No Male Guests in the Drifting Petal Palace

In his dream, Zhong Wen encountered a young girl in distress, who had fallen into the water. He impulsively leaped into the lake, determined to play the hero. However, the girl, in her panic and inability to swim, frantically struggled in the water, and inadvertently stroke Zhong Wen's nose with her elbow. This blow left him dizzy and disoriented. His swimming abilities, which were already mediocre, escaped his memory entirely.

At the moment when he sank into the lake's depths, he held a single thought in his mind: Women can be truly fearsome!

Subsequently, he experienced suffocation, cold, and an endless darkness. Just as he was on the brink of freezing into oblivion, he faintly felt a warm current entering his body. It coursed through him, dispelling the bone-chilling cold that had gripped him. In no time, he felt warm and comfortable, akin to the embrace of his mother during his childhood.

Relaxing into unconsciousness once more, Zhong Wen drifted through an indeterminate period before finally opening his eyes.

What an exceptionally long dream it was! Zhong Wen thought, his head throbbing as he contemplated the surreal scenario he had dreamt. Thankfully, it was not real. Otherwise, the tale of his heroic attempt to save a damsel in distress, only to be elbowed into a watery grave by the maiden, would surely become the subject of laughter even in the underworld. He couldn’t help but imagined the expressions of the goblin guards at the gates of the afterlife upon hearing his story.

"You're awake!" A soft and tender voice reached his ears, soothing and pleasant.

Zhong Wen turned his head and found himself gazing at a young girl, exquisite and charming, appearing to be around eight or nine years of age. She had long, jet-black hair cascading down to her shoulders and was dressed in attire reminiscent of historical dramas on television, albeit with a unique touch.

Seeing Zhong Wen regain consciousness, the young girl seemed delighted, and her face blossomed into a sweet smile that melted his heart.

"Hello, little sister, who are you?" Zhong Wen carefully ransacked his memory, certain that he did not recognize the young girl in front of him. After all, a charming little girl like her would be unforgettable once seen.

"I'm Lin Xiaodie. You can call me Xiaodie. What's your name?"

"Hello Xiaodie, my name is Zhong Wen." Faced with the charming little girl, Zhong Wen had no sense of wariness; instead, he tried to muster a gentle smile.

As for why his smile was forced, it was simply due to the intense headache plaguing his mind, making him feel as though his head was on the verge of splitting open. He reached to touch his forehead, feeling relief that it wasn’t burning hot. Zhong Wen composed himself and surveyed the surroundings.

It was clear that this was not a hospital.

The room's decor exuded a distinct aura of historical drama, with wooden furnishings, a low table, and writing desks. A unique fragrance wafted from an incense burner on the desk, its aroma both refreshing and invigorating. A landscape painting adorned the wall, resembling traditional Chinese landscape art but with an added touch of realism at the expense of some artistic abstraction.

The only peculiar aspect was the lighting fixture hanging from the ceiling. It wasn't a modern LED light or an ancient candle but rather a suspended porcelain basin, containing a palm-sized glowing stone that illuminated the room brightly.

"How do you feel? Are you in pain anywhere?" Lin Xiaodie blinked her eyes, her tone tinged with concern.

Zhong Wen couldn't help but thought to himself, "If only I had such an adorable daughter in the future."

As he considered this, he sat up, gently stretched his neck, twisted his waist, and extended his limbs. Besides the persistent headache, the rest of his body seemed to be functioning normally.

"I'm okay," Zhong Wen replied in a gentle tone. "By the way, Xiaodie, where are we? How did I end up here?"

"This is the 'Drifting Petal Palace,' and I found you on the mountainside. I thought you were dying. Sister Apprentice and I carried you back here, and Master used his techniques and saved you," Lin Xiaodie explained, her tone somewhat triumphant.

"Drifting Petal Palace? Master? Sister Apprentice? Healing techniques?" Zhong Wen's mind struggled to grasp these unfamiliar terms.

"What kind of martial arts drama is this? Am I still not fully awake? Or have I traveled back to ancient times?" Zhong Wen's mind grew increasingly muddled. He felt a splitting headache and clutched his head, blurting out a question that even he found absurd, "What dynasty is it now?"

