Chapter 108: I Am But a Commoner of Huainan, Not Worth Mentioning

As the light curtain on the tripod shifted, it finally stabilized.

【Prompt: Congratulations! You have obtained two strands of Mediating Primordial Qi, already collected. This simulation will grant them after ten years.】

Yu Ke’s face broke into a smile.

Gear upgraded!

This item was obtained just by playing one game against the Green Robe Daoist.

Last time, those two strands of Mediating Primordial Qi helped him repair his meridians and break through one Small Heavenly Cycle.

Now!

The simulation had barely begun, yet he had already received the guaranteed two strands of Mediating Primordial Qi—truly beyond expectation!

“Yes!”

Yu Ke cheered inwardly, wondering whether, within these ten years, he could use this to alter the fate of the realm and earn even greater rewards.

When this simulation ends, he believed he could unblock all acupoints and complete a Great Heavenly Cycle.

Enter the peak of the Second Rung!

Then, he would once again face the same fate as his predecessor.

Break through: Shentian Point + Foundation Establishment.

If all acupoints are unblocked, the two-month external disciple examination should pose no problem.

Simulation continues.

【“Miss?”】

【Fenglong frowned slightly, glancing over.】

【Only to see!】

【Inside the temple, fifty to sixty soldiers stood in armor, wielding sharp blades, silent and stern—their armor bore no insignia.】

【Clearly not imperial troops, but household guards.】

【Only hereditary noble families whose ancestors had earned military merit and had at least one Metropolitan Graduate in the past three generations were qualified to maintain them.】

【Fenglong was greatly surprised—the green-robed girl had such an exalted lineage.】

【Though he himself was a prominent local family, not even his servants would dare openly carry weapons through the streets.】

【Especially not these elite household guards.】

【Remember!】

【In Daqing, privately maintaining troops was a capital crime—discovery meant execution of nine clans.】

【Since Daqing’s founding, the throne has consolidated imperial power, seized all weapons from the people, and melted them down to cast twelve golden statues.】

【They honored scholar-officials and belittled generals.】

【This made Daqing the most economically prosperous of the five states, yet its military strength remained the weakest.】

【This was a centuries-old Yinhuan of Daqing!】

【Zou Lin remained lost in the previous game of weiqi, unable to tear himself away—he was a passionate player, and witnessing such a match filled him with joy.】

【Zou Shuning stared thoughtfully at the board; though the Green Robe Daoist had left, the position remained.】

【This man’s weiqi skill must be terrifying.】

【She cast another glance at the middle-aged man—the one who had played. His attire was unremarkable: clean and neat, but not expensive, slightly faded from repeated washing.】

【Zou Shuning mused inwardly: Jiangnan was rich and splendid, filled with countless young ladies and gentlemen in brocade and silk, their clothes always fresh.】

【Among those in the temple, apart from the green-robed girl and her companions, even her own nephew wore refined clothing—his garments alone worth more than the annual expenses of ten ordinary households.】

【Even the two scholars, though simply dressed, wore fabric of superior quality—clearly beyond the reach of common families.】

【In comparison, this middle-aged man’s clothes looked downright shabby.】

【Clothes make the man, saddle makes the horse!】

【When traveling, one always brings the finest garments.】

【Could this man be of humble origins?】

【Daqing did have a few talented men of low birth, overlooked and unused.】

【She was still pondering, recalling that these two were also heading to the capital!】

【She wondered—what was their purpose?】

【The thin scholar, seeing this, quickly pulled out brush and ink and carefully transcribed the board’s position, move by move.】

【He named it silently: “The Broken Temple Rain Stop Position,” and felt a surge of delight.】

【At this moment!】

【You and Lu Yu were preparing to leave.】

【The white-robed girl cast a curious glance at you two, but she had no taste for such refined weiqi games.】

【She longed for the heroes of the Jianghu—swift vengeance, free as cranes soaring over rivers and lakes.】

