On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, it's favorable for traveling, marrying, and cleaning. Avoid seeking medical treatment and curing illnesses.
Xu Qing packed his bags early, and by the time daylight fully broke, he was already aboard a passenger boat leaving the Xinbufang Ferry.
The river fog was hazy, and at the dock, one could vaguely see the silhouette of a cat stopping to gaze into the distance.
As the passenger boat moved farther away, only a barely discernible black dot remained at the dock's pier.
Before leaving Linjiang County, Xu Qing made a point to visit acquaintances, a procedure much like when he had previously retreated to overcome the Silver Armored Corpse, nothing different.
To Wang Lingyuan, Second Lord Feng, and others, Xu Qing still used the excuse of traveling for studies, while to those fellow cultivators, he informed them that he was wandering, with no set return date.
These matters should have been communicated earlier, but since it was still the New Year period, Xu Qing kept postponing. After all, a funeral business visiting during New Year, paying respects, was somewhat unlucky.
During the New Year, families gathered, and for a Funeral Master, who frequently officiates burials, to suddenly visit—is that not intolerable?
When you're chased out, those unaware will say you're quite polite and that the host is unreasonable.
But if they know your profession, everyone, without exception, will call you shameless!
Even after the fifteenth, when visiting acquaintances, Xu Qing didn't enter the house, but exchanged pleasantries outside, chatting a bit.
At this time, the weather was cold, and standing at the door, unable to hold a conversation for long, he had to say goodbye swiftly.
Xu Qing, having gone through the experience once, was now adept at farewells. Once he traveled along the waterway away from Linjiang County, he again became a solitary traveler of the mundane world.
But he was a mundane traveler with a cat at home.
The passenger boat headed north, and halfway through, Xu Qing encountered many scholars traveling to the Capital City for exams.
After the first lunar month, it's less than two months until the big day of the Spring Examination.
The Dayong Dynasty Literary Examination is held in the third lunar month, with the court examination conducted in the fourth month of the same year.
Xu Qing watched those who traveled through mountains and rivers, reciting poems and verses, pondering how many among the scholars today would become future officials.
Someone asked Xu Qing if he was also a scholar heading for the exam. He initially wanted to shake his head and deny it, but recalling the calamities on the path of cultivation were akin to examinations from Heaven, he changed his mind.
"I am indeed a scholar heading for the exams, but as someone of humble origin, I expect it to be much harder for me than for those from noble families."
Human beings find it easier to pass their trials than demons, while demons find it easier than evil spirits, with the Zombie being the epitome of evil spirits.
If a scholar passes the regional, national, and court exams, achieving first place in each, they would be called 'triple-first winner,' which in the eyes of ordinary people is akin to attaining enlightenment.
For cultivators, the tests are to overcome thunder disasters, celestial fire, and the wind of rebirth.
From ancient times to the present, those able to pass all three tests under Heaven's scrutiny are few and far between.
And among them, none have been Zombies attaining enlightenment.
Zombies, as anomalies, are not favored by Heaven from birth.
Beside him, a scholar hearing Xu Qing's words, resonated deeply, saying: "What you say, brother, is indeed true. Those born into noble families, from a young age, have the opportunity to study books, and even if going for exams, they need not worry about expenses. Furthermore, they are accompanied by servants and maids, unlike us, who have to rely on friends and family to cover the costs for the exams..."
Most scholars aboard with Xu Qing were poor, unable to charter the entire boat, and when discussing their backgrounds, a feeling of wistfulness was inevitable.
"What's more infuriating is some people sell official positions, achieving fame without a decade of hard study!"
"I've heard that some who fail to understand principles and whose writing is inferior even to young children can also pass the national exams and secure official positions."
"Brother, speak carefully."
Some were indignant, while others feared such subjects as if they were tigers, cautious not to speak recklessly out of concern that this could affect their future prospects.
Only Xu Qing spoke sincerely: "You all say those who lack talent and morality, who buy official positions, are detestable, yet don't realize that even those highly skilled, diligent in good deeds, talented and virtuous, must spend substantial silver coins to achieve success."
Several scholars looked at each other shaken, wondering if the Dayong Dynasty had truly turned into such a scenario, then what does their decade of diligent study mean?
None realized Xu Qing's words and their understanding were completely different matters.
The "silver coins" Xu Qing referred to were incense offerings, and "buying official positions" meant bribing Heaven's way with incense to advance one's path of cultivation.
As the boat arrived at the Capital City's riverway, Xu Qing visibly grew anxious.
He grabbed the boatman's wrist and asked the direction of the Imperial Mausoleum, leaving the boatman puzzled, wondering why Xu Qing seemed pressed and needing relief.
But asking about the mausoleum's direction—what was his intent? The mausoleum wasn't his home.
Seeing the boatman's odd expression, Xu Qing immediately added: "I am a scholar going for exams, intending to pay respects outside the Imperial Mausoleum to seek blessings from past emperors for my success in the exams."
So that's what it was!
The boatman suddenly felt it sensible and pointed northwest, saying: "The mausoleum is two hundred li northwest of the Capital City, on Mount Zhao. I've heard that the Banner Camp Army guards the area; if you truly wish to go, perform your rites outside but avoid entering the mountain."
With accurate directions, Xu Qing turned and left, while the boatman felt a surge of joy holding a piece of broken silver in hand.
The riverbank had merchants selling horses, donkeys, and mules. To avoid drawing attention, Xu Qing did not choose to ride the Five-Colored Steed but instead used his Horse Inspection Skill to quickly pick the best horse from the lot.