Chapter 227: 现场教学

"Hmm, the token he mentioned is a tortoise shell talisman. Do you have it?"

"Yes." He had a small piece of tortoise talisman from the ring he'd taken from Elder Dongli.

"As a thank-you gift, you can take anything you want from the Tower of Integration."

That's more like it. Shouldn't there be a reward for asking someone to do something? "What kind of things are there?"

"He didn't say."

The Grand Rejuvenation Sect had been abandoned for many years, so Elder Dongli probably wasn't sure how much was left inside. However, Sun Fuling added, "Elder Dongli studied divination under Venerable Wood Spirit. This was originally the Grand Rejuvenation Sect's specialty."

He Lingchuan's heart stirred as he recalled the tortoise demon's prophecy: "Didn't they say that after the natural disaster, divination became unreliable?"

"The Grand Rejuvenation Sect excelled in this art; Elder Dongli isn't their only successor," Sun Fuling smiled. "This immortal sect was once full of talented people. If Elder Dongli can correct divination, why couldn't others?"

He Lingchuan was enlightened by her words.The tortoise demon's divination originated from the Grand Rejuvenation Sect. To break this prophecy, especially with information and resources so scarce today, wouldn't it be best to visit the Grand Rejuvenation Sect and look for clues?Furthermore, Elder Dongli had also said that as long as his remains were returned to the sect, there would surely be a reward.It had been a long time; he hoped the "reward" was still there.

"Where is First Shore Mountain? I don't think I've heard of it."

"Then have you heard of the Six Sects of Kaiyuan?"

He Lingchuan honestly shook his head.

"The Grand Rejuvenation Sect is one of the Six Sects of Kaiyuan. It's situated on First Shore Mountain, which is now known as Ruin Mountain!"

"Ruin Mountain?" The place sounded somewhat familiar. "Wait, isn't that in the Northern Demon Kingdom?"Yes, he'd heard it mentioned in a play script back in Blackwater City. So, he would have to find a way to go to the Demon Kingdom later?

"That's it; the last words end here."

He Lingchuan retrieved his copied rubbing. "Thank you very much. Otherwise, I wouldn't know where to find someone to decipher this."

"The existing magical arts and divine abilities were originally improved by immortals and then passed down," Sun Fuling said softly. "Occasionally, remnants of immortals are discovered, sometimes revealing new cultivation techniques or long incantations. Therefore, mastering the immortal language is very necessary. If you want to learn, I can teach you."

He Lingchuan was delighted. "Excellent! This will be a great help, Miss Sun!"

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Once you learn, you won't need to bother me anymore, and you can consult the books in the archives yourself." Sun Fuling leaned over the wall, looking at him. "When do you plan to start?"

"Now?" He Lingchuan thought for a moment. There's no time like the present. "If you don't have other plans."

Sun Fuling withdrew again, and only then did He Lingchuan realize they had been talking over the wall for so long.

He heard her stepping down the wooden ladder to the ground. The sparrowhawk didn't fly away, instead standing on the wall tiles, preening its feathers.

He Lingchuan asked it, "Aren't you supposed to be on a mission? Don't you have anywhere else to go?"

The sparrowhawk burped. "I just finished a high-intensity mission. I need to sleep."

It had taken down three plump magpies today and eaten too much, so it needed to rest.

He Lingchuan only just discovered today that the sparrowhawk could actually roll its eyes.And a brief trip with General Hong to the Ghost Needle Stone Forest counts as a "high-intensity mission"?

A few breaths later, the sound of the door opening and a knock sounded one after another.He Lingchuan invited Sun Fuling in, offering his usual polite hospitality. "Water? I also have some Xiluo tea, given to me by other patrol guards."Tea from the Kingdom of Xiluo was a top-grade commodity here, only served to guests in large restaurants.

Sun Fuling had already removed her veil and said cheerfully, "Yes, please."

The moment He Lingchuan opened the door, she saw the half-filled small courtyard, with gifts piled up like a small mountain. "People really like you."

He Lingchuan scratched his head. "Sorry."

Sun Fuling's elder brother, Sun Jiayuan, had also sacrificed his life in the Battle of Ghost Needle Stone Forest and was honored as a hero. Yet, Sun Fuling's doorstep was quiet and empty, with no one bringing gifts.

"Sorry about what?" Sun Fuling looked at him strangely.

"...Nothing."

"Oh, are you referring to my brother?" Sun Fuling realized, shrugging. "His residence isn't here, so people wouldn't send gifts to this address. I've been to his home twice and collected all the gifts to donate them."

"Donate?" He Lingchuan's heart stirred. "I have too many things in this courtyard that I won't use. Selling them wouldn't be appropriate. Is there somewhere I can donate them?"

"Of course. In a place like Panlong City, would there be any shortage of widows, widowers, orphans, and the lonely? The families of fallen soldiers also need special care." Sun Fuling picked up a string of wind chimes made from shells, giving them a gentle shake. Their tinkling sound was very pleasant. "If you're willing, I can help you donate them."

"Excellent," He Lingchuan said, overjoyed. "Then I'll trouble you, Miss Sun. Please pass on everyone's goodwill."

Sun Fuling nodded.

He Lingchuan brewed and served the tea, and both fell silent.*Whoosh*, a cold gust of wind swept by, stirring the leaves on the ground.Uh, why had he called Sun Fuling over again...?

