Chapter 237 - 237 235 The Author

Words : 1405 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

237: Chapter 235: The Author 237: Chapter 235: The Author Baili An truly couldn’t understand how someone capable of writing such delicate and refined stories had to be a person of elegant taste. What kind of provocation could have prompted them to draw such shameless and brazen things? He looked at Fang Geyu oddly. “Why are you so well informed about his affairs?” Unless one were involved in and focused on this line of work, an outsider wouldn’t know of Master Xuan Shui’s great fame. Fang Geyu was taken aback, understanding the meaning behind Baili An’s question, and replied with embarrassment, “What are you thinking? I wouldn’t look at that sort of thing—business! It’s for business!” So it turned out that the forbidden illustrations were hard to circulate in the open market, swept clean by various nations from the pugilist world. Even someone with Master Xuan Shui’s exceptional Talent was at a loss. Unwilling to accept defeat, he sought to trade in Shifang City. With such a reputation, who would dare to deal? Yet Fang Geyu, cold and uninhibited by nature, cared only about making money, and what she sold weren’t items that harmed people. Under her complete management, both she and Master Xuan Shui earned a fortune. As for the treasures that made them money, she truly had no desire to take even one glance. An old woman cleaning dishes overheard their conversation and chuckled, saying, “Young master, if you want to read the sequel to ‘Elegant Collection,’ you might visit the bookstore opposite us. There they are for sale.” Both Yun Rong and Baili An’s eyes lit up. Fang Geyu shook her head, “It won’t do. The sales of Master Xuan Shui’s storybooks aren’t as good as the illustrated books; he took quite a hit, and has since discontinued updating ‘Elegant Collection.’ There’s no more to the story.” Yun Rong agreed, “After all, writing books is work that can starve a person. In my Tianxi Sword Sect, there was a lively and adorable junior brother from the Inner Sect, who for some reason got it into his head to abandon his sword and started writing stories like those literati. His stories about half-human, half-demon tales were utterly disorganized, and in the end, he wound up broke and destitute. To think that he was once the sword hero Beijun, his swordsmanship was magnificent and otherworldly. But now having abandoned his sword for a pen, his brilliance is no more, and he suffers from balding, trembling hands, weakness, and tinnitus—it’s truly a miserable existence.” Baili An felt deep sympathy for this person. The old dishwashing woman chuckled, “The young lady seems unaware. Master Xuan Shui is truly from Xianling, and although his storybooks indeed haven’t been sold publicly, that doesn’t mean he has stopped writing. The bookstore opposite, each year, receives books from messengers of the Inner City, claiming they are only sold to those fated to see them. Outside Immortal City, they cannot be found.” Thus, Yun Rong eagerly led Baili An to the small bookstore to buy books. Yun Rong went with the intent to read about swords. Baili An went with the intent to read the story. Fang Geyu followed with a speechless expression, marked by a black line across her forehead, wondering what it meant to have brought two treasures of liveliness with her. The bookstore seemed quite old, with its decorations showing their age as well. As night fell, there were no customers in the bookstore, only an old man with graying hair dozing off at the counter, showing his age, resting his head in his hands. On the counter next to the old man were a green parrot and some potted plants, carefully tended to him. Aside from the old man, there was a young man in a blue cloth shirt sweeping the dust and arranging books in the store. Seeing customers arrive, he didn’t seem too enthusiastic about welcoming them. Because the books in this bookstore were only for rent, not for sale, and could only be read on the premises without being taken away. Rent was already cheap, and within the lives of families in the border city of Xianling, who lived tightly, who would idly linger here to read? He knew his kind-hearted teacher would allow many poor families along the street, who couldn’t afford the cost of books for learning, and so there were always young students and impoverished scholars who came to rent books. Because the rent here was really cheap. Of course, he was not surprised; working here allowed him to read the books of the bookstore for free every day, as the old man was his teacher. What others couldn’t take away, he could bring home to read. Yun Rong was the first to step into the bookstore, “Excuse me, do you have ‘Elegant Collection’ for sale here?” The boy in the cloth shirt, dusting the bookshelves, thought here was another silly young lady who enjoyed love stories enough to brave the chilly winds and snow, arriving late at night to buy a book. Without turning his head, he replied, “Our store only rents books, not for sale, and they can only be read here in the store. Now that it’s dark, my teacher and I are planning to close up and go home for dinner. Miss, you might as well come early tomorrow.” Although ‘Elegant Collection’ was not selling well, since there were more men than women in Xianling City, this did not stop young ladies from the Immortal mansions from adoring these storybooks. Those who usually came to read at night were prepared to stay up all night. With the school examinations approaching, the young man did not want to waste time here, even though he could study in the bookstore. But it was just too cold. Baili An saw the disappointment in Yun Rong’s eyes and said, “Miss Yun Rong, how long do you plan to stay in the city? Do you have a place to stay?” Before Yun Rong could respond… “Master… my benefactor?” As if hearing a familiar voice, the young man sweeping the dust immediately put down his feather duster and looked at Baili An with surprise and delight. This young man was actually the Ji Family’s elder brother, Ji Ting. Baili An gave him a slight smile, “I can’t claim to be your benefactor, but it was nothing more than a simple gesture of assistance.” “No, no, no! How can it be just a simple gesture?” Ji Ting’s weariness vanished in an instant. Although he displayed great enthusiasm for Baili An, his gaze uncontrollably fell upon the two women beside him, with an astonished look. The woman in black and red sword attire had a majestic presence, dignified and elegant, her austere attire unable to conceal her innate, otherworldly beauty. The young girl in the white crane robe looked sculpted from jade, with rosy lips, white teeth, and picturesque features. Although young, she carried an air of impeccable nobility, possessing an extraordinary grace. Both of their looks were remarkable, rare beauties that one might not see in a century, yet they both appeared in this rundown little bookstore in a single night. The young man, unexposed to much of the world, suddenly felt the clothes his sister had washed and cleaned for him were dirty and unsightly, even though they were spotless. “Master and the two young ladies came to read books? The ‘Elegant Collection’ by Master Xuan Shui, is that right? I’ll fetch it for you right away.” The young man eagerly brought three volumes, presenting them as though they were treasures. Baili An and Yun Rong took the volumes from him, while Fang Geyu kept a disgusted expression, “That’s for children; I don’t want it. Keep it away from me.” ‘Child’ Yun Rong held the sequel to ‘Elegant Collection’ with great interest, found a small stool, and nestled into a corner of the bookshelf to read carefully. She had but two desires in life. To see all the Sword techniques in the world. To know all the famous swords in the world. ‘Child’ Baili An, confused, asked, “Aren’t you going home for dinner?” The young scholar Ji Ting scratched his head embarrassedly, “How could I dare go home to eat first when Master enjoys reading?”

Chapter 237 - 237 235 The Author

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