【Yet she was deeply curious about your identities.】

【Anyone praised so highly by a Grand Master must be extraordinary.】

【The fat scholar wiped sweat from his brow, relieved and laughing:】

【“Hah! I’m now one of the Jianghu’s elite who’ve played against a Grand Master!”】

【The green-robed girl looked disdainful: “If you hadn’t stepped in at the end, few here would’ve survived today.”】

【Zou Lin, seeing you about to leave, hurried forward and said earnestly: “Thank you both for your help just now!”】

【His voice carried genuine gratitude.】

【You lightly picked up your conical hat and placed it on your head, smiling in reply:】

【“No need for thanks—it was nothing.”】

【Zou Lin pressed further: “Might I ask your names?”】

【The six in the temple all turned curious eyes toward you—such mastery of weiqi could not belong to an ordinary man.】

【You smiled lightly and said calmly: “I am but a commoner from Huainan—barely worth mentioning.”】

【The six in the temple did not believe him—they merely thought you were hiding your name.】

【Su Ziyan grew anxious, stepping forward to block your path, as if she had something to say.】

【You lifted your gaze.】

【Su Ziyan met your eyes and blushed instantly.】

【Su Ziyan felt uneasy—she didn’t know how to speak, yet didn’t want you to leave!】

【Once you parted, with heaven and earth between you, you might never meet again.】

【You looked at the green-clad girl before you, awkward and at a loss.】

【You stepped aside and said, “Farewell.”】

【Li Ran saw his mistress’s intent and ordered a dozen soldiers to block your path.】

【Lu Yu frowned slightly.】

【Su Ziyan stepped forward and quickly ordered the soldiers to stand down.】

【“Uncle Li, no disrespect.”】

【At this moment!】

【Zou Shuning’s voice rang out: “If you two are heading to the capital, why not ask this girl?”】

【Only a true great clan could deploy such troops on the Yuetangjiang.】

【Just now, we heard they were building a floating bridge—likely to cross the river.】

【Su Ziyan immediately turned to Li Ran: “Uncle Li, is Father building the floating bridge just to cross the river?”】

【Li Ran nodded: “Indeed. To build it, ten thousand troops have been mobilized, drawbridges stretched across both banks, and over five thousand laborers conscripted.”】

【The six in the temple were stunned—they could not imagine such massive force and manpower used merely to build a floating bridge.】

【“Our family also had over three thousand conscripted.”】

【The others all looked curious.】

【Su Ziyan asked: “Does this mean some great person is coming?”】

【Li Ran shook his head: “I don’t know the reason, but today, Master Qin Wu brought over twenty adopted sons and seven or eight hundred warriors to the bridgehead.”】

【Zou Shuning added: “If you detour to the point where the river splits, it will take a full day.”】

【“If you’re in a hurry, take the floating bridge.”】

【“Ride hard, and you’ll enter the capital tonight.”】

【“But then, the capital may be under curfew and gates closed.”】

【You paused, deep in thought.】

【Su Ziyan, seeing your hesitation, quickly said:】

【“I’ll ask Father to let you cross.”】

【Lu Yu looked at you, a silent question in his eyes.】

【Entering the capital today was urgent—crossing the river as soon as possible was best.】

【You nodded slightly.】

【Su Ziyan beamed and ordered: “Uncle Li, lead the way.” Then she turned to Zou Shuning and the others: “You’re all heading to the capital too? Why not come together?”】

【Zou Shuning and the other three weren’t in a rush, but they were deeply curious about your and Lu Yu’s mysterious identities and wished to investigate further.】

【“Then thank you!” Zou Shuning agreed.】

【The fat and thin scholars took their leave—they had fellow townsfolk waiting in the capital for the imperial examination and could not travel together.】

Zou Lin, along with Zou Shuning and the other three in their group, as well as the sword-carrying giant, slowly rose to their feet after the green-robed Daoist departed.

His face still bore a dreamlike expression, for Grand Masters of the Realm were rare in this world.

You stepped outside the temple and saw the clouds and mist dispersed, the sky washed clean.

The travelers and horses on the official road grew even more lively, all aware of the floating bridge incident, bustling together toward the riverbank.

(End of Chapter)