In Xiao Mo’s mind, he compared the North Sea State Capital of today with how it was three thousand years ago.
Three thousand years had passed. Although the na hadn’t changed, the layout of North Sea State had certainly transford a great deal.
On the whole, however, it had beco even more prosperous than before.
"Candied hawthorns! Get your candied hawthorns..."
An old man was shouting from not far away.
Bai Ruxue’s eyes lit up. She pulled Xiao Mo along as she ran over. "Xiao Mo, I want one of these!"
"Sir, how much for a stick?"
"Three copper coins a stick."
"We’ll take one stick of candied hawthorns," Xiao Mo said with a smile, handing over three copper coins.
A mont later, Bai Ruxue and Xiao Mo continued on their way, but now she was holding a stick of candied hawthorns.
Watching the woman beside him eat the candied hawthorns, Xiao Mo couldn’t help but smile. It felt as if everything had returned to how it was three thousand years ago.
Three thousand years ago, Ruxue had also accompanied him to the Jiangnan State Capital for the imperial examinations.
Today, Ruxue was with him in the North Sea State Capital for Bailu Academy’s assessnt.
It seed as if nothing had changed at all.
"What’s wrong, Xiao Mo? Do you want a bite? Here, you can have so."
Bai Ruxue held up the candied hawthorns, her sleeve sliding back down her delicate, lotus-root-like arm.
"No, you go ahead," Xiao Mo said with a laugh. "By the way, Ruxue, are you really fond of candied hawthorns?"
"They’re okay, I guess~" Bai Ruxue said, shaking her head slightly. "I only want to eat them when I’m with you."
"Why is that?"
"Silly Xiao Mo, don’t you know that the inside of a candied hawthorn is sour?"
"And what does that have to do with being with ?"
"Of course it does," Bai Ruxue said, her eyes curving into crescents. "As long as I’m with you, the candied hawthorns aren’t so sour~"
"..." Xiao Mo froze for a mont. He looked at the woman beside him, his gaze growing even softer. "If that’s the case, then you should eat more."
"Xiao Mo, you can get sick of candied hawthorns if you eat too many," Bai Ruxue said, gently tugging on his sleeve. "But as long as you’re by my side every ti I want to eat one, okay?"
Xiao Mo reached out and ruffled the woman’s hair. "Okay."
Hearing Xiao Mo’s reply, Bai Ruxue lowered her head and continued to take small bites of her candied hawthorn, her cheeks tinged with a lovely blush.
「Soon after.」
Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue found an inn to stay at.
After dropping off their bags, Bai Ruxue followed Xiao Mo to the local Imperial Examination Hall to register for Bailu Academy’s selection.
The Governor of North Sea State had lent the Imperial Examination Hall to Bailu Academy, so the test would also be held at the Imperial Examination Hall in the North Sea State Capital.
The number of scholars wanting to participate in Bailu Academy’s selection was neither large nor small.
On the one hand, it was a large number because anyone with a decent Spirit Root who was also a scholar would usually try their luck, and Bailu Academy generally turned no one away.
On the other hand, it was a small number because not many ordinary people were capable of cultivation, let alone walking the path of the Confucian Dao.
Xiao Mo registered successfully. He just needed to go to the Imperial Examination Hall in five days to take the assessnt.
...
In the blink of an eye, five days passed.
On the day of the exam, Bai Ruxue personally escorted Xiao Mo to the Imperial Examination Hall.
"Don’t be nervous during the exam."
"Mm."
"Xiao Mo, you have to believe in yourself. You’ll definitely pass the assessnt."
"I know."
"And it’s okay if you don’t pass. The worst that can happen is we’ll just go to another academy."
"If that doesn’t work, I’ll just help you kidnap a few teachers from the Confucian Academy and have them give you private lessons."
All the way to the examination site, Bai Ruxue chattered on, afraid that Xiao Mo would be heartbroken if he failed.
"Ruxue, don’t worry. I’m really fine. If I don’t pass, it just ans I’m not capable enough," Xiao Mo said with a smile. "Besides, I’m the one taking the exam. How co it feels like you’re more nervous than I am?"
"I am not," Bai Ruxue said, turning her head away.
"Good," Xiao Mo said, stopping. "Well, Ruxue, I’m going in for the exam now."
Only then did Bai Ruxue realize that she and Xiao Mo had arrived at the entrance to the Imperial Examination Hall.
The woman lifted her beautiful head and looked at Xiao Mo seriously. "I’ll wait for you to co out."
Xiao Mo took a step back, bowed formally to the beautiful woman, then turned, disappeared into the crowd, and walked into the Imperial Examination Hall.
In the street before the Imperial Examination Hall, the young woman stood on her tiptoes, peering after him again and again.
...
「Imperial Examination Hall.」
An old man sat in a room.
Standing beside him were two disciples, a man and a woman.
"Jiuli, how many scholars are participating in our Bailu Academy’s selection this ti?"
Qi Daoming, a master from Bailu Academy, asked as he lifted his teacup and took a sip.
"Master, there are a total of three hundred and twenty-five scholars participating in the selection this ti," the young woman nad Shang Jiuli said playfully.
"Three hundred and twenty-five," Qi Daoming said, stroking his chin. "That is indeed a few more than usual."
The man nad Luo Yang stated calmly, "Of these three hundred and twenty-five disciples, we’ll be extrely fortunate if even two are able to pass the assessnt."
Just as the three were talking, an official who was helping out knocked on the door and entered. "Mr. Qi, all the scholars for the assessnt have arrived."
"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Zhang..." Qi Daoming said with a small smile. He set down his teacup and stood up. "Let’s go. We’ll et the scholars of North Sea State."
"Yes!"
Luo Yang and Shang Jiuli bowed formally and followed their master out of the room.
More than three hundred scholars stood in the vast courtyard.
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