The eleventh holiday ended, and it was time to return to work.
Lu Zheng, of course, did not need to work. However, under the bombardment of calls from Zhao Wenyu, he went out for a meal together, which finally concluded the celebration of the full-contact fighting event.
“I heard that the Sixth Day Club was heavily criticised after returning.” Zhao Wenyu burst into laughter. “But now the Full-Contact Fighting Association is contacting clubs around the world to formulate various regulations, aiming to standardise, scale up, and commercialise it.”
At this point, Zhao Wenyu looked at Lu Zheng with full anticipation. “Brother Lu, when the time comes, would you like to become one of the first athletes in full-contact fighting and go down in history!”
Lu Zheng only replied to Zhao Wenyu with two words.
“Goodbye!”
…
In ancient times, Lu Zheng was helping Old Man Liu at Benevolent Heart Hall. At the same time, he discussed the trip to Dingfeng Mountain in the southern border with Liu Qingyan.
“Darling Lu, when shall we set off?”
“The journey is not short, and we cannot fly yet. We should depart soon.”
Lu Zheng calculated the days. “If we encounter any delays on the way, it would be bad to miss the date.”
Liu Qingyan nodded.
Du Yueyao, standing to one side, felt a bit envious. After all, this journey was too far, and she could not go.
“There is no time like the present. We do not need to wait for an auspicious hour. Let us set off at dawn tomorrow. I will have your mother prepare more food for you.” Old Man Liu said.
Liu Qingyan looked at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng had no objection. “Very well. Have Aunt prepare more roast chickens.”
A blush rose on Liu Qingyan’s face, and she gently twisted Lu Zheng’s arm.
Old Man Liu burst into laughter. Du Yueyao also giggled. Although she did not know the true identity of Liu Qingyan’s family, she was aware that the Liu family had a fondness for chicken.
At the end of the shen hour, Old Man Liu, unusually, closed the pharmacy early today and went home with Liu Qingyan.
Madam Liu prepared a table of hearty dishes and invited Du Yueyao to join them. The group enjoyed a lively meal.
After dinner, Du Yueyao bid farewell reluctantly, repeatedly urging Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan to be careful on the road before leaving with her escorts.
Liu Qingyan escorted Lu Zheng to the door but did not follow him home.
“This trip will likely take us away for about a month, similar to the time during the flood.” Liu Qingyan said. “Sister Shen still cannot leave Taohua Ping too far at present, so she cannot come along. Darling Lu, tonight you should go to Taohua Village and spend more time with Sister Shen.”
Under the eaves, Lu Zheng held Liu Qingyan in his arms, feeling her alluring figure and inhaling her faint body fragrance. He took a deep breath. “With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for!”
Liu Qingyan felt an itch in her ear as a warm breath tickled inside, making her heart pound as if it would leap out.
With great effort, Liu Qingyan suppressed the urge to melt into Lu Zheng’s embrace. Her face flushed red as she pushed away from his arms and dashed back home, closing the door. “Qingyan is going to rest now. Darling Lu, hurry off. Do not rush. Qingyan will come to Taohua Village early tomorrow to find you.”
Such a considerate young lady left Lu Zheng feeling at a loss for how to repay her. So he first traversed back to the modern world and bought a pile of vacuum-packed roast chickens and smoked chickens, which they could eat casually on the road.
…
Taohua Ping.
Shen Ying wiped the sweat from Lu Zheng’s brow and snuggled closer into his arms. “The southern border is not as peaceful as Da Jing, after all. Darling Lu and Qingyan are venturing deep into the south. Be extra careful on the road.”
Lu Zheng nodded, feeling the smooth, creamy texture in his hands like mutton fat jade. “Do not worry. We will stick to the official road. Once in the southern border, we head straight for Dingfeng Mountain. Besides, I have the token from Brother Hu. Brother Hu is an old demon of many years, so it surely carries weight.”
Shen Ying smiled upon hearing this. “You still need to be cautious. Make sure not to flash the token on the territory of Hu Shanzhu’s rivals.”
Shen Ying was joking. After all, Lu Zheng had the storage gourd and the earth-walking technique. If they truly faced danger, he could simply put Liu Qingyan into the gourd and escape using the earth-walking technique. Even a typical thousand-year-old demon would likely fail to stop him.
“Oh? You think your husband is that foolish!” Lu Zheng reached around in a circle and pinched firmly at the mountain peak.
Then, amid Shen Ying’s soft exclamation, he flipped over and pressed down on top.
…
The next morning.
Little Cui brought a basin of water. Shen Ying helped Lu Zheng wash up. Just as he finished, Liu Qingyan arrived carrying a bundle.
“Sister Shen!”
“Younger Sister Qingyan!”
Welcoming Liu Qingyan into Taohua Village, the three had breakfast together. Shen Ying accompanied them until they were a hundred li from Taohua Village before turning back.
Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan then followed the official road southward.
They called it following the official road, but it was filled with common folk, donkey carts, and caravans. Most cultivators, when travelling, would at most parallel the road but never show off in front of people, galloping or flying before ordinary citizens.
So Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan did the same, heading in the direction of the official road but keeping out of sight along it, moving swiftly.
By noon, they were nearly out of Yizhou Prefecture.
Turning onto the road, they found a noodle stall by the wayside. Lu Zheng ordered two bowls of noodles and took out a packet of five-spice roast chicken from the bundle that he had prepared in advance.
“Gulp!” Liu Qingyan could not help swallowing.
Lu Zheng chuckled and tore off a chicken wing for her first.
Liu Qingyan’s cheeks puffed up, her eyes curving into crescents. She smiled sweetly as she reached out to take it, bringing it horizontally to her lips. Her vermilion mouth parted slightly, revealing two rows of small white teeth. She gently bit into the wing, skin and meat together. In the next moment, with her teeth and jade hand pulling in opposite directions, she tore off a small piece of chicken.
Her fragrant tongue curled, drawing the meat into her mouth. Her red lips closed, her teeth chewed lightly. Liu Qingyan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a smile playing on her lips, revealing a face full of enjoyment.
Liu Qingyan: ♪(^∇^*)
“Delicious! So fragrant!”
The aroma of the roast chicken wafted about. Not just Liu Qingyan, but every customer in the noodle stall swallowed hard.
Among them, two burly men shifted restlessly, though they were firmly held back by another man at their table.
“This place is between villages and towns, the nearest one is dozens of li away. These two look fair and tender, with no servants or carriages attending them. They are definitely not ordinary people!
You two had better hold back. Do not act rashly. Do not lose your lives over a mere craving for food.”
The two burly men exchanged glances, then looked at the couple who were whispering sweet nothings, oblivious to those around them. They decisively backed down and shovelled their plain noodles.
If even the strong and mighty had given up, the others naturally did too. Moreover, Lu Zheng wore a cyan scholar’s robe, his features handsome and refined. Liu Qingyan was in a simple green cloud-water skirt, elegant and poised. The pair exuded refined auras, so ordinary folk dared not approach.
Moments later, the owner brought two steaming bowls of plain noodles.
Lu Zheng picked up chopsticks for Liu Qingyan. The two exchanged a smile and were about to eat when a voice came from beside them.
“Young sir, could you spare an old beggar a chicken leg?”
