There were many guests, so Lu Zheng cooked personally, preparing sixteen dishes: eight hot and eight cold.
Since Zen Master Dejie was present, Lu Zheng specially made a fully vegetarian feast.
This banquet let everyone, including Zen Master Dejie, understand what a true “vegetarian feast” was!
“Is this… tofu?”
“Peanut oil, and these vegetarian meats are all soy products, some made from wheat gluten,” Lu Zheng said, picking up a piece of vegetarian chicken with his chopsticks. “I guarantee not a trace of meat or fishiness.”
In fact, Zen Master Dejie had earlier said he did not mind. A steamed bun and a bowl of clear water would suffice for him. But Lu Zheng had insisted it was no problem and that everyone would be satisfied.
Now these dishes raised the understanding of Lu Zheng’s culinary skills to a new level for those who had tasted his cooking before.
“Brother-in-law is amazing!”
“It smells so good. It feels no different from real meat!”
“Yes, yes!”
Ao Qian and Liu Qingquan sat together, behaving exceptionally well. Ao Yi still sat with Madam Liu, chatting about the two little girls.
Ao Jin sat in the host seat, Zen Master Dejie in the second seat, Lu Zheng accompanying from the other side. Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying, as hostesses, attended to everyone back and forth.
“So, it was Big Sister Ao Qi who tipped you off?” Ao Qian pouted, mumbling.
Ao Yi could not help laughing. “You yourself let slip mentioning Ao Qi. Are we not allowed to ask that girl about it?”
“Ah? Did I let it slip?” Ao Qian looked baffled. She had no memory of it. Perhaps on a day when Ao Qi was present, she had mentioned Ao Qi during a call with her parents?
“Oh…” Ao Qian lowered her head, not daring to speak.
“Why the long face? So unwilling to see your parents?” Ao Yi teased her.
“I am not making a long face!” Ao Qian perked up, full of spirit.
Ao Yi smiled. “We know you cannot bear to leave. We are not planning to take you back immediately.”
“Eh?”
“No rush. Your father has arranged everything in the East Sea. Returning before the New Year is fine. For now, we plan to stay with you in Tonglin County until around the New Year,” Ao Yi said with a smile.
“Then why hide it from me!” Ao Qian burrowed into Ao Yi’s embrace again, acting spoiled.
“We wanted to see how you live day to day,” Ao Yi laughed.
Hiding their identities made it easy to interact naturally with Lu Zheng and the Liu family. Even now that their identities were revealed, relations did not become too distant.
Of course, the key was that Ao Jin and his wife approved of Lu Zheng and the Liu family. Otherwise, they would have taken Ao Qian away at the first opportunity.
Lu Zheng’s dao was profound. Liu Qingyan brimmed with merit. Shen Ying’s incense offerings flourished. Wherever they were placed, they would be valued.
Moreover, they had not only saved Ao Qian’s life but treated her well afterwards without delaying her studies. Such a family situation was rare even across the entire Great Jing dynasty.
“It is a pity the Master abstains from alcohol. Otherwise, he could taste Young Master Lu’s Wuliangye and huadiao wine. Though mortal brews, they are absolutes among wines,” Ao Jin teased Zen Master Dejie, then raised a cup of huadiao and drained it.
“Amitabha!” Zen Master Dejie sipped his clear tea. “This poor monk vowed long ago: for thirst, only clear springs and mild tea; for hunger, only vegetarian dishes and staple grains.”
Ao Jin nodded.
But Zen Master Dejie smiled. “Yet this poor monk never expected such vegetarian feasts exist in the world. Benefactor Lu’s skill, if placed in the imperial kitchen, would make him a master chef!”
Everyone laughed at that.
As they ate and chatted, Lu Zheng also learned about Zen Master Dejie.
The master had vowed ascetic practice, intending to travel the world, experiencing mortal dust. He begged a single copper coin from each person met, to cast a bronze statue of Shakyamuni.
In Lu Zheng’s view, it was setting a goal for himself and experiencing life in the process.
Cultivation too high, idle with nothing to do!
The jade seal: “…”
…
That night, Zen Master Dejie stayed at Ao Jin’s residence. Ao Qian naturally went home to spend the night with her mother, though the Liu family kept her bed ready. Ao Qian planned to go back and forth.
In the Lu family master bedroom, Lu Zheng huddled under a thick quilt with Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan, skin against skin.
Soft, warm, fragrant.
“Oh heavens! The Jade Dragon clan’s dragon king! We actually dined at the same table as him!” Shen Ying exclaimed in wonder.
Liu Qingyan nodded repeatedly. Previously separated by Ao Qian, they had not met and felt little impact. Today, especially after witnessing his display, it was simply terrifying.
“Is it that big a deal?” Lu Zheng blinked, though inwardly he knew of course it was.
The current patriarch of the Jade Dragon clan, one of the four great dragon clans of the East Sea.
In cultivation: top of the era!
In status: equal to the Jing Emperor!
In power: awe-inspiring across the East Sea!
From the earlier display alone, Lu Zheng felt Ao Jin was the strongest figure he had encountered so far.
Hm, perhaps Zen Master Dejie and that old beggar from the Tiandun Sect were comparable? But Lu Zheng admitted he could not tell!
Right, the aura when Daoist Wansong broke through that day was also astonishing. Who would win in a fight against Ao Jin was unknown, but Wansong was alone and certainly no match for the entire Jade Dragon clan swarming.
Oh, right, he had forgotten his own Baiyun Temple ancestors. The one he beat at chess last New Year, judging by the respect other seniors showed him, should be quite powerful too.
Lu Zheng was mentally ranking the experts he knew when Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying pressed against him from both sides.
Hearing his “Is it that big a deal?” and then silence, deep in thought, they assumed Lu Zheng was jealous because they were excited about meeting Ao Jin.
Though they felt Lu Zheng should not be so petty, today he had not subdued the giant corpse immediately. Then Zen Master Dejie and Ao Jin had acted in succession, their might breathtaking.
For Lu Zheng, who had always sailed smoothly, the stimulation might indeed be strong, making him momentarily sensitive.
“Lu Lang~”
Liu Qingyan gently shook Lu Zheng’s arm. “Lu Lang has merely cultivated for a short time. Given time, he will surely become a great hero shaking the world.”
“Husband~”
Shen Ying pressed from the side. “Husband’s talent and comprehension are unmatched in my life. He masters any method or spell upon learning, and his cultivation advances by leaps and bounds, even startling me.”
Liu Qingyan added, “Moreover, Lu Lang excels in all arts: qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, and possesses world-shocking medical skills.”
Shen Ying nodded, continuing, “Husband’s character is noble and pure, treating immortals and mortals alike, with a detached and lofty nature. His future is limitless.”
Lu Zheng: ⊙_⊙??
Lu Zheng jolted awake. “Stop, stop, stop. Why the sudden praise?”
Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying exchanged glances, nodded, and decided to let the stubborn Lu Zheng enjoy this night as much as possible.
“In our hearts, Lu Lang, you are the most amazing,” Liu Qingyan said softly. Her fluffy tail suddenly appeared, lightly brushing up and down.
Shen Ying nodded, reached out and grasped, giggling. “Amazing everywhere!”
Lu Zheng: (⊙o⊙)!!