"Dynasty? What do you mean by dynasty? Oh, you're asking about the era. It's the year 296 in Xingling..." At this point, Zhong Wen, in his confused state, could barely make out Lin Xiaodie's words. Her voice seemed to drift in and out of his perception, now distant, now near.

"Ah!" Finally, the pain reached its peak, and Zhong Wen let out a loud cry before passing out again.

"Zhong Wen! Zhong Wen!" Lin Xiaodie's anxious voice faintly echoed in his ears.

When Zhong Wen finally recollected his consciousness, it was daytime. The stone-like "lamp" in the room no longer glowed, and sunlight streamed in through the paper-covered windows. He could hear the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects.

The headache had subsided, and Zhong Wen felt relaxed. He sat up, stretching lazily. He noticed the adorable Lin Xiaodie sleeping soundly by his bedside, her cheeks puffed up in an adorable manner that made him tempted to reach out and pinch them.

Not wanting to disturb the sleeping little girl, Zhong Wen quietly slipped out of bed, tiptoed to the room's door, and gently pushed it open. Blinded momentarily by the bright sunlight, he blinked and saw a bookshelf in front of him.

It was an immense bookshelf, seven tiers high and seemingly endless in width. Below it, within a one-meter range, was a solid panel with four shiny gilt words inscribed upon it: Xinhua Library of Scriptures!

Zhong Wen's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but feel a strange premonition.

His eyes quickly adjusted to the sunlight, and as he looked outside, the room's door led to a vast courtyard surrounded by buildings with a distinct ancient style. The main gate of the courtyard stood wide open, revealing glimpses of green woods. Everything was shrouded in a thin layer of mist, lending the surroundings an ethereal aura.

Taking a deep breath, Zhong Wen felt the fresh air invigorate his senses, and he sensed a subtle energy coursing through it. It revitalized his spirit, clearing his mind.

"You're awake!" Lin Xiaodie's voice came from behind him.

"Xiaodie, were you with me all night?" Zhong Wen turned around and asked. Watching her excited expression, his mood was improved considerably.

"Yes, last night, you suddenly fainted, and Master wasn't home. It frightened me," Lin Xiaodie nodded and patted her chest, looking as if she'd just experienced a harrowing ordeal.

"Thankfully, Third Senior Sister gave you a 'Little Revitalization Pill.'"

"Thank you," Zhong Wen's heart warmed, and he couldn't resist patting the little girl's head.

Lin Xiaodie, like a contented kitten, squinted her eyes in enjoyment.

"Xiaodie, after waking up this time, my mind feels hazy, and besides knowing my name is Zhong Wen, I can't remember anything else," Zhong Wen fabricated, "Could you tell me about this place? Maybe it will help jog my memory."

"Of course! You're currently in the Southern Frontier Province of the Great Qian Empire. This place was originally an ancient relic discovered by our Grandmaster. He sensed its abundant spiritual energy and decided to settle here, establishing the 'Drifting Petal Palace.' The current sect leader is my Master..." Lin Xiaodie seemed to enjoy chatting with Zhong Wen, chattering away incessantly.

Zhong Wen interjected occasionally, guiding the conversation. In less than half an hour, he had pieced together most of the information. He could now confirm that he had indeed traveled to another time.

Traversing wasn't terrifying; what was truly horrifying was that he had finally remembered that the dream in which he had drowned was, in fact, real. It was the very girl he had attempted to rescue as a hero, only to be elbowed into the lake, that had provided him with the opportunity to traverse this new world.

Thinking about the way he had died in his previous life, Zhong Wen suddenly had an urge to die again. It was utterly embarrassing!

"Have you remembered anything?" Seeing Zhong Wen lost in thought, Lin Xiaodie thought he was trying to recall his memories.

"Well... it seems like I have some clues, but I’m not sure," Zhong Wen replied, continuing to deceive the young girl. "Is there any literature or books about the Great Qian Empire that could help me?"

"In the library, we have some manuals on martial techniques, spiritual skills, medical arts, and novels. But Mrs. Wang often brings our Master some old 'Great Qian Reports.' I'll get you some," Lin Xiaodie said before hurriedly leaving the room.

