The lesson stretched over three days, so Lu Zheng sent word home and, in the evenings, slipped back to the modern day to call Lin Wan.
On the fourth day, Taoist Yuting finally finished teaching the illusion technique.
“I’ve taught you everything, whether you master it and how well depends on your talent.”
Lu Zheng knelt respectfully and kowtowed, “Thank you, Taoist, for passing down this technique!”
Yuting nodded, accepting the gesture, then eagerly said, “Come, let’s go up the mountain, this time I’ll crush you at chess!”
Lu Zheng, “…”
After a vegetarian lunch, Yuting dragged Lu Zheng and Mingzhang up the mountain, setting up a chessboard and sorting pieces.
Lu Zheng didn’t hold back, but far from being crushed, he struggled and lost three games in a row.
“Hahaha—”
…
Lu Zheng stayed another day at White Cloud Temple, learning a sword technique from Mingzhang.
*White Cloud Swordsmanship*.
“This sword technique, though not for sword cultivators, can channel true qi to harm foes and slay ghosts,” Mingzhang explained, “The *Five Talisman Methods* and *Five Curse Techniques* mainly deal with low-level demons and spirits, with exorcism talismans and curses excelling at driving out evil.
“But talismans and curses have limits, while a cultivator’s true qi grows ever stronger, leading to techniques that purely use true qi for combat.
“With your current cultivation, you can fight directly with true qi. *White Cloud Swordsmanship* is for subduing demons, slaying ghosts, and self-defence.
“A fine weapon can boost the sword technique’s power.
“I hadn’t planned to teach you this so soon, as the *Five Talisman Methods* and *Five Curse Techniques* should suffice, but you’ve proven yourself, and your true qi is strong, so I’m making an exception. Keep practising the *Five Curse Techniques* alongside the swordsmanship.”
“Yes!” Lu Zheng bowed.
Mingzhang smiled faintly, “By the way, you’ve been playing chess with that old rogue Yuting, and I haven’t asked, can you perform all the *Five Curse Techniques*? How’s your *Immobilisation Curse* coming along?”
“I’ve learned all the *Five Curse Techniques*, but my cultivation limits their power compared to Senior Brother Yuanjing. As for the *Immobilisation Curse*…”
Lu Zheng shook his head, “Too difficult, I can’t perform it yet.”
Mingzhang nodded, subtly relieved.
“No rush, the *Immobilisation Curse* is tough, take your time.”
“Yes!” Lu Zheng bowed again.
…
After five days and four nights at White Cloud Temple, Lu Zheng returned to Tonglin County.
That evening, at the Liu family’s dinner, Liu Qingyan spoke about her work at the clinic, her face glowing with enthusiasm.
Late at night, Lu Zheng, in high spirits, visited Peach Blossom Ridge. Shen Ying, who hadn’t tasted meat in ages, tended to him all night, leaving him floating as he returned to the city the next day.
Back in the modern day, after washing up, he went to Lin Wan’s home.
“Auntie! You’re back?”
Lin’s mother opened the door, catching Lu Zheng off guard as he stiffened mid-gesture, then casually stretched his shoulders.
“Lu Zheng, come in!” Lin’s mother ushered him in happily, “Wanwan told me she’s fully recovered?”
Lu Zheng entered, spotting Lin Wan in the living room, smirking at him.
“Yes, yes!” Lu Zheng shot Lin Wan a mock glare, then smiled at her mother, “She’s all healed, but after lying down for over a month, she should do some restorative muscle exercises.”
“Exactly!” Lin’s mother led him to the sofa.
“Wanwan had a fracture and paralysis, yet you cured her in just over a month. She said you’re a hidden master, like an urban miracle doctor from novels, and told me not to blab. Don’t worry, I’m no gossip!”
“Mhm,” Lu Zheng nodded, “I trust you, Auntie!”
Since it involved Lin Wan, he believed her mother.
Besides, curing a fracture wasn’t like curing cancer; even if word spread, people would just think he had a bone-growth secret, not treat him like a god.
Well, he did have such a secret.
Great Jing Dynasty cultivators were impressive in that regard. When Yuanjing was reckless and broke two ribs from a boar demon, he was up and about the next day, incredible!
That’s why, learning from it, Lu Zheng cast a golden light talisman on himself before the second scorpion demon hunt, getting injured but not as badly as the first time.
Hopefully, next time, he’d be wiser and not get too close too soon.
“Um… sorry about that…” Lin’s mother said, a bit embarrassed.
Lu Zheng blinked, “Why apologise, Auntie?”
“Well, I didn’t know back then and said some inappropriate things at the hospital…”
Lu Zheng waved it off, “No need to apologise, you were just giving kind advice, speaking from the heart.”
Lin’s mother nodded, smiling, “Alright, I’ll stop. Wanwan, keep him company, I’m off to buy groceries.”
She got up, put on her coat, and left.
Lu Zheng sat beside Lin Wan, “Good grief, you didn’t tell me Auntie was back, I nearly made a fool of myself.”
Lin Wan grinned, “Mum only got back last night, I didn’t have time to tell you, and how was I to know you’d come today?”
Lu Zheng bared his teeth, “So it’s my fault now?”
“Isn’t it?” Lin Wan smirked, crossing her legs, her long legs and wiggling toes making Lu Zheng’s heart itch.
“Mum even asked if, as an urban miracle doctor, you’ve treated loads of school beauties, CEOs, and celebrities, or if you’ve got a harem of admirers, and whether you were off treating some air hostess these past few days.”
Lu Zheng gaped, “What novels is she reading? Why haven’t I ever seen these?”
This didn’t match the impression Lin’s mother gave him at the hospital!
“Pfft!” Lin Wan spat.
Lu Zheng moved in, “Want to verify?”
“Ah! Are you mad? Mum’ll be back soon—mmph—”
…
Lin’s mother returned, “I bought a perch, we’ll have rice for lunch.”
On the sofa, Lu Zheng was massaging Lin Wan’s shoulders and back, “You’ve been lying down for over a month, your shoulders are stiff, let me loosen them.”
“Mhm,” Lin Wan nodded, licking her slightly red lips.
Lin’s mother glanced at them with a knowing smile, then went to the kitchen to cook.
