Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The setting sun stretched the official road long, casting long, crooked shadows on the ground.

Gu Xiang walked in the middle with a limp, the book box on his back swaying with each step, making a "creaking" sound.

He clutched the silver notes Su Qing had given him, glancing down at them every now and then, then quickly stuffing them back into his pocket as if he'd done something wrong, afraid that the roadside weeds might have eyes and snatch the money away.

"Brother Gu, if you keep touching it, you'll wear the silver notes all the way down."

Su Qing walked ahead, dangling a broken foxtail grass in her hand, complaining without turning her head.

Gu Xiang blushed, hurriedly pulling his hand out of his pocket, and said with an embarrassed smile, "Brother Su, please forgive me. I... I was just afraid of losing it. This is the hard-earned money of the people, I can't afford to lose it."

"We won't lose it. The bandits within a hundred miles were all terrified by our fight just now."

Li Yu walked last, still clutching the handful of golden melon seeds in her hand, her feelings complicated.

He, the dignified Third Prince of the Great Zhou, was usually surrounded by a retinue when he went out, but now he was walking at the back like a lackey, getting left in the dust.

The key point is that these two gentlemen are an unfathomable great demon and a future literary sage with a unique mindset who has awakened the righteous spirit. He can't afford to offend either of them.

To ease the awkward atmosphere and to make her presence felt in front of Su Qing, Li Yuqing cleared her throat and quickened her pace to catch up.

"Gentlemen, we are less than 500 li from the capital. If we travel quickly, we can arrive in three to five days."

Li Yu waved the tattered fan, now just a skeleton, trying to regain some semblance of royal decorum. "I wonder if either of you has any knowledge of the capital?"

Gu Xiang's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.

"The capital city! That's where the sages taught and enlightened, right under the emperor's feet!"

Gu Xiang looked on with longing, even the pain in his legs seemed to have disappeared. "I've heard that the walls of the capital are a hundred feet high, made entirely of white jade, and they even glow at night! And the Vermilion Bird Avenue is so wide that eight carriages can run side by side! And..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Su Qing spat out the foxtail grass, rolled her eyes, and said, "A city wall made of white jade? How wasteful must that emperor be? Doesn't he worry about someone prying the bricks off the wall in the middle of the night?"

Gu Xiang panicked: "Brother Su, be careful what you say! That's the Holy Emperor! How could anyone dare to pry open the Holy Emperor's wall!"

Su Qing pouted and ignored him.

Li Yu coughed awkwardly: "Well... Brother Su is right, the city wall is indeed not made of white jade, but of ordinary blue bricks, but it is indeed very high, a full thirty zhang."

He glanced at Su Qing, and seeing that she did not refute him, he continued, "The capital city is the heart of the Great Zhou Dynasty, where the dragon energy of the world gathers. To the north, Mount Mang is its pillow, and to the south, the Luo River is its belt. It has a grand layout and ever-changing scenery."

"The Luo River?" Gu Xiang asked curiously, "The Luo River from the 'Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River'?"

"Exactly."

Li Yu perked up; this was his turf. "The Luo River flows through the city, with willows swaying on both banks, a truly bustling scene. Especially at night, it's brightly lit, with painted boats everywhere..."

At this point, Li Yu suddenly stopped and secretly glanced at Su Qing.

"A pleasure boat?" Gu Xiang blinked. "Do we paint on the boat?"

Su Qing chuckled: "Yes, I'm drawing on a boat. But I'm not drawing landscapes, I'm drawing human anatomy diagrams."

Gu Xiang was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding: "Human...structure diagram? Is that the clinic's ship?"

Li Yu nearly choked on his saliva, his face turning bright red: "Cough cough! Um... Brother Gu, the painted boat is... a place where literati and scholars compose poems, listen to music, and appreciate dances."

"Oh—" Gu Xiang suddenly realized, "So it's a brothel."

Li Yu: "..."

How come this idiot sometimes suddenly gets it?

Gu Xiang frowned, his face righteous: "Those places of pleasure and debauchery are the best at eroding one's will. As the sage said, 'Indulging in pleasures leads to the loss of ambition.' We scholars, if we go to the capital, should shut ourselves in and study diligently. How could we go to such places?"

Su Qing glanced at him sideways: "If you don't go to places like that, where will you learn about world affairs? Do you expect to become a top scholar by eating steamed buns in an inn?"

Gu Xiang was speechless, his face flushed as he argued, "A scholar can know everything without leaving home! It's all in the books..."

