First Episode: Acquiring Abnormal Abilities in Three Kingdoms Data...
"What? You're Su Shuang and Zhang Shipei?" These two names, if mentioned separately, would not have elicited such a huge reaction from Nan Ye, but when put together, he found it hard not to react.
Nan Yan had played all the Three Kingdoms games to death, and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" was unknown how many times he had read it. Of course, he knew that Su Shuang and Zhang Shipei were two big financiers who sponsored Liu Bei's uprising. According to the book, the three divine weapons, the double stock sword, the green dragon crescent knife, and the eight-foot snake spear, were also made by them with donations of money and materials. But how could he encounter people from the Three Kingdoms era?
"It's really us! Have you, Master, heard of our names?" Su and Zhang didn't know why the little monk had such a strong reaction, but they were delighted. Although they were wealthy merchants, their social status was low, so if even reclusive sages had heard of them, it meant their reputation wasn't bad, which was naturally something to be happy about.
"I've heard of it! I've heard of it! Zhongshan Da Shang, horse trading is their business. But you and I are not from the same era! How did we end up together? Could it be that you two have traveled through time?" Nan Yan's mind was a jumbled mess, he didn't even know if he was saying this to Su and Zhang or to himself.
"The master's divine power is vast and knows our origins. Unfortunately, we are ordinary people who not only don't recognize the master but also don't understand the master's verse very well. Please bestow upon us your noble title and tell us what 'crossing over' means." Su Shuang listened to Nan Ye say that he was a horse merchant by trade, and became even more convinced that he was a high-ranking Taoist priest who humbly sought guidance.
"My name is Nan Yan, and this crossing... Ah! What year is it now?" With the dictionary translation, Nan Yan could also understand what the other person was saying. After reporting his name, he suddenly remembered that he might have crossed over? This thunderbolt crossing is one of the mainstream crossing schemes, and the appearance and clothing of these people don't seem to be fake either.
"Zhongping first year." Su and Zhang replied in unison, finding it strange that this little Taoist knew their names but didn't know what year or month it was.
Nan Yan's mind went blank as soon as he heard the four words "Zhongping First Year". Wasn't that exactly 184 AD, which was displayed by his calendar skill just now? It seemed that he had indeed traveled through time and space, and had even traveled to a chaotic era, an era of war and fire, an era that he was familiar with - the Three Kingdoms era.
"Master Nan Yan, what's wrong?" Su and Zhang asked with concern as they saw Nan Yan standing still.
"I'm fine, where are you from and where are you going?" As soon as he thought that he might have traveled through time, Nan Yan's first feeling was excitement, followed by deep fear. He didn't know how to survive in an unfamiliar era alone. Nor did he know if following Su and Zhang would allow him to meet the three brothers of Peach Garden Oath.
"We were originally going to go north, but unexpectedly the Yellow Turbans caused trouble and blocked the road, so we had no choice but to return. Alas, these few carts of goods can only be sold cheaply locally." Zhang Shiping complained about the difficulties of the world, and his companions behind him also sighed and complained.
Nan Yan certainly knew that this era was not as beautiful and passionate as described in the book. The peasant uprising, warlord separatism, plague outbreak, and protracted warfare were the main themes of the Three Kingdoms era.
According to legend, in 156 AD, the population of China was 50.07 million. After the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the Three Kingdoms War, by 208 AD, after the Battle of Red Cliffs, the national population had dropped to 1.4 million; by 221 AD, it had fallen to 900,000; a loss of 98.3%. Horses were hung with human heads, carts carried women, white bones exposed in the wilderness, thousands of miles without chicken calls, only over a hundred people survived, thinking about it would break one's heart. This is the true portrayal of the Three Kingdoms era. It can be seen that survival in this era was extremely difficult. Nan Yan is now considering how to fight for this 1.7% chance of survival.
"Then you can meet Liu, Guan and Zhang on the road and provide them with financial assistance?" To live a bit longer, Nan Yan naturally thought of relying on a lord, and the closest one at hand was Liu Bei. Of course, if there is an opportunity later, it would be more reliable to go to Cao Cao or Sima Yi, after all, according to historical trends, they are the ones who unified the world.
"What kind of person is this Liu Guan Zhang that Master Nan Yan is talking about? We've never heard of him, why should we provide him with financial assistance?" Su Shuang Qi asked.