She's such a kind-hearted girl. Zhong Wen felt guilty about deceiving her, but he had no other choice. Based on their previous conversation, he deduced that he had arrived in a world that didn't correspond to any known historical dynasty. It had more of a martial arts and cultivation atmosphere, rendering his limited historical knowledge utterly useless.

He, who was powerless, needed to quickly acquire more information to survive in this new world. After all, in his previous life, his death had been too unjust...

Without a smartphone or Wi-Fi, Zhong Wen paced around the room in boredom. Unintentionally, he ended up in front of a mirror.

"Is this... me?"

Staring at the mirror, he was taken aback by the image of a handsome young man of around seventeen or eighteen. He couldn't resist touching his face, and the reflection in the mirror mimicked the action. In his previous life, whenever he was overwhelmed by work and exhaustion, he often wished he could go back to being eighteen. Now, he had fulfilled that wish through a rebirth after death.

Gazing at his handsome face in the mirror, Zhong Wen grew increasingly satisfied, feeling that he didn't fall short of those cute and handsome youth he had seen on TV in his previous life.

"Zhong Wen! Zhong Wen!" Lin Xiaodie burst into the room enthusiastically, waving a stack of "Great Qian Reports" in her hand.

The so-called "Great Qian Reports" were official newspapers of the empire, smaller than A3 paper and printed with text on both sides.

"Thank you, Xiaodie," Zhong Wen said, smiling as he took the newspaper.

Soon, his smile froze. Damn it! He couldn't understand the characters on it.

While others crossed over with a wealth of knowledge, he had become illiterate! In this world that valued martial strength, not only was he powerless, but he also couldn't read. Zhong Wen felt like crying.

"What's wrong? Is it that your body hasn't fully recovered? Do you want to lie down again?" Seeing Zhong Wen's terrible expression, Lin Xiaodie asked with concern.

"I... I seem to have forgotten how to read," Zhong Wen awkwardly blamed his "amnesia."

The sympathetic look in the young girl's eyes was heartbreaking. Her Master had once said that Zhong Wen had no spiritual power in his body and wasn't a practitioner. Now that he had forgotten how to read, she didn't know how he would survive in a world that revered strength.

"Maybe... I can teach you how to read?" The kind-hearted Lin Xiaodie hesitated. She was still young, and her education was sporadic, but she was willing to give it a try.

"In that case, I'll rely on Teacher Xiaodie," Zhong Wen hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to learn the world's script. Who knew if he could ever return to his original world?

Hearing the title "Teacher," the young girl's eyes lit up. She patted her fchest and declared in a loud voice, "It's a deal. From now on, you're my student. If you have any questions, feel free to come to me. I've got your back."

Watching Lin Xiaodie act like a little adult, which contrasted so cutely with her youthful appearance, Zhong Wen couldn't help but reach out and pat her head.

At that moment, footsteps could be heard approaching the door.

"You are awake?"

Zhong Wen turned around and saw a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl standing by the door. She was extraordinarily beautiful, with an icy-cold demeanor that gave off an ethereal aura. She wore a loose-fitting milk-white robe that couldn't hide her graceful figure.

In the internet-savvy society of his previous life, where filtered beauties were everywhere, natural beauty like this girl was almost extinct. Zhong Wen's eyes lit up.

"Sister!" Lin Xiaodie happily ran over and tugged at the girl's sleeve. She turned to introduce, "Zhong Wen, this is my Third Senior Sister, Yin Ning'er. She's the one who gave you the 'Little Revitalization Pill' when you passed out yesterday."

"I am Zhong Wen. Many thanks for the life-saving pill, miss," Zhong Wen observed Yin Ning'er, finding her more and more pleasing to the eye.

"You don't need to thank me. I only did it because Xiaodie pestered me. She’s the one whom you should be thankful for," Yin Ning'er didn't seem interested in making friends with Zhong Wen, her tone icy. "And besides, the Drifting Petal Palace doesn't welcome males’ staying. Once you've recovered, it's best to leave the mountain."

Ah, what a perfect cold beauty.

As Zhong Wen marveled at her, he considered how he could stay a little longer. It wasn't because he was infatuated with beautiful women, but in this unfamiliar environment where he knew no one, he lacked the confidence to venture out without gathering enough information.

