“Old monk? Female demon? River God’s marriage? Strange men robbing the escort?”
Liu Qingyan looked at Lu Zheng, her mouth forming an ‘O’ shape, her face full of astonishment.
Lu Zheng smiled, reaching into his cloth bag to take out a liao flower candy and popping it into Liu Qingyan’s mouth. “Eat the candy, don’t keep your mouth open like that, looking as if you’ve never seen the world.”
*Crunch!* Liu Qingyan bit the candy in half, chewing while licking her lips. “I didn’t expect Lu Lang to encounter so much just on a trip to the prefecture.”
“Indeed,” Lu Zheng nodded. “The key point is, the gains were substantial. I traded the Cold Condensation Curse for a set of *Water Avoidance Technique*.”
“Water Avoidance Technique?”
Lu Zheng nodded. “The technique, and a water-repelling pearl.”
As he spoke, Liu Qingyan felt something in her hand. Lifting it, she saw a small pearl, about an inch wide, glowing faintly green. “A water-repelling pearl!”
“It’s for you. Do you like it?” Lu Zheng smiled.
“I do.” Liu Qingyan nodded, then shook her head, trying to return the pearl. “You keep it for now. Give it to me after you’ve learned the *Water Avoidance Technique*.”
“Keep it,” Lu Zheng said. “The *Water Avoidance Technique* is simple. I’ll master it in a few days and won’t need the pearl.”
Liu Qingyan giggled, knowing Lu Zheng was a cultivation genius. Though she thought he was boasting about learning the technique in days, his confidence was charming. After a few glances, she accepted the pearl.
“Lu Lang.”
“Hmm?”
“Was the wedding banquet at the Lushui River God’s mansion lively?” Liu Qingyan asked.
“Quite lively,” Lu Zheng nodded.
“Then…” Liu Qingyan bit her lip. “Do you prefer a lively wedding or a quiet one?”
“I like both,” Lu Zheng smiled. “What about you?”
Hearing his reply, Liu Qingyan smiled softly, looking up at him. “I like the kind where I’m with Lu Lang.”
Well! She’s grown bold after spending time with him!
They strolled along, wandering leisurely. When they reached Tongyi Lane, they met Old Man Liu closing his shop.
Seeing the two at the lane’s entrance, Old Man Liu was stunned. “You two really… Fine, good thing I told Hu Zhou to come back early and prepare dinner, or we’d have nothing good to eat tonight.”
“Don’t worry,” Lu Zheng smiled. “Even if Auntie didn’t prepare, what I brought back is plenty.”
He turned to Liu Qingyan. “Qingyan, head back first. I’ll grab something from home and be right over.”
“Alright,” Liu Qingyan nodded obediently. “I’ll get things ready at home. Come quickly.”
…
Back home, Lu Zheng immediately crossed to the modern world.
Though he’d been travelling, he’d return to the modern world at night while staying at inns, visiting supermarkets, replying to messages, chatting with Lin Wan on the phone, then resting on his soft bed before returning to the ancient world at dawn.
His modern affairs hadn’t been delayed at all. Knowing Liu Qingyan’s identity, he’d prepared some items the previous night in Lijia Town, storing them in the fridge.
One spiced roast chicken, plated!
One white-cut chicken, plated!
One smoked chicken, plated!
He also grabbed snacks and pastries bought in Yizhou City before knocking on the Liu family’s door.
“Big Brother Lu! You’re back!” Liu Qingquan sniffed the air, naturally taking the items from Lu Zheng and excitedly opening the food box.
“Wow! Chicken! It smells amazing!” Liu Qingquan exclaimed. “Did you buy this in Yizhou Prefecture? They sell such delicious chicken there?”
“Lu Lang, sit, we’ve been waiting for you,” Old Man Liu said, casually pulling a porcelain bottle with a wine aroma from the food box.
Lu Zheng’s wine bottles lacked seals, so the aroma wafted freely. With Old Man Liu’s nose, he could smell it through a wall, let alone right under his nose.
Looking at the old man and the young girl, Lady Liu shook her head helplessly. Liu Qingyan pulled Lu Zheng to sit beside her.
…
Hu Zhou didn’t know the Liu family’s true identity, so during dinner, they avoided discussing the Southern Border sorcerers or the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, only chatting about recent events in Tonglin County.
After dinner, Hu Zhou left, and the group ate snacks, sipped tea, and discussed Lu Zheng’s trip to Yizhou Prefecture.
Liu Qingyan had heard the story once but listened eagerly again, her eyes shimmering as she gazed at Lu Zheng.
Liu Qingquan was animated, especially curious about the River God’s marriage, pestering Lu Zheng about what the aquatic beings looked like, clearly never having seen water spirits.
Old Man Liu and Lady Liu, more worldly, listened calmly, treating the River God’s marriage and the strange men robbing the escort as mere curiosities.
By late evening, as the night deepened, the conversation wound down. Lu Zheng noticed Liu Qingquan had nibbled up all the leftover chicken, licking her fingers.
Old Man Liu, pairing stories with wine, was nearly drunk by the time Lu Zheng finished.
“Look at me,” Lady Liu said, annoyed. “Lu Lang, you’ve been travelling for days and must be exhausted. You should rest early, but here we are chatting.”
“It’s late, Lu Lang. Go rest. Let Qingyan see you out. I need to drag this old man back. He gets drunk and senseless every time he drinks, sometimes even reverting to his true form. Honestly, the older he gets, the worse he is.”
Lady Liu sent Liu Qingquan to bed, then supported Old Man Liu, leading him to the back room.
Lu Zheng shook his head with a smile, stretched, and prepared to head home.
Liu Qingyan walked beside him, her face flushed, expression shy but eyes resolute, even expectant.
As Lu Zheng stepped out and saw no one around, he quickly kissed Liu Qingyan’s cheek, then waved, expecting her to blush and flee.
But… Liu Qingyan stood still.
Lu Zheng: ???
He smiled, said goodbye, and turned to leave. After two steps, he heard footsteps. Turning, he saw Liu Qingyan following.
Lu Zheng: ???
Liu Qingyan bit her lip, her beautiful eyes meeting his. “Lu Lang, you’ve been travelling hard. I know a bit of massage. Shall I give you a massage to relieve your fatigue?”
Her breathing grew heavier as she spoke.
Lu Zheng swallowed hard.
Under the moonlight, Liu Qingyan’s bright eyes and fair skin glowed, her slender figure like a willow, graceful as a startled swan. Bathed in silver light, she seemed a moonlit sprite, ethereal and enchanting.
Lu Zheng took a deep breath, then, with a serious expression, twisted his neck and rolled his shoulders. “Well, now that you mention it, I am feeling a bit tired…”
