Chapter 2: The Preparation of the Game
Wang Lie entered Dali City through the south gate. The city was densely populated, with the main street paved with bluestone and bustling markets. Wang Lie felt as if he had returned to the human world. This day and night, from the valley to the city, although there was no real danger, it still left him feeling thrilling. The scenery before him was no longer the familiar urban landscape, but rather ancient buildings with a classic charm. The people on the street were all dressed in traditional attire, and even the sounds of vendors carried an ancient tone. Wang Lie finally completely believed that he had traveled back to ancient times, and it seemed he was in the world of 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'.
According to the information I gathered today, this is undoubtedly the world of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils." The Duan clan of Dali indeed possesses the One Yang Finger, and the Infinite Jade Wall was not mentioned in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," so it should not be the case. The martial arts of the Duan clan are not passed on to outsiders, and the Six Meridians Divine Sword cannot be learned. It would be great if I could join the Xianxia Sect. Since the Infinite Jade Wall is currently uninhabited, it indicates that Wu Yazi has not yet gone into seclusion, so he should be in Tianshan or the Starry Sea. The original text does not specify clearly, so I will search both places. The construction of Lingjiu Palace is such a large project that it cannot be completed in just one or two years; it should now also be the territory of the Xianxia Sect. I will give it a try; after all, I am a person of exceptional talent and intelligence. Wang Lie thought narcissistically, and habitually picked up a nearby mirror to check his reflection.
After walking for a while, it was already afternoon. Wang Lie found a stall to casually fill up on some items and began to implement his grand plan for wealth. He located a grocery store, purchased several sheets of white paper and a wooden box, and evenly tore them into hundreds of small paper balls. Each paper ball was rolled into a ball and placed into the wooden box. He also borrowed some ink and a brush from the shopkeeper, and on one of the paper balls, he drew a pig's head, rolled it into a ball, and stuffed it into his sleeve. Then he carried the wooden box to an open area on the street.
Do not miss this opportunity as you pass by, sudden wealth is waiting for you to claim it, with just 2 coins you have the chance to win a grand prize, opportunities are equal for everyone, and the prizes are fair to both young and old
Following the instructions of the elder, Wang Lie walked to the entrance of the inn. Although it was the best inn in Dali City, it was merely a two-story small building. Just as he was about to enter, Wang Lie suddenly remembered that he had no money on him
People stood on tiptoe, whispering to one another, engaged in lively discussions
"Excuse me, sir, where can I find an inn?" Wang Lie strolled around the street and recalled that he needed to find a place to settle down for the time being, so he stopped a passing gentleman to ask.
... ... ... ...
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The crowd was in an uproar; this prize was no small matter. Wang Lie was also unsure whether gambling was prohibited in Dali. There was no other way for him to raise money for the time being, so he could only take this chance, especially since he was about to leave anyway
It is said to be called a 'lottery', where two qian of silver is drawn once, and if you win, you receive a prize
In the bustling marketplace, the deafening sound of the gong quickly attracted passersby, forming a large circle with layers of people both inside and outside.
The prices here are indeed high, a zitan wood bracelet worth tens of thousands was actually pawned for only fifteen taels of silver. According to the charges of this inn, along with meals, it would only be enough for me to survive for two months. Who says life in ancient times is good? I spit in your face!" Weighing a small piece of silver in his hand, Wang Lie thought helplessly.
As he watched countless hands pass over the weighed two taels of silver, countless hands reaching into the box to pull out a wad of paper, of course, there were also countless sighs and expressions of reluctance... Renewal. Wang Lie chuckled to himself, and after a while, he returned to the inn with dozens of taels of silver, leaving behind a crowd that sighed endlessly.
Wang Lie took a deep breath and then struck the gong in his hand, producing a sound that resonated through the air after borrowing a gong from the nearby juggling troupe
As soon as Wang Lie entered the city, he attracted an extraordinary amount of attention; his outfit, consisting of pajamas, appeared quite peculiar in this era. He has become accustomed to being looked at a few times now.
Onlookers discussed for a long time, yet ultimately no one stepped forward to be the first to take the plunge.
With nothing to his name and no martial arts skills to rely on, Wang Lie found himself at a loss for a moment. After sitting quietly and daydreaming for a while, he slammed the table and declared, "I am a dignified holder of a Doctor's degree in Physics; I can't possibly starve to death. Since I am here, even if I cannot become a great hero, I must learn some skills. Damn it, I have envied the skill of 'Lingbo Weibu' for a long time."
"Continue straight along the road, turn left after two intersections, and the largest inn in Dali City is right there." The uncle stared at Wang Lie for a long time before responding.
The Xiaoyao Sect only accepts handsome men, this should be fine. Wang Lie thought to himself, however, I must also make plans. Apart from the Xiaoyao Sect, the only option left is Shaolin. There is no Wudang Sect in the Tianlong Babu, and the other formidable martial arts are Mu Hetushu's Douzhuan Xingyi, which, like the Six Meridians Divine Sword, is only passed down within the family. Although it is relatively easier to enter Shaolin, I do not wish to become a monk, and besides, even if I enter Shaolin, I have no idea when I would be able to learn the Yi Jin Jing. Therefore, the Xiaoyao Sect remains the first choice. If I can casually learn either the Beiming Divine Skill or the Small Wuxiang Skill, it would be a gain.
