Chapter 55
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Lu Liangsheng put away the few sheets of yellow paper on the table, glanced towards the door, and smiled slightly. In truth, even without using these yellow papers, he could still use Spirit Crane Tracking or Incense Burning Pathfinding to trace the Daoist, provided that the distance didn’t exceed several dozen li.
With everything in order, he checked out of the inn and, leading his old donkey, followed a servant from the Zhou Manor, who was carrying the bookcase, through the long streets until they arrived at the Zhou Manor. From afar, under the eaves of the guest hall, Zhou Zhen had already come out to greet him.
“Using this method to bring Lingsheng over, you won’t blame this old man, will you? Haha!”
“With Elder Zhou’s invitation, how could a junior like me dare not come?”
“You haven’t eaten yet, have you? A meal has already been prepared in the hall.”
The old and the young exchanged a few polite words, and as they returned to the main hall, they chatted while having breakfast. As they ate, Lu Liangsheng pulled a large toad from his sleeve and placed it on the table, causing the old man’s face to freeze momentarily.
It wasn’t just that such a large toad was rare, but the half-closed eyes of the toad gleamed faintly with a chilling light, making Zhou Zhen feel a creeping unease, as if he were food on the plate before it.
Seeing the old man’s expression, Lu Liangsheng explained: “Elder Zhou, this toad is something I’ve carried with me for quite some time. Just as some people love rabbits or hunting dogs, I have a fondness for this toad. What’s more, it’s unusually large and rarely seen outside, which makes it all the more beloved to me. I’ve kept it by my side for over three years. Even Teacher Shuhua has seen it, though he’s not too fond of it.”
“So even Wang Shuhua has seen it…” Zhou Zhen stroked his beard for a moment, withdrawing his gaze from the toad, and smiled: “This toad is indeed quite rare. Toads have been considered auspicious creatures since ancient times. Keeping one at home could bring good fortune and protect the household. I’m not the kind of person who would be unreasonable.”
Saying this, he picked up a piece of pastry, waved it above the Toad Daoist’s head to tease it, and laughed out loud.
“Haha… Liangsheng, in fact, when I was in the capital years ago, I heard a rumor. Decades ago, within the royal palace, there was also a giant toad, but it was a statue of a Moon-Gazing Golden Toad. Unfortunately, it was stolen. The story was described in vivid detail. Upon seeing the living creature in your hands, it reminded me of this, and I lost my composure.”
The old man was obviously trying to cover his earlier discomfort with some idle talk, and Lu Liangsheng was well aware of this. He didn’t point it out, instead smiling and following the conversation, while also inquiring about Zhou Rong’s condition.
However, when it came to Young Lady Zhou’s condition, the old man paused, putting down his chopsticks and looking at the young scholar across from him.
“My daughter’s condition has improved a lot. This morning, she was even able to walk around. But last night… outside her boudoir, there were inexplicably many water stains and an old woman’s garment. That night, Liangsheng also went to the restroom, so why did you return so late?”
At some point, all the others had left the hall, and Lu Liangsheng didn’t directly address the question. He calmly took a sip of porridge, his tone remaining gentle.
“To save someone.”
Zhou Zhen pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed intently on the scholar.
“Is there really a monster causing trouble?”
“No, but there is someone behind the scenes stirring up trouble.”
“Why?”
“There’s something strange beneath your daughter’s bedroom.”
The two exchanged words as if speaking in riddles. Meanwhile, the toad coiled beside the scholar seized the moment when the old man wasn’t paying attention, and with a swift flick of its long tongue, snatched a piece of fatty goose meat into its mouth. It closed its eyes contentedly, slowly chewing.
After finishing breakfast, Zhou Zhen carefully recalled every word Lu Liangsheng had said. He quickly summoned the old steward.
“Move the young lady’s boudoir to the Madam’s place for a few days. Without my explicit orders, no one in the household is allowed to enter or leave the side courtyard. No one is to investigate any strange occurrences.”
