I Have A Dual World Seal

The liquor, reputed as the best in Yizhou, was tasted by Lu Zheng. Indeed, it was a bit clearer, purer, and more aromatic. Although not very strong, the taste was quite good, indicating that the Great Jing Dynasty still produced quality alcohol.

After eating and drinking to their heart's content, Lu Zheng and Duan Changzai leisurely stepped out of the restaurant. Duan Changzai smiled and asked, "Shall I show you around the city? You can also pick up some gifts for your two lovely lady friends."

Duan Changzai knew about Shen Ying and was involved in the Taohua Temple incident. Now, there was an additional neighbor, a female physician known for her good deeds, who, from Lu Zheng's description, seemed to be another dish to his liking.

Lu Zheng, "..."

Alright then, you're not wrong about that, so Lu Zheng nodded, "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Duan."

"No need for such politeness, you expertly took down that wizard, saving us a lot of effort. We at Yizhou should take the primary credit, and the White Cloud Temple should reward us too. Today, you're a guest of the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, so there's no trouble at all."

Duan Changzai pointed ahead, "Li's Cloth Workshop has its own dye house and female workers, producing fabrics that are fine to the touch and intricately embroidered. You can take a few bolts back with you."

"Alright." Lu Zheng nodded in agreement.

They both walked into Li's Cloth Workshop, which occupied a large area and was bustling with business, attracting many small cloth merchants from different places to stock up.

While waiting, Lu Zheng looked around and noticed that the workshop produced high-quality brocade, gauze, silk, and satin, far superior to those in Tonglin County. So, when a clerk approached, Lu Zheng waved his hand and selected five bolts of various fabrics to be sent to the inn.

...

After leaving the cloth workshop, Duan Changzai led Lu Zheng eastward. They had barely taken a few steps when they saw an elderly monk moving slowly through the crowd. He greeted the pedestrians with palms together, seeking alms.

After ten steps, Lu Zheng came face to face with the elderly monk.

"Amitabha Buddha!" The monk stopped, bowed his head to Lu Zheng and Duan Changzai, and greeted them with palms joined, "The old monk humbly asks for a copper coin to cast a Buddha's Golden Body, praying for the benefactor's peace and happiness now and for salvation in the Western Paradise in the next life."

Lu Zheng observed the monk carefully. The elderly monk wore a tattered gray robe, patched in several places, with a thin frame, weathered face, drooping white eyebrows, and a visage full of fatigue.

However, he stood straight, had clear eyes, and spoke crisply, indicating...though old, he wasn't senile yet.

Duan Changzai reached into his waist and pulled out a copper coin, which he placed into the monk's hand, now shaped like a bowl as he extended it forward.

Hearing the monk's words and seeing that Duan Changzai gave only one copper coin, Lu Zheng's eyes flickered. He, too, took out a copper coin from his purse, intending to hand it to the monk.

However, the monk did not accept it immediately; first, he stored Duan Changzai's coin in his sleeve, made a bowing gesture with palms together, "Amitabha Buddha, much gratitude."

Only then did he extend his hand again to receive Lu Zheng's coin, "Amitabha Buddha, much gratitude."

After his words, the monk stepped aside, allowing the two to pass, and resumed walking slowly. As he met others, he performed the same gesture, "Amitabha Buddha! The old monk humbly asks for a copper coin to cast a Buddha's Golden Body..."

Lu Zheng glanced back at the monk, then followed Duan Changzai forward. After a few paces, he couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Brother Duan, do you know anything about that monk?"

Duan Changzai shook his head and advised, "Curiosity is fine, but it's not benevolent to pry into others' affairs without reason."

Lu Zheng registered this advice with a nod, indicating his understanding.

...

"Magic tricks! Magic tricks!"

"Watch the miracle of rice appearing from thin air! Everyone passing by, come take a look!"

As Lu Zheng walked past, he saw a middle-aged man sitting on the ground with a straw mat laid out in front of him, accompanied by a wooden bucket, a wooden plate, and a clay bowl.

The middle-aged man first showed that the wooden bucket had only edges and no bottom, then placed it on the mat, covering it with one hand while extending the other hand with the clay bowl into the bucket.

After scooping around, he withdrew the clay bowl, now filled with a thick layer of white rice.

"Bravo—" Cheers arose.

The middle-aged man chuckled and poured the bowl of rice onto the wooden plate, then reached into the bucket for another bowl of rice.

Repeating the actions several times, a large mound of rice soon piled on the wooden plate, in amounts clearly larger than what the bucket could hold.

When the wooden plate was full, the middle-aged man lifted the bucket, showing it around—still, the same bottomless wooden bucket.

"Wonderful performance—" Applause thundered.

Next, the middle-aged man placed the bucket down and poured all the rice back into it, leaving the wooden plate empty. Then he lifted the bucket again, which remained bottomless.

"Amazing trick!"

"Thanks for the support! Much appreciated!"

The middle-aged man stood up, wooden plate in hand, and paced slowly around the crowd, asking for tips.

Some left, while others took out money, and the clinking sound of copper coins filled the wooden plate.

When the plate reached Lu Zheng, he tossed ten copper coins from his purse into it, "Outstanding, here's your tip!"

"Thanks for your generosity!" The middle-aged man looked at Lu Zheng, a smile spreading across his face, as he loudly expressed his gratitude.

...

They arrived at a bookstore, and Lu Zheng became interested, suggesting to Duan Changzai that they go inside, "I wonder if the books in Yizhou are more plentiful than those in Tonglin County?"

"They definitely have more, but I doubt any are useful," Duan Changzai shook his head, remarking.

Lu Zheng looked around; though it was mostly true, he still bought a few storybooks not found in Tonglin County as gifts for Liu Qingyan.

...

Continuing their exploration, Lu Zheng bought some snacks, preserved fruits, and bamboo and wood toys, finally stopping at a musical instrument shop.

"Younger Brother Lu, can you play the zither?" Duan Changzai asked, quite surprised.

"Just a little," Lu Zheng responded with a slight smile and entered the shop.

Duan Changzai scratched his chin, marveling internally at Lu Zheng's versatility. Not only proficient in Daoist and martial arts but also adept in music?

At such a young age, he seemed to know a bit of everything. Could he perhaps be the reincarnated divine soul of a great power, honing his skills anew?

"Are you looking for a zither, sir?"

Seeing Lu Zheng dressed elegantly, with a scholarly demeanor and accompanied by a robust man, suggesting he was someone of prominence, the shopkeeper hastily approached to personally attend to him.

"Do you have any good zithers?" Lu Zheng inquired.

"Yes, yes, yes. Please take a look!" The shopkeeper led Lu Zheng to one side of the store, where a dozen or so seven-stringed zithers of various designs were displayed on wooden racks.

"Our shop specializes in seven-stringed zithers, all handcrafted by master artisans with decades of experience. This Phoenix Tail Zither, made from the Phoenix Perch Wood of Yaozhou Phoenix Mountain, produces a majestic sound. This Falling Leaves Zither fashioned from the Hundred Feet Pine of Yangzhou, offers a distant melody, and there's also this one..."

The shopkeeper launched into an eloquent presentation, introducing six or seven zithers in succession, leaving Lu Zheng somewhat overwhelmed and impressed.

However...

"Wouldn't playing them be the real test? May I try?" Lu Zheng asked.

"Of course!" The shopkeeper, noticing Lu Zheng's attention drawn to the Phoenix Tail Zither, carefully took it from the rack and placed it on a low table designated for trying the instrument, "Please go ahead!"