Chapter 9: Finding Pleasure in Suffering

  Li Xiao had just finished the first chapter, only to find that the empty space was already filled with dense and intricate words. Li Xiao was about to erase them when a voice came from behind him.

  "Sir, wait a moment."

  Li Xiao only then discovered someone behind him, startled and hastily turned his head to look.

  This is a slender woman, wearing pink gauze, with a layer of white veil under her watery eyes, and a waterfall-like black long hair, draped over her shoulders.

  Such a luxurious and beautiful woman, with skin as white as snow, must be an extraordinary beauty. But at this moment, Li Xiao had no good feelings towards such rich people, and after a cold glance, he erased his own work.

  "I never thought that in the remote Luoyang city, there was a place where heroes and masters were hidden, I wonder who is the extraordinary person behind this brilliant article?"

  The woman asked Li Xiao, but Li Xiao pretended not to see her and continued to wipe away the things on the ground.

  "Ah, I was abrupt. My name is Wen Ruoxue, a humble reader of the Wu Chu Guo Zi Xuan literary magazine. May I ask your esteemed surname, sir?"

  Others have repeatedly shown courtesy and humility, if Li Shuo still doesn't know what's good for him, then it's not disdain, but a scoundrel.

  "My surname is not worthy of mention, I am just a humble commoner. This story was created by me, I don't know what you are asking this for?"

  Li Xiao stopped in his tracks, gazing at the luxurious silk with a deep-seated disgust.

  "So that's how it is, young master is indeed a hero emerging in his youth. I think this article is excellent, but it seems to be unfinished, may I ask you to give it to me for the Zi Xuan Literary Journal? My journal will certainly not take it for free, and I am willing to offer two-tenths of the profits, what do you say?"

  The woman's voice was extremely soft and beautiful, even when she saw Li Xiao's slightly disgusted expression, she didn't mind at all.

  "It turned out that this woman was a businesswoman."

  Li Xiao thought to himself that the customs here were similar to those of his previous life in ancient times, where women had to guard their chastity, so when he saw the purple misty text with a veil covering its surface, he wasn't too surprised.

  A woman of humble origins came here to do business, and it's not easy to think about. Although she has nothing to do with Li Xiao, she undoubtedly reduced his hostility a lot.

  The original "Journey to the West" is naturally not Li Shuo's, but for this world language version, Li Shuo can be confirmed as the only one, with no other versions.

  Making money with other people's work, Li Xiao didn't find it that boring. He shook his head lightly and got up to go inside the house.

  "Heh heh, I didn't expect this younger brother to have such a strong personality. Since that's the case, I'll take charge - Purple Xu Wen Kan will give up 50% of its profits, but you must personally complete this article, how about it?"

  From Gongzi to younger brother, upon hearing Meng Ruoxue's words, Li Xiao stopped in his tracks.

  To be honest, he didn't know much about the benefits, only knowing that he could get money. He had been in this world for a year and hadn't even seen any money, nor was he very interested in it.

  However, if he could spread a classic like "Journey to the West" in the Immortal World, what kind of waves would it cause? Even Li Xiao was somewhat excited.

  After remaining silent for several breaths, Li Xiao finally spoke up:

  "Okay, but this article is very long and not yet finished, I can only hand in a part of it each time."

  "That's easy, no problem, as long as you can deliver ten times the number of articles in a year."

  Meng Ruoxue revealed a smile, her jade finger pointed, and a sheet of rice paper appeared in her hand. At the same time, a golden feather fell onto the rice paper, which was handed over to Li Xiao.

  Li Xiao saw these and was somewhat astonished, not knowing whether this was the legendary chicken feather brush or something else, as it could write out characters without needing to be dipped in ink, except that the feel of it was too fine, feeling very similar to the steel pens of his previous life.

  Writing with a pen is much faster than writing on the ground.

  One by one, the rice paper appeared as if by magic in Meng Ruoxue's pale fingers and was laid flat on Li Xiao's broken wooden desk.

  When Li Xiao finished writing, he had already written up to the tenth chapter.

  The sun was setting, and the sky was no longer early. Wiping away his sweat, Li Xiao handed it over to Meng Ruoxue's hands, only to see that Meng Ruoxue had just woken up from her trance, having been deeply immersed in Li Xiao's creation all along.

  "I didn't expect that you would be a genius. Here is a contract, sign it and it will be considered as an agreement with Zixuan Wenkan, I will come to collect the next ten articles from you on time next year."

  Meng Ruoxue suddenly took out a sheet of Xuan paper, but this was different from the blank ones Li Xiao had seen before. This sheet of paper was densely filled with many words. Li Xiao roughly looked at it and saw that it was about the profit of 50% for the literary magazine, and some other notes.

  Finally, Li Xiao signed his own name: Li Xiao.

  And in a similar place where pen names are used, here it's called Wenming, Li Xiao wrote honestly - Er Gou.

  Seeing the title of this article, Meng Ruoxue couldn't help but chuckle, as if she had already imagined those literary masters seeing such an imaginative story with a title that was so playful and teasing, and their strange expressions.

  She didn't know that Er Gou was actually Li Xiao's real name in this world, and Li Xiao was just a great name he gave himself.

