Chapter 1176: Distortion, Too Distorted! (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

The crowd's attention was scattered in different places.

Some noticed the audacious sentence in the preface, while others marveled at the scroll's exquisite craftsmanship: "This thing is actually made of long paper, and the figures in the painting are truly beautiful..."

When they opened it just now, even they were immediately amazed.

I thought it was just a simple scroll.

Unexpectedly, opening it revealed a hidden world—books!

Shen Tang hummed in agreement and said proudly, "This is the Dragon Scale Outfit."

The crowd exclaimed, "Dragon scale armor?"

They tacitly made way for Shen Tang, who stepped forward to carefully examine the biography of famous officials and scholars on the table. She nodded in satisfaction: "The so-called 'dragon scale binding' involves pasting pages onto a base paper in a staggered, overlapping pattern. When closed, it appears as a simple scroll; when opened, the pages flutter in the wind! Because of the closely spaced pages, this binding method is called 'dragon scale binding.' It's magnificent, and much easier to read than ordinary bamboo slips. The only drawback is that it's troublesome to make, and the process is quite complex..."

Initially, I planned to use the most common accordion binding.

However, accordion binding requires a certain paper length; if the paper is too short, it needs to be glued together, which is aesthetically unappealing and not very convenient for printing. Traditional thread binding, on the other hand, is easy to read, but the limited space per page prevents the complete depiction of characters.

After much deliberation, Shen Tang chose the dragon scale outfit.

It's still a modified dragon scale outfit.

The complexity of the process is not the problem; the key is to show off the skills!

It's so stunning that opening it gives you a refreshing feeling! Since the biographies of famous ministers and scholars produced by Kangguo are still relatively unknown, a few eye-catching tricks are necessary to achieve widespread dissemination! She abandoned the traditional dragon-scale binding, changed the way the papers were pasted and the spacing, leaving a portion of each sheet unpainted, and arranged them in order. Then, she had the full portrait of the person printed on the unpainted portion of each sheet.

Three scholars, three warriors, one doctor, one calligrapher, and one commoner.

Nine lifelike human figures are arranged in a row.

Shen Tang looked at the man at the head of the portrait with a smile in her eyes.

Regardless of Qi Shan's private character, his appearance was indeed well-crafted. With an eight or nine out of ten good looks and meticulously dressed, an uninformed person would likely exclaim upon seeing the portrait, "This young man is refined and handsome." The second person on the list was a woman who appeared somewhat stern and unsmiling. She also possessed an ethereal beauty, with a face as beautiful as the clouds and moon. At first glance, she resembled a female immortal in traditional depictions, except that while female immortals typically carry pets or objects, she held a sword-finger gesture in her left hand and a sharp longsword in her right, exuding a formidable aura.

His gaze was drawn toward the third person on his left.

The third person was also a young scholar.

His posture was exactly the same as the second woman's.

Jin is the fourth person.

"Pray for good, pray for virtue?"

"Ning Yan, Ning Tunan?"

"The third person is... Yan An, Yan Xingning?"

"Judging from the accessories hanging from their waists, they are all scholars and intellectuals. But isn't the second person a woman? Judging from her appearance and attire, she doesn't seem to be from the Qu Kingdom. This style should be from the North..."

Instead of immediately flipping through the contents, the group first examined the portraits of the figures pieced together from the pages. Each person had a small vertical character next to them, presumably indicating their identity. Their first thought was that this was some kind of storybook, and they marveled at its exquisite beauty and rarity.

Using such a treasure in a storybook is too extravagant.

Attentive observers deduced details from the clothing and accessories of the figures in the painting. Judging from the style of clothing, the figures likely lived in the north, not the northeastern continent. Northeastern clothing favored animal fur and often featured related elements, making the northwest the most probable location. The first three figures were all scholars with refined tastes, while the fourth and subsequent figures were martial artists. Their physique, height, and facial features all conformed to the characteristics of a martial artist. However, why was the fourth figure just a skeleton?

The warriors were imposing and powerful, their heads beneath helmets and hands gripping sword hilts clearly not belonging to living people. This further convinced them that these figures came from a local folktale. The fifth person was also a woman, her physique not as robust as the male warriors, but she stood there upright, her eyes fixed straight ahead, as if trying to see through the painting to the person beyond. Her features were heroic, and she exuded a vast and righteous aura!

The sixth man had a full beard and deep-set eyes.

Compared to the previous few people, their features are not very obvious.

However, he is not alone.

There was a warhorse in the background next to him.

The seventh one is a white-haired young man carrying a medical kit and holding a medical record book... Don't ask how I know he has white hair. The hair of the first five (excluding the skeleton) is carefully outlined with black strands, but his hair has large areas of blank space.

He wasn't particularly outstanding in appearance, but he was still quite handsome.

"This person should be a physician, Dong Dao, Dong Xingdao. Just from the name, you can tell he is a medical master with superb skills!"

The eighth person was another young woman.

