“I see.” Lu Zheng nodded.
“Young Master Lu,” Old Master Wang said cautiously, “thank you for saving my daughter. Please, come to the front hall, allow this old man to offer you some tea.”
Though he spoke of offering tea, it was clear he meant to prepare a meal and a token of gratitude.
Lu Zheng waved his hand. “As I said, saving her was a small effort. But if you truly wish to thank me, how about giving me that large rooster you just had slaughtered?”
“Of course, of course! Old Li, hurry to the kitchen and fetch that rooster!”
“Yes!”
The old servant bowed and retreated, rushing out toward the kitchen.
“By the way, you mentioned that chicken…”
Lu Zheng nodded. “It’s a chicken demon.”
“A chicken demon?” Old Master Wang blinked, utterly baffled. Such a weak chicken demon? Slaughtered and bled by Old Li with one stroke?
Wang Xiao Wan also asked curiously, “That bowl of chicken blood, it came from a chicken demon?”
Lu Zheng nodded and recounted how, a couple of days ago, he had stumbled upon Li Lao Si by chance, found it intriguing, and followed him to observe the spectacle.
“So, that chicken demon was actually quite weak, just good for swindling some money.”
Old Master Wang chimed in, “Who would’ve thought it ran into me? No need to use it for cockfighting profits; it was for curing Xiao Wan, so…”
Wang Xiao Wan couldn’t help but laugh. “So, it didn’t die in the jaws of some beast in the wilds but ended up perishing in our kitchen by accident.”
The three exchanged glances and burst into laughter, closing some of the distance between them.
“So, that chicken…”
Lu Zheng said, “My wife at home is quite fond of chicken. This one’s meat is better than the usual farm-raised or even wild chickens.”
Hearing that Lu Zheng already had a wife, Wang Xiao Wan’s eyes dimmed briefly, but she quickly recovered, her expression unchanged.
“I see,” Old Master Wang hurriedly said. “Besides fighting cocks, my family has a chicken farm in the northern suburbs, with many free-range hens, tender and delicious. In the future, I’ll have some sent to your residence.”
Not giving Lu Zheng a chance to speak, Old Master Wang continued, “Please don’t refuse, Young Master. I know you lack for nothing, so I can only do what little I can to express my gratitude.”
Lu Zheng had no reason to refuse, so he nodded with a smile. “Old Master Wang, you’re too kind.”
Old Master Wang nodded. “Speaking of which, I should thank that Li Lao Si. If not for him, I wouldn’t have met you, and if we’d delayed any longer, Xiao Wan might’ve…”
He shook his head and said, “A hundred strings of cash to bring you here, I don’t consider it a loss. Let that Li Lao Si make his fortune.”
Speaking of which, Li Lao Si’s actions couldn’t exactly be called deceit. No one could’ve imagined he’d have the skill to find a chicken demon for cockfighting, essentially cheating with an unfair advantage.
But now, his golden ticket had met its end in the kitchen, and his cheat was gone…
If his resolve was steady, he could live well with those hundred strings of cash. But if he squandered it quickly, his future days might not be so pleasant.
Still, that had nothing to do with Lu Zheng or Old Master Wang. Without that peculiar chicken demon, Lu Zheng wouldn’t bother keeping tabs on an idle man.
Moments later, the servant Old Li returned carrying two sacks.
“Master, Young Master Lu.”
“The kitchen has plucked and gutted the chicken, cleaned it up a bit. I wasn’t sure what you needed, so I brought everything. Take a look…”
“Fine, I’ll take it all. The heart, gizzard, and such can be braised, and the feathers can be made into a few shuttlecocks.” Lu Zheng stood and took the sacks.
Holding the bags, Lu Zheng turned to the group. “Alright, I’m off. Oh, and Miss Wang, you’ve been afflicted by corpse poison for half a year, so rest and recuperate well.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” the three nodded repeatedly.
“Also…”
Lu Zheng thought for a moment and asked, “Miss Wang, are you interested in pursuing cultivation?”
Wang Xiao Wan’s eyes lit up. “I’ve only ever practiced haphazardly with some fragmented family texts, never having met an adept. Can, can I do it?”
Old Master Wang hurriedly asked, “If she becomes a disciple, does she have to become a nun? Will she be unable to return home for a long time?”
Lu Zheng smiled. “That depends on your choice. The path of cultivation isn’t easy. A century of practice might still end in a mound of earth, wasting time that could’ve been spent with family or enjoying life. I only mentioned it because Miss Wang has some foundation in cultivation and remarkable talent.
If Miss Wang is interested, once she’s recovered, she could visit Shaotong Mountain and seek my master’s opinion.”
“Good, good, good!”
Old Master Wang nodded repeatedly, and Wang Xiao Wan’s expression was filled with excitement.
Setting aside other matters, wasn’t Lu Zheng himself a clear example?
A disciple of White Cloud Temple, already so formidable, yet still settling in Tonglin County, managing his estate, married, and… probably soon to have children.
“Buzz!”
In the next moment, nearly forty strands of fortune light entered his account.
“Hm?”
Lu Zheng glanced at Wang Xiao Wan, knowing she had already decided to seek discipleship at White Cloud Temple. With his introduction and her exceptional talent, Master Ming Zhang would have no reason to refuse her.
This was her destined opportunity, her fortune rising, and Lu Zheng’s jade seal was already reaping dividends from her fortune light.
Who would’ve thought watching a spectacle could be so profitable? What great luck.
And if Wang Xiao Wan truly joined White Cloud Temple, he might even continue to benefit from her in the future?
With a wave of his hand, casting an invisibility spell, Lu Zheng vanished from the trio’s sight.
“What incredible powers!” Old Li was dumbfounded.
Old Master Wang tightly grasped Wang Xiao Wan’s hand. “Xiao Wan, are you, are you truly healed?”
Wang Xiao Wan’s expression was elated. “Truly healed! This young master is remarkable! By the way, Father, you know this young master? His surname is Lu?”
“Yes, Lu Zheng, Young Master Lu,” Old Master Wang said. “I don’t know where he lives, but he’s opened a sugar refinery and a sweet shop in the city. That Sweet Delights Shop is his.”
“Sweet Delights Shop? Zoo Candy?” Wang Xiao Wan’s eyes brightened, for she was a loyal patron of Sweet Delights.
“Exactly, that’s him.”
“He’s already married?” Wang Xiao Wan’s inner gossip sparked, wondering what kind of woman could match Lu Zheng.
“How would I know?” Old Master Wang said helplessly. “I’ve only seen him twice, at Le Ping Tower and Cong An Lane, just nodding acquaintances, barely exchanged a few words.”
“Oh, oh.” Wang Xiao Wan nodded.
“Xiao Wan, you’re not…”
“Father, he has a wife. I’m just curious,” Wang Xiao Wan shot her father a glance, then her expression turned serious. “Once I’m fully recovered, I plan to go to Shaotong Mountain’s White Cloud Temple to seek discipleship, become a lay disciple, and practice at home, staying by your side.”
Just as she finished, a “grumble grumble” came from Wang Xiao Wan’s stomach.
“Father, I’m hungry~”
