The sun had risen high.
In fact, it proved that sleeping too long sometimes led to backache and soreness.
According to the doctor, this was a symptom of chronic lumbar strain.
Not only did ordinary people experience this, but even Lu Zheng, who had achieved success in cultivation, felt it too.
Basking in the sun, he stretched lazily. Shen Ying had already dressed and come out from the room, standing beside him.
Her eyes were like water, her cheeks flushed pink, her figure swaying like a willow in the wind. She gently wrapped her arm around Lu Zheng, pressing her soft form against him, the touch tantalising.
Xiao Cui carried a basin of water, drifting over from the front hall. “Young master, please wash up.”
“I’ll do it.” Shen Ying took the basin and placed it on the rack in the courtyard, serving Lu Zheng as he washed his face.
Lu Zheng glanced at it and saw a dozen peach petals floating in the water, releasing strands of fragrance.
“The old peach tree has made progress again. Many new peach blossoms have bloomed, so quite a few old ones have fallen. They carry considerable spiritual qi, and it would be a pity to discard them, so I collected them for other uses.” Shen Ying said.
Lu Zheng nodded, cupped some water in his hands, and splashed it over his face. The fragrance filled the air, cool and refreshing, invigorating his spirits.
“Comfortable.” Lu Zheng said. “But it feels a bit wasteful too.”
The dozen peach petals in this basin were trivial to a cultivator, but a tonic for ordinary folk.
“Only when Lu lang uses it is it not wasted.” Shen Ying took a handkerchief and wiped his face, then had Xiao Cui clear the items before leading Lu Zheng to the front hall of the estate.
Breakfast was already prepared.
One had to say, Shen Ying, as a lady from a great family, never failed to impress. Every visit to Peach Blossom Village brought Lu Zheng the indulgence of a wealthy landlord. It was too comfortable.
“Is there still any incense fire qi transmitted from the southern Peach Mother Divine Mountain?” Lu Zheng asked between bites.
Shen Ying nodded. “There is, but indeed not as much as before. Instead, the incense fire qi from other places grows denser.”
This showed that the Peach Yao poem was still spreading. Many places with peach groves and common folk continued to pray to the Peach Blossom Immortal.
However…
With the Peach Mother Divine Mountain gone, the locals there remained quite devout.
Yet no matter how devout, he could not leave that Peach Mother God Tree standing. Otherwise, where would he go for white peach cage cakes or peach blossom brew in the future?
Holding his food, Lu Zheng took a deep breath. So fragrant!
…
After breakfast, Lu Zheng did not leave the estate for the city. Instead, he accompanied Shen Ying out into the peach grove for a stroll.
It seemed the two had not spent time alone together in ages.
Shen Ying savoured this moment, arm in arm with Lu Zheng, wandering through the peach grove. As they walked, the blooming peach blossoms on the trees around them grew ever more vibrant.
Lu Zheng reached out gently and plucked a peach blossom, tilting his head to look before tucking it lightly into Shen Ying’s hair.
The flower against her temple complemented her gold and jade peach blossom hairpin, making her lovelier than the bloom itself, adding three parts more tender charm.
Shen Ying felt herself melting into Lu Zheng’s embrace.
She lifted her head lightly and planted a kiss on his profile. Holding back the flutter in her heart, she pulled Lu Zheng onward, soon passing through the illusion barrier she had set.
Summer was nearly over, but the weather was still fine. The warm sun shone down. By mid-morning, some talented scholars and beauties were already admiring the peach grove’s splendour.
“So early in the morning, and the peach grove is this lively?” Lu Zheng asked.
They had just emerged not far from the Peach Blossom Village position, which was deeper in the grove. Even so, within sight, Lu Zheng spotted four or five groups of people strolling and admiring the scenery.
“The county exams just ended, so scholars from nearby fields, villages, and towns have not yet left. On idle days, they come to the peach grove to view the flowers.” Shen Ying smiled. “Some ladies from wealthy families visit too, hoping to find a suitable husband.”
“So that means plenty of men and women come to the Peach Blossom Shrine seeking matches?” Lu Zheng laughed. “Are you not stealing the matchmakers’ business?”
Shen Ying giggled. “I could not steal the matchmakers’ trade. When folks take a fancy to each other and it comes to formal proposals, they still need a matchmaker.”
The pair headed toward the Peach Blossom Shrine along the way, passing many men and women: some admiring flowers and scenery, others composing poems in pairs, and some seated on the ground, drinking wine, discussing literature, plucking zithers, or blowing shengs.
…
“Let me tell you, I spotted something off about that woman right away. What woman appears on a wall at midnight, and so beautiful at that? She had to be a female ghost!”
“So I kept my cool and chatted with her about this and that. The female ghost never suspected I had seen through her disguise.”
“Heh, Brother Zhao here knows astronomy above, geography below, ancient lore through and through, with flowing literary flair. I just tossed out a few little tales, and I had that female ghost hooked.”
“After that, for a whole month, she came chatting with me every day, utterly captivated by Brother Zhao. She even offered herself to my bed.”
“Hiss…”
“Then what? Then what?”
“I have to say… tsk tsk… if you lot get the chance, you should try it too.”
“Sigh, I saw that female ghost as pitiable, so I showed her extra care daily. But who knew she would harbour ill intent, wanting to kill me and turn me into a ghost too.”
“Wow!!!”
“Then what? Then what?”
“I saw through her malice, but out of regard for our bond as man and wife, I urged her to cultivate diligently. Once she transformed into a human, we could live together happily, no?”
“Alas, she refused. Sigh, after all those sage principles I shared with her, she would not advance alongside me.”
“Little did she know, I had encountered a master while strolling the streets earlier. He lent me a whisk. I did not wish to use it on her, but she insisted on killing me. In the end, she revealed her ghostly qi, which activated the whisk and slew her on the spot.”
“Hiss…”
“Heavens!”
“Then what? Then what?”
“Then? Then I returned the whisk to the master, and he drifted away.”
Zhao Wenrong finished, drawing gasps of admiration from the five or six men and women around him.
A young man looked amazed. “Who would have thought Brother Zhao had such an adventure.”
Another young man eyed him with envy. “Truly enviable…”
“Was the female ghost pretty?” a clear-featured woman asked curiously.
Zhao Wenrong nodded. “Rarely seen in the world.”
“Wow!”
“Did she turn terrifying?” another woman asked.
Zhao Wenrong said earnestly. “Her skin turned deathly pale, blood tears streamed from her eyes, her black hair grew three zhang in an instant, drifting everywhere and nearly filling the whole room. Her fingers extended three chi with red nails, like ten sharp swords!”
The women shrieked, then looked at Zhao Wenrong with eyes full of admiration.
“Master Zhao has such courage!”
“So impressive!”
Zhao Wenrong smiled modestly. “It is nothing. Brother Zhao has read sage books for over a decade, with an open heart and clear conscience. Naturally, I fear nothing.”
“Wow!!!”
Little stars appeared in the women’s eyes, gazing at Zhao Wenrong with adoration.
Zhao Wenrong raised an eyebrow, then shook his head regretfully. “Alas, without that female ghost, I have no one to chat with on lonely midnight nights.”
The women’s eyes lit up, words on the tip of their tongues, but after exchanging glances, none spoke.
Zhao Wenrong unfolded his fan, standing tall as a pine, head held high in a dashing pose. “So you see…”
He got only halfway when he trailed off.
Because he suddenly noticed Lu Zheng standing under a peach tree not far off, with a beautiful woman in pink palace attire at his side. The two held hands, smiling, listening with keen interest to him… boast… and bluster…
