Seeking Benefactors

"Before the pure energy rises, before the turbid energy sinks, before the wandering spirit awakens, before the five colors are distinguished, there is something within, and in the the Unseen, its nature exists..."

Zhang Xuezhou stubbornly refused to admit his bad luck, while Dong Zhongshu, suspicious and paranoid, had no choice but to loudly recite the tomb scriptures to pray.

If Zhang Xuezhou has been very lucky lately, it must be because he's incredibly unlucky. His current misfortune is likely a warning sign, which forces Dong Zhongshu to be cautious.

Whether it comes from the heart or actually works, there's nothing wrong with reciting it.

"Master Dong, hasn't your wish to be cured been fulfilled?"

Zhang Xuezhou muttered something, but Dong Zhongshu ignored him. Zhang Xuezhou had no choice but to signal Rong Tianding to repeat after him.

Why not learn the scriptures of the grave? You never know, maybe one day your wish will come true.

After all, Zhang Xuezhou has already achieved his goal.

He watched Dong Zhongshu recite the tomb scriptures with utter boredom, and occasionally glanced at the thick cloth scroll of the Yellow Sand Sect's secret manual, the Yellow Sand Technique, on the ground.

With such a deadly thing inside his body, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but be thankful that he wasn't the type to rummage around carelessly; if he had made one wrong step, he might have been killed on the spot.

"But I have the Poison Repelling Technique, and I'm currently at the half-step Opening Qi stage, so maybe I can pull through!"

Zhang Xuezhou thought about it, but ultimately didn't dare to be so stubborn as to test just how resistant he was to poison.

"It's all because those Venerable Ones from the Yedie River Holy Land have dirty hands!"

The gifts that the Dharma Master presented to Hongku were rarely tampered with, for fear of being exposed and kicked out on the spot. But it was normal for the Venerable One to tamper with them. Tampering at this level is difficult to detect. Or perhaps this was simply a normal interaction among the Venerable Ones of the Yedie River Holy Land, and the gifts were bound to have some minor flaws.

For example, the fruit of Venerable Lei, the secret scriptures of the Huangsha Sect in front of us, the black and white twin horses, and even the Dingyang Stone that Zhang Xuezhou threw away.

"I seem to be having the worst luck lately. Everything I do goes wrong, and whenever I try to get something for myself, I have to ask someone to help me get rid of the bad luck!"

Zhang Xuezhou felt that his physiognomy skills were somewhat effective; at least, since he had been suspicious, his suspicions had indeed been correct.

Without the influence of a noble person, his bad luck would undoubtedly prevail.

"For example, Zhang Qian allowed me to enter Yanmen Pass, the Buddha's staff saved my sleepiness, His Majesty appeared in the inn and bestowed upon me a Vajra Talisman, and Master Dong protected me from a poisonous disaster..."

Zhang Xuezhou pondered the connection to physiognomy and also considered the 'luck' that the Daoist Master had repeatedly inquired about.

He realized that his "luck" had encountered some kind of problem at the Xieluosi River Holy Land, leading to a series of misfortunes.

If it weren't for a benefactor's help, he would have been very unlucky.

"So, Hongku, the Venerable Black Mountain, the Venerable White Bone, and others can also be considered my benefactors?"

Many people undoubtedly played important roles in his life during that month, which helped Zhang Xuezhou overcome the difficulties and get rid of the trouble.

"Master Dong, do you think there are any other ways to change one's luck besides studying Buddhist scriptures?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

The matter of 'luck' has been discussed by Zhang Xuezhou and others time and time again. Studying the Huang-Lao philosophy is one way to deal with it, but Zhang Xuezhou has already finished studying it, and it is quite difficult to make the Tomb Classic fulfill his wish again.

Zhang Xuezhou had never cared about such mystical superstitions as 'fortune' before, but after being taught physiognomy by Hongku and receiving many pointers from Dong Zhongshu, Zhang Xuezhou felt that there was still a certain taboo to the Unseen.

He wasn't one of those stubborn people who wanted to defy fate. The spirit of perseverance didn't exist for him. Zhang Xuezhou was more interested in taking advantage of the situation, hoping to have good luck and the help of benefactors.

