At noon, Lu Zheng made three dishes.
Braised snake segnts.
Grilled snake slices.
Fresh mushroom snake soup.
Elder Wansong didn't eat the braised snake segnts or grilled snake slices, only drank a small bowl of fresh mushroom snake soup before stopping.
However, Si Lingxi elegantly ate most of the dishes, her phoenix eyes slightly curved, lips softly smiling, clearly enjoying it.
...
In the afternoon, familiar with Elder Wansong's style and already used to the lack of surprises, Si Lingxi invited Lu Zheng to play a ga with her.
Lu Zheng had already shown his capabilities while playing chess with Elder Wansong, so he did not hold back.
At their level, although each had their own style of play, the chess paths remain ever-changing and unpredictable.
So even though Si Lingxi's skill was considerably below Elder Wansong's, it still helped Lu Zheng accrue more experience.
The ga ended with Si Lingxi undoubtedly losing by one-and-a-half points.
Si Lingxi didn't mind, she simply dispatched Lu Zheng to attend Elder Wansong's lectures and continued strolling leisurely around Wansong Mountain with Shen Ying.
Along the way, they picked so fresh mushrooms and various wild vegetables.
...
"Ten-mile flat lake frosted over the sky, inch by inch of black hair troubled by youthful years, against the moon, lone figure awaits pair protection, only envies mandarin ducks, not immortals."
Shen Ying and Si Lingxi strolled through the forests of Wansong Mountain, gaining so understanding of each other.
At the sa ti, Si Lingxi listened to Shen Ying speak a lot about Lu Zheng.
After all, Shen Ying's life hadn't been notably interesting until she t Lu Zheng, and then things gradually started to beco exciting.
As they talked about opera performances in various parts of the Central Plains, Si Lingxi ntioned a few good stories she heard while traveling there, and Shen Ying shared two stories written by Lu Zheng.
Si Lingxi considered the brilliance of "Liang and Zhu" to be among the finest works, and the character plots in "A Chinese Ghost Story" also belonged to the superior class.
Si Lingxi shook her head, comnting, "Your husband has outstanding literary talent, but he's a bit too lazy. Tell him to write more stories so you can share them with next ti."
"Sure~" Shen Ying couldn't help but laugh, though a subtle twinkle in her eyes suggested that this very trait made her more satisfied.
"But this piece of 'Liang and Zhu'..." Si Lingxi's gaze flickered.
"How is it?" Shen Ying inquired, as she could also play the zither and had just played a piece for Si Lingxi.
"A masterpiece that lasts through generations." Si Lingxi nodded in appraisal, "Even with my own skills, there aren't many pieces that surpass this one. Is this a composition by him?"
Shen Ying shook her head, "Lu Lang says it's a tune from his hotown, but... we all suspect it's composed by Lu Lang."
Si Lingxi nodded, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes, and she asked no further.
...
Several days passed.
Lu Zheng added dozens of strands of Light of Fortune to himself, enhancing his chess skills again, reaching a level comparable to Elder Wansong's.
Si Lingxi also personally witnessed Lu Zheng's rapid improvent with amazent, even more so than his cultivation progress.
After all, the difficulty of rapid early-stage advancent compared to late-stage breakthroughs is sothing everyone understands.
During this ti, playing chess was just a diversion, the true major activities were...
Elder Wansong's guidance for Liu Qingyan, and Lu Zheng's creatively varied cooking.
In return, Si Lingxi provided considerable advice to Shen Ying, and after several days, the relationship between Shen Ying and Si Lingxi blossod.
...
"Whish!"
That day, Shen Ying accompanied Si Lingxi to play chess atop another mountain peak, when they saw a surge of spiritual energy at the summit of Wansong Mountain's main peak not far away. Suddenly, four fox tails appeared out of thin air, each ten zhang long, swaying gently in the air.
At the sa ti, amidst broad daylight, a moon-white light descended from the sky, accompanied by wisps of cloud, enveloping the entire mountain peak.
