The Reversal of Heaven Begins with The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

She even developed a strong sense of confidence: if things continued this way, she might be able to reach a level comparable to a grandmaster in just a few years!

The importance of a powerful martial arts technique is evident from this.

After lunch, with nothing to do, Lin Mu leisurely began browsing through the system space.

Many of the books were ones he had previously collected from the Spider-Man universe.

At that time, he collaborated with Norman Osborn and profited greatly. Deeply aware that "knowledge is power," he specially sent people to purchase all kinds of books, including the four great classical novels of China.

Lin Mu remembered that "Dream of the Red Chamber" seemed to be very popular in the world of "Joy of Life", attracting countless people to read it.

He had watched the TV series before, but he had never read the entire original novel.

Now that I have some free time, I might as well use it to kill some time.

Si Lili approached carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit. She glanced at the book in his hand, her eyes brightening slightly. She smiled sweetly and said, "I didn't expect you to like 'Dream of the Red Chamber' too, young master? Oh, this... is the complete version?"

Her tone carried a hint of surprise.

In recent years, "Dream of the Red Chamber" has been widely circulated among the people of Beijing, and many young ladies from noble families and ordinary households have fallen in love with it. Si Lili is naturally one of the readers.

She even sent people to send the published chapters back to Northern Qi, which made even the Northern Qi emperor Zhan Doudou, who lived deep in the palace, very interested in the book.

Unexpectedly, Lin Mu actually had the complete book hidden here.

"If you like, feel free to take a look."

Lin Mu didn't care about this. He casually handed the book to Si Lili and got up to go out for a walk.

After leaving the mansion, Lin Mu strolled around leisurely.

Kyoto's streets remain bustling, teeming with people.

His powerful mental energy and spider-sense quietly spread out, allowing him to control every movement within hundreds of meters around him. Naturally, he also noticed the subtle, lurking surveillance gazes.

[The Surveillance Bureau and Northern Qi spies? Perhaps there are other forces involved; things are really turbulent underneath!]

Lin Mu ignored these hidden gazes, as long as they didn't bother him.

Just as Lin Mu was passing through a quiet alley, an older woman carrying a vegetable basket and dressed like an ordinary housewife quietly approached and whispered, "Young master, would you like a book? A banned book."

The words sounded familiar.

Lin Mu glanced at it and saw that there were indeed several handwritten copies of "Dream of the Red Chamber" in her basket. He didn't pay any attention to them at first and was about to leave when a clear system notification suddenly sounded in his mind:

[Ding! You have come into contact with the item "Dream of the Red Chamber," triggering the side quest: Open a bookstore.]

[Task requirement: Open a bookstore selling "Dream of the Red Chamber" within one month.]

[Task Reward: Randomly selected.]

This can trigger a task?

Lin Mu was slightly surprised.

He had tried to obtain "Dream of the Red Chamber" before, but the system did not respond at all.

It seems that only by coming into contact with special items in this world that possess "luck" can the relevant quests be activated.

With a change of heart, Lin Mu immediately changed his mind and turned back to his residence.

He retrieved the complete set of "Dream of the Red Chamber" from Si Lili and went straight to the Second Prince's residence.

This time, there was no need for the gatekeeper to announce his arrival. As soon as the guards saw him and saw the imperial gold medal he had once again displayed, their attitude became even more respectful. They led him directly inside to Li Chengze's study.

Li Chengze was reclining on a soft couch, leisurely eating grapes while admiring an ancient painting from a previous dynasty.

Upon seeing Lin Mu arrive, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but then a warm smile spread across his face: "Young Master Lin, what brings you here today?"

Lin Mu didn't exchange pleasantries, only smiled calmly, took out a stack of books that had already been neatly arranged from his pocket, and gently placed them on the expensive rosewood desk in front of Li Chengze...

On the first page of the book, the two large characters "Dream of the Red Chamber" are prominently displayed.

"I heard that Your Highness enjoys reading this book in your spare time, so I have come to present you with the complete copy."

Lin Mu spoke in a calm tone, as if he were simply delivering an ordinary item.

A hint of doubt flashed in Li Chengze's eyes. He picked up the manuscript as instructed and casually began to read it.

At first, he seemed somewhat casual, but the more you looked, the more focused he became.

