Calamity Messenger-Chapter 61 - 48: A Surge of Public Sentiment
As soon as Qunyu Book said this, everyone was dumbfounded.
Who is Qunyu Book?
The Quan Family’s patriarch is his second uncle, his father holds the position of Governor of Jiangling and commands the Jingxiang Military Town. At a young age, he already achieved his second professional transformation and is expected to reach the legendary Foundation Establishment Tier within his lifetime. The line of women wanting to marry him stretches from Jiangnan all the way to Yangzhou.
However, in theory, Qunyu Book’s wife can only be a noblewoman of equal status. Even noble young ladies aren’t qualified; she must at least be from one of the four Red Gate families.
To marry Qunyu Book is nothing short of reaching the sky in one step. It’s not just about a life of wealth and splendor; even if the woman aspires to the Messenger Path, the Quan Family can spare some resources to ensure her second professional transformation. If she has enough talent, they can even guarantee her third transformation.
But to marry a woman with no family background, a black-belt practitioner?
However, seeing Jiang Shi’s appearance, everyone somewhat understood Qunyu Book’s impulse. Many even showed expressions of regret, lamenting that they hadn’t acted earlier to win her favor.
Shang Xinlei and others didn’t speak either. Although they also intended to recruit Jiang Shi, if Qunyu Book used the position of the legitimate wife as a bargaining chip... they indeed had no better offer.
Five seconds passed, thirty seconds passed, a minute passed.
Jiang Shi remained silent, focused solely on practicing with her saber.
Was it because she hadn’t heard, or did she hear and choose not to respond?
The atmosphere became unusually awkward, especially with Qunyu Book still kneeling. As he slowly stood up and silently watched Jiang Shi, even a commoner would likely be infuriated being ignored in such a manner, let alone someone from a prestigious family. Thus, Jie Yuan Shao took a step forward, ready to intervene should Qunyu Book erupt in anger.
"No, she truly is too beautiful." Qunyu Book suddenly sighed, "I was initially a bit angry, but looking at this face, I just can’t get angry. Still, I can’t marry her; otherwise, she’d constantly provoke me without anger, surely driving me to despair."
Qian Gongyu, behind him, nodded repeatedly. Jiang Shi was indeed infuriating, yet it was impossible to harbor anger against her!
"Jiang Shi," Chen Linchuan shouted, "I’m speaking on behalf of the Chen Family, would you mind stepping aside for a moment to have a word?"
Jiang Shi remained silent, focused solely on practicing with her saber.
Chen Linchuan was not someone like Qunyu Book; he cherished the honor of himself and his family greatly. Jiang Shi’s attitude immediately darkened his expression, and Jie Zilong had to step in slightly, positioning himself between him and Jiang Shi.
The guests behind them were in disbelief; daring to publicly ignore the prince of the Quan Family and an elder of the Chen Family, this... this was courting death! However, many took pleasure in Jiang Shi’s audacity; they’d long disapproved of an outsider like her, wielding power over them.
People from lower backgrounds should stay in their place. Why cause a spectacle and draw everyone’s gaze?
Just as the tension escalated to a breaking point, Jiang Shi suddenly halted her practice.
She seemed to awaken from a dream, glancing at the crowd. "You were looking for me?"
"Yes," Qunyu Book praised, "I had the pleasure to witness a beauty wielding her saber, appearing as if covering the moon with light clouds, as if floating snow caught in a swirling breeze..."
"If there’s no official business, I shall resume my training."
"Hurry and disclose the secret technique of Mansu Forest Land!" someone suddenly shouted from the crowd. "Everyone here needs your secret technique to conquer the Secret Realm. If you selfishly withhold and intend to hog it, you’ll offend all the noble families here!"
Qian Gongyu didn’t need to look to know it was Luo Weijin provoking trouble. But Luo Weijin’s words were just a trigger; others immediately echoed his sentiments.
"Indeed, indeed, since everyone can enter Mansu Forest Land, sharing the secret technique costs nothing."
"The higher everyone’s scores, the better rewards, which ultimately boosts the strength of the Liang Kingdom. One cannot, for personal gain, hinder the kingdom’s development. Jiang Shi, you must consider the bigger picture."
"We aren’t asking for free; compensation is on the table."
"Surely the Jie Family and Shang Family won’t benefit and then prevent our progress?"
Although anticipated, facing such fierce public opinion left Shang Xinlei caught off guard.
It’s not just the numbers but also because Mansu Forest Land is uniquely accessible—limited by time but not by people. Hence, no one can monopolize this Secret Realm. The more who attempt to conquer it, the better.
If a hundred people entered the Secret Realm, there would be a hundred rewards; if a hundred thousand entered, there would be a hundred thousand rewards!
The importance Qunyu Book and Chen Linchuan placed on Jiang Shi is understandable; if Jiang Shi truly possesses a secret technique, she would be akin to a strategic national asset, capable of annually drawing unmeasurable resources from Mansu Forest Land!
’This is troublesome...’ Shang Xinlei thought: ’Even if Jiang Shi claimed not to have a secret technique, they wouldn’t believe her. They would hound Jiang Shi like vultures ready to pick her apart until they examine her heart.’
In Shang Xinlei’s position, she wouldn’t know how to break this impasse. No, if she possessed a secret technique, she wouldn’t have been so brazen in entering the Mansu Forest Land until at least reaching the Third Transformation Level, ideally aligning with three other Third Transformation experts to form a team to rack up points. By then, what could the dozens of noble families of the Liang Kingdom do to her?
But Jiang Shi, without even a First Transformation, entered Mansu Forest Land with such minimal strength and lacking family or friends, it’s no wonder others covet her abilities.
She can’t fathom why Jiang Shi, with such talent, wouldn’t choose to bide time and develop discreetly. Wouldn’t that be better?
Oh well, though she hadn’t received a letter from her family, she’d still protect her for now.
The Jie Family wouldn’t stand by silently either; before the Mansu Forest Land ends, they’re on the same side.
"I refuse."
Jiang Shi lightly nudged her saber, gripping the hilt tightly, and stepped forward, stepping from shadow into light.
"If you want a fight, bring it."
The clamor suddenly hushed, then exploded tenfold like a compressed spring, with insults, jeers, and scoldings intertwining as if determined to verbally end Jiang Shi.
Jiang Shi didn’t speak, merely took another step forward, and the White Iron Straight Saber was slightly drawn—
"Anyone who dares speak further makes an enemy of the Quan Family!"
Qunyu Book’s shout instantly controlled the scene, and Shang Xinlei and Jie Yuan Shao placed themselves in front of Jiang Shi to prevent her from further action.
"Finally quiet, though earlier it was clearly my conversation with Jiang Shi; interrupting my chat with a beauty, I hold grudges for that," Qunyu Book sighed, spreading his hands, easing the boiling tension. He turned to Jiang Shi, "Jiang Shi, you don’t like idle talk, so I’ll be brief—I invite you to become a tributor for the Quan Family."
"A tributor of the Quan Family receives a monthly salary of three thousand Spiritual Jade, is awarded five tokens for self-defense, gains access to the Quan Family’s internal Secret Vault, and is given a Quan Family Token to access eighteen Secret Realms across the Liang Kingdom. I won’t detail accommodations and benefits further, but I’ll emphasize one point: the Quan Family’s sole requirement for tributors is to strive for the Third Transformation with all they have."
"The Quan Family won’t demand your secret technique, nor will anyone force you to give up your secret technique once you become a tributor. Jiang Shi, how do you feel about this offer?"
