The best pastime after battle was already with the moon high in the sky. Shen Ying nestled against Lu Zheng like water and flew back to Taohua Ping.
Just as they returned to Taohua Manor, they saw Liu Qingyan there too. She was in the back garden, setting up a furnace and copper tripod to refine pills.
Seeing them return, Liu Qingyan smiled and said, “I need to refine a batch of Five Essences Return to Origin Pills. It requires a gentle fire to warm the herbs for three days. Home and the clinic are not suitable, so I came to Taohua Manor.”
Shen Ying stepped forward and hugged Liu Qingyan. “Is this not home too?”
“Yes, yes, yes. Qingyan misspoke.” Liu Qingyan pursed her lips in a light laugh, then asked, “Where did you two go today? It is so late before you return.”
“It was not play.” Shen Ying said in a coquettish voice. “We ran to three places in one day, fought two battles. It was busy all day.”
“What happened?” Liu Qingyan was very surprised and asked quickly.
So Shen Ying told how Lu Zheng had finished refining the Cloud Palace Treasure Mirror that morning. During the test, he found Yuezhou in trouble. So they went to Pingtan County, to the Jiming Temple, for the first fight. They saved Yuezhou, drove back the Benkun, and met Master Juexuan from Dajingang Temple.
Then, while they were eating, they met people coming to help. They found traces of the demon. So she and Lu Zheng went to Yizhou Prefecture to ask Chu Jin to come. They met up with Juexuan and Yuezhou in Tianjia Village, Dongxi Town.
Finally, Lu Zheng used the treasure mirror to find the demon’s trail. They all went to Dingxian County together and cornered the demon. After a big battle, they killed it.
Liu Qingyan listened in a daze. She never thought these two, who spent days listening to books, strolling streets, or hiding in the peach grove, had such an exciting day.
Liu Qingyan blinked and spotted the blind spot.
“Did you not kill that demon just before dusk? Why return now?”
Shen Ying’s arm around Liu Qingyan suddenly lifted up, cupping two soft things. “Does Qingyan want to know?”
Liu Qingyan’s jade face turned red. She understood at once, twisted her body, and said quickly, “No, no. I do not want to know.”
Feeling Liu Qingyan’s soft and delicate figure, Shen Ying did not stop her hands. She whispered with a laugh, “Good sister, you matched Lu Lang with such fine wine. Sister alone is almost no match. You refined pills all day too. Why not rest?”
Liu Qingyan was pressed close by Shen Ying, caught between front and back. A breath of fragrance blew on her earlobe. Her whole body went soft at once. Then, a new scent filled the back garden air.
Lu Zheng could not help it. He swallowed and sat aside, not daring to speak.
Liu Qingyan said in broken words, “I… but this fire must be kept…”
Shen Ying giggled. “Will you cast the spell, or shall I?”
Entering herbs, melting them, and the key steps of forming and releasing the pills needed a person. Keeping the flame was just a small spell, was it not?
Liu Qingyan bit her lower lip lightly. She took a deep breath and forced her hand to wave and pinch the seal.
Seeing Liu Qingyan finish the spell, Shen Ying reached out and pulled her. She floated into the room with her, then gave Lu Zheng a look.
Before entering the door, Liu Qingyan could not help glancing at Lu Zheng too.
One look was charming as autumn water rippling, the other pure as jade flowers welcoming spring.
Lu Zheng looked innocent. Then he shook his head with a sigh and followed in, slow in show but fast in truth.
Outside the bedroom door, several Peach Blossom Fairies appeared. They looked at each other, spat on the ground, twisted their bodies, and vanished again.
…
Haicheng, New Year’s Day holiday.
“Good thing today is a holiday.”
Lin Wan hugged Lu Zheng. “Today we go nowhere. Just lie in bed.”
A smile tugged at Lu Zheng’s mouth. “Are you sure?”
Lin Wan jumped in fright. “You must not move!”
Lu Zheng said helplessly, “Does it need to be so exaggerated?”
“You are just a beast!” Lin Wan said crossly. She glanced at the torn Black Widow suit on the floor. “Now there is nothing to wear.”
Lu Zheng patted his chest in promise. “Small matter! This afternoon, I go to Japan to buy stock. And see if there are new styles.”
“You want to die? There are so many at home. We can hardly store them!”
No matter how big the wardrobe, it could not hold this buying, right?
Lin Wan reacted at once. She looked again at the violently torn clothes. “You did it on purpose?”
Lu Zheng denied firmly. “I did not! I have not! Do not say that!”
Lin Wan rolled her eyes and ignored him.
She did not know if Lu Zheng had eaten some great tonic lately. He was already much stronger in fights than her on normal days. Now he crushed her completely.
If it were not one man one wife now, Lin Wan would think of finding a sister to share the load.
She checked the time. Past ten. Lu Zheng reached out and patted, stirring a ripple. “What do you want for lunch? I will make it.”
“Pancakes rolled with spring onions!” Lin Wan said crossly. “This has strong flavour!”
Lu Zheng: (||?_?)
…
She said they would not get up all day. But when scents that could kill wafted from the kitchen, Lin Wan still got up weakly.
She grabbed one of Lu Zheng’s T-shirts and put it on. It barely covered her thighs. With her white legs bare, she walked over.
“So fragrant. What is it?”
“Sweet and sour carp, four joy meatballs, braised prawns in oil, and a vegetable three fresh.” Lu Zheng brought two bowls of rice and put one in front of Lin Wan.
Lin Wan swallowed again. She was also touched in secret, because Lu Zheng made all Shandong famous dishes.
“Thank you, husband! I start!” Lin Wan grinned, leaned in for a kiss on Lu Zheng, then picked up her chopsticks.
One bite, and fragrance overflowed.
“Woo woo woo, I think yours is better than the state banquet chefs!”
Now Lin Wan could turn food in her belly to blood energy. No worry about gaining weight. So she ate freely, without restraint. No more shame over big appetite like before.
Lu Zheng struck back. “As if you have eaten state banquet food.”
Lin Wan raised her brow. “Shall we go to Beijing one day?”
“Do what?”
“Challenge the state banquet chefs!”
Lu Zheng was speechless. “Eat yours. After, go to Japan to digest.”
Lin Wan nodded. She did not misunderstand Lu Zheng’s meaning. “Who this time?”
“You pick.”
“Let me think. Too many. I look for one with easy schedule.” Lin Wan smiled while scrolling her phone. Then…
The air turned cold at once. Lin Wan’s smile vanished. She said coldly, “Then Matsui Daishi.”
“Matsui…” Lu Zheng scrolled news on his phone and fell silent.
“Decades, and they do not change.” Lin Wan said coldly. “From old force ways to now mental colonisation. They do not give up.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “This family, solve from the root.”
Lin Wan put down her chopsticks. “Cannot wait. We go now! They waste our three New Year’s days. Let the whole family reunite. Count it as their blessing!”