"In books, you'll find beauty like jade; in books, you'll find houses of gold." Su Qing replied smoothly, "Then go rummage through your book box and see if you can find a living person to give me a shoulder massage."

Gu Xiang: "..."

Li Yu seized the opportunity to say, "Brother Su's words may be rough, but they make a lot of sense. The situation in the capital is complex, and the places with the best information are often these places where all sorts of people gather."

He put away his tattered fan, his expression becoming slightly more serious. "The capital city today appears prosperous and thriving, but beneath the surface, undercurrents are surging. In the imperial court, Confucianism and Legalism are locked in a fierce struggle; in the martial world, various sects and factions are deeply entrenched. Even the once-powerful Six Doors are now..."

Li Yu sighed and didn't say anything more.

Gu Xiang felt a tightness in his chest as he listened, and subconsciously touched the gold medal waist tag in his pocket.

That was earned by Constable Li San with his life.

"Brother Li, is the capital city... really that chaotic?" Gu Xiang asked in a low voice.

"It's chaotic," Li Yu nodded, "but it's also full of opportunities. As long as you have the ability, you can soar to great heights in the capital. Of course, if you don't have the ability, then it's a den of monsters that devours people without spitting out their bones."

He looked at Gu Xiang and asked sincerely, "Brother Gu, is your trip to the capital for the imperial examinations?"

"Exactly!"

Gu Xiang straightened his back, his eyes resolute. "I will pass the imperial examinations and achieve fame! Then..."

He paused, his hand clenching into a tight fist, "Then we'll appeal to the Emperor! We'll beg the Holy Emperor to seek justice for Gu Family Village and for all the people in the world who have been harmed by demons!"

Li Yu fell silent.

Looking at the ragged, muddy scholar before him, he felt a mix of emotions.

To file a complaint with the emperor?

A lawsuit against the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect?

Let alone a poor scholar like you who hasn't even passed the exam, even the current prime minister wouldn't dare to easily stir up this hornet's nest.

The Supreme Forgetfulness Sect is a behemoth in the cultivation world, even the royal family has to be wary of it.

"Brother Gu... has lofty aspirations."

After struggling for a while, Li Yu could only squeeze out this dry compliment, "However, living in the capital is not easy. Just the cost of food, clothing, housing, and transportation alone is no small amount."

Gu Xiang was taken aback: "Is it very expensive?"

"Expensive?" Li Yu smiled wryly. "Let me put it this way, a lower-class room at the inn right next to Zhuque Street costs five taels of silver a night."

"Five taels?!"

Gu Xiang's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Robbery! In Gu Family Village, five taels of silver can buy two cows!"

"That's the price of a bowl of plain noodles," Li Yu added, "without an egg."

Gu Xiang's legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground.

He touched the silver notes in his pocket. He had thought they were a huge sum of money just now, but now he suddenly felt that they were just a pile of worthless paper.

"How... how can I possibly become the top scholar in this exam?" Gu Xiang cried, "I'll starve to death before I even get into the exam hall."

"What's there to be afraid of?"

Su Qing suddenly spoke up, patting Gu Xiang on the shoulder, "Isn't there a wealthy family here?"

She gestured with her chin toward Li Yu. "This Brother Li, you're clearly from a wealthy and noble family. You took the gold melon seeds without batting an eye. Do you think we'll go hungry once we get to the capital?"

Li Yu was taken aback, but then realized that Su Qing was giving him a way out and an opportunity to curry favor with her.

He quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Su is right! You two are my saviors. Once we arrive in the capital, all expenses will be covered by me! In the capital... well, I still have some influence, so I will definitely host a banquet at the best restaurant, 'Drunken Immortal Abode,' to welcome you both!"

Gu Xiang waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, no! I can't accept a reward without having done anything right. I've already been very grateful for Brother Li's help along the way..."

"Alright, stop dawdling."

Su Qing interrupted him, "Someone's treating you and you're not going? Are you stupid? Besides, save that little bit of money for when you get married. Dowries are expensive in the capital."

Gu Xiang blushed again, and stammered, unable to speak.

Seeing this, Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Being able to establish a connection with this powerful demon is worth it, not just for treating him to a few meals, but even for buying the Drunken Immortal Abode!

"Oh, right."

Li Yu turned to Su Qing and tentatively asked, "Brother Su, what brings you to the capital? If there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask."

He was actually incredibly curious.

