Chapter 0003: Diligently and tirelessly in the realm of ignorance

After dining and settling the bill, Chen Xuanqiu asked the waiter for directions and then proceeded towards Jizhou

Chen Xuanqiu walked along the way, and by the time he arrived at Taosang Town, it was already the ninth day since he entered the world

However, it would not be appropriate to avoid a meeting. The master has advised that the note clearly states that the other party will only wait until the child turns twenty. If there is still no news by then, both parties will proceed to marry others.

With this thought in mind, Chen Xuanqiu immediately quickened his pace, not following the main road, but instead crossing mountains when he encountered them and fording rivers when he came across them, taking a straight path, which naturally made his journey faster

Consider Jiang Ziya from "The Investiture of the Gods"; he is indeed a disciple of the lofty Jade Pure Saint, the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, yet he too is ultimately unable to attain the path of immortality and must descend to the mortal realm instead

Chen Xuanqiu sat down in the corner by the entrance, where it was somewhat dim and less conspicuous. Chen Xuanqiu had excellent eyesight, and even while seated there, he could clearly see the bamboo menus hanging above the counter.

This title of "priest" is an ancient official position, akin to the term "God," both of which have existed since antiquity. It was only when Western missionaries came to the Middle Kingdom and translated the scriptures that they borrowed from ancient Chinese vocabulary to adopt this title.

Taking a bag of sunflower seeds, without finishing them, one can walk back and forth along a short street twice, yet having only covered two-thirds of the distance, Chen Xuanqiu accidentally bumped into three young ladies. He helped up four girls who had accidentally fallen beside him, and was also unintentionally struck on the head by a cherry and a flower that fell from five or six young women and ladies in the nearby buildings.

Furthermore, after revealing one's identity, one should avoid making definitive statements. This way, if the other party proposes to break off the engagement, it will not be too awkward... Hmm... If I were to be rejected, should I say, "Thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west of the river; do not underestimate the youth in poverty?"

Chen Xuanqiu walked step by step on the fine white sand, as delicate as silver powder, engaging in conversation with the fishermen repairing their boats and the fisherwomen drying their nets on the beach

Before reaching Jizhou City, just looking at Taosang Town, it is already densely populated with numerous shops, and walking on the streets gives a sense of bustling activity

Chen Xuanqiu possessed a handsome appearance and an ethereal demeanor, resembling an immortal. The boatmen could tell at a glance that he was not an ordinary person, and thus treated him with utmost respect.

In ancient times, girls were indeed as described in the "Book of Songs": bold and passionate, fiery in spirit, which is in stark contrast to the women of later generations who were shaped by the rise of moral teachings. Chen Xuanqiu found some enjoyment in this; in his previous life, he had never experienced such treatment

However, my mother in the distant Eastern barbarian country has also arranged a marriage for me. If both families happen to have daughters, with one being ugly from the Ji state and the other beautiful from the barbarian country, would I not be at a loss? Furthermore, if I rush over eagerly, what if they decide to break off the engagement?

Qingliang Prefecture is vast and sparsely populated, including Qingping Mountain where Chen Xuanqiu is located, all under the jurisdiction of Qingliang Prefecture. Jizhou City is the capital of Qingliang Prefecture and a significant stronghold on the northwestern border of the Ji Kingdom. The family that Chen Xuanqiu's father has betrothed him to is located in Jizhou City

However, Jiang Shang was later granted a fief in the Qi region, becoming the ruler of a state, with the duration of his dynasty lasting as long as that of the Great Zhou, and his descendants enjoyed prosperity for eight hundred years. Although he was a mortal with a limited lifespan, the encounter of golden winds and jade dew surpassed countless experiences in the human realm

Forget it, I have lived for four or five decades in total across my past and present lives, and such a juvenile statement is truly hard to utter. At that time, I simply went with the flow and said that I was aware of my poverty and unable to support a family, and that I was here to voluntarily withdraw from the engagement. They were both moved and guilty, and wouldn't they have to give me some money as compensation? In this way, I obtained my first pot of gold

He traveled eastward from the shores of the West Sea, and this is the largest town he has ever seen, already far from the coast. Beyond Taosang Town, further ahead, lies Jizhou City, which is fifty li away from here

This is a world that is both similar to and different from his previous life. The myths and legends of his past life seem to have become reality here

Chen Xuanqiu cunningly thought that he would go, but it would be wise to first fabricate an identity of seeking refuge with relatives and friends, in order to probe into the details of that household. If it did not meet his expectations, he could find an excuse to slip away. If it was to his satisfaction, he would then reveal his true identity and present his token.

