“I didn’t know the young master was a disciple of Baiyun Temple. I deeply regret yesterday’s offence. Please forgive me and be magnanimous!”
Lu Zheng looked at the two baskets of gifts in the front courtyard, speechless. Had they really backed down?
It was Zhou Mingsheng who came to apologise. Zhao Wenrong, too proud to show his face, was absent, as was the hot-tempered, obnoxious servant.
“That Zhao Si spoke out of turn and lacked virtue. He’s been sent back to Yizhou for family discipline,” Zhou Mingsheng said, bowing with a forced smile. “The weather turned chilly yesterday, and my young master caught a cold. He’s bedridden and couldn’t come. Please forgive him, young master.”
“Heh!” Lu Zheng chuckled, not bothering to call out the excuse.
“Take the gifts back,” Lu Zheng said, waving a hand to cut Zhou Mingsheng off. “I’m too busy to bother with you lot. Don’t disturb me again if you’ve got no business here.”
Zhou Mingsheng faltered but felt relieved. From Lu Zheng’s words, he sensed the matter was closed; Lu Zheng had no interest in pursuing it further.
“Once my young master recovers, we’ll invite…”
“Hm?” Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, yes!” Zhou Mingsheng nodded repeatedly. “We won’t disturb you again.”
“Good.” Lu Zheng nodded, instructing Uncle Li to see Zhou Mingsheng out.
…
Meanwhile, Zhao Wenrong was sulking at home, pacing in the back courtyard with a book in hand, unable to focus. Suddenly, a red figure peeked over the neighbouring wall, asking in a sweet, curious voice, “Young master, why so troubled?”
…
“So, it’s over just like that?” Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying leaned against Lu Zheng, one on each side.
“Yep.” Lu Zheng nodded, picking up a few cherries from a wooden tray floating on the water, passing one to each woman before popping the last into his mouth.
It was a rest day, and they were soaking in the hot springs of Baiquan Valley. Early spring’s lingering chill made it the perfect time for a soak. In a few weeks, as the weather warmed, the experience wouldn’t be quite the same.
Liu Qingquan was splashing nearby, while Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan chatted with Lu Zheng. Both women wore bikinis, as per Lu Zheng’s reasoning: why wrap up so tightly for a hot spring? Liu Qingquan, however, wore a modest white one-piece, her protests swiftly silenced by Liu Qingyan before Lu Zheng even needed to say a word.
“Lu Lang, Qingquan’s right there,” Liu Qingyan whispered.
Not far off, Liu Qingquan, playing with an inflatable water ball, perked up her ears and spun around. “Are you talking about me?”
“No!” Lu Zheng shook his head quickly. “Keep playing!”
Liu Qingquan eyed the three suspiciously but was soon distracted by her toy, squinting before turning back to her game.
Seeing Lu Zheng tease Liu Qingyan, Shen Ying giggled. “Should I take Qingquan to the other pool to give you two some space?”
“Sister!” Liu Qingyan huffed, her voice making Lu Zheng swallow hard. He couldn’t resist reaching out playfully.
“Lu Lang~” With Lu Zheng’s wandering hands and Liu Qingquan nearby, Liu Qingyan trembled, barely containing herself.
Knowing she might lose control if this continued, Liu Qingyan rallied and changed the subject. “The other day, you mentioned Sister Shen’s encounter with an enemy. I hadn’t heard the details. I didn’t realise it was so dangerous.”
After resolving the Zhao family matter, Lu Zheng had briefly told Liu Qingyan about the Peach Mother God Tree incident.
“Thanks to Lu Lang arriving in time,” Shen Ying said with a smile. “Otherwise, forget capturing them all, I’d have been lucky to protect myself.”
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Zheng. “Who’d have thought, in just two years, Lu Lang’s cultivation would reach such heights!”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, hands on hips, nose in the air, feigning arrogance. “Because your husband is a genius!”
Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying laughed but nodded in agreement. Two hundred years of cultivation, mastering both Baiyun Temple and Jinhua Sect techniques, plus martial arts and flying sword skills, not to mention self-taught binding spells and earth-travel techniques… If he wasn’t a genius, who was?
The Jade Seal: “…”
“Speaking of which, the peachwood flying sword and talisman are fine, but that Eastern God’s artefact is truly remarkable,” Shen Ying said.
“The porcelain vase?” Lu Zheng recalled. “A storage artefact?”
Shen Ying nodded, then shook her head. “It’s a storage artefact, but it can only hold intangible things like mist or vapour.”
“Peach Blossom Miasma?” Lu Zheng’s brow lifted.
Shen Ying’s eyes lit up with delight. “Exactly. I can condense Peach Blossom Miasma, store it in the vase, and use it in battle with half the effort for twice the result.”
“Nice!” Lu Zheng nodded. “You’ve got endless incense energy. You could refine countless miasmas in that vase and unleash them all at once to overwhelm enemies.”
“Wonderful! Congratulations, Sister!” Liu Qingyan beamed, genuinely thrilled for Shen Ying.
Shen Ying smiled. “The vase’s space is limited; it can’t hold endlessly.”
Still, her joy was evident. “I’m refining it with incense energy. In a few days, when it’s ready, come see.”
“Great!” Lu Zheng agreed.
…
With Liu Qingquan nearby, Lu Zheng didn’t get his way in the hot spring. By noon, the four left together and headed to Wuxiu Manor.
The five women of Wuxiu Manor—Hua Yixing, Lin Jing’er, Yu Mingxin, Bai Ting’er, and Hu Caina—often had little to do. Hu Caina frequently visited Liu Qingyan, while Yu Mingxin and Bai Ting’er got along famously with the Peach Blossom Celestial Maidens, often gathering at Peach Blossom Manor to sing and play music, thoroughly enjoying themselves. This left Hua Yixing and Lin Jing’er alone at the manor, exchanging wry glances.
Yesterday, Yu Mingxin and Bai Ting’er had gone to Peach Blossom Manor but returned after learning Lu Zheng’s family was visiting today. They informed their three sisters, who prepared early to host the group at noon, even buying a roast chicken and a pack of braised pork for Liu Qingquan from the town.
After lunch, the five women joined Lu Zheng’s group for a mountain stroll, enjoying the spring scenery: lush greenery, wildflowers in bloom, trickling springs, and chirping birds. Yu Mingxin whistled, and two orioles swooped down from nearby treetops, circling the group. She had Liu Qingquan extend her arm, and the birds landed on her wrist and forearm, tilting their heads curiously.
Liu Qingquan cautiously stroked their feathers. After a while, perhaps bored, the orioles flapped their wings, circled Yu Mingxin twice, and flew off.
…
After the outing, the group dined at Wuxiu Manor before heading home that night. They didn’t pass through Peach Blossom Terrace, so Shen Ying returned to Tonglin County with them. The night passed quietly, words unnecessary…
