Volume One: The Young Monk Returns to the Secular World Chapter Seventy-Three: A Glimmer of Light

As expected from someone capable of writing booklets, that little monk—although his words are infuriating—is undeniably a person of great talent...

If only it were really possible...

At this thought, Qin Xuanxuan’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. A monk could never marry, and she certainly didn’t want to marry him...

But then... whom should she marry?

The more she pondered, the more she realized that all those scholars she once admired were utterly eclipsed by Xiao Yan...

How vexing...

Agitated, Qin Xuanxuan shook her head, trying to rid herself of these shameful thoughts.

Yet, no matter how hard she tried, her mind was filled with Xiao Yan’s manner of speaking. She kept replaying his last words over and over in her heart.

“I have a plan—bring me the map.”

“Bring me the map... I’ll take you all to soar...”

Thinking of this, Qin Xuanxuan gritted her teeth in frustration. “How annoying... He won’t even tell me how he’s going to do it... The map is such an important thing, I can’t just hand it over...”

But what use could this map possibly be?

Could he really intend to go and steal it?

No, that can’t be right!

Suddenly, a thought struck her—she remembered...

Selling grain!

She recalled that not long ago, Xiao Yan had been selling grain to exchange for rice bran. He seemed to have a purpose, always seeking out the great clans directly, selling to some at high prices, to others cheaply...

But... only a load to each family?

So it really was premeditated? Was he gathering information before making a move?

How could a little monk like him possibly be a match for all these great clans?

If that was truly his plan, then all the more reason not to give him the map... But what if he really did have a solution?

How troubling...

“Xuanxuan?”

At that moment, Qin Shirong’s voice came from outside the door. “Still awake? Don’t worry too much, your father will find a way...”

“Mm, Father... I... Today...” Qin Xuanxuan hesitated.

“Oh? Is something on your mind?” Qin Shirong noticed her faintly blushing face and immediately understood.

The steward had mentioned it earlier—Qin Xuanxuan had gone to see Xiao Yan today.

“It’s... It’s nothing...” Qin Xuanxuan replied, clutching the paper in her hand a little tighter.

Qin Shirong caught a glimpse of the paper she was holding, but only saw the ugly handwriting and didn’t look closely. He frowned, asking, “Xuanxuan, what are you holding?”

“Oh... Just some nonsense Xiao Yan scribbled down. It’s not worth reading...” Qin Xuanxuan, embarrassed, hid the paper behind her back.

Qin Shirong laughed, regarding her with the knowing gaze of an experienced man. “Youth truly is wonderful...”

“Father, it’s not what you think...” Qin Xuanxuan tried to explain, but her protest was clearly futile.

Qin Shirong, unsurprised, shook his head and sighed, turning to leave. Without looking back he said, “If anything happens to me, go to Xiao Yan immediately...”

In his view, Xiao Yan’s method of trading grain for rice bran was rather childish, but the boy wasn’t without his wits.

At that moment, Qin Xuanxuan hesitated, then said, “Xiao Yan... You could try seeking him out. He says he has a solution...”

Qin Shirong shook his head with a chuckle, replying half-heartedly, “All right...”

A solution? Impossible...

In such a predicament, no one could possibly have a way out...

After the disaster victims left, the members of the Yue and Li families spent the night with Qin Shirong, discussing matters cordially.

“Lord Qin, please do not force the other clans to sell their grain at low prices. The Li family is willing to sell at a reduced price,” Li Bai said sincerely.

“No, Brother Li, with a catastrophe upon us, how can we concern ourselves with mere gold and silver? The Yue family is willing to donate half our stores of rice to help relieve the crisis,” Yue Badou declared righteously.

On the surface, Qin Shirong was all smiles, but inwardly he could barely contain his desire to send these two “heroes” packing.

Li Bai, at least, seemed to have a shred of sincerity—after all, as one of the top ten families, offering to sell grain at a lower price might help push the price down a bit. But compared to his plan, it would only bring the price from sixty taels down to perhaps fifty—what good was that? Whether it was sixty or fifty taels, at best a few more people would survive, but in the end, most would still perish.

Yue Badou, on the other hand, was full of empty words. To say they would donate half their grain—how was that defined? Likely, a few hundred sacks would be handed over, and the matter would be considered settled.

So the situation now was this: compromise with the great clans, or face a dead end...

...

At a disaster relief camp, a bald little monk sat by a fire, his face clouded with worry, deep in thought.

Suddenly, a voice spoke: “Heh... weakling... Let me help you. I’m fully charged, might as well stretch a bit...”

“Oh? If you can manipulate filth across thin air, can you conjure grain from nothing?”

“What do you take me for, a deity?”

“Then do you have some peerless skill to steal all the great clans’ grain in one breath?”

“I might have been able to do that in life. Now? Hardly.”

“Less talk, more answers—can you or can’t you?”

“No.”

“Stupid Fahai, get lost, this has nothing to do with you...”

Fahai: Good heavens... These are the top ten great clans! Not to mention Li Bai, the greatest master under heaven—Yue Badou is no less formidable... Even at my peak, I couldn’t guarantee victory against Yue Badou.

“So that’s why you’re just a weakling... The most useless golden finger in history, bar none... What use are you?”

Fahai: Don’t you dare threaten me by using the excrement artifact on yourself.

“Enough, I’m the world’s greatest genius, you’re just a power bank. You’ll see what real technique is.”

...

Before long, two figures approached from the distance.

The little monk sat quietly by the fire, and the two who arrived were the Chen siblings—Chen Buqun and Chen Shuwan.

The two listened intently as the little monk spoke. Whenever he mentioned a key point, they both frowned thoughtfully.

The moon grew fuller, and the light of the approaching Mid-Autumn Festival seemed to stir yearning in the heart.

“So? Did you understand everything? Any questions?” Xiao Yan asked with a furrowed brow.

“Yes, it’s clear now,” they replied in unison.

“Wonderful... Once this is done, Father will be so happy...” Chen Shuwan was so excited she nearly rushed over to kiss Xiao Yan.

“Yes, Master truly is impressive,” Chen Buqun nodded.

Fahai: You really are a talent. Good thing I recognized your potential and taught you how to manipulate filth from afar right from the start...

“But you’re really devious, you little rascal... I really want to know what goes on in that head of yours. How do you even come up with such cunning schemes?” Chen Shuwan squinted at Xiao Yan with a teasing smile.

“Mind your words! This is called resourcefulness,” Xiao Yan corrected her, patting Chen Buqun’s bald head.

“But the hardest part is still how to get the map,” Chen Buqun said, frowning.

“As for that... leave the hardest part to me,” Xiao Yan said, patting his chest.

“Then I’ll go talk to Father about that matter,” Chen Shuwan said.

“All right, then I have no choice,” Chen Buqun said, shaking his head in mock dejection.

“Don’t be disheartened, Yuanfang... Master believes in you,” Xiao Yan said, giving him a thumbs-up.

...

“Master, you’re a bit biased. Why doesn’t Senior Brother Lin Dong have a Dharma name?” Chen Buqun complained.

“Oh, he does...”

“What is it?”

“Yuan... Yuanji.”

“Mm, that’s a fine Dharma name!”

“...”

...

PS: This is a new book. If you enjoy it, please recommend it, and help spread the word through any means you can. I would be deeply grateful!