Heaven's Formula

Equation of Heaven Author: Ermu

In this world, there are monsters, ghosts, ghosts, ghosts, thaumaturgy, and conspiracies, but in the eyes of traversers who have received modern education, exploring the unknown always comes first! (serious face)

Joining the Privy Council is for academic research, hooking up with the banshee is for academic research, everything is for research, and research is everything!

Princess: Made it with me—for research too!

Xia Fan: That is to create a research environment and cultivate the next generation of research!

Chapter 1 The Town

Qingshan Town was originally an ordinary town located halfway up a mountain, usually few outsiders came to it, but at this moment, it became very lively because of Qiguo's examination.

"Next, candidate from Fenghua County, Xia Fan." The proctor read while holding the list.

Xia Fan, whose name was called, walked out of the team and handed over his wooden sword and package.

Immediately, two assistants took the package and unwrapped it, carefully examining the contents inside.

"Clothes, two sets, in compliance."

"Pharmaceutical package, one bag, compliance."

"Raising paper, a stack, compliance."

"Money and silver..." When the money bag was found, one person turned it upside down in his hand, and couldn't help showing a look of surprise, "It's less than five taels."

A few chuckles suddenly came from behind Xia Fan.Although his voice was suppressed very low, he still vaguely heard words such as poor ghost and bumpkin.

"As long as you don't exceed the limit, you can take as much as you want." The invigilator didn't respond, as if he had seen many similar scenes, "Press your fingerprint here and cross the bridge."

Xia Fan followed suit and crossed the small suspension bridge connecting the inside and outside of the town.

At this time, he really entered the "examination room".

And those candidates who were at the front had already started running all over the street.

It seems that they thought the same as himself, Xia Fan secretly thought that when he came to a strange place, the first thing to do was to get familiar with the situation here, so that he could deal with the content of the next assessment.

Half an hour later, after visiting the town, he finally had a general understanding of the "examination room".

This town was far smaller than he had imagined. Rather than calling it a town, it would be more appropriate to call it a village.

It is located in a remote place, backed by mountains, surrounded by rift valleys, and the only access to the outside world is a suspension bridge made of hemp rope and wooden boards.

The surrounding vegetation is lush and lush, and there are big trees in the sky as far as the eye can see. You can smell the fragrance of moist soil when you walk on the road.In another era, this isolated place of residence is undoubtedly a superb view in the eyes of some people, and there is no problem as a tourist attraction close to nature, but at this moment, isolation means poverty and backwardness.

Four criss-crossing dirt roads roughly divide the town into a well. There are less than thirty houses, most of which are bungalows with thatched roofs, and some even show signs of being abandoned for many years.Clearly, its size is shrinking with age.

In other words, the center of Tic Tac Toe is a little bit like a town. There are at least two-story green brick houses beside the road, as well as a hotel and a tea house.

And this place has naturally become the busiest area in Qingshan Town.

"Brother, please excuse me." Suddenly someone patted Xia Fan on the shoulder, "Are you also from Fenghua County?"

Xia Fan turned around and saw a fat man about his age looking at him with a smile on his face, and there was even some expectation in his eyes.

"That's right, I don't know if you are..."

"Hi, fellow countryman." The other party seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "My name is Wei Wushuang, and I was two or three behind you in line before, and I just heard the examiner's question."

"I see."

Seeing Xia Fan raised his eyebrows, Wei Wushuang quickly waved his hands and said, "I don't think there is any problem with only carrying half a bag of money. After all, not everyone is a child of everyone, but those disciples are arrogant and like to look down on others. To be honest , I hate them too."

"By the way, why don't we go in and have a drink and talk?" He glanced at the teahouse, "Let me treat this meal to my little brother."

Is this considered self-acquaintance or courtship for nothing?Thinking that nothing happened anyway, Xia Fan agreed, and he was also a little curious about what the other party was planning.

He found an empty table on the second floor and sat down. Wei Wushuang skillfully served a pot of green tea, and added a plate of boiled peanuts and a plate of raw pork ears. Obviously, he is also a frequent eater.

It seems quite ordinary to say it, but Xia Fan knows that this is by no means the normal life of ordinary people. Those who can eat out in this era have some spare money at home.

At least he never did.

This can be regarded as experiencing life from another angle.

