After staying one night on Phi Phi Island, the two returned to Phuket at noon on the ninth day of their trip and flew directly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur lacked captivating natural scenery, so the two explored the famous Petronas Twin Towers and Independence Square before diving into a spree of eating and shopping.
For an entire day, they packed up numerous food and clothing items, then sent them back to their country via international courier.
Some items were sent directly to their hometowns for the elderly at home to enjoy.
Finally, after touring Kuala Lumpur’s night market and collecting enough photos for a nine-picture WeChat Moments post, their ten-day journey came to a complete end.
…
Haicheng Airport.
After ten days of carefree travel, they returned contentedly.
The next day, after resting for a night, a radiant Lin Wan went to work, while Lu Zheng, after a ten-day absence, travelled back to ancient times.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been away for this long; I kind of miss it.”
Listening to the cicadas chirping in the courtyard outside the window, with dappled sunlight streaming through the window cracks, Lu Zheng felt a sense of home, familiar and comforting.
“Creak!”
Pushing open the door, Lu Zheng strolled out to the front courtyard.
“Young Master!” Li Bo saw Lu Zheng and was both surprised and delighted. “You’re back, Young Master! Have you had breakfast? Shall I ask the wife to make something for you?”
“No need.” Lu Zheng waved his hand and handed Li Bo a wooden box. “These are some snacks I brought back from outside. Take them home for you and Aunt Liu to try.”
“Oh! Thank you, Young Master!” Li Bo hurriedly bowed in thanks and took the box.
Lu Zheng picked up another wooden box and was about to head out leisurely when Li Bo said, “Young Master, only Dr. Liu is at the Liu household now; he should be at Renxin Hall seeing patients. The Liu sisters and Madam Liu went to Wanfu County to visit relatives a few days ago and haven’t returned yet.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Lu Zheng paused, recalling that he had indeed told Liu Qingyan he would be away for half a month.
“Alright, I see.” Lu Zheng nodded, but his steps didn’t stop, and he continued out the door.
Liu Qingyan might not be there, but Shen Ying definitely was.
…
Peach Blossom Flat.
“Mm, these snacks are delicious.”
Shen Ying ate the specialty snacks Lu Zheng brought back from Kuala Lumpur while sharing good news with him. “Besides the Peach Blossom Shrine, I’ve noticed more incense energy coming from afar.”
“Hm?” Lu Zheng was taken aback. “Why is that?”
Shen Ying’s eyes curved into crescents. “Of course, it’s because other places have also set up Peach Blossom Shrines.”
“You can receive incense energy from Peach Blossom Shrines in other places?” Lu Zheng asked in surprise, wondering if the city gods in other places were so generous as to share their incense energy with Shen Ying.
“It wouldn’t normally be possible, but who made you write ‘Peach Blossom’ for me!”
Shen Ying’s peach-blossom eyes looked at Lu Zheng with amazement and gratitude. “In some mysterious way, I am faintly connected to this poem. As long as it’s a Peach Blossom Shrine with ‘Peach Blossom’ written on it or incense energy generated from prayers due to this poem, I receive a share.
Two months ago, I started receiving incense energy from other places, and recently, the amount has been increasing, surpassing the incense energy from my own Peach Blossom Shrine.”
At this, Shen Ying’s eyes sparkled, her gaze like water. “If this continues, with the peach tree’s essence as my foundation, incense energy as my resource, and the poem as my path, I can condense the body of a Peach Blossom Fairy, free to roam the vast world.”
“That’s fantastic!” Lu Zheng clapped and laughed.
Shen Ying put down the snack and lightly sat on Lu Zheng’s lap. “When the time comes, I can stay by your side and no longer be confined by geography, watching you face enemies alone.”
When chasing the wolf demon or encountering foes at Jiming Temple, Shen Ying couldn’t help much, which made her feel guilty and anxious. Now, with the prospect of achieving her path, she had been in seclusion absorbing incense energy for cultivation. If Lu Zheng hadn’t come in person, she wouldn’t have emerged.
“Great!”
Coming from the modern era, Lu Zheng had no trace of chauvinism. “Then your husband will wait for you to reach the heavens with your cultivation and take me flying.”
“Hehe, what’s this about taking you flying? It’s you, my dear, who often makes me soar to the skies.” Shen Ying giggled, her hands not staying idle.
“Hiss—”
…
Thus, Lu Zheng gathered qi to summon clouds, letting Shen Ying enjoy the sensation of flying in the clouds ahead of time.
…
On the third day, Liu Qingyan returned.
“You’re back too, my dear?”
“I’m back.” Lu Zheng handed the wooden box he was carrying to Liu Qingquan, then smiled with Liu Qingyan as they watched her rummage through the box for tasty treats.
“So many snacks!”
“And chocolate!”
“What’s this? Oh, it tastes like sea fish?”
“That’s fish floss; see if it suits your taste?” Lu Zheng wasn’t sure if foxes would like the taste of sea fish.
“It’s delicious!” Liu Qingquan’s eyes curved into crescent moons.
“How was the trip back?” Lu Zheng asked Liu Qingyan.
Liu Qingyan linked arms with Lu Zheng, her tone full of joy. “This time, my sisters back home were so envious of me.”
Liu Qingyan briefly told Lu Zheng about their trip to Wanfu County.
Leng Jian’s death at the hands of the Huangfu family’s son-in-law had spread throughout the demon circles around Wanfu County, so the Huangfu household had been bustling with visitors lately.
When Liu Qingyan and her sisters accompanied Madam Liu back to their hometown, many demons came to visit, their words full of envy, and some sought the Huangfu family’s protection.
Having been with Lu Zheng for so long, Liu Qingyan was no longer the naive girl she once was. With her intervention, the Huangfu family not only made no promises but also urged the demons to coexist peacefully with humans, lest they provoke their son-in-law to act against them again.
“You’re borrowing the tiger’s might, aren’t you?”
“I’m a fox; are you the tiger, my dear?” Liu Qingyan smiled brightly, her eyes seductive.
Lu Zheng felt a surge of blood and a sudden impulse; sniffing the air, he caught a fragrance.
Looking at Liu Qingyan, he saw her face flush. “Please forgive me, my dear. Recently, my cultivation has improved, and sometimes I can’t control the power of the red pill.”
“So just now…”
“Just now, I was a bit emotional, so the red pill released a little, um…”
Liu Qingyan bit her lower lip, unable to continue, but Lu Zheng already understood what had happened.
Lu Zheng was dumbfounded. “Good grief, your red pill not only heals injuries but also has an aphrodisiac effect?”
“My dear~”
“Don’t call me that; my legs are going weak.”
“My dear~~”
…
After dinner at the Liu household, Lu Zheng returned home and sat alone quietly, wondering whether to test if the sachet Liu Qingyan gave him still worked, when he heard a knock at the door.
A trembling voice, sweet as honey, filled with allure.
“My dear~~~”
