In the days that followed, Lu Zheng spent mornings at home practicing illusions and *White Cloud Swordsmanship*, afternoons either teaching Lin Wan martial arts or practicing medicine at Benevolence Hall, and evenings having Aunt Liu cook for two extra, teaching Hu Zhou *Mountain-Bearing Eighteen Forms* for over an hour. Late at night, he’d either chat with Shen Ying or drink with the City God, living a remarkably full life.
Half a month passed in a blink. Besides advancing his illusions, swordsmanship, true qi, vitality, physique, and spirit, Lu Zheng used up most of his remaining luck, leaving just three strands stored in the jade seal in his mind for emergencies.
“Blimey, when you really get into training, a few dozen strands of luck aren’t nearly enough!” Lu Zheng grumbled, “All gone already?”
Recalling the fight with the scorpion demon and ghost python, it didn’t seem that long ago.
Sure, as his strength grew, he consumed more luck at once, but nearly fifty strands from two century-old demons, and it’s gone?
“Jade Seal, Jade Seal, what’s your cut of this luck, eh? How much do you take?”
“Next time, can you skim a bit more, keep some for us, and give less to the heavens?”
“Your master’s desperate for luck! At this rate, a century-old demon’s worth only lasts me a month or two. You’re pushing me to stir up trouble!”
“If I run into some tough opponent, your master might die before achieving anything!”
“Calling Jade Seal! Jade Seal, respond!”
Jade Seal: …
…
December arrived, and Haicheng was already cold, while Tonglin County saw the first snow of early winter.
Waking up, Lu Zheng opened his door to a world turned white overnight, with faint sounds of children playing outside.
Among them, was that… Liu Qingquan?
“Half a year since I first crossed over,” Lu Zheng mused, standing at his bedroom door, feeling like it was a lifetime ago.
Six months ago, he’d just graduated, got sacked, and faced an uncertain future.
Now, he shuttled between worlds, had beauties by his side, and walked a smooth cultivation path.
“Reality’s wilder than fiction!” Lu Zheng muttered, “Novel protagonists may be flashy, but they can’t return home. Me? I cross over when I want, go home when I want!”
*Knock, knock, knock!*
“Big Brother Lu, you up?” Liu Qingquan’s voice came from outside.
“Up!”
Lu Zheng shouted, his gaze meeting Uncle Li’s head poking out from the side door.
Uncle Li grinned, “Master, my wife made porridge and meat buns. Shall I set them up in the front hall?”
“Sounds good!” Lu Zheng nodded, “Ask Qingquan if she wants some.”
“Got it!”
Lu Zheng and Liu Qingquan sat opposite each other in the front hall, each munching a meat bun.
“Mmm, yum!” Liu Qingquan bit into her bun, saying, “Big Brother Lu, let’s have a snowball fight later! I love playing in the snow!”
Lu Zheng smacked his lips. A snowball fight with Liu Qingyan or Shen Ying might be romantic, but with Qingquan and a bunch of kids? What’s that about?
He took a bite, “Snowball fight? Nah, let’s build a snowman!”
Liu Qingquan pouted, “What’s fun about snowmen? Snow’s everywhere, just pile it up!”
“It’s different. Has your sister gone to Benevolence Hall?”
“Yep!” Liu Qingquan nodded.
“Then let’s build snowmen at your place. I’ll show you my snowman skills!”
Liu Qingquan blinked, snowmen need skills?
…
After breakfast, they headed to the Liu house, greeted Mrs Liu, and got to work in the front courtyard.
Lu Zheng gathered clean snow, piling it into two heaps, one large, one small, in a corner, then patted them down with force until they were solid.
Stepping back, he studied the heaps, planning his design.
Liu Qingquan blinked, “Done?”
Lu Zheng shook his head, “Just starting!”
Borrowing tools from the Liu’s old servant, he began carving.
Though he hadn’t boosted his sculpting skills, his enhanced art knowledge helped, one skill aiding another, and a simple human snow sculpture wasn’t beyond him.
His carving knife danced, peeling away layers of snow that fluttered down like petals.
Liu Qingquan watched, eyes widening as she saw her sister’s face take shape under Lu Zheng’s hands.
“Sister!”
Her gasp drew the two old servants over.
“Master Lu’s got real talent!”
“Indeed, with this skill, he’ll never go hungry.”
Lu Zheng smacked his lips, their words were fine, but why did they sound off?
He kept working…
Without boosting this skill and short on luck, he had no need to enhance a side craft, so he worked carefully, making adjustments.
Still, the result was impressive, soon a lifelike snow Liu Qingyan stood in the courtyard.
“Wow!” Liu Qingquan gasped.
“What do you think?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, grinning proudly, then patted the smaller heap, “Who should this one be?”
“Me, me!” Liu Qingquan jumped, grabbing his sleeve, “Big Brother Lu, make me!”
Lu Zheng laughed, “Alright, a snow Qingquan it is!”
Liu Qingquan clapped excitedly.
By noon, they ate lunch before continuing.
In the afternoon, Mrs Liu came out, marveling at the work.
In just over an hour, a snow Liu Qingquan appeared beside Liu Qingyan.
Liu Qingyan stood gracefully, gentle and serene, while Liu Qingquan’s pose was lively, as if in playful motion.
One big, one small, one still, one dynamic, the scene came alive.
“Looks good?”
“Super good!” Liu Qingquan clapped, “Sis will be shocked when she sees this!”
Mrs Liu emerged from the back, “You’ve worked all day, stay for dinner.”
Lu Zheng agreed, told Aunt Liu not to cook, and, seeing time to spare, sculpted a few simple cats and dogs, making the scene more vivid, turning the courtyard’s southeast corner into a snow sculpture world.
