“What exactly does this thing do?”
The fortune’s light was clearly consumable, so Lu Zheng had a hunch. Drawing on how the jade seal worked for cross-world travel, he thought, “I want to cultivate immortality!”
No response…
Lu Zheng, “…”
“I want to become stronger!”
Still nothing, but the fortune’s light flickered slightly.
His eyes lit up—there was potential!
Mind racing, he issued another command.
“I want to become… a bit more robust!”
“Buzz!”
The jade seal trembled, and one strand of fortune’s light vanished.
Lu Zheng jolted, his late-night fatigue evaporating. Clenching his fist, he felt strength coursing through him.
He touched his stomach—firmer, almost like abs.
Though he’d kept in decent shape, he’d never trained seriously, just an average guy.
One strand of fortune’s light, and he was suddenly a fitness buff?
“Blimey!” His eyes gleamed. “I want to get even more robust!”
“Woo…” The seal vibrated, but the light didn’t vanish, conveying a sense of “take it slow.”
The sudden boost was too much for his body to handle all at once.
Then, perhaps because he’d completed the cycle of gaining and using fortune’s light, the seal fed him knowledge about it.
By influencing others’ fortunes, he could siphon some for himself.
Due to heavenly laws, he could only gain fortune’s light in this world.
The light could be spent to enhance himself, but only precisely, on traits he already possessed, not creating something from nothing.
He needed a foundation.
In other words, he could boost his physical condition but not suddenly become smarter or gain wisdom.
He could enhance learned skills, like driving, but not unlearned ones, like ventriloquism.
Since he didn’t know how to cultivate immortality, and “stronger” was too vague, specifying “robust” consumed one strand, enhancing his marrow, organs, muscles, and meridians, boosting his overall physique.
“A hexagonal warrior!” His heart raced again.
The seal’s original function was just cross-world travel, but after meeting the beggar, it unlocked a new ability.
Would there be more in the future?
His expectations soared.
…
“Young master!”
As Lu Zheng twitched occasionally from his newfound strength, Uncle Li snapped him out of it. “Young master, Constable Liu is asking you something.”
“Hm, what?”
Lu Zheng startled, seeing Constable Liu standing before him, looking at him oddly. “Young Master Lu, the thief’s been dealt with, no need to fear.”
“Oh, yes, right.” Lu Zheng nodded, coming to.
Constable Liu mistook his twitching from the sudden physical boost for trembling in fear.
Fair enough.
Realising this world wasn’t as simple as he thought, Lu Zheng wanted to avoid attention even more.
But… why had he been targeted? He needed to find out.
Hopefully just a coincidence.
“Constable Liu, who was that man, and why did he target me?”
At this, Liu’s expression grew stranger, sizing Lu Zheng up.
Clear brows, bright eyes, fair skin, tall and composed, exuding the air of a cultured scholar.
Taller than most locals, Liu had to look up to meet his gaze.
“Constable Liu?”
“Oh, he’s a wanted criminal from the prefecture. Catching him, we owe you one,” Liu said vaguely. “Tomorrow, I reckon the magistrate will issue a commendation.”
A commendation meant a public notice at the county office, read aloud by a clerk—mere verbal praise.
In this era, Lu Zheng knew better than to ask about a cash reward.
“Commendation or not, doesn’t matter.” He waved it off. “Helping the magistrate and you is just my duty as a citizen.”
Liu’s eyes flickered, nodding thoughtfully. Sharp lad.
“All I want to know is why he targeted me, and will there be future risks?”
“No worries, he’s a lone operator. The prefecture’s been after him, so he fled to our county,” Liu paused, giving Lu Zheng another odd look. “As for his crimes…”
“What? Can’t say?”
“Nothing secret. He’s just a flower thief, ruined a few girls’ reputations in the prefecture.”
Lu Zheng froze. He’d seen clearly—the intruder was a man, not burly but sturdy.
A flower thief, ignoring women to come after him…
〣(ºΔº)〣
His eyes widened, a chill running down his spine.
Seeing his reaction, Liu knew Lu Zheng wasn’t into that, so he coughed. “Right, Young Master Lu, this way. The thief’s not fully awake yet. Tell us how you caught him.”
Lu Zheng decided to tell the truth. If the thief talked, he might spread rumours about a glowing treasure in Lu’s house.
…
“A transcendent!”
Hearing Lu Zheng’s account and seeing the ordinary cup, Liu looked envious. “Your kindness brought good fortune, sparing you calamity with just a meal and wine.”
“What? That old beggar was a transcendent?” Uncle Li, hearing the night’s events for the first time, felt guilty recalling how he’d brandished his broom.
Lu Zheng blinked, suppressing questions for now.
…
Leaving the county office, the sun rose, piercing the clouds with radiant light.
Back home, Lu Zheng pried details about “transcendents” from Uncle Li.
It was a broad term for those with extraordinary skills—monks, Taoists, swordsmen, or heroines.
But Uncle Li, limited in experience, knew little, only tales of swordsmen taking heads from miles away or Taoists summoning winds, subduing demons, all sounding mythical.
He’d never seen such things until today.
Lu Zheng recalled the Qingsheng Tower storyteller’s tales of Taoists praying for rain, monks banishing demons, fox spirit romances, immortality quests, and divine gatherings in the capital or wonders overseas…
He’d thought they were just folklore, absorbing only the cultural details.
Now, holed up in tiny Tonglin County, he realised his ignorance.
“Quick! Find that old beggar!”
Lu Zheng and Uncle Li returned home briefly, then split up, scouring the county for yesterday’s beggar.
Ignorance was one thing, but now that he’d met him, how could Lu Zheng miss this chance?
Mastering supernatural arts, combined with his fortune’s light—he couldn’t even imagine the possibilities.
But from dawn to dusk, they searched the entire county and found no trace of the old beggar.
