Way of the Feudal Lord

Shen Tang took another bite.

The sourness nearly twisted her features out of place.

"Though it's very sour, each Word Spirit can only produce one, and the yield is low, at least it's edible."

After all, these green plums had been obtained for free, so she could not ask for too much.

She planned to make more, then turn them into Qingkou Plums, Salted Plums, or Green Plum Wine. It was a business with no costs anyway. Even if she could not make a fortune, it should be enough to support herself. She carefully picked out a large, green plum that looked exceptionally sour and handed it to Qi Shan.

"Here. Mister Qi, would you like to try one?"

Qi Shan did not take it immediately. He first lowered his eyes to the green plum in her hand, then lifted his eyelids to look at Shen Tang's proud smile, as though she had somehow lassoed a fat wolf with empty hands. His brow twitched fiercely, and veins seemed to bulge faintly on his forehead.

Did this Young Master Shen even know...

After a long time, Qi Shan sighed and accepted it.

He casually wiped it with his sleeve and bit down.

It really was sour!

Both its texture in hand and its taste were exactly like an unripe green plum.

Seeing Qi Shan's expression gradually slip out of control, Shen Tang laughed. "If they ripen a little more, they should taste better. I wonder whether there are Word Spirits that can produce wine. If there are, we could brew some Green Plum Wine and store it away. When winter snow falls, we could go to the lake's heart to enjoy the view, brew tea, drink wine, and taste green plums. Wouldn't that be delightful?"

Qi Shan looked at Shen Tang with a complicated expression.

He sighed. "If you think it is good, then it is good. Just do not regret today's rash action from now on..."

Shen Tang paused mid-bite, her face full of confusion. "What do you mean, Mister Qi...? Being able to produce things is not a good thing? I'll regret it?"

"It is naturally a good deed for others, but for you—it may not be a blessing." A trace of regret entered his gaze as he looked at Shen Tang, as though she had lost some great treasure without even realizing it. Before Shen Tang could press him for answers, he abruptly changed the subject. "Of course, if Young Master Shen has no grand ambitions and merely seeks two full meals and a roof to shelter from wind and rain, then it can be considered a good thing."

Shen Tang chewed the green plum, looking utterly bewildered on the surface, but frowning inwardly.

She tried to guess why Qi Shan had said that.

She probed, "Does it have something to do with my Literary Heart?"

Surprised by her sharpness, Qi Shan nodded. "It has a little to do with it."

Shen Tang put on an eager, attentive expression, but Qi Shan did not cooperate and had no intention of explaining further.

What was he supposed to 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 feel the same. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, it would be better to pretend he knew nothing. More 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 Literary Heart, Martial Spirit, and National Seal was extremely special.

The National Seal could not only suppress National Fortune and repel foreign enemies; it also possessed an extremely crucial ability—the "Way of the Feudal Lord."

When Vassal Lords who possessed Literary Heart and Martial Spirit held the National Seal, they had a chance to resonate with it and randomly obtain a special ability based on their innermost desires. The abilities most commonly chosen by Vassal Lords were "command," "Pro-people," and "Supporters." Some could even enhance the Literary Hearts and Martial Spirits of the civil and military officials beneath them, allowing them to recruit many capable and extraordinary people into their service.

He did not know Shen Tang's Way of the Feudal Lord, but it was absolutely related to "farming."

Otherwise, how could she produce green plums?

A Vassal Lord with talent in farming...

Just hearing it was enough to know there was no future in it.

Still, Young Master Shen did not seem to have much ambition. She merely wanted to protect herself, and this ability suited her perfectly. At the very least, she would not starve to death.

Shen Tang, feeling as though cats were clawing at her heart: "..."

She hated it most when people spoke halfway, left suspense hanging in the air, and made her guess every which way.

"If Mister Qi does not wish to explain in detail, you naturally have your reasons. Strictly speaking, I should not ask further, but it concerns me, after all..." Shen Tang retreated in order to advance, probing from every angle. "Let me guess. Is something wrong with my Literary Heart? Is it serious... Can it be saved?"

