“You don’t want to go?” Lu Zheng looked at Hu Zhou.
“Yes,” Hu Zhou nodded. “I think the county is great. Mornings I work, afternoons I listen to Sister Liu and you tell stories, evenings I practice my blade at the City God Temple. My days are full and interesting. Why go to the Southern Border for no reason? The Ten Thousand Mountains aren’t even part of the Jing Dynasty!”
Lu Zheng blinked. Hu Zhou’s reasoning made sense.
“You’re not wrong!” Lu Zheng nodded. “In that case…”
The air fell silent for a moment.
“Your master must give you a proper talking-to,” Lu Zheng said sternly. “As the saying goes, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. You’ve never been to the Southern Border, so how can you judge it based on hearsay?
“Besides, your parents have been apart for years. How can you bear to make them separate again just for you?
“You’re grown now, literate and sensible. Your master doesn’t need to nag you constantly. Later, come with me to the study to pick up some books. Study them diligently in the Southern Border, don’t slack off.
“What’s more, with your current cultivation, it’s not like you can’t return. If you miss us, you can come back for a while each year. Why act like a clingy little girl?”
“This…” Hu Zhou looked utterly confused.
Lu Zheng continued, “You’ve never met your father before, and now that you have, how can you live apart? Besides, Brother Hu’s cultivation is extraordinary. You love training, don’t you? I’ve taught you nearly everything I can. I’m sure Brother Hu has much more to teach you. Combining our teachings, won’t that be even better?”
“This…” Hu Zhou was doubly confused.
“That settles it!” Lu Zheng nodded, deciding the matter.
Hu Yijun gave a satisfied smile and said gently, “If you miss this place, I’ll have someone bring you back by wind. Though it’s thousands of miles, it’s a trivial matter.
“In time, when your cultivation improves and you can wield artifacts, I’ll give you a flag. Traveling between Yizhou and Dingfeng Mountain will take just a day or two, easy as flipping your hand.”
“Really?” Hu Zhou’s eyes lit up, intrigued.
Hu Yijun nodded. “Of course it’s true. You’re my son, with top-tier talent and potential. With me guiding you, your cultivation will be smooth sailing.”
Lu Zheng: Orz
His eyes moistened, likely from being moved by this father-son bond.
The tense atmosphere eased, and Lu Zheng let out a quiet breath.
Hu Zhou thought for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right, I’ll listen to you!”
“A teachable child,” Lu Zheng said, his expression calm, while inwardly counting the strands of destiny light pouring into the jade seal in his mind.
One, two, three, four…
He counted up to two hundred sixty-two strands before the jade seal trembled lightly, then…
*Buzz!*
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—*
Another seventy-eight strands of destiny light were gained.
“What’s going on?”
Lu Zheng’s eyes flickered, turning to Wang Yuzhi, who was beaming with a smile.
Well, life is full of unexpected surprises. Lu Zheng thought, *You may have gained, but I’m definitely not losing out!*
“Young Master, lunch is ready. Just let me know when you’re ready to eat,” Aunt Liu said.
Lu Zheng glanced at the sky and smiled at the group. “It’s noon. Shall we eat and chat?”
Hu Yijun nodded. “The guest follows the host. Arrange as you see fit, Brother Lu.”
“Please!”
“What’s this wine?” Hu Yijun held up his cup, the clear liquid flowing gently, exuding a rich grain aroma.
“Though it lacks spiritual energy, its fragrance is thick and pure, a rare fine brew.”
“This is Lu Lang’s exclusive brew, unique in the Jing Dynasty. It’s not mass-produced, just for family to enjoy behind closed doors,” Uncle Liu said, clinking cups with Hu Yijun. “It’s called Wuliangye.”
Knowing Hu Yijun was a great demon from the Southern Border, Uncle Liu had been wary. But after hearing about his past with Wang Yuzhi and considering he was Hu Zhou’s father, he didn’t act rudely.
Now, sharing a table and drinks, Hu Yijun seemed less intimidating, and Uncle Liu gradually relaxed.
“You may have status in the Southern Border, but you might not enjoy life as much as this old man does in this county,” Uncle Liu laughed. “Brother Lu is a remarkable man. Fine wine, delicious food, mahjong, fruits, you name it.”
Hu Yijun nodded. “Zhou’er told me. Brother Lu’s talents are evident just from this pure, fragrant grain wine.”
Lu Zheng waved it off with a smile. “Just some small pleasures, not fit for grand halls.”
Turning to Hu Yijun, he said, “If Brother Hu is interested, I’ll bring you a few jars to take back.”
Hu Yijun didn’t hesitate. “Good, not too many, just ten jars will do.”
Uncle Liu: (||๐_๐)
“No problem,” Lu Zheng said calmly, agreeing readily, thinking, *You’re really not shy. Good thing I’m prepared with a stock in the new house’s cellar.*
Uncle Liu: ⚆_⚆?
*Was I too polite before? Lu Lang, you have that much?*
“Great!” Hu Yijun clinked cups with Lu Zheng, laughing heartily, revealing a hint of his tiger king aura.
Turning to Uncle Liu and Liu Qingyan, he said, “You both carry a trace of ancient bloodline, though impure. Thanks to your merit, it’s been somewhat awakened. Mr. Liu, it’s less noticeable in you, but Miss Liu likely has an extra tail manifestation.”
“What?” Uncle Liu was puzzled.
Liu Qingyan’s eyes flickered. She set down her chopsticks and said respectfully, “Exactly as you say, Mr. Hu.”
Hu Zhou and his mother blinked, looking at Liu Qingyan and Uncle Liu.
Liu Qingyan smiled apologetically. “Forgive me, Sister. I’ve kept my identity hidden and didn’t tell you.”
As she spoke, a faint demonic aura broke through her merit qi, revealing two fluffy white shadows behind her.
“Qingyan is a fox.”
Hu Zhou and his mother were shocked. Hu Zhou exclaimed, “I thought Sister Liu was a supernatural being!”
Liu Qingyan apologized. “Living in the mortal world…”
Wang Yuzhi took her hand. “There’s nothing to forgive. Knowing you’re a fox makes me even happier.”
After all, with her husband being a tiger, Wang Yuzhi instinctively preferred friends who weren’t ordinary humans.
Hu Yijun said, “But relying on merit to awaken it requires immense merit, and who knows how long that would take. I have two techniques: one to purify bloodlines, another to cultivate with moonlight essence. Consider them a meeting gift.”
With that, he lightly pointed, and two beams of spiritual light entered Uncle Liu and Liu Qingyan’s foreheads.
