Chapter 3

Lei Mengsha could no longer contain his curiosity.

He stepped forward, cupping his fists. "I am Lei Mengsha of the Lei Family Fortress."

"Boss, may I ask just what kind of extraordinary figure you are? Would you be willing to share your name?"

He refused to believe that a master of such caliber could truly be an ordinary bookstall owner.

After all, a master like this would be a guest of honor anywhere he went.

Even in Tian Qi City, he would have a place at the table.

How could he possibly be just a simple bookstall owner?

Meanwhile, Jiang Mu Ming turned around, carefully sizing up the three men before him.

Baili Dongjun went without saying.

The young master of Marquis Zhenxi's Manor! Born with a Martial Vein! The future strongest Wine Immortal of Xueyue City!

Sikong Changfeng, the Third City Lord of Xueyue City, the renowned Spear Immortal!

Lei Mengsha, one of the current Eight Princes of Northern Li, one of the Four Heroes of the Lei Gate, and destined to father a daughter who would become the famed Xueyue Sword Immortal.

None of them were ordinary people by any stretch.

"I am Jiang Mu Ming, nothing more than an unremarkable bookstall owner."

With that, he casually picked up a book.

Handed it to Lei Mengsha.

And said, "The books here—I won't claim they number in the thousands—but some are truly one of a kind in this world."

"You won't find them anywhere else."

He hadn't forgotten that his system, besides reading, also had the function of spreading teachings.

Getting others to read could also earn rewards.

And to get people to read, back when he was in Beyond Heaven, he had moved quite a few novels he'd read before his transmigration.

Things like Who Loved Drinking Beast Milk the Most, The Suffering Lord Han Who Saved the World, A Single Sword Cry Opens the Heavenly Gate...

Guaranteed to hook anyone in this world the moment they started reading!

"One of a kind?"

Lei Mengsha raised an eyebrow, inwardly skeptical.

In his view, how could there be books in this world that even the academies of Tian Qi City didn't have?

Baili Dongjun also glanced curiously at the bookstall.

He came from Marquis Zhenxi's Manor—though a military household, their family was vast and wealthy, naturally housing a great collection of books.

He too harbored some doubt.

So they both stepped forward, each picking up a book at random and starting to read.

And just like that, They were instantly captivated, forgetting even their current predicament.

They were still being hunted down at this very moment.

But the words on those pages seemed to possess a magic, drawing them in to read on and on.

"Riding the sword, riding the wind, slaying demons between heaven and earth... Brilliant! Brilliant!"

Baili Dongjun slapped his thigh.

Excitedly, he took a big gulp of wine and sighed, "To think there are figures like this in the world!"

He even felt a pang of regret.

Why hadn't he thought of training in martial arts before?

Beside him, Lei Mengsha and Sikong Changfeng were also deeply engrossed, clearly pulled into the bizarre and wondrous world within the books.

[Ding, teachings spread to Baili Dongjun, Lei Mengsha, Sikong Changfeng.]

[Reward: Great River Sword Intent!]

Jiang Mu Ming was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected such a generous reward for guiding Baili Dongjun and the others to read.

It had actually yielded the Great River Sword Intent!

This was the sword intent born from the lifelong enlightenment of Sword Saint Liu Bai, hailed as the strongest mortal in Ever Night!

Sword intent vast as a great river.

In a flash, an endless river seemed to descend from the heavens, carrying an overwhelming momentum, unstoppable.

Waves surging, boundless and infinite!

Jiang Mu Ming gained sudden insight.

This single sword strike might be comparable to the Carefree Heaven Realm.

And just as Jiang Mu Ming was comprehending the Great River Sword Intent, a sliver of that intent inadvertently leaked out.

Baili Dongjun and the others, who had been immersed in the world of their books, suddenly saw their surroundings shift. It was as if a great river was flowing before them, and the blue-robed bookstall owner stood atop it, as unshakable as the river itself.

But just then, an unfamiliar voice rang out.

"Such powerful sword intent."

"It seems Golden Mouth Yama and the others died at this young friend's hands."

Baili Dongjun, Lei Mengsha, and the others snapped back to reality.

They looked into the distance.

At the end of the street, a tall figure was slowly approaching.

Brocade Robes.

Hands clasped behind his back.

A pair of white brows, as if weathered by the vicissitudes of life.

Or like a malevolent spirit crawling out from the underworld.

An aura of dread radiated from him.

Lei Mengsha felt a heavy pressure rise in his heart.

The man before him, to his perception, was like an unfathomable abyss. With his own strength, he was no match at all!

Lei Mengsha's expression turned grim.

He had already recognized who this was.

The Yan Family Steward.

White-Browed Xiao Li!

A master ranked among the notable figures of the martial world.

If they faced him alone, none of the Eight Princes of Northern Li could claim certainty of victory.

Lei Mengsha's heart sank.

"Be careful—he's strong!" Lei Mengsha warned.

In his mind, he began plotting an escape.

Though the bookstall owner beside them was powerful and his methods mysterious, it had been Golden Mouth Yama and his men who courted death by disturbing his reading, provoking him.

But now, the man might not help them again.

And White-Browed Xiao Li's strength might not be inferior to the bookstall owner's.

Beside him, Baili Dongjun also recognized the man.

Wasn't this the one who had come to the tavern earlier to cause trouble?

If not for the bookstall owner's help, his tavern would have been trashed.

And inside that tavern were all the wines he had painstakingly brewed!

Baili Dongjun's anger flared, and he was about to summon Little White the Glass Beast.

But just then, the bookstall owner, who had been resting with his eyes closed, spoke calmly.

"Strong? Hardly. Not even worth calling a master."

Lei Mengsha was stunned.

White-Browed Xiao Li was a name known throughout the martial world.

And yet, in the bookstall owner's eyes, he wasn't even a master?

Lei Mengsha asked curiously, "Then, boss, what kind of person qualifies as a master?"

He wanted to hear Jiang Mu Ming's definition of a true master.

"To be called a master, one must at least be in the Carefree Heaven Realm."

Everyone was taken aback.

Only the Carefree Heaven Realm counts as an expert? What kind of standard is that?! Even the Hundred Information Hall isn't this strict!

"Arrogant!"

"Courting death!"

Seeing themselves so belittled, White-Browed Xiao Li's face gradually turned cold, killing intent plain to see.

Across from him, Jiang Mu Ming stared straight back.

"Disturbing my guest while they're reading—I'd say you're the one courting death!"