"Alright."
Seeing Li Ang's determined attitude, Yu Miaoshui was also straightforward. He slapped the armrests of his chair, snatched up his folding fan, and rose to leave the room.
Ai Rong hesitated for a moment but still put away the B Version Contract. Before leaving, he softly reminded, "Risheng, Doctor Yu has extensive connections with pawnshops, banks, and temples. You have just over a month before you participate in the provincial examination; it's best not to get distracted."
"Risheng understands."
Li Ang nodded. Ai Rong's words were a reminder of two things.
First, Yu Miaoshui has connections in pawnshops and banks, so I shouldn't even think about borrowing money from elsewhere.
Second, what Yu Miaoshui truly fears is my status as a scholar. If I didn't hold this status as a State Scholar, Yu Miaoshui would have long since used cunning measures to seize the Security Hall.
Having said his piece, Ai Rong cupped his hands in a farewell gesture and departed.
Watching their figures disappear into the street, Chai Cuiqiao ground her teeth in anger and said anxiously, "Young Master..."
"What's the rush?"
Li Ang shook his head and walked over to close the main gate. "They have a formal, signed contract, and there's even a copy at the Government Office. The procedure and reasons are both perfectly legitimate. We can't just forcibly stop them from leaving, can we?"
"But..."
Chai Cuiqiao stamped her foot. "That's one hundred and fifty strings of coins!"
"I know."
Li Ang slid the bolt on the gate, clapped his hands, and turned to his maid, smiling. "Alright, I have a way to handle this. Let's leave it at that for today. You go start the fire for cooking and prepare the meal. Once I've put this Scroll Book away, I'll go out to buy groceries and fruit. I was in a hurry when I came back, so I still haven't bought those Fenghua Peaches I promised you."
"...Young Master, you really are carefree."
Chai Cuiqiao remarked sincerely, but Li Ang's calm confidence did ease her nerves somewhat. She quickly added, "The Fenghua Peaches should be soft but not mushy. If they're too soft, they won't taste good."
"Alright, alright, I know."
Li Ang waved his hand, sending his young maid off to start the fire and cook. He took the Shangqing Linggan Chapter to the study, placed it with the other Scroll Books they had, and then headed north out the door.
One hundred and fifty strings of coins.
That was indeed a substantial sum.
In Yizhou City, it could pay for the repair of fifteen wells, the construction of three pavilions, or the purchase of two top-quality horses. A lower-class family would have to toil relentlessly for four whole years, without eating or drinking, just to save up that much.
Li Ang first went to the head of Yizhou Bridge and strolled around. He glanced at the wooden signboard there, covered with various wanted posters. Then, he went to the South City dock to observe the dockworkers toiling away, pondering absently as he walked.
One hundred and fifty strings of coins, less forty-one, still left a shortfall of one hundred and nine strings.
He didn't plan to bother Aunt Song next door. Although her family's Lansheng Building was doing very well, and they could probably scrape together a hundred strings, he had already troubled Aunt Song enough on a daily basis. Besides, the expenses for his parents' funeral hadn't even been properly calculated yet.
He also didn't plan to seek out Pu Liuxuan.
Pu Liuxuan had only just received the letter confirming his reinstatement as a Professor at the Academic Palace. Meanwhile, Yu Miaoshui was using the Xinglin Society and legitimate reasons to try and buy the Security Hall; there was no pretext for Pu Liuxuan to interfere.
As for using the status of an Academic Palace Disciple to pressure Yu Miaoshui...
Then again, I'm not actually an Academic Palace Disciple yet—not even a preparatory student. I just have a recommendation letter.
Besides, if word got out that I was using the Academic Palace's recommendation letter to meddle in affairs, it would surely cause trouble. Someone might report me to the officials out of jealousy, or to eliminate a potential competitor.
Since the other party has made their move, I'll just have to meet it.
After a day of observation in Yizhou City, Li Ang felt he had a plan.
