Chapter 147 White Fox

Lu Zheng placed a piece, chuckling softly, "In the end, it worked out for me."

Upon hearing Lu Zheng’s words, Liu Qingyan felt a delightful tingle in her heart, as if tasting honey, full of sweetness, "Lu Lang always teases me."

"You deserve it!" Lu Zheng reached out and gently flicked Liu Qingyan’s delicate nose, causing her to involuntarily twitch, "Who told you to keep it from me all along? Can’t I have a little laugh?"

Liu Qingyan blushed with a smile but remained silent.

Lu Zheng smiled and asked, "If not for the urgency today, when were you planning to tell me? You can’t keep it from me forever, right?"

Liu Qingyan’s eyes darted, and she couldn’t help but stick out her tongue.

Lu Zheng blinked, "Really planning to keep it from me forever?"

"No, it’s just... it’s just... there hasn’t been an opportunity to say it..." Liu Qingyan naturally awakened her coy skill.

"Is there anything else you need to confess?" Lu Zheng sat up straight, pretending to be stern, "Now that I’ve discovered your secret, confess everything honestly, or don’t blame Lu Mou for being outspoken."

Liu Qingyan’s eyes curved as she held back laughter, "Do I really have to confess everything?"

"Of course!" Lu Zheng nodded matter-of-factly.

"Alright then, I’ll confess." Liu Qingyan blinked innocently, holding back laughter, leaning her small head forward lightly, "I know about you and Sister Shen, Qingyan knows~"

Lu Zheng: ⊙_⊙!!

"Lu Lang came back several times in the morning, still carrying Sister Shen’s scent. And sometimes, he had another sister’s scent too. Could it be that Lu Lang has a beloved at Chunfeng Building?"

Lu Zheng: ⊙_⊙!!!!

"Qingyan’s true form is a white fox, her nose is very keen~" Liu Qingyan’s eyes twinkled mischievously, her elegant gaze sweeping around, her lips curving into a charming arc. She truly resembled a little fox.

"Then you—" Lu Zheng stared blankly, stammering, his eyes flickering, at a loss for what to do.

"Lu Lang is a gentleman, protecting my family, gifting medical books to Qingyan, and helping the clinic through tough times."

Liu Qingyan looked up, her eyes misty with emotions, "Such kindness, always mindful of Qingyan’s feelings, treating Qingyan with respect, never stepping over the line, Qingyan is deeply moved."

Lu Zheng maintained an impassive expression, thinking he always considered her as a demure and proper young lady, face shy and modest, so he only gently flirted, never directly acted.

Unexpectedly, he earned the title of a gentleman!

Of course, thinking of the bustling scenes at Fragrant Street and Chunfeng Building, Lu Zheng felt he indeed could be called a gentleman.

So, his mindset immediately stabilized, declaring internally that he was a gentleman, undoubtedly!

Lu Zheng displayed a gentle smile, looking at Liu Qingyan, his gaze filled with tenderness.

This look made her heart quiver uncontrollably.

Biting her lower lip lightly, Liu Qingyan’s face turned crimson, her pure jade-like face revealing a natural allure, beautiful eyes glancing about, speaking softly and delicately, "Actually, Qingyan is capable too."

"Hiss—" Lu Zheng gasped sharply.

"Bang!"

A sound of collision came from the entrance, followed by a flurry of hurried steps departing quickly, along with Liu Qingquan’s distant voice, "I’m just passing by—"

Liu Qingyan’s face flushed to a deep red, smoke practically rising above her head. She looked up to see Lu Zheng’s wolf-like gaze, her newly summoned courage instantly evaporating, hesitantly saying, "Well... actually... I..."

A fierce battle had just occurred; there was still Yuan Jing lingering in the house, tonight was certainly not the time for immediate intimacy.

However, collecting some interest and taking a step further was alright.

"Uh—"

After a while, Liu Qingyan, panting, said, "I have to go for consultations tomorrow, Qingyan will leave first, and Lu Lang should hurry back too."

