Several days later, Chen Han opened a book he had found in Qing Xue's shop. It was something he read in his spare time, both for learning and entertainment.
The book was titled Green Oriole Ethereal Records. Put simply, it was the travel diary of a female Gu master named Green Oriole.
It contained not only various methods for raising Gu and techniques for using them, but also accounts of strange things she had seen along the way.
It even described how she had nearly been ambushed by a crocodile while crossing a river, the thrill she felt the first time she saw a meteor, her fluttering heart upon meeting a handsome man, the schemes of villains, and the revenge she took afterward.
As Chen Han read the book, he felt as if he were traveling across the land alongside its protagonist, sharing in the dangers and joys of the journey.
It had truly broadened his horizons.
No wonder they said one should read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.
Chen Han was very interested in this "book." What had impressed him most was the scheming and plotting between people.
As Green Oriole traveled the martial world, she had met all sorts of people. Several times, she had nearly lost her life because she trusted others too easily.
Afterward, she never trusted anyone again unless she was absolutely sure of them.
But even then, she had once suffered a great loss. That time, she had been traveling day and night when she came across a villager.
She asked him, "Big brother, where can I find an inn? I've been on the road for days. I'm exhausted and thirsty, and all I want is a good night's sleep."
The villager pointed and replied, "There's one over that way. I'll take you there."
After thanking him, Green Oriole followed him to the inn.
She rented a room and slept soundly. But when she woke, she found that all the money on her had been stolen—and that she had been violated.
She immediately dragged the innkeeper out and pressed a sword to his throat. Only after interrogating him did she learn that the inn specialized in robbing travelers from out of town. After drugging her, they had seen her beauty and given in to lust.
The villager who had shown her the way had also been paid a cut.
Green Oriole was so furious that she flew into a rage. She immediately went on a killing spree, slaughtering everyone in the inn. Naturally, she spared neither the villager nor his family.
Later, she wrote in her diary, "Never trust others too easily, and never let them have their way."
The story had left a deep impression on Chen Han, but he only half understood its meaning. It hadn't made him grasp the lesson completely.
Closing the book, Chen Han straightened his clothes.
Today, he was going into the city. He had no particular purpose beyond finding out what had been happening there lately.
If the entire front line suddenly collapsed one day and everyone in the city fled together, leaving him behind foolishly cultivating... that would be quite a joke.
When he arrived in the city, Chen Han didn't go to the Chen Family. He merely wandered the streets of the inner city, occasionally sitting in a teahouse to listen to a storyteller recount the latest major events.
There was nothing to worry about at the Chen Mansion. As for Li Muyun, he had already introduced her to Shen Yue. The young girl had given him and Li Muyun a very strange look at the time, as though they owed her money.
But this was only an everyday matter like delivering meals. She wouldn't be petty enough to let Li Muyun go hungry.
Chen Han sat in the teahouse. He wasn't wearing the appearance of a young man at the moment. Instead, he had sharp features and prominent cheekbones, looking every bit like a murderous middle-aged martial artist.
He had learned this disguise technique from the steps Green Oriole described in the book.
Ordinary people couldn't tell the difference, but experienced martial artists with sharp eyes could see through it.
The technique wasn't simple, and Chen Han had spent quite a while struggling with it.
Just then, after finishing a story about his cousin and the widow next door from his childhood, the storyteller steered the conversation toward recent events:
"Now then, a few days ago, someone discovered a rare white iron ore in the wilderness. It's an excellent additive for forging swords. Though our country doesn't favor swords, our neighboring country is different."
"Over there, even little children can wave a sword around and show off a couple of flourishes."
"If all that white iron ore were dug up and sent to the neighboring country, it'd be a massive deal. Just yesterday, the city's wealthy families gathered to discuss it, and in the end, the Xuanyuan Family, one of the richest in the city, came out on top."
"The Xuanyuan Family will lead the mining effort. But that's the wilderness, where Exotic Beasts and fierce birds of prey roam. A big group makes a big target, so the people sent to mine have to be strong and capable. They need to be in their prime—and, better yet, young martial artists at the Transformation Force level."
Chen Han blew on his scalding tea. "Being in their prime is one thing, but young martial artists at the Transformation Force level? I doubt the whole city could scrape together fifty."
The storyteller continued, "Guess how much these people can earn in a single day?"
"They're lords at the Transformation Force level. They must be getting twenty taels of silver."
"Twenty taels? What are you talking about? I couldn't make twenty taels even if I carried water for five years, but they get that in a single day? What makes them so special?"
"You country bumpkin, what do you know? How much have you seen of the world? The city's lords spend two hundred taels on a single meal."
"Are you making that up? How could anyone—"
The place erupted into a commotion.
Hearing that a single meal cost two hundred taels of silver, Chen Han was startled too. He'd heard stories in his previous life about how a steak could cost you an arm and a leg if you bought it from the upper class.
"Hahahaha! Poverty really does limit your imagination. Look, it's this many."
As he spoke, the storyteller held up five fingers.
"Holy crap, fifty taels!"
"I told you those Transformation Force lords had style."
"No..."
The storyteller cut in, "A full two hundred and fifty taels."
The room fell silent for a moment. Even Chen Han choked on his tea.
To be honest, he was genuinely tempted.
Qing Xue's entire fortune only amounted to a little over a thousand taels of silver. If he wanted to, he could earn that much in just five days.
They said a man couldn't get rich without a windfall. But if you wanted money even faster than a windfall, mining was the way to go. He was just a hired hand; the boss would make even more.
"No wonder mine owners were richer than banks in my previous life. This money comes in way faster than robbing a bank."
After making that remark, Chen Han began considering whether he should go earn some extra cash.
The resources he had now weren't nearly enough to cultivate to the next level. When the time came, he would have to find another fast way to make money. He couldn't go around killing people and looting their homes every day.
There were Exotic Beasts in the wilderness, but the deep mountains where he lived had them too. There were just fewer of them.
Besides, even if he ran into an Exotic Beast, he didn't need to beat it or outrun it. As long as he could outrun his fellow workers, he'd live.
The rewards outweighed the risks. This was doable!
Chen Han immediately decided to sign up.
But just then, something occurred to him, and he sat back down.
"Never trust others too easily, and never let them have their way."
"What if this is all a trap? A trap meant to lure him out."
Chen Han's first reaction was that it was impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Who was he, anyway? How could he have that much influence that the whole city would make such a fuss over him?
But the timing was far too convenient. This had come up just during the few days Chen Han had been out of contact. And the requirements—young martial artists at the Transformation Force level—made it sound like this lucrative job had been tailored just for him.
Chen Han murmured to himself, What if... what if someone really is trying to lure me out on purpose?
Before you continue