"Sister, Zhong Wen is severely injured, and he has lost most of his memory. He can’t even recognize characters, and he's not a cultivator. If he goes down the mountain now, how will he survive?" Seeing that her hard-earned student was about to be sent away, the little girl fretted.

Traversing as a useless person who couldn't read or fight, Zhong Wen felt quite helpless.

"Xiaodie, the Drifting Petal Palace is for women only. It's not convenient to have an unrelated man staying on the mountain. It could easily lead to unnecessary gossip," Yin Ning'er furrowed her brow.

"But I promised to teach him how to read," the little girl continued to sway Yin Ning'er's sleeve. "How about we let him stay until he learns to read?"

"I don't call the shots around here; Master won't approve it," Yin Ning'er seemed to have a soft spot for the little girl, and her tone softened.

"I'll talk to Master when she returns. Master has a kind heart, and she won't let Zhong Wen starve to death," the little girl continued to plead.

"Fine, do as you wish," Yin Ning'er finally relented. "I don't care anymore. Let Master make the decision."

"Sister is the best!" The little girl jumped up excitedly and hugged Yin Ning'er's slender waist.

"Xiaodie..." Yin Ning'er's clear voice revealed a hint of helplessness. She turned to glance at Zhong Wen. "Mr. Zhong, you can temporarily stay here for a few days. When Master returns, she can make arrangements. Drifting Petal Palace is an all-female place, so please be careful with your words and actions to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

"Thank you, Miss Yin." Zhong Wen sighed with relief. "And thank you, Teacher Xiaodie."

"Oh, you're welcome, you're welcome. It's only natural for a teacher to take care of her students," the little girl was delighted. Being called "teacher" by someone several years older made her feel floaty.

"I'll take my leave now. Xiaodie, don't neglect your morning and evening lessons just because Master isn't here," Yin Ning'er gave a casual reminder before gracefully departing.

"I'll get your study materials," the little girl bounced out of the room.

Watching Lin Xiaodie's cheerful departure, Zhong Wen sighed. This little girl's favor was too heavy, and he didn't know if he could repay it in this lifetime.

He closed his eyes and began to examine the "Xinhua Scripture Repository" in his mind. Upon careful observation, he realized that the bookshelf was clearly labeled with categories in the vertical direction, such as "Martial Arts," "Spiritual Techniques," "Spirit Runes," "Spiritual Medicine," "Spiritual Tools," and more. Horizontally, it was divided into seven rows from bottom to top: "Bronze Grade," "Silver Grade," "Gold Grade," "Platinum Grade," "Diamond Grade," "Starry Spirit Grade," and "Holy Spirit Grade."

It seemed like some gaming prodigy had assigned these categories...

Looking at the horizontal labels on the bookshelf, Zhong Wen couldn't help but sweat. After searching through the entire bookshelf, he only found one "Xinhua Dictionary" in the "Tools" section, and in the "Other" category, there were four famous classical Chinese novels: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Water Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and a bunch of self-help books.

All other categories were empty.

Isn't this the same as the content from my family's bookshelf?

Zhong Wen focused on "Journey to the West," and the lines of text instantly appeared in his mind.

"The First Chapter: The Roots of Spiritual Power Originates and the Great Way of Cultivating the Mind.

The verse reads: Chaos reigns before heaven and earth, boundless and no one appears. Since Pangu separated the clear from the turbid, differentiation has begun..."

The original text flashed through Zhong Wen's mind rapidly. In an instant, he felt as though he had read the entire novel again, with each word and sentence still fresh in his memory.

However, after reading it, Zhong Wen waited for a while and nothing extraordinary happened.

Apart from being a pastime in moments of boredom, it seemed to be of no use.

Full of expectations, Zhong Wen, thinking he might acquire some invincible cheat codes, couldn't help but feel greatly disappointed.

"I'm back!" The little girl held two paperback books, her voice brimming with uncontainable excitement. "Let's start the class; please call me Teacher!"

"Students Zhong Wen greet his Teacher!" Zhong Wen couldn't help but smile as he looked at the adorable little girl.

How about... showing the people in this world the charm of Chinese culture?

With a twist of his eye, he thought of a way to use the "Xinhua Library."