Opening the door, there was silence outside with no one present. Liu Qingyan paused, glanced back with enchanting grace, "Lu Lang, Qingyan is capable too~"

...

"Senior Brother!"

"I thought you’d stay at the Liu Family tonight," Yuan Jing teased.

"Hehe, isn’t it because Senior Brother is still at home?" Lu Zheng replied.

Yuan Jing, "..."

So if I weren’t home, you’d really stay there!

Simply shameless!

Being a lay practitioner is remarkable, huh? Us direct disciples of Daoism aren’t restricted from marriage either; it’s just that this poor Daoist has no such intention!

Infinite Celestial Venerable!

Though Yuan Jing continued, "Although the Liu family is fox spirits, they’ve accumulated merits and done good deeds, possessing virtues. Forget me, even the Southern Border wizard couldn’t see through it. If Miss Liu hadn’t revealed herself, it would be difficult for great powers to discern her roots."

Lu Zheng nodded, considering himself still a prodigy, yet he hadn’t noticed a single clue. However, this was due to them concealing their aura with merits, acting entirely as ordinary people.

Furthermore, Liu Qingyan’s nose is truly spiritual, able to detect Lin Wan’s scent, mistakenly thinking she’s my sweetheart at Chunfeng Building. Since that’s the case, she doesn’t yet know about my disappearing and traversing.

Hmm, she must know I occasionally leave, but doesn’t know where I go.

But just like Liu Qingyan and Lin Wan, both are very sensible. If I don’t mention it, they won’t ask.

But... it seems I’ll have to remember to take a bath afterward in the future.

But... encountering female ghosts and fox spirits, it feels like the uniform is outdated, this Great Jing Dynasty is truly thrilling!

...

"Ahem!" Yuan Jing coughed lightly twice. "Focus your mind, and let me tell you about the Southern Border Wizard."

Lu Zheng immediately turned around, "Brother, please go on, your junior is all ears."

"I can’t tell which sect this Southern Border Wizard belongs to, I will take a Treasure Leaf Talisman back to consult our master, keep the rest of the items yourself," Yuan Jing said. "Also, it’s best for you to go to the Yizhou Prefecture yourself for this Southern Border Wizard’s corpse, don’t go through the Tonglin County Government Office to avoid complications. Although our White Cloud Temple has a big reputation, it’s not influential enough in the Southern Border. You normally stay in the county town; if something happens, White Cloud Temple rescue may not be timely."

"Thank you for the reminder, brother. I understand." Lu Zheng nodded and accepted the advice, then said, "But brother, in terms of spoils of war, everyone who sees them shares, I will keep the string of bracelets, I don’t know how to use the rest, you should take them back for our master."

Yuan Jing thought for a while and nodded in agreement. We’re all family, no need to be polite. Lu Zheng has a point, at worst, if it’s confirmed usable, he can take them back to Lu Zheng afterward.

"Also, wait for our master to return, then find time to go up the mountain. After this Southern Border Wizard incident, I feel mastering only one ’White Cloud Swordsmanship’ is not enough. Later, ask our master if ’Cloud Walking Technique’ can be taught to us."

Lu Zheng’s eyes lit up, "’Cloud Walking Technique’? A defense technique?"

Yuan Jing nodded, "’Taiqing Crossing Profound Qi Cloud Secret Scripture’, abbreviated as ’Cloud Walking Technique’, is our White Cloud Temple’s direct lineage secret technique. Even I have not mastered it."

Lu Zheng blinked his eyes. The full name of this ’Cloud Walking Technique’ sure sounds impressive. Feeling quite excited, he asked, "Am I qualified to learn it?"

"Hmm?" Yuan Jing rubbed his chin and suddenly fell silent.

...

Big brother, what does your sudden silence mean? Shouldn’t you be definitely reassuring me, saying I’ll definitely get my share?

"You should be able to." Yuan Jing nodded.

Lu Zheng also let out a sigh of relief.

"It’s not the highest secret tome of White Cloud Temple, ’Innate Taiqing Rootless Cloud Qi Scripture’, it’s just a technique to defeat enemies, it should be teachable to lay practitioners," Yuan Jing said.

