Chapter 12: How Many More Little Talents Do I Have That You Don't Know About?

Xiao Liu Liehu did not notice the Daoist Priest's reaction behind him.

Just a moment ago, he had entered first to check if there was any danger, and then stood to the side to keep watch, while also observing Wen Gu.

He saw Wen Gu staring intently at the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk for quite a while, not knowing what he was thinking, before he began to search.

This was a study; the space was not large, the furnishings were clear at a glance, and no valuables like jade were to be seen.

Everything was of no interest to Xiao Liu Liehu; even if he searched personally, he would not find anything useful to himself.

He was only interested in things related to food and weapons.

Many objects in this room had no practical use in the current chaotic times.

He knew the current dynasty's court valued literature and suppressed martial arts, and scholars no longer carried swords, so one should not expect to find knives or swords here.

As for books and wooden furniture, if the furniture and door panels elsewhere were all used up, perhaps the villagers would come to take these away.

Now that they had better options, and since the villagers still held a bit of awe for scholars' things, plus their time was limited and the amount they could carry was limited, they would take one look here and head to other houses.

Xiao Liu Liehu was only waiting here patiently because he was following Wen Gu.

He continued to observe.

He saw Wen Gu find a small object; it looked like an inconspicuous little trinket made of bamboo, and even if he had found it himself, he would only have thrown it into the stove as firewood.

However, when Wen Gu pulled out the scabbard, he realized it was a knife.

Xiao Liu Liehu felt a sudden sense of "what the hell" in his heart.

Wasn't it said that a scholar's knife was "brush and ink"?

There really was a knife?

No matter how small, it was still a knife!

"A paper cutter," Wen Gu said.

"That... is true. You need one to cut paper." Xiao Liu Liehu laughed awkwardly.

Before he had even finished speaking, Wen Gu pulled out another one from somewhere on the desk, which looked like an exquisite, slender little ornament.

He looked again; wait, it seemed to be a knife again?

It wasn't made of precious materials, but the patterns on the handle were delicate, fresh, and elegant.

"A letter opener," Wen Gu said.

"Oh, I see." Xiao Liu Liehu just nodded foolishly; to him, this thing was a bit impractical.

But, this was also a knife.

A scholar's things were truly particular!

Just when he thought Wen Gu had finished searching, Wen Gu took out the books from the book box and flipped through them.

He found another knife inside a book.

In Xiao Liu Liehu's view, this couldn't even be counted as a knife; it just had the shape of one. It was more like a bookmark.

The blade was not metal, but made of animal horn; it was not as sharp as metal, but the entire blade was smooth and lustrous, and a layer of patina had already formed on it, clearly indicating the owner had played with it often.

Wen Gu liked it quite a bit too. It could cut paper, open letters, and serve as a bookmark. Keep it, keep it!

He stood up and looked around the room, observing the tea-drinking habits here; there was no tea knife. Otherwise, he could have searched for one more.

When drifting in the world, how can one not carry a knife?

Conspicuous knives must be carried, and inconspicuous ones must also be hidden.

"A paper cutter, a letter opener, a book knife—don't they look very elegant?" Wen Gu said.

"Uh... yes." Xiao Liu Liehu could only nod, his expression a bit dazed.

He felt that certain stereotypes were not quite right.

He muttered, "Can scholars really hide knives this well?"

The Daoist Priest smiled with an ambiguous meaning: "They can hide knives even better when they smile. Scholars are just this... subtle."

Over there, Wen Gu had already packed up the things that could be taken away.

Although he coveted many things here, they were of little use for their journey.

Paper could be taken; he could cut it and sew it into a small notebook, then ask the Daoist Priest for a charcoal pencil, which would make recording along the way more convenient.

As for books, the more precious ones might have already been taken by the owners, and what was placed here were all things that could be bought at a bookstore.

Wen Gu could not take them, and the village did not need them.

Who knew how much longer these books could remain here; the house was uninhabited and unmaintained, accelerating its decay, and if it leaked rain one day, it would rot even faster. One day, the survivors might even burn these books as firewood.

Brushes, ink, and inkstones were all taken, as the village had use for them.

Wen Gu had no use for the elegant ceramic brush washer and water dropper, but he would take them back to the village.

He also found two incense burners, one large and one small; the small one was exquisite and delicate, suitable for carrying on the road, while the large one could be used to trade for things in the village.

Other items found, such as needles, thread, scissors, tea sets, cushions, and so on, were all packed to be hauled back to the village. After deducting what needed to be handed over, as well as transportation costs and the portion to be shared with Xiao Liu, the rest would either be kept for himself or traded with others.

For three consecutive days, the villagers were busy moving things from the Town, and they even had less time to rest at night.

