Chapter One: Saving the Fox

  Maple Mountain, located more than ten miles north of Jiangzhou, is named for its abundance of maple trees. Every autumn, the leaves turn a brilliant red, like flames, and are extremely eye-catching.

  This autumn, the maple leaves on Maple Mountain are particularly bright and beautiful, covering the entire mountain like a giant torch burning fiercely. But compared to these fiery maple leaves, Chen Jianchen's mood is gray.

  Chen Jianchen, also known as "Liu Xian", is a native of Jiangzhou. He is only 16 years old and is a student, commonly referred to as a "Xiucai".

  It is not easy to obtain the status of a Xiucai, which requires passing a rigorous examination for admission to school from childhood, from low to high, including three stages: county test, prefectural test, and college test. Only those who pass all levels can become students.

  Chen Jianchen was indeed exceptional, and he took the top spot in the county exam, prefectural exam, and provincial exam one after another, making a name for himself. He had already been accepted as a student at Minghua Academy, a renowned government school in Jiangzhou.

  What is meant by "government-sponsored student" is that during the period of study, the imperial court provides a monthly stipend to support living expenses, equivalent to being a "publicly-funded student", with no worries about food and clothing, and only focusing on reading books.

  It can be said that Chen Jianchen had a bright future ahead of him - if he hadn't been transported through time!

  Yes, now Chen Jianchen's soul consciousness has been taken over by a modern college student from Earth.

  Time travel, originally an encounter that cannot be sought, however when modern university students clearly understand the world they have entered, they can't help but feel a sudden darkness in front of them.

  The Tian Dynasty!

  A country highly similar to the great Ming Dynasty - but only in similarity. Modern university students dare to affirm that the historical process of this surface is not any dynasty he is familiar with, and can be called a different time and space.

  Actually, these issues are not crucial.

  The key is that if Chen Jianchen wants to live a good life and stand out in this world, he must participate in the imperial examination and take various kinds of exams with many names.

  Before becoming a Xiucai, there were three levels of Tongshi; after entering the academy to study, they also had to take the annual examination and the Keju examination, which were divided into six grades according to their scores. Only those who scored first or second place in the Keju examination could obtain the qualification for the imperial examination. However, this was still far from over, as there were also the Hui Shi and the Dian Shi examinations after the imperial examination...

  It's just live till old, take exams till old.

  So, modern college students' mood is gray.

  He has hated exams the most since high school, whether it's unit tests, mid-term or final exams, or even college entrance exams. It really made him "burn" with anxiety, how could he be calm and composed?

  What can be done? The national situation is like this, thousands of troops and horses competing for the single-log bridge, follow the big team to rush.

  The cement unexpectedly crossed over to another world and became a student again, only to be tested even more. Isn't this like being roasted on a bonfire?

  "I'll punch your lungs out!"

  Chen Jianchen muttered a curse under his breath as he led a donkey along the mountain path.

  Next year in February, the school will start.

  Thinking of that miserable life as dull as a robot, Chen Jianchen felt annoyed and walked out alone to enjoy the scenery at Fengshan and clear his mind.

  During this period, many tourists came to Maple Mountain to admire the maple leaves. They were mostly local literati and poets from Jiangzhou, who would gather in groups of three or five, either standing on the mountain path with their hands behind their backs, gazing deeply into the distance; or sitting together in the pavilions of the scenic area at the foot of the mountain, sipping tea and drinking wine, engaging in lofty discussions, reciting poetry and responding to each other, creating a lively atmosphere.

  Chen Jianchen was already feeling depressed and didn't want to go into the crowded area, so he took a detour down a quiet little road.

  The small path was very quiet, with only occasional bird calls coming from the trees. The mountain was even more secluded and added a touch of elegance. As he walked, his mood began to relax.

  Leading the donkey by the halter, they walked further and further away, gradually arriving at a desolate mountain forest, where the wild grass was lush, the trees were gloomy, and the rocks were scattered all over, with hardly any sign of human presence.

  Hissing sound...

  Suddenly, Chen Jian heard a cry of an animal in front, and then a small fox rushed out from the thicket, stumbling and running.

  It was a rare white fox!

  Its entire body is snow-white, without a single thread of impurity, its fur as smooth as silk brocade, and it also has a faint luster, flowing like ripples on water, very strange.

  This fox's right hind leg is bleeding, dripping drop by drop onto the ground, a shocking sight; while in its very human-like eyes, a sorrowful and painful expression flows out, making people who see it feel a few pangs of sympathy.

  Although wounded, the white fox was still running with all its might, as if there were some natural enemy pursuing it from behind.

  Ahh!

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, a wolf howl sounded, and after a moment, a majestic black wolf burst out.

  This wolf is truly gigantic, with a coat of pure black fur that shines like oil, its ears are long and pointed, its eyes gleam with ferocity, and its large mouth is full of sharp teeth, making one have no doubt that if it bites you once, your neck will be severed.

  The black wolf chased after her, the white fox panicked and ran hastily towards Chen Jianchen's direction, her eyes brimming with tears, with a glimmer of hope inside, looking at Chen Jianchen as if seeking his help.

  Chen Jianchen suddenly felt a pang in his heart, and with a surge of sympathy, he quickly bent down to pick up a stone and hurled it fiercely at the black wolf.

  Ahh!

  The black wolf's reaction was extremely sensitive, and it dodged to the side. However, due to this obstruction, it didn't dare to recklessly chase up again, standing still, emitting a series of low growls from its throat, staring fixedly at Chen Jianchen who blocked its path with extreme ferocity.

