Volume One: Another World Chapter Twelve: So You Just Wanted to Audit the Class

Li Yu was still looking forward to seeing the look of surprise on Huang Xiu’s face when she received the gift he’d chosen for her. He never expected that, as he stepped out of his room at the appointed time, he’d find Huang Xiu standing by the dining table, pointing at the ginseng with a puzzled look as she asked, “Yu, why did you buy this radish when it’s already like this?”

Li Yu was beside himself with frustration. How could Xiu’er be so oblivious?

“That’s ginseng!” Li Yu sighed, rubbing his forehead, a hint of resignation in his voice. “I got it from a friend. I don’t have much use for it, so I’m giving it to you.”

“Ginseng?” Only then did Huang Xiu take a closer look, and then exclaimed in surprise, “It’s so big—it must be really valuable. I can’t accept this.”

Li Yu was well aware that the ginseng he’d sent out today would cause a stir in certain circles. He planned to lay low for a while after selling off this batch. Still, after some thought, he decided to give the best-looking root to Huang Xiu.

After all, Huang Xiu’s most beloved elder was now advanced in age. If they could use a ginseng worth millions, it would no doubt be greatly beneficial to the old one’s health.

After much persuasion, Huang Xiu finally accepted the gift. Later that evening, after helping with homework until past eleven, she went to wash up and rest.

Once Li Yu was sure that Huang Xiu had settled quietly in her room, he lay on his bed, closed his eyes, and with a thought, crossed over to the other world.

The wooden door creaked as Li Yu pushed it open. Immediately, a light flickered in the house across from his, and then Mu Yinhua appeared in his line of sight, dressed only in her underclothes.

Seeing this, Li Yu swallowed nervously. People here were quite casual about clothing. On the day at the square, their outfits were similar to those on Blue Star, though the material was animal hide. But that seemed to be reserved for special occasions. Most days, men went bare-chested with just a hide draped around their waists, and women’s upper garments were little more than a casually wrapped piece of hide.

At this moment, Mu Yinhua’s upper body was barely covered, and Li Yu didn’t know where to look.

“Not asleep yet?” Mu Yinhua asked curiously.

“I wanted to look at the night sky,” Li Yu replied offhandedly. “You should go to bed first.”

“It’s alright. I can’t sleep anyway. How about I go for a walk with you?” Mu Yinhua shook her head and made the suggestion.

“What do you think of our place?” Throughout their walk, Mu Yinhua kept stealing glances at Li Yu.

Except for the day of the test, Li Yu had never spent the night in the village, which fit Old Mu’s suspicion—young masters from big families would naturally look down on such a place. And every piece of Li Yu’s clothing was exquisitely made.

Such unsuitable clothes for mountain life could only belong to a young lord, Mu Yinhua mused inwardly.

“The night sky here is beautiful,” Li Yu sighed in admiration.

Here, there were two crescent moons—a wonder impossible on Blue Star. And due to industrial development on Blue Star, it was hard to see the Milky Way in most places. Li Yu had never seen a night sky more splendid than this.

“By the way, besides Old Mu, does anyone else in the village cultivate? I don’t think I’ve seen anyone like that.” Li Yu shifted the conversation, his curiosity turning to Old Mu’s mysterious powers.

Most of the time, when he visited, Mu Yinhua was the one showing him around or teaching him common knowledge. Li Yu thought she might be a good starting point to learn more.

“I suppose I count as half a cultivator. Grandfather always said the path of divinity is harsh, and only I in the village am a fit candidate.” Mu Yinhua twisted a lock of hair around her finger.

Li Yu noted this down: path of divinity, strict requirements. No wonder when Mu Yinhua shielded him from the falling boulder, it hadn’t seemed like pure physical strength—perhaps it was the same strange power Old Mu wielded.

“Can you show me the cultivation method you practice?” Li Yu asked, smiling bashfully, putting on a curious air.

Mu Yinhua gave him a peculiar look, hesitated, then said, “I can, but grandfather said what he taught me is very basic.”

