Chapter 152 Day 16 of Transmigrating into an Imperial Examination Novel

Chapter 152: The Sixteenth Day of Transmigrating into an Imperial Examination Novel

An Yi’s gaze once again swept over the despairing scholar, over the joyous wedding procession, over the rushing river beneath the bridge, and over the ordinary homes with cooking smoke rising in the distance.

The mortal world... it was clearly so beautiful.

There were magnificent mountains and rivers, exquisite cuisine, warm hearth and home, sincere emotions, struggles, losses, reunions, partings...

Every world had its own unique colors and joys.

The gentleness of Jiangnan, the desolation of the frontier, the bustle of the marketplace, the tranquility of the study...

Then he thought of Shao Xiuya—the first one who truly stirred his heart. Back then, he hadn’t yet known where his path would lead, and he had lived each day with earnestness.

Then he thought of Ge Lian—a time when he had no means of self-reliance, walking on eggshells, stepping as if on thin ice. The two of them supported each other in the court, walking through life hand in hand.

Then he thought of Ji Zishi—who, even amid the apocalypse, kept his childlike heart and clumsily tried to warm his heart. They would share everything beautiful, talk about nearly lost civilizations under the stars, fight side by side, and entrust each other with life and death.

Then he thought of Ling Fengyao—the one he played zither and flute with in perfect harmony, roaming the mountains and rivers. They had once lain drunk in the pines, laughing at the rolling clouds.

Then he thought of Gu Mingzhi—and of all those across worlds who had shared a lifetime with him, leaving behind warm memories...

When he was with these people, he felt genuine joy, the pull of emotional bonds.

That was a real, fiery, human experience.

A life alone was indeed peaceful and free, but a life with company, sharing, and bonds—that also was full of a different kind of richness.

He possessed the ability to travel between worlds. This should have been an immense fortune, letting him experience a thousand times the wonder of an ordinary life. He should have been happier, more fulfilled!

Why then was he letting himself grow so cold, more like an unfeeling idol?

He should not abandon the joys of life.

He should actively feel, experience, and embrace the uniqueness of every world—whether beautiful or painful.

That was the true meaning of his long life.

This thought struck him like a sudden enlightenment, instantly illuminating his spirit.

It felt as if some invisible shackle had been broken. From the depths of his soul came a faint yet crystal-clear sound of cracking.

He felt his soul become lighter, as if he were floating among immortals, mysteriously in tune with heaven and earth.

The air around him seemed fresher, the afterglow of the setting sun warmer, and even the sound of the river flowing under the bridge seemed to carry a joyful rhythm.

He instinctively lowered his head and opened his palm.

On his fingertips, a barely visible trace of icy blue crystalline light flashed and vanished, carrying a more refined, more restrained, yet also more intense chill than before.

He hadn’t intentionally channeled his power, yet it seemed to spontaneously condense and elevate with the sudden clarity of his mind.

He... had grown stronger.

A genuine smile slowly curled at the corners of An Yi’s lips.

This smile was different from his usual habitual, gentle yet distant smile. It came from the heart, carrying a hint of sudden realization, a hint of release, even a pure, childlike joy.

Like the first thaw of ice and snow, spring returning to the earth. It made his already breathtakingly handsome face instantly radiate an indescribable, almost suffocating charm.

Nearby, a young scholar who had been secretly stealing glances at his silhouette happened to catch that smile.

He froze, feeling as if the person before him had suddenly been infused with a soul—transformed from a beautiful ink painting into a vibrant, radiant, living human.

He couldn’t say exactly what had changed, but his heart began to race uncontrollably, his cheeks burning without his control.

Then he saw that this man, who seemed like a banished immortal, actually turned his head, his gaze falling on him, and smiled at him again.

The scholar became flustered, his face reddening even more. He hastily stood up, bowed deeply with his hands clasped, and stammered, “I-I... greetings, young sir...”

When he straightened up, ready to ask the gentleman’s name and hometown, he was stunned to find the space empty.

Where the man had stood, there was only the smooth stone of the bridge, worn down by countless footsteps. There was no trace of the gentleman.

It was as if everything he had just seen was nothing more than a dream under the setting sun.

The greeting on his lips died, dying into a disappointed sigh. He murmured, “I never even learned that gentleman’s name...”

“Yes, truly a celestial being,” a voice suddenly sounded beside him, carrying the same awe and emotion.

The scholar was startled. He turned his head abruptly and saw that his fellow student had somehow come to stand beside him, also staring longingly at the spot where An Yi had stood, his face full of reverie.

The scholar: “...”

Looking at his companion’s expression, remembering his own earlier loss of composure, he felt somewhat embarrassed and irked. He flicked his sleeve in annoyance: “Go away!”

The companion, thus scolded, came back to his senses and rubbed his nose awkwardly. The two looked at each other, seeing the same admiration and regret in each other’s eyes.

In the end, they could only exchange wry smiles, once again turning their gaze to the empty bridge railing, filled with reveries about the “celestial being” they had glimpsed.

As for An Yi, he had long since left the stone bridge, merging into the deepening dusk and the warm glow of a thousand homes in the distance.

His pace was still unhurried, but the icy distance that kept others at arm’s length seemed to have faded slightly. At the bottom of his eyes, there was now a glimmer of genuine curiosity about this mortal world.

The road ahead was long, but he didn’t have to walk it alone.

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In the Jiangnan water towns, there was a small city called Qingxi, named after the clear stream that wound through it.

It was early summer. The willows swayed gently, and warm breezes brushed against the face, carrying the moisture of water and the faint fragrance of flowers.

An Yi carried a delicate white porcelain wine flask. The flask was still slightly cool, containing the freshly brewed osmanthus sweet wine he had just bought from the best winery in town.

He was dressed in a sky-blue robe of plain cloth, the fabric ordinary but exuding an air of refined elegance. He strolled leisurely along the bluestone alley.

“Mr. An, off for a drink and a story again?”

A kind-faced old woman with white hair was sitting on a wicker chair at her doorstep, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan and greeting him with a smile.

This was An Yi’s new neighbor, surnamed Wang. Her children owned two flourishing silk stores in town, so the family lived comfortably.

Old Madam Wang was a warm-hearted person. When An Yi first rented the small courtyard next door, she had specifically brought her daughter-in-law and grandson to visit, bringing some homemade pastries.

An Yi stopped, a gentle smile spreading across his face, and nodded slightly at Old Madam Wang:

“Grandma Wang, with nothing to do this afternoon, I’m heading to Qingxi Tower. I heard the new storyteller there is telling a very interesting tale today. I’ll go join the fun.”

“Oh, you’d better head out early! There probably won’t be any good seats left at Qingxi Tower by now!”

Old Madam Wang reminded him enthusiastically: “A gentleman like you, Mr. An, ought to be at the best table.”

“It’s fine, long as I can hear it clearly.” An Yi’s smile remained unchanged, his tone gentle.