The next day, Lu Zheng accompanied Du Yuru’s family to observe the local conditions in Tonglin County, after which the Du family took their leave.
However, Du Yueyao’s plan to study medicine with Liu Qingyan was settled. One of the Du family’s servants and a guard stayed behind, renting a courtyard in Tongyi Lane and beginning to set it up. Once everything was ready, Du Yueyao would come to stay for a period each month, studying medicine and attending patients alongside Liu Qingyan.
“Why did you agree to it?” Lu Zheng asked Liu Qingyan.
Liu Qingyan smiled softly, “I can see that Miss Du genuinely loves medicine and has a kind heart. Since that’s the case, why should I refuse?”
“But…”
Liu Qingyan chuckled, covering her mouth, “Hee hee, honestly, I don’t mind. After all, I am a fox spirit, and you, my dear, are the true heir of Baiyun Temple. If you were to marry…”
“No way!” Lu Zheng shook his head, gently pressing his hand over Liu Qingyan’s mouth.
“Mmph…”
As for Du Yueyao’s medical studies, Liu Qingyan had agreed, and the Du couple had no objections. In this matter, Lu Zheng was somewhat of an outsider and had no grounds to object. Understanding Du Yuru’s perspective, and seeing that Du Yueyao was a kind-hearted girl, Lu Zheng tacitly accepted the arrangement.
Since Du Yueyao wouldn’t return for another half month, Lu Zheng, after seeing off the Du family, made a trip to Shaotong Mountain to visit his master and senior brother. Why not go in the days just after his return? Lu Zheng claimed he forgot… no, that he needed to prepare a batch of freshly brewed Huadiao wine for his master.
Master Mingzhang was quite pleased to hear from Yuanning that Lu Zheng had stored ten jars of fine wine in the cellar, asking with concern, “These are all your private brews. You must be running low by now, aren’t you?”
Lu Zheng nodded, “Indeed, but rest assured, Master, I’ve added fresh yeast, and a new batch is already in the making.”
“Excellent, excellent!”
Master Mingzhang smiled, stroking his beard, before turning to the main topic, “The Jinhua Sect has really shown respect this time. The *Taiyuan Mysterious Scripture* was received in a dream by one of their ancestors from the Taiyuan True Monarch, compiled over decades. Though it doesn’t align with the Jinhua Sect’s core teachings, it is still an orthodox method of the Mysterious Gate, cultivating the three treasures and offering a path to longevity.”
“Indeed,” Lu Zheng nodded.
He had studied this method as well. While its depth and efficiency were slightly inferior to the *Innate Cloud Transformation Qi Scripture* and the *Nine Heavens Golden Tower Divine Transformation Method*, it was only just below them. Since it was meant for Lin Wan, Lu Zheng had naturally familiarised himself with it to guide her later.
“Not to mention the *Golden Tower Imperial Method Mysterious Secret*,” Master Mingzhang said with some astonishment. “To be honest, I never expected the Jinhua Sect to pass this scripture to you. What did you do there? Gift them dozens of swords and jars of wine?”
“No!” Lu Zheng shook his head. “I just played a few days of chess with their Rong-generation disciples.”
Lu Zheng conveniently omitted that he had beaten the Jinhua Sect’s leader at chess. Unless Master Pengyu mentioned it himself, Lu Zheng planned to keep that to himself.
Master Mingzhang was aware of the Jinhua Sect’s tradition of refining the spirit through chess, but he was still puzzled, “Even so, that shouldn’t warrant giving you this technique…”
Lu Zheng could only shrug, indicating he was unsure himself.
“Fine, the Jinhua Sect’s gesture is significant. They likely see your potential,” Master Mingzhang mused, shaking his head with a smile. “Regardless, it’s good for you. Building ties with the Jinhua Sect is no bad thing.”
Lu Zheng nodded with a smile, agreeing.
After a pause, Master Mingzhang cautioned, “The spirit-refining method is profound, but reaching its highest levels is as difficult as climbing the heavens. Your foundation lies in the Cloud Qi Method. Don’t put the cart before the horse.”
“Yes, Master, I understand,” Lu Zheng nodded repeatedly.
“Good.”
Master Mingzhang nodded with satisfaction, then beckoned, summoning a chessboard and pieces. “Come, let me see the chess skills that swept the Jinhua Sect’s Rong-generation disciples, earning you their core teachings.”
He had seen Lu Zheng defeat Master Yuting in a chess match to win an illusion technique. Back then, Lu Zheng’s skills were strong but not enough to dominate the Jinhua Sect’s younger generation. Clearly, Lu Zheng had improved significantly over the past year, and Master Mingzhang, intrigued, invited him to play a game.
“No going easy on me.”
“Understood!”
…
Half an hour later.
“Well, this Huadiao wine, though lacking in refined energy, is fragrant, rich, and smooth. Truly a fine brew!” Master Mingzhang praised.
The two had moved to the courtyard, and as for the chess game… What chess game? They had clearly been chatting. Lu Zheng had mentioned encountering Du Yuru, the prefect of Yizhou, and assisting Huizhou’s Supernatural Office in defeating a ghost king and capturing two Nanjiang practitioners.
Master Mingzhang shook his head, “Nanjiang has been peaceful for a long time. Are they stirring trouble again?”
Lu Zheng blinked, knowing nothing about it.
“No matter,” Master Mingzhang waved it off. “Aside from local forces, Nanjiang is filled with defeated sects, unorthodox factions, witches, demons, and ghosts. Even the branches of Buddhist, Taoist, sword, and martial traditions there are not their main lines. There are experts, but as seekers of longevity, they won’t start wars recklessly… probably?”
“Probably?” Lu Zheng blinked.
Master Mingzhang blinked back, coughing, “Ahem, no worries. If the sky falls, taller folks will hold it up. The Eight Immortals Temple, Tianlong Temple, and many major sects are in the southern three regions.”
Lu Zheng, “…”
…
Back in Tonglin County, aside from daily cultivation and refining the bronze mirror, Lu Zheng fell back into idleness.
“Hey, Lin Wan, still busy?” Lu Zheng called Lin Wan.
“No, just finished dinner, about to head back to the bureau to rest.”
“Sounds like things aren’t going smoothly?” Lu Zheng asked.
“Mm.”
Due to case confidentiality, Lin Wan couldn’t elaborate, only affirming with a hum.
“There’s some progress, but I might need to stay here a bit longer,” Lin Wan said.
“No problem,” Lu Zheng replied, then, before she could react, added, “But I can come visit you!”
“Uh…”
Lin Wan was taken aback. Her colleagues’ partners were usually busy with work, so this was new.
“Isn’t that inappropriate…” Lin Wan said hesitantly.
“What’s inappropriate? You’re investigating, not undercover. You can’t possibly work twenty-four hours a day, can you?” Lu Zheng asked.
Lin Wan blinked. It seemed, perhaps, maybe, possibly, it was fine?
Lu Zheng smiled, about to speak, when sudden exclamations came through the phone.
“A car!”
“Lin Wan, watch out!”