“That’s fine,” Li Yu tried to suppress his excitement and replied calmly, “I’m just curious.”

Originally, Li Yu had planned to wait until he reached the Imperial Capital before seeking a cultivation method. But after selling the ginseng, he realized everyone in the village already assumed he was from a great family. With that assumption, he had plenty of room to maneuver.

After all, if a poor child asked for more, it would seem greedy. But if a child from a wealthy family asked, it would simply be curiosity about local customs.

With this “high to low” status difference, Li Yu’s request to see her cultivation method didn’t seem out of place. Mu Yinhua wouldn’t suspect him of trying to steal it; at most, she’d think he’d never seen such things and was interested.

And indeed, Mu Yinhua took the bait.

Li Yu’s heart raced with excitement, all previous calmness forgotten. He eagerly dragged Mu Yinhua back to her room, asking her to explain everything she knew in detail.

Humanity, she explained, had two paths of cultivation: martial arts and the path of divinity.

Martial arts cultivation was relatively simple; one could improve just by eating medicinal tonics. The path of divinity, however, depended on bloodline power. Only those with a certain grade could improve their divine cultivation.

“So martial arts is like physical training; as long as you work hard and supplement, you can grow stronger?” Li Yu mused. “But the path of divinity is limited by one’s innate potential—if I have a thunderbloodline, I can learn thunder-based divine arts?”

Mu Yinhua didn’t notice his internal musings and continued her explanation, “The path of divinity is much more powerful than martial arts. At the same level, a divine cultivator can easily overpower a martial one. My grandfather has a seventh-grade bloodline, and mine is sixth-grade. He said that if I were out in the wider world, my cultivation might already surpass his.”

“Then why don’t you leave?” Li Yu interrupted, curious.

Mu Yinhua gave him a strange look. “Grandfather risked his life to obtain the method for divine cultivation, fighting for a family outside for over ten years to get it.”

“Reluctant to share hard-won gains, I see,” Li Yu thought, understanding her look.

Unlike Blue Star’s relatively open environment of knowledge sharing, this world was built around family clans, with bloodlines as their strongest tie. The clan’s own people were enough to cultivate; why hand such a strategic asset to outsiders? If they taught too many outsiders, how could they maintain the clan’s deterrent power?

Mu Yinhua must think he was naïve to ask such a foolish question.

Li Yu said no more, but listened carefully. Watching Mu Yinhua patiently explain, he felt a surge of gratitude. He knew he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing—everything about him was forged or feigned—so every word she spoke was fundamental to his survival in this other world.

Suddenly Li Yu recalled, “Old Mu wants me to take someone with me to the Imperial Capital—he means you, right?”

After all, it was always Mu Yinhua who was tasked with showing him around the village and teaching him the written language. It was obvious Old Mu wanted to foster a connection.

“That’s right,” Mu Yinhua replied nervously, watching Li Yu for any sign of displeasure. Seeing none, she continued, “Grandfather said that with your bloodline, the Imperial Academy will surely want to nurture you. Then I could accompany you as a study companion…”

“So you’re hoping to benefit from my education,” Li Yu nodded.

He was surprised to find the villagers so honest. Though the arrangement was mutually beneficial, they still seemed to feel they were getting the better deal.

But he had learned something important—the Imperial Academy. Perhaps that was where he might find what he was looking for.

The only regret was that Mu Yinhua’s divine cultivation method didn’t suit him. According to her, the technique her grandfather taught was designed for those attuned to wood.

“I can only wait until I reach the Imperial Capital,” Li Yu sighed, though he wasn’t too disappointed.

He had come prepared; if he found what he sought, so much the better. If not, there was nothing to lose.

They spoke a little longer, and Li Yu’s eyes lit up as he learned another important piece of news: in two days’ time, a traveling merchant would arrive in the village, possibly bringing items to enhance divine cultivation.

“A traveling merchant? Probably like a peddler. I could take a look and learn more about this world,” he murmured, “and maybe buy a few things—who knows when they might come in handy…”