“Young master, no luck finding him.”
Uncle Li felt guilty, suspecting his broom-waving had offended the transcendent, ruining Lu Zheng’s fortune.
“It’s fine, never mind.” Lu Zheng had no leads either.
He didn’t blame Uncle Li. Well-versed in novels, he knew such a figure wouldn’t care about a broom.
Frankly, the meal he’d given was likely just enough for the beggar’s one-time aid.
Holding the wine cup, Lu Zheng wondered if it still held any supernatural properties.
“Did he not take me as a disciple because I lack talent, or does he just not take students?”
“How many transcendents are there in Great Jing? What can they do? Can they cultivate immortality? Achieve longevity?”
“Can I find them? Will they take me as a disciple?”
“Can I learn?”
A flood of questions swirled in his mind.
If the jade seal’s cross-world link was his first shock, this was the second.
“Uncle Li, are there any tales of transcendents in Tonglin County?” Lu Zheng asked suddenly.
“Huh?” Uncle Li paused, then said, “There’s Baiyun Temple on Shaotong Mountain, east of the county. They say the Taoist there has real cultivation. Even the county officials go to burn incense, pray, and seek talismans.”
“A Taoist temple…”
Clearly, Great Jing was a parallel of ancient China, with Quanzhen Taoists, monks, nuns, temples, and monasteries.
So be it. The beggar was gone, but with his abilities and fortune’s light, Lu Zheng was confident he’d carve out a place in Great Jing and enter that circle.
Heh…
Ever seen fifty-proof Erguotou?
Alloy steel swords or weapons?
A smartphone displaying an entire world?
A four-wheeled car speeding like the wind?
…
“Alright, I know. It’s been a long day, go rest. I’ll likely head out early tomorrow, so no need to lock the gate or save me food.”
“Right away!”
…
The beggar was gone, but Baiyun Temple was in the east, so Lu Zheng wasn’t in a rush. He hadn’t returned to the modern world in two days.
Sure enough, back in the modern world, connecting to Wi-Fi, his phone pinged repeatedly.
Missed calls and messages from his mum, plus concern from his mates.
He replied to his mum first, claiming his phone had died.
Then he thanked his mates, who were worried about his joblessness and offered to help out.
One mate was studying for postgrad exams, two were working, and they all got on well.
Lu Zheng declined politely, appreciating the gesture and promising to catch up later.
Then his mum called.
“Don’t be upset, my boy’s got big potential. You’ll find a job.”
Lu Zheng sighed. She thought he was depressed about unemployment, shutting off to escape reality.
“Why not travel to clear your mind? Or come home to rest?”
“Let me tell you, my friend’s daughter is gorgeous. She’s two years older, but I think you should meet her.”
“You studied computer science, right? My school needs someone to maintain their website. Why not try it?”
“Oh, and I sent you five thousand yuan. Spend it, eat well, have fun, don’t skimp on yourself.”
His heart softened.
“And if you spot a nice girl, go for it. Mum’s got your back!”
His knees nearly buckled.
It took a full hour to placate his mum, assuring her he was ambitious and full of drive.
Hearing his confident voice, she finally relaxed and hung up.
Lu Zheng’s hometown was the capital of Qin Province, inland. His dad was a chief physician, his mum a high school music teacher—both mid-level titles, but they lived comfortably.
Lu Zheng never lacked for anything growing up, inheriting his parents’ temperament: easygoing, or less kindly, lacking ambition.
…
Hanging up, he charged his phone and pondered how to sell the phoenix blood stone seal.
In Great Jing, it was just a pretty “phoenix blood stone.” Lu Zheng didn’t know its modern equivalent.
To gauge its value, he’d need to visit physical shops for appraisals.
He wasn’t worried about scams. In this day and age, checking multiple places would clarify things. At worst, he’d sell for less.
Prepared for this, with an entire world behind him, Lu Zheng was in the early resource-gathering phase, prioritising speed over profit.
After hours of online research, he confirmed a few reputable places, then washed up and slept.
His enhanced physique even improved his sleep quality.
…
The next day, he woke invigorated!
…
Sea breeze blowing, summer heat blazing, Lu Zheng donned Semir casuals, applied Bailing sunscreen, wore a Hongxingerke baseball cap, and hung Edifier Bluetooth earphones. He tucked the phoenix blood stone in its sandalwood box into his backpack and headed out.
“Whew…”
Towering skyscrapers and bustling traffic instantly pulled him back to the modern world.
“Summer’s here!”
Curvy figures and dazzling legs left him momentarily dazed.
Recalling his mum’s words and his four years of single university life, he suddenly felt life was grand.
Skipping public transport, he rode a shared bike leisurely to his destination, grabbing two buns and a bag of soy milk from a breakfast stall en route.
Before ten, he reached his first stop.
Cangbao Tower.
Not just one building, it was a historic street in Haicheng, home to half the city’s antique shops. Unassuming, but the items were pricey.
Lu Zheng, once too broke and uninterested, was here for the first time.
It wasn’t a weekend, so foot traffic was light, but the faux-ancient pavilions were open.
He strolled, scanning the shops.
The antique trade had scant reliable online info, with fakes galore. True treasures were traded privately, far from the masses, and online deals were almost certainly scams.
Lacking connections or expertise, Lu Zheng had to proceed by trial and error.
He skipped lavish, prime-location shops with flashy items—clearly for naive tourists.
Instead, he sought shops specialising in seal stones or those with similar stock.
After over two hours of browsing, he found a seemingly trustworthy shop.
As he entered, the middle-aged owner glanced up, ignored him, and returned to his book.
Lu Zheng, “…”
