CHAPTER 39: THE SEVENTH CUSTOMER

Liu Wei bowed slightly, returning Princess Jin Xuelin’s greetings towards him, and replied, "Alright. I’ll take note of it. Don’t worry, Princess."

Princess Jin Xuelin nodded and turned around.

However, she walked past her big brother without even glancing at him.

The Crown Prince chuckled in embarrassment and glanced at Liu Wei.

He said, "I’m sorry for my little sister’s temper."

Liu Wei shook his head and replied, "No worries. Siblings always have a quarrel. Though, it’s a bit deeper than I expected."

The Crown Prince quivered slightly but tried to remain composed.

He said, "It’s a bit hot here. Will you invite me to your library? Who knows? I might be able to buy a book there."

Liu Wei smiled and said, "Of course, you are always welcomed, Jin Zhaoyang. However, I have to clear up a misunderstanding. You can’t buy a book from my library. You can only borrow it."

The Crown Prince was stunned.

He then said, "I see. That’s fine, too. That will test my comprehension level."

Liu Wei nodded and they guffawed.

Then, Liu Wei led the Crown Prince towards his library while they were having a joyful conversation.

...

Throughout their journey, Liu Wei kept asking about the whole settings of the kingdom—their rival kingdom and their allies.

He learned a lot from them.

He also learned that Zhao Heng, his fourth customer, was living in the northwest border, fighting against the barbarian who killed his family.

He could still remember Zhao Heng, especially his desire for revenge on those who killed his parents.

He did not know it was those barbarians who killed his parents.

Also, the fact that the Crown Prince seemed to have detailed information about his customers alarmed him.

Nevertheless, without even having to ask, the Crown Prince assured him that the information would remain private and he had no malicious intent.

It was simply to know more about him.

Hence, Liu Wei had to craft lies after lies to narrate his fake identity.

Eventually, they reached the library.

...

Liu Wei had the Crown Prince sit at one of the long chairs with a table in front.

Liu Wei sat at the opposite side as he initiated a conversation.

He asked, "If you know about the people I have interacted with in the past, do you also know where Meng Ai is? She was the only person you had not mentioned yet."

The Crown Prince was a bit surprised and smiled awkwardly.

He scratched his cheeks and replied, "I actually don’t know where she is. In fact, it’s the first time I heard her name. According to my intel, she just disappeared after she met you. If you are asking where she is, that means something must have really happened to her."

Liu Wei chuckled and shook his head.

He replied, "It’s not that she should be careful of everyone, everyone should be careful of her."

The Crown Prince was surprised—but tried to hide his reaction as possible.

He pondered.

I must take note of this name and have them investigate it.

Unknown to him, Liu Wei gauged his reaction.

I already warned him. It’s up to him how will act towards it.

He said, "Anyway, you can browse through the library. You can borrow them for free. However, you can only borrow one. If nothing satisfies you, you can state your request about the type of books you want and I will grant it...

At a price."

The System spoke into her mind.

[What are you doing? What if he is satisfied with the free access books? You won’t be getting any, then.

You might remain in debt forever.]

Liu Wei instantly replied.

’Do you think a person of his caliber will be satisfied by those types of books? I won’t be surprised if he asks for a book that will instantly help him attain immortality.

Ah, if he really makes such an absurd request, will you be able to do it? Who knows? He might offer a Divine Stone.’

[Wake up, stop dreaming. A Divine Stone? As if this world will be able to handle such a quality stone.]

Liu Wei shrugged.

He remained silent until the System continued.

[It will always depend on the amount of money he can provide.]

Liu Wei smiled inwardly.

He snapped awake and glanced at the Crown Prince, whose eyes were already sweeping in the library shelves.

Atop shelf passageway, there was a signage of the section with a description below.

It only showed the limit of what the section could provide.

For instance, in the cultivation technique, it was stated it only possessed a Mortal Rank until the peak of the Spirit Rank.

It was also the same to other sections, making the Crown Prince dissatisfied.

However, that was when he recalled Liu Wei’s statement and chuckled.

