Chapter 63

Dongxin City, Li's Bookshop.

This was a small, unremarkable bookshop located deep in the corner of a bustling street, quite secluded, and naturally, business was rather slow.

The shop owner, surnamed Li, was an elderly man who had entered his twilight years. At this moment, he was leaning on the counter, half-asleep.

In the bookshop, only a young boy was browsing the shelves, the atmosphere tranquil.

The boy was about thirteen or fourteen years old, but he was slender and tall, with a gentle and refined face. He wore a simple gray robe, looking clean and neat.

This person was Lin Xun.

Not long after, Lin Xun selected four books and came to the counter, softly calling out, "Old sir."

The old man immediately woke up, smiling, "Hmm, let me see, 'Imperial Geography,' 'Imperial History,' 'Basic Cultivation Handbook,' 'Spirit Pattern Atlas'..."

The old man looked up, surprised, "Young people these days rarely show interest in such knowledge. It's rare to find someone who enjoys reading like you."

Lin Xun smiled slightly, "Old sir, how much for these four books?"

The old man casually replied, "If you want them, twenty copper coins will do."

After paying, Lin Xun took the books and hurriedly left the shop.

Outside, the night was as dark as ink, but the distant buildings were lit up like stars fallen to earth.

A cool night breeze blew, and Lin Xun hurried down the street. Soon, he turned into a shop called "Ah Hu Fruit Juice," took out five copper coins, and bought a large cup of sweet and sour "Yunxiang Fruit Juice."

This was the signature drink of Ah Hu Fruit Juice, made by mixing several spiritual materials like "Fuling Leaves," "Purple Floating Orchid," and "Yunxiang Fruit" with some spiritual vegetables. Not only did it taste delicious, but it also had very few impurities, making it extremely suitable for cultivators to drink.

Holding the books and fruit juice, Lin Xun continued through the winding streets without stopping. Soon, he arrived at a very bustling wide street.

The street was crowded with people, and the traffic was heavy. Colorful lights adorned the buildings on both sides, creating a dazzling and bright scene.

Many passersby were dressed in fine clothing, and carriages shuttled back and forth. Occasionally, cultivators rode on scaled horses or horned deer, galloping past.

Some vendors set up stalls, shouting out their wares, and the lively noise continued to ferment over the bustling street.

This was the most famous street in Donglin City, stretching eight hundred zhang, hence it was also called "Eight Hundred Street."

In the center of this street, the most prestigious shops, taverns, inns, medicinal shops, and spiritual material shops gathered, offering a wide variety of goods and services.

Each shop was a well-known gold mine in Donglin City, backed by powerful forces, and the customers they served were almost all wealthy cultivators, making it unaffordable for ordinary people.

At the eastern end of "Eight Hundred Street" was a college called "Donglin College," officially run by the empire. It admitted students every year, teaching and guiding them, and was very famous. As long as one passed the examination, they only needed to pay a tuition fee to cultivate there.

For all those in Donglin City who aspired to cultivate, being able to study at "Donglin College" was already a great honor.

Lin Xun's path happened to pass by "Donglin College," and he couldn't help but take a closer look. The college covered a vast area, with buildings scattered like stars, rising and falling. Students could be seen moving about inside.

After standing there for a moment, Lin Xun turned and left.

At this moment, a group of young men and women walked by, all dressed in fine clothing, looking radiant and quite different from the rest.

"In a month, we can take the Prefecture Examination. I have already reached the Third Level of True Martial cultivation, which is enough to pass the examination easily!"

"Ha ha ha, among us, who is under fifteen years old, and who hasn't reached the Third Level of True Martial cultivation or higher? The Prefecture Examination is a piece of cake for us."

"That's right, the Prefecture Examination isn't worth worrying about. What we should consider is whether to go directly to Qingfeng County to take the Provincial Examination in March next year after passing the Prefecture Examination!"

"That's not entirely true. This time, our Donglin College has three thousand students taking the Prefecture Examination, but only one thousand will be admitted. That means two thousand will be eliminated. Don't be too complacent."

"Sigh, I'm worried about that too."

These young men and women chattered as they walked, all discussing the "Prefecture Examination."

Lin Xun wanted to listen more, but unfortunately, they all entered "Donglin College," clearly being students there.

Seeing this, Lin Xun didn't pursue them.

"I didn't expect so many people to be taking the Prefecture Examination, and two thousand will be eliminated. Even if one meets the criteria to pass the examination, they might still not be admitted."

Lin Xun walked and thought. Admission meant obtaining a certificate to pass the Prefecture Examination, which was one of the conditions needed to participate in the "Provincial Examination" next.

Not long after, Lin Xun disappeared from "Eight Hundred Street" and continued for about an incense stick's time before entering a desolate, dark, and dilapidated alley.

This was the "Commoner's District" of Donglin City, where most of the people living there were from the lower rungs of society. Compared to the prosperity of other areas, this district was extremely dilapidated, and the people living there were a mixed bag.

