Chapter 8: 008: Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover (Thanks to Meng Zhuli Gao Mei +1)

“Um… Mr. Qi…”

Shen Tang hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping short.

Qi Shan lifted his eyelids, his voice indifferent. “If you have something to say, say it directly. I do not like people who beat around the bush or lack straightforwardness.”

“Then I will be direct—if it is convenient for you, Mr. Qi… could you allow me to follow you for a few days?” Shen Tang appeared somewhat embarrassed. “I know my status as a fugitive will bring trouble, and I shouldn’t burden you, but I am unfamiliar with this place and truly don’t know what to do…”

Qi Shan could use his Literary Heart with such flexibility; if she didn’t seize this golden opportunity for free extracurricular tutoring, wouldn’t she be doing herself a disservice?

Opportunities like this were rare; if she missed this village, she wouldn’t find this shop.

If she could learn more about the Literary Heart, she would be better able to integrate into this strange world in the future.

Shen Tang made full use of her young age and disheveled, pitiful appearance, showing weakness to try and stir up sympathy.

Qi Shan, however, did not show even a shred of pity.

He merely watched with interest as this young man, who kept his head bowed and looked pitifully innocent, sat before him.

A novice who barely understood how to control his Literary Heart dared to go head-to-head with a Third-Rank Zan-Niao and didn’t even fall behind—how could he be a down-and-out little puppy?

He was clearly a wolf cub with sharp teeth and a predatory gaze!

Although his fangs were still tender, once he gained confidence, he would be capable of eating people.

Showing weakness?

That trick might fool others, but it wasn’t enough to deal with him.

Qi Shan lowered his eyelids, his fingers toying with the dark cyan Literary Heart seal hanging at his waist like a pendant.

After pondering for a long time, he said, “It’s not impossible, but—we must part ways at the next town, otherwise you will regret it.”

Shen Tang asked him in surprise, “Regret? Why?”

Qi Shan pointed to the sword at his waist and countered, “Do you think this sword of mine is just for decoration, or is it a weapon I’m handy with?”

Shen Tang: “…”

Qi Shan laughed. “Young master, do not assume that just because someone helps you once, they are a good person. The trouble I carry is far greater than that of a fugitive like you. Not just me—in the future, whenever you see someone traveling alone, whether they wear a Literary Heart seal or carry a Martial Courage tiger tally, be vigilant.”

Shen Tang blinked, muttering in a voice that was soft but still audible to Qi Shan.

“…Mr. Qi is perhaps viewing me as too naive.”

Qi Shan sneered inwardly.

This young master was indeed not naive, but Shen Tang’s request wasn’t excessive either.

It was just following along; since he had already helped once, he might as well help again. He would treat it as seeing a Buddha to the end of the journey and building a connection.

The two set up a campfire in a sheltered spot.

Qi Shan rested with his arms crossed over his sword, but before he could drift off to sleep, he heard Shen Tang’s stomach growling.

He opened his eyes to look at the latter. Shen Tang covered his stomach and smiled awkwardly. “I walked for seven or eight hours in shackles today and only ate a piece of moldy flatbread, which is why I’m making such unrefined noises… I’ve disturbed your rest…”

Shen Tang’s stomach was making such a fuss that he couldn’t pretend not to hear it.

So, he untied the water skin and food bag from his waist and handed them over.

“Eat this to pad your stomach first.”

Shen Tang didn’t stand on ceremony.

“Many thanks.”

As the cool, soft food slid down his throat and into his stomach, the intense, burning hunger was slightly alleviated.

Even though he was starving, he only ate half and left the rest untouched.

Qi Shan was somewhat surprised, but he didn’t say anything.

Because of this interruption, he lost his sleepiness. He took a scroll made of tanned animal hide from his pack and began to read it carefully by the firelight.

Shen Tang vaguely saw the words “Spirit of Speech” on it, and her curiosity was piqued. She “seemed” to become engrossed in it.

Qi Shan, stared at by her curious and bright eyes, couldn’t focus.

He sighed slightly. “Curious?”