"What do you mean by that? Is there something wrong with you?" Dong Zhongshu asked warily, wiping his mouth.

"How could I possibly have a problem? Look at the treasures I've gotten! How could someone like me have bad luck?" Zhang Xuezhou waved his hands repeatedly and said, "If this 'Yellow Sand Sect Secret Scroll Yellow Sand Technique' doesn't count, then this Vajra Talisman should, right?"

"This..."

"If this doesn't count, I'll bring you another good treasure in a few days, and you can see for yourself who's unlucky!"

Zhang Xuezhou stubbornly maintained his composure.

Knowing this in his heart was one thing, but actually replying to Dong Zhongshu was another.

He absolutely cannot admit that he's a loser.

He likes influential people, but no influential person likes a loser. Even Zhang Xuezhou himself doesn't want to be around unlucky people; he prefers to keep as far away as possible.

"You mean you have another treasure?" Dong Zhongshu asked suspiciously.

"Absolutely," Zhang Xuezhou nodded, "But I have to go to sleep tonight, so I can only bring it up in a few days to study it with you!"

"Have you calculated the treasure?" Dong Zhongshu continued to ask.

"It definitely counts," Zhang Xuezhou affirmed. "I think it's better than the 'Yellow Sand Sect Secret Scroll: Yellow Sand Technique'!"

"Then I'll check it out in a few days!"

Dong Zhongshu nodded.

Since Zhang Xuezhou is having such good luck, then he's the one with the worst luck.

Dong Zhongshu touched his still swollen lips, a hint of fear creeping into his eyes.

Given his current situation—he almost got poisoned just by flipping through a book—the risks in the murky waters of Chang'an City are extremely high; he could easily be killed.

"You must keep a low profile, avoid public appearances, avoid recklessness, and cultivate connections with influential people... influential people... influential people..."

In the Han Dynasty, the newest and most influential person was undoubtedly the new emperor.

If the new emperor can establish a stable position, then the new emperor will be the greatest benefactor.

Dong Zhongshu felt that only if the new emperor took care of him could he possibly avoid such misfortune.

However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined around an emperor; the greatest fortune may also conceal the greatest calamity. This requires Dong Zhongshu to be mindful of the appropriate measure when acting.

"Zhang Xuezhou should be considered a minor benefactor!"

When judging the influential figures within the imperial court, Dong Zhongshu felt that Zhang Xuezhou also possessed an air of nobility; otherwise, he wouldn't have had such a string of good fortunes.

He grinned awkwardly at Zhang Xuezhou, relieved that the poisoning incident that had nearly killed him was now behind him.

Having a distinguished person in your family is obviously a great advantage, even if you're just sleeping in a mansion.

"Let's tidy up the room and wait until you're awake after you've had a good night's sleep," Dong Zhongshu said. "This scroll of 'Yellow Sand Sect Secret Scroll: Yellow Sand Technique' contains a potent poison, but the contents are also genuine. As long as you don't touch it, you won't be poisoned. We can discuss it further then!"

"Become!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded in agreement and replied with the same comment.

"I recently mastered an avatar technique; we can study it thoroughly later!"

"An external avatar technique? Really? I've never heard of such a thing. Is it a technique that uses a treasure to manifest? Can you explain in detail? Can you get your hands on it? Which school of thought is it from? Is it another secret manual? Are there any traps or mechanisms in the manual...?"

Dong Zhongshu was astonished, feeling that Zhang Xuezhou was a treasure trove after just over a month.

The secret manual of the Huangsha Sect is indeed a great fortuitous opportunity, and the external avatar mentioned by Zhang Xuezhou, regardless of which possibility it is, cannot be of a low level.

This is equivalent to taking out a high-grade B-level technique, and then being able to take out a possible A-level or B-level technique.

Dong Zhongshu felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his opinion of Zhang Xuezhou, this minor nobleman, undoubtedly rose even higher.

Regardless of how noble Zhang Xuezhou may be towards others, he certainly treats him with great nobility.

"It's all because I'm too unlucky; I couldn't even handle the benefits he offered!"

Once things are decided, one can easily fall into a cognitive trap.

At least Dong Zhongshu felt that the problem lay with himself, not Zhang Xuezhou.