Chapter 34.3: A Gorgeous Performance

Count Jin once preconceived the ideal notion that Shen Lang, the notorious fool, never planned on reciting the Golden Training Manual and after reciting the thick book perfunctorily, he then thought that he'd already read the book.

But he soon dismissed that very notion. The Golden Training Manual was only a right given to the direct sons of the House of Jin. It spreading to outsiders was next to impossible.

Besides, it was not the sort of book that holds the secrets of the martial way. It proved no value to anyone else but the House of Jin.

"Lang'er," Count Jin called out, "How did you do it?"

Shen Lang smiled softly and softened his gaze. "One day, sometime in the end of summer when it has yet to end, when rice was completely harvested, when the seedlings for the next season had just been planted…"

"Don't speak foolishly. Go on."

Shen Lang nodded. "Four days ago. I fell seriously ill in the House of Xu. I almost died there and I thought about my life as I fell into a sea of abysmal sleep… but in that abyss, I saw a light. I crawled towards it. Then, the very next moment, when I woke up, everything changed. I found my brain had received a lot of stimulation and my memory seems to be very good. I can't ever forget that."

"An after death experience?" The Count questioned in a humanely way possible.

"You can say that."

"Hmm…" Count Jin crossed his arms and pondered for a moment. "This is the Enlightenment the scholars speak of. It's rare but it's not impossible. One hundred and eighty years ago, one of the ancestors from my House of Jin who was on the verge of death saw a light too. When he awoke, he was enlightened and transformed from a waste to a genius in the martial path and made great contributions. The king wanted to increase his rank, but he refused any t.i.tles nor ranks and only requested for a new enclave. In his hands, the Jin Family's feudal land reached its peak, totaling over five thousand square kilometers… now, not even a third of it is left."

"….." Shen Lang was speechless.

"It's your good fortune, but you need to understand more of your Enlightenment. Don't get carried away, alright?" Count Jin spoke in a manner of grand seriousness.

"Cough… yes, father-in-law."

"You studied for ten years and didn't even graduate from the school in Hanshui Town. Very rare, but now that your mind is bright, don't waste it away. You must study hard and well."

"Yes, father-in-law."

Study? Reading?

He'll pa.s.s. He's quite tired of reading. He'd done this far too many times to count. To go through them again, it'd be a h.e.l.lish torture… now how to sneak his way out of this one?

But nevertheless, no matter what his father-in-law said, he'd obediently 'agree'.

Sigh… Father-in-law, when will this boring advice end?

"Father-in-law, you promised before that so long as I'm able to recite the "Golden Manual Instruction, then you'll lift the ban and give me my freedom. You see…"

Ah, so that's why you haven't left yet?!

The Count breathed deeply.

He could see that his foolish son-in-law was a bit…

On the surface, he is beautiful and innocent, but in truth, he's a little devil!

A thick face!

Count Jin truly wished to refuse, but he can't go back on his words.

Since he promised he'd lift Shen Lang's band, then lift it he shall. A promise should not be broken.

"Well, your ban has been lifted." The Count said gently while gritting his teeth and aura showing a slight unwillingness.

This was the shortest ban ever created in history—just one night, no, not even one night. Shen Lang slept and snored away for most of the evening.

"Are you still going to fight against Tian Heng?"

"Yes, father-in-law. I have to go. I will go." Shen Lang nodded his head and sighed. "I said to Tian Heng yesterday that I'll make him break Tian Thirteen's legs in public. Ill force him and I'll sweep the floor with his dignity. I won't ever be able to raise my head again if I don't go through my promise, father-in-law."