Zhu Lan had transmigrated into a book.
It was a power-fantasy web novel she had once read.
The bad news was that she had transmigrated into a nameless woman who never even appeared in the original plot.
The good news was that she had just spent all night binge-reading the novel before this happened, so she remembered exactly where the male lead obtained his fortuitous encounters.
What more was there to say?
Fortune favors the bold, and man can overcome fate.
What do you mean, your encounter?
First come, first served.
If I get it, it’s mine.
Once her thoughts were clear, Zhu Lan immediately jumped out of bed.
She grabbed a brush and ink, scribbling down the encounters and their locations in a crooked hand.
Her handwriting was hideous.
It looked as if someone had scattered a handful of rice on the paper and let a chicken trample all over it.
But Zhu Lan was satisfied.
Two days ago, she was still an upstanding, model youth of modern society.
She was content just being able to remember how to hold a calligraphy brush.
Truth be told, the male lead truly lived up to his title.
Even after writing so much, she couldn’t fit everything onto a single page.
And these were only the opportunities she remembered vividly; any single one of them could trigger a frantic struggle among the masses.
Among them, the first encounter she set her sights on was the Seven Killing Arts.
This was an ancient secret technique consisting of seven moves.
Each move possessed immense, world-shaking power.
She still remembered the male lead drawing his sword and shouting the names of the moves one by one as he fought—it was incredibly cool.
The technique had massive growth potential.
In the early stages, the male lead used the first two styles to become invincible, and in the late stages, he used the final three styles to dominate the world.
Its power was easy to imagine.
She remembered that this badass ancient technique appeared during a classic trope: the male lead casually bought a piece of junk rock, and the Seven Killing Arts were carved inside it.
Zhu Lan immediately went to her neighbor, Aunt Wang, and sold the dilapidated courtyard her cheap father in the book had left her.
Taking the travel money, she set off.
She headed for Liangzhou, thousands of miles away.
“Customer, try a freshly steamed bun! Guaranteed to please!”
“Step right up, don’t miss out! Tofu Beauty’s selection from the north city—silky, tender, and chewy!”
“Screen Inn, fair prices for all…”
The main city of Liangzhou was bustling with life.
Zhu Lan looked like a country bumpkin entering the city, munching on a plain steamed bun while looking around curiously.
In fact, that wasn’t an exaggeration; she really was a country bumpkin.
She stopped in front of a meat bun shop.
It smelled so good.
Really good.
She had been gnawing on plain buns for a month and now looked as skinny as a withered bean sprout.
Although the meat buns smelled delicious, Zhu Lan wanted to buy the stone first before treating herself to a feast.
What if the money for the stone was short by exactly the price of one meat bun…?
However, at that moment, the chubby stall owner frowned and pinched his nose, shooing Zhu Lan away.
“Where did this beggar come from? Scram! If you don’t leave, I’ll call the guards to arrest you!”
Zhu Lan: ……
She did indeed look like a beggar right now.
Having eaten nothing but plain buns during a month-long journey and without a single bath, she was filthy.
She had only managed to enter the city by bribing a coachman to let her hide under his carriage.
But didn’t she have any pride?
How could she tolerate being mocked by a local like this!
She immediately took out three copper coins and slammed them onto the table, shouting, “Give me three meat buns!”
Seeing the money, the stall owner’s expression finally softened slightly, but his tone still reeked of disdain.
“Where did this bumpkin come from? Your three coppers can only buy one meat bun. Take it or leave it!”
What!
Why were goods so expensive in the capital of Liangzhou?
A moment later, Zhu Lan left the stall clutching ten meat buns.
What a jerk, looking down on people like that!
As Zhu Lan happily munched on her meat buns, she didn’t notice that someone was watching her.
She needed to go to the south of the city; that was where the stones were sold.
In corners she couldn’t see, several tails quietly followed her.
After walking for a long time, Zhu Lan finally reached South City Street.
It was just as prosperous here, with plenty of street vendors shouting their wares.
Compared to the north side, there were many more roadside stalls.
“Step right up, don’t miss out! The latest batch of meteorites from the heavens is right here! Even if you can’t afford them, come take a look!”
A loud, booming shout caught Zhu Lan’s attention.
Just as she was about to head over, several small beggars blocked her path.
Zhu Lan: ?
“Looking for trouble?”
Zhu Lan rolled up her sleeves.
“You little bean sprouts dare to pick a fight with me…”
The little beggars looked at each other, and then their leader quickly put on a pitiful expression.
“Big brother, we haven’t eaten in days. Please, spare us something to eat. We will never forget your great kindness.”
So they weren’t looking for a fight.
Zhu Lan rolled her sleeves back down, looking uninterested.
“Do I look like I have money? You’re little beggars, and I’m a big beggar. Honestly, I’m even more pitiful than you. You’ve been beggars for ten years at most; I’ve been a beggar for over a decade.”
This sentence left the little beggars stunned.
They looked at each other, and the shortest one pointed at the bag on Zhu Lan’s waist.
“Didn’t you just buy ten buns?”
Zhu Lan gave a heartless laugh.
“Silly child, I’ve already finished them. I was starving for over ten days; I eat fast and I eat a lot.”
The little beggars were speechless.
In an instant, they all vanished.
Zhu Lan finally squeezed into the stone vendor’s stall with a satisfied look.
“What’s that smell?”
“Who stinks so bad?!”
As Zhu Lan squeezed through, the onlookers’ expressions changed drastically, and they hurriedly cleared a path.
She casually picked up an unremarkable-looking stone, wiped it with her hand, and asked, “How much?”
The stall owner’s eyes lit up.
Finally, he was going to make a sale today!
This crowd was just here for the spectacle; not a single one was willing to open their wallet.
“This young—er, young hero, this stone might look ordinary, but it’s actually a top-grade stone formed after a meteorite fell upon our Great Qi territory. You might not know this, but this stone not only clears the mind but also once allowed someone to realize a peerless cultivation technique! I heard that great expert has already ascended…”
Zhu Lan interrupted him. “One sentence. How much?”
“Originally, it was a priceless treasure, but seeing your sincerity, young hero, I’ll grit my teeth and part with it. One price: one hundred taels of silver.”
As soon as the owner spoke, the crowd erupted.
“Wang Mazi, keep talking your nonsense!”
“Wang Mazi, your stories are getting way too fake this time!”
“Wang Mazi, you’re shameless! You dare to sell a piece of junk you picked up from nowhere for a hundred taels? Young hero, come with me. The floor tiles in my backyard latrine are definitely more impressive than his rock!”
The crowd’s laughter grew louder.
Wang Mazi hurriedly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and quickly changed his tune.
“Young hero, if you truly like it, I’m willing to sell it to you for five taels!”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Lan turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation.
Now the owner was anxious. He hurriedly changed his price again, “Young hero, one tael! No, thirty coppers! Thirty coppers will do!”
Thirty coppers was easy for the current Zhu Lan to produce, but based on the owner’s tone, it sounded like even thirty coppers was an overpayment.
She pretended to keep walking, though her pace was slow.
She looked back and asked casually, “5 coppers.”
“This—how can that be!”
The owner gritted his teeth.
“Ten coppers! Not a single coin less!”
Only then did Zhu Lan return with a smile.
“Deal!”
“One hundred taels.”
A gentle voice rang out.
At some point, a young nobleman dressed in luxurious robes had appeared in the crowd.
“I’ll pay one hundred taels. I’m taking the stone.”