People Cannot Be Judged by Their Appearance (Thanks to Alliance Leader Li Gaomei +1)

"Um... Mister Qi..."

Shen Tang hesitated to speak.

Qi Shan lifted his eyelids slightly and said flatly, "If you have something to say, say it directly. I dislike people who beat around the bush and can't be straightforward."

"Then I'll be direct—if it's convenient for you, Mister Qi... could you let me follow you for a few days?" Shen Tang looked a little embarrassed. "I know my status as a fugitive will bring trouble. I shouldn't trouble you, but I'm unfamiliar with this place and truly don't know what to do..."

Qi Shan could use his Literary Heart so skillfully. Such a fine chance to get free extracurricular tutoring—wouldn't she be letting herself down if she failed to seize it?

Opportunities were rare. Once this village was missed, there would be no next shop.

If she could learn more about the Literary Heart, she would be able to better integrate into this unfamiliar world in the future.

Shen Tang made full use of her young age and her bedraggled, pitiful appearance, showing weakness in an attempt to stir another's sympathy.

Yet Qi Shan did not reveal the slightest hint of pity.

He merely watched with great interest this innocent-looking Young Master, head lowered and appearing miserable.

A newbie who only half understood how to control a Literary Heart had dared to face a Third-Class Zan Niao head-on without falling behind. How was she some down-and-out little milk puppy?

She was clearly a wolf pup with sharp teeth and devouring eyes!

Though her fangs were still tender, once she found her footing, she would bite people.

Showing weakness?

That trick might fool others, but it was not enough against him.

Qi Shan lowered his eyes, fingers toying with the dark teal Literary Heart Sigil hanging at his waist as an ornament.

After pondering for a long time, he then said, "It's not impossible. However—once we reach the next town, we'll have to part ways. Otherwise, you may regret it."

Shen Tang asked in surprise, "Regret it? Why?"

Qi Shan pointed at the sword at his waist and countered, "You guess—do you think this sword is decoration, or a weapon that fits my hand?"

Shen Tang: "..."

Qi Shan smiled. "Young Master, don't assume that someone is a good person just because they helped you once. The trouble I carry is far greater than that of a fugitive like you. Not just me—if you see anyone daring to travel alone outside in the future, whether they wear a Literary Heart Sigil or a Martial Gall Tiger Tally, stay alert."

Shen Tang blinked and muttered in a soft voice that Qi Shan could still hear.

"...Mister Qi may be seeing me as far too innocent."

Qi Shan sneered inwardly.

This Young Master was indeed not innocent, but Shen Tang's request was not excessive.

She merely wanted to follow him. Since he had already helped her once, he might as well help her again—send Buddha all the way to the west and make a useful connection.

The two of them built a bonfire in a sheltered spot.

Qi Shan hugged his sword with both hands and rested lightly. Before he could even gather any sleepiness, he heard Shen Tang's stomach rumble.

He opened his eyes and looked at her. Shen Tang covered her stomach and smiled awkwardly. "I walked seven or eight hours in shackles during the day and only ate one sour bun. That is why it made such an indecent sound... I disturbed Mister's sleep..."

Shen Tang's stomach rumbled without cease, and he could hardly pretend not to have heard it.

So he untied the waterskin and food pouch from his waist and handed them over.

"Eat something first to tide yourself over."

Shen Tang did not stand on ceremony with him.

"Thank you."

Only after the cool, soft food slid down her throat and rolled into her stomach did the fierce, burning hunger ease slightly.

Despite being starving, she ate only half and left the rest untouched.

Qi Shan was somewhat surprised, but said nothing.

The interruption had driven away his sleepiness as well. He took a scroll made from tanned animal hide from his pack and read it carefully by the bonfire.

Shen Tang vaguely caught the words "Word Spirit" on it, and curiosity was stirred in her. She seemed to be transfixed.

Qi Shan could not focus with her curious, bright gaze fixed on him.

He sighed softly. "Curious?"

