The Person in the Book

The little girl who was drawing stared blankly at Qin Yi, while Qin Yi stared blankly at the woman in yellow.

What is this...?

What is the History of Southern Li? Those kinds of things are usually compiled by later generations. Southern Li hasn't been destroyed, so where would the History of Southern Li? Could it be that two months in the cave abode is equivalent to a hundred years in the world?

No way. When we left the cave abode, we went to beat up the Humble Origins. The villagers said they hadn't seen their Benefactor for more than two months. There's no mismatch in the timing.

Oh right, the daily records—after all, my relationships are all related to the king, Princess, and regent; maybe I've kept a few notes? And some records from contemporaries too?

But you saw it? Where did you spy on me?

Besides, you've read books, and I'm mentioned in those books, so you recognize me?

You must be a god...

Oh right, this is indeed cultivation of immortality, it's definitely immortals.

Qin Yi tapped his head, his mind a complete mess.

Trying to sense the other's cultivation, they found it to be as vast as an abyss, seemingly far more unfathomable than Minghe, who was at the Soaring Cloud Realm, and Chengcheng, who was at the peak of the Core Formation Cheng Cheng.

"Hui... Boss Huiyang?"

This seemingly sleepy and dazed woman is actually a powerful figure in the Huiyang realm, and it's unclear how many levels of Huiyang she is... If we don't count the Ancient Corpse Senior, this is probably the strongest person I've encountered since I started cultivating.

She looked to be no more than twenty years old, her face dazed, her eyes still sleepy, and she was squinting at Qin Yi as if she needed to get closer to see him clearly. Had she just woken up, or was she nearsighted? Seriously, are there nearsighted cultivators? Are you kidding me...?

Despite his impressive cultivation, Qin Yi didn't feel any pressure at all. Instead, he immediately imagined a scene from an adult drama. What was going on...?

The woman seemed to have clearly seen Qin Yi's appearance, and stood up straight with satisfaction, reciting softly. "The Imperial Preceptor Qin Yi was Fangshi from the mountains. Initially, when Martial King was Prince, he and Zhaoyang Princess Lie's hair turned white. Qin Yi then went alone to the Rift Valley to prolong the king's life. When he returned, the jade and stone had burned, and Qin Yi saved the orphaned girl from the flames. When Zhaoyang destroyed the Western Wasteland, she greatly benefited from Qin Yi's efforts. After the world was settled, Qin Yi refused any reward and departed. The king deeply respected him and thus vacated the position of Imperial Preceptor, awaiting Qin Yi's return forever. — This is from the * Chronicles of Nanli Figures *, compiled by an envoy consulted by the Da Qian Emperor after the envoy returned home and gathered his observations."

Qin Yi listened silently, a sigh of melancholy in his heart.

If it was compiled by the Great Qian Envoy, then it makes sense. This record can be considered an objective account, except for some errors and omissions in the details, such as omitting the romantic scenes between herself and Li Qingjun? This content sounds like it was told to the envoy by Li Qingjun herself, who was probably too embarrassed to mention the romantic scenes.

But then again, it's quite amazing that you've read all these oddball books.

Listening to others recount their "history," and feeling like a character in a book, Qin Yi sighed, unsure of his own feelings.

He was silent for a moment, then said what came out as, "Indeed, with just a few strokes, it could have been written into a hundred chapters."

The woman's eyes lit up. "A hundred chapters, are you going to write them? I'll read them if you do."

Qin Yi rubbed his forehead. "I can't write."

The woman sighed, seemingly only then realizing that her disheveled appearance was rather unsightly. Her face flushed slightly as she straightened her clothes.

That languid and absent-minded look is gone; she has become truly intellectual and elegant, much like a well-bred young lady who has been immersed in calligraphy and painting since childhood, yet is now living in seclusion in the mountains, possessing both a scholarly air and a transcendent sense of living amidst the Yunxiu —very beautiful.

Qin Yi stared in disbelief.

This is also a kind of ethereal beauty, somewhat different from the remoteness of the Minghe. Although it is also a bit ethereal, it is more approachable.

The woman actually performed a scholar's bow. "A person from beyond the mountains, I have met the person in the book."

Qin Yi shook his head and said, "Now that I'm standing here, I'm no longer a character in the book."

