Young Song: The Hidden Sword God, Han Yi and Her Child Arrive at the Door.

As night deepened, the hustle and bustle of Changqing Tower finally subsided.

The large red lantern hanging at the entrance swayed in the wind and rain, its dim yellow light spilling onto the wet bluestone slabs, reflecting a sense of desolation and coldness.

Inside the tavern, the leftovers had already been cleaned up. Lei Wujie, that heartless fellow, was already fast asleep in a second-floor guest room, snoring loudly, probably still dreaming of fighting with Wushuang for the last piece of mutton. Wushuang, meanwhile, was clutching his precious sword case, huddled in a corner of the kitchen, ostensibly "keeping watch," but actually planning to secretly carve a couple more radish flowers when no one was around.

The Su family of three also returned to their room. Before leaving, Su Changqing glanced at Xiao Se, his gaze calm yet seemingly piercing through everything. He said nothing, only patted Xiao Se's shoulder and left with the words, "Go to sleep early, we still have to reconcile accounts tomorrow."

In the lobby on the first floor, only a single lamp remained, its light dim and dim.

Xiao Se sat alone behind the counter, holding the densely filled account book in his hand, but his gaze had already pierced through the pages and drifted towards the vast rainy night.

The rain was getting heavier and heavier.

"Tick-tock...tick-tock..."

Rain dripped from the eaves, tapping on the stone steps in front of the door, making a crisp, monotonous sound. Each sound seemed to knock on the door of his heart, awakening those long-dormant memories he didn't want to face.

Four years ago, on a similar rainy night...

On that day, rainwater mixed with blood flowed into a river along the long street of Qicheng.

On that night, the once spirited and dashing Prince Yong'an, Xiao Chuhe, lost his proud martial arts skills, his closest master, and his supreme position.

His hidden meridians were destroyed, and he fled the bustling yet cold imperial city like a stray dog.

From then on, the world lost the brilliant Xiao Chuhe and gained a lazy and shrewd innkeeper named Xiao Se.

He thought he had let it go.

He thought he could just hide in this corner of the martial world, counting his coins, watching the sunrise and sunset, and live out his incomplete life.

Until... he met Su Changqing.

That cup of Enlightenment Tea not only awakened the dormant vitality within him, but also rekindled the long-extinguished flame in his heart.

"I'm not reconciled..."

Xiao Se's fingers gently stroked the rough pages of the account book as he murmured to himself.

The tingling sensation came from his fingertips, but it couldn't soothe the anxiety in his heart.

If he had never seen the light, perhaps he could have endured the darkness. But Su Changqing gave him hope, showing him the possibility of returning to his peak. How could he possibly be content to remain a cripple?

The words of Lan Yuehou still echoed in my ears.

"His Majesty misses you very much..."

"The turmoil in Apocalypse City might be more suited to you, sir..."

Xiao Se closed his eyes, and the majestic figure sitting high on the dragon throne appeared in his mind. His father, who had once placed high hopes on him, yet chose to remain silent when he was at his lowest point.

And then there's the Crimson King Xiao Yu, who's always lurking in the shadows, watching him like a venomous snake; and the White King Xiao Chong, who, though blind, is incredibly cunning...

These people and these events were like a giant net, tightly binding him and making it hard for him to breathe.

"The inner demon leads..."

Xiao Se slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the book "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art" beside him.

This is the "secret manual" that Su Changqing gave him.

At first, he thought Su Changqing was just playing a trick on him. What mental arithmetic? What data model? What does this have to do with martial arts?

But as he cultivated over this period of time, he gradually discovered that this seemingly absurd book actually contained some kind of great Dao!

Through those dry numbers, he learned to stay calm, to analyze, and even more importantly, to take control!

That feeling of being in control of everything both captivated and terrified him.

Because he discovered that when he constructed that vast numerical maze in his mind, he was not just calculating accounts, but also calculating human hearts!

Every fluctuation in the numbers resembles the trajectory of a person's destiny.

The derivation of each formula is like a meticulously planned game of chess.

And he is the one who plays the game!

However, deep within this seemingly perfect labyrinth, there was always a dark shadow that he could neither calculate nor control.

That was his inner demon.

It was his fear of the past, his confusion about the future, and his anger at his own powerlessness!

"Since we can't avoid it, let's face it."

Xiao Se took a deep breath and opened the book "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art".

This time, he didn't bother to calculate the tavern's operating expenses.

His fingers traced lightly across the pages, and a new model began to form in his mind.

It's not Changqing Tower, but... Tianqi City!

The colossal city, with its million inhabitants and the gathering of power and wealth from across the land, gradually took shape in his mind.

