The female guests arrived first, followed by Yuanjing, Guangyue, and Xin Zhanting, who arrived one after another.
Finally, Du Yueyao and Hou Ping, who had been helping in the front courtyard, joined the eighteen Heavenly Maidens in heading to the peach grove plaza.
With everyone present, the feast could begin!
Ahem!
Lu Zheng, of course, did not deliver any long-winded speeches. He simply said that, taking advantage of the festival, he had gathered friends for a relaxed get-together to unwind, exchange cultivation insights, play chess, or enjoy music, all to have a good time.
Then…
The eighteen Heavenly Maidens, dressed in splendid attire, entered the scene, each carrying a wooden tray. On each tray was a small porcelain dish containing a single round elixir.
After entering, the maidens dispersed, approaching their respective guests, placing the porcelain dishes on the tables.
“This is…”
“Hiss! What a fine elixir!”
Guangyue fixed his gaze on the elixir, “This elixir seems even more potent than the Buddhist Minor Rejuvenation Pill.”
Yuanjing nodded, “Its potency is roughly comparable to the Taoist Minor Essence-Nurturing Pill.”
Guangyue: →_→
Yuanjing: ←_←
Aside from the women of Wuxiu Manor, the others had only received invitations to join a casual gathering. Lu Zheng hadn’t mentioned anything about an elixir-tasting event in the invitations.
So, everyone assumed it was just a relaxed occasion to sip wine, eat fruit, play chess, and chat.
The fruits, drinks, and entertainment Lu Zheng had prepared were already delightful, but to think the gathering had just begun, and he was already pulling out such a grand gesture?
“This is the Three Ginseng Jade Mushroom Elixir, refined by Qingyan and me together, using three types of spiritual ginseng as the main ingredients. It boosts qi and enhances cultivation. We also included a segment of a hundred-year-old jade mushroom, which adds spirituality and vitality to the elixir. The twelve auxiliary herbs are all century-old ingredients.”
Lu Zheng gently picked up the elixir from the porcelain dish in front of him, “The key is its mild nature. After consumption, there’s no worry about the potency being too strong. It can be absorbed slowly and naturally.”
Looking at the crowd, Lu Zheng smiled, “Everyone, please give it a try.”
With that, Lu Zheng led by example, placing the elixir in his mouth.
The elixir melted upon contact, instantly sliding down his throat into his stomach. The next moment, a warm, gentle spiritual energy spread from his stomach, slowly merging into his meridians.
The faint spiritual energy gradually filled his body, part of it clinging to his meridians, part blending into his true qi, and part gathering in his dantian, releasing its potency slowly.
“Thank you, Brother Lu!”
“Thank you, Miss Liu!”
Everyone present had fought side by side with Lu Zheng’s group, so their bond was close. Without excessive formality, they thanked him and consumed the elixirs.
The Three Ginseng Jade Mushroom Elixir took effect, benefiting everyone present. The greatest gains went to Bai Ting’er and Hou Ping, whose cultivations were the weakest.
As for Du Yueyao, who hadn’t yet cultivated true qi, the elixir’s potency accumulated in her dantian and meridians, gradually improving her constitution, ready to boost her cultivation once she developed true qi.
“Comfortable! Lady Qing’s skills are impressive. This elixir’s properties are excellent, truly befitting a medical family!”
Xin Zhanting assumed this was Liu Qingyan’s family expertise. After swallowing the elixir, he felt utterly refreshed, raising a cup to toast Liu Qingyan’s table from afar before downing it.
Liu Qingyan blinked, about to explain, but Lu Zheng gently held her back. After a moment’s thought, she decided not to clarify.
“Everyone, make yourselves at home, no need to be formal!” Lu Zheng raised a cup of fruit wine, smiling as he toasted.
“No formalities here!” “Come, come, let’s keep playing chess. Our four-way battle hasn’t decided a winner yet.”
“Miss Lin, it’s your turn to deal.”
“Peach Joy, Peach Grace, Peach Charm, let’s play the zither and flute to entertain the guests.”
“Great Monk, do you play chess?” Yuanjing raised an eyebrow at Guangyue.
“Amitabha, Brother Daoist, today I’ll show you the Buddhist chess style.”
“Brother Lu, how about a game?”
“Sister Shen, I want to play checkers. Can you take my place?”
“Mahjong? Come on, the civil officials at the City God Temple never dare beat me. Today, I can finally have some fun.”
…
Xin Zhanting and Shen Ying took over the mahjong table from Hua Yixing and Lin Jing’er.
Hua Yixing went to play checkers, while Lin Jing’er joined two Peach Blossom Heavenly Maidens to create a painting of a summer tour in the peach grove.
After one round of checkers, Bai Ting’er felt her temples throbbing and promptly fled to join some Peach Blossom Heavenly Maidens in playing music.
Liu Qingquan pulled Du Yueyao and another Peach Blossom Heavenly Maiden into the game, forming a six-player checkers match—the highest level of chaos—with Xiao Cui, Yu Mingxin, and Hua Yixing.
Guangyue and Yuanjing played chess, while Zhu Yushan roped Lu Zheng into a game.
Liu Qingyan stayed by Lu Zheng’s side, occasionally watching Guangyue and Yuanjing’s match, then glancing at Lu Zheng and Zhu Yushan’s. She realized it was only natural that Lu Zheng’s cultivation speed far surpassed both of theirs.
The most carefree and happiest was Hou Ping, who stuffed fruit into his mouth with one hand, poured wine from a jug with the other, and wandered between watching mahjong, checkers, listening to music, and observing the painting, feeling that this was the peak of life’s joy.
…
“Brother Lu’s chess skills are quite profound, truly above mine.”
Zhu Yushan placed a white piece, “I’m not weak in Yizhou City or the River God Manor, but every time I play against Brother Lu, I feel restricted at every turn, unable to perform.”
Lu Zheng smiled faintly, “Luck, it’s all luck.”
Liu Qingyan stifled a laugh. Zhu Yushan’s chess skills weren’t weak, probably on par with Shen Ying, but compared to Lu Zheng…
Shen Ying had once made a similar remark, showing that Lu Zheng’s skill at letting his opponent win wasn’t yet flawless.
Zhu Yushan shook his head repeatedly, “No, no, Brother Lu, you’re too modest. This isn’t luck.”
Pausing, Zhu Yushan continued, “Fortunately, my heart lies in studying, not chess. Otherwise, I’d be crushed by Brother Lu.”
Lu Zheng blinked and said casually, “Actually, playing chess is like a battle between two armies. Brother Zhu, though you focus on governing local affairs, you can’t entirely ignore military matters. What if you’re sent to the northern borders and face a sudden attack from the three northern kingdoms? At that moment, neither civil tactics nor cultivator techniques may suffice. The strategic interplay derived from chess might offer you another perspective on military strategy.”
“This…”
Zhu Yushan was momentarily stunned by Lu Zheng’s words. After thinking it over, it seemed quite reasonable?
Nodding thoughtfully, Zhu Yushan said, “Brother Lu, you make a good point. I’ll study chess more diligently when I return.”
Lu Zheng nodded, but before he could speak, his mind’s jade seal hummed, registering another gain.
Twelve points!
Lu Zheng, “…”
What the heck! I was just joking, and you had an epiphany?