Compared to the others in the painting, this person was not very tall, but she carried a huge toolbox on her back that was a head taller than her, and held a sword ruler with markings in her right hand.

She stood with her legs slightly apart, left hand on her hip, and judging from the undulating motion of the back of her right hand, she must have slammed the sword and ruler heavily onto the ground. Compared to the previous ones, her attire looked somewhat too plain.

"Beijiu? His courtesy name is Zhoukou? That's a really strange name."

"Judging from his attire, he seems to be a craftsman."

"I wonder what role she plays in the story." Given that her appearance isn't particularly outstanding, her role in the storybook is usually not very large, but he likes this person's image and temperament; she looks very down-to-earth. The last in line is an old woman, and she is also the only one of the nine characters who is seated in the painting. She has a kind and gentle temperament, with her hands awkwardly folded on her knees, and her expression is somewhat unnatural.

Her clothes were even simpler than the one before her.

At first glance, she looks like an ordinary old woman from the streets and alleys.

I don't know why she was able to single out a portrait for drawing.

Could it be that she has a very important role in the storybook?

"Li Lianghua?"

A very common female name.

Even without looking at the content, the appearance alone is enough to pique one's interest in collecting. Just as I was looking for the title of the storybook, my colleague, who had brought the album, exclaimed, "What storybook? This is a collection of biographies of famous officials and scholars!"

The crowd gasped: "...Biographies of famous ministers and scholars?"

"Really?"

"Impossible!" Someone reacted quickly, rejecting the possibility, saying, "How could this be a biography of famous officials and scholars? It took twenty years to complete, with eighty-one people in each volume. The content is so substantial that it wouldn't fit into thirty or forty books. How much content is in this volume?"

Even if it's made of paper, and each page contains more content than a whole scroll of bamboo slips, it's impossible to put it all here!

There is also the issue of production cost involved.

Biographies of famous officials and scholars have always been made using bamboo slips since their inception.

A colleague lifted the right side of the scroll, revealing a line of bold, heavy characters on the back: "Biographies of Famous Ministers and Scholars." Below this line was a line of neat, smaller characters: "First Volume, written by Kang Guo Wu Xing Que De." Everyone crowded around to take a closer look and recognized that "Wu Xing Que De" was indeed the author. Other authors used pen names like "XX Jushi" or "XX Sanren," making "Wu Xing Que De" seem particularly odd, giving off a sense of hiding something and being secretive.

"Why don't you dare to show your real name?"

"Isn't the 'Biographies of Famous Ministers and Scholars' by Liao?"

The genuine product must be from Liao's brand; this thing is a pirated copy.

Everyone immediately felt a sense of helplessness, as if they had seen a beautiful work of art and thought it was an antique, only to find it was "made yesterday" when they turned the page.

Shen Tang was displeased.

What is meant by "counterfeit goods"?

She didn't like hearing that.

Could any true biographies of famous ministers and scholars match her exquisite quality? Leaving aside the content, the quality and craftsmanship alone far surpass the other work. Xiahou Yu keenly noticed her sour expression and knew she was unhappy, so he gently interrupted the others.

Changing the subject: "Why don't we take a look at the contents?"

The others weren't very interested, but they still gave Xiahou Yu face.

They wanted to see what this counterfeit book, which piggybacked on the fame of renowned officials and scholars, could come up with! Was it truly consistent inside and out, or completely different, all show and no substance? Xiahou Yu slowly opened the first page, which was filled with a huge portrait.

His posture also changed.

The folds in his clothing perfectly showcased his movements.

He moves freely on the water, unconventional and extraordinary.

Surprisingly, it's a color portrait.

His eyes, in particular, were exceptionally striking, giving his face an indescribable sense of fragmentation, as if a gust of wind could carry him to the clouds, far removed from the mundane world. Everyone was captivated by his portrait. Whether it was authentic or not was beside the point; the exquisite craftsmanship was unmatched by any genuine biography of famous officials and scholars. The latter didn't even have a painting, let alone a colored portrait; the text was extremely stingy with descriptions of his appearance, leaving it entirely to the reader's imagination…

"His surname is Qi, and his given name is Yuanliang?"

"In the first year of the Yuanhuang era, he was appointed Chancellor and granted the title of Grand Tutor?"

"Is this person also the Grand Secretary of the State?"

They initially thought it was a boring fake, but it turned out to contain information about some important figures. Because of the great distance, they didn't know much about the situation in the North, but they had vaguely heard that someone in the North had risen to power, unified various regions, and established a powerful regime.

The name of this regime was Kangxi!

Is this person the Grand Secretary of the Kang State?

"...a descendant of the prestigious Qi family of the North..."

As I said before, you can't know how much weight a "famous family in the North" carries from a distance, but judging from their appearance, they must be of noble birth.

"...less gentle and kind, with a humble nature?"

Judging from his appearance, he is indeed an easy person to get along with.