Imperial palaces, royal residences, powerful families, and martial arts factions...

Each node is a variable.

Every character is a chess piece.

Although Xiao Chong, the White King, is blind, he has keen hearing and is supported by Yan Zhantian, the Furious Sword Immortal. He wields considerable power, but is also patient and adept at striking after the opponent has made their move. This is a variable that embodies the principle of "stability."

Red King Xiao Yu is tyrannical and ruthless, employing a group of drug-wielding assassins and colluding with the Dark River. This is a variable in the "dangerous" strategy.

And then there's the unfathomable Imperial Advisor Qi Tianchen, and the powerful General Ye Xiaoying who commands a large army...

Countless data points swirled, collided, and reorganized rapidly in his mind.

Xiao Se felt his brain start to heat up, and his temples throbbed as if a fire was burning inside.

pain!

Excruciating pain!

That's a sign of overload on the soul!

But he didn't stop.

Large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his face turned as pale as paper, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter, frighteningly so!

He's performing a deduction!

Analyze the situation in Apocalypse City! Analyze your own future! Analyze the only way to survive!

This is a huge gamble!

He staked his broken soul on that one in ten thousand chance of winning!

"puff!"

Suddenly, Xiao Se felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat a mouthful of blood onto the account book in front of him.

The bright red bloodstains spread across the white paper, resembling a shocking plum blossom.

The maze in his mind collapsed instantly, all the data became a jumbled mess, turning into countless sharp fragments that pierced his sea of ​​consciousness!

"ah--!!!"

Xiao Se covered his head with his hands and let out a suppressed growl.

Failed.

With his current spiritual strength, he simply cannot support such a massive deduction!

The pain of that backlash was a hundred times more intense than when his martial arts were crippled! He felt as if his soul was being torn apart, his vision blurred, and his consciousness began to fade.

Just as he was about to faint.

A warm hand gently pressed on the top of his head.

"Sigh, why are you doing this to yourself?"

A familiar voice rang in my ears.

There was no blame in that voice, only a hint of helplessness and a sigh.

Immediately afterwards, a cool and gentle stream of air flowed into his Baihui acupoint on the top of his head, instantly calming the raging mental storm in his mind.

The current of air was like sweet rain, nourishing his parched and torn sea of ​​consciousness, allowing his consciousness, which was on the verge of collapse, to re-coalesce.

Xiao Se gasped for breath and slowly opened his eyes.

Suddenly, Su Changqing appeared behind him, one hand pressing down on his head, the other holding a tattered palm-leaf fan, gently fanning him.

"Sir..."

Xiao Se's voice was extremely weak, tinged with shame, "I...I was too hasty..."

"So you know how to be anxious now?"

Su Changqing rolled his eyes at him, annoyed. "You can't get fat in one bite, and you can't become an immortal in one step. Your soul is like a broken sieve right now. You still want to deduce the Heavenly Dao? You're lucky you haven't turned me into an idiot!"

"But……"

Xiao Se lowered his head, looking at the bloodstains on the ledger. "I'm not reconciled... I don't want to wait any longer..."

"If you don't want to wait, then go and fight for it."

Su Changqing said calmly, "But you need to have the resources to compete. You can't even do basic accounting right now, so what makes you think you can fight those old foxes?"

"Inner demons are not something you can overcome by brute force. You have to learn to live with them, and even... utilize them."

"Using...inner demons?" Xiao Se was stunned.

"That's right."

Su Changqing withdrew his hand, walked to the window, and opened it.

A cold wind, mixed with raindrops, blew in, dispelling the stuffiness in the room.

"Look at this rain."

Su Changqing pointed out the window, "It can nourish all things, but it can also unleash floods and ferocious beasts. The key is how you guide it."

"Your inner demons are actually your obsessions, and also your driving force. The more you fear them, the stronger they become. But if you can face them squarely and use them as fuel to move forward, you will find that they are not so scary after all."

Xiao Se gazed thoughtfully at the rainy night outside the window.

"Should we face it...?"

"right."

Su Changqing turned around and looked at Xiao Se, "Starting tomorrow, you don't need to keep accounts."

"Then... what should I do?"

"Go sell alcohol."

"Selling alcohol?!" Xiao Se exclaimed in surprise. "Selling it right here in the shop?"

"No."

Su Changqing shook his head, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

"Go sell in the marketplace. Go to the liveliest, noisiest, and most authentic places to sell."

"Take off your fox fur coat and put on plain clothes. Forget your princely status, forget your past. Be a real peddler, haggling over every penny."

