Chapter 128: Should I tell Qingwan... about my wedding?

A dreamless night.

When Lu Yuan was awakened by the piercingly bright winter sun outside the window, the sky was already fully lit.

He was completely buried in the quilt, the bedding saturated with the scent of sunshine, fluffy and warm.

Lu Yuan only poked half his head out, letting out a long, satisfied sigh.

"Ah... comfortable..."

The exhaustion and tension from five straight days of non-stop work, which had seeped into his very bones, seemed to have been smoothed out by this long, natural sleep-in.

The residual warmth of the large heated brick bed beneath him remained, transmitting just the right amount of heat through the mattress, making his entire body feel lazily cozy.

He just wanted to keep lying there, doing nothing.

However, no matter how comfortable, he still had to get up.

It was currently the public opinion period, which could also be understood as the vote-gathering phase.

Lu Yuan needed to quickly organize all the information about his eradication of the Nurturing Malevolence Site. Not only did he need to record it in the "Merit Ledger,"

but he also needed to produce picture books, pamphlets, and such, to distribute.

As the saying goes, even good wine fears a deep alley.

During this public opinion period, it was precisely the time for each Taoist temple to list out all the good deeds their temple had performed over the past five years,

letting the people beyond the Great Wall know what good deeds they had done in the last five years.

All the temples were going all out to promote themselves during this time, afraid others wouldn't know.

If Lu Yuan didn't join in the promotion, and just sat at home waiting for jade beans to fall from the sky relying solely on having eradicated the Nurturing Malevolence Site,

that would truly be foolish.

When Lu Yuan finished washing up, it was just past 11 AM.

He called the old man to have lunch first.

When Lu Yuan arrived at the front of the old man's meditation room, before he could even enter, he saw the old man walking out with bloodshot eyes.

Judging by his appearance, he must have stayed up all night, helping to find a way to unravel the fate entanglement.

Seeing this, Lu Yuan felt a bit sorry for him. A man over sixty, staying up all night every day.

Immediately, Lu Yuan said,

"What's the rush? Didn't we say we'd look for a solution after dealing with the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family?"

The old man yawned, stretching lazily.

"I got absorbed in reading and accidentally stayed up all night."

Hearing this, as they walked towards the dining hall, Lu Yuan asked curiously,

"So, did you find a way?"

The old man nodded slightly.

"Got some leads, but still need to read more."

Master and disciple talked as they entered the dining hall.

Today's temple meal was quite good: pork and cabbage stewed with vermicelli, golden crispy cracklings. The staples were sticky bean buns and soft, fluffy steamed rolls.

The aroma was absolutely overpowering.

Lu Yuan carried a large basin of stew, so hot it made him shake his hands. After putting the basin down, he rubbed his earlobes and looked around, noticing something odd.

"Hey, with such a hearty meal today, why are there so few people?"

Today's two dishes were truly solid fare.

Pork and cabbage stewed with vermicelli goes without saying; just eat this basin of stew.

After finishing, not only would you feel satisfied, your whole body would be warm. In this severe winter, it's incredibly comforting.

And the cracklings—the crispy bits left after rendering pork fat or lard.

Sprinkle some salt and chili powder on these, they're crunchy, eaten directly, truly delicious.

Logically, with these two dishes, the dining hall's threshold should be worn down by the crowd.

But today, there really weren't many people inside.

"They went to the countryside."

The old man didn't even look up, scooping a large ladle of stew into his own bowl.

Then, holding a steamed roll in one hand and chopsticks in the other, he picked up his small bowl and started shoveling food into his mouth,

eating with such gusto.

It made Lu Yuan ravenously hungry too. He immediately sat down, copying the old man.

First, he shoveled half a small bowl of stew into his mouth, then took a bite of the steamed roll before mumbling,

"To what countryside?"

The old man now put down the bowl he was using to hold the stew, picked up a piece of crackling, chewing it with a crisp crunch.

"The public opinion period of the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony has started. Since we're competing for Celestial Master, naturally we can't just sit and wait for jade beans to fall from the sky."

"At this time, all the major temples send people to inform their former clients."

"These clients, remembering past favors, not only vote jade beans themselves but also bring along friends and family."

Hearing the old man's words, Lu Yuan looked at him somewhat amusedly and said,

"You sent people?"

After all, before, the old man had always said verbally that they weren't competing, that there was no chance, etc.

But now that the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony had started, the old man's actions were quite honest!

The old man looked up at Lu Yuan, couldn't help but glare.

"Nonsense!"

"You've worked so hard for so long, almost lost your life. Can't let it end without even hearing a sound!"

Seeing the old man's expression, Lu Yuan grinned, then said seriously,

"It's not necessarily hopeless."

Lu Yuan wanted to say more, but his eyes went wide.

He saw the "Deity of Beauty" step lightly over the dining hall threshold.

She still wore that plain porcelain-patterned long dress, simple in style, subdued in color.

Yet on her, it somehow made this bustling, earthy dining hall look like a faded old painting.

Only she was that breathtaking, life-flowing glaze color within the painting.

Lu Yuan's face was full of question marks.

Wait...

