Chapter 75

Yeqing woke up from his deep sleep, the morning sunlight warming his body as his senses gradually returned.

He clenched his fist, feeling the strength in his body. Although he no longer possessed the vast magical power from his dream, he felt full of energy.

Ten years in the dream, but only one night in reality?

"Are you awake?" a voice suddenly spoke.

"Who’s there?" Yeqing turned around and saw a young man. He wore a yellow robe embroidered with a green dragon, a golden belt, and a golden crown, all shimmering in the light. He was in his twenties, with a face as fair as jade, a thick mustache, and a ruyi in his hand.

Yeqing recognized this face but couldn’t recall where from.

"Three thousand years of a great dream, and you are just a guest in it. Haven’t you woken up yet?" the young man smiled.

"Shaojun, is it you?" After a moment, Yeqing took a deep breath, his voice hoarse. He pushed himself up from the stone and slowly stood up.

"It’s me. Surprised?" Longsun strolled around the stone for a couple of circles, then turned and said, "You completed the task, and even exceeded my expectations."

"I felt everything you learned and experienced in the dream. I want to tell you that what you learned in the dream is not false. Although you no longer have a dragon body or magical power, the experience will be of immeasurable benefit when you step onto the path of immortality."

"Is that so? That’s really great." Yeqing bowed, about to speak, but Longsun pressed his hand and smiled, "Let me finish."

"Like in the dream, I passed the trial and escaped the hundred years of torment, restoring my original position!"

As Longsun spoke, water waves began to rise around him, formed by yellow mist, rolling in. This was the position of the Jinyang Lake.

Longsun felt this and sighed, pacing as he spoke, "Thirty years was a great dream. However, I see that you cannot yet bear this fortune. Your destiny is too low, and giving it to you now would be a waste."

"But I won’t go back on my word. Here, take this ruyi. I’ve stored three parts of the scholar’s fortune in it. You can absorb it whenever you want!"

Yeqing bowed and took the ruyi, which was entirely green with a faint golden mist inside.

As soon as he took it, Longsun looked and saw a stream of yellow mist flow into Yeqing, blending with his original fortune, making Longsun nod in approval.

"Unfortunately, all of this is external fortune. Therefore, to pass the examination, you will lose one part. But once you pass, you will have your own fortune, so in the end, you will have five parts of the scholar’s fortune."

"Five parts, that’s enough to try. However, I sense a faint aura of misfortune, indicating a potential backlash. You will need to pass a trial."

Yeqing felt the fortune, lost in thought.

A child scholar is a minor official in the countryside, capable of practicing basic Daoist techniques, with white fortune, not suitable for major tasks.

A scholar has a mix of white and red, indicating a small scale, the first step.

A provincial candidate has varying levels, the higher ones nearly pure yellow, the lower ones a mix of red and yellow.

Only a metropolitan candidate, embodying the fortune of the times, is the best choice, which requires much more.

"Thank you, Dragon Lord!" Yeqing came to his senses and bowed deeply.

"Don’t thank me, this is what you deserve." Longsun said calmly, "You helped me escape, so I won’t treat you unfairly. The three parts of fortune I promised are already given to you.

"I see that your financial luck is not strong, and you are in a difficult situation. Here are ten pearls for you. Take them!"

As Longsun spoke, he waved his hand, and a white light shot out. Before Yeqing could react, ten pearls landed in his hand.

He focused and saw that each pearl was full and lustrous, making his heart tremble.

Each of these pearls was worth at least three hundred taels of silver, so ten pearls were worth at least three thousand taels.

Yeqing was silent for a moment, then put the pearls in his sleeve and bowed to Longsun, "I am indeed in a difficult situation, so I won’t refuse. Thank you, Longsun, for your help."

Longsun waved his hand, "Don’t mention it. These are small matters. However, I have something to tell you. This connection was not originally yours, and I don’t know why it’s you. There are some changes, and you need to be cautious. There may be trials. Our connection ends here. Take care."

As Longsun finished speaking, his figure became increasingly faint, and a water wave rose, flying toward the lake and disappearing in an instant.

Yeqing knew that Longsun had escaped the trial and left.

The water wave disappeared on the lake, and Yeqing came to his senses, thinking deeply. He smiled, "Well, no matter who it is, if it’s taken, it’s taken. This is the way of the world, a struggle for everything!"

"Now, I need to exchange these pearls for silver notes. Three thousand taels, not too much or too little, should cover my expenses for a few years."

The city was not far away, just in the suburbs. He hired a cart and headed to the city center.

From a distance, the city was bustling with people. The city walls, made of stone, were three zhang high, with pitted surfaces, some from weathering, some from war.

Yeqing, with his scholarly status, was briefly checked at the checkpoints and then allowed in.

The city streets were crowded, and Yeqing sat in the cart, looking for a pawnshop.