  "Alright, that's settled then. Congratulations on becoming a member of the Zi Xuan Literary Journal. This jade token will allow me to contact you, and next year I'll use it to ask for your manuscript. Also, as part of our new agreement, I was supposed to give you some advance payment, but I didn't bring any money today, so consider this demon pellet as the advance instead. Alright, it's getting late, I should head back now."

  Meng Ruoxue left a burning flame-like pill on the table of Li Xiao's house and bid him farewell. Li Xiao did not persuade this woman, who seemed to have descended from heaven, to stay. She was a respectable young lady, after all, and it would be improper for her to spend the night at his place.

  Relying on Li Xiao's memory, it was clearly remembered that on the contract, it was clearly written that everything would be divided only after the publication of the manuscript, which means there was no deposit at all.

  "It seems that rich people are not all as bad as the Wang family."

  Li Xiao looked at this blazing flame elixir and knew it was definitely priceless, so he prepared to put it away.

  At this moment, a strong gust of wind blew into the house and swept away the elixir in one move!

  "Good stuff, good stuff! It's been ages since I've had such a delicious elixir, hmmm—"

  The Nian beast let out a huge belch with its massive body and patted its belly contentedly.

  Li Xiao was speechless at this scene, the demon pill he had just obtained was gone like that, if he had known earlier, he would have rather taken some money, at least this foodie wouldn't be able to swallow it down.

  "Li Xiaozi, I haven't seen you for a while and I'm starving. Heh, but it's still good that I have this excellent stuff, the You Dan."

  The old man's big eyes, like bronze bells, narrowed slightly. At this time, Old Yuan had also returned from farming and Li Xiao hurriedly went into the house to pour a cup of water, letting Old Yuan sit down and rest for a while.

  "That's how things are, old man, you see me, whether I go or not."

  Li Xiao explained the situation with Guo Xueyuan and the royal family in detail to Nian Shou, and this guy suddenly became serious.

  "Go, getting into the National Academy is not an opportunity that comes along every day. Although the Wang family isn't anything good, if you really get into the National Academy, your status will be greatly different, and if you learn some skills, the Wang family won't have any way to deal with you."

  "It's true that the Wang family has a surprisingly strong influence in Luoyang City, but outside of Luoyang City and even throughout the entire Wu Chu State, they are not considered to be particularly powerful, only a third-rate force at best."

  Lao Yuan timely inserted a sentence, but what Li Xiao didn't expect was that his own father actually understood quite a bit.

  He nodded, and Li Xiao didn't want to let go of this opportunity for cultivation. As a grassroots person, it was almost impossible for him to enter the National Academy. Now that he had this chance, even if it was given by an enemy, he had to seize it.

  "Father, I'd like to discuss something with you. Since I'm going to enter the Imperial Academy, my nickname is no longer suitable. You probably know that I've already given myself a formal name, Li Xiao; what do you think?"

  Naming this thing was originally the right of parents. Now Li Xiao really regarded Lao Yuan, who loved him dearly, as his father, and naturally followed Lao Yuan's opinion.

  As for naming, it's not a big deal in this poor household, basically no one pays attention to it.

  About ten days later, Li Xiao was taken away by Wang's family members, led by Yang Wu Shi and several big men.

  All the way, Yang Wushi kept provoking Li Xiao, just waiting for him to get angry, so he could find an excuse to deal with him, and even kill him if possible! But Li Xiao was silent all the way, not even bothering to respond to him. Yang Wushi was furious but couldn't directly attack Li Xiao.

  After a few hours, several people brought Li Xiao into the city and took him to the Wang Mansion without being checked.

  Compared to the dilapidated wooden house of Li Xiao's family, the entire Wang Mansion was built with blue glazed tiles and red carved eaves, white jade and large boulders for walls, and pavilions that were tall, grand and beautiful. Compared to Li Xiao's home, it was a world of difference.

  "What are you staring at? You've never seen a beggar before? Scram!"

  Yang Wushi's eyes flashed with cold light, the scars on his face looked even more ferocious. If it weren't for Young Master's orders to bring this person into Guo Academy, he would have whipped him down long ago!

  Soon, passing through the long corridor, entered the inner courtyard by the pond, a man in magnificent attire was admiring the small fish in the pond.

  "Master, we've brought someone."

  Yang Wushi had long lost his former arrogance and was so eager to show his loyalty that he wished he could stick his body to the ground.

  "Alright, take him to sign the contract."

  The young master didn't even give Li Xiao a glance and directly ordered someone to take him to draw up the contract.

  This is the contract of the Wang Fu, roughly meaning that Li Xiao must sell himself into the Wang Fu and be a slave for life. If he escapes, he will be severely punished according to the laws of Wu Chu State!

  But before coming here, Li Xiao had already thought it through.

  If I don't join the National Academy, I may lose my chance to cultivate for life and live a dull life. Even if I'm bound by contract now, I can still regain my freedom in the future when my strength increases.

  Of course, if it weren't for the pressure of reality, who would be willing to be a slave to others? This is just a gamble, a gamble that one can certainly enter the national academy and stand out!