This "Deity of Beauty" just came out openly, swaggering in public like this??

Her expression was calm, her starry-sky-like eyes sweeping lightly over the somewhat empty dining hall, not deliberately displaying divinity.

Yet that transcendent, naturally perfect quality was more impactful than any lavish clothing or jewelry.

Eyebrows, eyes, nose bridge, lips—every contour was so exquisite it took one's breath away.

Her skin, under the light, had a warm, jade-like, or fine thin-bodied porcelain-like delicate glow.

She just walked in, like a celestial maiden from the Ninth Heaven who had accidentally stepped into a mortal kitchen.

Forming an extremely strong, yet strangely harmonious contrast with the rough wooden tables and chairs, the steaming large iron pots, and the air filled with the aroma of stew and pork cracklings.

The few Taoist priests originally in the dining hall instantly seemed to have been hit with a paralysis spell.

A young priest near the door scooping soup dropped his ladle with a "clang" back into the soup bucket.

Scalding soup splashed onto the back of his hand, but he didn't notice at all, just staring wide-eyed, mouth agape, dumbfounded.

Two middle-aged priests in a corner, who had been burying their heads in their food, looked up at the sound and then froze.

One had noodles slip off his chopsticks back into the bowl, splashing a few drops of oil.

The other stopped chewing mid-bite, cheeks puffed out, eyes glazed over.

Even the kitchen worker behind the stove, wiping his hands with his apron, glanced at the door and slowed his wiping motion several beats,

his cloudy old eyes flashing with clear shock and a trace of instinctive bewilderment at such extreme beauty.

"What the... what's her situation??"

Lu Yuan asked, utterly confused, looking at the old man sitting opposite him who was still lowering his head and slurping stew.

The old man, without looking up, mumbled,

"What's wrong?"

"She has a physical body. Since she has a physical body, of course she needs to eat too."

Lu Yuan: "????"

"Is that right?"

At this, the old man put down his soup bowl, looking at Lu Yuan with an exasperated expression.

"How would I know if it's right?"

"Originally, such things have never even been heard of. Anyway, that's what she said. She came for breakfast too."

Lu Yuan said, bewildered,

"Then won't others notice something off about her?"

The old man shook his head.

"As long as she restrains her divinity and doesn't fight with others, who could guess she's a deity?"

He paused, then curled his lip.

"Moreover, even if they detected divinity on her, others wouldn't understand what's going on."

Lu Yuan blinked, confused. This...

At this moment, the only sounds left in the dining hall were the gentle bubbling of stew in the large iron pot

and the almost audible sound of everyone's suddenly accelerated heartbeats.

The "Deity of Beauty" seemed oblivious to the gazes fixed on her, or perhaps, she was long accustomed to being watched.

She walked straight to the serving window, where basins of steaming hot dishes were lined up.

She stopped before the large basin of pork and cabbage stewed with vermicelli, tilting her head slightly as if observing this richly sauced, plain and unadorned mortal food.

A trace of subtle curiosity flashed in her starry eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

Then, she extended that flawless, perfect hand, fingertips glowing with a faint, warm glaze-like light, and picked up a clean, coarse ceramic bowl nearby.

The "Deity of Beauty" scooped herself a bowl of stew, then took a steamed roll and a sticky bean bun.

Holding that bowl of rustic food that clashed with her aura yet was somehow "elevated" in grade by her presence, she turned around.

Her gaze swept across the dining hall.

Finally, those brilliant starry eyes accurately landed on the empty seat next to Lu Yuan.

The corner of her lips seemed to curve upward in an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible arc.

Immediately, she took a step, moving with light, graceful steps towards Lu Yuan's table.

Lu Yuan felt his throat go a bit dry. He quickly gulped some soup, watching helplessly as she drew nearer.

Wherever she passed, all the Taoist priests involuntarily leaned back slightly, holding their breath, as if she carried an invisible, awe-inspiring aura.

Finally, she reached Lu Yuan's side.

"Clack."

A light sound as the coarse ceramic bowl was gently placed on the table by her.

The motion was so elegant, as if she were placing down not a bowl of stew, but a rare treasure.

Immediately after, under the watchful eyes of all, she gracefully sat down, looking at the old man seriously and saying,

"Master."

Then, she slowly turned her head, those deep, beautiful starry-sky-like eyes gazing at Lu Yuan.

As her gaze shifted, the clear coldness vanished, replaced by a trace of faint, almost imperceptible intimacy.

"Senior Brother~"

Lu Yuan: "???"

What the heck??

How did he become her senior brother?

Lu Yuan looked at the old man with a face full of confusion.

"How did I become her senior brother?"

The old man, without looking up, continued slurping the stew from his bowl, saying indistinctly,

"She's going to stay at the temple for a few months. She needs a title, otherwise how do we explain it to outsiders?"

"Might as well take her on as a nominal disciple. That way, she can come and go freely in Zhenlong Temple."

Before Lu Yuan could retort after the old man finished speaking, the "Deity of Beauty" beside him lightly raised her eyebrows, which were like distant mountains tinged with azure, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness.

"What, from the sound of it, you're not very happy about being this senior brother?"

