Volume One: The Scholar and the Sword

I come from beyond the heavens, and the sharpness of my pen is revealed!

Chapter One: Saving the Fox

Mount Maple, located more than ten li north of Jiangzhou’s outskirts, is named for its abundance of maple trees. Every autumn, the maple leaves blaze red like fire, dazzling to behold.

This year, as autumn arrives, the maple leaves on Mount Maple are especially bright and vivid, covering the mountains like a giant torch burning fiercely. But compared to these fiery leaves, Jason Brooks's mood was gray.

Jason Brooks, courtesy name “Liuxian,” a native of Jiangzhou, is only sixteen years old this year, and is a student scholar, commonly known as a “xiucai.”

Earning the title of xiucai is no easy feat. One must pass the rigorous entrance exams for child students, progressing from county to prefectural to academy exams, step by step. Only those who pass all levels can become student scholars.

This Jason Brooks was truly remarkable, taking first place in the county, prefectural, and academy exams in succession, making a name for himself, and has already been admitted as a stipend student to Jiangzhou’s renowned official academy—Minghua Academy.

A stipend student, or “stipend-supported scholar,” receives a monthly grain allowance from the court during their studies, subsidizing their living expenses—essentially a “publicly funded student,” free from worries about food and clothing, able to focus solely on their studies.

One could say that Jason Brooks had a bright future ahead—if he hadn’t transmigrated!

Yes, the current Jason Brooks, his soul and consciousness have been replaced, now occupied by a modern university student from Earth.

Transmigration is something that can only be chanced upon, not sought. Yet when the modern student realized the world he had entered, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of darkness before his eyes—

The Tiantong Dynasty!

A nation highly similar to the Ming Dynasty—but only similar. The modern student was certain that the historical trajectory of this world was unlike any dynasty he knew; it could be called an alternate timeline.

In truth, none of these issues were the key point.

The key was, if Jason Brooks wanted to live well and stand out in this world, he had to participate in the imperial examinations, facing all sorts of numerous and varied tests.

Before becoming a xiucai, there are three levels of child student exams; after entering the academy, there are annual and subject exams, with results divided into six grades; only those who achieve first or second grade in the subject exams can qualify for the provincial exam. And that’s far from the end—after the provincial exam, there are still the metropolitan and palace exams...

It’s practically “study and test until you die.”

So, the modern student’s mood was gray.

Ever since high school, he had hated exams the most—unit tests, midterms and finals, all sorts of standardized and college entrance exams—they had grilled him until he was burnt out, inside and out.

But what could he do? That’s just how things were—countless people fighting for a single log bridge, so he had to charge forward with the crowd.

Who would have thought that after unexpectedly transmigrating to another world, he’d become a student again, facing even more exams? Wasn’t this just putting him on the fire to roast?

“Damn it!”

Jason Brooks cursed under his breath, leading a donkey along the mountain path.

Next spring, in the second month, the academy would start again.

Thinking of that robotic, rigid, and miserable life, Jason Brooks grew restless, so he went out alone to Mount Maple to enjoy the scenery and clear his mind.

At this time of year, many people came to Mount Maple to admire the leaves, mostly local scholars and poets from Jiangzhou, gathering in groups of three or five. Some stood with hands behind their backs by the mountain path, gazing deeply; others sat together in pavilions in the scenic area, sipping tea and wine, engaging in lively discussions, reciting poetry back and forth, making for a bustling scene.

Jason Brooks was already in a gloomy mood and didn’t want to squeeze into the crowds, so he chose a secluded path and slipped away.

This little path was very quiet, with only the occasional birdsong drifting from the shade, making the mountain seem even more tranquil and refined. As he walked, his mood gradually eased.

Casually leading the donkey, he wandered farther and farther, eventually reaching a desolate, deep part of the forest, where the grass grew thick, the trees were gloomy, rocks were scattered everywhere, and there was no sign of people—

Chirp, chirp...

Suddenly, Jason Brooks heard the plaintive cries of an animal ahead, and then a little fox stumbled out of the woods.

It was actually a rare white fox!

Its entire body was snow-white, without a trace of any other color, its fur as smooth as silk, faintly shimmering with a watery luster—truly extraordinary.

The fox’s right hind leg was bleeding, leaving drops of blood on the ground, a shocking sight; and in its very human-like eyes, there was a look of sorrow and pain, evoking a sense of pity in anyone who saw it.

Though wounded, the white fox was still running desperately, as if some natural enemy was chasing it.

Awooo!

Sure enough, a wolf’s howl rang out, and moments later, a strong black wolf leapt out ferociously.