We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 101: Two Hearts Yearning Under the Same Snow, A Lifetime Together with White Hair

”This is the prefectural capital of Beihai Province, Xiao Mo, itʼs so lively!”

Bai Ruxue and Xiao Mo had just entered the prefectural capital of Beihai Province when they saw pedestrians coming and going on the streets, with various small stalls and vendors constantly calling out along both sides of the road.

”It is quite lively.” Xiao Mo nodded.

It was now winter, and because a heavy snow had just fallen, the entire town was covered with a thick layer of white snow but this could not conceal the bustle within the town at all.

In Xiao Moʼs mind, he compared the prefectural capital of Beihai Province with that of three thousand years ago.

After three thousand years had passed, although the name hadnʼt changed, the entire layout of Beihai Province had indeed changed quite a bit.

However, overall, it had become much more prosperous than before.

”Candied hawthorns, selling candied hawthorns!”

Not far away, an old man was calling out.

Bai Ruxueʼs eyes lit up as she pulled Xiao Mo over, ”Xiao Mo, I want to eat this!”
”Uncle, how much for one stick?”

”Three wen coins per stick.”

”One stick of candied hawthorns, please.” Xiao Mo said with a smile, handing over three wen coins.

Shortly after, Bai Ruxue and Xiao Mo continued walking forward, except now she had a stick of candied hawthorns in her hand.

Looking at the woman beside him eating the candied hawthorns, Xiao Mo couldnʼt help but smile, as if everything had returned to three thousand years ago.

Three thousand years ago, Ruxue had also accompanied him to the prefectural capital of Jiangnan Province for the imperial examinations.

Today, Ruxue was accompanying him to the prefectural capital of Beihai Province to participate in the White Deer Academyʼs assessment.

It seemed as if nothing had changed.

”Whatʼs wrong, Xiao Mo? Do you want some too? Here, you can have some.”

Bai Ruxue raised the candied hawthorns, and her sleeves slid down her delicate lotus-like arm.

”No, you eat it.” Xiao Mo smiled, ”Speaking of which, does Ruxue really like eating candied hawthorns?”

”Itʼs alright~” Bai Ruxue shook her little head, ”When Iʼm with you, I want to eat candied hawthorns.”

”Why?”

”Silly Xiao Mo, donʼt you know that candied hawthorns are sour inside?”

”Then what does that have to do with being with me?”

”Of course itʼs related.” Bai Ruxueʼs eyes curved into crescents, ”As long as Iʼm with you, the candied hawthorns donʼt taste so sour anymore~”

”...” Xiao Mo was slightly stunned, looking at the woman beside him, his eyes growing increasingly gentle, ”If thatʼs the case, then eat a bit more.”

”Xiao Mo, eating too many candied hawthorns will make you sick of them.” Bai Ruxue gently tugged at Xiao Moʼs sleeve, ”But as long as every time I want to eat candied hawthorns, youʼre by my side, okay?”

Xiao Mo reached out and ruffled the womanʼs hair, ”Okay.”

Hearing Xiao Moʼs response, Bai Ruxue lowered her head and continued eating the candied hawthorns in small bites, except her cheeks now bore a lovely blush.

Before long, Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue found an inn to stay at.

After putting down their luggage, Bai Ruxue followed Xiao Mo to the local examination hall to register for the White Deer Academy selection.

The Prefect of Beihai Province had lent the examination hall to White Deer Academy, and the test location was also at the Beihai Province prefectural examination hall.

The number of scholars wanting to participate in the White Deer Academy selection was neither too many nor too few.

It was many because anyone with a certain level of spiritual roots who was also a scholar would generally choose to give it a try, and White Deer Academy generally accepted all comers.

It was few because among ordinary people, there werenʼt many who could cultivate, let alone walk the path of scholarly Dao.

Xiao Mo successfully registered and would only need to go directly to the examination hall for the assessment in five days.

Unknowingly, five days passed.

On the day of the examination, Bai Ruxue personally escorted Xiao Mo to the examination hall.

”Donʼt be nervous during the exam.”

”Mm.”

