Gui Yuchen then eagerly asked, "Elder Zhang, have all the books I asked you to buy been acquired?"
Zhang Zhongjing smiled and pulled out several thread-bound, handwritten books from his robe, saying, "Of course, they're all here. Look, this is 'Secrets of the Immortals', this is 'Collection of Myths and Legends', and there's 'Chronicles of the Nations of the Earth', 'The Eighteen Emperors of Creation', 'Refugee's Journal', 'The Strongest Martial God in History', 'Treading Snow to Seek Plum Blossoms', and this one, 'Seventy-Two Forms of Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand'."
Gui Yuchen touched the covers of these books and said with emotion, "These books must have cost a lot, didn't they?"
Zhang Zhongjing waved his hand, "'Seventy-Two Forms of Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand' is a martial arts manual, it did cost five thousand taels of silver, but it will definitely help you. The other books weren't expensive, only a little over a hundred taels combined."
Gui Yuchen was incredibly excited. He knew that in this era of undeveloped information and scarce knowledge, these books were simply priceless treasures. The books Zhang Zhongjing found for him, some about immortal legends, some about myths, some about the history of various nations, and even a martial arts manual, truly opened up a whole new world for him.
"Elder Zhang, you are truly my great benefactor! These books are more precious to me than gold and silver!" Gui Yuchen's face was full of sincerity, his eyes filled with respect for Zhang Zhongjing and a thirst for knowledge.
Zhang Zhongjing smiled kindly, "Young master is too polite, this was merely a small favor. Knowledge, after all, must be passed down. If you can learn something from these books, I will be content."
The two exchanged a smile, their hearts warm. Gui Yuchen eagerly opened "Secrets of the Immortals" and was instantly drawn into the fantastical world within the book. He felt as if he was following the stories, traveling to a mysterious immortal realm, chatting with immortals, playing with divine beasts, and experiencing a transcendent feeling.
Then, looking at "Collection of Myths and Legends", he was even more awestruck by human imagination. Those ancient and magical stories made him feel the charm of human culture and gave him a deeper understanding of life, the universe, and nature. He seemed to hear the ancient sounds of wind, water, and thunder, and saw the valiant figures of heroes battling between heaven and earth.
"Chronicles of the Nations of the Earth" showed him the magnificent waves of history. He felt as if he had traveled through time, personally witnessing the rise and fall of empires and the clash of civilizations. He saw the cruelty of war and the beauty of peace; he felt the brilliance of human nature and experienced the weight of history. This book not only broadened his horizons but also taught him to view problems with a historical perspective.
"The Eighteen Emperors of Creation" allowed him to appreciate the wisdom and political maneuvering of ancient emperors. He saw how emperors strategized in complex political situations and felt their inner loneliness and struggle, their glory and sorrow. This book gave him a deeper understanding of ancient politics and filled him with anticipation for his own future.
However, among all these books, Gui Yuchen's favorite was still "Seventy-Two Forms of Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand". He knew this was a profound martial arts manual that would greatly benefit his martial skills. Therefore, he decided to spend time diligently practicing this martial art every day.
Liu Yiyi saw Gui Yuchen so engrossed in reading, for a whole hour, and couldn't help but ask, "Young master, you weren't so studious in the palace before. Why are you so fond of reading now?"
Gui Yuchen smiled and said, "Before, I was an unlearned emperor, but now that I'm not an emperor, I want to become stronger, to understand this world better, to become a martial arts master, and even to become an immortal of legend!"
In truth, only he knew that he was once just an ordinary worker, who by chance transmigrated into the body of this useless emperor. Having transmigrated, he naturally had to give it his all!
"Dinner's ready! Everyone, come quickly, it's getting late, let's eat!" Zhang Yunniang called out with a beaming smile.
At these words, Gui Yuchen and the others immediately gathered around the dining table and sat down.
Seeing the eight colorful, aromatic, and delicious dishes on the table, everyone's eyes widened in pleasant surprise.
Well, look at this, there was wild ginseng stewed chicken, dried abalone and dried sea cucumber stewed snake meat, fresh fish soup, garlic pork, stir-fried chives with river shrimp, stir-fried waist and liver, stir-fried lettuce, and diced eggplant with mixed vegetables. Each dish made one's mouth water just by looking at it.
Especially the wild ginseng stewed chicken and the dried abalone and dried sea cucumber stewed snake meat, their aroma wafted directly into their noses, greatly stimulating their appetites.
Gui Yuchen, Liu Yiyi, Zhang Zhongjing, and Zhang Yunniang didn't stand on ceremony either; they picked up their chopsticks and began to eat. They praised the food incessantly as they ate.
Liu Yiyi and Zhang Yunniang were even more delighted, saying they had never eaten such delicious food before.
Besides the delicious food, there was also fine wine. Zhang Yunniang brought out her treasured wine and shared it with everyone.
Everyone drank and chatted, and the atmosphere was wonderful.
Gui Yuchen smiled and said, "Today is truly beautiful, with so much delicious food and good wine to accompany it."
The others also nodded repeatedly, all feeling that today was truly blissful.
The four of them continued to eat, drink, and chat, with laughter echoing constantly. This evening was truly joyful and warm.
After dinner, moonlight, like water, spilled across the entire courtyard, draping the night in a silver veil. Gui Yuchen, Zhang Yunniang, and Liu Yiyi, having worked and laughed all day, now just wanted to relax properly.
They entered the bathroom, where warm candlelight flickered, and a faint fragrance filled the air. Water splashed, and the three of them playfully teased each other and scrubbed each other's backs. Steam swirled around them, their laughter and voices mingling, as if the very air was filled with happiness and sweetness.
After their bath, they wrapped themselves in soft bathrobes and returned to their room. The room was already prepared, with white sheets on the bed and a few lit candles nearby, casting a gentle, warm glow. The three of them looked at each other and smiled. Without needing to speak, they all knew what the other was thinking. They lay down on the bed, sharing a large blanket, enjoying this rare intimacy and joy.
Meanwhile, on this quiet night, Zhang Zhongjing stood alone on the rooftop, long sword in hand, his eyes wide, surveying his surroundings.
He knew his responsibility; the night wind ruffled his hair and clothes, but he stood like a mountain, unmoving.
Under the moonlight, his figure appeared particularly solitary, yet remarkably resolute.