"You're welcome," Wei Wushuang made a gesture of invitation, "If you want to eat anything else, just let me know."

"That's enough." Xia Fan poured himself a cup of tea. "Money is limited, so it's best to save some money. I don't know how long this exam will last."

"That's right." When it comes to the exam, Wei Wushuang's expression is obviously a bit sluggish, "I heard that although the admission rate of the scholar's exam is not low, there are differences in merits and demerits. If you are judged as inferior, it is better not to be selected. After all That's a desperate job. It's just... hey, you and I are both from retail accounts, so how can we compare to those high-ranking disciples from aristocratic families. "

Every time he hears about the examination, Xia Fan always has an indescribable feeling in his heart. Although he has long accepted that this is reality, he still cannot ignore the strangeness caused by the collision of two common senses.

That's right, in this world, all kinds of visions that were only active in ghost stories and legends have become a common phenomenon; it definitely does not exist in a certain mountain, tomb, or remote wasteland, but it really affects people. every aspect of life.In order to deal with these evil events, various dynasties set up privy offices to select relevant talents to protect the safety of one side.

And its selection method is public examination, and all those admitted are alchemists, not only have official status, but also receive the same treatment as ordinary officials.Therefore, over time, the Shikao has gradually become the third largest national unified examination after the scientific examination and martial arts examination, and because the Privy Council is not among the six ministries, but is under the direct control of His Majesty the Emperor, its momentum in recent years has been lost. Above the martial arts test.

Like the scientific examination, the scholar's examination is also held every three years, but the form is not divided into layers of selection in the autumn and spring—anyone who is willing can apply for registration before the summer exam, and passing the identity verification is tantamount to being admitted. Qualifications.The doctoral examination usually lasts for several days, and the level can be determined after the end.

According to the information Xia Fan had inquired before, the chances of being admitted in the bachelor's examination are between half, which seems to be much more relaxed than the scientific examination.However, considering the responsibilities of alchemists, this is also reasonable.After all, the number of people who take the scholar's examination is far lower than that of the scientific examination, and at the same time, the examination is held every three years. If the requirements are raised, it will inevitably lead to a shortage of manpower in the Privy Council, which in turn will affect the safety of all places.

It's just that the exams will always be divided into high and low, and alchemists who barely pass the test will not be assigned much better places even if they have official status.The problem is that no matter how poor the place is for those civil servants who take office, they live a poor life, and there is always a chance to turn around after slowly gaining qualifications.But the Privy Council is different. Anyone will inevitably have to deal with all kinds of visions. It is not surprising that they accidentally died in the line of duty.

With this difference, it's no wonder Wei Wushuang is worried about his ranking.

"The doctoral examination is an active registration and voluntary participation. If you don't come, you won't have these troubles." Xia Fan said disapprovingly.The other party is obviously not the kind of person who needs to take a chance. He has some spare money in his pocket at any time, and can go to restaurants on weekdays. This kind of person can live a good life even if he is not an official, and there is no need to take risks.

"Don't be afraid of my brother's jokes, I was driven here by my father." Wei Wushuang grinned helplessly, "He said he was a businessman, but he was just a businessman. It’s a thousand miles away! And if I don’t come, I’m ashamed of my ancestors, my talents bestowed by God, and the rice I ate. Of course, the main reason is the stick in his hand. Whip..."

Xia Fan couldn't help but twitched the corner of his mouth, "You shouldn't be the eldest son in the family, right?"

"You know that too?" Wei Wushuang took a sip of tea sullenly, "Father has three sons and two daughters, and I am the second child."

It does seem to be real.

But he himself was not much better - during his stay in Fenghua County, his master not only lost his money, but also lost a sum of money in gambling because he wanted to recover the loss quickly, and almost lost his life .Now the master is being detained by the casino, waiting for him to pass the entrance examination to be an alchemist and go back to redeem him with his salary. It is really as shameful as he wants.

If it weren't for the reason that Master Cheap picked him up as an orphan and took care of him for more than ten years, Xia Fan really wanted to leave him and run away.

He shook his head, temporarily put aside this unbearable memory, and decided to get straight to the point, "You invited me to drink tea, what exactly do you want to talk about?"

"Eh? No, it's nothing..." Wei Wushuang was taken aback for a moment, then scratched his head and said, "I think since Xiongtai both came from Fenghua County, they might be able to take care of each other as a companion. If Xiongtai If there is trouble, I can also help out."