The steward was dumbfounded by the string of instructions, but having lived for so many years and familiar with the household’s rules, he nodded and hurried off to relay the master’s orders to the servants.
The old man, always calm and composed, didn’t take superstitions or demons lightly. However, knowing now that someone from the dark arts had used malicious spells to harm his family filled him with both anger and worry. After all, sometimes human hearts are far more wicked than any ghost or monster.
Exiting the hall, he caught up with the scholar heading toward the side courtyard, walking alongside him, his face showing a faint trace of concern.
“Do you think that person will cast spells again tonight?”
Lu Liangsheng couldn’t make any guarantees in this regard. He glanced around at the lush greenery of the courtyard, with occasional leaves fluttering down, casting dappled shadows in the sunlight. He frowned slightly.
“The old woman’s water-spouting spell has been broken. The other party must already know.”
At this point, Zhou Zhen stopped in his tracks, looking at the scholar’s back. He took a deep breath and asked: “Liangsheng, do you truly possess mystical techniques?”
As he asked, the previously tranquil courtyard seemed even quieter, with only the rustling of branches breaking the silence. A leaf floated down, passing through the old man’s line of sight.
The scholar walking ahead began to blur, and if Zhou Zhen hadn’t been watching Lu Liangsheng carefully the entire time, it would have seemed as though there was no one there at all.
“So this a mystical technique…”
The old man stood lost in thought, as if he still hadn’t come to his senses. Meanwhile, the young man had already walked along the courtyard path and entered the side courtyard. Inside, the maids had already moved everything out of the young lady’s bedroom and laid fresh bedding.
Seeing the scholar enter, each maid greeted him cautiously, then hurriedly carried their belongings and left, hearts pounding with fear. Only after passing through the crescent-shaped side courtyard gate did they let out a long breath, huddling together with their fellow maids to whisper and chatter excitedly.
“Just now, that was the Lu Lang that the master invited… the expert that Xiao Gou mentioned last night is him.”
“…So young. He looks like he’s only a year or two older than us. Is he really that evil?”
“How can you call him evil? If it wasn’t for this expert, last night the Madam and Xiao Huan would have probably…”
“Stop talking, stop talking. Just thinking about that water-spouting old woman is enough to scare anyone…”
“Is that scholar truly a remarkable person? I’ve heard he’s a scholar full of talent and knowledge…”
The fragmented chatter of several people continued as Lu Liangsheng moved the books and paintings out of the bookcase and arranged them one by one. Nie Honglian stood in the shadows, also helping to tidy up. She placed the brush and ink stone away, blew away the nonexistent dust from the book covers, and carefully placed them on the shelf. Standing on her tiptoes, she turned around to glance at the surroundings, her heart filled with joy as she fixed her gaze on the scholar’s back.
The Toad Daoist lazily yawned.
“It’s still early for nightfall. I’ll take a nap first.”
It slowly stood up and jumped into the patch of sunlight that streamed through the window, lying down to bask in the warmth, revealing its dark purple lumps.
In the corner of the room, behind a folding screen depicting a solitary boat in spring, a small figure no larger than a bean rode out on a suitably sized pony, fully dressed in armor. It lifted its head, looking at the long robe and legs moving in front of the massive window, as well as the person above them.
It tightened the reins as thick as a strand of hair and raised its hand.
From behind the screen that seemed to connect heaven and earth, several war chariots and steeds emerged, aligning in a row behind the tiny figure. Flags fluttered in the wind, and extending behind them were hundreds and thousands of tiny figures, densely arrayed, brandishing spears and weapons, stepping in unison.
It presented a scene of solemnity and menace.
Amid the neighing of horses and the clattering of hooves, a towering giantess in a white dress floated by. The gust of wind she created instantly sent the tiny figures and horses tumbling, causing the horses to neigh loudly in panic.