Three days hence, it is auspicious to travel and to receive the bride.
Wanfu County and Qingyao County both fall under the jurisdiction of Yaozhou, neighbouring each other with an official road connecting them, a day’s journey for ordinary travellers.
Thus, everyone gathered at the east gate of Wanfu County early in the morning to set off, travelling for a day to arrive in Qingyao County by evening.
Huangfu Xu had gone ahead to Qingyao County, reserving an inn where the group would stay the night upon arrival.
The next morning, they went to the Xu family to fetch the bride, returning by mid-morning, and by nightfall, they were back at the Huangfu residence for the wedding ceremony.
As the procession moved forward, the groom, Huangfu Ning, rode a tall horse at the front, followed by a band of musicians playing gongs and drums, then four sedan bearers carrying an empty bridal sedan, and finally two carriages, one carrying items needed for the bride’s reception, the other being Lu Zheng’s carriage.
“It’s fortunate the two counties are close, otherwise we’d have to spend a night on the road, which would complicate things considerably,” Huangfu Jing explained to Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan inside the carriage. “Even so, tomorrow’s journey will be quite rushed, and we might not reach home until late afternoon.”
“That’s just in time for the evening banquet,” Liu Qingyan remarked. “Have any guests been invited?”
Huangfu Jing shook her head. “Just a few close friends.”
“No matter then,” Liu Qingyan replied.
“Indeed,” Huangfu Jing nodded, turning her attention to Lu Zheng’s carriage.
“Your carriage is remarkable, Lu Zheng, not a single jolt,” Huangfu Jing said, eyeing a cup of tea on the low table in the carriage, which, though it swayed slightly, showed no sign of spilling.
“I added something to the carriage to make travel more comfortable,” Lu Zheng said with a smile.
He didn’t know how to explain the springs, so he glossed over it.
Huangfu Jing nodded, impressed but unaware, assuming Lu Zheng had used some talisman or spell, though she sensed no magical fluctuations and dared not ask further.
The group travelled swiftly, arriving in Qingyao County by mid-afternoon.
…
At the Fulai Inn, the party of nearly twenty was settled in for the night.
The night passed quietly, save for someone tripping while visiting the latrine at midnight, letting out a cry of pain, but no other disturbances occurred.
…
The second day, time to fetch the bride.
The band set out from the inn, soon leaving the city for the Xu family estate in the suburbs.
It was clear the Xu family was even closer to humans than the Huangfu family, as the Xu estate was nearer to Qingyao County than the Huangfu estate was to Wanfu County.
They called at the gate, sang ceremonial songs, offered blessings, and received the bride.
After an hour of various ceremonies, the bride was finally escorted out, seated in a decorated sedan adorned with red and colourful trappings.
Then began the return to Wanfu County.
Lu Zheng had no tasks, nor did anyone dare assign him any, so he observed the lively scene as if watching a film, with music and festivity all around.
However, Huangfu Jing and Liu Qingyan were busy, ensuring everything went smoothly.
Only when the bridal procession began the return journey and they returned to the carriage did they finally relax.
“Well done, well done,” Lu Zheng said cheerfully, pouring tea for them.
Huangfu Jing was surprised to see Lu Zheng personally pour and serve tea, glancing at him, then at Liu Qingyan with a look of contentment.
Liu Qingyan’s eyes curved into crescents, smiling as she took the tea from Lu Zheng, sipping it and feeling a sweetness in her heart.
“Back home, it’s the wedding ceremony next, right?” Lu Zheng asked.
Huangfu Jing replied, “Exactly, everything is arranged at home.”
Lu Zheng nodded, familiar with the process, having witnessed it once at the River God’s mansion.
…
By mid-afternoon, the group reached the outskirts of Wanfu County, just a few miles from the Huangfu estate, when suddenly…
“Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate!”
A Taoist chant rang out from the front of the procession.
…
Someone was blocking the way, and they were from the Taoist sect?
Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed. He opened the carriage door and stepped out.
Ahead stood two Taoists in grey robes, an older and a younger one, blocking the procession’s path.
The young Taoist looked about thirteen or fourteen, with thick brows and bright eyes, appearing quite clever. The older Taoist, not truly old, had a refined face, black hair and beard, appearing in his fifties.
The older Taoist held a stick of incense, its smoke rising in a straight line towards the procession, then gently dissipating a short distance ahead.
“Respected Taoists, why do you block our path?” Huangfu Xu dismounted, stepping forward with a sincere bow.
He remained calm, knowing a玄门 heir was among them, and Taoists were generally lenient towards supernatural beings.
“Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate!”
The older Taoist sized up Huangfu Xu, then glanced at the procession behind him, furrowing his brow. “May I ask where the host is coming from and where they are headed?”
Huangfu Xu replied, “From Qingyao County to Wanfu County.”
“And may I… oh?” The older Taoist paused as a young scholar emerged from behind the carriage.
“Fellow Taoist, you are…?”
“Lu Zheng, lay practitioner of Baiyun Temple, greets the senior,” Lu Zheng said, stepping through the procession to Huangfu Xu’s side, bowing deeply to the older Taoist and nodding to the younger.
The older Taoist studied Lu Zheng, who circulated the “Baiyun Changshuo Refining Qi Scripture,” exuding a Taoist aura to reveal his identity.
“Immeasurable Heavenly Venerate! Jiuzhen of Fengyang Mountain, greetings, fellow Taoist.”
“Liu Ning greets the elder brother!”
Lu Zheng nodded, then said, “This junior is acquainted with the Huangfu family. To my knowledge, they are kind, help the community, and have no misdeeds. May I ask, senior…?”
Lu Zheng assumed the Taoist was targeting the Huangfu family.
“I’m here for a human-faced fox,” Taoist Jiuzhen said. “Since a fellow Taoist vouches for them, I may have misunderstood. I thought this family was covering for that fox.”
“Human-faced fox!” Huangfu Xu exclaimed, startled.
“Human-faced fox?” Lu Zheng was taken aback.
“Indeed,” Taoist Jiuzhen said. “While passing through Luonan County, I encountered this human-faced fox causing harm, so I acted to subdue it. Unexpectedly, it had a treasure and escaped.
Fortunately, I captured its aura and followed it with guiding incense, arriving just now.
But the fox has hidden itself within your group, and the incense cannot identify it. I thought this family of foxes was aiding the human-faced fox.”
“No, no!” Huangfu Xu waved his hands. “We don’t know any human-faced fox!”
Lu Zheng turned sharply, scanning the group.
All familiar faces.
“The human-faced fox’s innate ability is to kill, consume hearts, and transform into its victim, living as them,” Taoist Jiuzhen warned.
“Skin-painting technique?” Lu Zheng asked.
Taoist Jiuzhen shook his head. “Not skin-painting, just transformation.”