"That's all?" Xia Fan asked calmly.

"Of course, I don't mean anything else." After being stared at for a while, Wei Wushuang coughed dryly, "Well, it would be even better if we can help each other in the next taxi exam. Of course, it is not against the rules. In such a situation, I never have the idea of ​​bribing Xiongtai with a bowl of tea!"

"You mean... cooperation?"

"Yes, cooperation." Wei Wushuang nodded repeatedly, "I think this examination is quite different from the other two examinations, and cooperation may not be considered cheating."

"How do you know that?" Xia Fan took a sip of tea slowly.

"Take Qiu Wei as an example. When you go to the examination hall, you have to search your body before sending you in. There are compartments in the courtyard. Once you enter, you are not allowed to make any noise, let alone talk to others. In fact, even going to the toilet is difficult. You have to be accompanied by an invigilator. But look here—” Wei Wushuang looked around the teahouse, “We are already in the examination room, but we can’t help whispering to each other, and we can even talk while eating!”

"There are also those who wear the same set of robes," he pouted towards a large table in the center, "I noticed that they have gathered together since the queue. They are all descendants of aristocratic families, and they should know some news that we don't. If it is like As in the scientific examination, everyone is a competitor, and they should not be defenseless against their companions, but it seems that this is not the case now. I think the scientific examination may allow everyone to help pass the examination, and a group of people The advantage is greater than that of one person."

Xia Fan couldn't help raising his eyebrows.

This guy seemed a little stupid, but he didn't expect his observation skills to be surprisingly good.

For a teenager who has not yet reached the championship, this is already a rare thing.

Chapter 2 Because of ignorance

"Brother Xia, what do you think?" Seeing that he didn't respond, Wei Wushuang couldn't help asking.

Xia Fan smiled slightly, "I was thinking, instead of guessing randomly, it's better to ask someone who knows."

"Huh? Who would know?"

He raised his hand and beckoned to the waiter in the store, "Xiaoer, please come here!"

"Hey, come on!"

Xia Fan tilted his head, "Look, someone who knows is here."

Wei Wushuang couldn't help opening his mouth wide, and asked in surprise, "Do you think... the waiter in this teahouse can know the inside story of Shi Kao?"

"Actually, I was very surprised at the beginning. Why is there a hotel and a teahouse in the center of a remote village built on the mountainside?" He put down his teacup and slowly expressed his doubts, "It is neither close to the big city nor close to the city. It’s on a major traffic road, if it’s not for the scholar’s ​​examination, who would come here to shop and stay overnight? No one in this world would be willing to do a purely loss-making business.”

"Uh..." Wei Wushuang was also stunned, "What you said seems to make sense."

"Look at the blue brick floor. It's been decades at least. It doesn't look like it was built temporarily. The reason why this shop can last for so long must be supported by other sources of income. I don't care about book profits and losses. I'm willing to Who do you think is the one who invested money in such a place?"

"Could it be...the Privy Council responsible for holding the examination? But even so, what does it have to do with the waiter?" Wei Wushuang was still puzzled.

"The scientific examination only needs a paper and a pen, and the martial arts examination only needs an open space and weapons. There are basically no restrictions on the location of the two. As for the scholar's examination, you can't just find a place, right? Otherwise, the Privy Council will not I will go to great lengths to gather everyone to this remote town." Xia Fan coaxed, "After all, in terms of office and administrative costs, going to a big city is always the best option, which is why the two exams are the last one. The reason why they are all set in Gyeonggi."

"Administrative... cost?" The fellow villager repeated with difficulty.

"Hey, don't worry about the words, you can understand it as the difference between the cost and the profit of holding one time." He stretched out two fingers, "In short, it is not difficult to deduce two points from the above. It must be unique, the number should not be too much; and to maintain such an examination room, it needs a steady supply of money."

"Although the Privy Council is extremely important, they can't spend money indiscriminately. They have kept Qingshan Town alive for a long time, and they must not be just for this exam. In other words, there should have been many scholar exams held here." Xia Fan In the end, he concluded, "If Xiao Er is a local, then he should have experienced similar battles."

Wei Wushuang was speechless for a while.

"Guest officers, what orders do you have?" During the discussion, the waiter also came to their table.