”Xiao Mo, you must believe in yourself, youʼll definitely pass the assessment.”

”I know.”

”Even if you donʼt pass, it doesnʼt matter. At worst, weʼll go to other academies.”

”If it really doesnʼt work out, Iʼll just kidnap a few teachers from the Confucian academies to come give you private lessons.”

All along the way to the exam, Bai Ruxue kept talking to Xiao Mo nonstop, afraid that Xiao Mo would be sad if he failed.

”Ruxue, donʼt worry, Iʼm really fine. If I donʼt pass, it just means my abilities arenʼt sufficient.” Xiao Mo said with a smile, ”Besides, Iʼm the one taking the exam, so why do I feel like youʼre more nervous than me?”

”Iʼm not.” Bai Ruxue turned her head away.

”Good, then youʼre not.” Xiao Mo stopped walking, ”Then Ruxue, Iʼm going to take the exam now.”

Only then did Bai Ruxue notice that she and Xiao Mo had already arrived in front of the examination hall.

The woman raised her delicate face and looked at Xiao Mo seriously, ”Iʼll wait for you to come out.”

Xiao Mo stepped back and bowed formally to the beautiful woman, then turned and disappeared into the crowd, entering the examination hall.

In front of the examination hall street, the young woman stood on her tiptoes, looking out again and again.

…

Examination hall.

In a room sat an elderly man, beside the elderly man stood two disciples, a man and a woman.

”Jiuli, how many scholars are participating in our White Deer Academy selection this time?”

White Deer Academy teacher Qi Daoming picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked.

”Teacher, there are a total of three hundred and twenty-five scholars participating in the selection this time.” The young woman named Shang Jiuli said playfully.

”Three hundred and twenty-five.” Qi Daoming stroked his chin, ”That is indeed more than usual.”

The man named Luo Yang said calmly, ”Among these three hundred and twenty-five disciples, it would be a blessing if even two disciples could pass the assessment.”

Just as the three were chatting, an official who was helping knocked on the door and entered, ”Teacher Qi, all the scholars participating in the assessment have arrived.”

”Thank you for the trouble, Master Zhang.” Qi Daoming smiled, put down his teacup, and stood up, ”Letʼs go meet the scholars of Beihai Province.”

”Yes!”

Luo Yang and Shang Jiuli bowed and followed their master out of the room.

In the vast courtyard stood over three hundred scholars.

When they saw the elderly man emerge from the room, the commotion gradually subsided, and all eyes turned to the elderly man.

”Todayʼs White Deer Academy assessment will be hosted by this old man. I am named Qi Daoming, greetings to you all.” Qi Daoming bowed in greeting.

”Greetings, honored teacher.” Everyone quickly returned the bow.

”I didnʼt expect it would actually be Teacher Qi.”

”What about Teacher Qi?”

”You donʼt even know? Teacher Qi is a Grand Secretary of the Confucian Academy.”

”Not only that, Teacher Qi is also the junior brother of the current master of the Confucian Academy.”

”Why would Teacher Qi come to White Deer Academy to be a teacher?”

”Whatʼs so strange about that? Teacher Qi likes to travel and study everywhere. White Deer Academy happened to be short of teachers, so he stayed.”

Standing in the crowd, Xiao Mo heard the whispered conversations around him and roughly understood this Teacher Qiʼs background. It turned out this elderly man was not just an ordinary teacher.

”Today our assessment consists of three parts. The first assessment examines everyoneʼs learning. Please take your seats.” Teacher Qi made a gesture of invitation.

The scholars took their seats on the meditation cushions that had been arranged in the examination hall.

Teacher Qi waved his wide sleeve, and test papers floated down to the small table in front of each person, ”The examination time is one hour. Please begin answering.”

The examinees opened their test papers.

In Xiao Moʼs view, this test paper was actually quite similar to ordinary imperial examinations.

However, there were fewer questions about state and national affairs, and more exploration of various Confucian classics.

Even writing towards the end, Xiao Mo discovered it wasnʼt just Confucian texts, but even included some miscellaneous books available in the market.

