I have to say, Yan Hongxia really is Lu Zheng’s lucky star. Every time he meets her something good happens. Her luck is absolutely top-notch, and both times it involved zombies.
On the way back, Lu Zheng kept glancing at Yan Hongxia.
Yan Hongxia couldn’t help turning round and giving him a look back. “What are you staring at?”
“Just checking whether you have some kind of destiny that clashes with zombies. Both times I’ve ever encountered zombies, it was when you said you were leaving.” Lu Zheng teased with a smile.
Yan Hongxia rolled her eyes. “That’s only because you haven’t seen enough of the world. This girl has wandered the jianghu for ages and killed loads of zombies. They’re the most common type of anomaly in the mortal world.”
Lu Zheng blinked. So it’s me who’s seen too little?
Bloody hell, one day I’ll take you up in a big aeroplane and we’ll see who has seen too little!
…
The group flew over Old Wang Village. At that moment the villagers were shivering in fear. Seeing the commotion on the back hill gradually calm down, the village elders finally organised some people and plucked up the courage to go and check.
When they arrived, however, all they found was a peaceful graveyard. Apart from a few gravestones that had cracked for no apparent reason, it was as if the roars, explosions, and sword lights that had come from the back hill earlier had never existed.
Of course, this was a good thing. It was much better than a monster suddenly leaping out.
…
They had set off to fight the zombie after lunch. By the time everyone returned to Tonglin County, it was exactly dinner time again.
It was pretty much just an afternoon outing for digestion.
Wang Xiaowan stayed for dinner. Only when she went home did she run into her family members who had hurried back from Hezuo Town.
“Xiaowan?” Old Master Wang grabbed Wang Xiaowan at once. “You went to see Young Master Lu, right? What did he say? Is he willing to help take a look?”
Wang Xiaowan, “…”
“He’s willing.” Wang Xiaowan nodded.
The eldest son of the Wang family hurriedly asked, “Then when are you setting off? Did Young Master Lu mention how much ritual money he wants? I’ll go prepare it.”
“Nonsense!” Old Master Wang slapped his eldest son on the back of the head. The son had always done business in Yizhou Prefecture and wasn’t fully aware of the relationship between Lu Zheng and the Wang family.
“Young Master Lu is practically Xiaowan’s guide on the path of cultivation. Offering money would be far too vulgar! Go to the shop later and pick out two fine pieces of white jade for Xiaowan to give him.”
“Yes, yes!” The eldest Wang son nodded repeatedly.
Then Old Master Wang also looked expectantly at Wang Xiaowan and asked, “So, did Young Master Lu say when he would set off?”
Wang Xiaowan replied helplessly, “We’ve already come back from Old Wang Village. Senior Brother and the others have already slain that zombie…”
“Ah?”
Old Master Wang and his sons stared at each other.
“A zombie? Another zombie?”
“Mm!” Wang Xiaowan nodded, then lifted her arm, which still had a small bundle hanging from it.
“What’s that?”
“Gold, silver, pearls, and jewels from the zombie’s underground palace. Everyone gets a share. I didn’t really contribute much, but I still got some.”
As she spoke, Wang Xiaowan casually untied the bundle. More than a dozen pieces of gold jewellery studded with pearls and gems scattered out.
The golden glow and treasure light made the entire Wang family gape. Although the Wangs were extremely wealthy, these pieces were clearly no ordinary goods.
“Auntie, Mother, Third Mother, two elder sisters, and three sisters-in-law, come here. Everyone pick one. These are ornaments that belonged to a count from eight hundred years ago in the previous dynasty. They’re worth a lot.” Wang Xiaowan laughed.
“Really!”
“Thank you, little sister!”
“Xiaowan is amazing!”
The Wang men, “…”
Old Master Wang cautiously asked, “Xiaowan, what on earth happened?”
So Wang Xiaowan recounted how they had set off at noon, killed the zombie, ransacked the underground palace, come back, eaten a comfortable dinner, and then she had gone home.
“Young Master Lu can fly through the sky and vanish into the earth. The friends he keeps are either sword immortals or dragon ladies. It’s truly enviable!” Old Master Wang sighed, then quickly instructed Wang Xiaowan, “From now on, spend more time with Doctor Liu. Go listen to opera together, go on spring outings together. Don’t stay cooped up at home cultivating all day, understand?”
