Chapter 230: High Energy Ahead

The next day.

In the Zhang family's traveling convoy, Lin Fan sat upright inside a luxurious carriage, raising his cup and composing poetry with several young masters and ladies as they drank heartily.

“Brother Lin, your talent is truly remarkable; I am utterly in awe.” The eldest young master of the Zhang family, with delicate features and an extraordinary bearing, was also captivated by Lin Fan's poetic skill.

“Brother, how did you and Brother Lin meet?” The Zhang family's young lady beside him asked softly, puzzled that after only one night, they seemed like friends of over a decade.

“A secret, cannot be told, cannot be told.” The Zhang eldest young master smiled faintly and shook his head.

Lin Fan also smiled at this. Yesterday, after strolling around the city, feeling somewhat bored, he had gone to the pleasure house. There, he saw a man displaying his talents to win the courtesan's smile, spouting verses that left Lin Fan dumbfounded.

That arrogant demeanor made Lin Fan bow in admiration; tossing away a thousand gold without a frown—this scene made Lin Fan feel the need to humble him a bit.

Then Lin Fan wore a desolate expression, raised his wine cup high, exuding a sense of loneliness. His heart brimming with poetic inspiration, he spoke verses effortlessly, and a tale of romance was thus born in the Qin Shen Dynasty.

Lin Fan paused every three steps, his flair unmatched in the pleasure house.

The surrounding young masters and ladies were all infected by Lin Fan's faint melancholy.

“Before my bed, the bright moonlight,”

“Gazing at the frost on the ground.”

“Raising my cup, I invite the bright moon,”

“Facing my shadow, we make three.”

…

Lin Fan was not fond of studying; he only remembered this one poem. In his view, this poem was so full of emotion.

Sure enough, once this poem was recited, all the young masters and pleasure house ladies were won over by Lin Fan's talent.

Applause thundered endlessly, but Lin Fan, indifferent to fame and fortune, waved his hand, unwilling to vie for such limelight. Then, once again brimming with poetic inspiration, he recited another poem.

“The last two lines can also be changed to: ‘Lifting my head, I gaze at the bright moon; lowering my head, I think of my hometown.’”

…

This revision made the crowd applaud even more, especially the pleasure house ladies, who cast amorous glances. But to Lin Fan, who was indifferent to fame and fortune, these were mere external things, not worth mentioning.

…

And Lin Fan had stolen the thunder from the Zhang eldest young master. Yet the Zhang eldest young master was not angry; instead, he befriended Lin Fan courteously. Lin Fan saw at a glance that the Zhang eldest young master had a hidden ailment, so he left behind a little “Big Bro Pill” for him.

With just one sentence, he completely shattered the Zhang eldest young master's defenses.

“This pill can handle a hundred women in one night without issue.”

And that was that. The Zhang eldest young master was utterly won over by Lin Fan, treating him as an honored guest, like a kindred spirit.

The next day, the Zhang family was going to their ancestral home a hundred li away to sweep tombs. Lin Fan naturally went along; why would he refuse a luxurious carriage?

“If you won't tell, then I won't be curious.” The Zhang young lady looked at Lin Fan, her bright eyes carrying a hint of spring.

That hint of spring made Lin Fan's little heart thump wildly, like a vengeful spirit demanding his life.

For Lin Fan, his mind had long been cultivated to the highest realm.

All things in the world, after death, become a handful of dust.

Such great wisdom, such a great state of mind—for someone of Lin Fan's age to see through this made him an unparalleled genius. And this woman, no matter how terrifying her looks, could not shake Lin Fan's heart that embraced heaven and earth.

The key point was that this Zhang young lady was just too damn hideous, on par with Zhang Ergou. Seeing her, Lin Fan thought of Zhang Ergou back at the sect, wondering how they were doing.

He missed them dearly.

At that moment, Lin Fan gently lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. They had just passed the city gate, and Lin Fan saw a soldier holding a thick stack of notices, pasting them on the city wall.

Seeing the portrait on the notice, Lin Fan smiled. Who could be so shabbily dressed, ugly as a ghost? But its expression did bear some resemblance to himself.

…

Several dozen li away.

“Brother Zhang, we part ways here.” Lin Fan cupped his hands to the Zhang eldest young master.

“Brother Lin, will we meet again?” The Zhang eldest young master asked with slight reluctance. It was rare to meet someone so compatible.

Once you meet a kindred spirit, you become a bosom friend, regardless of time.

Lin Fan smiled. He and this Zhang eldest young master would likely have no further dealings; after all, they lived in different worlds, so it was better to keep their distance.

“Fate brings people together from a thousand li; without fate, they meet but do not know each other. Farewell.” Lin Fan turned to leave. Although they had only met for one night, to Lin Fan, a friend for one night was like a friend for ten years.

“Brother Lin…” The Zhang eldest young master watched Lin Fan, murmuring the words Lin Fan had just spoken, a glimmer of light gradually appearing in his eyes.

“Oh, right, Brother Zhang, this little trinket is for you. I will visit you another day.” Lin Fan smiled and tossed over a small jade pendant he had casually crafted.

“Brother Lin, take care.” The Zhang eldest young master waved his hand and kept the jade pendant close.

And this parting would not see them meet again until thirty years later.

Lin Fan had also avenged the grudge of Rock Village. As for the Seven Saints Treasure Map, he had to say that this guy had angered him. In this world, only he could scheme against others; he never expected someone to dare scheme against him.

If not for the system's protection, he might have been ambushed.

The Heaven-Defying Fate-Altering Divine Pill—screw fate-altering; it was nothing but a scam.

At that moment, Lin Fan looked at the black dog in his backpack, then let it out and tied it with a rope.

As soon as the black dog came out, it barked wildly.

What made Lin Fan want to laugh was that after taking the Heaven-Defying Fate-Altering Divine Pill, this black dog's fur had changed, becoming smoother and also very sharp.

A black dog with supreme talent—truly rare in this world.

“You dog, I know you can hear me. But don't worry, I will definitely train you to become the saint among dogs.”

“As for the Seven Saints? Don't worry, from now on you will be my Black Dog Seven Saint. As for the other caves, I will take them one by one. Let's see if your schemes are more formidable or I am.” In a dense forest, Lin Fan spoke these baffling words to a dog, a truly bizarre sight.

“Woof woof…” The black dog bared its fangs, trying to bite, but Lin Fan flicked his sleeve and put it back into the backpack, where it lay quietly.

Then Lin Fan let out the chick. The chick in the backpack, probably stifled, came out with its wings tucked, circling Lin Fan and clucking.

“Cluck your head off, get up here, we're moving.”

The chick spread its wings trying to fly, but no matter how it tried, it couldn't. Finally, it leaped with both claws and jumped onto Lin Fan's shoulder.

“How embarrassing. A phoenix that can't fly. I don't know what you really are—neither phoenix nor chicken.” Lin Fan glanced at it helplessly. Aside from having supreme talent, it showed nothing else.

“Cluck cluck cluck cluck…”

“Cluck once more, and I'll beat you to death.”

“Cluck cluck cluck…”

After flying for who knows how long, a powerful aura suddenly erupted ahead, shaking the sky as if it were about to shatter.

Lin Fan, mid-flight, immediately landed and cautiously moved forward.

High energy ahead.