A day later, the exceptionally handsome Chen Xuanqiu departed, taking with him the lingering affections of the fisherwomen, who were reluctant to part with him.

He began to head inland along the dirt road commonly used by the fishmongers

He needs to see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears, and experience it personally

Along the coast, there are fishing villages with sparse populations, inhabited by families who make a living amidst the winds and waves, living in poverty

Eighteen years have passed now, and my father-in-law should have been promoted a notch due to his seniority, right? If my father-in-law becomes a high-ranking official, and my wife is charming and beautiful, I could easily marry a wealthy and attractive woman and smoothly reach the pinnacle of my life

Along the way, there were also villages and towns. Chen Xuanqiu walked leisurely as if he were in a carriage. Throughout his journey, he encountered farmers tending to their crops, children herding sheep, and by the banks of a mighty river, he even came across a mermaid who had ventured from the sea into the river, a little princess of the Jiao people.

Su Hu of Jizhou, Chen Xuanqiu recalled the information his master had told him, which was that he was the governor of Jizhou

Although Chen Xuanqiu did not know who his parents were in this life, he could surmise that they were certainly not ordinary individuals. The family that arranged his marriage for him could not be trivial either. Such an opportunity should not be easily relinquished

Chen Xuanqiu thought to himself, since this is the case, I shall go to Jizhou City to seek out the family that is betrothed to me by proxy. Here, I am unfamiliar with the surroundings, and once I am married, not only will I have a place to settle down, but I will also have more opportunities to develop in the secular world.

The master said that if one cannot seek the immortal path, then one should walk the path of humanity. In this lifetime, if I can achieve even half of what Jiang Shang did, it would be a vibrant and fulfilling life compared to the previous existence that was dull and flavorless

To live is to live with flavor, quality, and substance, rather than merely extending one's lifespan. As a modern individual, he understands this principle. His father once raised a turtle, which grew from the size of a public seal to the size of a sea bowl, yet it remained lying in the tank on the balcony, living for millions of years. So what?

After descending the mountain, he did not employ the rapid methods of cultivation. As the saying goes, traveling ten thousand miles is akin to reading ten thousand books. His previous understanding of this world had all come from his master and fellow disciples. Since he would be living in this world from now on, he needed a more direct understanding.

Chen Xuanqiu descended the steep and sword-like Qingping Mountain step by step without employing any martial arts techniques; this was his respect for his sect and his lingering affection for his fellow disciples

Chen Xuanqiu thought to himself. When he was on the mountain, he had heard his master and senior brothers and sisters say that even if one steps into the realm of immortality, it does not guarantee that one can survive the tribulation and become a celestial being; among one hundred thousand cultivators, there may not be a single true immortal. The chances are so slim, and he had not obtained any methods of cultivation, so how could he still entertain unrealistic thoughts

It was not until an old man pretended to be weak and feigned fainting into his arms that Chen Xuanqiu could no longer tolerate it. He pushed the old "glass" away and used a sleight of hand to avoid the harassment of passersby, slipping into a restaurant.

As soon as he entered the town, Chen Xuanqiu's beauty drew admiration and appreciation from the people. Some bold young women would even carry a vegetable basket and deliberately walk over, exclaiming "Oh!" as they would fall softly into his embrace.

Chen Xuanqiu ordered one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a bowl of rice, and while the kitchen was busy preparing the food, he began to ponder carefully. Based on what he had seen and heard along the way, he speculated that this world bore some resemblance to the Spring and Autumn period of his previous life. With his knowledge and the insights gained from his past life, it was not impossible for him to establish a career in this secular world.

Chen Xuanqiu found himself increasingly enamored with the idea, to the extent that he considered the skills of the chef at this restaurant, which were not particularly impressive, to be quite acceptable. Of course, compared to his own culinary skills, there remained a considerable gap, that damned "Book of Eternal Creation"!

This priest is an official in charge of the land for herding horses and the horses themselves. Warhorses were extremely important military supplies in ancient times, their status on the battlefield was comparable to that of tanks during World War II. Therefore, the officials of such military-industrial units naturally held a significant position.

In front of the master, I said it was impossible just for the sake of face. In fact, looks do not hold much value, right? In today's era, marriage must adhere to the orders of one's parents; the preferences of the young lady herself do not count.