Wang Xiaowan, “…”
“Got it!” Wang Xiaowan pouted, waved her hand, and went back to her little tower in the rear courtyard to cultivate in seclusion.
“This girl!”
Old Master Wang glared irritably at Wang Xiaowan’s retreating back, then told an old servant to pick a few old hens from the chicken farm and deliver them to the Liu family first thing tomorrow morning.
“Sigh, can’t count on Xiaowan. This old man will have to take the field himself. I’m going to bed. I still need to get up early tomorrow to listen to storytelling at Leping House.”
…
Leaving aside how the Wang family gleefully tried on the jewellery after dividing it up, Lu Zheng had nothing much left to do.
After sending everyone off to bed, Lu Zheng crossed back to the modern world. Although he still had some stock in his gourd, it clearly wasn’t enough for Yan Hongxia and the other to take with them.
So he went to the supermarket again, bought loads of chocolate, snacks, and dried fruit, filling an entire trolley and drawing frequent sidelong glances from people around him.
Well, the May Day holiday was coming, but did he really need to prepare this much?
Lu Zheng took the mountain of snacks back to his rental flat, spent two hours removing all the outer packaging, then packed everything into two bundles on a one-to-one ratio before crossing back to ancient times.
…
“We’re off!”
Yan Hongxia cupped her hands in salute to everyone. “We’ll come back to play with you all again when we return to Lingbei Circuit in a while!”
Ao Qi also cupped her hands and smiled. “Next time I’ll come to learn some more moves from Brother Lu.”
Lu Zheng returned the salute. “My humble home will be ready and waiting!”
Liu Qingyan pulled Yan Hongxia aside. “You can already fly on a sword now. Pop over from time to time.”
Yan Hongxia nodded repeatedly.
Shen Ying, Du Yueyao, Wang Xiaowan, and the others stood nearby. Ao Qian’s eyes were brimming with tears. “Sister Ao Qi, stay and play a bit longer.”
Ao Qi patted Ao Qian’s little head. “You’ve had quite enough. Once you’ve played enough, hurry back to the dragon palace.”
Ao Qian instantly stopped her tears and shook her head firmly. “I talk to Mother every day. I’m not going back!”
Ao Qi, “…”
After another round of farewells, Yan Hongxia and Ao Qi leapt into the air. In an instant they turned into a silver streak and a blue streak, shot up into the sky with a whoosh, and flew off toward the western horizon.
At the same moment, Lu Zheng, Liu Qingyan, and Shen Ying all quietly let out a breath of relief.
…
That night, in the Lu residence.
With the two extremely powerful walking lightbulbs gone, Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan both let themselves go completely. They attended to him eagerly, letting Lu Zheng enjoy a whole night of imperial treatment, one beauty on his left arm and one on his right.
…
Lu Zheng felt the fragrant softness on his left and the silky smoothness on his right. After a moment he spoke. “In a few more days, I plan to head out for a trip.”
Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying both turned their bright eyes toward him, waiting for the rest.
“I’m going to Feiyu Mountain to return the Feiyu Chengxia Sword Manual, and while I’m there I’ll ask about sword-refining methods.”
Shen Ying’s peach-blossom eyes glistened with moisture. Her pink arm wrapped around Lu Zheng’s, she tilted her head up and gave him a fragrant kiss. “This concubine will go with my husband.”
“Qingyan should come too, right?” Shen Ying looked past Lu Zheng at Liu Qingyan. “It’s been ages since we sisters accompanied our husband on a trip together.”
Liu Qingyan felt tempted when she heard this, but after thinking it over she shook her head. “Qingyan has travelled with husband many times. This time let elder sister accompany him. Qingyan doesn’t want to leave Yueyao alone, and there have been many matters lately. Now that things have quietened down, it’s the perfect time to spend a while seeing patients at Benevolent Heart Hall and cultivate properly.”
“Fair enough.” Lu Zheng pulled Liu Qingyan close. “But remember to balance work and rest.”
“Qingyan knows.” Liu Qingyan’s lovely face was charming, her smile blooming like a flower.
Shen Ying’s lips curved, her peach-blossom eyes bewitchingly seductive. “Since we’re going to be away for a while, tonight let’s let Qingyan enjoy herself thoroughly, shall we?”
“Ah? No need, mmm—”