"It's Qingyan!"
Shen Ying's eyes lit up as she stood up.
"Let's go and see."
Si Lingxi smiled slightly, then pulled Shen Ying along, instantly appearing at Wansong Mountain's main peak.
They saw Liu Qingyan standing before Elder Wansong and Lu Zheng, her eyes clear and bright, her body shimring with golden light and demon qi, four fox tail illusions behind her swaying, subtly stirring the wind and clouds.
Monts later, the fox tails disappeared, Liu Qingyan gathered the golden light and demon qi, returning to normal.
"Congratulations, Qingyan!"
"Thank you, sister!"
Liu Qingyan took Shen Ying's hand, though her beautiful eyes turned to look at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng smiled warmly, "Congratulations, Qingyan!"
Liu Qingyan laughed sweetly, then turned and bowed slowly to Elder Wansong, "Thank you, Elder Wansong, for your guidance."
Elder Wansong waved his hand, "It's a minor matter. Now that your bloodline is purer and your realm has progressed, refining your skills will take a long ti."
Liu Qingyan nodded in understanding.
"Today's great joy calls for a celebration!"
Lu Zheng said with a smile, "I'll go down the mountain to hunt so ga and prepare lunch."
"The braised snake from the other day was delicious, let's make it again today," Si Lingxi suggested.
"Alright!"
"I want a portion of dried fruit and mushroom congee," Elder Wansong unusually made a request.
"Leave it to !"
Lu Zheng mustered all his Spirit, carefully preparing ingredients and diligently seasoning, turning the lunch into a feast so grand that even Elder Wansong, who rarely ate, expressed satisfaction with it.
...
In the following days, Liu Qingyan continued to consolidate her cultivation, while Lu Zheng continued playing chess with Elder Wansong, feeling relaxed.
Once Liu Qingyan's aura stabilized, Lu Zheng expressed his intention to bid farewell to Elder Wansong.
Originally planning just to acquaint himself, he hadn't expected to stay for over half a month.
Elder Wansong, accustod to solitude due to his long lifespan, didn't keep guests, and just like before, he took out a box of dicinal herbs.
"Thank you, elder!"
Lu Zheng didn't stand on ceremony, thanked him, and accepted it.
Elder Wansong nodded; these herbs held no use for him, so he gave them away without hesitation.
Of course, they were Spirit dicine, not sothing just anyone could take from him, but Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan's candidness made Elder Wansong rather pleased.
"Elder Si, we bid you farewell," Lu Zheng also bid goodbye to Si Lingxi.
"Are you planning to return to the Central Plains?" Si Lingxi asked.
"We'll make a stop at Dingfeng Mountain," Lu Zheng replied.
Si Lingxi nodded in acknowledgent, then said, "On the eighth of October, I will celebrate my three-thousandth birthday. If you have ti, you're welco to visit my ho at Phoenix Mountain."
Three thousand years old...
Lu Zheng was speechless, but since Si Lingxi personally invited him, Lu Zheng naturally intended to go, thus he firmly cupped his hands, "We will certainly visit."
Si Lingxi nodded and casually waved, suddenly, a fiery red phoenix tree leaf appeared, gently drifted into Lu Zheng's hand.
The red leaf glistened like jade, exuding a faint warmth.
"When you reach Phoenix Mountain's realm, present this red leaf and soone will co to receive you."
"Agreed!" Lu Zheng and the two won replied in unison.
"I heard from Shen Ying that your zither skill is profound. On my birthday, please play a song for ," Si Lingxi said.
During Lu Zheng and his party's visit to Wansong Mountain, cooking was secondary; Si Lingxi wouldn't make Lu Zheng play for her especially.
Lu Zheng laughed heartily, "It's a deal!"
...
After bidding farewell to Elder Wansong and Si Lingxi, Lu Zheng soared into the clouds, Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan standing on either side, heading towards Dingfeng Mountain.
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