Literary Heart Sigil

The youth extended his right hand toward Shen Tang, palm facing up.

Shen Tang did not understand. After hesitating for a moment, she placed her right hand atop his and tilted her head to ask,

"Like this?"

The youth looked at her expressionlessly, his eyes filled with indescribable meaning, as though asking, "What do you think?"

Shen Tang immediately snatched her right hand back as if shocked by lightning.

"Gather qi in your palm."

Seeing Shen Tang was still utterly baffled, the youth had no choice but to offer guidance. He had thought he had explained himself clearly enough, but Shen Tang did not even know what "qi" was.

When Shen Tang made no move for a long while, he could only say, "When you used the Word Spirit just now, did you feel something travel outward from your dantian along your meridians? That is 'qi.' Try drawing it out from your dantian now and gathering it in your palm. Can you do that?"

The Word Spirit was not something that succeeded every single time; it depended on one's proficiency.

This young master before his eyes had used a Literary Heart to forcibly contend against a Third Rank Zanniao, and the Word Spirit's effect had been powerful. She should not have known nothing at all.

The youth had explained it clearly, and Shen Tang carefully recalled that mysterious, strange sensation from earlier.

Qi, dantian, Word Spirit, Literary Heart...

After a long while, she vaguely caught hold of something and guided it slowly toward her palm.

At last—

A colorless ball of qi gradually took shape, expanding from the size of a pea to the size of a fist, floating an inch above her palm.

Shen Tang raised her head to look at the youth and asked, "Mister, is this 'qi'? It really is miraculous... What rank is my Literary Heart?"

From the moment that qi appeared, the youth had lowered his eyes slightly. More than half his face was hidden in shadow, making his expression difficult to discern, but Shen Tang was certain his gaze had fallen on her palm. She felt that something was off about the atmosphere and spoke up again.

Only then did the youth snap back to himself and respond. "Refine and condense that ball of 'qi' further, like this."

As he spoke, a pale green vortex of qi swiftly appeared over his outstretched right hand. At first glance, it resembled a thin mist, but within two breaths it transformed into a viscous, dark green gel. Finally, beneath Shen Tang's watchful eyes, it became a dark green sigil the size of an infant's fist, its shape peculiar.

Seeing Shen Tang's curiosity, the youth took the initiative to hand over the sigil.

The sigil was exquisitely fashioned. On its side were engraved the seal-script characters "Sixth Rank Middle-Lower," while the bottom bore the same script: "Qi Clan Yuan Liang."

"Your name is Qi Yuanliang?"

If that was his name, then Sixth Rank Middle-Lower should be the grade of his Literary Heart.

The youth said, "My surname is Qi, my given name Shan, and my courtesy name is Yuanliang."

As he spoke, he stared into Shen Tang's eyes.

Seeing that her gaze was clear and held not the slightest contempt for a Middle-Lower Literary Heart, he was faintly satisfied. His expression no longer seemed quite so distant.

Shen Tang said out of habit, "That really is a good name."

Both "Shan" and "Liang"—he sounded like a good person.

Qi Shan was rendered speechless.

Shen Tang handed the sigil back to him.

"I roughly know what to do now."

Imitating Qi Shan's demonstration, she compressed the vortex inward. The vortex gradually shifted from colorless to a milky-white gel, then from milky-white gel into a small, crystal-clear object.

Only then did Shen Tang withdraw her qi and hurriedly inspect the side of the sigil.

The result—

"Huh? Why are there no words?"

"No words?"

Though he said so, there was no surprise in Qi Shan's voice. It was as though he had expected it all along.

Shen Tang handed over her own sigil and said in confusion, "There really are no words on the side. There are only words on the bottom."

The bottom was engraved with even, flowing seal-script strokes—

"Shen Clan You Li."

"Shen... You... Li? Then you truly are not a disciple of the Gong Clan." Since the sigil was transparent, it took some effort to make out the words. Qi Shan narrowed his eyes slightly, examining the writing on the bottom as he commented, "Still, young master, your courtesy name is a little too delicate..."

At first hearing, one would have thought it was a young woman's boudoir name.

