Chapter 10: 010: The Way of the Lords

Shen Tang took another bite.

It was so sour that her facial features nearly shifted out of place.

"Although it's very sour, and I can only produce one at a time with a single incantation—the yield is low—it's fine as long as it's edible."

After all, these were green plums obtained for free; she couldn't be too demanding.

She planned to get more and turn them into preserved plums, salted plums, or green plum wine later. Since it was a zero-cost business, even if she couldn't make a huge fortune, it should be enough to support herself. She carefully picked a large, green plum that looked incredibly sour and handed it to Qi Shan.

"Here, would Mr. Qi like to have a taste?"

Qi Shan didn't take it immediately. He first lowered his eyes to look at the green plum in her hand, then lifted his eyelids to look at the smug, "conned a fat wolf" smile on Shen Tang's face. His brow twitched violently, and a vein seemed to pulse on his forehead.

Does this young master have any idea...

After a long while, Qi Shan sighed and took it.

He wiped it haphazardly on his sleeve and took a bite.

It was indeed sour!

Both the texture and the taste were exactly the same as an unripe green plum.

Seeing Qi Shan's expression control gradually slipping, Shen Tang laughed: "If they were riper, the taste would probably be even better. I wonder if there are any other incantations that can conjure wine. If there are, I could brew some green plum wine and store it away. When the snow falls in winter, I could go to the center of the lake to enjoy the scenery, cook tea, drink wine, and taste the plums—wouldn't that be delightful?"

Qi Shan looked at Shen Tang with a complex expression.

He sighed: "If you think it's good, then it's good. Just don't regret this reckless act today in the future..."

Shen Tang's action of gnawing on the plum paused, her face full of confusion: "What does Mr. Qi mean by that... Is it not a good thing to be able to conjure items? Will I regret it?"

"For others, it is naturally a good thing, but for you—it may not be a blessing." The look he gave Shen Tang was tinged with regret, as if she had lost a great treasure without even knowing it. Before Shen Tang could press for details, he abruptly changed the subject: "Of course, if Young Master Shen has no great ambitions and only seeks two square meals a day and a roof over your head, this could be considered a good thing."

Shen Tang chewed the plum, looking "bewildered" on the surface, but her heart was furrowed with concern.

She speculated on why Qi Shan would say that.

She tentatively asked: "Does it have to do with my literary heart?"

Qi Shan was surprised by her sharpness and nodded: "It has a bit to do with it."

Shen Tang looked ready to listen intently, but to her surprise, Qi Shan was uncooperative and had no intention of elaborating.

What could he say?

That the national seal hidden by the Gong clan might be on Young Master Shen?

Even if he had no interest in the national seal, Young Master Shen might not think the same. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, it was better to pretend he didn't know. Most importantly, he suspected that Young Master Shen's literary heart had already resonated with the national seal, inadvertently awakening the "Way of the Feudal Lord."

The relationship between the literary heart, martial soul, and the national seal was very special.

The national seal could not only stabilize the nation's fortune and fend off foreign enemies, but it also possessed a crucial ability: the "Way of the Feudal Lord."

A feudal lord possessing a literary heart and martial soul who held the national seal had a chance to resonate with it. Depending on their inner desires, they could randomly acquire a special ability—most lords usually chose "Governance," "Affinity with the People," or "Followers," and some could even enhance the literary hearts and martial souls of their subordinates, allowing them to recruit many talented individuals.

He wasn't sure what Shen Tang's "Way of the Feudal Lord" was, but it was definitely related to "agriculture."

Otherwise, how could she conjure green plums?

A feudal lord with a talent for "agriculture"...

Just hearing it, one knew there was no future in it.

However, Young Master Shen didn't seem to have any ambition, only seeking self-preservation, so this ability was actually quite suitable. At least she wouldn't starve.

Shen Tang, feeling like a cat was scratching at her heart: "..."

She hated it when people left things half-said, leaving her to guess.

"If you don't wish to elaborate, Mr. Qi, you must have your reasons. Logically, I shouldn't ask more, but since it concerns me..." Shen Tang used a strategy of retreating to advance, probing from various angles, "I guess, is there something wrong with my literary heart? Is it serious... can it be saved?"

Qi Shan answered decisively: "No."

As far as he knew, one national seal corresponded to one feudal lord and one "Way of the Feudal Lord."

This innate ability required the national seal as a medium to be activated, and except for one situation, it was generally fixed for life.

What situation?

Death!

Only death could change it!

As long as Young Master Shen was alive, this national seal in her hands could only have its current ability—the only benefit being that she wouldn't have to worry about starving to death.

If Young Master Shen had ambitions, then it would be a tragedy.

A failed start, a congenital deformity; she would be no match for the other wolves and tigers.

Looking at Qi Shan, whose expression was becoming increasingly grave, Shen Tang felt the green plum in her hand was no longer tasty.

Was she...

Was her life coming to an end?

In an instant, countless thoughts swirled in her mind.

If Qi Shan hadn't spoken to pull her back to reality, she could have imagined herself lying sickly on a bed, writing her last will and testament.

"Young Master Shen, besides the 'plums to quench thirst,' can you conjure anything else?"

Shen Tang shook her head: "I don't know, but I can try."

Qi Shan pulled out another scroll and pointed to a passage of incantation: "Then try this incantation—"

Shen Tang leaned in and muttered: "'Draw a cake on the ground, but it cannot be eaten'?"

"This incantation is similar to 'plums to quench thirst'."

Since "plums to quench thirst" could conjure green plums, this incantation might be able to produce a large cake.

Shen Tang said: "But it already says 'cannot be eaten,' so how can one eat a drawn cake? It would be better to simplify it to 'drawing a cake to satisfy hunger'?"

A cake was more filling than a green plum.

Green plums were fresh, but they were too small and sour; even Shen Tang's iron-clad stomach didn't dare eat too many.

After gnawing on twenty or so, her gums were already numb from the sourness.

As it turned out, she tried a dozen times with no result.

She was a bit discouraged. Her peripheral vision inadvertently swept over the dense notes on the scroll, and her eyes lit up. She moved her finger and stopped on a passage: "Mr. Qi, compared to drawing cakes, I think this one is more interesting—'Turn stone into gold, to pay the taxes'!"

"'Turn stone into gold'?"

He understood Shen Tang's little scheme instantly.

"Right, turn stone into gold! How many pounds of green plums and cakes can a small piece of gold buy? In terms of value, this incantation is naturally higher. Not only that—there's also 'Golden House for a Beauty,' which could also be arranged. I just don't know if it would conjure a 'Golden House' or a 'Beauty.' If it's a 'Beauty,' is this 'Beauty' male or female, beautiful or ugly..."

Qi Shan looked at Shen Tang as if looking at a fool daydreaming.

Not very old, but thinking quite beautifully.

"If you aren't afraid of sudden death, you can try."

Shen Tang: "???"

Qi Shan sneered: "The value and effect of an incantation depend on the consumption of the literary heart. The stronger the literary heart, the greater the consumption, and the more powerful the incantation. If you forcibly use an incantation beyond your ability, failure is fine—at most, you'll be weak for a while. But once you succeed—it will inevitably backfire on the caster. For example, a shortened lifespan, dying in one's prime, being plagued by illness, lingering on a sickbed, or even bleeding from the seven orifices and dying on the spot. Throughout history, such tragedies have been numerous. Young Master Shen, don't follow in their footsteps out of momentary curiosity and greed."

How could a green plum or a cake compare to gold, silver, or jade?

Everything had a price.

The computer broke down, sigh. Typing on my phone.

The new book period is so painful; looks like I need to upgrade my equipment.

(End of chapter)