Chapter 78

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Cook-a-doodle-doo——

The crow of the rooster pierced the silence of the morning, as the first light of dawn pushed back the contours of darkness. The quiet of the mountain village gave way to the bustle of activity. The autumn harvest was not yet complete, and families, carrying farming tools, headed to the fields.

In a small courtyard surrounded by a fence, the creaking sound of wooden doors echoed as they opened one after another from a three-room house. Lu Liangsheng, Lu Xiaoxian, and Sun Yingxian stepped out, stretched lazily in unison, and walked toward the water jar. Each picked up a bowl, dipped a small twig with leaves into the water, and used it to brush their teeth, swiping left and right about twenty or thirty times. They then scooped some water into their mouths.

“Gurgle, gurgle…”

The three of them bent their heads down and spat out the water in unison with a “pfft.”

Inside the kitchen, Li Jinhua had already prepared breakfast. The three, along with the recently awakened Lu Laoshi, sat under the eaves, holding bowls and slurping on meat porridge.

Occasionally, Li Jinhua’s voice drifted out from the kitchen.

“Liangsheng, now that the exams are over, when are you planning to take a wife?”

Lu Liangsheng nearly spat out his porridge. Beside him, the Daoist instinctively glanced toward the room, then at the cypress tree in the courtyard, relieved to see there was no eerie wind stirring.

“Close call, close call. Hopefully, it didn’t hear that.” He held his chopsticks and patted his chest.

Lu Liangsheng quickly gulped down the rest of his porridge and handed the empty bowl to Li Jinhua.

“It’s still early. On the second day of the second lunar month, there’s still the spring examination to sit for.”

With that, he grabbed Sun Yingxian, who was still eating, and dragged him outside. Sun Yingxian hastily scooped a couple more bites into his mouth, his cheeks bulging as he chewed. As they left, he turned back to wave at the woman in farewell.

Li Jinhua, unwilling to give up, chased after her son, shouting toward him as he reached the other side of the fence:

“Then at least take a concubine first! Your father and I are waiting to hold a grandson!”

Lu Liangsheng dared not reply and wandered around the village with the Daoist. Along the way, they saw Old Master Lu, who was leaning on a cane and heading to the back of the private school to bask in the sun. They approached to pay their respects, and Lu Liangsheng took the opportunity to check the old man’s pulse.

“Great Grandpa, your health is steady.”

The old man grinned, his toothless mouth spreading wide as he reclined on the lounge chair, chuckling a few times and nodding slowly.

“…Seems this old blade hasn’t dulled yet, eh? Liangsheng… how did the exam go?”

The scholar gently placed the old man’s hand back on his knee, positioning the pearwood cane within easy reach. As he rubbed the old man’s calf, using his spiritual energy to dispel some coldness, he replied with a smile:

“Not too bad… I shouldn’t have disgraced the village, Grandpa. Rest here for a bit; I need to check on other matters.”

Old Master Lu squinted his eyes with a satisfied smile, waving a hand to dismiss him.

“Go ahead. The little dolls should be coming to class soon. I’ll just sit here and watch them…”

Watching as the old man nodded off mid-sentence, his head dipping and rising like a pecking bird, Lu Liangsheng couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Age had taken its toll—each day, his spirit grew weaker. Sleepless nights led to daytime drowsiness, and sometimes he’d fall asleep mid-conversation, completely unaware of it.

“Ha!”

“Ha!”

As he walked to other parts of the village, he could hear the spirited shouts of Lu Pan and the others from afar. Near the storage cellar—where the village’s wealth was hidden—eight young men were training tirelessly. They had been taught body-strengthening techniques and practiced diligently without interruption, gathering daily to train. Even in the depths of winter, they would strip to the waist, unfazed by the cold.

Among the eight, Lu Pan was the strongest and most agile. From Lu Liangsheng’s vantage point, he watched as Lu Pan effortlessly lifted a hundred-pound stone lock with one hand and hurled it two or three zhang away.

The display earned cheers and applause from Lu Liangsheng and the other seven men nearby.

“Bah, I could toss that around easily.” Sun Yingxian said, scratching his nose.

“That’s different they haven’t learned any cultivation techniques or martial arts. Just having this kind of strength is no small feat.”

After a while, the two of them headed toward Qixia Mountain behind the village. The red ribbons tied to the trees three years ago were still there. As they climbed higher, they came to an ancient pine tree. Lu Liangsheng stepped forward and bowed reverently before it.

The Daoist, who had stayed in the Lu Family Village for a year, had seen this tree before. At first, he found it quite mystical, but as time passed, he could no longer sense anything extraordinary about it.

Nevertheless, he enjoyed standing on a nearby rock, gazing at the rolling clouds and mist that filled the surrounding mountains.

The wind stirred, and the pine needles swayed, creating a soft rustling sound.

Lu Liangsheng joined the Daoist, standing beside him and looking out at the sea of clouds. He sat cross-legged, the golden morning light bathing him. The surging clouds below resembled waves in a vast ocean.