As soon as they heard that they had not yet met the three brothers of Peach Garden, Guan Yu was overjoyed. This shows that as long as they travel together, they can rely on Liu Bei to find a backing. He is also very willing to give some advice to Su and Zhang, so that they can quickly find Liu Da'er.
"This Liu, Guan, Zhang does not refer to one person, but rather refers to the three heroes Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. At this time, they should be recruiting soldiers in Zhuo County, responding to the country's call to prepare for the extermination of the Yellow Turbans. You have suffered greatly at the hands of the Yellow Turbans, so why not support them in their uprising and establish a good relationship with them? In the future, there will certainly be rewards." Nan Yan's words combined ancient language, modern language, and Buddhist terminology, and his vague speech confused both Su and Zhang. As for whether supporting Liu Bei would bring any returns, Nan Yan was also unsure. These two characters in the book were just minor characters who appeared at the beginning and then disappeared without being mentioned again.
Su and Zhang exchanged a glance, both seeing the look of surprise in each other's eyes. Along the way, they had also seen recruitment notices from other counties, thinking that selling goods cheaply was not as good as supporting a heroic figure to do some public good deeds, earning a reputation while having a backing. Unexpectedly, what they were thinking in their hearts was revealed by Nan Yan's words, and he even pointed out who should be supported, making the two feel that Nan Yan was even more mysterious and unfathomable.
"Thank you, Master! To be honest with you, we are just passing through Zhuo County and also plan to support a local hero in eliminating bandits and bringing peace to the people, benefiting the locals. If these three men, Liu, Guan, and Zhang, are truly heroes, there is no need for your advice, we will naturally work together to help each other." Su and Zhang, of course, wanted to take the initiative to establish this good relationship, so they expressed their intentions on the spot.
"You two are merchants, but you also have a heart for the common people, which is truly rare. I am also considering coming down from the mountain to do some things that are within my power to help the masses. Why don't we travel together?" Nan Yan's classical Chinese skills were not very good, and if he didn't have a dictionary in his brain to translate, he wouldn't even be able to understand it himself, let alone speak it. Fortunately, Su and Zhang could more or less understand what he was saying, even though they had to guess at some parts. They didn't think Nan Yan's way of speaking was strange, but rather that this Master Nan Yan spoke in a profound and mysterious way that ordinary people like themselves couldn't comprehend.
"This is wonderful! With Master Nan Yan accompanying us, we couldn't ask for more." Su and Zhang were overjoyed, thinking that with such a powerful and mysterious master by their side, the mountain bandits would not dare to be reckless. The servants behind them heard that the immortal master was going to travel with them and cheered, but none of them dared to approach Master Nan Yan to chat.
At the sight of these people's reactions, Nan Yan suddenly thought that being a Taoist priest was not bad after all. Firstly, it could explain his short hair. Secondly, it could explain his strange modern grammar. Thirdly, it could explain his superpowers. Fourthly, Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, had preached about the Taiping Dao, and after the rebellion failed, the decline of Taoism and the rise of Buddhism was also a natural trend. After weighing all these factors, being a Taoist priest really had many advantages.
Since he had decided to become a Taoist, Nan Yan naturally wanted to show off his magical skills to Su and Zhang, these two local tyrants. Otherwise, how could he follow them around and eat and drink together? Thinking of this, Nan Yan muttered to himself: "Transform card! Store objects!"
Su and Zhang, along with the attendants, only heard Master Nan Yan recite two sentences of incantations. The iron horse instantly turned into a talisman and then disappeared in the master's hand. This was truly an extraordinary feat. Several timid attendants kowtowed on the ground again, and even Su and Zhang were shocked, their eyes wide with amazement.
"Master Nan... Yan, where has your iron horse gone?" Zhang Shipei stuttered and asked.
"Haha~ That's not an iron horse, but a bicycle. I just hid it with magic, if you're interested, I'll bring it out again." Nan Yan said and summoned his mount, Ka, to cancel its transformation state. Now the attention and curiosity of the group shifted from Nan Yan to the bicycle.
Zhang Shìpíng circled the bicycle several times, feeling that this divine vehicle was radiant and exquisite, with no part not refined, no part not ingenious. The materials used in the wheels and other parts were clearly not gold or wood, nor were they ordinary objects from the mortal world. Moreover, countless intricate mechanisms were hidden within, containing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, far beyond what any skilled craftsman in the world could replicate. As he looked more and more, his heart was filled with joy, and he couldn't help but ask, "Master Nányè, I wonder how much this divine vehicle costs? Can it be sold to us?"