Shen Tang hugged her knees and smiled sheepishly. "Yes, I'm curious! The Literary Heart is truly amazing. Could Mister teach me?"

Qi Shan said, "You really aren't polite."

"Didn't Mister say you disliked people who beat around the bush and couldn't be straightforward?"

Qi Shan: "..."

He had never said he would teach anyone.

Still, the scroll in his hands was not anything rare. It contained some common Word Spirits he had compiled, a compulsory subject for strategists. Shen Tang would gradually encounter them if she went to a somewhat larger town's bookshop or studied at an academy.

Besides, Word Spirits were profoundly intuitive things. Most could only be understood, not explained.

Given the same Word Spirit, some could learn it, while others could never even touch the threshold in their entire lives.

Only Word Spirits suited to oneself, or those one could comprehend, could be fully integrated and wielded as easily as one's own arms.

"Read it yourself." Qi Shan generously lent her the scroll. "Ask me again if you don't understand."

Shen Tang accepted it with overflowing curiosity, but after reading just one line, her face went blank.

Qi Shan asked, "You can't recognize the words on it?"

If that were the case, he could do nothing to help.

Shen Tang shook her head.

"I recognize the words on top. I only wanted to ask—things like 'Quench Thirst by Thinking of Plums'... are those also Word Spirits?"

"Of course. Though it is as concise and brief as Martial Spirit Word Spirits, its power must not be underestimated. It is also one of the Word Spirits strategists must master. If the caster's Literary Heart is strong and it is used properly, it can even determine the outcome of a war at a crucial moment."

Shen Tang was dumbfounded.

"Determine... the outcome of a war?"

"Of course. When this Word Spirit is used, it can raise an army's morale." Seeing Shen Tang's skeptical expression, he thought she had misunderstood Word Spirits as always being lengthy, so he explained, "This passage was originally quite long, recorded in 'False Deceptions': 'When Wei Wu was on campaign, he lost the route to a water source. The entire army was thirsty, so he ordered, "Ahead lies a vast plum grove, rich in fruit. Their sweet-sour taste can quench thirst." Upon hearing this, the soldiers' mouths filled with saliva, and thus they managed to reach the water source.' But after being refined, only four characters remained."

Shen Tang's mouth fell slightly open, as though the door to a new world had been thrown wide.

"Then what about... 'Scattered Like Stars and Chess Pieces'?"

Qi Shan said, "It can arrange troops and deploy formations, playing a game against the enemy."

"'Cut the Grass and Remove the Roots'?"

"It bolsters the soldiers' strength, but the cost is enormous. It must not be used lightly."

Shen Tang pointed at the scroll and asked again, "'Self-Entrapment'?"

Qi Shan said, "It is mostly used to arrange troops and deploy formations, disrupting the enemy army and causing them to throw themselves into disarray."

There was no need to ask about the rest.

One look at Qi Shan's densely packed notes made it clear that every one of them was for marching to war.

No wonder he had said he was no good person.

Looking at these Literary Heart Word Spirits, then at the simulated military formation diagrams drawn on the scroll, Shen Tang knew this fellow was the sort of fanatic who used offense as defense and crouched in the grass waiting to claim heads. He was only lacking the words "I'm a dirty ambusher" written across his face.

"Mister Qi, I have one more question."

Qi Shan had believed her nonsense.

How long had they known each other? Two out of every three sentences she spoke were questions. Once she finished this one, there would definitely be another.

However—

Thinking of Shen Tang's Literary Heart, he narrowed his eyes and gained a little more patience.

"Ask."

As Shen Tang read further, she discovered that the scroll contained not only Literary Heart Word Spirits, but Martial Spirit Word Spirits as well.

Honestly, she did not really understand the difference between the two.

Weren't they both very good at fighting???

"What exactly is the difference between a Literary Heart and a Martial Spirit?"

Qi Shan: "..."

Once again, he suspected Shen Tang was some savage who had crawled out of some godforsaken corner. Every question she asked lay beyond his expectations.