At this moment, a shop caught his attention. It occupied one-tenth of the street, with a tall, exquisite building, red walls, and two-meter-tall stone lions at the entrance.

The guards around were steady, clearly skilled, and a large sign hung above, reading "Jinbao Tower" in iron-pen silver hooks.

"Jinbao Tower? Let me think." Yeqing looked at the grand shop and pondered.

In his previous life, this tower was said to belong to the Sixth Prince, who was later exterminated. However, setting aside these details, the pawnshop’s financial strength was still commendable.

Thinking of these memories, he got out of the cart and walked in.

"What can I do for you, sir?" a clerk saw Yeqing enter and hurriedly asked, "Is this your first time here?"

"Yes, this is my first time." Yeqing looked around, recalling his memories of Jinbao Tower from his previous life, and found that the pawnshop’s reputation was still good. He spoke frankly.

"Since this is your first time, let me explain. Jinbao Tower offers various goods and also operates as a pawnshop. If you need money urgently, you can pawn valuable items here." The clerk bowed deeply and continued.

"There are two types of pawning: one is a dead pawn, where the item is sold outright for a third more than its value. The other is a live pawn, where the item can be redeemed later, but the money given is a third less."

"We value honesty and will not deceive you."

"Oh, I see." Yeqing nodded, found a seat, and took out a pearl from his pocket, handing it to the clerk, "What do you think this is worth?"

The clerk, who had been somewhat casual, was immediately taken aback. He had been at Jinbao Tower for a while and had a keen eye. He could tell the value of an item at a glance.

This pearl was lustrous and smooth, worth at least three hundred taels.

"I have ten of these." Yeqing added, making the clerk bow deeply, "Excuse my poor eyesight. Ten pearls of this quality exceed my authority. Please wait a moment while I fetch the manager."

The clerk apologized and left.

Yeqing smiled. The Heavenly Court’s rule for a million years, the key being immortality, had formed laws and gained experience that mortals could not imagine.

If the treasures from the earth and the sea were to circulate, the entire human economy would collapse.

At first, the immortals and deities didn’t understand this, but after about a hundred thousand years of ruling, the Heavenly Court issued the "Restriction on Treasures" to limit the flow of gold, silver, and treasures into the human world.

Now, the prices in the human world are stable, with a gold-to-silver ratio of one to ten, which is proof.

These pearls can flow into the human world in small quantities each year, but given Longsun’s position and the favor he showed, he only gave ten.

Recalling the banquet of the Dragon Lord, where the top scholar received only a hundred taels of gold and one pearl, Yeqing understood the tacit agreement under these laws.

Ten pearls, worth at least three thousand taels, no wonder the clerk was stunned.

A moment later, a middle-aged man arrived, and the surrounding clerks bowed, indicating he was the manager. He approached Yeqing, looked at him, and bowed, "Sir, you have a scholarly status. Do you need money urgently? You don’t have to pawn; our shop can lend you money..."

Yeqing, dressed in scholar’s robes, was recognized as a scholar. However, before the manager could finish, Yeqing interrupted, "Manager, I need money, but I don’t want to borrow. I want to pawn these ten pearls, never to redeem them."

Yeqing placed the ten pearls on the table, each lustrous and flawless.

"Manager, what do you offer?" Yeqing sipped his tea. He didn’t want to be associated with the Sixth Prince, who, though wise and benevolent, known as the "Wise Prince," was rumored to be stripped of his title and executed before Yeqing’s death.

"These pearls are of the highest quality. If pawned, they are worth three hundred taels each!" The manager looked at Yeqing and smiled, "However, since you are a scholar and this is a dead pawn, I will offer you three hundred and sixty taels each. How does that sound?"

"This price is fair anywhere. What do you think?"

"However, for such a large dead pawn, according to the law, we need your name and address."

"Agreed!" Yeqing thought for a moment, smiled, and clapped his hands. The price was slightly high, a way to attract scholars, of course, the Sixth Prince still made a profit.

"Three thousand six hundred taels, one hundred taels per note, thirty-five notes in total, and one hundred taels in silver, which I converted to gold leaves."

"These are one-tael gold leaves, eight in total, and twenty taels of silver. Please take them." Soon, the manager and a clerk returned.

The clerk held a tray with a stack of silver notes, eight gold leaves, and four silver ingots, all ready to be taken.

"Agreed!" Yeqing said, took the silver notes, and saw the official seal, the dragon aura, and the private seal of Jinbao Tower, all genuine. He put them away.

Three thousand six hundred taels, enough to do many things. At least he wouldn’t worry about money for a few years. Yeqing felt happy, signed his name and address, and waved his hand, "I have no other business. Goodbye."

Yeqing left Jinbao Tower and walked away.

Seeing Yeqing leave, the manager looked at the name and address, and instructed, "Pingshou County, Yeqing, about sixteen or seventeen years old, already a scholar, with a bright future. Register him and gather information for the prince."

"Yes!" the clerk responded immediately.

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