After one hour, Teacher Qi collected the papers.

Test papers floated past Teacher Qiʼs eyes, with each paper stopping for only about three breaths.

”Yue Penglai, pass.”

”Fang Yan, fail.”

”Wei Xinyu, pass.”

After reviewing each test paper, Teacher Qi would announce whether the person passed or failed.

When one test paper came before Teacher Qi, he looked at it for a full ten breaths, even causing Shang Jiuli and Luo Yang to curiously lean in to look.

”Xiao Mo, pass.”

Finally, the elderly man announced.

In the crowd, Xiao Mo bowed in acknowledgment.

After the first test, fewer than one hundred examinees remained.

”Congratulations to all who passed the first assessment. The first assessment tested everyoneʼs knowledge, but you all clearly understand that White Deer Academyʼs scholars are both students and cultivators.

Next, we will test everyone based on cultivation level.”

Qi Daoming stepped forward, picked up an inkstone, then splashed it through the air.

The ink in the inkstone separated into drops of ink beads that dotted each personʼs forehead.

Xiao Moʼs consciousness gradually sank.

Everyone fell into an illusion.

In the illusion, Xiao Mo saw himself possessing endless wealth and glory, saw countless beautiful women and fine carriages surrounding him, saw himself wielding power over the court.

”Senior Brother, guess how many people will be able to wake up?” Shang Jiuli asked the man beside her.

Luo Yang surveyed the crowd, ”Theyʼre all vulgar people. I donʼt think even one will wake up.”

Just as Luo Yang finished speaking, a scholar in the very center of the crowd slowly opened his eyes.

”How is this possible?” Luo Yang was shocked.

When he had passed this test years ago, it had taken him half an incense stickʼs worth of time but this person only took four breaths?

”Looks like Senior Brother lost.”

Shang Jiuli was full of smiles but when she looked at Xiao Mo, her eyes also held surprise.

This scholar was quite extraordinary.

Could it be that fine carriages and beautiful women, power and money, held no temptation for him at all?

Noticing that Teacher Qi and the other two were looking at him, Xiao Mo bowed respectfully.

One by one, other scholars gradually awakened but including Xiao Mo, there were only five people in total.

Finally, Qi Daoming took out writing materials from his storage pouch and placed them on a table:

”For this third test, please take up your brushes and compose a poem with ʼwhite snowʼ as the theme.”

”Yes!”

The five people bowed and drew lots to take turns approaching the desk to compose poetry.

In everyoneʼs view, composing poetry was the simplest thing possible.

Everyone was very confident in their own talent but when the first person walked to the writing desk, gathered his sleeves, and tried to pick up the brush on the table, he couldnʼt lift it no matter what.

Qi Daoming shook his head, ”This brush is called Literary Qi. When Confucian scholars cultivate, they gradually condense literary fortune. Without sufficient literary qi, let alone composing poetry, even lifting the brush is difficult. Young friend, please cultivate more and try again next time.”

Although this person was unwilling, he could only sigh, bow respectfully, turn around and leave the courtyard.

The second person stepped forward to lift the brush. He could barely pick up the brush, but just as he wrote one stroke, the brush became as heavy as a thousand pounds and fell from his fingers.

The third person, named Fang Chen, wrote four characters.

The fourth person, named Hu Qingshan, wrote half a line of poetry.

Although they didnʼt complete a full poem, they had already qualified and were admitted to White Deer Academy.

Seeing their puzzled expressions, Shang Jiuli standing to the side smiled and said, ”If you want to use this Literary Qi brush to write a complete line of poetry, itʼs not easy. In all the provinces and prefectures of Great Chu, there arenʼt even five people who can do it. So as long as you can write four characters, you pass.”

Shang Jiuli looked mischievously at Xiao Mo not far away, ”Hey, you handsome scholar, itʼs your turn.”

Xiao Mo bowed and stepped forward.

The moment he picked up the brush, almost everyone outside the examination hall turned to look.

From within that courtyard came the roar of an ink dragon.

At the wei hour, the examination hall gates opened, and a man in a blue robe walked out.