Her voice was soft and glutinous, yet carried a strange penetrating quality.

"If you're not willing, then next time I'll call you junior brother~"

Lu Yuan's mouth twitched. He couldn't be bothered to argue with her about this.

He remembered something more important and immediately turned to the "Deity of Beauty," his expression turning serious.

"You heard what was said last night. How much do you know about the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family? Tell me everything."

"Only by resolving the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family matter sooner can we quickly deal with our fate entanglement issue."

At these words, the old man, who had been burying his head in eating, also looked up, his gaze burning as he looked at the "Deity of Beauty."

However, the "Deity of Beauty" shook her head, that flawless face wearing an expression of seriousness without a trace of impurity.

"I don't know anything at all."

Huh?

Lu Yuan was stunned.

The old man, as if having guessed something, lowered his head again, continuing to battle the noodles in his bowl.

Before Lu Yuan could press further, the "Deity of Beauty" gazed at him with those starry-sky-like eyes, blinking lightly.

"I've told you several times already~"

"Liu Ruyan is Liu Ruyan, I am I."

"Liu Ruyan died long ago."

She paused, her voice gaining an ethereal quality.

"Of course, before that, we once shared memories."

"But those memories were completely turned to ashes under the Patriarch's divine fire tempering."

"The current me is truly 'newly born.' I don't remember a single bit about Liu Ruyan."

Lu Yuan: ...

He wanted to ask more, but the old man opposite had already finished his first bowl and was scooping a second, full to the brim.

"I've already got some leads on the Commanding Ghosts Liu Family matter."

The old man said while shoveling the newly scooped stew into his mouth.

"Once the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony ends, I can go find them."

"You don't need to worry about this. Just focus on preparing for your Celestial Master Grand Ceremony."

After speaking, the old man picked up his small bowl again, making slurping sounds.

Hearing the old man say this, Lu Yuan was somewhat dazed.

Already got leads? So fast?

He thought for a moment; probably Celestial Master He Xun from Tianlong Temple had made new progress and notified the old man.

Lu Yuan didn't ask further, nodding solemnly.

"I'll go keep Qingwan company for a while after lunch, then head to Fengtian City tonight."

The old man grunted in acknowledgment, saying nothing more.

...

After lunch, Lu Yuan briefly explained a few things to the old man, then walked alone towards the side hall in the backyard.

The afternoon sun had lost its sharpness, spreading obliquely across the bluestone path, illuminating the wet traces left by melted snow under the eaves.

The air was crisp, yet carried a hint of rare winter warmth.

Pushing open the side hall door, a familiar scent mixed with yin coldness and faint fragrance rushed over him.

The hall was dimly lit, with only a few strands of sunlight squeezing through the cracks of the high window lattices,

forming several pillars of light that illuminated the slowly floating dust in the air.

Gu Qingwan still sat on that massive red lacquered wooden coffin.

She wore a moon-white long gown, her long hair simply tied with a cloth cord of the same color, making her look less like an evil spirit and more like a Chang'e fairy imprisoned here.

She tilted her head slightly, looking over.

Those usually deep, cold pool-like eyes softened almost imperceptibly upon seeing Lu Yuan's figure.

Coming here was like returning home for Lu Yuan.

Between him and Gu Qingwan, they were already so familiar that words were unnecessary. Even sitting in silence together was never awkward.

He closed the hall door behind him and walked straight towards the red coffin.

"Let me see how the evil curse on your tongue is recovering."

Gu Qingwan nodded her delicate chin slightly, not speaking.

Creak—

A light sound as the heavy coffin lid slid open a section by itself, no longer requiring Lu Yuan to shoulder it open.

Lu Yuan leaned in to take a look.

Hmm... the speed is okay, faster than expected.

At this rate, by the time the Celestial Master Grand Ceremony ends, this evil curse and restriction should be completely broken.

Next would be finding rare treasures to restore her tongue.

This matter couldn't be rushed; needed careful searching.

Coincidentally, Taoist practitioners were gathering in Fengtian City. He could see then if he could trade items to find the best one for her.

"Here."

Lu Yuan straightened up, taking a small oil-paper-wrapped package from his pagoda chain and placing it on the coffin lid.

"I came back in a hurry this time, didn't have time to go shopping, so I didn't buy you new clothes."

"But while waiting for the carriage at the market town, I bought you some small trinkets."

The paper package contained accessories, rouge, and other feminine items—not particularly valuable, but a token of his regard.

"I have to return to Fengtian City again tonight."

Lu Yuan looked at her, his expression especially serious.

"When I come back from there, I'll definitely bring you the most beautiful clothes."

He had already planned in his mind: after returning this time, the first thing would be to ask Aunt Qiao'er for help.

According to Gu Qingwan's figure, buy the newest, most fashionable clothes in the city, and buy a whole bunch!

Thinking of Aunt Qiao'er naturally led to thoughts of Aunt Qin.

Thinking of these two women of myriad charms, Lu Yuan's heart warmed slightly.

They... were now his legitimate wives.

Lu Yuan stood inside the side hall, pondering.

Suddenly, Lu Yuan was considering something: should he tell Qingwan about... his marriage?