Chapter 5: One Month Equals Ten Years

Chapter 5: A Month Worth Ten Years

Back at his courtyard in West Santiao Alley, Qin Yuan sat silently on the steps, which were covered in yellowing, withered leaves.

He felt an indescribable emotion. He needed to vent.

Qin Yuan stood up abruptly and channeled his Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, unleashing his energy in the courtyard with a fierce display of force. It was fortunate that this was a traditional courtyard house; any other structure would have crumbled under his exertion.

*Thud.* Qin Yuan lay back in the large crater he had just created, staring up at the azure sky with a sense of relief. He finally understood what he was feeling—it was the fear and oppression that came from not having enough power to control his own destiny.

"From now on, I must keep as low a profile as possible and devote all my energy to increasing my strength. Only with formidable power can I grasp my own fate."

Qin Yuan reached out his rough hand toward the sky, where an eagle clutching a chick was flying past, and made a grasping motion.

After a while, having calmed down, Qin Yuan took a bath and returned to his room, feeling refreshed, to continue writing *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*. He worked tirelessly for several days, yet he had only managed to write twenty or thirty thousand characters. Writing with a brush was truly tedious; he would definitely get a charcoal pencil another day.

During this time, Li Guangqian visited once, mentioning that Tan Zhuangfei had been struck over thirty times before he finally died. Nearby, commoners had set off firecrackers to celebrate. Qin Yuan was not surprised; those celebrating were likely the people whose interests had been harmed during the reform movement. The reforms led by Tan Zhuangfei and his peers had stepped on too many toes.

That afternoon, as soon as he finished his shift at the Bureau of Left Historians, Qin Yuan left. Worried about being seen by acquaintances, he went to the Wenyue Bookstore, which was a fair distance away. The owner, a fair-skinned and plump middle-aged man, saw that Qin Yuan was dressed quite respectably and, assuming he was there to buy books, greeted him with a smile.

"What would you like to purchase, sir? My shop has a complete selection."

"I am here to sell a book," Qin Yuan said.

The bookstore owner’s enthusiasm waned significantly. It was probably just another collection of boring classics or philosophical texts that wouldn't sell a single copy in weeks. Qin Yuan didn't explain; he simply took out his manuscript.

The owner took it half-heartedly, intending to brush him off, but upon glancing at the title, he remarked with surprise, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes?"

The title sounded just like the popular pulp fiction that sold best in his shop. He found himself interested enough to read on. The opening, featuring the heroic figures of Guo and Yang, caught his eye immediately. Then, the introduction of themes involving love for one’s family and country elevated the narrative. Guo Xiaotian dying for his brother, and Yang Tiexin abandoning his pregnant wife to save his sister-in-law—the owner found himself completely hooked.

However, that was as far as it went. The novel still didn't escape the mold of the popular martial arts fiction currently on the market.

"Not bad, not bad," he gave a rating that was neither high nor low.

Qin Yuan felt relieved. He had been worried that people in this world wouldn't be able to accept *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*, but it seemed his worries were unfounded.

"Seven hundred copper coins per thousand characters."

"Too low," Qin Yuan shook his head. He didn't know the market price, but he knew how to haggle. No matter what the other party offered, he would say it was too low.

The bookstore owner gritted his slightly yellowed teeth and held up a thick, short finger. "One tael of silver."

Qin Yuan pretended to hesitate for a long time, as if it were a difficult decision, before finally nodding. In truth, this price was quite high. A day laborer only earned thirty copper coins a day, and a pound of fresh pork leg cost only seventy copper coins—a price that wasn't considered high, given the era.

"By the way, what is your pen name?"

"Gu Long."

***

One month later.

Qin Yuan looked at the one hundred and fifty taels of silver he had earned for 150,000 characters, his face beaming with joy. He remembered that when the bookstore owner settled the payment today, he had mentioned that some of the slower writers were so angry they wanted to hire thugs to beat him. His smile widened further.

"I'll work these guys to death."

Soon, however, the smile faded from Qin Yuan's face. These days, his need for medicinal herbs and meat had grown increasingly high; he was becoming a bottomless pit, much like Luffy. At this rate, the money he earned wouldn't even be enough to keep his stomach full. He would have to work even harder to make money.

Qin Yuan picked up his pen and wrote twenty thousand characters in one go. Thanks to the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill he had been practicing, his hand speed was remarkably fast. When he put down the pen and stepped out of his slightly messy room, the night was already filled with stars.

He had forgotten to check his internal energy today. Qin Yuan began to circulate his energy, and it immediately surged within him like boiling water.

"Is it really this easy to gain three thousand seven hundred days' worth of internal energy?"

Qin Yuan felt like he was in a dream and had to slap himself twice before he regained his composure. In terms of internal energy alone, he was now between the seventh and eighth ranks. In this world's power hierarchy, the Grandmaster was at the top, followed by the ninth rank, and so on downwards. At his age, he was already quite impressive.

But one must not forget, he had only spent thirty-seven days. And that was not even counting the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill. According to Lin Yidong, once the skill reached its peak, the practitioner's entire body would turn golden upon transformation, becoming a truly "invulnerable, poison-immune, indestructible, and invincible" Vajra body. The higher the skill level, the better the defensive effects, speed, immunity, and destructive power.

Every time Qin Yuan thought about it, he felt a sense of anticipation. He tried to transform, but there was no reaction. *What have I been practicing for these thirty-seven days?*

Wait, Qin Yuan noticed his two hands had turned a golden color, like burnished gold.

*Could it be that when the entire body turns this color, it signifies the peak of the skill?*

Qin Yuan estimated that the skin area of his two hands was about five percent of his total body surface. This meant he could master the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill in two years. "Having a lot of internal energy really speeds up the practice of martial arts; Master Jin was right after all."

Time to go out and celebrate. Qin Yuan turned and headed toward the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Academy/Brothel). "I am sworn enemies with gambling and drugs."

"Yuanda!"

"Yuanda!"

A group of acquaintances greeted him. *So that's why there was no one at the Bureau of Left Historians; they all ran off here.* Scholars, he thought, were truly old lechers.

"Chief Compiler, Brother Qinian, Brother Yunfei..." Qin Yuan greeted everyone with a wide smile. He didn't see Li Guangqian, so he asked in confusion, "Where is Brother Yuanfu?"

"He went home. He's different from us."

"How so?"

"He's henpecked."

"Hahahaha!" The group burst into laughter.

"That woman of Yuanfu's is way too overbearing. What's wrong with a man coming out for some fun?" someone complained.

"Brother Yunfei, you're wrong there. How can you call it 'fun' when it comes to scholars? It should be called 'romantic flair'."

"My apologies, I misspoke. I shall slap my own mouth!"

The group laughed again.

Before long, the elegantly dressed women arrived. The Jiaofangsi was exactly as expected, with every type imaginable. Each person took one. They drank and flirted, having a wonderful time.

Qin Yuan suddenly remembered that the nation was in crisis and the people were suffering, and he felt a pang of guilt. He slapped himself on the cheek. "How can I be distracted while with women?"

"Yuanda, why did you slap yourself for no reason?" Shao Guilin, who had sharp eyes, asked in surprise.

The others looked over, all with puzzled expressions.

"A mosquito bit me," Qin Yuan said casually.