Chapter 83: Group Fight [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Gu Chi's curiosity was piqued.
He sipped his tea, watching the wisps of steam rise, his eyes gleaming with a gentle, harmless light: "...I'd like to experience the way of the scholar that even Qi Yuanliang would say 'respectful' about. I suppose its owner is no nobody?"
Qi Shan replied, "Indeed, he is not an unknown person."
Who is it?
Qi Shan: "The one who destroyed your homeland."
Gu Chi: "..."
After a long pause, he murmured, "So it was him... He swept through the northwestern kingdoms, and indeed he can't be described as an 'unknown'... But, doesn't he lack the ways of a scholar?"
The way of the scholar is not something every scholar with a literary heart can possess.
Its acquisition depends on one's literary talent and has little to do with innate literary ability; it is unpredictable and beyond human influence. Some exceptionally gifted individuals may never find their own path as a scholar, while others of mediocre talent may discover it as soon as they wake up from a drunken stupor.
While some scholars would keep their ways of the literati a closely guarded secret, others would choose to make them public to increase their own bargaining power.
The person Qi Shan mentioned had personally admitted that he lacked the way of a scholar, but whether he had it or not didn't affect his achievements.
"Young Master Shen has a saying that goes, 'A scholar's mouth is a liar'." Qi Shan rolled her eyes inwardly. She didn't expect Gu Chi to believe this. How could someone who could sweep across the Northwest Kingdoms, fight against strategists from various countries, and escape unscathed from countless assassination attempts not have the way of a scholar? "If I said to your face that I don't have the way of a scholar, would you believe me?"
The northwestern kingdoms resorted to any means necessary for survival, from open battles to covert espionage and assassinations. That person was a particular target.
And what was the result?
No one has ever succeeded.
Gu Chi replied, "Of course I don't believe it."
Qi Shan: "So, I don't believe it either."
Gu Chi asked in confusion, "How do you know he has it?"
Since there was a deliberate attempt to conceal it, it must be because this scholarly way would arouse suspicion or other hidden dangers. He recalled his network of contacts and was certain that Qi Shan had only met that person a few times, at most having a nominal relationship of "disciple and master." How could Qi Shan know such a secret?
Qi Shan paused in his tea-serving hand, then said indifferently, "An unexpected turn of events."
"Then what is his way of being a scholar?" Worried that Qi Shan might be reluctant to say, Gu Chi added, "Judging by his age, he should be enjoying his retirement and it's impossible for him to serve in office again. I heard that he resigned from his post a few years ago and then disappeared. It shouldn't hurt for you to reveal a little bit about him."
Qi Shan: "There's nothing I can't say. I don't know the specific effects either, but one thing is certain—if he uses the Way of the Scholar, regardless of whether they are friend or foe, he will sense who gets close to him, no matter how far away. The Way of the Scholar seems to be able to distinguish between friend and foe..."
Gu Chi's lips twitched violently.
No wonder the northwestern states couldn't defeat them back then, and could only watch helplessly as the Xin Kingdom grew stronger—their own troops were completely exposed, and they were several steps behind in the battlefield situation, losing before the battle even started. To be honest, if that old man hadn't been too old, and if the Xin Kingdom hadn't been such a liability, if he had been given another ten years and given the Xin Kingdom a reliable ruler, unifying the northwest wouldn't have been a dream.
This scholar's way, while not exactly terrifying, can certainly be a headache for the enemy when applied to a battlefield.
Gu Chi tilted his head back and took a big gulp of tea.
He said, "That's a pity."
It's a pity, but I feel more envious.
Look at their way of the scholar, and then look at our own; it's truly incomparable. That other person's way of the scholar inspires more fear in the enemy than in their own people, while his own way of the scholar inspires only fear in his own people. Sending him to negotiate might have a remarkable effect.
But in chaotic times, it's not even as good as a chicken rib.
This is also why Qi Shan is fearless.
Mind reading?
