“If everyone is interested, please proceed to the front gate. I will part the waters to lead you into the river, and we invite you all to the mansion for a banquet,” Luo Wensheng said with a smile. “Before dawn tomorrow, I will ensure everyone is safely returned!”
“I’ll go!”
“I’ll go too!”
“I’ve never experienced a wedding banquet at the River God’s residence in all my years. Today will be an eye-opener.”
“Chief, you go. I’ll watch over the goods.”
Luo Wensheng glanced around, a warm smile on his face. He slightly raised his head, meeting Lu Zheng’s gaze.
“Oh? What a refined and handsome young gentleman,” Luo Wensheng said, cupping his hands in greeting. Lu Zheng returned the gesture and then turned back into the inn.
“Huh?” Luo Wensheng blinked, thinking Lu Zheng would come downstairs. Why did he go back to his room?
Moments later, Lu Zheng emerged with a box in hand, closed his room door, and descended the stairs slowly. He approached Luo Wensheng, nodding in courtesy. “In my haste, I couldn’t prepare a proper gift. This humble item is all I have. I hope the River God won’t find my manners lacking.”
His true qi circulated, revealing an unmistakable Taoist aura. “Lu Zheng, a lay disciple of Baiyun Temple, greets Lord Luo.”
Luo Wensheng’s expression shifted, and he quickly cupped his hands in return. “Forgive my earlier oversight. Greetings, Young Master Lu.”
The inn’s patrons turned their attention to Lu Zheng, surprised that this scholarly-looking young man, who had travelled through the night, was also a cultivator.
The two leaders of the Xiongfeng Escort Agency exchanged glances, inwardly shocked at their own misjudgment.
The errand boy, Xiao Tangzi, felt uneasy, thinking how fortunate it was that this generous young master hadn’t taken offence, or he’d be in trouble.
…
Shortly after, about twenty people gathered at the inn’s front gate, only to find that the River God’s mansion had sent a twenty-person entourage: ten musicians and ten armed guards, a considerable display.
Lu Zheng scanned the group, noting that besides himself, the two martial artists from the escort agency were present, along with the innkeeper and his wife, a few scholars, some merchants, and a handful of travelling performers.
Seeing the group assembled, Luo Wensheng wasted no time. He led them away from the inn, and in a few steps, they reached the riverbank at the ferry crossing.
Luo Wensheng drew a pearl from his sleeve, raised it in his hand, and softly chanted a few words, ending with a clear “part.” The river water gurgled and split before their eyes, parting to either side to form a clear path.
The band led the way down the riverbed, playing hand drums, gongs, suona, flute, sheng, pipa, yueqin, and zhongruan in a joyous cacophony.
“Please, everyone,” Luo Wensheng said, extending an inviting hand as he took the lead.
All eyes turned to Lu Zheng, who didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, and the others followed in turn, with the spear-wielding guards flanking them for safety.
“It seems my luck is good. Is the River God’s mansion near this crossing?” Lu Zheng asked with a smile.
Luo Wensheng nodded. “Indeed, it’s not far, so I came directly. I didn’t expect to invite someone as exceptional as you, Young Master.”
Lu Zheng waved off the compliment. “You flatter me. I’m just a lay disciple, a mere registered follower. I don’t deserve such praise. I only hope not to disgrace my sect while travelling.”
The musicians and guards were minor water spirits with shallow cultivation, but Luo Wensheng’s demonic aura was imperceptible to Lu Zheng, indicating at least a century of cultivation. Lu Zheng didn’t dare act arrogantly.
Of course, Lu Zheng’s own cultivation was formidable. After defeating the Night King and training further, he had consumed over a hundred strands of fortune’s light, advancing his cultivation significantly. This was why the Town Suppression Division treated him with respect, and why Luo Wensheng was so courteous.
So young, so advanced in cultivation, and so well-mannered, no one could overlook him.
Lu Zheng faintly sensed that as his cultivation grew, his spirit, qi, and vitality flourished, even extending his lifespan.
Indeed, successful cultivation promised longevity.
“Yuyin, Yuyin, if I train for another decade, can I dominate the world and live forever?”
Yuyin: “…”
…
The group walked along the riverbed, water parting before them and closing behind, leaving a hollow path several zhang long. Looking up, they saw the river walls rising higher, reaching dozens of zhang, revealing the depth of the Lu River.
Soon, an open space appeared ahead, and a water mansion came into view. Pearls like the one Luo Wensheng held hung from eaves and walls, repelling the water completely.
“Water-repelling pearls!”
“The River God’s mansion!”
“Tch, such extravagance,” Lu Zheng remarked, stroking his chin as he observed the mansion using water-repelling pearls as lanterns. “Truly worthy of the ancient Lu River God’s mansion. I wonder if they’ll offer a return gift for mine?”
The musicians and guards dispersed upon entering the mansion, while Luo Wensheng led the group to the main hall.
“Good heavens!”
Six banquet tables were set, two empty, likely for Lu Zheng’s group, while the other four were filled with guests.
Some guests appeared fully human, but others retained features of their true forms, long whiskers, scales, or fin-like ears, either due to insufficient cultivation or by choice.
Lu Zheng: (⊙o⊙)
Goodness, I thought demons were rare in this world, but there are plenty here!
“Guests have arrived!” a servant at the hall’s entrance announced loudly. The crowd turned, their eyes immediately falling on Lu Zheng, who hadn’t concealed his aura.
“The Lu River God invited a cultivator?”
“With Senior Li’s connections, inviting a few cultivators is easy.”
“But this is just a son-in-law recruitment, not a centennial celebration. Is such fanfare necessary?”
Lu Zheng paused at the entrance, noticing two tables against the wall, scattered with gifts: night pearls, red coral, medicinal herbs, elixirs, gold, silver, and jade items, about fifty or sixty in total, likely the guests’ offerings.
Smiling lightly, Lu Zheng placed his wooden box on the table, nodded to a servant recording gifts, opened the box, and presented his gift.
A burst of five-coloured light shone, dazzling the servant. “This… this is…”
“Lu Zheng, lay disciple of Baiyun Temple, presents a five-coloured glazed carp leaping the dragon gate ornament.”
“Hiss!”
“Hiss!”
“Hiss!”
The servant announced loudly, “Lu Zheng, lay disciple of Baiyun Temple, presents a five-coloured glazed carp leaping the dragon gate ornament!”
Luo Wensheng, standing beside Lu Zheng, was wide-eyed with amazement.
Though a mortal object, the ornament was exquisitely beautiful and valuable, far from discourteous. Only now did he realise Lu Zheng’s humility on the riverbank was genuine.
He had assumed Lu Zheng might offer some talismans or a personal elixir as a gift.
Moreover, the gift’s auspicious symbolism was perfect. If this weren’t a spontaneous wedding invitation and a random visit to the crossing, Luo Wensheng might have suspected Lu Zheng had prepared it long in advance.