  Chen Jianchen was stared at by the beast, making him feel a bit apprehensive. He suddenly remembered that he was just a weak scholar with no strength to bind a chicken, and if he had to wrestle with the black wolf, he would definitely not have a good outcome. His little donkey was scared away by the black wolf's howl and ran off in all directions.

  Weapons, quickly find weapons...

  Thinking of this, Chen Jianchen hastily looked around and wanted to find a stick or something from the ground, but except for seeing leaves all over the ground, he couldn't find anything else. In his panic, he couldn't even find a second stone that was heavy enough to throw.

  What a pity!

  He secretly sighed and suddenly seemed to remember something, reached into the book bag behind him and pulled out a pen holder.

  The pencil case is only a foot long, made of ordinary wood, quite rough, and looks like a short wooden stick. However, the brush in the pencil case is not an ordinary product, but a global product that has accompanied the soul of modern university students through time and space, and has been tested by time and space, unique and unparalleled.

  It was actually after he inadvertently came into contact with this ancient calligraphy brush called "辟邪" in the museum that the bizarre time-travel event occurred. This brush is said to have been used by Zhong Kui, the "Ghost Catcher", and has a rich history, with a hint of mythology. Of course, no one knows whether it's true or false.

  When the crossing became a fait accompli, Chen Jianchen had also taken the time to study this brush repeatedly, looking for its mysterious and subtle secrets, but ultimately gained nothing, no discoveries were made, and he could only sigh and put it away in a pen box, placed on his book rack, carrying it with him.

  At this moment, the fierce wolf is in front of him, with no inch of steel in his hand. In a hurry, Chen Jianchen had to use the dead horse as a living horse doctor and took out this pen holder as a weapon. As for whether it was useful or not, there was simply no time to think about it.

  Ahh!

  The black wolf suddenly let out a furious howl and began to advance step by step.

  Chen Jianchen swallowed hard, backing away step by step, considering whether to run away while shouting for help at the same time, when several dog barks came from the other side like a rescue.

  The dog barked, and the black wolf appeared with an uneasy expression. The big wolf head looked around left and right, finally made up its mind, glared at Chen Jianchen again, and ran back into the forest with a burst of speed.

  Before long, two agile hunting dogs ran out from the left side of the forest, followed by an old hunter who was over sixty years old with a goatee. He wore a short knife at his waist and carried a hunting bow on his back, with two sturdy ropes slung over his shoulder, tied to rabbits, roe deer and other game.

  Chen Jianchen secretly called out "good luck", at this time he found that the little white fox had also slipped away, but this was also a normal thing.

  "Uncle Zhang, today's harvest is great."

  He knew the old hunter, named Zhang Lao San, who was one of his neighbors.

  "Oh dear, it's actually Mr. Chen, I'm so sorry for the mistake, are you here to tour the mountain?"

  In the Tianyun dynasty, although a Xiucai was only a basic member of the scholar-official class, he was after all someone with a reputation and enjoyed a certain degree of respect and honor. His social status was higher than that of ordinary commoners. Chen Jianchen was intelligent and talented, and had come first in the three exams for children, so his reputation preceded him and his future prospects were boundless. When facing him, Zhang Lao San naturally did not dare to be negligent.

  "Yes, but just now a wolf suddenly ran out of this forest and scared me half to death."

  Chen Jianchen didn't mention the white fox, but had some reservations about that wolf. Now's a good chance to bring it up and have Zhang Lao San go hunting.

  Zhang Lao San's eyes lit up, and he reminded him in a stern tone: "Mr. Zhang, if you want to go sightseeing, it should be on the front mountain. There are many wild beasts on this side of the back mountain, and it might be dangerous for you to go alone."

  "Thanks for reminding me, Uncle. I'll go out now."

  Chen Jianchen is no fool, what's the mood for traveling and having fun at this time? Going home to eat is the best.

  On the other side, Zhang Lao San was shouting at his hunting dogs, following the scent and chasing deep into the forest. His two hunting dogs were very experienced and could sniff out any trail on the ground. They barked all the way, gradually getting farther away.

  Chen Jianchen didn't care about the success of his neighbor's hunting, turned around and prepared to go down the mountain. But just as he took a few steps, he heard a "chirping" sound behind him, turned his head to look, and it was that little white fox again!

  It stood up on its hind legs, facing Chen Jianchen. First, it raised its two front paws high and clasped them together, as if making a bow. Then, it lowered its entire body, bent its knees and knelt down, its small head knocking against the ground with a loud thud.

  Kowtowing and chirping at the same time, as if saying words of gratitude.

  Seeing this, Chen Jianchen was greatly shocked, stunned like a wooden chicken, only feeling dry mouth and tongue, instantly not knowing what to do for the better.

  The little white fox bumped its head, got up and started to move away in another direction with a limp. However, after more than ten steps, it suddenly stopped, turned around, and faced Chen Jianchen again, repeating the same movement of knocking its head as before.

  It was three times, with a sincere and solemn expression, looking very serious, which made Chen Jianchen have an illusion, thinking that it was not a small fox but a grateful little girl. Finally, its small figure was covered by the woods, slowly disappearing, and even the sound could no longer be heard.

  "Fox spirit?"

  After a while, Chen Jianchen finally came to his senses and heard the mountain wind blowing around him, making a rustling sound. He couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. This place was not suitable for staying for long. The thought flashed through his mind quickly, and he ran down the mountain along the winding path as fast as he could, wanting to hurry back home.