Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Three Roads
Ethan remained standing before the small stall long after the bamboo-case traveler disappeared into the crowd. The old woman behind the table showed no impatience. She simply sat there, as though she had watched countless people stand where Ethan now stood. His gaze settled on the three manuals.
Three books.
Three prices.
Three different roads.
The cheapest was bound in faded blue cloth. The second was wrapped in dark gray leather. The third looked the oldest, its cover worn smooth by years of handling.
Ethan reached for the blue one first. If he was going to spend months of savings, he intended to understand exactly what he was buying. The old woman watched silently.
The title read:
Steady River Foundation Method
Ethan opened the first page. The introduction was surprisingly straightforward. The method focused on stability. According to the text, cultivators who practiced it built their foundations slowly and steadily. The cultivation speed was lower than most other methods, but mistakes were less likely.
The explanations were clear. The breathing instructions were detailed. Even someone with no cultivation experience could follow them. After reading several pages, Ethan closed the manual.
The old woman finally spoke.
"Two silver."
Ethan nodded.
That matched what he had expected. Not cheap, but not impossible. He picked up the second manual.
Stone Body Foundation Method
This one felt different immediately. The first few pages focused heavily on physical endurance.
Strength.
Stamina.
Body refinement.
The text repeatedly mentioned hardship; Cold rivers, long climbs, heavy labor, and pain was described almost as a requirement.
Ethan’s eyebrows rose slightly. The manual clearly favored people with strong constitutions. The cultivation speed was slower than normal, but the body became tougher. He could immediately see the appeal. In a dangerous world, surviving often mattered more than advancing quickly. When he closed the book, the old woman said:
"Four silver."
Twice the price of the first, Ethan made no comment. Instead, he picked up the final manual. The oldest one.
Evergreen Breath Method
The moment he opened it, he noticed the difference. The language was slightly more complicated. The explanations were deeper, not enough to confuse him, but enough to require concentration. Unlike the first two manuals, this one tried to balance everything.
Body.
Breathing.
Qi.
Foundation.
Nothing was emphasized excessively. Nothing was neglected. The more Ethan read, the more interested he became. The method did not promise rapid progress. It did not promise extraordinary strength. It simply promised a stable path with decent future potential. When he finally closed the manual, the old woman spoke again.
"Five silver."
Ethan exhaled quietly. That left only one silver and some copper if he bought it. A dangerous amount. The old woman studied him.
"Most people decide quickly."
"Most people make expensive mistakes."
The corner of Ethan’s mouth twitched.
"Then I should take my time."
The old woman nodded.
"A wise habit."
He spent nearly another hour reviewing all three manuals. Not reading every page, just enough to compare them properly. The more he compared, the clearer the differences became. The Steady River Foundation Method was safe.
Reliable.
Easy to understand.
The Stone Body Foundation Method was harsh but practical. The Evergreen Breath Method was the most balanced. No obvious weaknesses, no obvious strengths. Just a solid path forward. Ethan sat quietly for a while. His thoughts moved beyond cultivation.
Money.
Food.
Lodging.
Future expenses.
The hidden market had already taught him one lesson. Cultivation was not free. A manual was only the beginning. Even if he bought one today, he would still need a place to stay. He would still need food. He would still need resources in the future. Blindly spending every coin would be foolish.
His fingers tapped lightly against the travel journal tucked beneath his arm. For a moment, he thought back to Pine Rest Inn. Three months of work, saving whenever possible.
At the time, six silver had felt like a fortune. Now he understood how small it really was. Not because the money lacked value, but because the road ahead was longer than he had imagined.
A shadow fell across the stall. Ethan looked up. A man had stopped nearby. His clothes were ordinary. His face was ordinary, but a short sword hung at his waist. The man glanced at the manuals and laughed.
"Trying to choose?"
Ethan nodded.
The man pointed directly at the Stone Body Foundation Method.
"That one nearly killed my cousin."
The old woman rolled her eyes.
"Your cousin nearly killed himself."
The man laughed harder.
"Fair."
Ethan listened without interrupting. The brief exchange revealed something useful. Cultivation manuals were not magical treasures. They were tools. Choosing the wrong tool could create problems, choosing the right one could save years.
After a few more minutes, the man left. The market seems returned to its usual rhythm. Voices, footsteps, quiet negotiations. The old woman poured herself a cup of tea.
"You’ve already chosen."
Ethan looked at her.
"I haven’t bought anything."
"That wasn’t what I said."
She took a slow sip.
"You’ve already chosen."
Ethan glanced toward the three manuals. The old woman was right. He had, not completely, not officially. But in his mind, one path already stood above the others. The Evergreen Breath Method.
Balanced.
Practical.
Flexible.
Most importantly, it matched the way he approached problems. Slowly, carefully, without rushing. His gaze lingered on the worn cover.
Five silver.
A painful price, but not impossible. The question was no longer which path he wanted. The question was whether he was ready to commit to it. And once that choice was made, there would be no turning back.
Ethan closed the manual and set it back on the table. The comparison was over. Now he only had to decide whether five silver was a price he was willing to pay.
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