Opportunity Knocked

Qingfeng Bookstore was packed with scholars.

For all its scholarly air, the scholar on the ground was in a miserable state.

The man surnamed Zhao planted a foot on the scholar's back and spat on the back of his head.

The scholar's face was bruised and swollen. He scrabbled at the ground with both hands, but it did no good.

The scholars watching whispered among themselves.

"Why did he provoke the River Blade Sect?"

"I heard a woman he loved married a River Blade Sect disciple. He couldn't stomach it, so he wrote a poem cursing them."

"He's done for. Provoke the River Blade Sect, and your good days are over."

"I've reported it to the authorities. The constables will be here soon."

Qin An heard them and understood what had happened.

There were plenty of powers around Ding County, and the River Blade Sect was one of them.

It was said that even the Yamen treated the River Blade Sect with great respect, though no one knew exactly why.

Qin An did not make trouble. He stood to one side and watched.

If this were a novel from his previous life, the protagonist would have burned with anger at a sight like this and drawn his blade.

But Qin An would not do that.

This was reality, not a novel.

If he really drew his blade to help, as protagonists did in novels, he would not survive three episodes.

Besides, this was Ding County. It was not his place to intervene. Hadn't someone already said they had reported it to the authorities?

Zhao was still beating the scholar, who was barely breathing.

Just then, footsteps sounded nearby.

Several constables approached from a distance and immediately pulled Zhao away.

Zhao Jinsheng struggled. "What are you doing? Stay out of my business! Even your County Magistrate treats our sect master as an honored guest."

The lead constable had shifty eyes and a furtive face. He hurried to Zhao Jinsheng's ear and said, "Brother Zhao, a death in the city would cause trouble. We're all on the same side, and you've already given him a beating. Let it go."

As he spoke, he signaled to the constables beside him.

One of them hauled the scholar up and slapped him across the face. "You sour old scholar, writing poems like that! Take him to jail for three days."

Zhao Jinsheng saw the crowd around them and knew it really was not a good place to continue.

Besides, he had already vented his anger, so he said no more.

The constable put an arm around Zhao Jinsheng's shoulders. "Brother Zhao, come on. Let's visit the pleasure quarters and help you blow off some steam."

Zhao Jinsheng's eyes lit up. He nodded. "Good, good! You know what I like, brother. I'll be generous and let that sour scholar off."

Before long, Zhao Jinsheng and the constables left together.

The scholars present clenched their fists, angry but afraid to speak.

After what they had seen, they knew the constables and Zhao Jinsheng were in the same pair of trousers.

But they had not earned any official rank. They were ordinary commoners and did not dare get involved.

Their anger had nowhere to go.

Then a few scholars led the way, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

Qin An watched the constables leave. Once the scholars had scattered, he entered the bookstore behind them.

What had happened was only an interruption. Qin An had not forgotten why he had come.

As for that scholar, he would only be locked up for a few days. Keeping his life was already a decent outcome.

Inside the bookstore, rows of shelves greeted him.

Though Qingfeng Bookstore in Ding County was only a branch, the emperor of Great Qian promoted both martial arts and learning. Small as a sparrow, the shop had all its organs.

Qin An was dressed differently from the scholars, but he drew little attention.

Scholars could read books in the shop for free. Taking one out required paying to rent or buy it.

Most of the scholars there at that hour were like Qin An: they had come to read for free.

Qin An went straight to a shelf, picked up a book, and began leafing through it.

His movements were casual, but his gaze was intent.

To raise his proficiency through the Golden Finger, he needed to practice with complete concentration.

After Qin An had read for a while, a line of text floated before his eyes.

[Scholar +1]

Just as I thought. The Scholar Profession only works when I read. Qin An gripped the book tighter.

It was exactly as he had expected: simply reading would increase his proficiency.

Having found what he needed, Qin An continued reading in earnest.

The scholars around him were just as absorbed.

Time passed, and no one in the bookstore disturbed Qin An.

He went out for lunch and dinner at nearby shops, returning each time to keep reading.

Only when the sky glowed with evening clouds did Qin An stop.

[Scholar lv.1 (50/100): Your reading speed has increased slightly]

From morning to evening, he had gained fifty proficiency points.

At this rate, he probably would not reach the peak of level one until tomorrow.

Qin An was in no hurry.

He had endured being stuck at level three in the Butcher Profession for so long. Compared with that, one day felt like nothing.

"The bookstore's about to close. I'll come back tomorrow."

Qin An made up his mind.

He could pay to rent or buy books and keep reading at home.

But he felt that would be unwise.

First, he needed to balance effort with rest. In such turbulent times, he had to keep his mind sharp.

Second, if anyone with an interest in him saw a butcher bringing books home, it might stir up trouble.

Caution was the foundation of survival.

Qin An returned the book to the shelf and headed home.

The sky glowed with evening clouds, and cooking smoke curled up all around.

As Qin An neared the street where he lived, the last colors faded and darkness quietly fell.

Scattered moonlight fell across the street, its only source of light.

Qin An walked through the alley with one hand resting at his waist.

Beyond this alley was his home.

He had gained a great deal today. For the sake of proficiency, he had not even opened his shop.

Fortunately, he had earned plenty during his time as a butcher. A few days without opening would not leave him starving.

Qin An knew what mattered most. He planned to train the Scholar Profession to level three before considering the shop again.

Footsteps sounded ahead, interrupting his thoughts.

Qin An looked toward the sound and saw a drunken man carrying wine, staggering toward him.

In the moonlight, Qin An recognized the man and frowned.

Zhao Jinsheng had just come from Ding County's pleasure quarters. He carried wine he had taken from there and drank as he walked.

"Heh. That rotten little scholar dared write poems insulting the River Blade Sect. Now his soft skin has to suffer in jail. What a shame."

"The girl he grew up with was taken by the young sect master and thrown into the river long ago. He still thinks he lost her because he wasn't good enough."

"What a shame, what a shame! Hahaha!"

Zhao Jinsheng muttered to himself through bleary eyes.

Qin An slowed and passed him.

He had not made out what Zhao Jinsheng was saying, and he had no wish to cause trouble.

Zhao Jinsheng glanced back at Qin An without thinking. He was about to turn away when he noticed the sharp knife at Qin An's waist and paused, deep in thought.

By the time Qin An disappeared down the street, Zhao Jinsheng had come to his senses. Half his drunkenness had vanished.

"He looked like he knew how to use a blade—and not just some farmer's moves. Could he have stumbled on an opportunity?"