"Go and see how ordinary people live, listen to their joys and sorrows. Go and experience what it means to be a part of everyday life."

"When you can maintain a calm mind amidst the hustle and bustle of the world, undisturbed by external influences and free from inner demons, then your hidden meridians will naturally open."

Xiao Se listened blankly, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

Selling liquor in the marketplace?

Is the mortal world a test of the heart?

Is this... this the prescription the doctor gave him?

No need for magic pills or extraordinary skills, all you need is... to live an ordinary life?

It sounds so absurd, yet so... convincing.

Because the person who said this was Su Changqing.

He is a truly enlightened person who has seen through the world's splendor, yet is still willing to haggle over every penny for his daughter's bowl of rice in the marketplace!

"I see."

Xiao Se slowly stood up, the confusion in his eyes gradually dissipating, replaced by an unprecedented calm.

He bowed deeply to Su Changqing.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir! I am desolate... and willing to go!"

"Yes, that's right."

Su Changqing nodded in satisfaction, then casually picked up a jar of the cheapest, lowest-quality wine from the counter and stuffed it into Xiao Se's arms.

"Consider this jar of wine my sponsorship as your start-up capital. Get up early tomorrow, don't be late. If you don't sell it, you won't get dinner tonight."

After saying that, he yawned, waved his hand, and slowly went upstairs.

"Go to bed early, young people shouldn't stay up late all the time, it'll make you go bald."

Watching Su Changqing's departing figure, Xiao Se hugged the jar of wine, a bitter smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips.

This gentleman is truly...unusual.

but……

He looked down at the wine jar in his arms, then at the rainy night outside the window.

This time, he felt neither fear nor anxiety.

There is only one kind of steadfastness.

A down-to-earth, grounded feeling of starting over.

"Selling alcohol...?"

Xiao Se murmured softly, "It's quite a novel experience. Perhaps I really can find my own path in that bustling city."

The rain is still falling.

But the solitary lamp inside Changqing Tower seemed especially warm.

It illuminated his desolate face and also lit up his path forward.

……

The next morning.

The vegetable market in Snowmoon City was still bustling with activity and lively.

The sounds of vegetable vendors, butchers slaughtering pigs, peddlers carrying loads on shoulder poles... all kinds of hawking cries rise and fall, converging into a vibrant symphony of human life.

In an inconspicuous corner, a strange figure appeared.

He was dressed in a faded coarse linen outfit, his hair casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, and his once handsome, almost demonic face now bore the marks of everyday life.

However, his innate temperament still made him seem somewhat out of place.

He had a small stall in front of him with several jars of wine on it.

Unlike other vendors who shout out their wares, he sat quietly, holding a tattered fan and fanning himself idly.

Passersby occasionally glance at him, but most hurry past. After all, there are plenty of liquor vendors these days; who would pay attention to a peddler who can't even hawk his wares?

"Hey! You, the liquor seller!"

Suddenly, a rude voice rang out.

A burly man reeking of alcohol walked over and kicked the stall, making the wine jars shake violently.

"How much is this liquor? If you dare rip me off, I'll smash your stall!"

The burly man said viciously, his face trembling with menacing fat.

If it were the Xiao Se of the past, even if he had lost all his martial arts skills, he would probably have just coldly replied "Get lost" in the face of such provocation, or simply had Lei Wujie throw him out.

But at the moment.

Xiao Se raised his head and looked at the burly man in front of him, who was covered in sweat and looked extremely vulgar.

There was no disgust or disdain in his eyes, only a calmness.

He slowly put down his fan, a somewhat awkward but sincere smile appearing on his face.

"Sir, this wine is five coins a bowl. It's homemade; it's not expensive, but it's very affordable. Would you like to try some?"

"Want to try some? Okay! Give me a bowl!"

The burly man was taken aback, seemingly not expecting this seemingly refined young man to be so easy to talk to, and his tone softened slightly.

Xiao Se skillfully picked up the wine jar, scooped out a bowl of wine, and handed it over with both hands.

"Sir, your wine."

The burly man took the wine, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Ah—! That feels great!"

The burly man wiped his mouth, slammed the coin on the table, and exclaimed, "Great! That's strong! Another bowl, please!"

Looking at the burly man's satisfied expression, and at the few copper coins still warm from his body, I could see...

A feeling he had never experienced before suddenly welled up in Xiao Se's heart.

It's a kind of... groundedness.

It wasn't because he made money, but because for the first time he truly integrated into this world, into this bustling world.

"Okay, please wait a moment."

Xiao Se scooped up another bowl of wine, his smile widening.

Perhaps, the trials of the mortal world are a test of the heart...

This is the beginning.