I am the Ruler of the Kingdom of Mysterious-Chapter 234 - 202: Writing a Story (Cumulative Reward Bonus - )
December 25th.
Modern times, Sang Family night.
Sang Que, wearing short-sleeved pajamas, stretched lazily in the sofa. The heating at home was a bit too warm in winter, but it was very comfortable, and the past couple of days at school had been a pleasant refreshment for her body and mind.
Four months ago, Sang Que could never have imagined that one day she would consider school a mental relaxation.
It’s been four days since she returned, having spent the Winter Solstice eating dumplings with her mom, attended school, and met Jiang Zao.
If it weren’t for the exams in the next couple of days, she would have wanted to continue going to school.
I’m outta here~
"Little Que, why don’t you take a temporary leave from school?"
Sang Wan cut some fruit and brought it over to Sang Que. She could see clearly that Sang Que already considered the duties of the Evil Suppression Bureau as her main job, and coming home was purely for vacation and relaxation.
As a mother, Sang Wan held onto her wishes for Sang Que, hoping she’d stay safe in modern times, at least get a high school diploma, and if not, even applying to a film academy to become an actress would be fine.
Sang Wan had struggled for a long time with herself before she finally persuaded herself to let go, letting Sang Que choose the life she wanted.
This high school, this university, even if she doesn’t really attend, she could still support Sang Que for life. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
"For now, it’s about taking it day by day." Sang Que took the plate, grabbed a slice of apple, and stuffed it into the mouth of the Great General, who was lying at her feet as a footrest, behaving very well.
Unlike Xuan Yu, if she dared to stretch her foot over, Xuan Yu would scratch with her paw.
Sang Wan sat down, temporarily avoiding the topic, "Has your Heart Lamp and its level already restored balance?"
Sang Que nodded, "Yes, along the way I handled quite a few deceitful cases, and helped many citizens. I’m special, able to receive incense from both sides, and with our novel getting more pages and new readers coming in continuously, my Heart Lamp now corresponds to more than eight hundred steps of the Third Layer."
Sang Wan pondered, "I will have a limited-time free recommendation in half a month, which should attract more readers, probably enough to push your Heart Lamp past the Fourth Layer."
"Really? Mom, you’re my God! No wonder the Deceit Dynasty forbids people from writing books, absorbing incense this way is just too awesome!"
Seeing Sang Que happy, Sang Wan also felt particularly joyous.
"After you arrive at Tianliang City, you must quickly acquire another Ghost Eye, do you have any thoughts on that?"
"I inquired with Xiao Liu, that Ghost Eye is special, and the Evil Suppression Bureau guards it very strictly. He Buning has lost one before, he has no chance to borrow it again, and with my current Silver Traveler status, I am not qualified to access it."
Sang Que, feeling at a loss, has been pondering over this issue during her classes these past few days, even using the excuse of writing a novel to ask Jiang Zao and Xu Yichao if they had any ideas on what to do.
Jiang Zao suggested creating a diversion and then stealing it.
Xu Yichao questioned about the novel’s setting, but Sang Que, unable to elaborate, was evasive. Xu Yichao finally suggested finding someone who could impersonate by changing their appearance and go in disguised as the caretaker to take it directly.
If Hua Qianmian were here, that plan might work.
Unfortunately, Tianliang City and Wangshan City are too far apart, and Hua Qianmian wouldn’t be able to arrive quickly.
"Actually, mom has an idea, would you like to hear it?" Sang Wan suddenly spoke.
"I don’t want to hear it, don’t say it!"
Uncharacteristically, Sang Que immediately refused. She had thought of that method too, but it couldn’t be used.
Sang Wan, continuing her effort, said, "A strong person must learn to use all available conditions. If you’re unwilling to pay this small price, how could you expect to change the entire Deceit Dynasty?"
"That was just a thought, and anyway, it’s not yet time to use the storyteller’s ability, which would shorten your life."
Sang Wan chuckled, "Little Que, have you forgotten the paper on which the storyteller merely wrote an opening? He only wrote an introduction without starting the story, yet this introduction still attracted many ’Returning Guests’ to the Ming Mansion, eventually gathering the people he wanted."
