Lu Zheng briefly recounted what he, Shen Ying, and Yan Hongxia had noticed while out shopping.
“Impressive! I did not spot anything wrong!” Yan Hongxia said in surprise.
Ao Qi glanced at Yan Hongxia’s chest, shook her head, and stayed silent.
Unexpectedly, Yan Hongxia was quite sensitive to the glance. She turned to Ao Qi. “What was that look for?”
“Nothing!” Ao Qi quickly shook her head. “I just think you were too close to the situation, your attention fixed on the child. Otherwise, you would definitely have noticed something off.”
Yan Hongxia nodded. “Yes, I think so too!”
Everyone laughed at that.
Though there had nearly been a mishap along the way, the outcome was fortunately good. They had eliminated a major demon, and spirits were high. Thus, they invited Luo Yixian to stay and share dinner with them.
…
Over dinner, Lu Zheng learned that Luo Yixian’s family was from Ji Province. As a child, she had caught the eye of White Cloud Temple, been accepted as a disciple, and inherited its methods. Several decades had passed since then.
The Luo family was an official lineage. Luo Yixian had joined the Anomaly Suppressor Division and become the suppressor for Wei Province in Haitian Dao.
Once they grew familiar, Lu Zheng smiled and teased. “Martial Uncle Luo, did you not notice Li Lingyu’s extraordinary qualities? Did you never think to recruit him for our White Cloud Temple?”
This was naturally a joke, and everyone laughed.
“I did notice!” Luo Yixian smiled too. “But do you think I would dare compete with True Person Lin Yi and Zen Master Jinye for the boy?”
Luo Yixian had nearly a thousand years of cultivation and already stood out among the Ming generation at White Cloud Temple, yet how could she compare to True Person Lin Yi or Zen Master Jinye?
Thus, she not only refrained from competing, but guarded the child whenever the two were absent.
Li Keming was also at the table. Catching the meaning in Luo Yixian’s words, he quickly rose to express gratitude. “Many thanks for Lord Luo’s protection. My family remained completely unaware.”
“No trouble at all. Please sit.” Luo Yixian smiled and gestured for him to resume his seat. “Protecting the people of Wei Province is my duty. Moreover, with the Pure Yang sword qi and Great Sun Buddhist light left by the two seniors, few would dare cause trouble.”
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow and asked, “Has someone actually come?”
Luo Yixian nodded with a smile. “Naturally, no one in Great Jing would dare offend the two seniors, but two visitors from overseas did come. This junior turned them away.”
“So it was overseas cultivators. Such nerve. That was my oversight.” Lin Yi nodded in understanding, raised his wine cup, and toasted Luo Yixian from afar.
“Amitabha!” Jinye Zen Master intoned, lifted his teacup in place of wine, and toasted her as well.
Luo Yixian hurriedly responded, accepting the thanks from both Jinye Zen Master and True Person Lin Yi.
“Biqing Temple and Bodhi Zen Court?” Liu Zong asked. Those two were the largest Buddhist and Daoist forces in the East Sea.
“No, two minor sects.” Luo Yixian shook her head. “One trains in martial arts, the other commands sea beasts.”
Liu Zong nodded. Since they were not those two, there was no need to mind them. If it had been Biqing or Bodhi, it would have implied disrespect toward Rizhao Temple and Pure Yang Palace.
…
The dinner was pleasant for hosts and guests alike.
Luo Yixian took her leave, and everyone retired.
In the days that followed, no further incidents arose. Besides studying Buddhist scriptures with Jinye Zen Master, Li Lingyu spent time with his sworn brother Lu Zheng, who kept busy teaching him the Rubik’s Cube and crafting a set of wooden transforming animals. Beyond the usual chocolates and sweets, Lu Zheng even made him a cream cake.
As expected of a child, Li Lingyu fell completely under the spell of the treats that had already won over Ao Qian and Liu Qingquan. From then on, Lu Zheng was truly his big brother.
The only regret was gaining no further destiny light from him, but Lu Zheng was in no hurry. Slow and steady wins the race.
…
Several more days passed. Jinye Zen Master finished transmitting the Dharma to Li Lingyu, and the day arrived for Lin Yi to take the boy away.
Still only a child, Li Lingyu wept bitterly in his parents’ arms before reluctantly joining Lin Yi.
“Big brother Lu! Big sister Shen! Remember to come visit me!” Li Lingyu called out wistfully to Lu Zheng and Shen Ying.
“Of course!” Lu Zheng agreed at once. One more promise made no difference.
Jinye Zen Master and Xingfeng Zen Master departed first. Lin Yi and Liu Zong took Li Lingyu and rode the wind away. Ao Qi and Yan Hongxia headed north along the coast. Only Lu Zheng and Shen Ying remained, preparing to leave through the west gate and return to Lingbei Dao.
…
Clear skies stretched for thousands of li, white clouds rolling endlessly.
Lu Zheng and Shen Ying stood atop a cloud, letting a gentle breeze slip through their protective aura. The spring wind brushed their faces, fluttering their robes, and felt wonderfully pleasant.
Shen Ying could not help smiling.
“What are you laughing at?” Lu Zheng asked.
“Your concubine laughs that only days ago my husband complained of boredom. Lately we have encountered the Yuansheng Sect saintess, then the old Profound Heart Demon. Does my husband still find life dull?” Shen Ying teased.
Lu Zheng: 눈_눈|||
“To dare mock your husband. Unacceptable. This cannot stand. Your husband will find some deserted spot and duly punish you on the spot!” His right arm, encircling Shen Ying’s slender waist, lifted upward.
Shen Ying giggled and pressed closer. “How does husband intend to punish your concubine?”
How could he resist?
Yet at that instant, Lu Zheng’s gaze sharpened.
“Who goes there?”
He shouted sternly, pulling Shen Ying skyward. Where they had stood, a black flower suddenly bloomed. Its petals opened and closed, seeking to swallow them whole.
Someone had approached unseen, launching a sneak attack.
The pair shot upward, but a black shadow appeared overhead. Countless yin qi blades stabbed downward at terrifying speed.
Lu Zheng shook the White Cloud Flag. Shen Ying fanned the Starfire Fan. They pressed forward undaunted, soon reaching the flower’s opening. Innate cloud qi held the petals at bay for a moment. Phoenix divine fire incinerated every yin qi blade.
“Hmm?”
The attacker had clearly not expected Lu Zheng’s cloud arts or Shen Ying’s strength and artefact. His prepared ambush failed to trap them instantly.
No matter. They could not escape anyway.
The attacker sneered, extended both hands. Two Nether Ghost Claws took shape and clawed downward.
The claws gleamed dark green, their grey forms almost solid. They ignored the layered cloud qi, ignored the sparks of starfire, and sought to crush the pair back into the flower.
“Hold my hand!”
Lu Zheng’s eyes focused. He grasped Shen Ying’s hand, waved his free arm. Strands of mana passed through flower and yin qi, stirring the surrounding heaven and earth. Slanting wind and fine rain began to fall.
The next instant, Lu Zheng and Shen Ying vanished from beneath the claws.
“What?”
This time the attacker was genuinely shocked. Sensing something, he whirled around and saw the pair reappear nearly a hundred zhang behind him.
Lu Zheng and Shen Ying also saw their ambusher. Well, ambushing ghost.
Nine chi tall, clad in cyan robes, face pale cyan, eyes and lips pitch black.
Lu Zheng stared coldly at the ghost. “Who are you?”
The ghost stared back with equal coldness. “Hand over the Xuanyin Divine Mirror, and this seat will spare your lives!”
