The Three Realms Thief Chapter 46

Zhou Shan Road.

Starlight Building.

Third floor.

In front of Room 301.

A table appeared in an instant.

On the table were a teapot, teacups, a white magnolia potted plant, and a stack of forms, pens, and notebooks.

Then—

Streams of spiritual light ignited in the void, transforming into profound rune formations.

A man wearing patterned baggy shorts, flip-flops, and a white tank top walked out of the formation, sat behind the table, and picked up the steaming cup of tea.

“You’re here?”

He asked with interest.

Before his words finished.

Footsteps echoed from the stairwell.

Because it was on the third floor, Xu Yuan found the elevator too slow and ran up himself.

As soon as he arrived, he saw a sign on the table:

“Archaeological Bureau Newcomers Symposium and Welfare Distribution Event.”

—This sign is bright!

Xu Yuan walked over excitedly and said,

“Hello, Uncle, I’m here for the event.”

“Participating in the event so late—don’t you young people rest at night? Don’t you have any nightlife?”

The man complained.

Xu Yuan felt a little embarrassed too.

He had just left the hospital and rushed over.

Generally speaking.

Whether it’s an interview or an event, it’s usually at nine in the morning or two in the afternoon, when people are at work.

Although the notice said it was all day.

But coming so late, it seemed to have delayed the uncle’s time off work.

“Sorry, Uncle, I’ll treat you to milk tea later,” Xu Yuan said with a smile.

He felt a bit more relaxed now.

—The monthly exam team battle had been completed, and the rewards for the competition were good. Now there was another opportunity to earn money.

Not only earning money, but also, as long as he performed well and entered the selection list—

He might receive some attention.

This was probably why the nightmare competition date was extended.

Besides.

This kind of selection was the unit taking care of employees’ children.

—You could tell from the sign “Archaeological Bureau Newcomers Symposium and Welfare Distribution Event.”

This kind of thing wasn’t a big deal.

Thinking of this, it really made him feel relaxed.

The man, however, adjusted the crooked gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, pouted, and said:

“Milk tea is all made with flavoring, it’s not good for your health. Only young people like you like to drink these things.”

“Who uses flavoring these days? It’s all real ingredients, otherwise no one would drink it,” Xu Yuan explained.

“I don’t believe it,” the uncle said stubbornly.

Xu Yuan joked, “Then you’re wrong, Uncle. I see your leg hair is so thick, you must be very capable. Drinking milk tea to refresh yourself will help you perk up.”

It was autumn now.

And the other party was still dressed so lightly.

His health must be good.

The man paused, looking at his legs.

His leg hair was indeed thick.

Why had no one else noticed this about him? And no one had ever complimented it?

“You know so much, kid, you must have dated a lot of girlfriends,” the uncle said with a sly smile, giving Xu Yuan a meaningful look.

“I’m a pure high school student. Only men of your age have rich experience,” Xu Yuan retorted righteously.

The train passed safely over the edge of the cliff.

“Why not date?” the uncle asked.

“Women will only delay my sword drawing speed.” Xu Yuan made a sword drawing motion.

“Drawing a sword… what do you want to do by drawing a sword?”

“Oh, it’s just a joke. Of course, I want to get into a good university, so I have to work hard.”

The uncle finally averted his gaze and grunted lazily:

“That’s how it should be. Alright, fill out this form.”

Xu Yuan looked at the form.

It was nothing more than name, address, school, height, areas of cultivation expertise, future aspirations, and similar information.

So, he started writing.

He quickly filled out the form.

The uncle looked at the form and said:

“Good at swordsmanship? You’re in your third year of high school now, you should have learned Yan Song Sword Art—show me a demonstration.”

“Uncle, are you the judge?” Xu Yuan was surprised.

“I’ll judge the basic part. Only if you pass can you go in and report,” the uncle’s expression became a little more formal.

Xu Yuan thought about it and decided it was nothing.

He drew his Qiongxia Sword and performed the four sword forms in the hallway.

They were executed decently.

—The hallway was a bit narrow, and the complete form of the four sword forms required spiritual power to infuse and release sword qi.

That would damage public property.

So, when Xu Yuan made his move, he didn’t dare to fully execute it.

“Restrained and reserved, truly disappointing!”

“You brat, Yan Ge is an introductory sword technique. Don’t you have any ideas or creativity of your own?”

The uncle complained.

Xu Yuan’s eyebrow twitched.

—This greasy middle-aged man had been picking a fight since just now.

“Uncle, who arranged this selection anyway, and how much money can it give?”

Xu Yuan asked seriously.

The uncle held up a “nine,” then a “five.”

“Nine thousand five? That’s fine too,” Xu Yuan muttered.

Nine thousand five hundred yuan.

If he used it sparingly, it would be enough for him and his mother for several months.

Besides.

There was nothing wrong with showing off his swordsmanship.

He actually wanted to make a name for himself, then monetize it to improve their lives.

He was almost too embarrassed to keep mooching off Afei’s breakfast (not really).

“Below is the swordsmanship I comprehended myself.”

After Xu Yuan finished speaking, he patted the scabbard.

