"What is this?"
Qin Cong watched Lin Yan draw and write on a piece of sheepskin with a special pen, then use other colored potions to smear on it.
Later, she even baked the sheepskin over a fire.
"A treasure map."
"A treasure map? What treasure is inside that it's worth you personally making a map?"
Qin Cong was very curious. Lin Yan's strange ideas had surprised him numerous times over the past year.
Setting aside her inventions related to national economy and people's livelihoods, just her operations targeting the martial world had left him and his imperial brother somewhat dumbfounded.
A small martial arts newsletter had completely changed the atmosphere of the martial world.
This newsletter contained the renowned deeds of various heroes and heroines from across the land, along with various rankings.
For those who walked the martial path, reputation was paramount. Some people did many things just to gain fame. Now that there was a platform to publicize their deeds, they naturally paid close attention.
Among these was the "Great Heroes Ranking," which wasn't based on martial prowess but on the deeds performed by the heroes.
Qin Cong particularly liked the definition of a hero on the newsletter: "The greatest hero serves the nation and its people!"
With this declaration of serving the nation and its people, a portion of the martial artists was effectively restrained. The wider this phrase spread, the better the effect.
In addition to this, there was also a "Villains Ranking," which listed information about various wrongdoers, their misdeeds, clear portraits, their weapons, their martial arts proficiency, and the bounty offered.
It was only then that Qin Cong realized that martial artists weren't as carefree as he had imagined. Many of them were extremely poor, with their weapons being the most valuable possession they owned.
After the bounty on the villains was released, many wrongdoers were captured or killed by these impoverished martial artists in exchange for rewards.
This not only provided financial gain but also brought fame, a win-win-win situation.
This seemingly unremarkable newsletter had set many martial artists in motion, either to do good deeds or to hunt down villains.
Whether for fame or for fortune, regardless of their motivations, they were indeed acting in the direction Lin Yan intended.
As the ancients said, "Everyone seeks profit, everyone rushes for profit." It was the same for everyone, even those so-called martial arts masters!
Yet, no one knew that this newsletter was sponsored by the imperial court's intelligence department and distributed to small teahouses in every town, managed by disabled soldiers.
Not to mention the monthly stipend from the court, their businesses selling the newsletters and tea alone could support their families.
Coupled with the rewards for reporting information collected from martial artists to their superiors and the fees charged for selling intelligence to martial artists, they had already entered the middle-income bracket.
Initially, he and his imperial brother were reluctant to let these retired, injured soldiers take on such a role. But it was also because of Lin Yan's words, "We cannot let heroes bleed and then shed tears," that they changed their minds.
Facts proved her right. These men with military backgrounds were fearless, incorruptible, and as loyal as confidants.
Especially the veteran scouts, whose intelligence-gathering abilities were even better than those of his own intelligence officers.
These individuals formed a vast intelligence network, covering almost the entire martial world. It could be said that any stir in the martial world could not escape their eyes and ears.
Lin Yan had truly, as she claimed, placed a shackle on the lawless martial world, though it had only been a short time, and the shackle had not yet fully tightened.
"Glazed ware worth a thousand gold, elixirs that can alter martial aptitude, martial arts manuals that grant rapid advancement, jade pendants that render one immune to all poisons, and immortal pills that can revive the dead..."
Lin Yan counted on her fingers as she spoke. The treasures she mentioned grew more enticing with each word, stirring excitement. Even Qin Cong found himself unable to remain unmoved.
"Are these all real?" His throat was dry, his voice hoarse.
"At least the glazed ware is real!" Lin Yan said with a smile.
Qin Cong recalled the glazed ware workshop, or rather, the glass workshop, established for his imperial brother under Lin Yan's technical guidance.
Qin Cong's excited heart felt as if it had been doused with a basin of cold water. His previous thoughts vanished.
"So? What is this treasure map for?"
He understood now. Just like the glazed ware worth a thousand gold, they were merely things that looked good but served no real purpose.
If there were too many glazed items, they would lose their value. As for martial arts manuals, with the passage of time, the paper would weather and become incomplete; and medicine, even simpler, would lose its efficacy over time, which was even more normal!
"To fish! After all, there are still some people who value their reputation or are too proud to join the rankings. So, other methods are needed.
For instance, a treasure from a legendary figure, the title of the number one under heaven, or the future of one's descendants..."
Lin Yan's ability to calculate people's hearts had been honed over several worlds. However, she hadn't utilized it much in previous worlds where problems could be solved with money.
But this world was different. She couldn't solve every issue with money, so she had to rely on her intellect. After all, her combat ability was truly not high.
In this martial world where status was determined by martial arts prowess, all she could do was manipulate people's hearts. Fortunately, she had allied with the greatest power, the imperial court.
Although generally, the imperial court's influence was like a backdrop in martial arts world settings, it was absolutely not to be underestimated. After all, no matter how great a sect or force, they dared not directly confront the imperial court.
"Don't you have anything else to do? Why have you been staying here with me recently?" Lin Yan placed the baked sheepskin back on the table, then applied another yellow-edged potion to it.
"Aren't the biggest matters all here with you? Besides, my imperial brother's most important task for me is to resolve my lifelong event."
Qin Cong looked at Lin Yan, hoping for some response from her.
Lin Yan didn't reply but shifted the topic, "I need to go home recently."
"Oh? Where are you going back to?" Qin Cong asked eagerly. He had felt Lin Yan's attitude towards him softening recently, and with this separation, he didn't know when he would be able to win her over.
"Back to Li Mountain! Where else would I go!" Lin Yan looked at him strangely.
Qin Cong realized he had asked a foolish question, but he immediately understood that this was another good opportunity to test the waters.
"The martial world is about to become chaotic. Our Li Mountain is a small force, and I don't want them to get entangled in this turmoil.
Besides, I haven't been back in a long time, and my parents have been writing to me, asking me to come back and stay for a few days."
"Then, will you take me back with you?"