Until three days later, when more evil creatures appeared outside, Liu Liehu stopped wasting medicinal herbs and called for the villagers to evacuate.

They would come to move the remaining things in the winter.

By then, although there would be no smoke from burning fields to drive them away, the winter cold would make the evil creatures' movements stiff and slow, making them easier to deal with.

Back in the village, Wen Gu also had to make more preparations for his departure.

He used the items he had searched for, plus some raw cloth materials, to ask a few aunts in the village to help sew four sets of autumn and winter clothes.

Two sets for him and his cousin each; one to wear, and one to trade.

Shoes, boots, gloves, and the like were also obtained by trading items.

The shoes and boots were wrapped in a layer of animal skin on the outside to make them thicker. Gloves did not take up space, so he prepared a few extra to carry.

There was no iron armor, as it had long been scavenged by the village, so Wen Gu traded for two pieces of leather armor with the village.

I am not a professional in this field, so the things I make are rather crude, but there is no need to be particular at a time like this; as long as they work and can increase a bit of defensive power, that is enough.

Over at Qingyi Daozhang's side, things were equally busy.

Since he is treating this place as a fallback, he must continue to maintain his persona.

He set aside a portion of the supplies provided by the village to produce Exorcism incense.

Even without him, the "Immortal Elder," performing a Dharma Assembly, alternative measures could be taken.

Once the medicinal incense is made, it can be handed to the villagers to light directly. If the villagers still feel uneasy, they can also go through the motions themselves and hold a ceremony to worship the gods and offer sacrifices to heaven.

After Wen Gu learned of this, he went to chat with Qingyi Daozhang again, asking the Daoist Priest to teach the village two simple methods for making medicinal incense.

The Daoist Priest was unwilling at first, but Wen Gu's point was valid; simple medicinal incense recipes, as long as they did not involve his life-saving skills, would not actually have any impact.

Many medicinal herbs grow locally, and over the past half-year, he has had the villagers dig them up, so the villagers are actually already able to identify them. Plus, there is Doumiao from the village head's family, who is likely close to figuring out a recipe on her own.

It would be better if, before leaving, he, this "Immortal Elder," added a bit more holy light to himself.

Thus, Qingyi Daozhang assumed his signature high-and-mighty posture and said to the village head and the others:

"The Epidemic Poison has descended upon the world, causing death and injury to the masses. We practitioners of the Dao hide away in times of peace to avoid the bustle, but descend the mountain to save the common people in times of chaos..."

He started with a high-sounding speech to stabilize his persona, then bestowed a favor by expressing his willingness to pass on some exclusive secret techniques—the production of medicinal incense, or what the villagers call "Exorcism incense."

It was only a simplified version of the process and technique; the more sophisticated technology would never be easily passed on to others, even if it killed him.

Wen Gu would not be generous with someone else's property in this matter either.

The villagers valued the medicinal incense highly, but they were even more concerned about the ceremony for worshipping gods and sacrificing to heaven, asking about the details earnestly.

If you talk about killing insects or dispelling toxins and tell them how to do it, they might not necessarily remember, and they might even slack off.

But if you talk about how to professionally burn incense to honor the gods...

You can be sloppy with meals, but you must not be negligent with burning incense!

They remembered the steps firmly and were determined to use the most correct posture for worship!

Several of the village elders were even afraid to blink too much.

Some of the issues the Daoist Priest spoke of were profound, but summarized, it meant watching the wind direction, the wind force, and the weather.

People who have tended to crops for decades can still grasp these things.

At the right time, the right place, and with the right weather, wind direction, and wind force, they could burn incense and worship the gods.

Of course, the Daoist Priest's more advanced methods could not be revealed.

Wen Gu did not say much about the villagers' attitude toward this matter. In such chaotic times, preserving this little bit of spiritual support for the villagers is the only way they have the courage to carry on.

Afterward, Wen Gu went to find Liu Liehu.

These past few days, based on the descriptions from the villagers, he had drawn a map of the vicinity with brief notes on information for various places, and he wanted to have Liu Liehu confirm it again.

On the way, he first ran into Xiao Liu.

Xiao Liu Liehu could not hide things like his father, so upon seeing Wen Gu, he asked, "Second Brother Wen, you are heading north to rely on relatives; is your relative truly a military officer?"

This was no secret in the village.

Commoners in this era are still very fearful of "officials." Although everyone has their own thoughts in chaotic times, once this is put out there, the other party will also have more misgivings.

Seeing Xiao Liu like this, Wen Gu roughly understood.

He said, "It is my uncle-in-law; he is a military officer in Beidi. His official rank was not very high before, but he did have a bit of real power, otherwise I would not have traveled thousands of miles to go there."

