Chapter 47 Huang Yu

"Young master, are you buying books or reading?"

Entering the bookshop, a young girl greeted him.

She looked about seventeen or eighteen, with a pure face and quite attractive features. Though slightly inferior to Teacher Shen Biru, she was definitely a beauty among hundreds.

"Do you have... martial artist sixth-level cultivation techniques here?"

Zhang Xuan stated his purpose.

"Martial artist sixth-level techniques? Young master must be joking. Such techniques are each worth a fortune; how could our small business afford to sell them... If you're looking for basic cultivation manuals, we have a few..." The girl shook her head.

Her bookshop mostly stocked humanities, geography, and biographies of famous people. Techniques were secrets of cultivators; how could they be casually browsed or bought?

"Then... do you know where they are sold?" Seeing that there were indeed none, Zhang Xuan sighed and looked at her with hope.

"Sold?" The girl shook her head. "Techniques of that level cannot be sold by anyone. There aren't any in the entire Tianxuan Royal City. However... some powerful families collect many. If you have good relations, you can go and take a look!"

"Take a look? Even just looking would be fine!" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

With the Library of Heaven's Path, he didn't need to buy; if such books existed, a casual flip would automatically generate them.

"Do you know of any senior who has such books and allows others to view them?" he couldn't help asking.

"Allow others to view?" The girl frowned, about to shake her head, when she suddenly remembered something. A sly glint flashed in her eyes, and she laughed. "I do know one, but he's famously eccentric! If he's in a good mood, you could take all his books and he wouldn't care. If he's in a bad mood, he won't even let you through the door, let alone read..."

"There's such a person?" Zhang Xuan's brows furrowed, then he said, "Could I trouble you to point me to where I can find this senior?"

"It's not busy here anyway. I'll take you there myself!" The girl smiled.

"Thank you for your trouble!"

Unexpectedly, the girl was so attentive as to personally take him. He nodded gratefully.

The girl led the way, and they walked out together.

Through conversation, Zhang Xuan learned that the girl's name was Huang Yu, and she owned this bookshop. Judging by its appearance, it hadn't been open long—at most a few dozen days.

"Does this person you mentioned have many books?" After walking a while, Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

"Of course! He's a renowned scholar throughout the kingdom, once the teacher of His Majesty Shen Zhui! Someone who can freely enter the royal library—do you think his collection could be lacking?" Huang Yu said with admiration.

"Teacher of His Majesty Shen Zhui? Former imperial tutor?" Zhang Xuan was astonished.

The king of Tianxuan Kingdom was named Shen Zhui. No one knew his exact strength, only that he was the strongest in the kingdom, unmatched by anyone!

To be a teacher to such a man required being carefully selected through layers of screening. Even the dean of their Hongtian Academy might not qualify!

"He was his calligraphy and painting teacher, not a cultivation teacher. Even so, he's very accomplished and deeply respected by His Majesty!" At this point, Huang Yu's expression turned serious as she instructed, "This old gentleman, Lu Chen, is always refined and particular about rules. He hates it when juniors talk nonsense. When we get there, you'd better not speak casually, or you won't have a chance to borrow books from him!"

"Mm!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Also, I have other matters. When it comes to borrowing books, you'll have to handle it yourself. Don't mess things up for me!" Huang Yu rolled her beautiful eyes and added.

"Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you!" Understanding her meaning, Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

He was already grateful that she had brought him here. Whether he could borrow the books depended on his own ability; if not, so be it.

After all, he was a teacher—how could he let a young girl be embarrassed?

"The old gentleman prefers obedient juniors. Whatever he says, just nod and agree. You know, as a great scholar, he's quite conservative, and his thoughts might be out of sync with young people. Don't mind it!" Huang Yu instructed again.

The two walked on, soon leaving the market district, winding through a dizzying series of alleys until they arrived before a residence.

"This is where Old Gentleman Lu Chen lives!" Huang Yu pointed ahead.

