Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Ten-Day Spring Outing
"I didn’t know the young master is a high disciple of the White Cloud Temple. I was quite presumptuous yesterday. Please, young master, forgive me, and be magnanimous!"
Lu Zheng looked at the two baskets of gifts in the front yard, speechless. Did they actually back down?
The one who came to apologize was Zhou Mingsheng. Zhao Wenrong couldn’t swallow his pride and didn’t come, and the temperamental and annoying servant was also absent.
"That Zhao Si speaks without thinking and has poor character. He has been sent back to Yizhou to face the family law." Zhou Mingsheng bowed with a grin, "It was quite cool yesterday, and our young master caught a cold and is recuperating in bed, unable to come here. I ask for your understanding, young master."
"Ha ha!"
Lu Zheng chuckled but did not expose the lie.
"Take the things back." Lu Zheng waved his hand, interrupting Zhou Mingsheng, "I have too many things to do and no time to bother with you. If you have nothing else, don’t come disturb me."
Zhou Mingsheng froze for a moment upon hearing this, but he was relieved because he sensed from Lu Zheng’s words that this matter was over. The other party had no intention to pursue it.
"When our young master recovers, we’ll again invite..."
"Hmm?"
"Yes, yes!" Zhou Mingsheng nodded repeatedly, "We won’t disturb the young master in the future."
"Hmm."
Lu Zheng nodded and let Uncle Li send Zhou Mingsheng away.
...
On the other side, Zhao Wenrong was sulking at home, pacing with a book in the backyard but unable to focus on it.
Suddenly, a red figure peeked over the neighboring wall, curiously asking, "What troubles you, young master?"
...
"So, it’s all settled?"
Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying were snuggled on either side of Lu Zheng.
"Yeah." Lu Zheng nodded, taking a few large cherries from a wooden tray floating on the water, handing one to each, then putting the last one in his mouth.
It was during the ten-day period, and they were in the hot springs of Hundred Springs Valley.
It was early spring, the weather still a bit chilly, perfect for hot spring soaking. In a few days, when it gets hot, soaking in the hot springs won’t feel the same.
Liu Qingquan was playing in the water not far away, while Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan were chatting with Lu Zheng.
Both girls were wearing swimsuits in bikini style; according to Lu Zheng, since they were here for the hot springs, why cover up so much?
Of course, Liu Qingquan was still in a pure white one-piece swimsuit, and as for her protests?
Lu Zheng didn’t even need to say a word; Liu Qingyan silenced her.
"Lu Lang, Qingquan is still here."
Not far away, Liu Qingquan, who was playing with an inflatable water ball, twitched her ears and suddenly turned around, "Are you talking about me?"
"No!" Lu Zheng shook his head repeatedly, "You play your games!"
Liu Qingquan suspiciously glanced at the three of them, but the toys in front of her captured more of her interest. She squinted and went back to her playing.
Watching Lu Zheng bully Liu Qingyan, Shen Ying only chuckled, "Want me to take Qingquan elsewhere for a bath so you have space?"
"Sister!" Liu Qingyan coyly retorted, making Lu Zheng swallow hard as he couldn’t help reaching over again.
"Lu Lang~"
Lu Zheng couldn’t keep his hands to himself, and seeing Liu Qingquan nearby, Liu Qingyan even started to shiver uncontrollably.
Knowing that if this continued, she might not be able to hold back, Liu Qingyan forced herself to stay focused and changed the topic, "I heard from Lu Lang the day before about Sister’s encounter with an enemy. I didn’t know it was so dangerous back then."
The incident with the Peach Mother Divine Tree was something Lu Zheng mentioned to Liu Qingyan after resolving the Zhao family affair.
"Fortunately, Lu Lang arrived in time," Shen Ying laughed, "Otherwise, leaving him behind wasn’t possible, but I might have barely protected myself."
Saying this, Shen Ying looked at Lu Zheng with shining eyes, "I didn’t expect that in just two years, Lu Lang reached such a level of Dao practice!"
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, put his hands on his hips, and with nostrils flared up, made an arrogant face, "Because your husband is a genius!"
Seeing Lu Zheng’s smug expression, Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying laughed but nodded in agreement.
A hundred years of Dao practice, mastering both White Cloud Temple and Jinhua Sect teachings, with supplementary training in Martial Dao and Flying Sword practices, learning the Body-Freezing Curse and Earth Travel Technique purely through comprehension...
If he wasn’t a genius, who could deserve that title?
Jade Seal, "..."
"Speaking of which, those Peach Wood Flying Swords and Peach Wood Talismans are one thing, but the Dharma artifact used by the Eastern Divine Envoy was truly remarkable," Shen Ying said.
"Was it that porcelain bottle?" Lu Zheng thought for a moment, "Also a Storage Dharma Artifact?"
Shen Ying nodded, then shook her head, "It is a Storage Dharma Artifact, but it can only store and release non-physical things like smoke and clouds."
"Peach Blossom Evil?" Lu Zheng raised a brow.
Shen Ying couldn’t help but feel delighted, "It’s exactly Peach Blossom Evil. I can condense some Peach Blossom Evil and store it in the bottle to use against enemies, making it twice as effective with half the effort."
"Not bad!" Lu Zheng nodded, "You have plenty of Incense and Candle Qi. You can refine countless Peach Blossom Evils in the bottle and throw them all at the enemy to overwhelm them!"
"That’s wonderful, congratulations Sister!" Liu Qingyan was also filled with joy, sincerely happy for Shen Ying.
Shen Ying laughed, "The space in the bottle is limited. I can’t keep adding infinitely."
However, she couldn’t hide her happiness, "I’m washing and refining it with Incense and Candle Qi. When it’s ready, you all come take a look."
"Sure!"
...
With Liu Qingquan wandering around, Lu Zheng ultimately wasn’t able to fulfill his desires in the hot springs.
Soaking until noon, the four left together and went to Five Beauties Manor.
The five women of Hua Yixing typically had nothing to do. Hu Cai Niang often went to find Liu Qingyan, while Yu Mingxin and Bai Ting’Er struck a chord with a few Peach Blossom Celestial Maidens, frequently gathering in Taohua Village to sing, play music, and have loads of fun.
This often left eldest sister Hua Yixing and second sister Lin Jing’Er home alone, facing each other.
Yesterday, Yu Mingxin and Bai Ting’Er went to Taohua Village, and upon learning that Lu Zheng’s family would come today, informed their three sisters upon returning. They prepared early to host the group at noon.
They even went to the town at the foot of the mountain to buy a roast chicken and a package of elbow meat for Liu Qingquan.
After lunch, the five women accompanied Lu Zheng’s family up the mountain to enjoy the spring scenery, where greenery was everywhere, flowers blossomed across the fields, clear springs flowed, and birds chirped in chorus.
Yu Mingxin blew a whistle, and two yellow orioles flew down from a distant treetop, approaching the group and circling around them.
Yu Mingxin let Liu Qingquan extend her arm, and the two yellow orioles landed on her wrist and forearm, tilting their heads to look at them.
Liu Qingquan carefully reached out, gently stroking the oriole’s feathers.
After a while, perhaps feeling a bit bored, the orioles flapped their wings, fluttered away, circled Yu Mingxin twice, then flew off together.
...
After touring the place, the four had dinner at Five Beauties Manor and then returned home overnight.
They didn’t pass by Peach Blossom Plain on the way, so Shen Ying also returned to Tonglin County.
A quiet night, words left unspoken...