Yinan Road, Huizhou, Jueshui County.
Lu Zheng descended from Jinhua Mountain, heading west. By midday, he arrived in Jueshui County, next to Jinhua County.
While debating whether to return to the modern world for lunch or try Jueshui County’s local specialties, Lu Zheng spotted a familiar face in a small diner.
“Brother Lu!”
Yan Hongxia’s eyes lit up as she saw Lu Zheng. She was about to eat a piece of noodle with her right hand, while her left hand waved hurriedly to greet him.
“Miss Yan?”
Lu Zheng blinked, quickly stepping into the diner and sitting beside Yan Hongxia. “What brings you here?”
“What would you like to eat, sir?”
The diner’s proprietress approached with a smile. “Our chicken soup noodles and beef noodles are exceptional. Which would you like?”
“Beef noodles, please,” Lu Zheng said.
“Coming right up! Just a moment!” The proprietress called out to her husband in the kitchen, then collected payment from a nearby customer, cleared their dishes, and returned to attend to others.
Lu Zheng looked at Yan Hongxia, who tilted her head slightly.
Following her gaze, Lu Zheng saw a man and woman on the second floor of a grand restaurant across the street, toasting each other by the railing.
The restaurant was impressive, five stories tall, with carved beams, painted rafters, lanterns, and drapes, serving lavish dishes.
The couple was striking: the man handsome, the woman alluring, both dressed elegantly with refined manners.
Noticing Lu Zheng and Yan Hongxia’s gaze, they raised their cups in a distant toast and drank deeply.
Lu Zheng blinked, then glanced back at the modest diner he and Yan Hongxia were in, open on three sides with worn tables and chairs.
He looked at Yan Hongxia, dressed plainly with no makeup, and at himself, wearing a scholar’s robe unwashed for days.
“Thud!”
“Enjoy your meal, sir!” The proprietress placed a large bowl of beef noodles before Lu Zheng with a hearty greeting, the clear broth topped with three thin slices of beef.
Lu Zheng, “…”
Damn, they were outdone!
Lu Zheng grimaced, asking Yan Hongxia, “Who are those two?”
“The man is a disciple of the Huajian Caiyun Sect, and the woman is from the Goddess Sect,” Yan Hongxia replied.
“Hm?” Lu Zheng blinked.
Truth be told, he had heard of both sects.
Once, while following Hu Cainiang to find Ji Zizhen, he met You Che and Du Huanzhen from Yizhou’s Anomaly Bureau, who mentioned the Goddess Sect.
Another time, at Wuxiu Manor, an old monk from Mingshen Valley mentioned the Huajian Caiyun Sect.
Both were nefarious sects from the southern border, not good people.
“Didn’t you report them to the Anomaly Bureau?” Lu Zheng asked.
Yan Hongxia blinked. “Why would I do that?”
Lu Zheng blinked back. “Southern border sects causing trouble here, shouldn’t we inform the Anomaly Bureau?”
Yan Hongxia, “…”
Lu Zheng, “…”
“Why bother with the Anomaly Bureau? They’re in Huizhou’s capital. If I went to report, wouldn’t they just escape?” Yan Hongxia argued.
Lu Zheng blinked. Though her reasoning made sense, he felt she wasn’t being entirely honest.
“Three days ago, while travelling in Xuzhou, I caught them harvesting yin and yang, harming several men and women. I intervened and followed them south, arriving here just now.”
“I can handle either one alone, but together, I can’t take them down,” Yan Hongxia said. “You’re here just in time, Brother Lu. Let’s team up, follow them out of the city, and take them out!”
“Resorting to violence so quickly…”
Lu Zheng smacked his lips, nodding. “Sounds good, I like it!”
Since Yan Hongxia caught them doing evil, they clearly weren’t misunderstood innocents. As part of the lawful good camp, Lu Zheng felt no qualms about dealing with them.
He had no grand notions of heroism, but since he encountered them and Yan Hongxia invited him, there was no reason to pass up the chance to gain fortune’s light, right?
However, the two across the street were nearly as skilled as Yan Hongxia. Lu Zheng didn’t underestimate them, asking, “What are their abilities?”
“The Goddess Sect excels in mental cultivation. Beware her illusions and charm techniques, plus a decent mental secret art,” Yan Hongxia said. “The Huajian Caiyun Sect focuses on the Hundred Flowers Cloud Method, very tricky, and they have considerable skill in curses.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “Not a big problem.”
…
The two groups of four, separated by a narrow street, ate quietly with different thoughts.
Neither side intended to start a fight in public.
With many customers in the diner and restaurant, Lu Zheng and Yan Hongxia worried that cornering the pair might lead to reckless killing. Likewise, the pair didn’t want to escalate things and attract the Anomaly Bureau or military, which would prevent their escape.
…
Lu Zheng finished his beef noodles, and the couple across the street finished their meal, leisurely descending from the restaurant.
They gave Lu Zheng a once-over, and he suddenly smelled a faint fragrance, the woman’s appearance blurring.
Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed, instantly clearing his mind.
The fragrance faded, his vision sharpened, and the couple, hand in hand, turned and moved swiftly toward the city outskirts.
Yan Hongxia looked at Lu Zheng. “Well?”
“Strong curse technique,” Lu Zheng nodded, asking Yan Hongxia, “How did you break it?”
“With sword qi, naturally,” Yan Hongxia said matter-of-factly.
“Impressive!” Lu Zheng gave a thumbs-up, paid over twenty copper coins, and left with Yan Hongxia.
Jueshui County was small, and they soon neared the city gate.
“Those two are bold. Even with my help, they seem completely unhurried?” Lu Zheng and Yan Hongxia trailed behind.
After that brief probe, they should know Lu Zheng wasn’t easy to deal with, yet they appeared so relaxed?
Just as Lu Zheng spoke, the couple passed through the city gate, their feet moving like the wind, swiftly disappearing into the distance.
Lu Zheng: ???
“Follow them!” Yan Hongxia shouted, leaping forward and speeding out of the city.
Lu Zheng cast a divine travel spell on himself, gliding out of the city gate almost without touching the ground, racing along the official road in pursuit.
…
Four shadows flashed through the woods beside the official road, two in front, two behind, moving at breakneck speed.
“Yan Hongxia, are you ever going to stop? Don’t force us to take you out!” the woman ahead called out sharply.
“Hmph! As if you could kill me. Try it if you dare!” Yan Hongxia retorted from behind.
The woman snapped, “If you’re so tough, tell your lover not to interfere!”
“Brother Lu is…”
Lu Zheng clenched his hand, and the clouds ahead rapidly gathered, pressing toward the pair.
“Huh? Cloud techniques too?” The man glanced at Lu Zheng warily, surprised, then waved to disperse the clouds, speeding up with the woman.
Together, they could hold their own against Yan Hongxia, but with Lu Zheng added, they had no intention of fighting back, focusing on fleeing south. If they met allies or reached the southern border, they’d be safe.
Their speed was impressive, and their cultivation was strong. Lu Zheng and Yan Hongxia followed, probing each other without decisive blows.
Though the pair kept moving, Lu Zheng gradually increased his efforts, gaining the upper hand, slowing them down.
Soon, the sun dipped west, the forest darkening, and faintly ahead, a manor appeared.
