There were still half a month left before the provincial examination.

Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue stood at the village entrance, both carrying small bundles on their backs.

In front of them was the village chief's family.

"Village Chief, are you really not going to try this time?" Xiao Mo asked the village chief.

The village chief was also a scholar, so naturally he could participate in the provincial examination.

"Forget it, forget it," the village chief shook his head. "I'm already fifty years old, I won't go through all that trouble. Even if I went to take the exam, it would just be a waste of travel expenses. Better to buy Ying'er some nice clothes. Xiao Mo, you study hard. We'll wait for your good news."

"It's fine if you don't pass. Look at your village chief, he's been taking exams for decades and never passed once. As long as you want to take it, you can keep trying in the future. If all else fails, you can open a private school like your village chief and barely make a living."

Aunt Chen said to Xiao Mo.

Although Aunt Chen was just a woman, she knew that some people could study until they died and still never become a provincial graduate.

Like her husband, for example.

"I understand, Aunt Chen. I'll just do my best," Xiao Mo smiled and nodded.

"Good that you know. Don't go seeking death if you don't do well on the exam. You still owe my family a lot of dry rations," Aunt Chen glared at Xiao Mo, then pulled Bai Ruxue over, seeming to give her some instructions before handing her a face veil.

Half an incense stick's time later, Xiao Mo cupped his hands in farewell and got on the horse cart.

Bai Ruxue drove the cart, taking Xiao Mo toward the prefectural capital.

"Did Aunt Chen say anything to you?" Xiao Mo sat beside Bai Ruxue and asked.

"Aunt Chen said I'm too beautiful, and there are many rich young wastrels in the county town, which might cause a lot of trouble. So she told me to be careful. Once we enter the city, I must wear the face veil and never leave your side," Bai Ruxue said honestly.

"Mm," Xiao Mo nodded.

Aunt Chen's concerns were indeed reasonable.

With his current status as just a scholar, he really wasn't sufficient to protect her.

However, if they encountered trouble, Bai Ruxue probably wouldn't be in danger.

Perhaps Bai Ruxue herself didn't even know that she was already a Dragon Gate realm cultivator.

If she took one more step forward, she would form her Golden Core.

Her cultivation talent was as exaggerated as Jiang Qingyi's.

So it would be fortunate if ordinary rich wastrels weren't swallowed by her.

Only...

Xiao Mo glanced at the woman's profile.

Qingyi was decisive in killing and would never let herself suffer losses but as a demon, she was really too kind.

This was both a good thing and a bad thing.

Six days later, Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue entered the prefectural capital of Jiangnan Province.

"Selling candied hawthorns, candied hawthorns! Two coins per stick!"

"Please come in, customer."

"Customer, are you here for a meal or to stay?"

"Young master, you haven't been here in so long. This servant has missed you terribly."

As soon as they entered the prefectural city, the calls of street vendors and various trades rose and fell in succession, with pedestrians coming and going on both sides of the streets.

There were scholars in blue robes.

There were young masters from wealthy families.

There were young women leading little girls with their hair in buns.

Seeing everything in the prefectural capital, Bai Ruxue's eyes suddenly lit up.

Coming from the mountains, the most populated place Bai Ruxue had been to was Stone Bridge Village at the foot of the mountain. She had never even entered Qingshan City, let alone the prefectural capital.

After storing their horse cart, Xiao Mo took Bai Ruxue to find an inn.

Scholars participating in the provincial examination had special rates for staying at inns, which weren't too expensive.

After putting down their luggage, Xiao Mo took Bai Ruxue to walk through the streets of the prefectural city, observing human prosperity.

Bai Ruxue looked here and there.

Everything in the city was very novel to the girl.

"Xiao Mo, I want to eat candied hawthorn!" Bai Ruxue's tender white hand grabbed Xiao Mo's wrist and shook it.

Xiao Mo gave two coins and bought a stick of candied hawthorn. Bai Ruxue slightly lifted her veil and took a bite.

The sweetness that first entered her small mouth made the woman's eyes brighten but with one bite, the sourness of the hawthorn made the woman's eyes squint.

The old man selling candied hawthorn was also stunned.

He had never seen such a beautiful woman.

Bai Ruxue walked forward while eating the hawthorn, occasionally bringing the candied hawthorn to Xiao Mo's face, "Xiao Mo, you eat some too."

Xiao Mo shook his head, indicating he didn't like eating candied hawthorn.

Bai Ruxue didn't understand why, when candied hawthorn was quite delicious.

"Selling steamed buns, selling steamed buns!"

From one side of the street came the calls of a bun seller.

Xiao Mo couldn't help but stop and look toward the bun shop.

"Xiao Mo, do you want to eat buns? Then I'll go buy some for you," Bai Ruxue said.

"No," Xiao Mo shook his head. "I just thought of someone."

"Someone?" Bai Ruxue asked curiously.

"It's nothing," Xiao Mo smiled and shook his head, continuing forward.

Bai Ruxue didn't pay it much mind.

When passing by the Cloud Smoke Pavilion, Bai Ruxue saw some scantily clad women pulling men into the building, practically wanting to stick their whole bodies against them.

Bai Ruxue asked curiously, "Xiao Mo, what kind of place is that? Why are these women dressed so scantily and pulling men inside?"

Xiao Mo glanced over and explained, "That's a brothel."

"What's a brothel?"

"A brothel is... a place for affairs between men and women."

"Affairs between men and women? What kind of affairs? You're a man and I'm a woman, so can we do them too?"

"..."

"Xiao Mo, tell me, tell me!"

"Little girls shouldn't ask so many questions," Xiao Mo lightly tapped Bai Ruxue's head.

Bai Ruxue rubbed her head and pouted, muttering, "I'm clearly a grown woman!"

But Bai Ruxue wasn't angry. She continued forward, pulling Xiao Mo's wrist, "Xiao Mo."

"What is it?"

"In the future, for these affairs between men and women, you should look for me~"

Xiao Mo's eyebrows twitched, not knowing what to say.

For the next few days, Xiao Mo studied in his inn room.

Although the streets were lively, without Xiao Mo accompanying her, Bai Ruxue found it uninteresting.

Soon, the provincial examination began.

Xiao Mo had to go to the examination hall.

"The Qi Kingdom's provincial examination requires three days in total. During these three days, Miss Bai must remember not to wander around, understand?"

Before leaving, Xiao Mo instructed Bai Ruxue.

"Don't worry, I'm very obedient. Xiao Mo, you must test well~ It's okay if you don't do well. Aunt Chen said only the Star of Literature can pass the provincial examination, and you're not the Star of Literature."

"I really thank you for that," Xiao Mo tapped Bai Ruxue's head. "I'm leaving."

Xiao Mo turned and entered the examination hall.

Before entering the examination hall, they needed to be searched. A minor official thoroughly patted down Xiao Mo's body.

Xiao Mo felt he wasn't being conscientious and responsible, he was just being handsy.

"What's this?" The minor official looked at the snake scale on Xiao Mo's chest.

"A protective charm."

Xiao Mo turned his head to glance at the girl who had been watching from outside the courtyard.

"Given by my wife."