Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

Zhou Feng leaned over to take a look and saw that the tablet was playing a video of the camellia bushes at Mantuo Manor. A girl in a light purple dress turned her head, her eyebrows were beautiful, and her eyes were cold. Who else could it be but Wang Yuyan?

Zhao Pan'er's hand brushed across the tablet screen, then touched her face, turned to look at Zhou Feng, and slightly parted her lips.

"Pan'er, do you feel like you're looking in a mirror?"

Zhou Feng sat down next to her, put his arm around Zhao Pan'er's slender waist, and smiled slightly.

The latter blinked a few times before snapping out of his daze.

"Your Majesty, this... how can the woman in this video look so much like me? Could it be that someone copied my face?"

Hearing Zhao Pan'er's words, Zhou Feng suppressed a laugh, pursed his lips, and pulled her closer to him: "Who can copy someone else's appearance? It's just that you and this Miss Wang Yuyan look similar, after all, you both belong to the same... um... facial template!"

After hesitating for a few seconds, Zhou Feng still didn't reveal Liu Tianxian's story.

If we're going to talk about Liu Tianxian, we'll have to explain the TV series to Zhao Pan'er again. And if we explain the TV series, we'll have to explain to her again that she's a character portrayed in the TV series...

Sometimes, not knowing the truth is a blessing.

"Pan'er, just think of it as meeting someone who looks like you. That person happens to be a key figure in the world we're going to, so you're incredibly important to our next mission!"

Her gaze swept over the face on the tablet, a face almost identical to her own, and Zhao Pan'er slowly exhaled, nodding to Zhou Feng: "Your Majesty, please tell me, what do you need me to do?"

Zhou Feng switched the tablet back to playback mode and pulled Zhao Pan'er to watch the first few episodes of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.

What they need to do next doesn't require watching the whole thing; they only need to see the part where Duan Yu enters Langhuan Paradise, kowtows to the jade statue, and discovers the Northern Darkness Divine Skill and the Lingbo Steps manual.

As for the Free and Unfettered Sect, Zhou Feng gave Zhao Pan'er a brief explanation based on the plot of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," and she understood.

After the story on the tablet finished playing, Zhao Pan'er pursed her lips and pondered for a while. She then asked Zhou Feng a few questions about the details, and she already had a draft in mind.

However, Duan Yu was indeed somewhat devalued in her heart.

A scholar who is obsessed with jade statues, prostrating himself before them and calling them "fairy sister," is unlikely to achieve great things!

The two discussed their next steps for the better part of an hour, going over every possible problem that might arise after their meeting. Zhou Feng also carefully explained the information about the Xiaoyao Sect to Zhao Pan'er before they turned off the lights and lay down.

When dawn broke, the alarm clock rang, and the two of them changed into Song Dynasty clothing.

Then they disappeared from the bed at the same time, passed through the double door, and returned to the town inn in the world of Tian Long Ba Bu.

As dawn broke, many people in the town were already busy at work, and roosters began to crow intermittently.

Zhou Feng pushed open his door, and Tie Jianguo and Bai Lang were already waiting in the corridor. Seeing him come out with Zhao Pan'er, they didn't ask any questions and just silently followed behind.

Zhao Pan'er changed into a simple white dress, her hair was simply tied up in a bun, and a silver hairpin was inserted. She looked like a fairy who had stepped out of a light-colored painting.

It must be said that Zhao Pan'er is indeed more suited to period costumes than modern casual wear.

Duan Yu was already waiting in the lobby of the inn, his eyes fixed on the entrance.

After all, Zhou Feng had said that their acting sect leader had a deep connection with that jade statue, and he also wanted to know the true identity of that fairy sister!

"I didn't expect Brother Duan to be up so early!"

Zhou Feng's voice came from behind. Duan Yu turned his head and looked over Zhou Feng, then his gaze stopped on Zhao Pan'er's face. He was frozen in place like a puppet.

The next second, Duan Yu's breathing became rapid, and his gaze swept across Zhao Pan'er's face, finally confirming that she looked exactly like the jade statue!

His lips trembled as he stood up from the chair: "God...Fairy Sister?"

Just as Duan Yu was about to kneel down, Zhou Feng quickly stepped forward to stop him and helped him up again.

It's rather inappropriate to perform such a grand ceremony in public.

Zhao Pan'er quickly raised her hand to deflect the question, her tone gentle: "Zhou Feng has already reported to me about Young Master Duan's matter. I am the acting head of the Xiaoyao Sect, and in recent years I have been investigating the location of Langhuan Blessed Land. I wonder if Young Master Duan could answer a few questions for me?"

