On the road from Qiushui Pavilion to Shenbing Peak.
After about a stick of incense’s worth of walking.
Up ahead, the mountain gate came into view.
At this moment, a long line had formed in front of the gate.
An outer sect steward sat there, greeting newcomers and sending off those leaving, with a pile of identity tokens stacked in front of him.
“Li Zhenchuang.”
Seeing Li Mo, the old lady gave a curtsey.
Although Zhenchuang disciples lacked real power within the sect, in terms of status, they naturally ranked higher than outer sect stewards.
Li Mo recognized the old lady; she’d even read his fortune and determined his mediocre talent back then.
Surrounding outer disciples who came to hand in their tokens looked at his white cloud-patterned robe with envy.
Yet, no one hesitated, one by one handing their tokens to the old lady and walking out of the mountain gate with a slumped bag.
“What’s going on with them?”
Li Mo couldn’t help but be curious.
Right now, it shouldn’t be the time for outer disciples to be dismissed, right?
So why were so many queuing to hand in their tokens, looking like they wanted to quit the Qingyuan Sect?
“Because the sect’s trial is coming up. Since it’s called a trial, it’s risky,” the old lady explained, extending her left hand, where only three fingers remained.
“Ah, I see.”
After a moment of thought, Li Mo understood her meaning.
Not everyone had the confidence to compete for an inner sect spot.
Staying meant participating in the sect’s trial.
If they fell disabled and didn’t enter the inner sect, they’d eventually be expelled, leaving them with even life’s basics in jeopardy.
Dying during a trial wasn’t impossible either.
“Many come in without even thinking about entering the inner sect.”
The old lady shook her head, casually placing the collected identity tokens aside.
For many, learning some skills in the outer sect and returning home to open a martial arts school, or even becoming a constable, was a decent future.
Li Mo couldn’t help but feel a bit moved.
Martial arts was a reversing river; most people weren’t even fish swimming against the current, just sand caught up in the water.
If it weren’t for his lucky charm, his future likely wouldn’t be much better than that.
He’d probably end up back in the county under his father’s arrangement, lazily pretending to be a city guard captain.
Just as he was about to leave.
Out of sheer coincidence, he opened his divine eyes and started inspecting the crowd.
Instantly, countless bits of information appeared before him.
[Name: Wu Bing]
[Age: 19]
[Root Bone: None]
[Realm: Qi bl**d Realm, Three Meridians]
[Fate: White]
[Evaluation: A Bing’s martial achievement is quite lackluster.]
[Recent Encounter: Recently received word that the third husband of Widow Wang in the village has died; planning to return home to pursue love.]
…..
Scanning the group of outer disciples leaving Qingyuan Sect, the overwhelming majority had white or gray fates.
There was basically no investment value in them.
Take this Wu Bing, for example.
What help would chasing after Widow Wang bring him?
At worst, he’d earn a few copper coins, and at best, perhaps some unusual item, like Widow Wang’s bellyband…
Of course, there were exceptions.
[Name: Liu Hui]
[Age: 19]
[Root Bone: None]
[Realm: Qi bl**d Realm, Three Meridians]
[Fate: Black]
[Evaluation: An unlucky dude.]
[Recent Encounter: On his way home, encountered a scam where he heroically tried to save a lady, only to be stabbed in the back and tossed into the river to feed the fish.]
…..
After reading this, Li Mo sighed softly.
At least he still had a life.
He really couldn’t keep a poker face toward all things under heaven.
Even for someone irrelevant, as long as there was no deep-seated grudge, he wouldn’t want to see them meet an untimely end.
“Liu Hui!”
“Uh… huh? Li Zhenchuang?”
Liu Hui was taken aback, pointing at himself as if he couldn’t believe this lofty Li Zhenchuang was calling his name.
He scratched his head; he really couldn’t figure out what connection he had with the other guy.
“Excuse me, Li Zhenchuang, is there something you need?”
“On your way home, did you pass through Qinghe County?” Li Mo stepped closer to ask.
“Uh… no, not really…”
Liu Hui felt befuddled.
Qinghe County? That was far from on the way; it was practically a detour to Grandma’s house.
He had intended to take the water route downriver to get home; going to Qinghe County would mean taking the land route.
Then something even more baffling happened.
Li Mo unexpectedly pulled out a small gold bar, about the thickness of his thumb.
“Here’s the cash!”
“Uh… a detour, a detour!” Liu Hui was quick, and he realized.
Li Zhenchuang needed him to make a trip to Qinghe County.
That gold bar looked to be around four to five taels; enough to buy a house back home.
“Okay, if it’s on the way, that’s fine.”
“Just relay a message to the county lieutenant, Li Dalong, in Qinghe County…”
“Zhenchuang, please go on.”
….
Moments later, Liu Hui, happily clutching the gold bar, walked away with a spring in his step.
Above him, the black fate ominously morphed into a brighter color.
His recent encounters also changed: “Detouring home, met with Yang Wei’s escort agency head, ended up working as a bodyguard for a certain escort.”
And in Li Mo’s ear, a crisp voice rang out.
【Congratulations, host, investment success, saved a life.】
【Investment feedback: Two points of martial arts insight.】
Though Liu Hui wasn’t some fated talent, just an ordinary nobody, he still brought two points of martial arts insight for Li Mo.
“This turned out to be a pleasant surprise.”
A small smile crept onto Li Mo’s face; he hadn’t thought much of it.
Having more insights into martial arts was never a bad thing; even having just a little bit was worthwhile.
Little by little adds up.
So, he decided to repeat his little investment scheme.
Five minutes later.
【Congratulations, host, investment success, saved a life.】
【Investment feedback: Two points of martial arts insight.】
……
Ten minutes later.
【Congratulations, host, investment success, saved a life.】
【Investment feedback: Two points of martial arts insight.】
……
Half an hour later.
【Congratulations, host, investment success, saved a life.】
【Investment feedback: Two points of martial arts insight.】
…….
Who would’ve thought?
The world wasn’t too quiet; with disasters and misfortunes aplenty, there sure were many folks in unexpected encounters on the way home.
Some folks ran into tigers, thinking the fist technique they had just learned would let them handle it.
Turns out they slipped, and the meal they planned was gone.
Some encountered shady shops, ending up as meat buns for dinner.
In the end, Li Mo grasped why when he went to Ziyang Mansion city, his old man spent good money hiring escorts for protection.
These unfortunate souls also brought Li Mo abundant returns.
Eight points of martial arts insight racked up!
Give him thirty more points of martial arts insight, and he might even be able to perfect a particular skill!
“Before the sect trial, there will be continuous departures from the sect.”
“I can come check daily and refresh my investments.”
Li Mo felt delightful.
With thirteen days until the sect trial, even if fewer and fewer people left later on, there was still a good chance to rack up seventy or eighty points of martial arts insight.
That would be more than enough for him to elevate several martial arts to a whole new level.
Li Mo took another look at the crowd.
Hmm.
There were no young men with dark fates anymore.
Satisfied, he picked up his pace and headed toward Shenbing Peak.
But that’s okay, fate will return.
He just asked before; disciples leaving the sect to return home would all pass by the mountain gate in the morning.
Anyway, he’s planning to visit Shenbing Peak every day, so he’d walk past here daily.
