Li Xian sighed, "If you’re not shrewd, you really can’t beco a Martial Artist." He disembarked to stretch his legs.
This place lay in Huaiyin Prefecture, Huai An County. Considered a prosperous water village, with diverse river networks. Li Xian walked slowly along a waterway, and soon ca upon a village. As far as the eye could see, the waterfields were neatly arranged, with farrs working diligently in the fields.
Such a prosperous water village...
Li Xian thought to himself, "In previous years, by this month, the Qiong Heavenly Mansion would already be blanketed in heavy snow. Yet here, it still feels like spring, apart from the slightly cool weather, it truly is a rich land."
Dongran Lake is quite mysterious. The existence of this lake affects the surrounding climate, making the alternation of seasons not very distinct. Li Xian strolled aimlessly in his leisure ti, wandering into the fields and conversing with farrs about farming, and playing with children while passing through the village.
In this manner, a day passed leisurely. At night, he made a fire in the wild and slept. Early the next morning, he casually road the nearby town. Although Peach Blossom Town was tranquil and harmonious, its scale was indeed quite small.
This town was extrely bustling, with throngs of people, and a strong sense of lively atmosphere everywhere. Carriages, both horse-drawn and ox-pulled, could be seen throughout the streets. Occasionally, one would also see wealthy young masters, riding past in luxurious carriages with an air of arrogance in their expressions.
Li Xian encountered He Wafu, a disciple with intricate designs. He was sitting in a restaurant, his arms around a charming beauty, indulging in pleasure. They exchanged a glance, each nodding slightly, and then went their separate ways.
For this trip, Li Xian carried over forty taels of silver, sufficient for ordinary shopping. He first went to a local eatery for a al, and after eating and drinking to his fill, he proceeded to the Black Market to hunt for goods.
The Black Market was located on the west side of the town, where the light was relatively dim. The pedestrians were quite mixed, and the stalls were simple: a coarse cloth was laid on the ground, displaying wares for sale. Items included herbs, remnants of Martial Arts manuals, various sundries...
Whenever Li Xian encountered remnants of Martial Arts manuals, he would always take a few glances. The vendor would invariably make exaggerated claims, praising Li Xian’s good eye for spotting such a Divine Skill Secret Manual at a glance. If he bought it and practiced diligently, he would definitely beco invincible in the world soday, winning the beauty’s heart and so on.
When Li Xian asked for the price, the vendor would shout exaggerated prices, opening his mouth to demand a hundred or a thousand taels. If Li Xian intended to leave, the vendor would hurriedly lower the price, willing to sell for several tens of taels, or even ten taels.
The Black Market was a mix of good and bad, naturally with many tricksters. But there were also a few peculiar items. In a corner of the Black Market, there was an old blind man swaying his head, muttering so strange words.
Li Xian walked up to the stall. "Old man, what are you selling here?" he asked, casually picking up the only remnant book on the stall to examine it.
The old blind man said, "Young Hero, see for yourself, it’s on the book’s cover." Li Xian read the three words on the book cover aloud: "Pulse Pinch Technique?"
The old blind man shook his head and said, "It’s ’Kan Pulse Pinch Technique.’ One corner of the book is damaged, the ’Kan’ character is missing."
Li Xian thought to himself that he already had a significant amount of Martial Arts knowledge and still needed ti to cultivate it. Whether this Pulse Pinch Technique was real or fake, he need not bother with it. But out of sheer curiosity, he casually asked, "What mystery does this Kan Pulse Pinch Technique hold?"
The old blind man clapped his hands and said, "Young Hero, you asked the right person. This Kan Pulse Pinch Technique... is not Martial Arts."
Li Xian was intrigued and asked, "Then what is it?" The old blind man stroked his beard and laughed, "It seems today I’ve encountered a destined person."
Li Xian laughed and said, "Old man, don’t deceive . I’m just looking, not necessarily going to buy." At hearing the words "destined person," he couldn’t help but think of "big fool."
The old blind man shook his head and laughed, "I’ve been sitting here for thirty-four days. I have encountered one thousand two hundred and sixty-four visitors. Every ti I told them this book wasn’t Martial Arts, they would imdiately turn and leave. The fact that you’re still here indicates you lack nothing in Martial Arts. You visit the Black Market with a detached mindset, not looking for bargains or cheap thrills."
Li Xian laughed and said, "That might not be the case. If a bargain cos my way, why would I refuse?" The old blind man laughed even more, "Good, good. How rare to see such openness."
Li Xian said, "Old man, you still haven’t said, what exactly is this Kan Pulse Pinch Technique?" The old blind man said, "Young Hero, why don’t you take a guess?"
Li Xian pondered for a mont and said, "Generally, if a book’s cover contains the word ’Pulse,’ it must refer to ridians. If it’s Martial Arts, it would involve techniques of seizing and controlling ridians. If it’s not Martial Arts... then it refers to pulse diagnosis, related to the art of healing."
He then said, "But it doesn’t seem like that to . Please, old man, speak plainly."
The old blind man chuckled and said, "This Pulse Pinch Technique indeed involves pulse pinching, but it’s not about pinching a person’s pulse, but rather a river’s pulse."
Li Xian was taken aback, thinking to himself, "River pulse? With the Great Wu Dynasty having so many complex and intricate river systems, no one so far can consolidate and unify the river systems of the entire land. What can be the rationale for pinching river pulses? Is this old man deliberately trying to deceive with his words?"
The old blind man swayed his head and said, "In ancient tis, there was a scholar nad Zhang Zhisong, who wished to organize the river systems of the entire land and compile them into a River Book. If this is accomplished, do you know its significance?"
Li Xian pondered, "For ordinary citizens, confined to one locale, the river systems of the entire land might not matter much to them. But in the context of the Dynasty, if every river system is compiled into a book, with unified nas, the Dynasty would certainly be unprecedentedly powerful."
"Transportation of goods, cultural exchanges, and even local governance."
The old blind man was slightly surprised, "Good Young Hero, your vision and scope are indeed impressive. Yes, if the ’River Book’ were to erge, not only would there be a complete grasp of the land’s river systems, it even holds the qualification to dominate the world. Wherever there is water, life can thrive ceaselessly."
"If you were to command troops, transporting them via waterways, you could strike unexpectedly, using your troops as if performing magic. You understand the power of this, don’t you?"
Li Xian nodded silently, then laughed and said, "Unfortunately, I have no interest in conquest." Then added, "Besides, the major affairs of the world aren’t for a poor boy like to worry about."
The old blind man said, "That Zhang Zhisong was indeed too concerned. This man was born into tis of chaos and witnessed the strife of the turbulent era. From humble beginnings, he fought for a thread of fortune."
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