Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 715 - 710: Strange Tokens

Lin Wanwan looked at the exquisitely carved ring in the brocade box, embedded with a large gem tinted with a purplish blue hue.

Even under the dim light of the cabin, its brilliance was undeniable, clearly not an ordinary item.

She was stunned for a moment, then slowly put the ring down.

Gu Feng had given her an invaluable ring without a word, surely at someone else’s behest. After all, she had no real ties with Gu Feng, except for Xiao Chong.

But why would Xiao Chong ask Gu Feng to quietly give her a ring? What is its significance? It definitely doesn’t mean anything modern.

Lin Wanwan looked at the woman who called herself Liu Ruyan, and asked, "Since you know of the brocade box, you must also know the origin of this ring, right? Tell me, this Village Lady is quite curious."

Unexpectedly, Liu Ruyan remained kneeling and made a grand gesture toward Lin Wanwan: "Master above, please accept Liu Ruyan’s bow."

Lin Wanwan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Master?"

Liu Ruyan glanced to the sides, indicating a desire for a private conversation.

Lin Wanwan toyed with the gun in her hand, pondered for a moment, then waved her hand, saying, "Everyone except A-Jing and A-Li, leave."

The two mute girls were the most reliable for confidentiality, as they couldn’t read or speak. When talking with their backs turned, they couldn’t hear, only read lips.

Though the others had doubts, since the seemingly delicate woman before them was a martial arts heroine who could catch a blade with bare hands in a recent night battle.

But orders were not to be challenged, seeing Lin Wanwan’s firm intent, they all withdrew to outside the cabin.

A-Li and A-Jing tacitly stood on either side, eyes downcast, not looking at the two’s faces.

As long as they avoided eye contact, they naturally couldn’t read lips.

Once everyone else left, Liu Ruyan began to whisper: "The ring in the Master’s hand is the token of the leader of our Starfall Hezong Sect, which has been held by Sect Master Xiao for the past ten years. I received the secret order from Sect Master Xiao, indicating that our new Starfall leader has emerged and to meet in Luoyang."

"Wait, are you saying Xiao Chong is with the Hezong Sect?" Lin Wanwan’s focus seemed a bit odd.

Liu Ruyan answered frankly: "To the Master, yes. Sect Master Xiao is the 307th successor of the Nine Swords of Hezong, personally selected by the last Sect Master during the unsettled times at the end of the Sui Dynasty."

Lin Wanwan murmured: "No wonder that guy is so cunning and strategic, turns out he’s a Hezong strategist!"

The Hezong Sect during the Spring and Autumn Period was one of the philosophical schools, known for producing strategists who swayed alliances and manipulated nations.

However, their rise was quick, and their fall just as swift. After Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s unification, there was little room for Hezong to stir up trouble.

By the time of the Western Han under Emperor Wu, there were proponents of abolishing all schools except for Confucianism.

The Confucian ideals and the ethics of ruler and minister benefited centralized authority and were very favored by monarchs. From the Sui and Tang Dynasties onwards, it was fully established.

In today’s world, few of the major schools remain active, most moved underground or into the martial arts world; who would have thought Xiao Chong was among them.

No wonder he once said he loved freedom by nature, indeed, he quietly diverged from the mainstream; who knows if the rest of the Xiao clan in Lanling is aware.

Lin Wanwan continued to ask Liu Ruyan several questions, and the woman was compliant, sharing everything without reservation.

Treating her superior with the patience of a first love, she would certainly be considered emotionally intelligent in the workplace, making her superiors feel at ease.

Lin Wanwan understood Xiao Chong’s meaning; he quietly gave her this power-representing ring because her Lin family had no significant background, failing to recruit skilled people, hence sending over this group of female fighters.

If she hadn’t asked, these women from the Luoxing Organization would find other reasons to stay by her side and protect her in secret. Now that she asked, they openly pledged allegiance.

Whether to accept them and make their presence known, or let them drift in the martial world, the decision was entirely Lin Wanwan’s to make.

However, accepting such a ring without merit didn’t sit well with her!

Lin Wanwan had already decided in her heart that once she returned to Mao County, she’d return this Luoxing Ring, along with the exquisite mutton fat jade set sent by Empress Xiao, back to Xiao Chong.

Before that, Lin Wanwan naturally would not let Liu Ruyan and the women of the Starfall Organization openly follow, letting them continue using the excuse of seeking refuge with relatives in Jiangnan as widows, which was fine.

Liu Ruyan, not having received Lin Wanwan’s acceptance, was apparently a bit disappointed.

But the disappointment was limited; after all, these martial women were accustomed to coming and going freely, and becoming a noble lady’s guard or maid seemed quite dull.

This group of women was chosen by Xiao Chong from among the born slaves of the Xiao family.

As women of servile birth, originally destined to a life of serving at bedsides and kitchens.

But after being chosen by Xiao Chong, their fates changed. Although learning in their youth was tough, much was gained.

Compared to ordinary servants, they were much freer, not to mention their food and living conditions.

Having tasted freedom, most now had no thoughts of marriage.

Because once married, they would become an appendage to their husband, which was hard to accept.

Being born lowly, from birth their fate was largely predetermined, making it difficult to marry someone they admired and loved.

In the Great Tang, mixed marriages of good and lowly birth were forbidden; they could only become concubines to good lords or be paired with coarse family slaves, lesser servants, and troops. Such lowly marriages, for those who had learned and understood so much, were akin to tainting themselves, better to remain single forever.

This was the unresolvable conflict between their lowborn realities and their gradually increased intelligence.

Though enlightenment brought more worries, none regretted being chosen.

The reason these chosen girls could all succeed when grown was also due to Xiao Chong’s discerning eye.

Xiao Chong had a talent for recognizing people. In just a glance, he could discern who was worth nurturing, who had potential and capability.

This skill was inherited by Pei Shouyue growing up, having a bit of a gifted component.

Pei Xingjian later wrote a military tome which recorded this technique of discerning people.

Unfortunately, after Pei Xingjian’s death, Wu Zetian had the manuscript taken away, and its secrecy led to its disappearance in the annals of history. This impressive skill of recognizing people naturally became lost.

As for Xiao Chong, he disappeared too early in history to mention.