Xiao Liu Liehu's face showed hesitation: "When the world wasn't in chaos yet, I went to the County Town with my father. The officials there were truly imposing."

"My father trained hawks and messenger birds for the nobles in the County Town and once tried to find an opportunity to secure a position for me in the county, but he didn't succeed."

But they never gave up.

Opportunities are like hunting in the mountains; they must be waited for with patience.

Although he was young, he also had patience when it came to such matters.

Yet, unexpectedly, the world suddenly changed, and the nobles and official masters in the County Town all vanished without a trace.

Xiao Liu Liehu squatted to the side, lost in his own struggle.

Wen Gu went to speak with Lao Liu.

Once the questions about the map were finished, Lao Liu also stated his own intentions.

He hoped that Wen Gu could take his son to Beidi.

Xiao Liu had mastered the family's hunting and falconry skills and could provide help to Wen Gu along the way.

Wen Gu said solemnly, "To tell you the truth, the world is in great chaos now, and I do not know what the situation in Beidi is like either."

"Mm, we understand all of that." Lao Liu Liehu had already thought it through carefully.

Since both Wen Gu and Qingyi Daozhang, these two formidable figures, were heading north, it meant that in the current world, the north had better prospects for development.

He wanted to let his son follow them to give it a try.

In this matter, compared to that Qingyi Daozhang who possessed immortal arts, he trusted Wen Gu, this scholar, more.

This was not a bookworm who only knew how to read; this was a man of letters with a good background, well-versed in poetry and books, and possessing real ability. If it were a peaceful era, he would surely have become a great man through the imperial examinations.

Even if Wen Gu's uncle-in-law was unreliable, Wen Gu himself could still do well.

If his son stayed by Wen Gu's side and was lucky enough to survive, his life might undergo a tremendous transformation.

Liu Liehu knew that chaotic times are a reshuffling.

While working in the homes of the nobles in the County Town, he had gone to teahouses to listen to storytellers recite Storybooks, heard scholars and refined gentlemen discuss the contents of Storybooks, and heard the children of the County Town's nobles gossip and chat together.

He did not understand many of the grand principles those people spoke of, but some things left a deep impression on him, and he formed his own understanding.

Whenever there are chaotic times, great clans fall, and grassroots rise.

He did not have high expectations; he just thought that if his son could reach Beidi safely, it would be great if he could secure a position beside some noble master.

If this noble master were Wen Gu... that would be even better!

Wen Gu pondered.

He had set his sights on Xiao Liu from the very beginning, but he thought the Village would not let him go given the circumstances.

He had still underestimated them.

Crossing class boundaries is the obsession of these commoners at the bottom who harbor ambition.

While others only think of staying alive, they set their sights on higher ground; as long as they can see a glimmer of opportunity, they are willing to risk it!

The father and son of the Liu family both share the same mindset.

If it were possible, Lao Liu might also want to head north, but the Village cannot do without him, and he still has family in the Village.

When Wen Gu came out of the Liu residence, Xiao Liu was pacing outside; seeing Wen Gu, he opened his mouth to ask, but did not ask it.

Wen Gu said: "We will still be staying in the Village for several days; you can discuss it with your family before making a decision."

However, it was very clear that both Lao Liu and Xiao Liu were very decisive; once they made their decision, they began to prepare.

Xiao Liu's patrol duties in the Village were also handed over to others.

Other villagers in the Village soon learned of this news.

"How can Liu Liehu and his son have the heart to do this!"

"One is lowly when away from home!"

"After this winter passes, once the Wubao is built, it will be even safer. With food and drink, and so many of us, as long as we put in some effort, it will be safe."

Hearing the villagers' discussion, Qingyi Daozhang snorted: How can the swallows and sparrows know the ambitions of the swan!

The Liu family has ambition!

Desperate to head north to realize his own value, Qingyi Daozhang, aside from teaching the Village secret recipes, spent all other time holed up in his Danfang.

Wen Gu decided to go and check on this teammate's progress.

Since they had become his own people, there was no need for so much formality; he did not write a calling card, but came directly to the door to ask, and after hearing a response from inside, he pushed the door open and entered.

The Daoist Priest's Danfang was piled full of things; naturally, these could not all be taken away, and the remaining items and various materials would be taken over by the Village Chief's grandson, Doumiao.

This time, a medicine furnace was also moved back from the Town, so that after the Daoist Priest leaves in the future, the Village's medicine preparation, decocting, and incense making can all be completed here.

But for now, it was still the Daoist Priest's territory.

Seeing Wen Gu, Qingyi Daozhang did not put on his usual persona, but he did not give a good attitude either; he raised his eyes: "What is it?"