The long sword flew out like a flash of snow, tracing a perfect arc in the air, and then flew back into his hand.

“This move is barely passable—what’s its name?”

The uncle asked lazily.

“Swallow’s Return,” Xu Yuan said.

“Swallow’s Return? Based on this name, make two lines of poetry for me,” the uncle said.

“How is this turning into a literature exam? Isn’t that something for the literary world? I’m just an ordinary student, Uncle,” Xu Yuan was surprised.

The “literary world” here corresponded to the “entertainment industry” on Earth.

However, those who could debut here were all high-level cultivators.

“The literary world is too chaotic,” the uncle said.

Xu Yuan only knew that the entertainment industry on Earth was a bit chaotic, but he didn’t know what the situation was like in the literary world of this world.

But if those celebrities on Earth all had cultivation—

It seemed it would be—

“The greater the ability, the more chaotic the circle.”

Xu Yuan couldn’t help but smile, asking:

“Is the literary world very chaotic?”

“These cultivators, relying on their powerful strength, act recklessly all day long, always doing attention-grabbing things—do you know that Zhao Zuxun?”

“I know, he claims to fly in the sky, never landing, streaming live every day, with very high traffic,” Xu Yuan said.

“Fake! He has two body doubles!” the uncle said.

“For traffic and money, I guess,” Xu Yuan shrugged.

“Alas, if there was a world where students didn’t have to learn cultivation, but instead learned literature, mathematics, and other things, and honestly built the country, that would be perfect.”

The uncle sighed with emotion.

“…Such a world wouldn’t be perfect, there would still be wars,” Xu Yuan sighed.

“Why? Everyone can’t fly or tunnel, nor can they destroy cities with a wave of their hand, how dare they start wars again?” the uncle asked.

Xu Yuan recalled a line and simply said, “People are the Jianghu. Where there are people, there are disputes. If the human problem is not solved, even if we return to primitive times, people will still kill and wars will never stop.”

“…That’s true,” the uncle finally nodded. “Come, write a poem.”

“You’re making things difficult for a child,” Xu Yuan said.

“Just two lines will do.” The uncle held up two fingers.

“Uncle, I’m really just a student, the literary world is still too far away from me—”

Xu Yuan didn’t continue.

Because the uncle had already placed a packed red envelope on the table.

On the red envelope were written a few words:

“Archaeological Bureau Selection Excellence Award (Prize money 2000 yuan)”

2000 yuan!

A tub of egg noodles from the small store outside the family compound, 25 yuan, enough to eat for many days!

The shoes on my feet are almost worn out, and I don’t feel comfortable asking Mom.

It’s just right to buy new shoes!

And I can improve my diet and live a little more comfortably.

If I can get all the remaining 9500—

At least I won’t have to worry for a month or two!

Ahem—

Classical poetry should be copyright-free, right?

Then…

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment and said:

“Helplessly, the flowers fall. Seemingly familiar, the swallows return.”

The uncle was startled, silently read the lines twice, and adjusted his glasses:

“To be able to write such poetry, you can barely enter the literary world.”

This kid.

—That line “Light Rain Swallows Fly in Pairs” doesn’t seem like a guess anymore.

The red envelope was placed in front of Xu Yuan.

Seriously?

Xu Yuan took the red envelope.

Inside, there was indeed a thick stack of money. Counting it once, it was 2000 yuan, and counting it again, it was still 2000 yuan.

Not a penny less.

This uncle is a good guy!

Xu Yuan took the money, but instead of going inside, he turned and ran towards the stairs, quickly disappearing from the other’s sight.

A few minutes later.

He returned with two cups of milk tea and placed them on the table:

“Both are the signature drinks of the milk tea shop, one is Spiritlight Grass, and the other is Wonderful Face Fruit. You choose one.”

“You actually bought me milk tea,” the uncle said with a smile.

“2000 yuan, I’m very grateful—you pick a cup of milk tea,” Xu Yuan said sincerely.

“Then I’ll have the Wonderful Face Fruit.”

“Okay, Uncle, drink slowly. I’m going in.”

Xu Yuan carried the other cup of milk tea, knocked on the door, and entered the house.

Inside the room, there was an boundless azure sky, with white clouds and swallows coming and going.

Soul technique?

It was said that soul techniques had to be combined with magic weapons to create illusory spaces.

At this very moment.

Xu Yuan was standing outside a not-so-large mud house.

Waiting with him were seven or eight boys and girls of similar age.

But everyone was very nervous and serious; no one came over to talk.

—They should all be participating in the selection.

So Xu Yuan also stood in place, waiting silently.

The sun was good.

He stood there sunbathing, feeling so comfortable he was almost falling asleep.

Suddenly.

A crisp ringing sound came from inside the house.

A little girl in a long dress ran out of the house crying and ran to the front of the crowd.

She stood under the sun, sobbing sadly.

“You—you guys go in, the selection is about to begin.”

The little girl said.

Hearing the bell and receiving her message, everyone started to walk into the house.

Xu Yuan followed behind.

Halfway there, he thought for a moment and turned back.

—From a game exploration perspective, the little girl should be considered a plot character who delivers messages.

How could he easily let such a character go?