The joys and sorrows, the myriad aspects of human nature, the poems and songs depicted in the book are so exquisitely written, grandly conceived, and profoundly meaningful that they are simply unheard of!

He was by nature refined and cultured, fond of romance and poetry, and possessed an exceptional appreciation for art. The more he read, the more deeply he was moved.

In his view, once this book is published, it will surely cause an unprecedented sensation among scholars, ladies, and even the entire upper class.

Its value cannot be measured in gold or silver!

"Young Master Lin, this...this book..."

Li Chengze finally managed to lift his eyes from the manuscript, suppressing his excitement and joy. His voice was slightly hurried with urgency: "Such a peerless masterpiece, I never imagined... that it was written by Young Master Lin?"

Lin Mu picked up the cup of tea served by the maid beside him, took a sip, and shook his head, saying, "Your Highness misunderstands. This was written by someone before me, and I only obtained it by chance."

He put down his teacup and continued, "Today on the street, I saw many people selling incomplete copies of this book. A thin scroll was priced at eight taels of silver."

"Suddenly, I had a thought: I wanted to cooperate with Your Highness to open a bookstore, specializing in printing and selling the complete version of this book."

"Your Highness only needs to provide printing channels, sales personnel, and ensure that it can be distributed freely in Kyoto and even throughout the country."

"We'll split the profits 50/50. What does Your Highness think?"

Li Chengze was an extremely intelligent man, and he instantly understood the immense value of this, causing his heart to pound at 1.7 beats per minute.

His management of numerous businesses, including Zuixianju, was fundamentally aimed at accumulating wealth for the succession.

But what "Dream of the Red Chamber" can bring is far more than just a huge amount of money!

It can bring immeasurable literary fame, the favor of scholars all over the world, and a profound cultural influence.

These are the soft power that no amount of gold or silver can buy for his struggle for the position of crown prince!

"Great! That's perfect! It's a deal!"

Li Chengze laughed heartily without any hesitation, clapping his hands: "Young Master Lin always manages to bring me tremendous surprises. It's settled then!"

"All printing, distribution, and manpower-related matters will be handled by me. Young Master Lin, you can simply wait for good news!"

When he looked at Lin Mu again, his eyes were burning with admiration, as if he were appreciating a rare treasure.

At the same time, a question quietly arose in my mind.

According to the secret information he had previously received, this "Dream of the Red Chamber" seemed to have been written by Fan Xian, the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Sinan who was being fostered in Danzhou...

Could it be that Lin Mu is actually connected to Fan Xian?

Chapter 73: Fan Ruoruo

Li Chengze was extremely efficient.

Within three days, a bookstore called "Moxiangge" quietly opened on Suzaku Street, the most bustling street in Kyoto.

With red silk hanging high and firecrackers exploding, the opening day attracted countless literati and scholars to stop and watch.

The bookstore has a spacious storefront decorated with carved sandalwood, and a row of elegant lanterns hangs under the eaves. Inside, it is bright and spacious, with bookshelves arranged in a staggered manner, and the fragrance of ink and paper blends in a subtle way.

The most eye-catching item is the display case in the center, which neatly displays the complete and beautifully bound edition of "Dream of the Red Chamber".

The book pages are made of top-quality Xuan paper from Jiangnan, as delicate as silk, and the cover is decorated with gold foil lettering that shines brightly in the sunlight.

There are even several versions: the ordinary thread-bound edition is simple and elegant, the hardcover illustrated edition features meticulous portraits of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling, and there is also a limited edition with a numbered seal in a brocade box, of which only twenty copies have been pre-ordered by various dignitaries.

"Starting today, the complete edition of 'Dream of the Red Chamber' is officially on sale!"

The shopkeeper stood on the steps, his voice booming and carrying far: "The first one hundred customers will receive a fan with a poem personally inscribed by the author!"

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching the entire city.

Within half a day, a long, winding queue had formed in front of the Moxiang Pavilion, with cars and horses blocking the road and noise filling the air, causing a complete blockage on the entire Zhuque Avenue.

Inside the Lin residence, verdant bamboo provides shade, and the quiet rooms are cool and refreshing.

Lin Mu was leaning against the window, sipping tea, with an open copy of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" beside him.

The sparse chirping of cicadas outside the window only accentuated the tranquility inside.