Wen Gu did not beat around the bush and said: "I heard that the Daoist Priest has made some incense to mask the scent of blood; are there any suitable ones, the kind that can be put into a small Incense Burner?"

Qingyi Daozhang had seen the small Incense Burner that Wen Gu had found; he pointed to the corner: "Over there, find it yourself."

He paused, then reminded: "Keep a tab!"

"Of course." Wen Gu replied calmly.

He walked to the corner and took a look; he could recognize a few types of incense, and besides those, there were some others.

"Are these also the products of the Daoist Priest's Alchemy?" Wen Gu pointed to the small porcelain bottles nearby.

"Indeed!"

"Could you let me broaden my horizons?"

"As you please."

Qingyi Daozhang was always proud when it came to professional matters.

"This is Purification Soil that I found during my travels; it was obtained through refining."

He did not say exactly how this thing was used, but just stood to the side with the intention of watching a joke.

Wen Gu did not mind; he picked up a small porcelain bottle and opened it to look. Inside was a dry powder.

He used his hand to fan the bottle opening, carefully smelled the scent, and then used a cloth to dip up some of the powder to examine it.

He said to the Daoist Priest: "If I guess it correctly, give this bottle to me, how about that?"

"Fine! But it must be within ten breaths."

Without setting a time limit, the Daoist Priest worried that Wen Gu would try a few more times and actually figure it out. Whether he could afford to give it was one thing, but whether he was willing to give it was another. He was not happy to let Gou Shusheng take advantage of him here!

Wen Gu agreed.

Then, under the shocked gaze of Qingyi Daozhang, he opened the Bamboo Tube water bottle he carried with him, poured some water onto the cloth stained with powder, and rubbed it slightly.

Wen Gu looked at the Daoist Priest and smiled with understanding: "So that's it."

It's soap powder!

The cleaning effect is passable, stronger than some basic versions, and the texture is not bad.

Wen Gu started his familiar routine of speaking: "During my Study Tour, I once saw a craftsman make an object called soap, used for washing clothes and cleaning hands, but that one had a higher water content and was used in cut blocks. Is yours further dried and ground into powder?"

Qingyi Daozhang: "..."

Damn you!

Answer me directly, was that Study Tour really legitimate?!!

Wen Gu did not look at the Daoist Priest's tense face. He looked at the small porcelain bottle in his hand.

This thing still needs improvement; if there are conditions in Beidi in the future, he can give the Daoist Priest some words of encouragement.

As for the Village, the villagers trust water soaked with Medicinal Herb more.

They also do not bathe often. They dare not touch raw water, and boiled water requires firewood to burn, so they save it where they can.

Soaking hands in medicinal water can wash away stains and leave the scent of medicinal herbs to mask their own blood scent. If they could, the villagers would love to smear a layer of medicinal mud on their bodies.

Soap powder cannot satisfy the villagers' needs. However, after arriving in Beidi, if there are many survivors there, it would be possible to add some medicinal herbs to make medicinal soap and sell it to wealthy families.

The Daoist Priest is truly a capable person!

Wen Gu looked through the Daoist Priest's "Alchemy results" with even more interest.

Let me see, how many more little talents do you have that I don't know about?

"What is this?"

Wen Gu picked up another object, a wooden stick coated with something. He fumbled with it slightly.

"Is it for starting fires?"

It looks a bit like a match.

Before leaving the Village, one would usually make a Fire Starter to bring along, but Wen Gu had not expected that Qingyi Daozhang would have gone and tinkered with this sort of thing!

Then why not improve it further and make it into a more portable match that can be struck to light?

Braving the Daoist Priest's guarded gaze, Wen Gu walked over quickly to exchange a few words with him and offer a suggestion—if there are still enough materials, we could do this and that, make some improvements, and create a Safety Match?

When it came to professional matters, the Daoist Priest immediately began to ponder.

For someone who understands the technique, a slight hint is all it takes for him to grasp the concept and then expand his thinking.

Then, he looked down on the name "Safety Match" that Wen Gu had suggested, finding it too vulgar and straightforward.

"And you call yourself a scholar!"

"Then what name do you suggest we give it?" Wen Gu did not mind the fussiness of a technical expert.

Qingyi Daozhang thought for a moment and pointed at the ignition strip he had made earlier: "This object shall be named 'Ignition Stick'."

Thinking of Wen Gu's recent suggestion, the Daoist Priest continued to share his insights: "After further refining, it can earn the title of 'Safety Match'."

Wen Gu: "..."

Flying slave, cat slave, Ignition Stick, Safety Match...

Why does everyone here like to use "slave" this and "slave" that when naming things?

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

I went out early this morning and returned quite late, but fortunately, I managed to catch up with today's update.