Liu Yuan didn't say a word. He simply turned his head and glanced sideways at the now petrified Fatty.
I Want to Fly: Who am I? Where am I? What did I just do?
A flood of question marks exploded in Fatty's mind.
He'd been treading the riverside for years, yet today he'd finally been swept away by the flood!
Suddenly, Fatty shuddered all over, realizing Liu Yuan was giving him a sidelong glance.
He was doomed!
"H-Hey, big bro, this is all a misunderstanding! I'm your biggest little fan, really! Just now, we were just joking around, really!"
"It wasn't serious—totally not serious!"
Fatty hastily tried to explain, terrified that Liu Yuan would stab him with his spear if even slightly displeased.
After all, he'd struggled bitterly just yesterday to finally rise from level 0 to level 1.
"My lord, this man is two-faced. Should we..."
A Yellow Turban soldier shook the large blade in his hand.
The cold glint of the sword reflected on Fatty's face, draining all color from it.
You spineless traitors dare call me two-faced?
Weren't you the ones who immediately knelt at the sight of the token just now?
Cowards!
Fatty cursed in his mind, utterly resentful.
Liu Yuan said nothing. He only gave Fatty a calm glance, then tucked away the token and spoke:
"Take him down and lock him up. I am the special envoy of Liang City. Take me to General Tiangong immediately—I have an urgent report."
Locked up?
Not killed?
Wait—bro, you can't do this to me!
If I'm locked away for ten days or half a month, my territory's toast!
Fatty wailed internally.
Locked up but not killed?
That's even worse than death!
This guy... damn, he's ruthless!
Before Fatty could let out a sound of protest, a strong man came forward, grabbed him like a chicken, and dragged him away.
Once Fatty had been taken away, Liu Yuan, escorted by six others and bearing the token, headed straight for the City Lord's Mansion of Ping City.
After about half an hour's journey, Liu Yuan finally came face to face with the famed "Great Teacher of Virtue"—General Tiangong, Zhang Jiao.
This legendary figure, who shook the land during the Three Kingdoms period, now stood before Liu Yuan clad in patchwork robes.
On the table beside him sat a simple meal:
A watery gruel with a few scattered grains of rice and a small dish of six green vegetable leaves arranged into a single bowl.
This was Zhang Jiao's breakfast.
"You've come from Liang City, bearing the token. I assume my father sent you?" Zhang Jiao looked at Liu Yuan and spoke.
Withdrawing his gaze, Liu Yuan nodded.
"Li Yuanba's army has surrounded Liang City. I beg the General to send reinforcements swiftly!"
Liu Yuan bowed and produced a sealed letter from his robe, handing it to Zhang Jiao.
Zhang Jiao accepted the letter with a calm expression, but didn't open it. He casually placed it to the side.
"No rush. With you here, Liang City won't fall just yet. If I've calculated correctly... you must be an otherworldler."
"Last night, I observed the stars to divine fortune and misfortune. Do you know what kind of omen I received?"
Zhang Jiao sat down, pausing to lift the bowl of watery gruel and began to eat the vegetables with great relish.
"I don't know," Liu Yuan replied with a frown.
I'm not Sister Qing, I don't study the Book of Changes. How the heck would I know?!
Zhang Jiao smiled slightly, finished his gruel, then carefully gathered the few remaining grains from the edge of the bowl with his finger and ate them with satisfaction.
After placing the cleaned dishes together neatly, he finally explained:
"It was a divination of 'Liberation.'"
"Favorable to the southwest; no direction to go, but return brings fortune; to go is favorable early."
"???" Liu Yuan was dumbfounded. "May I ask, Master... what does this have to do with liberation?"
"Liang City faces great misfortune, but also great fortune! The southwest holds the key—there lies hope in the midst of disaster!" Zhang Jiao pointed at Liu Yuan.
Hope?
Wait, does he mean... me?
I was captured in the southwest of Liang City, wasn't I?
This Daoist... is he for real?!
"Otherworldler, you are protected by fate. You've tied your destiny to Liang City, intertwining your fates. Though it may seem like a cuckoo occupying the magpie's nest, you've actually helped our cause immensely."
"That's why my father trusted you and sent you to me."
As he finished speaking, Zhang Jiao lifted a jade tablet that had appeared in his hand.
The jade was smooth and translucent, radiating a faint five-colored glow.
"This is your rightful reward. Take it."
Zhang Jiao raised his hand, and the jade tablet floated into Liu Yuan's palm.
[Ding! Congratulations, Player Liu Yuan has acquired 'Taiping Essentials · Volume One'. Conditions met to change class to 'Taiping Warlock'.]
[Proceed with class change?]
[[Taiping Essentials](Incomplete · Volume One)
Type: Manual
Grade: Saint
Overview: A legendary immortal scripture said to originate from the Immortal Nan Hua. Practitioners can master the 36 Heavenly Techniques, 72 Earthly Transformations, summon wind and rain, call thunder and lightning, divine fate and misfortune, and discern life and death between yin and yang.]
Holy crap!
That looks insanely OP!
But wait, what's a "Saint" grade?
Weren't manuals only ranked: Diamond, Gold, Silver, Copper and "Unranked"?
"Not quite. Above 'Diamond' are three higher grades—'Peerless,' 'Saint,' and 'Immortal.'"
Zhang Jiao smiled at Liu Yuan as he spoke.
Oh... so that's how it is. Daoist really knows his stuff.
Liu Yuan nodded to himself.
Suddenly, his restless heart calmed down.
Wait a sec—WTF?!
I didn't say that out loud just now!!
This old Daoist... can he read my mind?!
Is this telepathy? Mind reading?
"Immeasurable Heaven's Venerable—merely mind-reading, nothing worth mentioning." Zhang Jiao gave a faint smile.
"And also, my nose is quite small, and I'm not even that old—hardly fits 'old ox-nosed Daoist,' wouldn't you say?"
Liu Yuan: …
Damn it! Freaking mind-reading!
This is social death! Live, in 4K!
What's worse than trash-talking someone behind their back—only to get caught red-handed?!
Liu Yuan forced himself to suppress the chaos in his heart and managed to squeeze out a stiff smile.
"Master's divine arts are truly awe-inspiring!"
"The Taiping Essentials is a rare and extraordinary immortal technique. Even I have only scratched the surface. But you... you might one day stand beside me—or even surpass me."
Zhang Jiao looked seriously at Liu Yuan.
Then, he noticed Liu Yuan's gaze flicking toward the unopened envelope beside him.
"Curious about the contents of this letter, are you?"
Caught red-handed again, Liu Yuan quickly shook his head.
Zhang Jiao didn't mind. He picked up the letter and unfolded it directly.
The page inside... was completely blank.
What the—blank?!
"All things come from the heart. My father's intention was good—please don't take offense."
Don't take offense?
Ha...
Still... that old Daoist said I could surpass him?
Not a bad compliment.
After all, I'm so handsome, elegant, and charming—surpassing an NPC should be easy-peasy!
No more hesitation. Since he'd received the Taiping Essentials, it was time to change class!
On one hand: "Tiger and Leopard Cavalry," a lower-Gold-grade change.
On the other: "Taiping Essentials," a Saint-grade change.
Even a fool would know which to pick.
Holding the jade tablet tightly, Liu Yuan chanted in his heart:
Change class!