Xuanfeng Dynasty.
Ning'an Village.
At the hour of the Rat in the dead of night, the entire village had fallen into darkness, save for a flickering candle within a remote, dilapidated wooden shack at the southern end of the village.
“A scholar must be broad-minded and resolute, for his burden is heavy and his road is long. He takes benevolence as his own responsibility; is that not heavy indeed?...
Qing Yan, if you're tired, go to sleep first.”
Reading halfway through, Chen Ning looked at the little maid beside him whose eyes were growing heavy and whose head couldn't stop nodding, and he spoke in a gentle, persuasive voice.
The maid slowly opened her eyes, her beautiful gaze as clear as a mountain spring.
“No, Young Master is working so hard. No matter what, I want to stay by your side.”
Though she was yawning from exhaustion, Qing Yan shook her head stubbornly.
Instead of leaving, she pulled her stool a few inches closer to Chen Ning.
“Besides, the weather is so cold. It might not even be as warm under the covers as it is next to Young Master.”
Qing Yan gave a sweet smile, taking the opportunity to lean against Chen Ning's shoulder.
The spring air was still slightly chilly; even sitting by the candlelight, her body felt somewhat cool to the touch.
“The villagers all say I won't pass. Do you really have that much faith in me?”
“Of course. Qing Yan believes that Young Master will definitely succeed when you go to the capital for the imperial exams. It's just that Young Master doesn't know martial arts or Daoist magic, so you must be careful of the demons and ghosts along the way.
If you accidentally get eaten, Qing Yan won't have a Young Master to serve anymore.”
“You silly girl, I've taught you so many books of the sages for nothing. Demons and ghosts are just rumors from stories. How could they exist in reality?
And your health hasn't been good lately. Why can't you just rest properly at this hour?”
Chen Ning was just about to give Qing Yan a proper scolding when he turned his head and realized she had already leaned against him and fallen into a deep sleep at some point.
Under the glow of the candlelight, her handsome sleeping face appeared exceptionally tranquil and serene.
Being so close, he could even catch a faint, elegant scent lingering in the air.
“Forget it. You must be exhausted from accompanying me every day. Just get some good sleep.”
Chen Ning smiled helplessly and continued flipping through the Analects on the desk.
In truth, he was not originally from this world.
Chen Ning had only transmigrated to this world two years ago.
It was in that same year that the Chen family’s fortunes suddenly declined, and the Chen couple vanished without a trace.
Only the maid Qing Yan remained by his side. The two of them had taken their meager savings and settled in Ning'an Village.
From that moment on, Chen Ning set his heart on studying to achieve official rank.
He had studied hard by the cold window for two years. Although their days were meager and poor, this plain and leisurely life was unexpectedly not bad.
Besides, he had easily survived the 'millions of lions crossing the river' gauntlet of the college entrance exams in his past life. Faced with a group of ancients, could he really fail to out-compete them?
Chen Ning continued to recite the contents of the book.
“I am not one who was born in the possession of knowledge; I am one who is fond of antiquity, and earnest in seeking it there.”
【Ding! Detecting the host's firm heart for learning. The Confucian Saint System has been activated.】
Just as he finished reciting the sentence, an electronic voice suddenly echoed in Chen Ning's mind.
Immediately after, a golden light screen flowed down before Chen Ning like a waterfall.
【Chen Ning】
【Noble Qi: 0】
【Congratulations to the host for successfully reading the Analects. Noble Qi has increased by 1 point. Obtained Divine Ability: Purple Qi Protection.】
【Purple Qi Protection (1/40)】
As the system's voice faded, Chen Ning felt a surging aura suddenly erupt from deep within his body.
This aura was a faint, pale purple. Though it was barely perceptible to the naked eye, it contained a vast and awe-inspiring scholarly Noble Qi.
It was as if the person sitting at the desk was no longer Chen Ning, but a Great Scholar with pupils across the land who had read every book in existence!
Rumor had it that when the Confucian Saint descended the mountain to preach the Dao, his Noble Qi could stretch for over thirty thousand li, causing divine phoenixes to alight on branches and flood dragons to emerge from the sea.
“Could this be the legendary Noble Qi?”
Although there was only a wisp of Noble Qi in his body, Chen Ning could feel this righteous energy traveling through his limbs and meridians, nourishing every part of his physique.
Just by lightly clenching his fist, he could feel his blood surging like a tide and his bones ringing in unison. Every part of his body felt as if it were filled with power.
Feeling the immense change in his body, Chen Ning couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
However, for someone like him who was already fully focused on studying for the imperial exams, even with a system, he didn't think it would have much impact on his life.
After all, the books still had to be read, and the journey to the capital for the exams could absolutely not be set aside.
At most, he would probably just use the strength provided by the system to carry a few more buckets of well water or beat up a few bandits with ill intentions.
There was no helping it. Who told him he had transmigrated into a mundane ancient world rather than a fantasy world where cultivators could move mountains and fill seas?
Having studied hard for two whole years, he couldn't just abandon literature for martial arts because of a system, could he?
“Wake up. It's time to go back to your room to sleep, or you'll catch a cold.”
Chen Ning tried to wake the dreaming Qing Yan.
“No... the braised chicken is so fragrant... I want one more piece...”
Qing Yan had a few drops of glistening drool at the corner of her mouth, seemingly unwilling to wake from her beautiful dream.
Chen Ning sighed and had no choice but to gently lift her delicate body.
After gaining a wisp of Noble Qi, Chen Ning clearly felt that his physical attributes had improved significantly. He didn't even feel the slightest strain while carrying Qing Yan.
‘But speaking of which, even though this girl clings to me every day...
When it comes to sleeping at night, she’d rather endure her fear of the dark just to sleep in the side bedroom.’
Thinking this, Chen Ning blew out the lamp and gently carried Qing Yan back to her room.
But just as Chen Ning was about to cover her with a blanket, his palm suddenly touched something in the darkness.
It felt soft and somewhat furry.
“Strange, what is this?”
The light in the room was too dim, so Chen Ning had to use the Divine Ability he had just obtained from the system.
“Purple Qi Protection.”
A wisp of gentle purple qi swirled up around Chen Ning.
As the purple qi covered his eyes, Chen Ning gained something akin to night vision, his sight no longer affected by the darkness at all.
He finally saw that furry mass clearly.
It was actually growing from behind Qing Yan... a snow-white fox tail!
“A fox tail?”
“Wait, Qing Yan... she’s actually not human!”
Chen Ning, who had studied hard for two years, suddenly discovered that this world seemed a bit different from what he had previously imagined!
Rate on N.U.