Shen Tang: "..."

She had already given up explaining that she was a girl.

Since this world assumed that anyone with a Literary Heart was male, stepping forward to argue would bring no benefit whether others believed her or not. Let them misunderstand. She would wait until she figured out why she had a Literary Heart, or until she was strong enough, lest she be treated as a heretic and killed.

"Mister Qi, my name is Shen Tang."

"'Crabapple and pear leaves fall, the color of rouge; buckwheat flowers bloom, fragrant as snow.'" Qi Shan revealed a slight smile. "That is also a good name."

Shen Tang: "..."

Though she dearly wanted to say that her name was Shen Tang, and You Li was merely a randomly chosen pen name without any special meaning—

Still, since he thought so and was showing off the ink in his belly, she could not very well pour cold water over him. She could only accept the praise. What concerned her most at this moment was the rank of her Literary Heart.

"Mister Qi, what rank is my Literary Heart?"

Who would have thought Qi Shan would ask in return, "What rank do you want?"

Shen Tang: "What does that mean???"

Qi Shan simply began speaking of something else.

"Unlike the twenty ranks of Martial Spirit, the Literary Heart has only nine ranks. First Rank Upper-Upper, Second Rank Upper-Middle, Third Rank Upper-Lower, and so on down to Ninth Rank Lower-Lower. A Martial Spirit can break through and advance through acquired tempering; those with great talent may even be ranked among the Vassal Lords. But a Literary Heart is whatever rank it is born as. Mine is a Sixth Rank Middle-Lower Literary Heart—wanting compared to those above, yet better than those below. So, what rank do you hope yours is?"

Shen Tang said in astonishment, "This... can be decided by what I want?"

Qi Shan said, "For others, naturally not. But since you encountered me, I can help you with this."

Shen Tang was completely lost.

Her instincts told her there was more to Qi Shan's words.

Yet he did not explain much. He merely hinted in an indifferent tone, "A child carrying a thousand gold pieces through a bustling market is no good thing."

Shen Tang's nerves instantly tightened.

What exactly was this Literary Heart, for it to be so serious?

So this transmigrator's benefit could actually bring a calamity that killed the body.

Shen Tang also restrained the curiosity that killed the cat and did not pursue the matter. She only asked, "Can Literary Hearts of any rank be disguised?"

Qi Shan himself had a "Sixth Rank Middle-Lower" Literary Heart, and Literary Hearts could not be altered. One was born with whatever rank one had, so he certainly could not truly change someone's Literary Heart rank. That left only disguise.

Since that was the case—

Shen Tang tested the waters. "Then—could it be First Rank Upper-Upper?"

Qi Shan nearly laughed at her question.

"A First Rank Upper-Upper Literary Heart is a Sage-grade, a nominal rank. Only Vassal Lords holding the National Seal can possess it. Are you seeking death?"

Shen Tang lowered her eyes and glanced at her Literary Heart Sigil.

"Then let's play it safe and disguise it as Ninth Rank Lower-Lower."

"Ninth Rank Lower-Lower? Heh, you are clever."

Once the four seal-script characters "Ninth Rank Lower-Lower" appeared on the side of the sigil, Shen Tang turned the transparent sigil over in her hands, unsure how to deal with it.

"How do I put this thing away?"

"Why put it away? This is used to prove your identity. Even a 'Ninth Rank Lower-Lower' Literary Heart is better than ordinary people."

In these chaotic times, when one generation could change nationalities twice, the lives of ordinary people were worth less than grass. Shen Tang was also a prisoner who had been exiled and escaped.

The words engraved behind her ear had been applied through a special method. Unless she cut off her ear, they could never be removed for all eternity.

But with a Literary Heart Sigil, and earrings to cover it, ordinary constables would not dare inspect her. It was equivalent to having her safety guaranteed.

A sigil was simply a seal.

Requesting Recommendation Tickets. I was groggy after finishing last night and accidentally scheduled it for two o'clock. I only realized I had made a blunder when I checked the comments just now and found no new chapter. Sweat -_-||

PS: Thanks to Mighty Sister Gao for becoming the first guild leader. There will be a second update today.