Lu Zheng: ╭(°A°`)╮

Thank you for comforting me!

"But you are truly amazing, junior brother!" Acknowledging Lu Zheng, Yuan Jing sighed, "You have already mastered the Body-Freezing Curse? Plus, you have a deep Blood Qi and advanced Dao practice. How did you cultivate? Even if the Peach Blossom Fairy gave you Incense and Candle Qi, it wouldn’t be this fast, right?"

"Oh, I also found a Zhi Ma in the mountains, alternating Scorpion Wine with Reishi Mushroom Wine, and I never lacked daily meat, boosting Blood Qi also helps True Qi. Anyway, while practicing, it just happened." Lu Zheng explained.

Yuan Jing nodded, he could only explain it this way. Presumably, Lu Zheng’s talent is well-suited for Dao learning.

He merely lamented, not shocked, as recorded in history, there are cases of instant enlightenment leading directly to immortality, and literary mastery within three months moving heaven and earth. Exceptional talent progressing rapidly is not uncommon, while many who fade in later stages don’t qualify to be mentioned by name in history books.

So...

It’s just a Body-Freezing Curse, learning Dao within a year that’s on par with me. I’m not jealous at all, really... really...

"Alright, it’s late, junior brother, sleep safely. I need rest too."

"Okay, you rest well, brother, I shall head back too."

...

Silent night.

The next morning, Yuan Jing had his breakfast and left the city to return to the mountain. Elder Liu went out as usual for medical consultations, but Liu Qingyan, for once, didn’t visit Renxin Hall today. Instead, she joined Lu Zheng for a leisurely stroll through the streets.

"Wanfu County is larger than Tonglin County and, situated on Yaozhou’s traffic artery, is more bustling."

Liu Qingyan held a bag of preserved fruit, ate one herself, and, after checking there was no one around, fed one to Lu Zheng. "But the people coming and going, the noise, are not as modest as Tonglin County’s folks, nor do they live as comfortably as they do here."

"Lu Lang, where is your hometown?" Liu Qingyan curiously asked.

Lu Zheng’s response to outsiders was his family declined, making him reluctant to meet friends, similar to how the Liu family moved here after offending the local big shots; it’s a broad reason, but the actual truth is quite deep.

Liu Qingyan had already imagined scenarios like a spoiled girl breaking off an engagement or domineering relatives, and seeing Lu Zheng quickly cultivate Blood Qi with the ’Eighteen Mountain-Carrying Techniques’ and then succeed in Dao learning, she suspected an Abnormal People might be influencing events.

"My hometown, huh." Lu Zheng paused. "It’s a very magical place."

"Very magical?"

"Yes." Lu Zheng nodded, but didn’t elaborate further, as he didn’t know where to begin.

Seeing Lu Zheng’s unwillingness to elaborate, Liu Qingyan refrained from asking further, feeling mildly guilty for perhaps touching on Lu Zheng’s hidden secrets.

"Qingyan spoke out of turn, Lu Lang, don’t..."

"When I can ride the clouds, call the wind and summon the rain, overturn oceans and shift stars, maybe I can take you to see my hometown." Lu Zheng said calmly.

"Oh? Lu Lang, would you be willing to take me back to your hometown?" Liu Qingyan was initially delighted, then realized Lu Zheng implied he’d need to be quite powerful to return, fitting her conjectures. "Of course!"

Lu Zheng looked a bit confused at Liu Qingyan’s excitement, "Of course what?"

"Nothing!" Liu Qingyao grinned and then started counting on her fingers. "To ride the clouds and mist, you’d need at least five hundred years of Dao practice. To summon wind and rain depends on the scale, but for merely one county, a gentle breeze and drizzle, five hundred years of Dao practice might barely suffice. As for overturning oceans and shifting stars, that’s even harder, requiring at least a thousand years of Dao practice, not to mention entities like the River God of the River, Sea Dragon King, and Celestial Star Official are not to be trifled with."

Lu Zheng looked bewildered, seemingly dazed.