Chapter 15

Lin Du said she was going to the study. While everyone was occupied behind the bookshelves, she approached the counter where the shopkeeper was. “Shopkeeper, do you accept Story Book?”

The shopkeeper, dressed in an ink-wash robe, leaned against a bamboo chair, holding a book in one hand. With half-open eyes, he responded lazily, “Story Book? What kind of manuscript?”

Lin Du handed over her work with enthusiasm.

The person on the bamboo chair lifted his eyelids and read aloud, word by word, “The Beauty Found by the Roadside Who Was Forced to Submit…”

His eyes, which had been half-closed, suddenly widened in disbelief as he looked at the young child in front of him. “You wrote this?”

Lin Du waved her hand dismissively, pretending nonchalance. “How could it be? I’m just running an errand for my master. As a disciple, it’s only right to support my master’s dreams.”

“Look, can this book be printed? My master is old and has this little hobby. Even if I have to pay for it myself, I don’t want him to leave with regrets.”

At that moment, Yan Ye, who had been unfairly blamed by his own disciple, sneezed inexplicably and wondered if a cultivator of the Taiqing Realm could catch a cold.

The shopkeeper was deeply moved. “You’re really a filial disciple.”

Lin Du nodded proudly, thinking she was the greatest filial child in the world.

The man lowered his head and opened the first page, which was filled with crooked, barely legible handwriting. His mouth twitched. “This really is your master’s work.”

Lin Du responded with a casual, “Oh, my master can’t see well, so the writing is inevitably rough. As long as it’s readable, that’s fine.”

Lin Du, who had only practiced writing large characters with a brush in elementary school, had done well to produce such a manuscript.

The shopkeeper continued to read the book, but soon the sound of the pages flipping grew faster, and his expression changed from a smirk to an amused smile, then to widening eyes filled with shock and frustration, and finally to a tearful anger. He couldn’t help but slam the table and exclaim, “That’s it? The senior brother dies like that? And the female cultivator just ascends to immortality with the elixir?”

“Well, my master said that if someone reads it, there will naturally be more to come. Can you print it?” Lin Du asked.

“Of course, of course, I haven’t seen such a gripping manuscript in a long time. Your master is truly a genius, but the title…” The shopkeeper hesitated. “It’s a bit unseemly.”

He stroked his chin. “Such a righteous person might not want to buy it.”

Lin Du raised an eyebrow, her exceptionally handsome face calm, but her tone and content were audacious.

“Why not try it? The emotions and desires are natural to people. Cultivators are people too; they have desires. The desire to become stronger is a desire, and so is love. What does it matter if desires are high or low, noble or humble?”

Although her argument was somewhat skewed, the shopkeeper was persuaded. “Alright, you can go ahead. We’ll split the proceeds 70/30. What’s your surname?”

“Lin, Lin as in two trees.”

“Lin Uncle Junior Master, I’ll send you a sample once it’s printed. Your address?”

Lin Du smiled slightly. “No need, I’ll come down the mountain to see it myself soon.”

She quickly stamped the contract with her handprint and then turned to the puzzled looks of her fellow disciples who had just come out. “Shall we go? To Xiangman Lou for a meal?”

The group left cheerfully. The shopkeeper, squinting, watched them leave, then looked at the contract with the handprint and smiled lightly.

Interesting. He had handed over the pen, but the filial disciple had hesitated and instead used a handprint.

Didn’t he want to leave a trace of his handwriting?

Is the master you mentioned really not himself?

The shopkeeper didn’t expect that just seven days later…

When the person entered the store, he nearly didn’t recognize them. The casual blue clothing and simple hairstyle were gone.

Now she wore a cloud-patterned white and blue robe, her hair secured with a short jade hairpin on top, and a jade clasp holding back a net scarf on her forehead. Her beautifully defined eyebrows and smooth facial lines were now clearly visible, and despite her pale complexion, she looked youthful and charming.

“Shopkeeper, how is it? Is the printing done?”

The lazy tone confirmed that this was indeed the filial disciple from before.

“It’s been done for five days. Guess what?”

Before he could say more, he saw a refined male cultivator sneaking over, looking around. Seeing Lin Du hesitate to approach, he said, “You want that book, right? Twenty low-grade spirit stones per copy. No need to pull them out from your sleeve. Just pay and take it away.”

The man only showed a corner of the book from his sleeve. Hearing the shopkeeper’s words, he quickly paid and left.

Lin Du pondered for a moment. “Could it be the book I sent over?”

“Yes.” The shopkeeper nodded, elegantly sweeping his sleeve and pocketing the twenty stones infused with faint spirit energy.

“Is it really so embarrassing?” Lin Du touched her chin.

“But you were right about one thing. The name, though not very refined, is indeed very attractive. Since it was listed, it has sold very well. However, everyone buys it secretly.”

The shopkeeper clicked his tongue in amazement. “No wonder your master is so knowledgeable and adept at grasping people’s hearts.”

Lin Du smiled. “Get me five copies. I want to give them as gifts.”

“Certainly, the proceeds will be settled monthly. But the book is temporarily out of stock. Could you leave a bit of a reservation? Three copies will do?”

Lin Du took the three books and joined the others.

Today was the farewell banquet for them sending Mo Lin down the mountain for experience, a plan proposed by Lin Du, and everyone was happy to feast.

So, Mo Lin received a parting gift from his junior disciple.

“Since you’ll inevitably be bored on the journey, here, take this book. It’s said to be the most popular recently. A bestseller must have deep meaning.”

Lin Du handed the book to Mo Lin with a sincere expression.

Mo Lin took the book and said, “I should have known you loved reading. I’ll make sure to study it carefully.”

“That’s right.” Lin Du was particularly pleased. “The most important thing in reading a story is to immerse yourself in it, to identify with the protagonist, and reflect on yourself to gain more.”

Mo Lin nodded, surprised that despite her youth, Uncle Junior Master seemed to have such insights into reading. He glanced at the cover of the book.

“The Beauty Found by the Roadside Who Was Forced to Submit Afterward”

The young man’s face instantly became strange. He looked up at the people who had resumed eating and then back at the book title.

“Uncle Junior Master… Did you give me the wrong book?”

“No.” Lin Du picked up a piece of “donkey rolling” dessert. “One serving isn’t enough. Get another one; there are five of us.”

Mo Lin quietly put away the book and signaled to the shopkeeper.