The next morning, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains. Lu Zheng opened his eyes, turned his head, and saw Lin Wan sleeping soundly in his arms.
Yesterday, after returning home, the two of them had cooperated in performing a few more magic tricks, such as gradually filling a container with water or causing a certain part to progressively harden.
After that, they had explored the crossover between magic and yoga, which took quite a long time. They only went to bed after three in the morning.
So Lin Wan was still asleep.
Lu Zheng levitated as he got up, without causing the bed to shake. He pulled the quilt to cover Lin Wan properly, then silently closed the bedroom door and went to prepare breakfast.
The moment the door closed, Lin Wan, who had appeared to be deeply asleep, kept her eyes tightly shut, but the corners of her mouth curved into a captivating smile.
…
“Hehe…”
Lin Wan could not help giggling while eating breakfast.
“What are you laughing at?” Lu Zheng asked. She was not scrolling through her phone for jokes.
Lin Wan glanced sideways. “I am laughing at how Deng Paopao and Sun Niangniang looked yesterday.”
When the group parted yesterday, Lu Zheng’s casual remark of “Life and Death Talisman” had completely stunned them.
Believe it? This is modern society. Did they really think reality was like a novel?
Not believe it? It was still autumn. Why would Lu Zheng hide ice on his body for no reason?
So when the couple drove away, both wore expressions of doubting their entire lives.
“That will only last a moment. They will soon figure it out,” Lu Zheng said.
Lin Wan nodded too. “That is true. The Life and Death Talisman is of course impossible. The only remaining possibility, combined with the earlier water from nothing, is that you carry a water pouch on you and always have saltpetre to make ice temporarily.”
Lu Zheng was speechless. “It can be explained like that?”
Lin Wan smiled and countered, “What else could it be? It cannot really be the Life and Death Talisman.”
Lu Zheng gave her a thumbs up. Lin Wan was more thorough than he had thought. He had not considered it at all, planning to let others fill in the blanks themselves.
And indeed, Lin Wan had supplied one.
Then Lu Zheng received a barrage of messages from He Feixiang.
He said the events of yesterday had almost spread throughout the domestic magic circle. Wu Junyi had lost massive face and even argued in a group chat with a magician he had old grudges with.
Additionally, because of Lu Zheng, He Feixiang had suddenly become the most popular person in his small circle, transformed into “Xiang Bro”. So he strongly invited Lu Zheng and Lin Wan out for a meal.
Finally, he explained why Wu Junyi had caused trouble yesterday: a magician he had recommended originally wanted to perform at this magic theatre, but He Feixiang had taken the spot.
He Feixiang: Hahaha, he tried to steal the chicken but ended up losing the rice!
He Feixiang: Lu God! You must give this little brother a chance to treat you and Sister Wan to dinner, otherwise I will think of you day and night, unable to sleep!
Lu Zheng: Fine. You choose the place. Lunch!
He Feixiang: Got it! Fulong Plaza, Tajal Restaurant!
He still remembered that when he had brought Yamada Koichi and the other to find Lu Zheng, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan were about to eat Northwest barbecue.
Putting down his phone, Lu Zheng told Lin Wan about it. She had no objection.
Glancing at the time, it was already nearly ten o’clock, but there was still enough time to digest. So Lin Wan ate another fried pancake. She could not waste Lu Zheng’s efforts.
…
At noon, He Feixiang brought his assistant, who was also his wife, to accompany them. He treated Lu Zheng and Lin Wan to lunch.
In the afternoon, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan went shopping and visited a cat café. After all, Northeast tigers were not something one could pet often. On ordinary days, they could only satisfy the urge at a cat shelter.
As for why they did not buy one?
“I have to travel from time to time. You are not a nine-to-five office worker either. Where would we find time to scoop litter? Better forget it…”
…
On weekdays, Lin Wan went to work. After a pleasant weekend, Lu Zheng once again travelled to the ancient era.
“Young Master! Would you like breakfast?”
“No need,” Lu Zheng waved his hand, then asked, “Where is Old Yue?”
“He went to listen to opera,” Li Bo replied.
Lu Zheng: “…”
Ever since Yue Honghai had truly started enjoying life inland, he had become obsessed with storytelling and opera. Apart from cultivating, he spent his days at Leping Tower or Yuling Garden.
He had his own money. Casually selling a pearl from his pocket would give him enough to listen at Yuling Garden for ten years.
“Fine. Fortunately, he has not fallen for Chunfeng Tower or the gambling den in the north of the city. Otherwise, I would have to go to the Anomaly Control Department every day to bail him out.”
It was already the hour of the snake. Liu Qingyan and Du Yueyao had long gone to Benevolent Heart Hall. Liu Qingquan and Ao Qian were in class. Today, Lin Jing’er and Tao Ting were tutoring them. So the two little girls were swaying their heads while reciting poetry and wielding brushes on rice paper.
Lu Zheng shook his head, unable to bear watching, and quickly left.
He strolled all the way to Benevolent Heart Hall.
The season had entered autumn. The weather was gradually cooling, and there were more common folk coming for treatment or medicine than in summer.
Moreover, those seeking treatment were not only from Tonglin County. Those who could afford it from surrounding counties also recognised the sign of Benevolent Heart Hall.
Just then, Lu Zheng saw a carriage turn from the street corner, clip-clopping all the way to the entrance of Benevolent Heart Hall.
The carriage stopped. The coachman dismounted nimbly, fetched a low stool from the side, and placed it beside the carriage.
The curtain was lifted. A petite and delicate maid emerged first. After alighting, she stood beside the sturdy coachman, holding the curtain with one hand and raising the other at the door.
Next, a fair and slender jade hand extended from the carriage, resting on the maid’s hand. The fingers were fair and plump, nails neatly trimmed. On the wrist was a jade and pearl bracelet. Behind it was the wide sleeve edging in blue with silver threads.
With a slight borrow of strength, the carriage’s owner revealed herself. She was an elegant and dignified noblewoman.
Her jet-black hair was styled in a han-yan furong bun, adorned with a coral-inlaid pearl white jade hairpin and two coiled silk jade red gold pendants.
Her eyebrows were distant and painted, eyes like clear pools. Dressed in a misty peony and lily skirt with a purple gossamer brocade cape, she appeared gentle and amiable.
This noblewoman seemed no longer young. There were crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, but clearly well-maintained. She looked only in her thirties.
“Madam, careful~”
“Hm.”
The noblewoman nodded, held the maid’s hand, and slowly stepped down.
“Is this the place?”
“Benevolent Heart Hall. It is said throughout the area that the doctors here have the best medical skills. As long as it is not a fatal illness, they can cure it. No less than the imperial physicians in the great medical halls of the Central Capital.”
“Rumours do not arise from nothing. There must be some ability,” the noblewoman smiled. “Let us go in and see if the doctors at this Benevolent Heart Hall can improve my minor ailment even slightly.”
The maid supported the noblewoman up the steps, passing right by Lu Zheng.
The noblewoman nodded and smiled at Lu Zheng. He nodded in return, stepped aside to let them pass, then watched them enter the medical hall before heading straight towards Liu Qingyan.
