“No light of fortune…”
Lu Zheng waited for a while, but the jade seal did not extract any light of fortune. “Is it because breaking this endgame or not has no substantial impact on him?”
Shaking his head, Lu Zheng glanced back at the sealed cliff, then leapt down, heading home while mentally reviewing the incantations for the Earth Traversal Technique.
Back home, as usual, he transcribed the incantations into a document to avoid forgetting them, then began studying.
After a while, Lu Zheng felt that the Earth Traversal Technique was somewhat similar to the Water Avoidance Spell. Both used incantations to transform true qi for specific purposes, one for repelling water, the other for displacing earth, achieving the effects of water avoidance or earth traversal with minimal mana expenditure.
For the Earth Traversal Technique, moving through earthen ground was the least taxing. The soil parted in front and closed behind, allowing one to move like an earthworm, even using the force of the closing earth to propel forward at a considerable speed.
Stone could also be crushed and closed behind using the technique, but this consumed more true qi, and the result was no longer a solid rock, leaving traces and flaws.
“So, this Earth Traversal Technique is only useful in ancient times. In the modern world, with all the rubber cables underground, what am I supposed to traverse? If I end up causing a city-wide blackout, that’d be a riot.”
“But… this technique is a top-tier method for sneaking or escaping,” Lu Zheng rubbed his chin, feeling he now had a trump card for escaping unharmed if he couldn’t win a fight.
“Its counter would probably be something like a spell that turns the ground to steel, but not everyone can do that, right?”
At that moment, a knock on the door signalled the arrival of his takeaway.
Lu Zheng collected the food, unpacked three braised chickens onto plates, then travelled to the ancient world to inform Liu Qingyan at the neighbouring Liu household that he’d be away for half a month.
That evening, he polished his pot until it gleamed even more lustrously. The next day was April 30th.
…
“What’s the itinerary?”
At Haicheng Airport, Lin Wan received her boarding pass and noticed it was for an 11 p.m. flight from Haicheng to Singapore. “Aren’t we going to Phuket or Pattaya in Thailand?”
It was just before 9 p.m. After work, Lin Wan and Lu Zheng had returned home, grabbed their pre-packed suitcases, prepared a power bank and some snacks, and arrived at Haicheng Airport. They checked their luggage, collected their boarding passes, and were ready to depart.
“But don’t we have ten days?”
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan sat in the departure lounge, each sipping a yoghurt. “First, we’ll go to Singapore and enjoy the infinity pool and sky garden at Marina Bay Sands for three days. Then, we’ll head to Phuket for some sun and sand, and finally, we’ll go shopping in Kuala Lumpur. How’s that?”
“Sounds good!” Lin Wan smiled approvingly. “Looks like you’ve done your homework this time.”
“Of course!” Lu Zheng said proudly. “I’ve checked out all the best food and attractions at Marina Bay Sands. I booked two nights, and we can extend if needed.”
“That’s plenty. We’ve got a few places to visit,” Lin Wan said. “Marina Bay Sands is the one with that big ship-like platform on top, right?”
“Exactly,” Lu Zheng nodded, pulling out his phone to show her a travel guide with photos of various foods and scenic spots, which they browsed together.
“Wow, it’s really luxurious,” Lin Wan said while flipping through the photos. “There’s even a theatre, a beach, and a golf course.”
“Marina Bay Sands is just eye-catching because of its design. For real luxury, you’d want Capella Sentosa. It’s got a better environment than Marina Bay Sands, with everything they have and more. When Trump and Kim met in Singapore, they chose Capella. It’s got way more prestige.”
Lu Zheng and Lin Wan looked up to see a middle-aged man in a khaki casual suit sitting not far across from them, smiling and nodding. Next to him was a well-made-up young woman, one arm around his, the other hand on her phone.
Hearing the man speak, she glanced at the two, sized them up, then returned to her phone.
“Are you also taking advantage of the holiday to travel to Singapore?” the man said, striking up a conversation.
Lu Zheng nodded politely. “Yes.”
“Are you joining a tour group or travelling independently?”
“Independently.”
“Smart choice. Independent travel is better. Tour groups rush you through, with tight schedules and no freedom. If your budget allows, independent travel is much more comfortable,” the man said. “I’d actually recommend booking Capella. It’s close to Universal Studios and the aquarium, right by the sea, and in a much better location than Marina Bay Sands.”
“Thanks, we’ll consider it,” Lu Zheng nodded politely again, then turned back to Lin Wan to look at the phone, ignoring the man.
Seriously, who does this guy think he is, critiquing our choices and telling us what to do?
Seeing that Lu Zheng and Lin Wan had no intention of continuing the conversation, the man looked a bit awkward. His companion, sensing the tension, quietly tried to defuse it. “Stop talking. Capella doesn’t have budget rooms. Maybe their budget can’t cover it. Keep going, and it’ll just get more awkward.”
Though spoken softly, her voice was just clear enough for Lu Zheng, Lin Wan, and the surrounding passengers to hear.
The man nodded faintly. “My oversight. Young people care about face.”
His voice was just loud enough to be heard.
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, subtly glancing around. A few young women looked at the man and his companion with disdain, while a couple of glamorous women and portly men gave Lu Zheng and Lin Wan smug looks.
“Sip, sip…” Lu Zheng noisily sucked on his yoghurt, turning to Lin Wan. “Is this what they call trouble falling from the sky?”
“Calm down. Shallow people are everywhere. Ignore them, or you’ll just end up angry,” Lin Wan whispered, her voice genuinely soft, unheard by anyone but Lu Zheng.
At that moment, perhaps because he’d spoken a bit too much, the man picked up his water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and raised it to drink.
But perhaps due to a moment of agitation, his hand wasn’t steady. The bottle tilted, and most of the water surged out, soaking half his body.
“Hey!” the man exclaimed, hastily pulling the bottle away.
“Oh no!” his companion quickly moved aside, put down her phone, grabbed a pack of tissues from her bag, and pulled out a few to help him wipe down.
“Tsk tsk, not that old, but shaky hands and weak strength. Probably kidney issues,” Lu Zheng said with a smirk, leaning toward Lin Wan. His voice, just loud enough for those nearby to hear, continued, “Makeup on the face, but the water washes it off, revealing the truth. Pale face, dark circles under the eyes, classic kidney deficiency. Wonder if he can still get it up?”
