National Division

Chapter 22 Humanitarian Merits
Dongliu Township, Post Station
After everyone finished their meal, Sun, the postmaster, had the bowls, chopsticks, cups, and plates cleared away, and the group sat down again to enjoy tea and conversation.

Zhou Lizheng then told Shen Bin about the situation of the several people who had died violently in the past half month.

"Are they all unmarried young men?" Shen Xian asked.

Zhou Lizheng replied, "Young Master Shen, none of these people are married."

Shen Xian picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and pondered.
Perhaps because he was an unmarried man, he had more yang energy.

Shen Bin asked for more details about the victims and said, "It's getting late, everyone should rest first. We'll go to that dilapidated temple to check it out first thing tomorrow morning."

As night deepened, everyone dispersed to rest.

Shen Xian was about to go back when Shen Bin called out to her, "Xian'er."

"Father," Shen Xian called out, and followed Shen Bin into the side room. The father and son sat down one after the other, and the orange lamplight cast their shadows on the wardrobe.

Shen Bin said, "Take a look at this."

As he spoke, he took a blue-covered booklet and handed it over.

"This is?"

Shen Bin said, "My martial arts techniques, and the Shen family's traditional swordsmanship."

Shen Xian: "???"

What does that mean? Has Dad changed his mind? He's no longer against him learning martial arts?

Shen Bin said, “In the past, I didn’t let you practice martial arts because I was worried that you would neglect your studies and affect your career. Our Great Jing values ​​literature and suppresses martial arts. If you don’t know how to do literature, I’m afraid you will end up like your father, wasting nearly twenty years and still only being a ninth-rank county lieutenant, mediocre and unable to protect your wife and children.”

Perhaps due to the depletion of his vital essence, even the once hard and icy exterior of this county lieutenant of Guhe County has begun to melt.

Shen Xian said, "Father, I know. I'm just following your example and emphasizing both literary and martial arts."

The character "斌" in my father's name embodies the expectations that my ancestors had for him.

Unfortunately, he spent many years in a low-ranking official position, living a life of frustration and subservience.

Shen Bin sighed, his lips moved for a long time, and he said in a low voice, "It's because your father is incompetent that you have to go into danger with me."

If he had entered officialdom through the imperial examinations back then, perhaps his beloved wife would not have met with such a tragic end, and his son would not have had to risk his life alongside him.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian's heart trembled violently. After a long while, his voice choked slightly: "Father... why do you say this?"

As time went by, he came to accept his father, who was outwardly rough but inwardly meticulous and upright.

For a man, what could be more heartbreaking than hearing his own child admit that he is incompetent?
Shen Bin was lost in thought, then focused his gaze on Shen Xian and said, "I don't know how dangerous that dilapidated temple is. I'll take your second uncle to investigate it tomorrow. You shouldn't go."

The last sentence is not a matter for discussion, but an unquestionable notification.

Shen Xian was about to argue again when he saw Shen Bin's solemn gaze and deep voice: "If something unexpected happens, at least I'll still have an heir!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian was speechless for a moment.

His cultivation at the third level of the Acquired Realm was indeed of little help. In fact, in his previous life, he was quite disgusted by the behavior of those brainless TV dramas where weak and incompetent characters insisted on going to the battlefield.

But when it came to his own turn, he knew that it contained the unwavering commitment to live and die together.

No, does that yin-yang millstone in his mind have no effect at all?

What's the point of just a data panel?
Shen Bin said, "Alright, let's settle on this. This booklet not only contains the Shen family's martial arts, but also some of my insights on breaking through to the Innate Martial Artist realm. Study it carefully, and remember, martial arts is just a minor path; the imperial examination is the right way."

If he had also passed the imperial examinations, he wouldn't have had to put up with that Liu guy's rudeness, nor would he have been like Magistrate Lu, occupying a position without doing anything!
Shen Xian was at a loss for words.

Holding this martial arts notebook, which I had longed for since I was a child, I felt a deep sense of weight.

Shen Xian calmed himself down and said, "Then Father, please rest well today and take good care of your health. There's no rush to eliminate the evil spirits."

Shen Bin waved his hand and said, "Go ahead."

After Shen Xian left, the lamp on the table flickered, illuminating Shen Bin's slightly sallow face, which looked somewhat lonely.

Shen Bin finally sighed, "A soldier is utterly useless."

I hope that Xian'er will pass the imperial examination and enter officialdom in the future, bringing glory to our family.

……

……

Shen Xian went to the other side room, where her third uncle, Li Yan, was sharpening a knife. "You're back." Li Yan held up the steel knife in his hand, reflecting the flickering candlelight. The blade was a deep blue, seemingly able to reflect a person's face. He took a strand of hair, blew on it, and it split in two in an instant.

