Daoist Jiuzhen left with his disciple, and Yan Hongxia departed with a bundle of snacks.
Lu Zheng returned to his idle, carefree state. Having gained nearly three hundred strands of fate light, his already ample reserves grew even more substantial.
Even without further gains, by the time he exhausted this fate light, he estimated he’d have over two hundred years of cultivation.
But thinking about it, after slaying so many demons and monsters, and gleaning so much from those around him, only to gain two hundred years of cultivation, the jade seal didn’t seem all that impressive, did it?
Jade seal, “…”
“Alright, alright, it’ll do for now. Jade seal, enhance me!”
“…Buzz!”
“Refreshing!” Lu Zheng exhaled deeply, his body cycling through the Grand Circulation, digesting the latest boost.
“Thank you, Young Master Lu, for the reward!”
A waiter shouted, and the storyteller on the stage repeatedly bowed in gratitude toward Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng: ⚆_⚆?
Waving his hand, he pulled a dozen copper coins from his money pouch, handed them to the approaching waiter, and casually sipped the freshly refilled tea.
The storyteller continued, recounting how a sickly scholar stumbled upon a small roadside temple, lit a stick of incense, and heard water sounds behind it. Following the sound, he discovered a mountain hot spring, where three to five women were bathing in the stream…
“The women were as beautiful as flowers, their skin like congealed jade, frolicking in the spring water…”
*Gulp!*
*Gulp!*
A wave of swallowing sounds rose from the audience. Lu Zheng glanced around, seeing several listeners with glowing eyes, visibly excited.
“Then what? Then what?”
“Hurry up! Hurry!”
“Here’s a tip!”
Lu Zheng sighed. Sure enough, risqué tales were a universal money-maker.
After listening to the storyteller’s tale of “The Sickly Scholar Meets Fairy Maidens in the Mountains, A Night of Romance in the Mountain God Temple,” Lu Zheng left Leping Tower.
He first inspected his candy shop and sugar refinery, then leisurely headed to Benevolent Heart Hall.
“Not many people today, huh?”
“Lu Lang,” Liu Qingyan greeted him, “Fewer people is a good thing.”
“Right, right!” Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly. They ran a medical clinic, not an eatery.
Seeing Lu Zheng fanning himself with one hand, twirling prayer beads with the other, and strolling in with a leisurely gait, Liu Qingyan found it both exasperating and amusing.
How could someone so clearly talented and diligent insist on acting so lazy?
…
After a tour of Benevolent Heart Hall, Lu Zheng returned home, wondering if he should head to Peach Blossom Ridge for some afternoon shade. But he found Shen Ying waiting for him.
“Lu Lang,” Shen Ying grabbed him, “I found a great spot in the southeast mountains. Let me take you to see it.”
“What kind of spot?”
“You’ll see when we get there!”
So Lu Zheng gave Old Li some instructions, then followed Shen Ying out of Tonglin County, past Peach Blossom Ridge, heading southeast.
Southeast of Peach Blossom Ridge lay rugged mountains, wild and uninhabited. Occasionally, a faint path appeared, its origins unclear, with no telling how many had trod it.
“Since breaking free from my constraints, I’ve been wandering around nearby from time to time. A few days ago, I stumbled upon this place,” Shen Ying smiled. “It’s fine in summer, but in winter, it’s a perfect spot to relax.”
“Winter… could it be…”
As they spoke, they crossed several mountains, arriving at the place Shen Ying described.
It was a secluded mountain valley, shrouded in wispy mist above, steaming with a faint, pungent water vapour drifting outward.
“A hot spring?”
“Exactly, a mountain hot spring,” Shen Ying laughed. “I soaked for half an hour yesterday. It was very comfortable.”
They glided into the valley, and Lu Zheng felt a subtle warmth, distinct from the cool mountain air.
Through the mist, the valley revealed lush greenery, with geothermal springs keeping the vegetation evergreen year-round.
Further in, the muddy ground turned to stone, and the sound of flowing water grew louder.
Soon, several hot springs of varying sizes came into view.
Shen Ying said, “I checked. This valley has many springs surging from underground, eventually converging into a stream five li south.”
Lu Zheng nodded. The springs before them ranged from ten zhang wide to just a zhang, their surfaces calm but with active undercurrents, all living water. With the steaming mist, there was little dust or fallen leaves, making them remarkably clean.
“How is it?”
“Great spot!” Lu Zheng nodded. “And truly all-natural!”
“Hee hee, Lu Lang, you’re so funny. Of course a hot spring is all-natural. What, did you think it was man-made, like a bathhouse?”
Shen Ying giggled, and without a wave or a shake, her pink silk dress slipped off.
Under Lu Zheng’s gaze, she glided into the smallest spring ahead like a mermaid.
As the hot water enveloped her, Shen Ying let out a soft moan, “Oh~~~”
…
“It’d be better in winter. Summer’s a bit hot,” Lu Zheng said, wiping sweat from his brow.
Shen Ying, hands busy, chuckled, “Is that sweat from the hot spring?”
Lu Zheng nodded earnestly, “Of course. Aren’t you sweating too?”
Shen Ying bit her lip, her breathing growing heavier, “We’re bathing, so a little more sweat doesn’t matter.”
…
Lu Zheng leaned against the spring’s edge, only his head above water.
Shen Ying, her hair pinned up, rested beside him, her head on his arm.
…
“Hee hee!”
“Oops, you stepped on my dress!”
“Then let’s wash it together.”
“No, no! If I wash it, what’ll I wear?”
“Well, obviously…”
“Nothing at all!”
“Hahaha!”
“Hee hee hee!”
“Big sister, big sister, look, third sister’s bullying me!”
A burst of playful chatter reached Lu Zheng and Shen Ying’s ears.
“Does this place have an owner?” Lu Zheng asked.
“There’s no one within five li,” Shen Ying shook her head. “Probably just some mountain spirits or tree sprites.”
They spoke without lowering their voices, so the newcomers clearly heard them and fell silent.
Light footsteps approached, and several graceful figures emerged through the valley’s mist, appearing before them.
Voluptuous yet slender, with willow-like waists, bright eyes, and charming gazes.
Some were dignified and elegant, others had flirtatious eyes, some were playful and light, others quiet and refined.
Five women in total, each unique, but all sharing one trait: breathtaking beauty, each scoring above ninety.
