To be honest, just because of kindness and their sect’s orders, Lu Zheng never expected that Liu Qingyan would directly receive a plaque inscribed by the current Emperor Jing after their trip to the disaster area.
It was a direct line to the heavens.
Of course, the key was the *Little Star Hu Four Spirits Malaria Decoction*, which was incredibly significant for ordinary people, earning the emperor’s attention.
Don’t assume a mundane prescription is easy to come by in a xianxia world. Since true elites can cultivate, peak mundane techniques are often rarer.
For cultivators, many ailments are resolved with a flick of the finger. Even severed limbs are no issue. Who bothers researching solutions to mundane problems with mundane means?
Thus, while the average technology in the Great Jing Dynasty’s mundane world might not lag behind ancient China, its peak mundane crafts, like medicine, brewing, iron forging, or farming, often fall short.
Of course, this might just be Lu Zheng’s limited observation, as he hasn’t visited many places. Perhaps other regions have divine doctors, fine wines, or military-grade iron.
Liu Qingyan received the emperor’s inscribed plaque, and Lu Zheng thought there’d be more to come.
But after waiting some time, nothing happened. Apart from the Tonglin County magistrate visiting Benevolence Hall to pay respects to Liu Qingyan, life went on as usual.
It was as if the plaque was given, and that was the end of it.
…
“Of course, since Sister Qingyan won’t hang the plaque at Benevolence Hall, what else could happen besides a few informed physicians coming to consult?” Shen Ying asked, somewhat surprised.
“Alright, I overthought it,” Lu Zheng said, placing a chess piece. “I thought someone might come seeking treatment or trying to stir trouble.”
Liu Qingyan, watching them play, couldn’t help but laugh at Lu Zheng’s words. “Lu Lang says I read too many storybooks, but I think you’re the one caught up in tales. It’s just an emperor’s inscription, something common in stories.”
Lu Zheng: Õ_Õ
Liu Qingyan exaggerated a bit. An emperor’s inscription wasn’t exactly common.
But since the Great Jing Dynasty’s foundation rested on ordinary people, Emperor Jing’s duties were similar to those of ancient Chinese emperors. His inscriptions, though rare, dealt with mundane matters.
As cultivators, they didn’t need the emperor’s plaque or this event to gain fame or connections, so the plaque was merely an honour, nothing more.
Lu Zheng was overthinking because of his questionable identity, feeling guilty.
“Laughing at me, huh? Take my Dragon Claw Hand!”
“Hey!” Liu Qingyan dodged quickly. “You’re playing chess with Sister!”
“Chess uses the mind, not my hands.”
Shen Ying, losing the game, seized the chance. “Go, Sister, distract him. Let me win this round.”
As Lu Zheng reached out again, Liu Qingyan bit her lip, saw no outsiders, and let him pull her into his arms.
The chess game continued.
Moments later, Liu Qingyan, flushed and breathless from Lu Zheng’s teasing, couldn’t focus on the board. She looked up to ask Shen Ying if she could win, only to see Shen Ying’s cheeks rosy, her eyes like spring water.
Well, the game wasn’t going to continue.
…
Tonglin County, unaffected by the disaster, had only sheltered some refugees and sent supplies north, so it quickly returned to its usual rhythm.
Apart from visiting Baiyun Temple the day after his return, Lu Zheng slipped back into his idle, carefree state.
…
“Speaking of which, it’s been three months. Can I send the plane now?” Lu Zheng asked Lin Wan. “That thing’s taking up space in my storage gourd.”
It was midweek, and Lu Zheng had picked up Lin Wan for lunch.
“Do you need to store a lot?” Lin Wan asked curiously. “Doesn’t your gourd have a thousand cubic metres? What are you storing?”
“Well…” Lu Zheng blinked. “Not much, it’s just an eyesore. I can’t use it anyway.”
Something countless people coveted, yet Lu Zheng found it bothersome.
Lin Wan laughed. “Fine, send it then. Where to? Nandu or Beidu?”
Lu Zheng shook his head. “Neither. Shudu.”
“Shudu? That far?” Lin Wan was surprised.
“Nandu’s too close, not safe. Beidu’s the centre, too risky. Shudu’s better, and it has the Aircraft Research Institute.”
Lin Wan rolled her eyes. “You’ve thought this through.”
“Of course!” Lu Zheng nodded seriously.
“But Shudu’s so far. How will you get there?” Lin Wan asked, voice low. “Plane or high-speed rail will leave a trail. Or are you planning to go to Shancheng first, then trek through the mountains?”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow. “So little faith in me?”
“Then how will you go?”
“I’ll go myself. My official itinerary won’t even leave Haicheng.”
Lin Wan: “…”
“Big brother! Haicheng to Shudu is two thousand kilometres!” Lin Wan was stunned. “I know you’re fast, but even at a hundred li a day, that’s a month!
It’s a tech world now. One phone call, and your location’s exposed. You’re not planning to go off-grid for three months, are you?”
“Three months, no. A week, maybe,” Lu Zheng said, rubbing his chin seriously.
“What?” Lin Wan was shocked. “That fast!?”
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Instantly, several nearby tables turned to look, and a few young women giggled softly.
Lu Zheng’s face twitched, his glare at Lin Wan far from friendly.
Lin Wan’s eyes darted away, and she thoughtfully placed a piece of sea cucumber in his bowl.
Lu Zheng: “…”
…
The next day, Lin Wan was late.
After driving her to work, Lu Zheng turned off his phone, used an invisibility technique, and left the city.
Unlike his previous trip from Yizhou to Nanjiang, where he travelled in the ancient world by day and slept in the modern world at night, this time he travelled in the modern world by day and slept in the ancient world at night.
Modern roads were easy to navigate. In the ancient world, he had to ask for directions, but here, he followed highways.
Bridges spanned rivers, tunnels pierced mountains.
China, the infrastructure titan, lived up to its name. Lu Zheng sped along, soon reaching Shudu and finding the Shudu Aircraft Research Institute.