The security here was also very poor, with thieves, hooligans, and thugs roaming about, causing chaos.

If not for necessity, Lin Xun wouldn't have chosen to live here.

Lin Xun walked down a dark alley, his feet stepping in dirty puddles, and the distant sounds of stray dogs and cats could be heard from time to time.

Suddenly, a man with a sharp face and a monkey-like appearance emerged from the corner, grinning at Lin Xun, "Hey, buddy, are you alone?"

Crack!

Just as the man raised his hand, Lin Xun grabbed it, exerting force and twisting his wrist.

The man's hand relaxed, and a small blade glinted in the dark, falling to the ground with a clink.

In pain, the man was about to scream but was knocked unconscious by Lin Xun's palm, his body collapsing in the dirty road.

From start to finish, everything happened in a flash, swift and decisive.

Lin Xun seemed accustomed to such incidents, his expression calm as he continued walking.

Not long after Lin Xun left, two more shadowy figures appeared at the alley corner.

Seeing the unconscious man, one of them, a fat man, said with a mocking smile, "How many is this now?"

The other man counted on his fingers, "The young master moved in seven days ago, and this is already the nineteenth person to fall into his hands."

"Ha ha, this Zhang the Scoundrel was usually a clever guy, but today he didn't have his eyes open. Did he not know how Snake Boss died?"

"This is called being blind. Now, who in this area doesn't know that in the courtyard at number 49, there's a young master who is ruthless and doesn't blink at killing?"

"Alright, we should act now."

With that, the two men bent down to search the unconscious man, finding over ten copper coins, and then left happily.

...

Deep in the alley, at number 49, Lin Xun pushed open the door.

Boom!

A powerful punch broke through the air, creating a terrifying momentum that shattered the air, producing a dull explosion.

Lin Xun didn't move, his expression helpless, "It's me."

Immediately, the punch retracted, and everything returned to calm. Xia Zhi's small, delicate figure appeared.

"I knew it was you. If it were anyone else, they'd be dead by now." Xia Zhi walked up, naturally taking the "Yunxiang Fruit Juice" from Lin Xun's hand and turned to leave.

Lin Xun smiled and shrugged, following her inside.

The courtyard was small, with a large locust tree in the center, its canopy like an umbrella, lush and shady. On the other side were two rooms and a kitchen, which, after a thorough cleaning, were quite clean and tidy.

In the room, a Southern Spirit Incense candle was lit, the flame bright, and a faint, calming fragrance filled the air.

Lin Xun sat at the desk, flipping through the books he had bought, while Xia Zhi quietly sat on a stool, sipping the "Yunxiang Fruit Juice."

Seven days ago, the two of them arrived in Donglin City. When looking for a place to stay, they found that with the three hundred silver coins Lin Xun had, they couldn't rent a decent place in the city. Staying in an inn was expensive and crowded, unsuitable for long-term living.

Reluctantly, Lin Xun rented this courtyard in the "Commoner's District," where the rent was surprisingly cheap, only thirty silver coins a year.

After seven days of living there, Lin Xun finally understood why the rent was so cheap. This area was chaotic, with all sorts of unsavory characters.

On the first day, a man nicknamed "Snake Boss" led a group of hooligans to collect protection fees.

On the second day, when Lin Xun returned home after buying daily necessities, he found three dead bodies in the courtyard. Xia Zhi explained that they were burglars.

On the third day, Lin Xun was ambushed by a group of people in the street, who tried to rob him.

On the fourth day, Lin Xun encountered a group of thugs trying to rob a woman and immediately went to help, only to find out that the woman and the thugs were in cahoots.

On the fifth day...

In short, in the short seven days since moving in, all sorts of thieves, hooligans, and thugs appeared like wild dogs drawn by the scent of blood.

Their fates were, of course, miserable, and many had disappeared without a trace. However, Lin Xun knew that if he continued to deal with these petty criminals, something could go wrong.

Most importantly, he didn't want Xia Zhi to grow up in this dirty and dangerous environment.

The reason was simple: Lin Xun had grown up in the dark environment of a mine prison, witnessing cruelty, deceit, bloodshed, and ruthlessness from a young age. He had seen many vicious people with blood-stained hands.

Compared to these people, the hooligans in the "Commoner's District" were as pure as lilies and as innocent as chicks, lacking any real threat.

Lin Xun knew that if it weren't for Mr. Lu, he might have been influenced by this environment and sunk into darkness, becoming inhuman.

Therefore, Lin Xun wouldn't let Xia Zhi live in such a polluted and dark environment.

However, to move, he needed a large sum of money, which he couldn't afford at the moment.

So, what Lin Xun was most concerned about now wasn't how to pass the "Prefecture Examination," but how to... make money!

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PS: One of the monthly vote rankings has been overtaken, and I'm about to be overtaken again... I'm so anxious, I don't know what to say.