Chapter Ten: When Fortune Smiles, Even Heaven and Earth Lend Their Strength; When Fate Turns, Heroes Find Themselves Powerless

Sending off the old farmer, Xu Boqing grasped twenty-four coins of the Great Liang, then rose and headed to a nearby breakfast stall, ordering ten fresh pork buns. The thin-skinned, generously stuffed meat buns, accompanied by complimentary spicy soup and a dash of red chili oil, were truly satisfying. Perhaps owing to his unusual constitution, he consumed ten large buns and two bowls of soup, yet felt no fullness.

With some money still in hand, he went ahead and bought ten more, finally sensing a hint of satiety. Ignoring the stares of others who watched him eat so much, Xu Boqing settled the bill and strode away with flair.

Walking down the street, he rolled the remaining four copper coins in his palm, sighing at how quickly money disappeared. Glancing about, he spotted at the end of the road a shop displaying the sign “Cloud Pavilion.” The Cloud Pavilion primarily sold scholarly wares; it was a well-known “chain store” throughout Great Liang, its sign visible in cities large and small.

Having borrowed Liu Laogen’s stall, Xu Boqing felt he owed a bit of karma; if luck did not favor him, perhaps by evening the stall would be smashed, and he ought to offer some compensation. After a moment’s thought, he weighed the four coins left in his hand and stepped into Cloud Pavilion.

For Cloud Pavilion to have established itself across Great Liang, its cultural foundation was naturally deep. The shop was suffused with a faint scent of ink, and famous paintings and calligraphy adorned the walls. Visitors were either academy students dressed in scholars’ robes or stewards purchasing writing supplies for their household’s literati.

There were only a handful of customers, but the atmosphere was calm and comfortable, strikingly different from the noisy morning market outside. Though Xu Boqing’s attire wasn’t ostentatious, it was of fine silk and brocade, and his bearing was distinguished—not that of a pauper. Thus, as soon as he entered, a young attendant greeted him.

“May I ask what you wish to purchase, sir?”

“A brush,” Xu Boqing replied.

The attendant smiled. “You’ve come to the right place. Our Cloud Pavilion’s scholarly wares are famous throughout Great Liang.” He made a gesture inviting him to the brush cabinet, then introduced, “This is a Lake Brush, made in Jiangsu and Zhejiang; it flows freely and is durable, reputed as ‘the finest brush in the world.’ This is a Huizhou Xuan Brush—”

“Stop, stop…” Xu Boqing interrupted, seeing the attendant habitually introducing the expensive brushes. He quickly revealed the four Great Liang coins in his palm and said, a bit embarrassed, “Brother, sorry, but I only have four coins left. Could I buy the cheapest brush in your shop?”

He added, “As long as it can pick up ink and write, even a worn-out one will do.”

“Ah, well…” The attendant glanced uncertainly at the shopkeeper, who was busy with a distinguished guest. The shopkeeper nodded slightly, so the attendant nodded as well. “Very well, I’ll fetch one for you.”

After a short while, the attendant brought over a crudely made brush. “Sir, though this brush is rough, it writes perfectly well, and it costs only three coins. It should suit your needs.”

“Thank you, brother.” Xu Boqing took the brush and handed over all four coins, saying, “Without ink, a brush is useless. Could I borrow a bit of your shop’s ink for the last coin? The cheapest kind, just a dip, enough to write a few characters outside.”

“Feel free to use it.” Before the attendant could reply, the shopkeeper had already nodded in agreement and produced some prepared ink, gesturing for him to use it as he pleased.

“Thank you, Shopkeeper.”

“No trouble at all,” the shopkeeper waved his hand. “It’s a small matter. Out in the world, everyone faces hardship at times.”

“Your generosity is admirable.” Xu Boqing cupped his hands in thanks, then, without further ceremony, dipped his brush in the ink and left the shop.

Inside Cloud Pavilion, an elderly guest smiled and teased, “Zi Yan, you remain gentle and kind after all these years—unchanged.”

“Hahaha, Master Gu, you flatter me,” the shopkeeper replied self-deprecatingly. “You have disciples everywhere; among all my brothers, I am the most foolish, achieving nothing after all these years, forced to stay in this humble shop—a shame.”

“This is a humble room, but its virtue shines,” the elder shook his head, meaningfully sighing, “Cloud Pavilion is excellent—filled with scholarly fragrance, far from the halls of power. If I am demoted again on this journey, perhaps I’ll open such a shop myself, to savor tea and books in my twilight years.”

“You exaggerate, Master Gu.”

“No matter, it’s time I set out.” The shopkeeper hesitated, then hurried forward, saying, “Why so rushed, Master? I haven’t properly welcomed you yet—if my brothers hear of this, won’t they break my back with scorn?”

“It’s the thought that counts.”

Master Gu waved his hand, stood up, and said, “Passing through here on my way back to the capital, I only stopped to see you. Matters await my attention in the capital—I cannot delay.”

The shopkeeper knew well the urgency, and as his teacher departed, he quickly helped him to the door. “Then I won’t detain you, Master. May you achieve great things in the capital.”

“That’s enough, go on now.”

The elder stooped and climbed into a plain carriage, raised the window curtain and waved, signaling him to return and not to see him off further. He also urged the driver to set off.

As the wheels rolled on, he peered through the curtain at the bustling vendors and laborers of Hongyang City’s lively morning market, his mind filled with thoughts…

Achieve great things? Now the Emperor is obsessed with seeking immortality and neglects governance; treacherous ministers sow chaos in court, flatterers rule, and the capital has become a place of intrigue and danger.

For decades, he had diligently submitted memorials, only to be demoted three times, then recalled three times—this was already the fourth. Was there any hope left for achievement?

Alas…

Just as he was about to lower the curtain and settle in for the journey, his brow twitched slightly—he caught sight of the young man who had earlier bought a brush for four coins and borrowed ink at Cloud Pavilion.

The young man now stood before a fortune-telling banner, brush in hand, apparently pondering something. In short order, he wrote several bold characters onto the canvas, adding “You Must Ask” and “Profound Immortal Way” to the existing words.

He transformed “Divine Calculations” and “Foretelling Heaven and Earth” into “Divine Calculations, You Must Ask” and “Foretelling Heaven and Earth, Profound Immortal Way.”

Seeing this, the elder’s temples throbbed with anger, for he could see the young man’s calligraphy was quite skillful, his attire and bearing marking him as a well-read individual. He had thought, back in Cloud Pavilion, that the youth—down to his last four coins yet still buying a brush—was a diligent scholar…

He had misjudged!

So young, and already choosing the path of flattery and superstition—a charlatan!

Then came an even more egregious act: after finishing the inscription, the youth simply tossed the brush aside!

A small action, but telling—if all scholars became like this young man, how could he face the venerable sages and scholars of the past?

“Stop the carriage!”