The Li’s Bookstore in Donglin City was an unassuming book shop located deep in the corner of a busy street. Due to its isolated location, it was often quiet and deserted.
Behind the counter, the owner, an old man with the surname Li, propped his head up with one hand and was dozing off.
Only a youngster was browsing the store, and so the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.
The boy looked around thirteen to fourteen but he was tall and slender. He had a handsome and gentle face and he looked refreshing and well-kept in his rough grey robe.
It was Lin Xun.
Very quickly, Lin Xun picked out four books, went to the counter and whispered. “Grandpa.”
The old man awoke abruptly and smiled. “Well, let me see—‘The Records of the Empire Landscape’, ‘The Official History of the Empire’, ‘The Handbook of Cultivation Basics’, and 'The Collection of Runes’...”
The old man raised his head and exclaimed in astonishment, “It’s rare to see youngsters interested in these kinds of books nowadays and there aren’t many people who like to read like you.”
Lin Xun gave a slight smile. “Grandpa, how much for these four books?”
“If you want them, I will take twenty copper coins for them,” the old man said, quite casually.After Lin Xun paid, he picked up the books and hurried out of the bookshop.
The night was dark but the row upon row of buildings in the distance were brightly lit. They were so beautiful that they resembled stars descending onto the secular world.
A cool night breeze blew as Lin Xun hurried along the streets. He turned into a store called ‘Ahu Fruit Puree’ and took out five copper coins to purchase a large cup of tasty sweet and sour fragrant fruit puree.
It was the signature product of Ahu Fruit Puree and it was a blend of several aeth ingredients such as root fungus leaf, violet floating radish and fragrant fruit. It had a sweet taste but most importantly, it had no impurities, which made it an ideal drink for cultivators.
Carrying the books and fruit puree, Lin Xun constantly threaded his way through the streets and alleys until he came to an extremely bustling street.
Crowds constantly weaved through the streets and there was an endless stream of horses and carriages. Bright and colorful lights as well as dizzying signs dotted the buildings on both sides.
Many people on the streets were dressed in luxurious clothes and were traveling back and forth with carts of expensive items. Additionally, cultivators riding scale horses and horned deer occasionally sped past.
Street vendors had set up street stalls and constantly advertised their products by yelling. The clamor and lively noises echoed ceaselessly on the bustling street.
This was the most famous street in Donglin City and was at least eight hundred feet long. Hence, it was called the Great Eight Hundred Street.
The center of this street consisted of several major businesses in Donglin City such as restaurants, inns, apothecaries and rune material stores.
Every shop was a famous money squandering establishment in Donglin City and was supported by major forces. Naturally, the customers were valuable cultivators and ordinary people simply couldn’t afford anything there.
At the east end of the Great Eight Hundred Street stood an academy called Donglin Academy, which was managed by the empire. It would recruit students every year and anyone who passed the entrance assessment could study there after paying the tuition fee.
For cultivators in Donglin City, it was an honor to study at Donglin Academy.
The route that Lin Xun took happened to pass the Donglin Academy, and as he passed the academy, he couldn’t help taking a closer look. The academy extended across a huge section of land and the campus was full of interesting architecture. And from time to time, he saw students walking past.
After silently surveying the academy, Lin Xun turned around and left.
It was then that a group of young girls walked over from the opposite side. Each one was dressed in fine clothes and looked radiant and spirited. They were extremely distinctive.
“In another month, I can take the district examination. I am already at the third layer True Martial Stage so I can easily pass the examination!”
“Hahaha, which of us isn’t under fifteen years old and which one of us doesn't possess a cultivation base above the third layer True Martial Stage? This district examination is a piece of cake for all of us.”
“Yes, the district examination isn’t worth our time to think about. What we need to really consider is whether or not we are directly going to the Qingfeng region to participate in the prefectural examination in March after we pass the district examination!”
“It’s not certain. This time, at least three thousand people from Donglin Academy intend to participate in the district examination and there are only one thousand admission places in the district examination. This means that two thousand people will be eliminated before it starts. We shouldn’t be careless.”
“Yes, I’m also worried about that.”
As the young girls walked, their conversations were centered around the district examination.
Lin Xun wanted to listen closer but the girls entered the Donglin Academy together. They turned out to be students there.
Lin Xun didn’t follow them.
“I didn't expect there to be so many people participating in the district examination and two thousand people would be eliminated. In other words, even if they meet the conditions of passing, they might not qualify for admission.”
Lin Xun pondered while walking. The so-called admission was the certification of the district examination, which was one of the conditions needed to participate in the upcoming prefectural examination.
Soon, Lin Xun’s figure disappeared from the Great Eight Hundred Street. he continued walking for another hour before he came to a dark, cold and dilapidated alleyway.
This was the slums of Donglin City. Compared to other prosperous areas in Donglin City, the slums were in a state of disrepair and the majority of the people living there were considered at the bottom of society. The slums were inhabited by all sorts of people, including a mix of good and bad.