Why would such a powerful demon who could easily crush Xue Tu go to the capital?

Could it also be for that legendary "opportunity to break through the emperor's rule"?

Or is it to cause trouble for the Six Doors?

Su Qing stopped and looked back at the two people.

One looked on expectantly, waiting to be begged for a powerful backer; the other looked on blankly, waiting for the answer.

A playful smile appeared on her lips as she tossed the foxtail grass in her hand aside.

"Me?"

Su Qing straightened her collar, which had been ruffled by the wind, and said slowly, "I'm going to take the imperial examination to become the top scholar too."

The air suddenly became quiet.

A crow cawed as it flew overhead.

Li Yu's smile froze, and his lips twitched twice: "Brother Su...you really know how to joke."

You're a demon, what kind of top scholar exam are you taking?

How can you eat people more elegantly?

"Who's joking with you?"

Su Qing asked seriously, "What? Does the Great Zhou law stipulate that... that good-looking people can't take the imperial examination?"

"No, not at all..." Li Yu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "It's just... it's just that Brother Su is extremely talented and has unparalleled martial arts skills. It would be a bit of a waste for him to take the imperial examination."

"I'd like to."

Su Qing crossed her arms and said, "I just want to see if the dragon throne in the Golden Palace is comfortable to sit on."

Li Yu's legs went weak, and she almost knelt down.

Is this something you can just say so casually?!

This is rebellion!

Gu Xiang, however, failed to grasp the implied treason; instead, he exclaimed with delight, "Really?! Brother Su is also going to take the imperial examination? That's wonderful! Then we can study together and learn from each other!"

He excitedly grabbed Su Qing's sleeve, "Brother Su, how are you doing with your memorization of the Four Books and Five Classics? Are you confident in your essays?"

Su Qing pulled her sleeve back in disgust: "What a load of crap. I'll just write a line on the exam paper: If you don't give me the top score, I'll eat the examiners."

Gu Xiang: "..."

Li Yu: "..."

That makes sense.

This is very much in line with this man's style.

The three chatted casually until it gradually got dark.

On the distant horizon, the outline of a majestic city is faintly visible.

The city was astonishingly large, resembling a giant beast crouching on the plain.

Even from this distance, you can feel an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Countless lights twinkled in the city, turning half the sky a dark red.

"That's the capital city."

Li Yu pointed ahead, her tone tinged with pride and a touch of trepidation as she approached home, "We've arrived."

Gu Xiang stared blankly at the giant city, his mouth slightly open, unable to close it for a long time.

This is the capital city.

This is the place he longs for, the place that carries the hopes of the entire village.

It is also a place that devours people without spitting out their bones, and buries countless wronged souls.

"Wow, it's huge..." Gu Xiang murmured to himself.

Su Qing squinted at the city.

In her view, she saw more than just the dazzling lights.

There was also the soaring dragon energy, the crisscrossing array of spiritual light, and... hidden in the shadows, those nauseatingly malevolent energies.

This capital city was even more bustling than she had imagined.

The system panel popped up in front of me:

[Main Quest Update: Arrival in the Capital City.]

[New Quest Released: Rise to Fame in the Divine Capital.]

[Mission Description: Now that you're here, don't keep a low profile. Make a big splash in the capital and let those hypocritical old fogies know that your grandma has arrived.]

[Reward: One random supernatural ability, Gu Xiang's favorability +10%.]

Su Qing pouted.

Are they trying to stir up trouble?

This is her forte.

"Let's go."

Su Qing waved his hand and strode forward, "Let's go into the city! Let this capital show us what true 'refined and easygoing' really means."

Gu Xiang quickly caught up, calling out as he ran, "Brother Su! Wait for me! Um... do we need to pay an entrance fee to enter the city?"

Li Yu watched the two figures disappear into the distance, shook his head with a wry smile, and followed them.

He had a premonition.

The heavens of this divine capital are about to change.

Not long after the three figures disappeared into the night, several pairs of green eyes slowly opened in the woods beside the official road.

"Is it confirmed?" a hoarse voice asked.

"It's confirmed. That scholar smells of that stuff."

"And that man in red... no, in blue, his aura is very strong, I can't see through him."

"Regardless of their strength, once they enter the capital, it's our territory. Notify the higher-ups that the fish has been caught in the net."

A rustling sound came from the woods, then fell silent.

Only the brightly lit capital city remained, like a giant beast with its mouth wide open, quietly waiting for its prey to come to it.