He Lingchuan rubbed his hands, breaking the strange awkwardness. "What should we do now?"

Sun Fuling placed a thick book with a thud onto the bench. "This is a reference sample of both ancient and modern scripts. Memorize all of it."

So thick! It was as wide as his palm!Just when he thought he'd finally left behind the age of daily memorization, he found himself reliving old lessons and studying diligently even in his dream?A nightmare, a nightmare reborn?

"Your expression is exactly like my students'," Sun Fuling couldn't help but laugh, her almond eyes curving into crescents. "Don't worry, it's not difficult. Modern script evolved from ancient characters, and there are traces to follow. I will teach you. If you're serious, you can master it in two or three months at most."

Like regular script and seal script?

"Sit down. Bring out that rubbing. We'll start by marking and comparing it."

He Lingchuan led her into the kitchen.The room was too small, the courtyard too cold. Only the kitchen had a small table.He quickly added charcoal to the brazier, then dutifully took out the rubbing.Before closing the door, the sparrowhawk also seized the opportunity to fly in. It flapped its wings to shake off the cold, then perched by the brazier to warm itself.With a brazier to warm up by, who would want to stand outside freezing?

"Don't mess with my things!" He Lingchuan warned it. In the basket on the stove were two packages of roasted chicken, each weighing four jin, which he had bought on his way back as a snack for his drinks.

*Heh.* The sparrowhawk simply ignored him and began preening its feathers again.

Sun Fuling breathed into her hands. "Paper, ink, brush?"

"Uh..." He didn't have any. In this room, he either practiced martial arts or took a bath. Where would he ever use a brush?

Sun Fuling produced these three items from seemingly nowhere. As she was about to grind the ink, He Lingchuan, always quick to notice, said, "Let me do it."He poured a little clear water onto the inkstone and gently ground the ink stick.

Just as Sun Fuling spread out the rubbing, she heard him ask, "When I entered the city, I saw the former governor of Weicheng leading his people out through the south gate, returning to their homes. The number was at least over thirty thousand."

"I know; I encountered them too. This is a big event in Panlong City today; the streets and alleys are all discussing it," Sun Fuling said, dipping her brush in ink and beginning to mark comparisons. "This is just the first batch; there should be more Weicheng residents gradually returning home later."

"I asked an old acquaintance from Weicheng why they were going back. He just said he wasn't used to it here."

"Different lands nurture different people. Even Elder Dongli asked you to return his remains to the Grand Rejuvenation Sect. People are like that; they cling to their homeland and wish to return to their roots," Sun Fuling's tone shifted. "Are you getting used to living in Panlong City?"

"Yes, perfectly used to it," He Lingchuan said without hesitation. "Life here is straightforward and relaxed."In his dream, he could be himself, either practicing martial arts or fighting, and usually chatting and boasting with friends. This was far more relaxed than reality, and he didn't have to deal with He Chunhua and others.

"That's because you chose the fastest path to promotion, which is to engage in combat and accumulate military merits," Sun Fuling said softly. "In Panlong City, military merits grant you almost everything. Conversely, those who can't accumulate military merits, or accumulate them too slowly, find their lives difficult."

He Lingchuan thought of Liu Sanjiu and his wife, and the bitter smiles on their faces.They weren't good at fighting; they were standard commoners who could only exchange their hard but stable labor for daily necessities. To accumulate more to exchange for military merits?It was more than just "difficult."However, Panlong City was not a place where you could argue "everyone has their own aspirations." If you couldn't provide what it needed most, then sorry, you'd be relegated to the back.Living on this harsh land, the city's rules of survival were equally brutal.

"I heard some Panlong City residents even tried to slip away with them, but were turned back when they tried to register at the government office."

"A bit foolish," He Lingchuan shook his head. "Poor and lower-class people have a tough life no matter where they are. At least Panlong City offers safety."

"They'll find that out once they leave," Sun Fuling continued. "The governor of Weicheng is also named Sun, isn't he?"

"Yes. When Captain Xiao went to meet them, Governor Sun fled with thirty or forty chests of his family's possessions. He even blocked the ramp, preventing the refugees behind him from passing."

Sun Fuling marked her document without looking up, but seemed to smile again. "Though this Governor Sun is wealthy, according to Panlong Law, he can only buy a 'Gold House' at most in the city. The three higher grades of luxurious mansions all require military merits to acquire, which are beyond his reach. If I recall correctly, the troops he brought with him were also disbanded long ago."There were four grades of luxurious mansions in Panlong City. The lowest grade was the 'Gold House,' and it was the only one wealthy people were allowed to purchase with money. Many big merchants had already bought 'Gold Houses.' Governor Sun lived in the same district as them, surrounded by nouveau riche and unscrupulous merchants, which probably made him uncomfortable.What's more, Panlong City did not allow private individuals to possess armies, private guards, or other armed forces; Governor Sun could at most keep a few house guards. The worst part was that he couldn't even afford servants here!Yes, the qualification to employ servants also had to be exchanged for military merits! For these rich people, living in Panlong City was extremely inconvenient.Of course, there was another way: contributing more to Panlong City could also be converted into military merits. Naturally, the meaning of "contribution" was very broad, and Governor Sun's financial situation was dire.

He Lingchuan nodded. "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix."Rather than staying in Panlong City and being treated as inferior, Governor Sun preferred to return to Weicheng and continue to throw his weight around.