Wang Lie left the palace, wandering east and west, occasionally engaging in conversation with passersby and vendors. Before long, he came across a large mansion, with two grand flags at the entrance, embroidered with the characters "Zhen Nan" and "Bao Guo" respectively. Above the gate was inscribed "Zhen Nan Wang Fu". The entrance was filled with personal guards. Wang Lie was self-aware and did not approach to seek an audience, knowing it would be a futile endeavor. At this moment, he had no ties with the Duan family, and the Prince of Zhen Nan had no interest in him.
After a brief silence, the onlookers gradually became agitated
What on earth is going on! Wang Lie was taken aback, dropping the bronze mirror onto the table. Reflected in the mirror was a young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with striking features, only vaguely resembling his original appearance. "I was already handsome, but looking ten years younger is simply stunning," Wang Lie remarked, touching his own face. Could this be a benefit of time travel? It would be better to grant me a hundred years of cultivation instead; I was already handsome enough, and being a bit more handsome won't put food on the table. Wang Lie complained, since time travel had already occurred, he would not be surprised by anything else.
After dropping the prayer beads, Wang Lie successfully checked into the inn reputed to be the best in Dali City. After enjoying a hearty meal in the lobby, Wang Lie returned to his room
At dusk, Wang Lie and Tushu, who had been rushing all the way, finally arrived at the foot of Dali City. Along the way, they inquired about a few people. Thanks to his outstanding linguistic talent, Wang Lie was already able to communicate normally with the local natives. Moreover, he had traveled to Yunnan and stayed in Dali for a period of time in the past, otherwise, it would have been difficult for him to understand the local dialect in such a short time, as there were very few people who spoke Mandarin.
Thank you, uncle. Wang Lie cupped his fists in salute; there is nothing wrong with the world of martial arts, right
"Others have golden fingers when they travel through time, but I have to pay out of pocket for mine, it's truly frustrating." Wang Lie, feeling helpless, asked someone for the location of the pawn shop, planning to pawn his bracelet for some quick cash.
The current issue is how to get to Tianshan, with no flights available from all corners of the world. I need to find a way to gather some funds. Moreover, since I am in Dali, I must find a way to witness the One Yang Finger. Wang Lie pondered for half a day, and after walking all day, he was utterly exhausted and fell directly onto the bed to sleep.
Wang Lie stood up, pacing back and forth, contemplating his plans in the new world. During this time, the waiter came in and lit the candle. After thinking for a long while, Wang Lie sat down again
"Young man, I will give you silver, let me draw once..."
Clang clang clang clang ... ...
This gentleman, if selected, could win a grand prize of twenty taels of silver. Wang Lie took out the remaining ten taels of silver and waved it in front of the crowd
Early the next morning, Wang Lie woke up early, stretched, and after having breakfast at the inn, strolled onto the main street. Yesterday, he had just wandered casually, but today he had time and planned to thoroughly explore the Dali City from a thousand years ago. At this time, Dali City was not yet the Dali City overwhelmed by tourism in later generations; everything exuded a simple ancient charm. Wang Lie wandered east and west, enjoying the sights. Unknowingly, he arrived at a wide road, at the end of which stood numerous palaces with yellow tiles. The sunlight shone on the glazed tiles, dazzling in gold and brilliance. Wang Lie continued forward and came to an archway, where he saw four large golden characters inscribed: "Holy Path, Vast Mercy." Behind the archway stood pairs of guards. He thought to himself: "This should be the Dali Imperial Palace. Although Dali is a small country, the emperor is not someone one can meet casually. I should look for the Zhen Nan Wang Mansion." Wang Lie continued forward and came to an archway, where he saw four large golden characters inscribed: "Holy Path, Vast Mercy." Behind the archway stood pairs of guards. He thought to himself: "This should be the Dali Imperial Palace. Although Dali is a small country, the emperor is not someone one can meet casually. I should look for the Zhen Nan Wang Mansion."
A bystander, unable to contain his excitement, loudly asked: "Hey, you young man beating the gong, you say there are great prizes to be won, but could you please clarify what exactly the prizes are? If the prizes are not worth two coins, wouldn't it be a waste of our money to spend on this?"
After bidding farewell to the woodcutter, Wang Lie walked along the road. Fortunately, this place was not far from Dali City, and since he had just eaten a bellyful of peaches, he was not worried about hunger for the time being. He strode towards Dali City.
Oh? Does that not mean closing the door? However, the notion of a lottery is quite novel...
After calculating and considering, people generally feel that spending 2 coins is not a loss
I will join too
What gimmick is this? Sudden windfall? Is it true or not?
"Your grandfather, in the past when watching martial arts dramas, those heroes were so carefree, yet here I am facing such troubles." Wang Lie lamented. He searched his entire body and found that only the zitan bracelet on his wrist could be exchanged for some money.
Clang clang clang clang ... ...