The sunlight streamed through the window; Lu Zheng groggily opened his eyes and used his hand to shield the sunlight that came in because he forgot to draw the curtains last night. He casually tugged at the quilt over him and, after a moment, his brain started to function.
With a jolt, he focused his mind instantly and "saw" the jade seal floating in a void of chaotic space within his mind.
The jade seal seemed to be the size of a fist, with a blue-white color, its base flat and wordless. It floated uncertainly in the conscious space, emitting a faint glow.
"It’s still here! Thank goodness, it’s not a dream!" Lu Zheng murmured to himself.
He had already confirmed this eighteen times upon waking up this month.
It was just too astonishing.
Because this thing was actually connected to an ancient world, allowing him to travel back and forth at will.
Anytime, unconditionally, with his physical body traveling, bringing along whatever he could carry!
Lu Zheng paused, turned over and got out of bed, pulling over a white cloth undergarment beside him.
Just as he was about to put it on, he realized he was in the modern world, so he grabbed a short sleeve shirt and put it on, then he proceeded to make the bed.
Meanwhile, he organized and stored away the clothes he wore in the ancient world—dark blue cotton robe, hat, thin-soled fast boots, and the wig he bought online—setting them aside.
After freshening up, Lu Zheng picked up his phone, checked the arrival info of his delivery, nodded satisfactorily, and then cheerfully headed out.
Breakfast, collecting parcels, the whole trip took less than an hour. Lu Zheng returned to his rental apartment eagerly, ready to open the parcels.
A set of four silk bedding items.
A set of zisha tea utensils.
A set of Jingdezhen ceramic underglaze tableware.
"Hmm, the kitchen knives and seasonings have already been delivered, with these dishes, everything’s set."
Considering he had already sent toiletries over, Lu Zheng felt he had mostly furnished his home in the ancient world adequately.
This meant that even if he stayed over in the ancient world for twenty-four hours, he wouldn’t feel inconvenienced; after all, he had prepared five big bags of toilet paper there.
"The bedding is complete, now all I need is a bed-warming maid, and I can live like a contented rich landlord."
Lu Zheng once again changed into those clothes in the bedroom, cradled the new parcels in his arms, then communicated with the jade seal in his mind, and in a thought, he disappeared from this world instantly.
In the blink of an eye, the world changed.
Gray bricks and white walls, the sunlight outside faintly illuminated Lu Zheng’s bedroom in this world through the paper-covered windows.
A brand-new canopy bed was placed in the innermost space, beside it a clothes rack and wardrobe, several large wooden boxes were stacked against the wall, and a set of tables and chairs were placed against the wall, with a lone oil lamp atop the table.
The furniture was prime tong wood, intricately carved and waxed, crafted by the best carpenter from the county town over two months.
Setting the items down, Lu Zheng replaced the thin cotton quilt on the bed with the silk set, took out the bowls and tea set, placed them in the wicker basket he had prepared earlier, and once again crossed worlds to return the packaging boxes to the modern world, then, holding the wooden box, he walked out of his bedroom.
"Here, sir, you’re up!" An old man in coarse fabric shorts came jogging from the front yard.
"Hmm, take these to the kitchen."
Uncle Li took the wicker basket from Lu Zheng’s hands, glanced at the exquisite dishes inside, with a flash of amazement in his eyes, yet without questioning, he proceeded to the front yard with the basket.
Lu Zheng stretched lazily, gazing through the mottled sunlight at the backyard before him.
The yard planted with two persimmon trees, a stone table and stools beneath them, with a wing room on one side and a study on the other.
The small courtyard was serene and quiet; this was his new home in this world.
Lu Zheng, a new century model young man, had just graduated, and the company he had an agreement with suddenly laid off staff, so he graduated unemployed, searching for a job in this coastal top-tier city.
Eighteen days ago, he casually wandered into the City God Temple, seeing a stall selling various jade seals, Lu Zheng recalled that his dad had a hobby of writing, so he thought of buying a seal, planning to gift it to his dad upon returning home for the New Year.
Then, the seal somehow ended up inside his head that very night.
Yes, no blood recognition required; the seal just moved in on its own, so unreasonably.
A diligent reader of online novels, Lu Zheng instantly knew that his "cheat skill" had arrived.
Although curious as to why he, not growing up in the orphanage in Qidian nor having strong obsessions or grievances, had a cheat come knocking.
And initially, Lu Zheng was unfamiliar with the jade seal’s functions and usage, which resulted in an accidental travel to the Otherworld, startling him.
However, he was not killed right away, and soon mastering the usage of the jade seal, he quickly let go of that doubt, enthusiastically exploring the Otherworld.
Then he returned half an hour later...
Because upon seeing the people of the Otherworld, observing from a distance, he realized his attire was completely out of place here.
Once calm, Lu Zheng first cautiously observed from afar, then returned to the modern world, purchased a set of clothes from the ancient era, a stab-proof vest, and a self-defense stun baton for safety assurance, before returning to the Otherworld to continue exploring.
Having initially traveled near Tonglin County’s outskirts, he quickly encountered merchants and civilians on the official road, giving him insights into the people of this world.
Discovering the people here looked the same as him made Lu Zheng’s disguise perfect. He naturally mingled with the populace, effortlessly entering Tonglin County.
Following this, he spent two days learning the basic situation of this world.
Though the language, writing, ethnic culture was nearly identical to ancient Huaxia, resembling the Song and Ming eras, this was an entirely unfamiliar world to Lu Zheng.
Unknown geography, unknown history, unknown dynasty.
After learning the Great Jing Dynasty had been established for hundreds of years, with good weather and prosperous times, Lu Zheng was delighted, feeling he had discovered a treasure.
"This cheat is just wonderful! Giving me such a peaceful and harmonious world!"
After gaining a general understanding of Great Jing Dynasty’s customs, security, prices, etc., and confirming the presence of general safety and basic order, Lu Zheng returned to the modern world and purchased a pair of glass lion ornaments.
Next came a cliched soap-opera plot seen countless times.
Downfallen family, ashamed to face friends, thus traveling afar to start anew.
Yet people of the Great Jing Dynasty quite fell for this trope, so Lu Zheng used the "last heirloom" family treasure to dead-pawn for five hundred coins at the largest pawnshop in town, then immediately registered his household at the County Government Office, and purchased a three-entry courtyard in the city.
Uncle Li and Aunt Liu were the servants attached to this property purchase; their selling contracts handed over along with the property deed to Lu Zheng.
Uncle Li served as the gatekeeper and sweeper, Aunt Liu handled cooking and washing.
Over the following days, Lu Zheng focused on setting up his new home in Tonglin County.
Some furniture, clothing, household items, etc., were purchased in this world, while Lu Zheng brought over modern items significantly luxurious and intricate yet not overly advanced for this world.
Such as spices, ceramic tableware, zisha tea sets.
And of course, toilet paper! The paper in this world was far too rough!
To prevent Uncle Li and Aunt Liu from getting suspicious, Lu Zheng stacked several large boxes in the bedroom, strictly forbidding them from entering.
As for the new things, any inquiry would be answered as his inheritance from his old home, being organized and taken out piece by piece.
Thus, eighteen days passed.
Honestly, until now, Lu Zheng hadn’t planned out what to do in this world, with an initial idea to obtain a status, acquire assets, and act as a low-key trader between worlds without arousing suspicion, becoming a small tycoon in both worlds.
Not showing off, not taking risks, safely living as a worry-free rich landlord with all kinds of comforts.
At least the dreaded 996 won’t take its toll anymore, right?