***
"Absorb the essence of the sun and moon, pursue the wonders of the two luminaries, a treasure of utmost marvel, the highest of treasures..."
"To practice any wondrous transformation, one must first transform the self; he who transforms himself must first set his will upon the Dao..."
The night had grown deep. Under the dim glow of an oil lamp, Li Ang read the obscure text on the Scroll Book, having to stop every so often to close his eyes and rest. The profound difficulty of the text was one reason; the dimness of the oil lamp was another. Originally, the oil lamps used in Yu Country were designed like lotus flowers, with two dishes: the lower one was filled with water, and the upper one held the oil. When in use, the wick in the oil dish was lit. Because the lower dish contained water, the wick's temperature remained relatively low, naturally slowing its burning rate. This reduced the lamp's oil consumption and extended its burning time. This type of oil-saving lamp was a necessary measure born out of the scarcity and high cost of oil. It wasn't until fifty years ago, when the Academic Palace improved the technology by inventing glass and new oil-refining methods, that new-style glass oil lamps became available. It had a glass lampshade for wind protection, and a knob allowed one to control the wick's length, shortening or extending it. Besides saving oil, it also allowed for brightness control.
It's already quite close to the modern oil lamps I remember.
Still, it's too dim.
Li Ang rubbed his aching eyes and placed the Shangqing Linggan Chapter on the table.
I can't understand it at all.
It's like a Heavenly Book. I recognize every character individually, but when they're strung together, I'm completely baffled.
Weren't you supposed to feel warm currents flowing through your body when reading cultivation manuals? Where are they?
Li Ang hesitated for a moment, then stood up. He jumped lightly in the room a couple of times, then struck poses from the callisthenics routines done by elementary and middle school students. From "The Rising Sun" and "Young Eagle Takes Flight" to "The Era is Calling" and "Youthful Dance," from extension exercises to stretching movements, he even did a quick headstand.
Absolutely no sensation of warmth.
Chai Chai, who slept in a different bed in the same room, had long been asleep. Stirred by the noise, she drowsily turned over, her body snuggled in the quilt, only her small, fair face visible. Eyes closed, she murmured in her sleep, "Young Master... do you need to use the latrine...?"
"What are you even saying?"
Li Ang's expression darkened. He righted himself from the headstand, dusted off his palms, and said softly, "Go back to sleep, quickly now."
"Oh."
Chai Cuiqiao, like a silkworm in its cocoon, wriggled and turned over. Soon, the sound of her soft breathing and quiet sleep-talking followed: "Cherry Biluo, HEH HEH... lychee, HEH HEH... red bean paste dumpling, HEH HEH..."
She even dreams about food. This maid is hopeless.
Li Ang rolled his eyes in exasperation, then turned to look at the half-closed Scroll Book on the table, rubbing his aching brow.
Weren't transmigrators supposed to come with golden thighs? Forget golden thighs; even a golden finger would do!
Could it be that I haven't triggered it successfully yet?
Li Ang took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and silently called out in the ocean of his consciousness, "System? System?"
No response.
Deep Blue? Wind Spirit Moon Shadow? Where are the cheats? Where are the cheats? Save me!
Still no response.
Li Ang opened his eyes. He calmed his breathing for a few seconds, then began to pace gravely around the room in a counter-clockwise square, his lips barely moving as he chanted, "Fusheng Xuanhuang Immortal Venerable, Fusheng Xuanhuang Heavenly Monarch, Fusheng Xuanhuang God, Fusheng Xuanhuang Heavenly Monarch..."
After waiting a moment... still no response.
Right, I knew it.
Li Ang slapped his forehead and resignedly accepted reality. He tied the Scroll Book with a thin string, hung it at the head of his bed, turned off the oil lamp, and lay down on the other bed in the room.
His mind filled with thoughts of the Academic Palace, cultivation, water wells, and one hundred and fifty strings of coins, he drifted into a heavy sleep.