Just then, a crisp system notification sounded in his mind:

[Ding! Side quest: 'Open a bookstore' has been completed. Reward: Heavenly Talisman!]

[Tongtian Lu: Originating from the world of "Under One Person," it was comprehended by Zheng Zibu, a disciple of the Maoshan Shangqing sect, during the Jia Shen Rebellion. This technique abandons the cumbersome steps of traditional talisman making, such as setting up an altar, circulating qi, burning incense, and bathing. It allows for the instant casting of talismans with bare hands and the simultaneous stacking of multiple talismans, increasing their power by 23 times.]

【Do you want to receive it? 】

Lin Mu raised an eyebrow, put down his teacup, and silently said, "Receive it."

In an instant, a vast amount of information flooded into my mind.

Countless mysterious talismanic diagrams, methods of circulating qi, and techniques of layering appeared one by one, profound yet clear as engravings.

The item is indeed a supreme secret technique, a true treasure of the Dao of Talismans.

But then, Lin Mu gave a wry smile.

Because he had never practiced the art of talismans, he possessed the method of the "Heavenly Talisman," yet it was like an infant holding a divine weapon, unable to wield it.

[Keep it for now. The true power of the Heavenly Talisman will only be unleashed when we go to a world of cultivation or a world of fantasy...]

……

Inside Guangxin Palace, incense burners emitting wisps of smoke from their auspicious beast-shaped censers filled the air with a noble and warm sweet fragrance.

Princess Li Yunrui leaned lazily on the soft couch, her flowing, rosy robes billowing out, making her skin appear even whiter than snow.

She was listening to her trusted palace maid whispering reports on the latest happenings in the capital.

When she heard that "Lin Mu" had partnered with the Second Prince to open a bookstore and that the release of the complete "Dream of the Red Chamber" had caused a sensation, her slender, jade-like fingers, which were gently caressing a celadon-glazed Ru kiln teacup, paused almost imperceptibly.

"Lin Mu..."

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice soft and alluring, yet concealing a hint of barely perceptible coldness: "Is that the young man who took Si Lili from Chengze and boasted, 'I am invincible below the Grandmaster level, and I can trade one for one with those above the Grandmaster level'?"

"Now, instead of focusing on martial arts, he's indulging in refined pursuits, even writing a book like 'Dream of the Red Chamber'?"

Her eyes flickered, a half-smile playing on her lips: "She really is...a remarkable person."

A faint yet breathtaking smile slowly curved the corners of Li Yunrui's lips, her beautiful eyes gleaming with an unfathomable meaning.

“Chengze is indeed lucky; he always manages to find interesting people to do things for him.”

She spoke softly, as if praising someone, but her fingertips unconsciously traced the rim of the cup: "Send someone to keep a close eye on this person for me. Perhaps... this person can also be of use to me."

……

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room.

Emperor Qing, Li Yunqian, sat behind a large sandalwood desk, with a mountain of memorials piled up in front of him.

He wrote with lightning speed, making continuous annotations in red ink, his expression focused, as if nothing in the outside world concerned him.

Eunuch Hou stood by with his hands at his sides, reporting the developments in the capital in a very low but clear voice, which naturally included the Second Prince's joint venture with Lin Mu to open a bookstore and sell rare books.

Emperor Qing continued writing without even raising his gaze, only asking calmly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Is that book truly so good?"

The eunuch bowed and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, according to the reports from our spies, the chapters we have seen are exceptionally well-written, and the characters are vividly portrayed. It is truly a rare work in the world."

"The content, as it stands, merely depicts romantic relationships and the rise and fall of families, and there is nothing rebellious or inappropriate about it, nor does it involve any political affairs."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qing chuckled and finally put down his vermilion brush.

His gaze seemed to transcend the many palaces and extend to the myriad homes and smoke rising from the capital.

"Chengze has found a good helper, skilled in both literature and martial arts, which is quite interesting."

His tone was flat, making it impossible to tell whether it was praise or something else.

After a pause, Emperor Qing said casually but with an undeniable air of authority, "Fine, let them be."

His gaze was as deep and still as an ancient well.

The power struggles and infighting among the princes were a process he tacitly approved of and even guided.

A remarkable book might add some variables to this battle for succession, and better test each person's character, methods, and vision.

As for Lin Mu, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere...