Crossgate Seal Chapter 423

.Lu Zheng had thought he’d be quite busy, waiting for the Eighteen Peach Blossom Maidens to call for help.
But…
He waited for over a month, until it was time for the modern New Year, and no call for help came.
According to the maidens’ reports, practitioners from various sects in Yi Prefecture had patrolled their respective territories, working with the Anomaly Suppression Office to eliminate at least twenty ghosts that had shown themselves.
There were likely some cunning ones still hiding or having fled to other prefectures, but those were scattered and disorganised, unable to cause much trouble. Other prefectures’ anomaly handlers would deal with them in time.
The Black Wheel King had boasted of turning Yi Prefecture upside down, but in the end, it was just a small ripple.
A “pfft,” and it was gone.
The only pity was that they never found the Black Wheel King’s yin soul origin.
According to Shen Ying, after causing such a stir, the Black Wheel King’s yin soul origin had either fled back to the underworld or left Yi Prefecture entirely.
Thus, the plan to harness the light of fortune couldn’t proceed, and Lu Zheng had no choice but to return to the modern era to prepare for the New Year with Lin Wan.
However…
Lu Zheng had booked plane tickets to fly to Australia with Lin Wan, but fate had other plans. Lin Wan, usually free, was sent on a business trip and wouldn’t be back soon.
So, Lu Zheng brought some lingzhi wine and visited his parents, then went to Shandong Province to Lin Wan’s family, delivering several bottles of health tonic wine to her mother.
On New Year’s Eve, during a video call with Lin Wan, she apologised sheepishly, promising a long holiday upon her return to travel with him.
Lu Zheng agreed, and using the excuse of being apart on New Year’s Eve, got Lin Wan to sign several “treaties under duress,” which she reluctantly agreed to, her face flushed.
Satisfied, he hung up, then returned to the ancient era, pondering whether to sniff the fragrance sachet or touch the wooden plaque that evening.
…
Half a month after the modern New Year, it was time for the ancient New Year.
This year, he didn’t return to Ji Prefecture. He spent New Year’s Eve with the Liu family, and in the days following, visited White Cloud Temple, the Lu River God Mansion, and the City God Temple.
After the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth, the New Year was considered over.
…
“So, is this a business trip or a transfer?” Lu Zheng asked.
On the phone screen, Lin Wan showed a hint of helplessness.
“A business trip, really just a business trip. This investigation task is just physically demanding. It’s not difficult, but it’s very time-consuming.”
“Alright, sure you don’t need my help?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got it. I’m already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“As long as you’re confident.”
…
“Young master, will you have lunch at home?” Aunt Liu asked.
Lu Zheng waved his hand, “No need, I’m going out for a bit. For lunch…”
Before he finished, a figure suddenly emerged from the ground in the courtyard.
“Senior Song?” Lu Zheng exclaimed.
It was none other than Song Kaichuan, the master of the deep mountain cave in the northeast.
Since Song taught him the Earth Travel Technique two years ago and left, Lu Zheng had visited the cave over a dozen times to collect stalactite essence but never saw any trace of him.
Lu Zheng had wondered if Song would disappear for another thirty years, yet here he was, showing up at his doorstep.
“Little friend,” Song Kaichuan nodded.
Lu Zheng turned to Aunt Liu, “We’ll have lunch at home.”
Knowing Lu Zheng was an anomaly handler, Aunt Liu was briefly startled by Song’s appearance but quickly composed herself. She greeted Song and hurriedly went to the front courtyard to prepare food.
“Senior Song, please!” Lu Zheng led Song Kaichuan to the front hall, serving water and tea.
Song took a sip from the teacup, nodded, and looked at Lu Zheng, “Your cultivation has progressed well these past two years, little friend.”
“You flatter me, just minor progress,” Lu Zheng said modestly.
“Has your chess improved?”
Lu Zheng blinked, “It’s decent.”
“Come, let’s play a game,” Song Kaichuan set down his teacup, eyes gleaming.
“Uh… alright, this way, senior,” Lu Zheng stood, leading Song to the study, setting up the chessboard and pieces before they sat.
As the junior, Lu Zheng took white and played first, placing his piece at the star point.
After a dozen moves, both slowed their pace.
“Your solution to that endgame was truly ingenious and profound. I won against that old pine tree in the southern border thanks to your efforts,” Song Kaichuan said.
He casually placed a bag of pine nuts on the table, “These are pine nuts I picked from him. They’re quite beneficial for cultivation. Take them as a snack.”
Lu Zheng glanced at them. Each pine nut was as large as a thumb, shimmering with a flowing light and exuding a clear fragrance, surpassing the quality of the pine nuts gifted by White Cloud Temple’s ancestor last year.
“Hiss—”
Lu Zheng gasped, quickly refusing, “No, they’re too valuable.”
Song waved it off, “It’s fine. That old pine tree has plenty of pine nuts. Occupying such a large mountain, all the unused spiritual energy condenses into them each year.”
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony,” Lu Zheng said.
Song nodded, watching as Lu Zheng tapped his gourd to store the pine nuts.
Raising an eyebrow, Song was surprised Lu Zheng had a storage artifact capable of containing the vast in the small.
Song placed another piece, chatting casually, “I must say, that old pine tree’s chess skills are indeed better than mine. I usually lose more than I win. That endgame trapped me for over thirty years, but your solution helped me improve my game.”
“You’re too kind, senior. It’s your accumulated mastery. What does it have to do with me?”
Song shook his head, “It’s not so easy to take that step. The old pine tree set up that endgame to help me cross it, but in the end, I needed your assistance.”
Still, having pondered it for thirty years, Song was just one step away. Lu Zheng’s help didn’t diminish his own insight much.
Neither lingered long on moves, even pausing only briefly when uncertain before placing their pieces.
When Aunt Liu called from the courtyard, Lu Zheng and Song Kaichuan had finished their game.
Song, a chess enthusiast with exceptional skill, wasn’t spared by Lu Zheng, who narrowly won by three pieces.
“Great! Fine chess!” Song clapped and laughed, clearly delighted.
“Senior Song, lunch is ready. Please!”
Song nodded, “It’s been a while since I’ve eaten. When in Rome, let’s have some.”
Lu Zheng’s usually infallible taste-based strategy failed. Song had no particular demands for food, sampling each dish lightly and giving a simple “not bad” evaluation.
After lunch, they returned to the living room, and Song finally got to the point, “Your chess skills surpass mine, little friend. You could help my old friend. Do you have time to make a trip to the southern border?”