”Xiao Mo~”

Outside the courtyard, a woman in a white dress waved her pale arm.

Seeing the woman not far away, Xiao Mo smiled slightly, walked down the steps, and the woman quickly caught up.

Under the gaze of the other two scholars who had also passed, Xiao Mo followed the woman, stepping on the white snow in the street as they walked away step by step.

”Xiao Mo, how did the exam go? Did you pass?” Bai Ruxue asked.

”Mm, I passed.” Xiao Mo nodded.

”I knew you could do it.” Bai Ruxue stood on her tiptoes, wanting to pat his head, but he was too tall and she couldnʼt reach.

Since she couldnʼt reach, she grabbed his sleeve instead.

Bai Ruxue pulled at Xiao Moʼs sleeve, shaking his arm, ”What did White Deer Academy test you on?”

”Three tests. The first was answering questions.” Xiao Mo patiently explained to Bai Ruxue, ”The second tested character. I entered an illusion with beautiful women surrounding me, mountains of gold and silver, and power over the court, but I woke up in less than four breaths.”

”So quickly? Arenʼt you men very interested in those things?” Bai Ruxue asked.

Xiao Mo smiled, ”Power over the court, I donʼt want to be an official. Mountains of gold and silver, youʼve shown me too many. As for beautiful women and fine carriages...”

Xiao Mo looked at the woman beside him, ”None of them are as beautiful as you.”

”Thatʼs... of course.”

Bai Ruxue turned her head away, the blush on her cheeks spreading to her ears, but her small hand gripped Xiao Moʼs sleeve even tighter.

After a long while, when Bai Ruxue had calmed the shyness in her heart, she remembered she hadnʼt finished asking, ”Then Xiao Mo, what was the third test?”

”The third test was writing a poem with white snow as the theme. It was actually quite simple.” Xiao Mo said.

”A poem? What poem did you write?” Bai Ruxue asked curiously.

”Want to know?” Xiao Mo stopped walking and looked at Bai Ruxue.

”Mm-hmm.” Bai Ruxue nodded seriously.

”This poem has four lines. The first two lines I wrote were...”

Xiao Mo gathered his sleeves and recited:

”An old friendʼs startled reflection on a boat beyond the clouds, the entire river turned cold and became autumn.”

”Mm-hmm, thatʼs quite good. What about the last two lines?” Bai Ruxue blinked.

”The last two lines...” Just as Xiao Mo was about to recite them, the corner of his mouth curved up.

”Never mind, I wonʼt tell you yet.” With those words, Xiao Mo walked forward.

”Eh? How can you be like this...”

Bai Ruxue was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran forward, tightly hugging Xiao Moʼs arm and shaking it coquettishly.

”Mean Xiao Mo, tell me, tell me quickly...”

…

In the examination hall.

Shang Jiuli looked at the brush placed on the table, then at the neat poem written on the table.

The more she looked, the more Shang Jiuli liked it, ”Teacher, this poem is written so well. Can you give it to your disciple?”

”Girl, donʼt be ridiculous. These three examineesʼ test papers all need to be reviewed by the Academy Master.”

”Itʼs fine, Teacher. Grandfather wonʼt mind. Iʼll just copy one for Grandfather later. Teacher, please give it to me, please...” Shang Jiuli shook her teacherʼs arm.

”Fine, fine, fine, Iʼll give it to you.” Qi Daoming was helpless, knowing this girl loved collecting poetry, especially pieces written by the authors themselves.

If he didnʼt agree to her, she probably wouldnʼt stop bothering him the whole way.

”Thank you, Teacher.” Shang Jiuli happily picked up the brush and ink, preparing to copy one for her grandfather.

Luo Yang looked at the scholarʼs examination work and felt somewhat envious, but ultimately didnʼt want to compete with his junior sister for it.

The two watched as the young woman picked up the Literary Qi brush and copied stroke by stroke, character by character onto paper:

”An old friendʼs startled reflection on a boat beyond the clouds.”

”The entire river turned cold and became autumn.”

”Two hearts yearning under the same snow.”

”A lifetime together with white hair.”