Chapter 182: How are you (Request Monthly Tickets! Request Follows!)

Ten days later, Tai'an City.

Wu Xian, clad in a blue robe, stepped through the city gate and walked along the central thoroughfare.

Watching the dense, noisy crowds around him, he felt a simple, earthy vitality wash over him, causing him to momentarily drift into thought.

Though war had not yet ended, and across the Liyang Dynasty countless civilians starved and died, Tai'an City seemed untouched, still teeming with peace and prosperity.

But then again, it made sense—it was beneath the Emperor's very feet; no one could starve here, or the imperial face would be lost.

"Sweet osmanthus cakes for sale! Delicious and fragrant, one copper coin apiece—taste bad, don't pay…"

A vendor's cry reached his ears; Wu Xian's nostrils twitched as he followed the sweet scent over.

The vendors were a father and daughter; though the cakes looked plain, their golden-white hues were distinct, clearly made with generous ingredients and rich with osmanthus fragrance.

"Young sir, would you like an osmanthus cake?"

The man instinctively spoke as Wu Xian approached, then immediately noticed the young man's noble bearing and striking appearance.

He couldn't read, so he had no words to describe Wu Xian—only that this was no ordinary man, and this was Tai'an City; perhaps he was some high official in disguise. He quickly bowed his head, not daring to look further.

"The cakes look good—give me two."

Wu Xian smiled, his tone gentle, like a spring breeze.

"Ah! Juan'er, quickly bring this young master two cakes!"

The man replied, stunned; the girl hurriedly wrapped two cakes in paper, cheeks flushed, and handed them over carefully.

Wu Xian took them, pinched one, and bit into it—the aroma flooded his mouth, sweet but not cloying, quite good.

He nodded, tossed down two copper coins, and walked off toward another food stall, still eating.

Similar scenes unfolded across Tai'an's streets—Wu Xian had made no stops on his way to Liyang, eating only enough to survive; now that he'd reached his destination, his appetite returned.

Warriors always had large appetites, and Wu Xian cultivated the Six Storehouse Immortal Thief—once he opened his gut, the entire street's snacks wouldn't fill his teeth.

He ate until midday, then suddenly sensed something, paused slightly, turned left, then right, arriving at a modest eatery.

This place served Tai'an's famous old duck soup—affordable, delicious, and beloved by common folk.

"Boss, one bowl of old duck soup—less radish."

After greeting the owner, Wu Xian sat at a table already occupied, then began studying the man who had deliberately released his aura to draw his attention.

The man was around forty, dressed in a gray Confucian robe; his face was merely ordinary, but his brow carried an unrestrained, elegant aura that drew glances.

Look closer, and his eyes were astonishingly clear and pure—as if mirrors, reflecting every change in the world.

"Wu Xian, the Sword Demon—I've long heard your name."

As Wu Xian studied the man, the man studied him too—his gaze shifting from curiosity, to doubt, then to faint unease and wariness.

"Nonsense—just Jianghu friends' exaggerations. Compared to Huang Sanjia, who sparked the Spring and Autumn wars, my reputation means nothing."

Wu Xian chuckled, revealing the man's identity in turn.

Huang Longshi—once among the Thirteen Masters of the Spring and Autumn era, he alone held the top three ranks in chess, literature, and calculation; his talent was rare in the world, hence the Jianghu title "Huang Sanjia."

Because he had instigated the Spring and Autumn wars and other conflicts, he stood alongside Han Renmao and Xu Rentu as the Three Great Demons of the Jianghu.

Beyond these, Huang Longshi held another identity that intrigued even Wu Xian.

The Book Turner… or rather, a transmigrant from another world.

In the original work, Huang Longshi often acted in ways alien to this world, repeatedly mentioning how centuries later, scholars had lost their spines and become only obedient puppets to the powerful, while warriors, wielding brute strength, ignored laws and plunged society into chaos.

He spoke with such certainty—as if he had witnessed it all firsthand—that his origins were inevitably suspect.

On the other side, after Wu Xian exposed his identity, Huang Longshi showed no surprise, merely sipping his duck soup slowly, then casually said: "You're not from this world, are you?"

He phrased it as a question, but his tone was certain.

What else could it be? The book never mentioned this man!

At that moment, Wu Xian's duck soup arrived. He picked up his spoon, took a sip, smiled in satisfaction, then looked at Huang Longshi and said seriously:

"Howareyou?"

"？？？"

Huang Longshi blinked, confused by Wu Xian's words.

Hao a you… what does that mean? Some kind of code?

"Don't understand? Let me try another… what's your wife's password?"

"Still no? How about 'Heavenly King, cover the earth, tiger!'?"

"Odd changes, even stays!"

"Arise, those who refuse to be slaves…"

"Sorry, the Qing Dynasty is already gone."

…

Wu Xian rattled off several classic transmigrant passwords, even considering historical eras—but Huang Longshi remained utterly baffled, even began staring at him as if he were insane, with no hint of acting.

Clearly, this man was not his fellow Earthling—not even from a parallel world. He was merely a soul from this world's future, aware of fragments of history, hence calling himself "the Book Turner."

Realizing this, Wu Xian felt a pang of disappointment. After another sip of duck soup, he sighed: "It seems I was mistaken. Huang brother and I are not from the same place."

Huang Longshi frowned: "Are you a reincarnation of a celestial immortal?"

As he spoke, his aura shifted—ready to strike the moment Wu Xian confirmed it.

Though more likely, he'd flee.

After all, the Sword Demon's reputation was fearsome, said to rival the Old Bastard Wang; a Confucian Saint who couldn't fight, even with all his skill, would barely scratch him.

"No."

Wu Xian shook his head: "To be honest, I'm not of this world. I was caught in an accident—my fragmented soul drifted here, and only in recent years did I recover my memories and strength."

Coincidentally, in my original world, I also read books resembling this world's history—but they were incomplete. Today, meeting Huang brother, I hope you'll answer a few questions."

"What do you want to know?"

Hearing Wu Xian's nearly truthful explanation, Huang Longshi didn't believe it—but he grew curious, wanting to hear what Wu Xian would ask.

"Can you tell me how this world's future unfolds? How many are those beings in the heavens? What are the true realms of the Five Emperors? Are there beings stronger than them? Have they ever left traces in the future?"

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(End of chapter)