Shen Tang hugged her knees and smiled embarrassedly. “Yes, curious! The Literary Heart is truly magical. Could you teach me, sir?”

Qi Shan said, “You really are not shy.”

“Isn’t it you, sir, who said you don’t like people who beat around the bush or lack straightforwardness?”

Qi Shan: “…”

He hadn’t said he would teach anyone, though.

However, the scroll in his hand wasn’t anything rare; it contained common Spirits of Speech that were widely known. They were mandatory courses for strategists, and Shen Tang would eventually encounter them if she sought schooling at a slightly larger town’s bookstore or academy.

Furthermore, Spirits of Speech were very stream-of-consciousness things; most belonged to the category of “can be understood but not explained.”

For the same Spirit of Speech, some could learn it, while others could never find the threshold in their entire lives.

Only by finding a Spirit of Speech that suited oneself or that one could comprehend could one hope to master it and use it as easily as one’s own arm.

“Read it yourself,” Qi Shan said, generously lending the scroll. “Ask me if you don’t understand.”

Shen Tang took it, her curiosity overflowing, but she was completely bewildered after reading just one line.

Qi Shan: “You don’t recognize the characters?”

If that were the case, he couldn’t help her.

Shen Tang shook her head.

“I recognize the characters. I just wanted to ask, things like ‘quenching thirst by thinking of plums’… are these also Spirits of Speech?”

“Naturally. Don’t let its brevity fool you; it is as refined and concise as a Martial Courage Spirit of Speech, but its power is not to be underestimated. It is one of the few Spirits of Speech that a strategist must master. If the user has a strong Literary Heart and uses it properly, it can even turn the tide of a war at a critical moment.”

Shen Tang was dumbfounded.

“Turn the… tide of a war?”

“Naturally. Used correctly, this phrase can boost the morale of an entire army.” Seeing Shen Tang’s skeptical look, he assumed she misunderstood that all Spirits of Speech were long, so he said, “This Spirit of Speech was originally very long, recorded in the ‘Falsehood’ chapter: ‘When Cao Cao was on a campaign and lost the water supply, the army was thirsty. He ordered: “There is a large plum forest ahead, full of fruit, sweet and sour to quench thirst.” The soldiers heard this, and their mouths watered, taking advantage of this to reach the source ahead.’ But after being refined, only four characters remained.”

Shen Tang’s mouth opened slightly, her expression one of having opened the door to a new world.

“Then this… ‘Star-scattered and Chess-spread’?”

Qi Shan said, “It can be used to arrange troops and formations, playing a game against the enemy.”

“‘Cut the weeds and dig up the roots’?”

“It strengthens the soldiers’ vigor, but it consumes a great deal and cannot be used lightly.”

Shen Tang pointed at the scroll and asked again, “‘Throwing oneself into the net’?”

Qi Shan said, “Mostly used for arranging formations to interfere with the enemy, causing them to fall into chaos.”

There was no need to ask about the rest.

Looking at the dense notes Qi Shan had made, it was clear that every single one was used for marching and fighting.

No wonder he said he wasn’t a good person.

Looking at these Literary Heart Spirits of Speech, and then at the simulated military formations drawn on the scroll, Shen Tang knew this gentleman was the type of fanatic who favored offense as defense and loved to camp in the bushes to ambush people. He might as well have had “I am a camper” written on his face.

“Mr. Qi, I have one more question.”

Qi Shan believed her nonsense.

How long had they known each other? Two out of every three things she said were questions, and after asking this one, there would surely be another.

However—

Thinking of Shen Tang’s Literary Heart, he narrowed his eyes, gaining a bit more patience.

“Ask.”

Shen Tang looked further down and discovered that there were not only Literary Heart Spirits of Speech but also Martial Courage Spirits of Speech.

Honestly, she didn’t really understand the difference between the two.

Weren’t they both very good at fighting???

“What is the specific difference between a Literary Heart and Martial Courage?”

Qi Shan: “…”

He once again suspected that Shen Tang was a savage from some remote corner; every question was beyond his expectations.