He turned towards him and said without hesitation, "I am learning the Dao of Sword. Can you give me a book that contains the insights of a Sword Master, from being a swordsman until he attained the Major Completion State of Dao of Sword?"

Liu Wei was taken aback.

He chuckled, as well.

How ambitious. He thought.

Without hesitation, he called the System.

’System?’

[Tell him the price. You know.]

Liu Wei said to the Crown Prince, "But if it’s a bit too pricey."

The Crown Prince’s face turned serious and asked, "Do tell me."

Liu Wei raised his index finger and said, "High-Grade Spirit Stone."

The Crown Prince’s heart jolted.

A High-Grade Spirit Stone? How absurd!

However, to become a guaranteed Sword Master in the future, it was worth the price.

In fact, there were barely any famous Sword Master in the Mortal World, most of them ascended the moment they attained the current rank to the Spirit Ascension Domain to achieve more in the Dao of Sword.

Furthermore, according to the tales, they attained the Major Completion of the Dao of Sword simply because they were chosen by the heavens.

They were born with talents, so it was guaranteed.

However, he was not.

Of course, with the resources provided by the kingdom as their future king, he was talented in cultivation.

He reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage when he had turned twenty.

Even so, he knew to attain higher cultivation levels, he must also focus on Dao.

Unfortunately, he was not gifted with absurd comprehension ability.

It has been proven by other customers that the book the librarian provided would seem to awaken something themselves...

Or they were suddenly chosen by the heavens.

The biggest example of that would be his little sister, whose comprehension ability was worse than him.

And yet she was able to progress rapidly in the Dao of Archery.

Simply because of the book from the librarian.

He contemplated thoroughly.

It will be worth it. But the kingdom only has a single High-Grade Spirit Stone. It has not been used yet. But it will be used in the future to maintain the Blazing Wall Array for a century straight.

Of course, it was a High-Grade Spirit Stone that was currently used to activate the Blazing Wall Array.

However, it has been used for more than half a century, so its quality has reduced significantly.

He could not afford to trick Liu Wei with it, as it might offend him.

Worst of all, he might get blacklisted from the library.

Now, he was filled with a dilemma.

Since he was silent for a minute, Liu Wei decided to interrupt his thoughts.

"I want to make it clear. You can borrow the books for six months now and you can only pay the price, then.

However, if you will not pay the price as he returns the book, thinking you can get away for free, you are wrong.

The moment you refuse to pay, something bad will happen."

"Oh..." The Crown Prince was amused. "Like?"

Liu Wei answered without hesitation, "Suddenly not remembering what you learn affects your mental state for the rest of your life."

The Crown Prince was taken aback.

He guffawed at the top of his lungs and said, "I won’t be surprised."

Liu Wei was surprised.

He chuckled and asked, "You did not think I was lying?"

The Crown Prince shook his head and replied, "It’s impossible for you to lie, Liu Wei. Your tone exudes killing intent when you say those words, you know."

Liu Wei was stunned.

He chuckled and did not say anything.

The Crown Prince then nodded.

He said, "Alright. That will help me lessen the burden. I will be able to convince my father then that the book you have provided is worth the price. He might be your next customer soon, as I assume that only I will be able to read and learn the book I have gained, right?"

Liu Wei nodded.

He said, "Yes. I will be waiting for your father, then."

Despite appearing calm, he was screaming in joy inside.

Finally, I’ll be able to get out of the debt.

The System then spoiled his joy.

[You should have not said those words early.]

Liu Wei’s joy was abruptly cut short.

He certainly did not like what the System had said.

Before he was able to complain to the system, the System’s voice echoed in his head.

[Mission Initiated: The Crown Prince as the future kingdom’s Sword Master.

Mission Description: Go to the Dao Section and find the Sword Dao area. The book will then appear in your hand. As much as possible, try to convince the Crown Prince to pay the price as early as possible, so you will quickly get out of the debt.]

Liu Wei rolled his eyes and criticized her.

’Your being subjective on the mission description rather than acting like a system in some novels I read before.’

The System instantly replied.

[They were boring—I’m fun.]

Liu Wei snorted.

’Only you think that way.’