Her voice was somewhat cold, completely different from when she was with Zhou Feng, but it brought Duan Yu back to his senses.

Even after returning to normal, Duan Yu still couldn't suppress the infatuation in his eyes when he saw Zhao Pan'er's face. He took several deep breaths before he could barely stand up.

"I am... I am Duan Yu, and I greet you, young lady."

Despite being the heir of the Dali Duan family, Duan Yu's body was trembling, and his voice was shaking.

Zhao Pan'er nodded slightly: "I've heard that Young Master Duan once visited the Langhuan Paradise of my Xiaoyao Sect. Have you seen that jade statue?"

"I...I have seen it!" Duan Yu nodded repeatedly, speaking much faster than usual: "I did see that jade statue in Langhuan Blessed Land."

He stole a glance at Zhao Pan'er's face, then quickly looked away: "The jade statue and the girl's face are... extremely... extremely similar, as if they were carved from the same mold."

Zhao Pan'er's lips curled up slightly, but she didn't respond to Duan Yu's words: "That jade statue was carved by a senior of my Xiaoyao Sect based on the appearance of an ancestor, so it has some connection with me. That's why I came here this time to make sure the blessed land is intact and to retrieve the secret manuals left behind."

She glanced around, and Tie Jianguo and Bai Lang nodded at her. The surrounding environment had already been scanned by the drone, and there were no suspicious people around.

"I wonder if Young Master Duan found any martial arts manuals of my Free and Unfettered Sect in that jade cave? There should be a scroll of the Northern Darkness Divine Art and a scroll of the Lingbo Steps among them."

Duan Yu nodded almost without hesitation: "I have indeed seen it. Now, I will take you there to find it."

With that, he got up and walked outside.

But when he reached the inn's entrance, he stopped again, glanced back at Zhao Pan'er, and couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes. Then he cleared his throat and calmed his voice: "Miss, please come with me."

The mountain path wound its way upwards, and the morning dew in the forest was quite heavy, the droplets wetting the hems of their robes, but no one seemed to care.

Those are the Lingbo Weibu and Beiming Divine Skill!

If Zhou Feng can get them, and then get the Eight Desolations and Six Directions Supreme Technique and the Lesser Formless Technique, he might be able to deduce the Free and Unfettered Wind-Riding Technique!

As for the claim that one must rejuvenate once every thirty years and lose all power after rejuvenation, is that even a real thing?

Thirty years from now, Zhou Feng might even have achieved immortality through the double-penetration technique!

Besides, even if he really lost all his powers of rejuvenation, he could just go to the courtyard world or go back to his original world to hide, wouldn't that solve the problem?

Duan Yu walked at the front, his pace almost twice as fast as usual, but every few steps he would turn back to look at Zhao Pan'er following behind him. Only when he was sure she was still in his sight would he turn back and continue forward.

Zhou Feng frowned as he looked at Duan Yu's sycophantic manner, his lips twitching slightly, but he didn't say anything.

In terms of the emotional value of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", it should be easy to collect it quickly.

After all, the characters in this work far exceed those in ordinary film and television dramas, and the emotional value it can create is relatively greater.

Furthermore, Zhou Feng doesn't even need to change much of the plot to reap a large amount of emotional value.

This drama itself encapsulates the eight sufferings and regrets of life.

Qiao Feng's love and separation, his resentment and reunion; Murong Fu's suffering from the five aggregates; Duan Yu's unfulfilled desires and undesirable gains; Xu Zhu's suffering in life and his inability to let go; Kumārajīva's suffering from illness and old age...

These are all Zhou Feng's chosen workers!

When they reached the hidden mountain wall, Duan Yu stopped, parted a clump of dense vines, and revealed the narrow crevice behind it.

He stepped aside and gestured to Zhao Pan'er, "Miss, this is it. The space inside isn't very big, so I'll go first. Please follow closely."

As he spoke, Duan Yu took the lead, and Zhou Feng and the others followed him through the crevice in the rock, and then walked through a damp passage before the view suddenly opened up ahead.

This blessed land of Langhuan is actually a naturally formed cave. There are several cracks in the cave ceiling that allow sunlight to leak through, which shines directly on the white jade statue in the center of the cave.

The statue, with its smooth, lustrous surface, gleamed softly in the sunlight. Its features were clearly defined, and a faint smile seemed to linger at the corners of its mouth.

Looking at the statue and then at Zhao Pan'er standing beside it, Zhou Feng couldn't help but nod.

Looking at it this way, the two do indeed have about 80-90% similarity!

Wu Yazi is quite something. He can sculpt statues that are so lifelike. Even if he loses all his martial arts skills, he can find a job and not starve with this skill.