Sang Que’s eyes lit up, "Mom, you mean to write a similar opening?"
"Yes, as long as the story hasn’t officially begun, it shouldn’t cause me pain and illness. However, the story’s power will be weak and will need time to catalyze. But at the very least, it can help push you toward obtaining the Ghost Eye."
Sang Que pondered it carefully, eventually nodding.
"Mom, remember you promised not to start upon it lightly."
"Don’t worry, I know what to do. Come, follow me to the study and let’s write the story."
Sang Que followed Sang Wan to the study, where Sang Wan first took out the piece of paper from the storyteller. The paper was already filled with words in ink, the introduction still clearly visible.
"Ladies and gentlemen, sit quietly, drink your tea, and listen to my tale of an old mansion’s ancient grievances, about those who return to their hometowns, fated to undergo unavoidable, mysterious experiences. That day, the weather suddenly changed, a downpour began..."
Sang Wan glanced briefly at the paper, then took out a piece of paper that Sang Que had previously brought back from Meishu Village. She cut a piece, using a sterilized needle to prick her fingertip, letting the blood drip into the ink.
After the brush absorbed enough ink, Sang Wan raised it, poised it above the paper, and, after a musing pause, penned a line of words.
"In the midst of winter, heavy snow arrived suddenly and continued for days on end. They say a border city of those two states inexplicably lost a strange object. At that very moment, a group was approaching this place, including a stranger deeply connected with the object, about to unfold an unavoidable deceit..."
Sang Wan set down the brush, gently blew dry the ink, and explained it to Sang Que.
"I analyzed the storyteller’s introduction. No specific place, time, or names are mentioned, and the characters are generic without gender classifications. Whatever his reason for writing this way, mimicking his method can’t be wrong. The mysterious object and the stranger’s connections can likely refer to the Ghost Eye."
"The storyteller wrote about rain at the end of the story, likely as a trigger condition. So, I wrote about sudden heavy snow continual for days, and when you encounter such weather, you must stay alert and attentive, as it’s likely that this story’s beginning is taking effect."
After carefully drying the ink, Sang Wan folded the paper cautiously, handing it to Sang Que.
"Bring this paper to the Deceit Dynasty, I feel its influence will be stronger over there."
Sang Que stepped forward to hug Sang Wan, "Mom, thank you."
"There’s no need for thanks between a mother and daughter. Alright, you’re going back tonight, so go pack your things."
Sang Que finished eating the fruit that Sang Wan had prepared for her, then changed into the cotton clothes bought in the Deceit Dynasty, took the things she needed, especially Xuan Yu’s jar.
After midnight, Sang Que bid farewell to Sang Wan and returned to the Taikang City inn in the Deceit Dynasty. She had reserved the room for five days, intentionally choosing to return after midnight to avoid encountering anyone.
She had thought she’d see Xia Chan and Xuan Yu sleeping on the bed upon returning, but the room was empty, except for a letter on the table.
Sang Que picked it up and found that He Buning had taken Xia Chan, Xuan Yu, and the donkey cart. He said Taikang City had just conducted a festival and there wouldn’t be any major cases. He didn’t want to waste time waiting there.
Tianliang City borders Yunzhou, and the Xuan Dynasty has not fully subdued the barbarians of Yunzhou. Battles are frequent there, and the resentment energy is stronger than anywhere else, making it easier for deceitful cases to occur.
With the year’s end approaching, he wanted to go to Tianliang City soon for inspection and advised Sang Que, after meeting her junior sister, to find her own way to Tianliang City.
"Workaholic! No wonder Cui Cheng doesn’t like you; you’re trying to work him into the ground."
Sang Que remarked, burning the letter paper, and took off her outerwear which she had just put on.
Before going to bed, Sang Que opened the window. Outside, the stars and moon shone brightly, with not a cloud in the sky. Although it was cold, there were no signs of snow.
She pressed the paper she had close against her body before going to sleep.
Since He Buning took the donkey cart, she wasn’t carrying much money. She could only find a merchant caravan heading to Tianliang City to hitch a ride tomorrow.
