IHOEAYSTTTIW Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Using a small price to exchange for known information.

Chapter 74: Using a small price to exchange for known information.

The National Teacher told a very long story.

According to historical records, the first National Teacher was extraordinarily gifted, able to divine good and bad omens and communicate with spirits. When the Great Ancestor launched his rebellion, he accurately predicted an auspicious day and, through a divine oracle, portrayed the uprising as mandated by heaven, uniting hearts and minds and gathering popular support.

For the next ten years, the National Teacher followed the Great Ancestor in his campaigns to the south and north, making great contributions until the country was initially stabilized and the world was at peace. After the founding of the Great Zhou, the National Teacher conceived the idea of retiring. Before leaving, the Great Ancestor earnestly requested that he demonstrate his spiritual communication skills in front of everyone.

There was no reason to demonstrate spiritual communication in public. The National Teacher thought he was doomed, but he actually succeeded in conversing with a deity.

The Great Ancestor reached an agreement with the deity, exchanging his own lifespan and the incense offerings of the people for three hundred years of stability for the Great Zhou.

This matter was of utmost importance, and only a few people knew about it, namely, the imperial family and the lineage of the National Teacher. The Great Ancestor’s last decree was to enshrine the National Teacher’s lineage as National Teachers for generations, with all descendants to be treated with courtesy.

The strength of the National Teacher’s connection with the divine was related to the fate of the nation. Now, only two hundred and fifty years after the founding of the Great Zhou, the nation’s fortune was already showing signs of fatigue. The previous National Teacher had failed to establish contact even once.

The late emperor was incompetent. The National Teacher, lacking the divine blessing, focused on power struggles and personal gain. Through various manipulations, the National Teacher’s position became increasingly revered, and his life was filled with extravagance and extraordinary wealth.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he rectified the court and used the word “tyrannical” as the late emperor’s posthumous title, displaying the thunder of his might and using decisive means. He showed no leniency in dealing with the ministers in the court, let alone a National Teacher who was merely occupying a position without doing any work.

“In short, the predecessors plant the trees for the successors to enjoy the shade, but my senior brother dug the pit… so I can only fill it.” The young National Teacher took a swig of plain water, pointing to the courtyard behind him with grief and indignation, “I even mortgaged the pagoda.”

Falling wall plaster, withered flowers and plants, and tasteless plain water.

Lin Yan pursed his lips and shook his head repeatedly, “Too miserable, too miserable.”

“After saying so much…” The National Teacher awkwardly scratched his hand and finally said what he wanted, “Could you give me that little night light?”

Just a little night light, it’s not worth anything.

Lin Yan touched his pocket, empty.

Oh, he had changed clothes.

Lin Yan turned his pockets inside out, looking helpless: “I didn’t bring it today.”

“I know, I’ll come get it another day.” The National Teacher rummaged through the drawer for a long time before finding two candies and handing them to Lin Yan.

Lin Yan’s mouth was terribly bland, so he threw the candy into his mouth without hesitation. He smacked his lips, carefully tasting the flavor, but his thoughts flew elsewhere, and the more he thought about it, the more something felt wrong.

Lin Yan was just about to ask when he saw the National Teacher dipping his fingertip in water and drawing strange symbols on the table.

Lin Yan didn’t understand mysticism, but he had reverence for such things. He waited for the National Teacher to make the final stroke before asking, “How do you know about the little night light?”

The National Teacher didn’t answer, his attention still on the table. He made several gestures, and the water stains on the table began to flow, eventually solidifying into a bizarre shape. After the National Teacher calculated with his fingers, it turned into white mist and disappeared.

The questions in Lin Yan’s heart turned into reverence, and the image of the National Teacher became taller.

The National Teacher poured himself some more water before speaking slowly, “I not only know about the little night light, but I also know where you came from.”

“Really?” Lin Yan’s eyes lit up like stars, and he asked eagerly, “Then do you know how to go back?”

“I know.” The National Teacher said two words and didn’t continue, his fingers intentionally or unintentionally stroking the oiled paper that wrapped the pastries.

Asking questions requires a reward, which is reasonable.

“The little night light is yours.” Lin Yan glanced at the rustling oiled paper and added again, “In the future, go to River Sister and mention my name. All takeout and banquets will be on the house, I’ll pay the bill.”

The National Teacher instantly beamed: “Deal.”

I give my price, you hand over your information.

Lin Yan quietly waited for the National Teacher to continue, until the National Teacher savored the water in his cup with relish, but still had nothing to say.

Lin Yan urged, “And then?”

The National Teacher put down the cup, looking innocent: “And then what…”

Lin Yan’s facial muscles twitched, and he suppressed the fire rising in his heart with great effort, trying to keep his tone gentle: “The way to go home.”

The National Teacher suddenly realized, and in Lin Yan’s expectant eyes, he said something that made one despair: “Save the Great Zhou and extend its life by fifty years.”

Lin Yan expressionlessly instructed, “Try another one.”

“That’s it.” The National Teacher shrugged, spreading his hands, “That’s the only way.”

“No way.” Lin Yan pointed at himself, making the same expression as Mother Wang, “Me, extend the life of the dynasty? Do you want to hear what you’re saying?”

The National Teacher sized Lin Yan up and down, covering his mouth with his fist to cough twice to hide his laughter.

Lin Yan’s eyes became dangerous, threateningly tapping on the oiled paper wrapping the pastries.

The National Teacher paused, remembering that Lin Yan was his patron, and pretended to be profound: “The gods have the gods’ thoughts, how can we mortals understand.”

Gods? What gods?

When listening to the story just now, Lin Yan didn’t think carefully. Now that the matter had fallen on him, he had to think it over carefully.

Lin Yan quickly connected the dots.

Isn’t this god the overworked system?

To fix this loophole, the system must have tricked more than just him. The Li family girl who went crazy before and the former Empress…

That is to say, before him, there were two… one person.

The former Empress’s surname was Li, and it wouldn’t be a problem for the common people to call her the Li family girl when spreading rumors.

Lin Yan tentatively asked, “So, the previous Empress Li was also Body Transmigration?”

The National Teacher began a new round of divination: “According to calculations… that’s how it is.”

Rumor has it that Empress Li was thrown into the Cold Palace, struggled to survive for more than ten years, and finally died in a mysterious fire.

Death as an escape is also a common trope, maybe that’s the way to go home.

Lin Yan became excited again: “Did he succeed? Did he go back?”

“No.” The National Teacher waved his hand, the water stains on the table evaporated, taking away Lin Yan’s hope, “She didn’t go back, he died in that fire.”

Lin Yan became dejected again, listless all over, “Really… is there really no other way?”

“That’s it.” The National Teacher shook his head, earnestly advising, “The one who tied the bell must untie it. He chose you, so only he can send you back.”

Lin Yan didn’t give up, searching through all kinds of bloody tropes he had seen: “Isn’t there any time rift, space dislocation, nine stars in a line…”

“There are no such things.” The National Teacher got up to clear the teacups, muttering to himself, “A short story (deleted) world, how can there be so many Golden Fingers.”

Lin Yan clapped his hands, turned around and walked out, saying the desperate truth in a cheerful tone: “It’s over, I can’t go back, it’s all over…”

“Leaving? Goodbye—” The National Teacher waved to Lin Yan, continuing to clear the dishes.

Lin Yan had only taken a few steps when he heard footsteps behind him. He thought the National Teacher had thought of some solution and was about to turn around when he heard the National Teacher chasing after him, shouting, “Don’t forget to tell River Sister, just give the takeout to Guard Zhang at the door, I want four dishes and a soup tonight…”

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