Chapter 62

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“… Haha… So you’re saying Zhang Dongming was unaware of this?”

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees as birds flitted about the swaying branches. Inside, through the open lattice windows of a nearby house, an elder and a younger man sat across from each other at a desk. The aroma of tea, pastries, and ink filled the air as the pages of a book were turned.

Lu Liangsheng smiled as he set down his teacup. The elder had invited him over at dawn to ask about the events of the previous night.

“The expression on his face wasn’t faked. He likely didn’t know.”

“Hmph! That merchant! I only agreed to this marriage because my daughter, Rong’er, and his son were fond of each other. And what has come of it?”

Zhou Zhen slammed his hand onto the table, causing the tea to spill slightly. Though he knew the matter had already reached its conclusion, the thought of the suffering his daughter had endured made him want to run to the Zhang Residence and spit in their faces.

“… Unable to resist the temptations of that vixen, he committed such a disgraceful act. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone annul the engagement.”

After speaking, he clasped his hands in gratitude toward the scholar seated opposite him.

Outside, the servants and stewards waited respectfully under the eaves, not daring to glance inside.

In the room, Lu Liangsheng accepted the gesture, knowing that the credit did not solely belong to him. He took it on behalf of Sun Yingxian, who had also contributed.

He then stood and cupped his hands in farewell.

“Elder Zhou, there are still injured people in the side courtyard who need care. I’ll go back first.”

“Very well. But don’t neglect your studies.”

Zhou Zhen did not press him to stay, having already learned all he needed to know. He escorted Lu Liangsheng to the study’s door.

“At the fifth watch, I had someone prepare ginseng soup. It should be ready by now. I’ll have someone send some to you and that young Daoist shortly.”

“Liangsheng thanks Elder Zhou on behalf of Sun Yingxian.”

With impeccable manners, leaving no room for criticism, Lu Liangsheng cupped his hands and left the eaves, quickly heading back to the side courtyard. Now that the matter was resolved, the remaining issues between the Zhou and Zhang families were no longer his concern.

Feeling much lighter, he returned to the side courtyard. Sun Yingxian was lazily reclining on a deck chair, basking in the sunlight, with a pair of crutches by his side for mobility.

Lu Liangsheng set up a drawing frame, flipped through a few pages of [Illustrated Records of the Mountains and Seas], and selected a fierce beast illustration. He placed it to the side, sat on a stool, prepared his inkstone, and began grinding ink, glancing over toward the eaves.

“By the way, where’s my master?”

The Daoist opened his eyes slightly, lazily turning to one side.

“No idea. Haven’t seen him all morning. Who knows what he’s up to.” He squinted at the scholar with half-open eyes and groaned: “Oww… my hand… oww… my foot hurts too. I helped out so much… yet no one bothers to check on me…”

As Lu Liangsheng carefully applied the ink and sketched on the paper, listening to the Daoist’s moans from under the eaves, a smile tugged at his lips as he continued drawing.

“I was the one who applied your medicine and bandaged your wounds. I’ll even have to go into town someday to get you new clothes tailored. How is that not caring for you?”

Sun Yingxian chuckled twice, then turned to look at the scholar behind the drawing frame. “It’s not like I have any close relatives left. Just trying to feel a bit of warmth.”

At this, he suddenly remembered something about the other Daoist.

“By the way, did you really just hand that guy over to the Yamen?”

“What nonsense.” Lu Liangsheng turned his head slightly, smiling as he said: “Chief Constable Zuo had already set up an ambush. If I didn’t hand him over, was I supposed to attack the yamen? That would not only ruin my exam but also implicate Lu Family Village, Magistrate Min, and my mentor… But Zuo Zhengyang is reasonable enough. As for that earlier matter…”

As he spoke, two maids entered the courtyard, carrying trays.

“Young Master Lu, Daoist Sun, the master instructed the kitchen to prepare ginseng soup in the kitchen for the two of you to nourish your bodies.”

Before the maids could set down the soup bowls, Sun Yingxian propped himself up on his crutch, hopping over to grab a bowl. He took a sip and squinted, savoring the rich taste of the soup.

“Ah, the luxury of a wealthy family… one word: delightful!”

As he spoke, he winked and made faces at the maids, causing them to hurriedly collect the trays, stammer out an apology to the scholar, and flee in a rush.

“No sense at all… just like those two fox spirits, nothing but cheap powder and rouge!”

Lu Liangsheng chuckled as he used the green ink to sketch out a long figure on the paper, adding distant green cliffs, flowers, and grass as accents. “With you being so abrupt, how could they not run away?”

