Chapter 587: Book Characters and Events

However, Ji Yuan quickly understood what was happening. Grand Eunuch Li Jingchun probably didn't carry copper coins, or even much small silver, as he wouldn't need to spend much after a long time in the palace. Even if he occasionally spent money, it would be on luxurious items that required large sums, which the teahouse was certainly unable to break down into smaller change.

"Alas, with an emperor and a grand eunuch right here, I, Ji, can't even get a cup of tea."

Helpless, Ji Yuan took out his money pouch from his sleeve and handed the shopkeeper two 'Dang Wu Tong Bao' coins and two one-wen coins.

"Shopkeeper, here are twelve wen."

Yang Hao quickly interjected.

"Sir, rest assured, I, uh, I will certainly treat you to every kind of delicacy imaginable!"

"Exactly, exactly, rest assured, sir."

As Yang Hao and Li Jingchun made their promises to Ji Yuan, the shopkeeper, who had been jovial moments before when accepting the payment, spoke up again.

"Um... honored guest, these copper coins..."

The teahouse owner took the copper coins, frowned, and picked up the larger, heavier ones for a closer look.

"These... are Yuande Tongbao?"

In Da Zhen, "Dang Wu Tong Bao" broadly referred to copper coins equivalent to five smaller coins, requiring them to match in both denomination and weight. Each imperial generation would change the coin molds; Ji Yuan's earliest coins were "Hongyuan Tongbao," while "Yuande Tongbao" were minted during the previous emperor's reign. Although "Hongwu Tongbao" were currently in circulation, all types remained valid.

"Are the three of you from out of town? These copper coins are of good quality and full weight, but they aren't from our dynasty. I'm just a small business owner, and I'd incur a loss if I had to exchange them. How about you give me two more wen, honored guest?"

Ji Yuan said nothing, simply retrieved two more wen from his money pouch and handed them to the shopkeeper.

"Here you go. And you two, it's time we left."

"Thank you for your understanding, honored guest!" "Understood!"

Ji Yuan nodded to the teahouse owner, then rose with Yang Hao and Li Jingchun. They walked around the tables and left the teahouse. A few steps away, Ji Yuan glanced back towards the teahouse, where the shopkeeper appeared to be weighing the copper coins with a silver scale, causing Ji Yuan to frown slightly.

Grand Eunuch Li Jingchun, believing he had divined Ji Yuan's thoughts, whispered beside him.

"Sir, even if the copper coins are of sufficient weight, privately minting currency carries a significant penalty. Ordinary people often exchange them, which usually involves a small discount."

"Hmm, that's not what I was thinking. Alright, you two, follow me. Let's find a secluded spot first."

Ji Yuan dismissed his thoughts and quickened his pace, leading Yang Hao and Li Jingchun. This town seemed to have some scale, but its streets and houses were untidy, with many old buildings and few new ones. Overall, it lacked planning, leading to a disorganized sprawl of structures. Aside from the main thoroughfares, there were hardly any paved roads elsewhere.

The three walked through the town for a while, quickly avoiding the crowds, until they reached a very secluded corner. When Ji Yuan stopped, Yang Hao and Li Jingchun naturally halted as well, waiting curiously for his next move.

Ji Yuan appraised both Yang Hao and Li Jingchun, then spoke to the former.

"Third Young Master, it seems it's been a long time since you've traveled incognito. At your age and with your current appearance, being called 'young master' isn't quite fitting, nor is it suitable for touring this area. I shall employ a small art."

With that, Ji Yuan extended his sword-finger and pointed it at Yang Hao from a distance. Yang Hao felt a slight warmth on his forehead, followed by a warm current that struck his Purple Mansion and instantly circulated throughout his body, causing his muscles and bones to tingle intensely.

Li Jingchun, standing nearby, watched the scene with his mouth slightly agape, even forgetting to mind his respectful address.

"Your Majesty..."

Yang Hao's slightly hunched body straightened, his once graying hair turned completely black, his bones grew sturdy, his body became robust, and the age spots and wrinkles on his face receded. In less than two breaths, the Yang Hao before them had regained his youthful appearance.

Yang Hao himself hadn't fully processed the change before it was complete. He saw Li Jingchun's dumbfounded expression, felt a surge of energy throughout his body, and looked down at his hands, clearly seeing they were young. His temples, too, were unmistakably black.

"Li Jingchun, quickly tell me, what do I look like now?"

Li Jingchun snapped back to reality, his shocked expression unwavering as he replied.

"Third Young Master, you look no older than your twenties now—no, this is exactly how you looked in your twenties! Sir's immortal magic is truly unfathomable and miraculous!"

Ji Yuan, too, was pleased with Yang Hao's current appearance, nodding and smiling.

"Indeed. I, Ji, have never seen Third Young Master look so young. When I first met you, you must have been nearly forty, correct?"

Ji Yuan had once been fascinated by studying the art of transformation. However, perhaps the transformation method he acquired from the old dragon was "anti-human," or perhaps Ji Yuan simply lacked talent in this area. His most successful attempt was transforming into Daoist Qingsong, but even then, he subtly employed illusionary techniques. Given Ji Yuan's unique nature, he could deceive strangers but not necessarily acquaintances, a fact that clearly displeased him. Unfortunately, there had been no further progress since, as his energy had been diverted by other matters.

Ji Yuan, however, had never truly given up on the art of transformation. Yet, while many such methods existed, few genuinely impressed him; most, in his eyes, were little more than simple illusions. The most miraculous, surprisingly, was the "Painted Skin" technique Tu Siyan had demonstrated years ago.