Duan Yu stood in front of the jade statue, looked up at the face, then turned his head to look at Zhao Pan'er. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, as if he wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.

Zhao Pan'er didn't have so many thoughts. After her gaze swept over the face of the jade statue, she walked into the cave.

After exploring the cave, he returned to the jade statue and looked at Duan Yu: "Young Master Duan, do you know the secret manual within this cave..."

Duan Yu then came to his senses and quickly took out a cloth bag from his pocket, presented it to Zhao Pan'er with both hands, and was extremely respectful in both his posture and tone.

"Please take a look, young lady. These two manuals are the Northern Darkness Divine Art and the Lingbo Steps. I learned of them by chance and originally planned to return them to their rightful owner if I encountered anyone from the Free and Unfettered Sect. But since you have come in person, then... please keep them safe."

Zhou Feng glanced at Duan Yu with a smirk.

That damn simp!

I told you yesterday that I'm a member of the Free and Unfettered Sect, but I haven't seen you return the Northern Darkness Divine Art and the Lingbo Steps to their rightful owners!

Now that they're looking at Pan'er, they're saying those words quite nicely!

Zhao Pan'er reached out and took the cloth bag from Duan Yu, but her fingertips were very careful not to touch Duan Yu's palm.

She weighed the cloth bag in her hand, then opened a corner and glanced at the characters written in ancient seal script on the cover. After confirming that everything was correct, she nodded slightly, put the cloth bag away, and gave Duan Yu a polite smile.

"Thank you, Young Master Duan. This was originally something I sent. Now that I have been able to retrieve it, my trip has not been in vain. Young Master Duan is kind-hearted and will surely be blessed in the future."

Her words were very carefully chosen.

Normally, when someone helps you, they say that you will be richly rewarded in the future.

But Zhao Pan'er directly told Duan Yu that he would surely be blessed in the future, and she didn't even intend to accept Duan Yu's favor.

But the latter seemed not to understand at all, just staring blankly at the expression Zhao Pan'er showed, her whole body swaying slightly like a puppet.

It took him a few seconds to realize what he meant, and he quickly waved his hand, saying, "You're too kind, young lady. It was just a small favor, I don't deserve such praise!"

Seeing her incoherent speech, Zhou Feng immediately looked away.

No wonder Dali didn't develop much after that. With this guy's meager abilities, how will he ever break up with Wang Yuyan?

Seeing Duan Yu floating on air as if he were walking on clouds because of his conversation with Zhao Pan'er, Zhou Feng stepped forward and patted Duan Yu on the shoulder with a hint of annoyance: "Thank you for guiding me today, Brother Duan. May I ask if you could leave an address? My Xiaoyao Sect is quite wealthy, and we will surely repay you handsomely in the future."

"No need, no need! It is my honor to be able to provide some assistance to the gods and the Free and Unfettered Sect! How could I dare to talk about compensation so lightly?"

Upon hearing Zhou Feng's words, Duan Yu seemed to react instinctively, quickly waving his hands.

Although he seemed to be talking to Zhou Feng, his eyes were always fixed on Zhao Pan'er, and even his hand and foot movements were a little unnatural, as if he was afraid that Zhao Pan'er would misunderstand.

"Brother Duan...Brother Duan!"

Zhou Feng stood right next to Duan Yu, but the other man seemed to automatically filter out his voice, only wearing a silly grin on his face, staring blankly at Zhao Pan'er.

Zhou Feng shouted loudly in his ear, and he finally snapped out of his daze: "Huh? Huh? Brother Zhou, is something the matter?"

"We still have some private matters to attend to within our sect. The journey through the martial world is long, so we'll take our leave here! If any disciples of my Free and Unfettered Sect encounter Brother Duan in the future, please feel free to give us your orders; we will never refuse."

Zhou Feng emphasized the words "private matter" in his words, making it very clear that he wanted to get rid of them.

Duan Yu opened his mouth as if to say something, but after glancing at Zhao Pan'er's indifferent smile and then at Zhou Feng standing beside him, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and could only cup his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Then... I'll take my leave. If the Free and Unfettered Sect ever needs anything in the future, please send a message to the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion in Dali. I, Duan, will be happy to oblige!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Zhao Pan'er again, and when he noticed that her gaze was fixed on the jade statue in the cave, he sighed softly and turned to walk towards the cave entrance.

The white wolf followed silently, and only returned after a while, confirming that Duan Yu had already gone down the mountain.

Zhou Feng took the cloth bag from Zhao Pan'er's hand, a smile spreading across his face. He opened the first scroll, which contained the Northern Darkness Divine Art.

But the next second, his expression turned bitter.

Damn, I don't understand this, how am I supposed to practice?