“As expected, a weakling, with only three strands of fortune’s light,” Lu Zheng shook his head, “Have I altered his fate? If he continues his scams, will something happen to him?
Probably just gaining another opportunity or hitting a wall, judging by the change in his fortune, it’s likely not a big opportunity.”
So Lu Zheng quickly put the old Taoist out of his mind and started reading the tattered scripture.
It was indeed a fragmented scripture, with cultivation methods that were disjointed and vague. It was surprising that the old Taoist had managed to glean something from it without going astray.
The only complete technique was a secret method for driving souls and nurturing spirits.
It involved taking the soul of a recently deceased person, dispersing their three souls, leaving only the seven spirits, and turning them into a ghostly puppet. Though rigid in use, it was safe from ghostly backlash.
The scripture detailed the process: extracting the soul, expelling the divine spirit, nurturing the primal spirit, and casting spells to control it. As long as one had a ghost vessel and a bit of true qi, it could be used.
So, as dawn barely broke, Lu Zheng had nearly mastered it.
With the three strands of fortune’s light depleted, the ghost child in the brass bell became his ghostly puppet.
“However…”
After habitually studying, Lu Zheng suddenly felt puzzled, “Why did I learn this?
I’m already a martial arts master and an orthodox Taoist cultivator. Isn’t learning this putting the cart before the horse?
Oh well, I’ve learned it, and the fortune’s light was free anyway. No loss if it’s used up, and maybe it’ll come in handy someday. Let’s think of happy things instead.
Like, today’s nice weather!”
Lu Zheng stretched, feeling no fatigue from staying up all night.
“And it’s Saturday!”
…
After breakfast in ancient times, he crossed into the modern world, changed clothes, and went out.
Lu Zheng first went to a nearby mall to buy a Pien Tze Huang skincare set, packed it in his backpack, then called Lin Wan, arranged a meeting place, and took a taxi there.
“Happy birthday!”
“Thanks!” Lin Wan smiled, linking arms with Lu Zheng, “Why the backpack?”
“Your birthday gift’s inside.”
“Really? What is it?”
“Can’t tell you yet, we’ll talk at dinner.”
“Okay!”
It was Lin Wan’s birthday, so they didn’t head to the boxing gym to sweat it out.
In the morning, they strolled through Wanguo Street, had a simple lunch at the mall, and rushed to catch a matinee play in the afternoon.
Haicheng lived up to its reputation as a major Chinese city. At the Haicheng Art Theatre, plays were performed almost daily, and the quality was exceptional.
At five in the afternoon, they walked hand-in-hand out of the theatre and took a taxi to the Italian restaurant Lin Wan had booked.
The restaurant was by the inner river’s bank, next to the city’s most upscale residential area, surrounded by Haicheng’s top luxury mall, parks, grand hotels, private teahouses, and more.
Those frequenting the area were usually celebrities, tycoons, or corporate executives; ordinary folks only came occasionally to sightsee.
The restaurant sat on a clearing in the riverside park, a two-storey glass building with clear European style. Warm yellow lights glowed inside, elegant saxophone blues played, and a piano stood on a small central stage, exuding a bourgeois capitalist vibe.
The hostess’s smile was polished yet approachable, “Welcome, do you have a reservation?”
“Yes,” Lin Wan nodded, giving her phone number.
“Ms. Lin, this way, please!”
The waiter led them to a window-side table, seated them, served two glasses of lemon water, and placed menus before them.
“Please order.”
…
The waiter left.
Under the cozy lights, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan smiled at each other.
“What are you smiling at?” they said simultaneously.
“You first,” Lu Zheng laughed.
“I’m laughing at you being a goof, asking all the way about Italian dining etiquette, pairings, and procedures, as if you’re afraid people won’t know it’s your first time here?” Lin Wan teased.
No mockery, just finding Lu Zheng amusing.
Lu Zheng shrugged, “Ignorance isn’t shameful; pretending to know when you don’t is.”
Lin Wan propped her chin, “What were you laughing at? I did my homework in advance.”
That one sentence revealed it was her first time too.
“I was laughing at how beautiful you are. I’m really looking forward to tonight,” Lu Zheng said with a playful eyebrow raise.
Lin Wan pursed her lips, not a hint of shyness, instead boldly asking, “Do guys really love this stuff?”
“Love it!” Lu Zheng nodded, “If they don’t, are they even men?”
Lin Wan’s eyes sharpened, “You really never have?”
“Twenty-three years in this world, single from the womb!” Lu Zheng said earnestly.
Lin Wan tilted her head, “No girls ever chased you?”
Lu Zheng touched his face, “Maybe I hadn’t bloomed in university?”
“Pfft!” Lin Wan blushed. Wasn’t Lu Zheng implying she was after his looks?
Lin Wan wasn’t in a rush, but her friend Huang Xiumin kept pushing. Thinking it over, Lin Wan had to admit her busy job meant she couldn’t rely on fleeting chemistry or sporadic dates to keep things going with Lu Zheng.
They’d been together over a month, and further time together showed their values aligned, personalities clicked, and communication was smooth. Lu Zheng hadn’t lost himself to newfound wealth and didn’t mind Lin Wan’s demanding job keeping them apart often.
Where else could she find such a great boyfriend?
So Lin Wan gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, and decided to reward Lu Zheng.
A policewoman like her was decisive; once decided, she acted.
But girls need some ceremony, so since it was her birthday, today was the day.
…
Soon, pasta and steak were served, and they clinked glasses and ate.
During the meal, Lu Zheng saw a man at a nearby table stand, say a few words to his female companion, then to a waiter, before being led to the piano in the restaurant’s centre.
The saxophone blues faded silently.
Most diners turned to the man at the stage’s centre.
He smiled slightly, placed his hands on the keys, and played Chopin’s Nocturne in G Minor.
Lu Zheng listened closely. The skill wasn’t exceptional but had no mistakes.
“Not bad,” Lu Zheng smiled, eyeing the piano, surprised it wasn’t just decor but playable by guests.
Though it might seem imitative, he could play a piece for Lin Wan.
Lu Zheng turned, about to surprise her, but saw Lin Wan staring at the man on stage, her expression unfriendly.
