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Shen Tang took another bite. The sourness almost made her features shift. "Although it's very sour, and each Spirit Language only produces one, making the yield low, it's good as long as it's edible." After all, these were green plums obtained for free; she couldn't be too demanding. She planned to make more, and later turn them into preserved green plums, salted plums, or plum wine. Since it was a cost-free business, even if she couldn't make a huge profit, it should be enough to feed herself. She carefully picked a large, very green plum that looked extremely sour and handed it to Qi Shan. "Here, Mr. Qi, would you like to try it?"
Qi Shan didn't take it immediately. He first looked down at the green plum in her hand, then lifted his eyelids to see Shen Tang's triumphant smile of "getting something for nothing from a fat wolf." His eyebrow twitched fiercely, and a vein seemed to pulse faintly on his forehead. Did this young lord truly not know...?
After a long while, Qi Shan sighed and took the plum. He wiped it casually with his sleeve and took a bite. It was indeed sour! Both the feel and the taste were identical to an unripe green plum. Seeing Qi Shan's expression management gradually falter, Shen Tang chuckled, "If they were riper, the taste would probably be even better. I wonder if there's a Spirit Language that can conjure wine. If so, brewing some plum wine and hiding it away, then enjoying tea, wine, and plums by the lake when winter snow falls, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Qi Shan looked at Shen Tang with a complex expression. He sighed, "If you think it's good, then it's good. Just don't regret your rash actions today..."
Shen Tang's plum-eating paused. She looked puzzled: "Mr. Qi, what do you mean by that...? Conjuring things isn't a good thing? I'll regret it?"
"For others, it's naturally a good thing, but for you—it might not be a blessing." His gaze at Shen Tang was tinged with regret, as if she had lost a great treasure without even knowing it. Before Shen Tang could press for details, his tone abruptly shifted, "Of course, if young lord Shen has no great ambitions, and merely seeks two full meals and a roof over his head, then this can indeed be considered a good thing."
Shen Tang chewed her green plum. On the surface, she looked "bewildered," but inwardly, her brows were furrowed. She tried to deduce why Qi Shan would say such a thing. She tentatively asked, "Is it related to my Literary Heart?" Qi Shan was surprised by her keenness, nodding: "It is somewhat related."
Shen Tang adopted an attentive posture, but to her surprise, Qi Shan was uncooperative and didn't intend to elaborate. What did he say? That the national seal the Gong clan hid might be on young lord Shen? Even if he had no interest in the national seal, young lord Shen might not think the same way. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, it was better to pretend not to know. Most importantly, he suspected young lord Shen's Literary Heart had already resonated with the national seal, unintentionally awakening the "Way of Feudal Lords."
The relationship between Literary Heart, Martial Courage, and the National Seal was very special. The National Seal could not only stabilize the nation's destiny and repel foreign enemies, but also possessed a very crucial ability: the "Way of Feudal Lords." A feudal lord with a Literary Heart and Martial Courage, holding the National Seal, had the chance to resonate with the National Seal and, according to their inner thoughts, randomly acquire a special ability. Feudal lords often chose "Command," "Affinity with the People," or "Support," and some could even empower the Literary Heart and Martial Courage of their subordinates, thus attracting many talented and extraordinary individuals to serve them. He didn't know Shen Tang's Way of Feudal Lords, but it was definitely related to "agriculture." Otherwise, how could she conjure green plums? A feudal lord with "agricultural" talent... Just hearing it, one knew there was no future in it. However, young lord Shen didn't seem to have much ambition, only seeking self-preservation, so this ability was extremely suitable, at least she wouldn't starve.
Shen Tang, her heart restless with curiosity, "..." I hate it when people leave you hanging, making you guess.
"Sir doesn't wish to elaborate, and naturally has his reasons. Logically, I shouldn't ask too much, but it concerns me, after all..." Shen Tang used a passive-aggressive approach, probing from various angles, "I'm guessing, is there something wrong with my Literary Heart? Is this problem serious... can it be remedied?" Qi Shan answered succinctly, "No." To his knowledge, one National Seal corresponded to one feudal lord and one "Way of Feudal Lords." This innate ability also required the National Seal as a medium to activate, and aside from one situation, it was generally fixed for life.
What situation? Death! Nothing but death could change it! As long as young lord Shen was alive, this National Seal in her hand could only possess its current ability—the only benefit being that she wouldn't starve. If young lord Shen had ambitions, then she was in for a miserable time. A failed beginning, a congenital defect, simply no match for other jackals and tigers.
Watching Qi Shan's expression gradually grow solemn, Shen Tang felt the green plum in her hand no longer tasted good. She—was she going to die soon? For a moment, countless thoughts swirled and flashed in her mind. If Qi Shan hadn't spoken to pull her thoughts back, she might have imagined herself sickly lying down, writing her will.
"Young lord Shen, besides the green plums from 'quenching thirst with plums,' can you conjure other things?"
Shen Tang shook her head: "I don't know, but I can try."
Qi Shan pulled out another scroll and pointed to a passage of Spirit Language on it, saying, "Then try this Spirit Language—"
Shen Tang leaned in, muttering, "'Drawing cakes to satisfy hunger, but they cannot be eaten'?"
"This Spirit Language is similar to 'quenching thirst with plums'." Since 'quenching thirst with plums' could conjure green plums, this Spirit Language might conjure large biscuits. Shen Tang said, "But since it says 'cannot be eaten,' how can the drawn biscuits be eaten? Wouldn't it be better to simplify it to 'drawing a cake to satisfy hunger'?" Biscuits were more filling than green plums. Although green plums were fresh, they were too small and sour. Shen Tang's iron stomach dared not eat too many. After just twenty or so, her gums were numb from the sourness.
However, after trying a dozen times, nothing happened. She felt a bit discouraged. Her gaze inadvertently swept over the densely packed Spirit Language notes on the scroll, and her eyes lit up. Her finger moved, stopping on a passage of text: "Mr. Qi, compared to drawing cakes, I find this passage more interesting—'Turning stone into gold, enough to pay taxes!' "
"Turning stone into gold?" He instantly understood Shen Tang's little scheme.
"That's right, turning stone into gold! How many jin of green plums and large biscuits can a small piece of gold buy? In terms of value, this Spirit Language is naturally higher. Not only that—there's also 'golden house to keep a mistress,' that can be arranged too, but I don't know if it conjures a 'golden house' or a 'mistress.' If it's a 'mistress,' is this 'mistress' male or female, beautiful or ugly..."
Qi Shan looked at Shen Tang as if he were looking at a fool daydreaming. Not old, but dreaming big.
"If you're not afraid of sudden death, you can certainly try."
Shen Tang: "???"
Qi Shan sneered, "The value and effect of Spirit Language depend on the consumption of the Literary Heart. The stronger the Literary Heart, the greater the consumption, and the stronger the Spirit Language's power. If one forcibly uses a Spirit Language beyond their ability, failure is one thing—at most a period of weakness. But once successful—it will inevitably backfire on the wielder. For example, shortened lifespan, early death in one's prime, plagued by illness, confined to a sickbed, or even bleeding from all seven orifices, dying on the spot. Throughout history, such tragedies are commonplace. Young lord Shen, don't, out of momentary curiosity and greed, follow in their footsteps."
A green plum, a biscuit—how could their value compare to gold, silver, and jade? Everything came at a price.