Xiahou Yu felt that he could get along with this person, and his anxiety eased slightly. His biggest worry was that the officials of Kang were all cunning and domineering. After all, this was a meritorious official who had assisted the emperor in founding the country; his personality couldn't be without flaws. However, judging from the description, he seemed much better than he had imagined.

As long as they're not a mean-spirited person, that's fine.

"In the late years of the Xin Kingdom, treacherous officials held power. Shan, at the age of sixteen, failed the special examination and was instead framed and exiled to another country, never to return."

He was sixteen and preparing to enter officialdom; he wasn't very old.

However, this person's luck is really bad.

How could he rise again to become the Grand Chancellor after being exiled to another country?

The crowd continued to look down.

Shen Tang had already seen it.

Even with her filter turned up to the maximum, she had to admit that Mrs. Gu Chi truly lived up to her reputation as a master of romance novels, knowing how to downplay the seriousness of the situation and how to emotionally resonate with the reader. A few strokes depicted Qi Shan's suffering in exile, a few more showed him repeatedly facing death. Just when he was about to succumb to his impending doom, a benefactor appeared out of nowhere.

How could a young boy have any cunning?

The other person's few words were enough to make him remember them for life, and he wished he could repay them with his life. But the onlookers frowned. What scholar doesn't know how to play word games? Why does the person who saved Qi Yuanliang speak with such a strange tone? He doesn't seem like a good person!

"...He's like a hypocrite who doesn't put on a brave face!"

Someone spoke for everyone.

Yes, that's the feeling.

Sure enough, this lord soon revealed his true nature. Gu Chi vividly described his cruelty towards the innocent, making one's fists clench in anger. To assist such a person is tantamount to aiding and abetting evil.

In chaotic times, loyalty and righteousness are luxuries.

Someone like Qi Shan, who betrayed seven lords, is not recognized by the mainstream, but someone who is fixated on one scoundrel and refuses to turn back will be ridiculed as a blockhead and a foolishly loyal person! Fortunately, Qi Yuanliang is not foolishly loyal.

"Good riddance!"

Some people applauded.

Such tyrannical people should be kicked out.

He did kick him, but Qi Yuanliang was unlucky and got injured as well.

He was picked up again, and to repay the kindness, he had no choice but to stay. Not long after, the person who picked him up revealed their true colors.

This time it's all about rebellion, killing innocent people and claiming credit!

"No, no, this won't do."

Fortunately, Qi Yuanliang proved himself capable and quickly regained his senses.

It was kicked a second time, and then picked up by a third person.

The third one was so cruel, eating fresh placenta just because of the words of the wandering evil man. It's outrageous!

He kicked the third one, and the fourth one picked it up.

After watching several clips, the group felt something was off.

"Isn't Qi Yuanliang... too spineless?"

Not only is he incompetent, but he also has a tendency to attract bad influences.

If it weren't for his decisiveness, he would have died countless times over.

"Hmm, not only are they a bit of a coward, but their eyesight isn't very good either. Why would they specifically choose these people who are all show and no substance?"

"Repaying a debt of gratitude is repaying a debt of gratitude, and taking office is taking office."

Repaying a debt of gratitude has more to do than just assisting the recipient.

It's not worth ruining your reputation by assisting these people.

They continued reading.

Goodness, I've met the wrong person seven times.

Seven times in a row! This guy's luck is really bad.

Some people realized, "All seven lords are dead?"

The deaths of these people all seem to have occurred in somewhat mysterious ways?

"Although there are few wise rulers in the world, it must be quite lucky to have encountered seven tyrants in a row... Their deaths were not suspicious?"

That's not important; the phrase "[Five Elements Lacking Morality]" doesn't mention anything unusual about the master's death.

These people are reaping what they sowed.

Dragging his battered body and a heart shattered beyond repair, Qi Shan finally returned to his homeland. Years had passed; his country was destroyed, its mountains and rivers gone, a scene of utter desolation. Qi Shan was heartbroken and disillusioned, even contemplating ending his life.

Everyone could understand his feelings.

Sometimes, when despair accumulates to the point of utter hopelessness, one can become completely heartbroken.

Qi Shan sat idly under the tree, gazing at the setting sun.

On this day, he encountered an unlucky fugitive.

He rescued the fugitive simply because he felt sorry for him.

The moment their eyes met, it felt like an eternity.

What is your name?

【Shen Tang, Shen Youli!】

Upon hearing that this woman was also a victim of tyranny, Qi Shan, moved by compassion, mustered her strength and decided to postpone her death, intending to see her through to the end. As the two traveled together, Qi Shan was captivated by the girl's compassionate nature and couldn't help but shed tears. The original text reads: "Upon hearing this, Qi Shan's eyes filled with tears, she abandoned her suicidal thoughts, and her will to live was renewed. Hearing that the warlords were attacking Xiaocheng, she and Tang went together to join them."

|ω`)

P.S.: Who is this white lotus flower?