Love letters are not allowed in the exorcism notebook!-Chapter 822 - 69 Do What I Can Do Now

The Shopkeeper Nong was quite a peculiar figure. He had just finished scooping manure over there and then immediately turned around to prepare wine and meat to entertain Wang Yunxiao.

Even though he had taken a bath and changed his clothes, with Wang Yunxiao’s keen sense of smell, he could still pick up a faint odor.

How could he still have an appetite? He immediately wanted to take his leave.

Unexpectedly, Shopkeeper Nong grabbed him tightly, showering him with compliments and insisting on befriending this Jianghu World companion.

Wang Yunxiao found himself helpless in the situation.

As the saying goes, "You can’t hit someone who’s smiling at you." Regardless of anything, the man had provided He Lan with shelter for some time, so he couldn’t simply disregard that.

With no way to decline, he sat down and asked, "Does Shopkeeper Nong have a request of me?"

"Oh, no, no, Young Hero Wang, don’t misunderstand!"

Shopkeeper Nong quickly waved his hand and smiled, "It’s just that I’m quite curious about your sect. After Miss He caused such a big commotion, who knows how many people are out there asking about the origins of this Swallow Sect. If it’s convenient for you, could you explain a bit to us?"

What’s there to explain? Even if I explain, you wouldn’t understand it.

Wang Yunxiao pondered for a moment inwardly and tentatively asked, "Shopkeeper Nong, can you comprehend the concept of an era?"

Shopkeeper Nong asked in surprise, "Are you referring to the differences between the Western industrial civilization and our domestic agrarian civilization?"

Whoa, this shopkeeper’s got some depth!

Suppressing his surprise, Wang Yunxiao nodded and said, "If you interpret it that way, it’s not entirely wrong. There’s no one else here, so let me speak to you plainly — we are not from this era."

"Huh? Oh..."

Shopkeeper Nong was momentarily stunned. He turned to exchange a glance with Huo Dali. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Young Hero, are you saying that you and Miss He traveled back here from a future era?"

Wang Yunxiao: "???"

No... my dude, you’re accepting this explanation way too easily!

I don’t even know how to put it into words, but you’ve already got it?

Shopkeeper Nong laughed and said, "I see that Young Hero is dignified in appearance, extraordinary in temperament, and conducts himself unlike any contemporary individual. Over the years, I’ve encountered Easterners, people from the South Seas, and even Overseas Chinese, but rarely anyone as remarkable as you. Reflecting on this, I could never figure out your origins. What you’ve said clears up my confusion."

Wang Yunxiao asked in disbelief, "Can you understand the idea of traveling from the future?"

Shopkeeper Nong laughed heartily, "Understanding it is admittedly challenging, but I’ve read similar stories in novels."

"Novels?"

"Indeed, some years ago there was a bestselling popular novel circulating in the market. It told the story of a person from this era traveling a hundred years into the future and finding skyscrapers everywhere, our nation possessing warships and cannons, children who could read and write three days after being born, and adults who could fly by strapping on two wings..."

You’re a shopkeeper in a Medicine Hall who uses manure as an emetic to treat poisoning—how do you even find time to read this kind of nonsense?

Looking at the excited face of Shopkeeper Nong in front of him, Wang Yunxiao couldn’t help but think of one phrase.

Ancient people merely lived in ancient times; it doesn’t mean they lacked intelligence.

But even so, this Shopkeeper Nong’s openness of thought was a bit too much.

Having been here for a while, Wang Yunxiao understood the general intellectual level of the locals.

But someone as progressive as him? Highly unusual.

Recalling everything that had just happened, when Huo Dali remarked that he didn’t look like a Revolutionary Party member... had Huo seen members of the Revolutionary Party and knew what they looked like?

Wang Yunxiao decided to get straight to the point and asked, "Shopkeeper Nong, are you a revolutionary?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the smile on Shopkeeper Nong’s face froze, and standing nearby, Huo Dali instinctively clenched his fist.

However, the tense atmosphere didn’t last long. Shopkeeper Nong merely contemplated for a few seconds before nodding and saying, "Indeed. While I have not yet committed myself to the revolution, by the Imperial Court’s standards for identifying revolutionaries, I am undoubtedly one. Since Young Hero claims to have traveled here from a future era, may I venture to ask: when will our country’s revolution succeed?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

This was a tough question to answer. Because what Shopkeeper Nong sought was *when*, not *if*.

If one didn’t believe in the revolution’s success, why join the Revolutionary Party?

So all he wanted was a specific time.

After some thought, Wang Yunxiao cautiously replied, "In the age I came from, it had already succeeded. As for the exact timing, that will depend on your own efforts. My teacher once told me this: focus on doing what we can do now, solving the problems we can solve now, and leaving the future for future generations to build."

Shopkeeper Nong clapped his hands and laughed, "What an excellent sentiment! Your teacher must be a man of great wisdom and learning."

Wang Yunxiao shook his head and said, "If Sir wishes to discuss statecraft with me, I’m afraid I can’t articulate it well. But do you happen to know Mr. Li Mingshen, the Chinese literature instructor at the Northern Western Learning Academy?"

Shopkeeper Nong’s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly, "Professor Li is renowned for his progressive ideas and extensive knowledge. Although I’ve heard of him, I, as a mere merchant of humble status, dare not visit him rashly for fear of inviting ridicule."

"By coincidence, Professor Li has once traveled to our era, where he gathered many books. He is currently secluded at home studying them. If you wish to seek guidance on saving the country, you could visit him."

Wang Yunxiao had debated whether or not to spread the news of Li Mingshen bringing back the books.

There are benefits to silence: as the old saying goes, ’A ruler who lacks discretion loses his ministers; a minister without secrecy harms himself; unguarded secrets ruin enterprises.’

In short, hold small meetings to accomplish great deeds. Human nature is complex; when too many people are involved, things fail amidst endless chatter.

But another sage once said, "If your direction is wrong, the more knowledge you have, the more reactionary you become."

Regardless of how virtuous or morally upright Li Mingshen may be, he was, unavoidably, a professor of the Northern Western Learning Academy. The students he taught were naturally tied to the Northern faction.

The knowledge he brought back from the Otherworld — in his and his students’ hands — could it truly deliver its intended value?

Though it seemed similar, certain historical divergences made it clear to Wang Yunxiao that this wasn’t the same timeline he remembered from before his time travel.

He couldn’t rely solely on his own subjective impressions to determine who was good or bad, who was progressive, or who was backward.

After much deliberation, he decided to reveal this information to Shopkeeper Nong, the revolutionary. Though he couldn’t control the series of butterfly effects this might set off, nor claim with certainty that his choice was correct...

At the very least, it was more meaningful than simply killing a few traitors to vent frustrations.

Focus on doing what we can do now, solving the problems we can solve now, and leaving the future for future generations to build.

Wang Yunxiao chose to believe that in this world, in this era, there would also be countless courageous individuals striving to save the nation at great personal cost, exploring every viable path with their lives and souls.

He chose to believe in them.