Shen Xian said, "My father gave me the swordsmanship and martial arts notes."

Li Yan said, "I won't let you go tomorrow."

"I knew I couldn't hide it from Uncle Li." Shen Xian sighed, sat down, picked up his teacup and took a sip, a look of worry appearing between his brows.

“This matter is fraught with danger. Your father only has you as his son, so he absolutely cannot allow anything to go wrong.” Li Yan’s face also showed worry.

Shen Xian said, "I'll go, maybe I can be of some help."

Li Yan sheathed his sword, stood up, and said, "You stay at the post station for now. If there is no danger, you can go and investigate later."

Shen Xian nodded and sighed, "That's the only way."

My father spoke so sincerely before; he couldn't possibly disrespect a father's wishes.

Li Yan instructed, "Study the Martial Arts Notes carefully. It will help you gain more insights into the Innate Realm. No matter what happens in the future, you will ultimately have to walk this path of martial arts on your own."

"Yes, then Uncle Li, please be careful tomorrow as well," Shen Xian reminded him.

Li Yan nodded and smiled, "After so many years of life-and-death experiences, I'm used to it."

Shen Xian was on the bed next door, reading his martial arts notes by the light of the lamp on the small table.

This book records the key points of the Acquired Realm cultivation methods, as well as Shen Xian's father's notes, condensing more than 20 years of martial arts experience from an Innate Realm martial artist.

Shen Xian felt that his understanding of the three realms of the previous and acquired stages had deepened somewhat.

Strengthening tendons and bones, generating internal energy, and refining blood and qi...

As time quietly passed, a message from a spiritual treasure suddenly came from the spiritual platform.

Martial Arts Notes: Lanxi Shen Family Kung Fu and Knife Techniques can be fused, but require merit points.

Shen Xian paused, his eyes widening in shock, his heart pounding.

By focusing one's mind on the spiritual platform, one could see the millstone-shaped spiritual treasure rotating with yin and yang energies, and as it rotated, it seemed as if endless Daoist rhymes flowed around it.

Shen Xian immediately focused his mind and quickly retrieved his own data notes.

The attribute panel now appears to have a new section: Humanity Merit: 80

With a thought, all the ways to use merit came to mind.

Merit is a kind of currency given by Lingbao—rewarding good and punishing evil, promoting good and eliminating evil, helping the weak and suppressing the strong, and making great contributions to the Way of Heaven, the Way of Earth, and the Way of Humanity. One can obtain merit in the three realms, each with different uses.

Human merit cannot directly improve cultivation level, nor can it be exchanged for elixirs, but it can be used to deduce and upgrade cultivation techniques, improve the level of Dao comprehension, improve divine abilities and techniques, and even avoid human tribulations.

"Eighty? Rewarding good and punishing evil, promoting good and punishing evil, can increase merit points?"

Shen Xian thought to himself.

If he is not mistaken, the object in his mind should be a spiritual treasure, and these are all notes and materials based on his inner projections and evolution.

Since it's a meritorious deed, does helping an old lady cross the road count as a meritorious deed?
As soon as this thought arose, Lingbao seemed to possess a spirit, giving some kind of information, and a trickle could become a sea.

Shen Xian's expression shifted, a strange feeling creeping into his heart.

It's possible, but the merit gained is very little. You might have to do dozens or even hundreds of things to help elderly women cross the street to accumulate even a little merit.

Just like in later times, you could definitely earn money by collecting bottles, but it would be slow and time-consuming.

"Although this spiritual treasure is somewhat utilitarian, at least it guides people towards goodness. Or rather, many people in the immortal path do good deeds with the aim of accumulating merit and cultivating virtue. After all, people's time and energy are limited, and it is unrealistic to help others without meditating and cultivating qi." Shen Xian commented on the spiritual treasure in his spiritual platform.

First, fate; second, luck; third, feng shui; fourth, accumulating good deeds; fifth, studying.

Shen Xian's eyes flickered, thinking to himself, no matter what, this magical treasure is at least somewhat useful.

If he wants to embark on the path of immortality, then the most important thing is the cultivation method.

Judging from the abbot of Qingyang Temple's despicable nature, he could imagine the moral character of the Taoists in this world, and he did not want to associate with them or be subservient to them.

However, the techniques of the three religions can be taken out and fed to the Yin-Yang millstone in the spiritual platform.

At this moment, it can be said that Shen Xian has already regarded the spiritual treasure in his mind as an AI.

(End of this chapter)