But now, Ji Yuan suddenly had an epiphany. Combining the art of dream travel with the principles of cosmic generation, within this manifested world, Ji Yuan semi-realistically performed the transformation art he had envisioned. Crucially, it wasn't for himself, but for others, and it succeeded instantly. Unlike mere sensory deception, Yang Hao could, to a significant extent, be considered to have briefly regained his youth, though this youthful state relied on Ji Yuan's magical power for its maintenance.

Thus, Ji Yuan wasn't as composed as Yang Hao and Li Jingchun perceived. After transforming Yang Hao, he turned his attention to Li Jingchun.

"Eunuch Li, you should also undergo a suitable change."

With that, Ji Yuan pointed at Li Jingchun. Immediately, the latter's hair turned black and his age reversed, though not as dramatically as Yang Hao's, only bringing him back to around forty years old.

"Hahahahaha... Li Jingchun, you're young again, you're young again!"

Yang Hao clapped Li Jingchun's shoulder, appearing even more excited than Li Jingchun himself. The latter, too, was overcome with joy; when he attempted to circulate his internal energy, he found it moved even more smoothly. He estimated that his current self could defeat his original self by perhaps two-tenths.

Then, Li Jingchun subtly turned to the side and, from a discreet angle, reached down to his crotch, instantly revealing a look of disappointment.

Ji Yuan observed this but said nothing. While he had indeed comprehended this art, his mastery was still nascent. It had its strengths, but naturally, also its limitations. Regrowing a severed limb was impossible, and what purpose would conjuring an illusionary one serve?

"Heh heh, calling you Third Young Master is far more appropriate now. Let's go, we'll find a cloth shop to get you two a change of attire."

Ji Yuan turned and walked away first. The excited Yang Hao and Li Jingchun quickly followed, with Yang Hao seemingly having regained a youthful mindset, too, skipping and hopping as he walked. He only regained his composure after they had covered some distance and could be seen by others.

About fifteen minutes later, Ji Yuan and the others bought several sets of clothes from a sizable fabric store in town. When they emerged, Ji Yuan was unchanged, but Yang Hao had shed his luxurious robes for a scholar's attire, and Li Jingchun was dressed much more simply.

The mindsets of both the master and servant had undergone a significant shift in a short time. Even Ji Yuan could feel their renewed vigor, yet their accumulated experience and composure remained. Knowing what they would be returning to do next, they followed Ji Yuan, observing this world within the book with a leisurely, strolling gait.

"Mr. Ji, it's getting dark!"

Yang Hao watched the pedestrian traffic on the town streets gradually thin out and the sky begin to darken. With a touch of excitement, he whispered a reminder, and Ji Yuan nodded to him.

"Hmm, the timing is perfect. We should head to Hedian Inn."

As darkness fell, the wind picked up, stirring dust on the road. Yang Hao occasionally had to raise a sleeve to shield his face. With fewer people on the streets, the town took on a faint sense of desolation in the dim light of the setting sun.

Hedian Inn was situated on the outskirts of the town, a dilapidated yet remarkably cheap establishment. By the time Ji Yuan and the others arrived, it was already quite dim outside; compared to the inn's faint yellow lamplight, it was practically night outside.

Ji Yuan and the others stood outside the inn, by the street, with no intention of checking in. They appeared to be waiting for something.

"Here he comes!"

Yang Hao instinctively whispered. In his line of sight, a scholar carrying a book-box was hurrying towards them. Upon seeing Hedian Inn, the scholar's face immediately lit up with joy, and he quickly rushed inside.

"Welcome inside, honored guest, just yourself?"

The inn attendant at the door enthusiastically ushered the scholar inside.

"Yes, yes, just me. Are there any vacant rooms?"

The scholar walked, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve. The innkeeper, who had clearly overheard his question, chuckled and said.

"Yes, of course there are. We still have a few superior rooms available."

"Excellent, excellent. How much for one night?"

"Well, our inn might look old, but it's clean and comfortable. A superior room is thirty-five wen per day."

The scholar, in the midst of wiping sweat, immediately froze at these words.

"Thi-thirty-five wen? For *this* inn?"

The scholar had seen the inn from the outside upon his arrival; it was quite dilapidated. How could a room in such an inn be so expensive?

The innkeeper's smile faded upon hearing this.

"Honored guest, look at what you're saying. This is our best superior room. Of course, there are cheaper, lesser rooms, the cheapest being only fifteen wen per night, but those have long been occupied."

"Uh, innkeeper, could you make an exception? How about this, for five wen, I'll make do with the woodshed for a night?"

The scholar knew he had misspoken and tried to negotiate with the innkeeper, forcing a smile. The inn attendant, having already realized this was not a wealthy customer, had long since left to attend to other tasks, not bothering to serve him further.

"Five wen? The woodshed?"

The innkeeper scrutinized the scholar, then, after two "tsk-tsk" sounds, said.

"Give me ten wen, and you can sleep in the woodshed tonight. I'll even lend you a quilt. No haggling!"

"Alright, alright, alright. Many thanks for your leniency, innkeeper. Ten wen it is!"

The scholar breathed a slight sigh of relief. It would be cold at night, and having a place to sleep that offered shelter from the wind and elements, along with a quilt, was already quite good.

But when the scholar reached into his bosom, after fumbling a few times, his expression suddenly froze. Sweat broke out on his forehead, and his back felt hot.

'Where's the money? Where's my money pouch? My money pouch?'

"What? No money, or do you want to haggle again?"

The innkeeper watched the scholar from behind the counter.

"Heh, I don't think you should stay here. While it's not dark yet, look, just keep walking north. There's an Old River God Temple; that place is free!"

The previously flustered scholar suddenly stopped moving and looked up at the innkeeper.

"Really?"

The innkeeper grinned.

"Of course it's true. It's just a bit far, and by the time you get there, it might already be dark."