16：Master, how can I repay you
After returning to the real world, Shen Hao finished his meal and casually brought back some porridge and an egg.
He also bought some fruits, such as bananas, and then returned to Yangguan Town.
Although the modern world lacks martial experts, the abundance of goods here was like paradise for people from ancient times.
He placed the food on the table and noticed that Song Yongci's face was flushed.
Seeing this, Shen Hao immediately understood what she meant.
"You don't want to use the bathroom?"
Song Yongci nodded, her entire face turning red with embarrassment, even her ears were flushed.
"Then you go ahead."
Shen Hao closed the door behind him as he left, but he didn't go far.
After waiting for a few minutes, and hearing no sound, he returned inside.
When Song Yongci saw him come in, she was too embarrassed to look at him and buried her head under the blanket.
Even though she was Shen Hao's maid, there was still a sense of discomfort.
After finishing the porridge, Song Yongci, feeling weak, once again fell into a light sleep, but this time, a faint smile appeared on her lips, no longer looking troubled.
She slept soundly for a full 16 hours, until 9 AM the next day.
The morning sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her face, and Song Yongci stretched comfortably.
Her body had recovered, and her fever had subsided.
Suddenly, she remembered something, and panic set in. She quickly got up.
Meanwhile, Shen Hao had spent his first night in this world.
While practicing his martial arts, Shen Hao saw Song Yongci hurriedly running out.
He smiled and said, "You're awake."
Song Yongci hurriedly bowed and said, "Apologies, Master. I must have slept too deeply."
Shen Hao replied, "Don't worry about such small details. How do you feel now? Any discomfort?"
"Much better, Master," Song Yongci replied.
Shen Hao said, "Since you're awake, let's get ready for breakfast."
"Yes, Master, I'll go prepare it right away."
"No need. I've already prepared it. Just clear the table." Shen Hao said.
Song Yongci did not dare delay and quickly began to clear the table.
Of course, she wasn't actually cooking—it was all food Shen Hao had brought back from the modern world.
There were no lavish dishes, just simple preserved egg and lean pork porridge, with some fruits, eggs, and corn on the side.
When Song Yongci gazed at the fruits on the table, she was stunned and wide-eyed.
"Master, what are these fruits? I've never seen them before."
Shen Hao said, "The red one is called a strawberry, the yellow one is a banana, and this is corn."
Based on his memories, this world had bananas, but it didn't have strawberries or corn.
"Alright, stop staring and start eating."
Hearing this, Song Yongci suppressed the shock in her heart.
You see, bananas were a fruit only available in the Great Kun Kingdom.
They didn't exist in the Great Yang Kingdom.
Those who had the ability to eat bananas were either the emperor or the powerful nobility. After all, during this era, the cost of transportation was so high due to the long distances involved.
When Song Youli worked in the Imperial Medical Department, Emperor Xuan once gifted a banana, and Song Youli couldn't bear to eat it, taking it back with him. Song Yongci could never forget it.
It wasn't that bananas were scarce, but the transportation was too difficult. The roads in this world were treacherous, plagued by bandits, and travel was done by horse-drawn carts, which moved slowly. By the time the fruits arrived, they had spoiled.
Although fruits weren't expensive, the cost of shipping was astronomical.
In Yangguan Town, it was unimaginable to find bananas; they were practically priceless.
A single banana could cost as much as 10 taels of silver, but there were people who could afford it.
What shocked her even more was that this banana was so fresh.
Not only that, but there were so many other fruits she had never seen before. Truly astonishing.
Even without having tasted them, just looking at them made it obvious that they were extremely expensive.
This world had many fruits, but ordinary people couldn't afford them, mainly due to the difficulty in transporting them. Even if you bought them, they were usually not fresh, and people only ate a few types of locally grown fruits.
In the north, such fruits were even more precious, and there was no need to elaborate further.
Song Yongci never expected Shen Hao to buy such expensive things.
She was momentarily hesitant to eat them.
Of course, Shen Hao couldn't understand her behavior. These things were quite ordinary in the modern world. Though he knew they were expensive, Shen Hao still thought that for someone worth millions, being stingy with a few dollars was just ridiculous.
"Alright, stop staring and eat."
"Master, I've never been this wealthy before. Now, I am just a maid..." Song Yongci choked up.
Shen Hao gently patted Song Yongci's shoulder in comfort, saying, "Enough, don't think too much about it. You're mine, and it's only right that I treat you well. Don't cry and make a scene. People will laugh. The most important thing now is for you to recover."
Song Yongci sniffled, "I am your maid, Master. Whatever you want, it is my duty. You've treated me so well; even a princess wouldn't receive such treatment. Forever, I am yours. Alive, I am yours; dead, I am yours. I beg you, Master, never abandon me. Without you, I wouldn't know how to live."
She looked at Shen Hao with determination in her eyes, her tone sincere and earnest.
Hearing this, Shen Hao's body seemed to feel lighter, and he couldn't help but enjoy the sensation.
In modern society, it would never be possible—no matter how good you treat someone, you still have to maintain a certain distance.
"Enough, the porridge is getting cold. Stop talking and eat."
"Yes, Master."
At the table, Song Yongci only ate the porridge, not daring to touch the fruits.
In her mind, the fruits were too precious, and it was better for Shen Hao to enjoy them.
Shen Hao had been so kind to her, and she couldn't let herself take advantage. She had never even seen corn or strawberries before, and eating them was sweet, but the joy in her heart was even sweeter.
Every so often, she would glance at Shen Hao, her eyes full of gratitude.
After finishing their meal, Shen Hao told Song Yongci to rest more. When you're sick, you need plenty of rest.
As for Shen Hao, he returned to the real world and started soaking in the medicinal bath. After all, in the modern world, many things were very convenient.
Even going to the bathroom was easy.
Shen Hao had bought ten doses of the medicinal bath, and after soaking for a full month, he had finished all of them. He had to admit that the results were amazing.
The "Tonic Body Guiding Twelve Stances" was now completely mastered (strong muscles, bone forging, and skin training), and he had reached full completion of body forging.
Now, Shen Hao's vitality was robust, and his body was filled with power.
According to Liu Dabiao's memories, at this stage, Shen Hao could use his abundant vital energy to open the acupoints, allowing the meridians to flow, and at that point, a stream of pure yang energy would flow through his body. This was the key.
Once he successfully gathered this energy in his dantian, internal energy would be produced.
However, after absorbing Liu Dabiao's memories, Shen Hao realized he didn't know how to do this. Liu Dabiao himself was only at the mid-stage of body forging, and his cultivation was still weaker than Shen Hao's current state.
Liu Dabiao didn't understand how to guide the vital energy through the meridians and acupoints, which meant Shen Hao would need someone to guide him.
As for who that person would be, Shen Hao turned his gaze to Liu Baoshan.
Returning to Yangguan Town, everything was as it was before. Song Yongci was still asleep.
Shen Hao went out to gather information, wanting to see if the authorities had moved yet.
...
Meanwhile, the government had received detailed information about Liu Family Village's terrain and plans. They didn't rush to attack immediately, but instead, sent two scouts to check if the route was correct.