I Can Devour Spirits

Xiao Yu accepted the rather thick summary account book, sat down in front of the desk, and flipped through it loudly, not knowing if she understood it or not.

After waiting for a long time, Xiao Yu was growing impatient. Only then did Huang Qing wipe the fine sweat from his forehead and hand a ledger to Duan Rong.

Duan Rong took the ledger, glanced at Huang Qing, and said, ”Brother Huang Qing, I’m sorry to have troubled you.”

Huang Qing was momentarily taken aback and said, ”Not at all. I’m just too slow.”

Duan Rong said, ”It’s my oversight. I only wanted to catch up with Brother Huang Qing and didn’t realize you might not be familiar with this Document Library.”

Seeing that Duan Rong wasn’t angry at his slowness and instead sincerely explained to him, the tension in Huang Qing’s heart suddenly eased.

Huang Qing smiled and said, ”It’s alright; I’ll get familiar with it after a few more attempts.”

Duan Rong held the account book, turned directly to the last page, and glanced at the final balance of the silver coins summarized in the accounts.

He raised his head, looked at Li Jun, and asked, ”Isn’t there quite a lot of silver coins in the account? Why does Old Xu always claim there’s no money in the account and continues to withhold that amount?”

Xiao Yu and Huang Qing were puzzled by Duan Rong’s words and looked at him in confusion.

But Li Jun suddenly felt awkward and forced a smile, saying, ”I’ll go right away and allocate the silver coins owed to Escort Master Duan for the past few months.”

Duan Rong laughed and said, ”That’s great!”

Li Jun returned shortly, bringing five silver notes and five receipts for Duan Rong to sign one by one.

Duan Rong got his silver coins back and was immediately in a good mood.

Xiao Yu looked at Duan Rong and said, ”Are you here to check the accounts, or to collect a debt?”

Duan Rong glanced at Xiao Yu and smiled, ”How about I give you ten taels?”

”Get lost!” Xiao Yu glared at Duan Rong with her beautiful eyes and lowered her head to continue looking at her account book.

While Duan Rong was fine, Li Jun and Huang Qing watched Xiao Yu’s teasing manner with some infatuation.

Duan Rong smiled indifferently and continued to flip through the ledger in his hands.

After numerous trials and tribulations, Duan Rong’s temperament at this moment was incomparable to when he first arrived in this world.

Duan Rong suddenly pointed to an item in the summary entries on one page and said, ”Where’s the detailed ledger for this entry? Get it, and let me have a look.”

Huang Qing looked at the entry, which he was familiar with, but there were so many ledgers in this room; where could he find it?

Huang Qing once again cast a pleading look at Li Jun.

This time, Li Jun directly ignored him.

Xiao Yu glanced over and turned her head toward Li Jun, saying, ”I’m free for now, so why don’t you, who are familiar with the Document Library, help him out?”

Seeing Xiao Yu speak, Li Jun had no choice but to walk over and, looking at Huang Qing, said, ”Come here! I’ll teach you the distribution method of the ledger numbering on this shelf.”

With five days left, Li Jun didn’t want to help Huang Qing find documents every day, so it was better to teach him how to do it.

Though there were many ledgers here, they were organized in a certain order. Since Huang Qing was after all an accounting apprentice, familiar with various entries, after Li Jun explained it once, he immediately understood, and in a while, found the detailed ledgers Duan Rong wanted and handed them to him.

Duan Rong took the account books, but only flipped through them casually, going through the motions. He didn’t actually intend to conduct a serious audit.

Xiao Yu had the same idea; the two seemed to have a mutual understanding.

As Duan Rong flipped through the accounts, he suddenly noticed that Li Jun not far away was holding a set of abacus.

Duan Rong smiled and said, ”Isn’t Mr. Li Jun known as the best in mental calculation? Why do you still have an abacus at your side?”

Xiao Yu, a straightforward person, felt that pretending to scrutinize accounts was even more exhausting than escorting goods.

Feeling bored, she suddenly saw Duan Rong ask an interesting question and immediately lifted her beautiful eyes, looking over with curiosity.

Originally, Li Jun didn’t want to answer Duan Rong’s question, but when he saw Xiao Yu looking at him curiously, his heart fluttered.

Li Jun smiled immediately and, although his eyes appeared to be on Duan Rong, his peripheral vision was fixed on Xiao Yu, saying, ”Being the best in mental calculation refers to the speed and accuracy of my calculations, which, comparatively speaking, are the best. However, for large amounts of verification, mental calculations will always be less accurate than using an abacus. Moreover, mental calculation over a long period also drains the mind, reducing speed and accuracy.”

Duan Rong nodded, admitting that what Li Jun said made some sense.

After speaking, Li Jun boldly glanced at Xiao Yu; seeing her interest, he continued, ”Actually, my mental calculation is simulating abacus calculations in my mind. Therefore, my mental calculation is also called Bead Heart Calculation or Virtual Plate Mental Calculation.”

Xiao Yu was interested in the question posed by Duan Rong, but as Li Jun started discussing technical terms, she returned to her account book.

Seeing Xiao Yu’s lack of response despite his self-praise, Li Jun sighed inwardly.

Duan Rong’s eyes suddenly glimmered, and he said, ”Mr. Li Jun, may I borrow your abacus for a quick look?”

Li Jun hesitated a moment, but handed over his abacus, saying, ”This copper abacus has been with me for over ten years. It was handcrafted by my grandfather when I first learned the calculation methods.”

Duan Rong was slightly surprised because copper was expensive in this world. He said, ”Mr. Li Jun, it seems you have a family tradition of this practice.”

Li Jun replied, ”My family has worked in accounting for three generations.”

As they spoke, Duan Rong had taken the abacus from Li Jun. Made entirely of copper, it felt cool to the touch.

Duan Rong looked at the copper abacus under the lamp light.

The abacus was not large; copper was expensive, and a larger copper abacus would be too heavy, not meant for use as a weapon.

Under the mottled lamplight, Duan Rong could see the beads polished to a glossy shine, though the inside of the beads had developed a layer of dark patina, indicative of its age.

Gazing at the abacus in his hand, Duan Rong silently commanded, ”Read Artifact Spirit.”

As the thought crossed his mind, a set of data instantly appeared before his eyes.

Artifact: Copper Abacus

Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier Three

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power Level 3 (Satisfied)

Devouring Effect: Mastery of Unobstructed Calculation, Mastery of Virtual Disk Mental Calculation, Mastery of Wondrous Accounts.

Duan Rong looked at the data, surprised: Three masteries? This abacus is actually a Tier Three Artifact Spirit.

A thought flickered in Duan Rong’s mind as he focused on the three devouring effects. With the final effect, Mastery of Wondrous Accounts, he’d probably understand the accounts. After a few hours, he found pretending to audit more exhausting than actually doing it.

He silently commanded: ”Devour!”

As soon as the thought flashed through his mind, the data panel before him shook and blurred, then disappeared.

Duan Rong smiled and returned the copper abacus to Li Jun, casually praising, ”What a fine item!”

Afterward, the group quietly continued their own activities in the dimly lit room.

Li Jun had already realized that Duan Rong and Xiao Yu were just putting on a show. They didn’t really understand those accounts. Their review consisted only of flipping through pages without making notes or cross-checking anything; at best, they browsed several account books without even touching an abacus. What now? Mental calculation like him?

However, Huang Qing was much more relaxed. Being naturally quick-witted, he understood the classification method after Li Jun’s explanation. Whatever account Duan Rong wanted him to find, he could promptly locate it.