It was the hour of the rooster. One act ended.
Lu Zheng noticed that the noblewoman opposite had her maid close the curtains before departing.
“Let us leave too,” Lu Zheng said, standing up.
The moment everyone rose, that sensing of being probed returned.
Liu Qingyan immediately looked at Lu Zheng.
He nodded imperceptibly, glanced outside casually, and located the source of the probing.
Though invisible, it came from the corridor outside the opposite private room.
“It is her?”
Lu Zheng frowned slightly. Without showing anything, he subtly formed a seal, faintly locking onto the source.
This curse seal used the opponent’s mana fluctuations. It was extremely concealed and would not be detected, but precision was limited as a result.
No major issue. They were heading downstairs together and would soon encounter the person.
Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan led the way. Wang Xiaowan, Du Yueyao, and Yi Xiaoqian followed, the three still chattering about the plot of ‘The Legend of Nangong’.
Liu Qingyan transmitted quietly, “Lu Lang, have you found him?”
“Not yet,” Lu Zheng shook his head. “But we will soon know.”
Following the crowd on their side, they quickly reached the small gate reserved for private room patrons. There they met the group coming down from the opposite side: several elegant young gentlemen and ladies, a few middle-aged men and women in either understated or luxurious attire, and of course the noblewoman seen only that morning.
“Doctor Liu is also here for the opera?” the noblewoman asked with a gentle smile.
Liu Qingyan nodded smiling. “The Peony Troupe last visited the county three years ago. I missed it then, so this time I plan to attend several performances.”
The noblewoman smiled. “It is quite good.”
“By the way, my husband’s family name is Yu. We recently moved to Tonglin County with him. In future, I hope Doctor Liu will provide much care.”
“Madam Yu is too polite. It is Qingyan’s duty,” Liu Qingyan replied.
Wang Xiaowan and Yi Xiaoqian were surprised to see Madam Yu. Du Yueyao, behind them, explained the morning’s events.
Then Madam Yu walked beside Liu Qingyan and asked casually, “Does Doctor Liu also enjoy opera?”
Liu Qingyan smiled in response. “When the clinic is not busy, Qingyan often comes here with friends.”
“I see.” The noblewoman nodded and said no more.
The group exited Yuling Garden together. Madam Yu’s carriage waited nearby outside. After farewells, she boarded and left.
Lu Zheng’s party had come on foot.
Liu Qingyan looked at Lu Zheng. Before he spoke, Yue Honghai approached.
“Young Master!”
“Old Yue.” Lu Zheng nodded, then turned to Wang Xiaowan and Yi Xiaoqian. “Are you two going home or joining us for dinner?”
Wang Xiaowan replied, “I did not tell my family I would eat out.”
Yi Xiaoqian added, “I need to go home and cook for my husband.”
“Alright, then head home separately,” Lu Zheng said.
The county office was also in the north of the city, so Wang Xiaowan and Yi Xiaoqian left together.
After seeing them off, the group turned to leave. At the same time, Lu Zheng glanced subtly at a nearby bookshop.
At the bookshop entrance, a middle-aged man idly flipped through an illustrated book.
…
“Lu Lang, the one probing us just now was not that Madam Yu,” Liu Qingyan said.
“No, it was the man in blue robes behind her,” Lu Zheng replied.
Yue Honghai interjected, “That fellow’s cultivation is strong. A worthy opponent. Shall I test his mettle?”
Lu Zheng rolled his eyes. “Do you want to demolish Tonglin County?”
“He placed marks on both young ladies just now,” Yue Honghai said. “His eyes hide lustful evil. Not a good sort.”
The middle-aged man had marked Wang Xiaowan and Du Yueyao. The difference from Yi Xiaoqian and Liu Qingyan was that those two were still virgins.
Du Yueyao stood nearby, stunned. “What is wrong?”
“A fellow from the Colourful Clouds Between Flowers Sect has taken a fancy to you and Wang Xiaowan,” Lu Zheng explained.
Du Yueyao: (´°Δ°`)
She exclaimed in shock, “I noticed nothing!”
Lu Zheng said, “Because this guy is quite skilled. If I had not cultivated their harv… ahem, anyway, his cultivation is strong and well hidden.”
Liu Qingyan’s face reddened. She could not help glancing sideways at Lu Zheng.
The ‘Secret Record of Flower Picking’ from the Colourful Clouds Between Flowers Sect was naturally a deviant technique, but it included harmless minor arts for mutual stimulation between men and women.
As the saying goes, take the essence and discard the dross. After returning from Feiyu Mountain, Lu Zheng had studied this misguided branch of Daoist basics with her and Shen Ying.
It was, surprisingly, quite effective.
But bedroom pleasures are not for outsiders.
“So where is he now?” Du Yueyao asked urgently. “He is not going after Xiaowan, is he?”
Lu Zheng shook his head. “No. Since he has already marked you both, he will not rush to follow and expose himself.”
He turned to Yue Honghai. “You watch him first. I will go to Taohua Flat to fetch Madam. Tonight we act together.”
He could not use the peach wood token to summon, or Shen Ying’s arrival would be too conspicuous and alert the target.
Yue Honghai patted his chest. “Rest assured. I will keep him in sight!”
“Good.” Lu Zheng said to Liu Qingyan, “You accompany Yueyao home first.”
Liu Qingyan nodded, then took Du Yueyao’s arm and headed home together.
…
Lu Zheng soon returned with Shen Ying and even scrounged a meal at the Liu household.
That evening, to avoid alerting the target, Du Yueyao had to stay obediently at home. Lu Zheng, with Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan, first escorted Du Yueyao home, then visited the Wang residence. Finally, they gathered near Tonglai Inn, finding Yue Honghai drinking in a wall corner.
“He is still in the inn?” Lu Zheng asked.
Yue Honghai nodded. “Entered near the end of the rooster hour. Has not come out.”
“I have planted peach seeds around the Wang rear courtyard and Yueyao’s room. If he enters, he will not escape,” Shen Ying said.
Shen Ying had a technique for planting peach groves into arrays. With her present, combat could be confined to a limited area, avoiding harm to ordinary county folk.
Lu Zheng nodded, then took out the Cloud Palace Treasure Mirror, focusing the view inside the inn to scan.
Soon they spotted the middle-aged man in a fourth-floor guest room.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed in cultivation. Streams of colourful cloud qi swirled around him, contained by a true qi barrier he had set around the room.
However, this barrier clearly could not block the Cloud Palace Treasure Mirror’s observation.
It was nearing the end of the dog hour. The group waited patiently. After more than half an hour, into the middle of the pig hour, the man moved. He drifted lightly out the window, heading north of the city.