Xia Fan ordered braised beef first, then changed the subject, pretending to be casual and asked, "By the way, how long have you been in this teahouse?"

"Guest officer, I have been running errands here since I was a child, at least for more than ten years." Xiaoer replied enthusiastically.

"The usual business should not be so hot, right?"

"You're right. The last time I was this busy was about five or six years ago."

"The people who came here were also people like us?" Wei Wushuang asked hastily.

The other party smiled, but did not answer immediately.

Xia Fan came to a sudden, it seems that this is a lot of experience... He coughed twice and pointed to his waist.

Wei Wushuang was stunned for a moment before he realized it. He took out a half-dime from his pocket and put it on the table.

Xiao Er suddenly smiled, and took the money with a slight sweep of his sleeve, "It should be about the same. I remember that the topics they talked about were all about scholar examinations, spells, etc. Of course, I don't know the specifics."

Wei Wushuang immediately became excited, "Then do you know the content of their assessment?"

The other party shut up again.

This time there is no need to remind, the fellow countryman has already pushed another Yinjiao into his hands.

"Honestly speaking, I don't know very well." Xiaoer said happily, "I dare not touch the things they said. And most of those people are active late at night, and they even go to the back of the mountain. It's too late for everyone to avoid it. How could I go up and ask about it? If anyone in the town knows, it’s probably just a few old hunters. It is said that someone invited them to be guides at that time, and they earned more than ten taels of silver in one night.”

When Wei Wushuang was about to put on his pocket again, Xia Fan held him down, "Okay, you can go to work."

"Okay!" The shop waiter responded.

"Wait, I still want to..."

"Look around." Xia Fan interrupted Wei Wushuang.

Only then did the latter realize that several tables of people had noticed the situation here. Although they still pretended to be eating and drinking, their glances were obviously much more frequent.

"Xiaoer, this way!" Seeing the waiter turn around, a table of people immediately shouted.

"Look, there's no need to spend all the money on this." Xia Fan picked up a peanut and threw it into his mouth, "Since other people are willing to pay this money, it's better to give them the opportunity, as long as we can make sure that the It’s not the first time that the scholar’s ​​examination is held, so it’s the same for everyone. Besides, if we can think of this, the Privy Council must also be able to think of it. If the invigilator does not prohibit us from communicating with the locals, then we must be sure that we will not leak the questions in advance. Ask more questions Otherwise, it may be detrimental to us.”

Wei Wushuang frowned and thought for a while, then raised his head suddenly, "You mean money and silver?"

"Ten taels of silver is not too little, but it is by no means too much." Xia Fan nodded.Converted according to the purchasing power of grain, a tael of silver in this era is about five hundred yuan.Twelve taels of cash is a huge sum of money for him and the cheap master, but it is just a drop in the bucket for the disciples of the big family. "Why you can only carry this amount before entering the town, I'm afraid it has something to do with the exam. Didn't that person mention it just now? Hiring a local guide costs more than a dozen taels of silver, which is enough for several people to pool together Number of."

"This... is something I didn't expect." Wei Wushuang sighed after a long time, "I wonder who is the master of Xiongtai?"

"Expert?" Xia Fan couldn't help but see the image of a cheap master—a middle-aged uncle who tells everyone that your seal is black, and I can solve your problems for you. If you can’t make it all up, you still need the disciples to fill it up first, do you have any misunderstandings about the master?”

"But Xiongtai's insight really amazes me. I have been in shops since I was a child, and I think I am quite sensitive to money, but it is still much worse than you." Wei Wushuang admired, "If it wasn't for the reason of respecting the teacher, then you must have Traveled to many places."

Xia Fan couldn't help laughing, he had indeed stayed in many places with Master Cheap, but it was by no means wandering, but wandering aimlessly.

If you count the experience of the two lives, there will be more.

It's just that he naturally wouldn't tell the other party these things.

In addition, the teahouse was not the only place where Xia Fan noticed something strange.

Like the reaction of the locals.

Qingshan Town has a maximum of 200 residents, while there are as many as [-] candidates. If a large group of outsiders flood into this closed place, it will inevitably bring conflicts and defenses.But after walking around, he found that the behavior of the locals was a little too natural, doing what they should do, and even greeted the candidates, as if... they were used to such things.

"Is your family running a shop?"