“Every time I sit beneath this old pine and watch the clouds rise and churn, don’t you feel that cultivating here flows much more smoothly than usual?”

The Daoist picked up a small stone and flung it into the distance without answering.

“I’ve long known that cultivation emphasizes blessed lands and hidden paradises. Though I’ve never seen one myself, this place isn’t bad at all.”

“Hmm. If I fail to become an official someday, I might as well build a thatched hut here and settle down.”

Lu Liangsheng said with a sudden laugh. He reached out from his sleeve, producing a brush. Using the rock as a canvas, he drew a simple sketch. With his other hand, he grasped at the air, and before the Daoist’s eyes appeared a fine jug of wine and two cups.

He filled a cup and handed it to the Daoist.

“To watch the sunrise and the churning sea of clouds—how could we do so without wine?”

The Daoist raised the tangible cup, taking a sip. A faint aroma of fine liquor wafted through the air, lingering on his lips and nose.

As the sun ascended through the clouds, golden light spilled over the swaying branches of the old pine, dappling the large rock where the two sat. One dressed in green, the other in gray—they drank heartily, savoring the tranquility of the autumnal mountains.

“A game of chess would make this perfect.”

“Forget it. Too many pieces—how am I supposed to draw them?”

“Then bring a set next time.”

Laughing, Lu Liangsheng nodded. He turned his gaze to the towering old pine beside them. Through the dense canopy, glimpses of shimmering light filtered through, scattering across the rock like tiny stars.

This homecoming trip had soothed the longing he felt during his first journey far from home. Yet, upon returning, there were things that left Lu Liangsheng both amused and exasperated.

For several days, his mother had been pressing him to marry. If he wouldn’t take a wife, she argued, he should at least take a concubine—anything to ensure the old Lu family’s lineage would continue to flourish.

However, Lu Liangsheng had no particular thoughts on the matter of marriage. His understanding of emotions between men and women was vague and uncertain. What’s more, there was a jealous female ghost by his side… Out of consideration for any potential bride, he tactfully declined his mother’s well-meaning suggestions.

“Originally, I came back in high spirits, but now it seems I won’t be able to stay much longer…”

Hearing his mother once again chattering about the subject outside, Lu Liangsheng set down his book, sat on the edge of his bed, and looked toward the Toad Daoist lounging nearby in a short coat.

“Master, you’re experienced. Do you have any advice?”

The toad lazily rolled onto its back, scratching its belly with a webbed foot, and shot him a sidelong glance.

“I’m a cultivator. What would I know about such things?”

Lu Liangsheng shifted his gaze to the Daoist squatting in the corner with a book, who immediately felt the weight of the stare. Sun Yinxian turned his head nervously, quickly closed the book, and stuffed it into his robes.

“Why are you looking at me? I’ve never even seen a matchmaker…”

At that moment, a faint voice floated out from the portrait on the wall: “In that case, why not just leave quickly?”

“I suppose that’s the only solution,”

Lu Liangsheng sighed. He really had no other options. Besides, he’d promised himself he’d travel to the northwest, pass through the capital to visit his mentor, and prepare for the upcoming spring imperial exams on the second day of the second lunar month next year. Time was tight.

Once he made up his mind, the decision came quickly. At the end of August, after receiving word from the county official announcing his success in the provincial exams, the whole village celebrated together. That very night, he brought up his plan to go to the capital with his parents.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” Li Jinhua stopped clearing the table and sat down beside her son. “Why not wait a bit longer? Leave after the New Year instead.”

Cough…

At the doorway, Lu Laoshi cleared his throat. Lu Liangsheng hurriedly gestured to his mother, saying: “There’s only a few months left until the spring imperial exams. I only have a general idea of the direction to the capital. I’ll need to ask for directions along the way. Once I arrive, I still have to visit my mentor and Minister Min. With all that back and forth, time will really be tight…”

Li Jinhua, no longer as anxious as she was the first time her son left home, sighed softly and went to his room to help pack his belongings.

As soon as she left, Lu Laoshi quickly stepped inside.

“When you leave, remember to take the old donkey with you…”

Seeing Lu Liangsheng’s puzzled expression, the older man awkwardly rubbed his palms together, glanced outside, and lowered his voice.

“Take it so I can replace it with a younger one.”

Uh…

The scholar looked at his father’s embarrassed face and could only nod wordlessly.

On the first day of September, under clear skies and drifting clouds, Lu Liangsheng set off. With his belongings prepared, he bid farewell to his parents and led the old donkey out of the village. He turned to wave one last time to the people who had come to see him off.

By the roadside, Sun Yinxian stood waiting, chewing on a blade of grass. Behind the donkey’s back, two bookshelves hung on either side, their small cabinet doors slightly ajar. Inside, the Toad Daoist, dressed in a small jacket, lounged comfortably, crossing his legs and nodding his head in time with the opera melodies emanating from the scroll painting on the other side.

The old donkey followed closely behind the scholar, trotting energetically, letting out spirited brays.

Heng-ha, heng-ha…

Its calls echoed through the mountains and fields.
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