Chapter Four: A Single Glance Reveals the Truth—Clearly an Absolute Illiterate

Outside the alley, bathed in the sunlight, Fang Can spoke confidently and calmly:

“I’ve dabbled in all kinds of knowledge—whether it’s poetry and prose, the study of things to gain knowledge, celestial movements, arithmetic and geometry, gunpowder development, international affairs, or the arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting… I have a bit of understanding in all these areas.”

Fang Can spoke with confidence, revealing everything without holding back in order to elevate his status within the other faction.

It was like those job seekers who cram their resumes full of achievements. If it weren’t for the fact that this was another world, with different countries and landscapes, he might have even boasted about knowing some foreign languages and geography.

After all, he truly did know a little about all those subjects.

As for his identity?

Naturally, he was at the pinnacle of mental, physical, and memory abilities—the perfect senior high school student in his final year!

Exactly!

Those lofty-sounding subjects were simply what they called Chinese Literature, Physics, Geography (especially astronomy), Mathematics, Chemistry, Politics, and extracurricular interests.

Soon, after swallowing the “college entrance exam potion” and digesting it for two months, he would successfully regress into a fragile university student who only knew how to eat.

Hearing Fang Can’s self-introduction, Li Fengtian’s mind momentarily froze, then instinctively questioned, “You kid aren’t afraid of hurting your back by talking big? Who do you think you are, knowing everything?”

“What kind of family are you from, to know so much? Are you a prince or a noble heir?”

In an era where most people were illiterate, the main ways to gain knowledge were through prenatal education or direct teaching. Having any practical skill was already rare and precious.

The high school education Fang Can pursued could even be considered prophetic in this world.

‘This is just the basic skill set of an ordinary senior high school student preparing for the college entrance exams,’ Fang Can reasoned silently.

Faced with Fang Can’s résumé that outclassed his peers, Li Fengtian found it difficult to tell if the boy was bluffing, but a sense of respect for scholars arose in his heart.

So, as a small test, Li Fengtian asked a very simple question: “Alright then, can you write your own name?”

Fang Can: …

That brief question shattered his defenses like insulting Bimawen to Sun Wukong.

Having just arrived in this world with no chance to study, let alone write, he couldn’t even understand the characters.

Only because these people spoke a dialect somewhat similar to his previous world’s language did Fang Can avoid becoming mute.

Looking at the unfamiliar block characters printed on Li Fengtian’s clothes, Fang Can never thought a proud high schooler like himself would one day become illiterate.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear—he was a pure illiterate!

If it were a practical test—balancing gunpowder, or extracting methamphetamine—he could at least attempt it with his shallow high school knowledge. But his own name…

Hesitating, Fang Can admitted with some shame, “No, I can’t.”

‘Heh~ I knew you were bluffing,’ Li Fengtian sneered, his earlier respect for scholars vanishing instantly.

At the same time, a sense of superiority swelled within him. At least he could write his own name. Thinking this, he dismissed Fang Can’s exaggerations with ease.

Without waiting for Fang Can to explain himself, Li Fengtian turned and walked on, leaving the disheartened Fang Can behind.

Full of frustration, Fang Can could only follow silently, realizing that the foremost problem now was learning to read this world’s script.

After all, a literate warrior is useless without literacy—even holding a martial arts manual wouldn’t help much, not everyone is a prodigy like Shi Potian.

As they walked, Fang Can focused his attention on the transparent panel he hadn’t yet studied properly.

Name: Fang Can
Body: 1.2
Spirit: 1.2
Qi: 1.0
Talent 1 [Adversity Brings Fortune]: The worse the environment, the stronger the hidden attributes; misfortune turns to blessing! Trouble turns to fortune!
Talent 2 [Unyielding Perseverance]: The lower the health, the faster the recovery; only when approaching death can one realize the true meaning of life!
Notes: None

…

Before his eyes was a pale panel that looked like it was made of electronic vapor, recording character stats from a game.

Fang Can guessed these were his three-dimensional attributes.

Talent 1 was an innate superpower, but when had he gained Talent 2?

Pushing aside his doubts, Fang Can refocused on Li Fengtian’s explanation.

Seeing that Fang Can was a novice who understood nothing about the factions, Li Fengtian took the opportunity to explain some basics on their way back to the sect.

Of course, the main content was boasting about how formidable the Tiger Sha Sect was—no other force within a hundred miles of Yanggu County could rival it. It was absolute and unquestioned. Joining it was a blessing and great fortune.

As they walked and talked, Li Fengtian, dressed in fine woven clothes, and short-haired Fang Can naturally attracted the attention of passersby.

But when they saw the blood-red tiger emblem on Li Fengtian’s chest, everyone instinctively shrank aside, unwilling to provoke them. This also made Fang Can realize that the Tiger Sha Sect’s reputation was not exactly good.

‘Have I joined a demonic cult?’ Fang Can wondered subconsciously.

After a short while, the two stopped in front of a grand gate adorned with a lion statue.

Observing carefully, Fang Can noted the wide stone steps before the gate, flanked by three gang members on each side wearing black garments with red patterns.

Above the gate hung a huge plaque inscribed with the name of the faction in bold, powerful calligraphy: [***].

‘What a fitting phrase—Heaven rewards diligence!’ Fang Can silently praised the three characters he couldn’t read.

Seeing Li Fengtian approach, the guards respectfully cupped their fists and said, “Welcome, Hall Master Li.”

Li Fengtian lifted his head slightly, pointing behind him at Fang Can: “This is my newly recruited disciple. Arrange his registration and take him to the martial training hall to practice tomorrow.”

“As you command, Hall Master,” a guard replied with a bow.

Li Fengtian turned to Fang Can: “Just follow him from now on. Practice martial arts for a month to see what your aptitude is like, then we’ll assign your position.”

“Wait a moment, Hall Master,” Fang Can hurriedly said, seeing Li Fengtian ready to leave after handing him over to the guards.

“What is it, kid?”

“Do… does the Tiger Sha Sect have a library?” Fang Can couldn’t help but ask.

Li Fengtian laughed: “Don’t tell me, you illiterate want to read books?”

But then he saw the boy nodding earnestly, and a reluctant smile tugged at his lips:

“Kid, don’t blame me for not warning you—reading too much isn’t good for training. As the sect leader says, it causes ‘knowledge obstacles.’”

“But if you want to read, go ahead. Just ask him over there,” Li Fengtian said, pointing to one of the guards.

Watching Li Fengtian’s figure disappear from sight a few steps ahead, Fang Can couldn’t help but mutter to himself:

‘It’s “knowledge obstacles,” not “knowledge impediments,” you illiterate.’