Zhang Xuan looked up. The residence before him was not as luxurious or spacious as he had imagined. It was an ordinary gate, without even a plaque. If the girl hadn't led him here, he would have thought it was a slum.

This was... where the imperial tutor lived?

It was hard to believe.

"Old Gentleman Lu Chen has been frugal all his life. His Majesty Shen Zhui has several times offered to rebuild his residence, but he sternly refused!" Seeing his confusion, Huang Yu explained.

Zhang Xuan nodded, filled with respect.

With such a high status, yet able to maintain integrity, neither extravagant nor pretentious—this old gentleman was indeed a man of character.

Clatter, clatter, clatter!

Just as he was about to knock and enter, a carriage came galloping, the sound of hooves echoing clearly in the alley.

Creak!

The carriage stopped beside them, and a young man lifted the curtain and stepped out.

He was a youth of seventeen or eighteen, dressed in white robes, with a slender build and a face like jade. He clearly looked like a wealthy公子, exuding an air of superiority.

"Xiao Yu? You're here too!"

Seeing Huang Yu, the white-robed youth's eyes lit up, and he immediately put on a fawning expression.

"My name is Huang Yu. Don't call me that—it's too mushy. We're not that close!" Huang Yu curled her lip in disdain.

"Given our families' relationship, calling you Xiao Yu is nothing. Besides, didn't I always call you that when we were kids? What, are you here to visit Old Gentleman Lu Chen today too?" The white-robed youth chuckled lightly, flicked his sleeves, and made a gesture of confidence. "Heh, don't even think about that thing—it's definitely mine!"

"It's not decided yet! I'm afraid you'll be the one crying!" Huang Yu stood her ground.

"Then we'll wait and see!"

The white-robed youth smiled lightly, then noticed Zhang Xuan and frowned. "Who is this? Xiao Yu, how could you bring an outsider here..."

"Who I bring is none of your damn business!"

Huang Yu curled her lip, showing no respect for him.

"Hmph, kid, whoever you are, I advise you to stay away from Xiao Yu. She's not someone a nobody like you can covet!" The white-robed youth looked at Zhang Xuan, eyes narrowing coldly.

"..."

Unexpectedly threatened even when borrowing books, Zhang Xuan was utterly helpless.

In the words of his previous life, this was really a pain in the ass!

This Huang Yu had simply brought him here—what was the big deal? Was it necessary?

Feeling annoyed at being threatened, he stretched lazily and waved his hand. "You sure meddle a lot. Sorry, but don't bother yourself!"

"Very well. I hope you don't regret those words!"

Unexpected that a kid he'd never seen would dare speak to him like that, the white-robed youth raised an eyebrow, eyes narrowing. He ignored them both, strode to the gate, and raised his hand to knock.

"Why are you so reckless..."

As the other knocked, Zhang Xuan heard Huang Yu's slightly anxious voice transmitted to him.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Xuan looked at her in confusion.

"Do you know who he is, to dare speak to him like that?" Seeing his utterly oblivious expression, Huang Yu was a bit exasperated.

She really wondered if this guy had thick skin or a problem with his brain.

"Who cares who he is..." Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

What did it matter to him who he was?

"You..." Seeing the youth's demeanor, Huang Yu wondered if she had brought along an idiot. But seeing that he truly didn't care about the other's identity, she had no choice but to introduce him helplessly. "He is the only son of the Prince of Zhennan, Bai Xun!"

The Prince of Zhennan was known as the most powerful minister in Tianxuan Kingdom, second only to His Majesty Shen Zhui. Offending his only son was almost equivalent to making it impossible to move freely throughout the entire Tianxuan Kingdom.

She had thought that revealing his identity would make this guy panic and ask her how to resolve it, but she found Zhang Xuan looking at her woodenly, with a puzzled expression: "The Prince of Zhennan... who is that?"