The woman blinked and smiled slightly, "Coming like Spring Dream, how long does it last? Going like morning clouds, nowhere to be found. What is before my eyes is ultimately an illusion, perhaps not as true as a single word in a book."

She turned around, stretched, yawned, and went back to bed, saying, "Now that I've seen the characters in the book, my enjoyment for today is over. I might as well go to sleep. Qing Cha and serve my guest."

So, after all that fancy rambling, what you're really trying to say is that it'll be a disaster once it's in the light of day, right?

Qin Yi watched her retreating figure disappear into the house, his mouth agape. He couldn't even remember how many times he'd been there today. You straightened your clothes, composed yourself, and bowed, not to say a few words to the guests, but to say goodbye and go back to sleep?

The people here are all definitely not quite right...

"Um, brother..."

Qin Yi looked down and saw the little girl named Qing Cha still sitting on the ground, looking up at him. Her big eyes were as pure as the dew on the camellias beside her.

"Brother, are you here to become my apprentice, visit a friend, or propose Seeking marriage?"

"Uh? Seeking marriage?"

"Master said that if someone comes here and doesn't say why they're here, and instead stays, they're probably up to no good..." Qing Cha looked at him pitifully, "Don't have any designs on me, I'm so young."

Qin Yi was exasperated. "Those who stay here without saying why they're here are probably after your master, not you, a little girl who hasn't even grown her hair yet!"

Before she could finish speaking, Qing Cha came running down the street, tumbling and crawling. "Master, Master, this man says he has designs on you."

Qin Yi: "?"

A woman's languid voice came from inside the house. "You possess the skill to paint, yet you do not practice painting. You know many characters, yet you do not read. The calluses on your hands are not for brush and ink, but for weapons. The Way is there, visible to all, yet few know it; that is the reason. Whether you seek a teacher, the Way, Seeking marriage, please return."

Qin Yi finally understood why she was so disillusioned after meeting the characters in the book.

Contrary to her expectations of an ethereal Imperial Preceptor, he was more like an ordinary man.

Qing Cha was knocking on the door. "Master, stop pretending. It's rare for someone to want you. They don't complain that you're just a bookworm who only knows how to read and paint, nor do they say you sleep all day like a pig..."

A gentle aura appeared from nowhere, binding Qing Cha up and then slamming her heavily to the ground, where she sat in a split.

Qing Cha was in so much pain that her eyes welled up with tears.

Qin Yi chuckled to himself, suddenly finding this place quite fun.

These Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palaces, with their two mountain peaks, are practically two separate worlds. I really don't know how much interest this so-called "Myriad Paths of the World" truly holds.

However, Qin Yi also felt a bit "excited" and realized that observing the myriad paths seemed to be of little interest and would not help his breakthrough in the Qin Heart. He was afraid that looking at other things would be about the same.

However, Liusu's perspective is different, so we'll have to see what Liusu thinks. So I secretly asked Liusu, "Would you like to see anything else?"

Liusu said, "We've had our fun for today. It's getting late, let's try again tomorrow. But we've only scratched the surface, like a fleeting glance, and what we've gained is too little. I suggest we stay here tonight and talk to this woman; perhaps we'll learn something—a Calligraphy and Painting Dao from the Shining Sun Realm, wow, truly amazing."

Qin Yi then squatted down and asked Qing Cha, "Little sister, do you keep guests here?"

Qing Cha looked at him like he was a pervert. "After descending the mountain, you'll find the right arm of the Stone Turtle. The Fragrant Garden in town is perfect for you. If you keep looking at me with that lewd gaze, I might hit you."

"How the hell am I being lewd? This is clearly benevolent."

Qing Cha asked doubtfully, "Really?"

"Real!"

"Oh." The little girl scratched her head. "You really want to be my Grandmaster?"

"Can't you young lady grasp the point? All I need is lodging, do you understand?"

"Come with me." Qing Cha tugged at his sleeve and walked towards the inn, whispering, "Let me tell you, my master loves reading, calligraphy, and painting. If you can impress her with any one of these things, you might be able to become my Grandmaster."

"I told you it was just a loan..."

"I've heard this excuse so many times. In the end, they all got a beating from their master and were thrown down the mountain. This old trick can't fool the clever Qing Cha at all."