The Daoist pouted, holding his ginseng soup as he walked back.

“… My master told me that when it comes to courting women, you’ve got to be direct. You wouldn’t understand.”

Halfway back, he suddenly quickened his pace, running along the eaves toward the end. Lu Liangsheng glanced at his limping figure.

“Where are you off to?”

“Taking a piss!” Sun Yingxian shouted back.

Lu Liangsheng shook his head and turned back to his painting. A gentle breeze blew, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, casting dappled shadows that swayed on the scholar’s robe.

In the room, a short figure was laughing heartily. In his toad-like eyes, a green pill was being spat out from the mouth of a gourd, caught in his webbed hands. A faint medicinal fragrance wafted through the air.

“Hehe… finally, I don’t have to endure all those indignities…”

Tossing the gourd aside, the Toad Daoist cradled the pill in his webbed hands and slowly walked outside, looking at the scholar painting in the courtyard.

A conflicted expression flickered in the Toad Daoist’s eyes as he tightly grasped the green pill.

Liangsheng…

If I gave it to him, he’d reach the Foundation Establishment stage in one fell swoop…

… No, no, my own cultivation is more important.

The internal struggle flashed through his mind. Holding the pill, he decided to find a secluded spot to focus on absorbing it, as such a process could not be interrupted by anyone or anything…

He quietly lifted his webbed foot and slipped over the threshold, sneaking out.

On the other side of the eaves, just ten steps away, the Daoist, who had already left, suddenly turned back with his crutch.

“Damn it, what am I doing taking ginseng soup into the latrine? Old Lu, give me a hand and help me undo my belt!”

Limping back, the crutch flew ahead of him. As one short leg stepped over the threshold, the Toad Daoist, who was clutching the pill, turned his head. His toad eyes widened instantly, and he couldn’t help but curse: “You mother—”

The tail of the flying crutch swung up from below, hitting his webbed hands and chin with a loud thud. His grip loosened, and something slipped from his hands, flying into the air.

No…

The Toad Daoist crashed backward against the threshold, watching in horror as the green pill flew out from under the eaves, tracing an arc as it sailed into the courtyard.

Gudong…

The ginseng soup, sitting on a low table, made a faint sound as it splashed slightly. In the next second, a hand reached out, picked up the bowl, and brought it to a mouth that drank the last bit of the ginseng soup.

“Hmm… why does this taste a little strange…”

Lu Liangsheng smacked his lips, glancing at the bottom of the bowl. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the toad sitting slumped on the ground. He quickly put down the bowl, stood up, and respectfully called out.

“Master.”

Under the eaves, the Toad Daoist’s eyes were vacant, his lips trembling incessantly. Even with Sun Yingxian’s voice teasing him—”Old toad, your disciple is calling you”—he remained unresponsive.

Slowly, he stood up and wobbled as he walked toward the exit.

Lu Liangsheng exchanged a look with the Daoist and immediately called out, “Master, what’s wrong?”

“This old man… is fine…”

His small, dejected figure trudged along, his webbed feet swaying. “I just want to go out for a walk… a walk…”

The morning sun grew bright and radiant, the incessant buzzing of cicadas becoming more and more irritating. The servants passing through the courtyard paid no attention to the toad furiously pulling at the flowers and grass between the rock garden and flowerbeds. A sinister aura flashed through his bulging eyes.

“Infuriating! How could this happen…”

Grinding his teeth, he muttered under his breath and cast a glance toward the side courtyard. He angrily threw the grass stem he held to the ground and stomped it twice.

“This is absurd…No… If this continues, when will I ever restore my cultivation? I have to separate from my disciple…”

His gaze turned toward the front courtyard. He no longer cared about retrieving the gourd, so he dashed toward a less crowded path, panting heavily as he sneaked out of the courtyard gate.

Looking back at the towering gates of the Zhou Residence, he vowed under his breath.

“When I regain my human form, I’ll come back!!”

However, as he turned around, his view was suddenly filled with a pair of descending horse hooves, which landed with a sharp thud dangerously close to his snout. Looking up, he saw a man in an official constable’s robe, gazing down at him.

They locked eyes.

In the next moment.

The Toad Daoist immediately flattened himself on the ground, curling into a ball and puffing out his cheeks.

“Ribbit…”

Hmm?

Zuo Zhengyang dismounted, casually picking up the toad.

“Looks like it’s Liangsheng’s. How did you end up out here? I’ll take you back to him…”