Hmph ╭(╯^╰)╮
As long as you don't consider Gu Chi as one of your own, there's really nothing to be afraid of.
With this thought in mind, Qi Shan found Gu Chi Shun much more pleasing to the eye.
They also showed great concern for Gu Chi's health.
Anyone with eyes could see that this fellow's health was worrying, and he looked like he was destined to die young from tuberculosis. Qi Shan guessed that it was mostly related to his useless yet feared path of the scholar.
Gu Chi replied indifferently, "We can still hold on for now."
Since the emergence of the scholar's path, he has lived in a noisy environment every day, surrounded by malice, and even at night he cannot have peace, because all sorts of strange and bizarre dreams enter his ears without stopping for a moment. If it weren't for his amazing willpower, he would probably have gone mad long ago.
The cost far outweighs the gains.
Qi Shan: "I do have a solution."
Gu Chi slightly lifted his eyelids, his eyes asking for a solution.
“Destroy the Dan Palace.”
The operation of the scholar's way also depends on the literary mind.
If the spirit of literature is gone, then the way of the scholar is naturally gone as well.
If you can't turn it off, force a shutdown!
Gu Chi: "..."
If it weren't for his upbringing, he would have thrown the unfinished tea in this guy's face. What kind of terrible ideas are these?
Gu Chi didn't spill the tea, but a commotion and high-pitched screams came from downstairs, just in time for the occasion.
Qi Shan's heart skipped a beat.
He forgot about teasing him, jumped up, and flung open the long window, taking in the entire scene unfolding on the street below. Gu Chi was slower than him: "Why are you in such a hurry? It might not be your Shen Lang... uh, it really is him causing trouble..."
Qi Shan: "..."
If Shen Tang could hear these words, she would definitely cry out that she was wronged.
What do you mean she's causing trouble?
It was clearly the troublemakers who approached her.
It's really bad luck for her.
"Brother Shen, bring two jars of wine."
A familiar boyish voice came from above.
Shen Tang flicked her finger to lift the brim of her hat, saw the customer in front of the stall, and sighed, "How come I always run into you wherever I set up a stall?"
Could it be that Zhai Le has a GPS tracker installed on his nose?
"This shows we're destined to meet." Zhai Le gave him a small piece of silver, unceremoniously popped the red cloth cork off the wine bottle, sat down on the bench, tilted his head back and chugged it down, downing more than half the jar in one gulp. He let out a hiccup, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and exclaimed, "That was truly enjoyable!"
Shen Tang rolled her eyes.
How did you get here?
Zhai Le pointed in the direction of the prefectural government: "Brother, I was about to deliver a visiting card to the prefectural government, but I didn't want to watch them go back and forth exchanging pleasantries, so I planned to wait outside until you finished. I didn't expect to see you here selling wine, which shows that our connection is very deep."
Shen Tang: "..."
She felt it was a tragic fate.
Zhai Le laughed and said, "Let's go hunting outside the city sometime."
"As for the situation outside Xiaocheng? I think the people have eaten all the mud. How can they possibly hunt anything?"
Upon hearing this, Zhai Le felt that the drink had lost its flavor.
"Ah, Brother Shen's words make sense."
Just as they were feeling sentimental, a group of fierce-looking, burly men rushed over aggressively, their target being Shen Tang and Zhai Le. They quickly surrounded the small wine stall. Shen Tang was still completely bewildered, but Zhai Le had an expression that suggested he had expected this.
Shen Tang stood up and clasped his hands in greeting: "Gentlemen, what brings you here?"
The burly man pointed at Zhai Le and asked, "You know him?"
Shen Tang said, "I know him."
The burly man at the head turned pale.
He waved his hand and shouted, "Alright, smash this mess!"
Shen Tang: "???"
The medicine I took for two days was effective. My throat hurt when I woke up this morning, I had a slight fever in the afternoon, and I felt much better by evening. I think I'll be better tomorrow. Being sick is really affecting my mood; I don't feel like typing in front of the computer.
(End of this chapter)
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