Qi Shan answered cleanly and decisively, "No."

As far as he knew, one National Seal corresponded to one Vassal Lord and one "Way of the Feudal Lord."

This innate ability needed the National Seal as a medium to activate. Except in one circumstance, it generally remained fixed for one's entire life.

What circumstance?

Death!

Only death could change it!

As long as Young Master Shen remained alive, this National Seal could only have its present ability in her hands—the sole benefit being that she would never need to worry about starving.

If Young Master Shen had ambitions, then she was in trouble.

A disastrous start, congenital deformity—she simply could not compete with the other Wolves and Tigers.

Seeing Qi Shan's expression grow increasingly grave, Shen Tang felt that even the green plum in her hand no longer smelled sweet.

She—

Was she about to die young?

For a moment, countless thoughts whirled and flashed through her mind.

Had Qi Shan not called out and pulled her back, she might have imagined herself lying weakly on her side, writing her last testament.

"Young Master Shen, aside from the green plums from 'Quench Thirst by Thinking of Plums,' can you produce anything else?"

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

Qi Shan pulled out another scroll and pointed at a section of Word Spirit upon it. "Then try this passage of Word Spirit—"

Shen Tang leaned closer to look and muttered, "Draw a Cake on the Ground, Cannot Eat?"

"This passage of Word Spirit resembles 'Quench Thirst by Thinking of Plums.'"

Since "Quench Thirst by Thinking of Plums" could turn into green plums, this passage might perhaps produce a large cake.

Shen Tang said, "But it already says 'Cannot Eat.' How could the cake drawn be edible? Wouldn't it be better to shorten it to 'Draw a Cake to Satisfy Hunger'?"

Buns were more filling than green plums.

Green plums were certainly fresh, but they were too small and too sour. Even Shen Tang's iron stomach did not dare eat too many.

After gnawing through more than twenty just now, her gums had gone numb from the sourness.

Yet after trying more than ten times, there was still no response.

She was somewhat discouraged when her Peripheral Vision inadvertently swept over the densely packed Word Spirit notes on the scroll, and her eyes lit up. Her finger shifted and stopped on a passage. "Mister Qi, compared to drawing cakes, I find this one more interesting—Turn Stone into Gold, Enough to Pay Taxes!"

"Turn Stone into Gold?"

Qi Shan instantly understood Shen Tang's little scheme.

"Yes, turn stone into gold! How many jin of green plums and buns could a small piece of gold buy? In terms of value, this Word Spirit is naturally worth more. And not just that—there's also 'Golden House Hiding a Beauty.' That could be arranged too. I just wonder whether it would produce a 'golden house' or a 'beauty.' If it produces a 'beauty,' would this beauty be male or female, beautiful or ugly..."

Qi Shan looked at Shen Tang as though she were a fool daydreaming in broad daylight.

Young as she was, she certainly had pretty dreams.

"If you are not afraid of dying on the spot, you can try it."

Shen Tang: "???"

Qi Shan scoffed. "The value and effect of a Word Spirit depend on the consumption of Literary Heart. The stronger the Literary Heart, the greater the consumption, and the stronger the Word Spirit's power. If you forcibly use a Word Spirit beyond the limits of your ability, failure is one thing—you would merely be weakened for a while. But if you succeed—it would inevitably backlash upon the caster. For example, shortened lifespan, dying young in one's prime, illness-ridden suffering, lingering bedridden for years; some have even bled from all seven orifices and died on the spot. Since ancient times, such tragedies have been everywhere. Young Master Shen, do not follow in their footsteps because of a momentary curiosity and greed."

How could a green plum or a cake compare in value to gold, silver, jade, and precious stones?

Everything had its price.

The computer had a little problem and went on strike. Sigh, this was typed by hand on my phone.

The New Book Period was too brutal. Looks like I needed to replace my equipment.