The crime rate was very high and the environment was very chaotic with thieves, hooligans and murderers passing through the area every day.
Lin Xun wouldn’t have decided to live there if he had another choice.
As Lin Xun made his way down a dark alley with puddles of grimy water covering quite a bit of the ground, he heard cats fighting and dogs barking.
A man suddenly jumped out from the corner of the alley and greeted Lin Xun with a smile, “Hey, buddy, are you alone?” The man’s mouth protruded out and his chin was pointy like an ape’s.
Crack!
The moment that the man raised his hand, Lin Xun clutched it tight, applied force to his fingers, and twisted his wrist.
The man loosened his grip and a little glinting blade clattered to the ground.
In deep pain, the man was about to scream out when Lin Xun struck him unconscious with a palm strike. He was left lying on the stream of filthy water.
From the start to finish, everything happened in a flash.
As though he was used to such attacks, Lin Xun still wore a calm expression as he strolled forward.
Not long after Lin Xun left, two suspicious figures emerged in the corner of the alley.
When they saw the unconscious man on the ground, one of the two gloated. “How many is it now?”
The other man counted with his fingers. “That little young master came to live here seven days ago and this is the nineteenth person who has fallen in his hands.”
“Haha, the man on the ground is a clever person but why did he stupidly think to target that little young master? Doesn’t he know how Boss Serpent died?”
“He has eyes but he failed to see properly. Who in this area doesn’t know about the ruthless little young master in the no. 49 courtyard and how he kills without hesitation?”
“Okay, it’s time for us to act.”
While speaking, the two stooped down and searched the unconscious man, who was called Rotten Head Zhang, and found a dozen of copper coins. Then, they left happily.
……
Deep in the alley, Lin Xun pushed open the door into the No. 49 courtyard.
Boom!
A fist thrust through the air, generating a terrifying force and gust of wind that caused the air to boom and crackle.
Lin Xun didn't move and only said helplessly, “It's me.”
Suddenly, the wind subsided and calmness was restored. Xia Zhi’s delicate and slender figure appeared before Lin Xun.
“I know it's you, if it’s someone else they would have died already.” Xia Zhi stepped forward, instinctively took the cup of fragrant fruit puree from Lin Xun’s hand, and turned around.
Lin Xun smiled, shrugged helplessly, and entered the courtyard.
The courtyard wasn’t particularly big but in the center stood a huge locust tree. The treetop was lush green and dense, and spread out like an umbrella. On the other side were two rooms and a kitchen. After a deep clean and some tidying, it was rather neat and beautiful.
In a room, a Nanling joss stick was lit. The light flamed brightly, producing wisps of calming aroma.
Lin Xun hunched over the desk, flipping through the books he just bought, while Xia Zhi sat quietly on a stool and sipped the fragrant fruit puree.
The two had arrived at Donglin City seven days ago, but they realized that the three hundred silver coins that Lin Xun had weren’t enough to rent a good place to live in the city. Not only was it expensive to live in an inn but it was also crowded and not suitable in the long term.
With no other choice, Lin Xun could only rent a courtyard in the slums, which was surprisingly cheap—only thirty silver coins a year.
It was only after seven days of living there that Lin Xun finally understood why the rent was so cheap. The area was too rough and chaotic, and was inhabited by all kinds of people.
On their first day, a man nicknamed Snakehead came with a gang of scoundrels to collect protection fees.
On their second day, when Lin Xun returned home from buying basic necessities, he discovered three dead bodies in their courtyard. When he asked Xia Zhi about them, it turned out that they were three burglars who tried to enter their house.
On the third day, a group of people ambushed Lin Xun in the streets and tried to rob him.
On the fourth day, Lin Xun saw a group of thugs trying to rob a woman and he immediately stepped forward to save her, only to find she was with the thugs.
On the fifth day…
In short, in the seven days that Lin Xun had lived there, thieves, hooligans, thugs and murderers appeared like wild dogs smelling blood.
Of course, all those people suffered miserable fates. Many had even vanished from the world. But Lin Xun knew that he couldn’t deal with such people everyday and guarantee that nothing would happen to him and Xia Zhi.
Most importantly, he didn’t want Xia Zhi to grow up in such a dirty and dangerous environment.
The reason was very simple—He grew up in the dark environment of a mine prison. He had witnessed many cruel and deceitful tricks and violence since a young age and he had met many vicious and bloodthirsty people.
Compared to those fierce people, the thugs who controlled the slums were as pure as a white lotus and as well-behaved as an innocent baby.
Lin Xun knew that without Mister Lu, he would have been heavily influenced by the environment he grew up in. He would have been led onto a dark path and lost his human nature.
Due to his experience growing up, he didn’t want Xia Zhi to live in such a filthy and dark environment.
However, he needed a large sum of money to move, which was impossible for him to achieve in the time being.
So, the thing that Lin Xun was most concerned about was how to make money fast, not passing the district examination!