Chapter 15: Leisurely Days

Chapter 15: Leisurely Days

Huang Feng was a secular disciple of the White Lotus Sect, arduously cultivated and now fallen; the sect was unwilling to accept such a loss. The White Lotus masters sought another eccentric stranger from elsewhere.

In a spacious courtyard stood four people: one from the White Lotus Sect, a man in a green robe, and two disciples of the green-robed man—one fat, one thin—serving as assistants.

The White Lotus master handed over a garment, speaking bitterly, "I entrust this matter to you, Daoist brother. These are my disciple's clothes. Please, you must find where the thief has gone."

The green-robed stranger chuckled hoarsely, "Rest assured. If I take the money, I must dispel your misfortune."

He set up the ritual altar, raised banners, and brought out all manner of magical implements, making a rather convincing scene.

Ascending the platform, the green-robed stranger began his ritual, forming seals, stepping through the celestial pattern, employing secret arts, then suddenly shouted, "Disciple goes forth, the mountain man transforms into earth-shaking Five Demon Soldiers; those blocking the way become Five Demon Soldiers binding mountains and intercepting valleys; the ancestor goes ahead with Five Demon Soldiers; the disciple follows, shouting three times, summoning one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers, one hundred thousand earthly soldiers, one hundred thousand water soldiers, marching to ten thousand mountain peaks—go!"

Black smoke billowed, figures blurred, and three streaks of dark energy sped away faster than the eye could follow.

Below, the fat disciple muttered, "Didn't Master say he'd summon one hundred thousand heavenly soldiers, one hundred thousand earthly soldiers, one hundred thousand water soldiers? Why are there only three?"

Though his voice was low, everyone present was an eccentric; none failed to hear him.

On the platform, the green-robed stranger outwardly continued the ritual, but inwardly cursed, "Damn it! If I had a hundred thousand, I'd have conquered the Daoist world long ago—why would I be here scamming for money?"

At this moment, the thin disciple patted his newly recruited junior and laughed, "Are you stupid?"

"Our founder can boast all he likes—it doesn't cost him anything!"

"Let me tell you, in our line of work, deception is key..."

The green-robed stranger faltered, considering whether to expel these two rebellious apprentices.

...

A moment later, the green-robed stranger spat blood and roared, "Foreign devils, how dare you humiliate me!"

The White Lotus master was startled, rushing forward to support him. "Daoist brother, what happened?"

The green-robed stranger's face darkened. "Westerners’ trickery! What do you say to this?"

"Westerners... well..."

At the mention of Westerners, the White Lotus master hesitated. In all of Jiuzhou, Westerners are, frankly, the lords of the land now.

If it were a typical eccentric, regardless of who rules, even if the secular court acknowledges them as ancestors, they'd cut them down without hesitation.

But—but—the White Lotus Sect is no orthodox school; it’s a heretical cult, much like the Quanyin Sect. The eccentrics of Jiuzhou despise them, calling them White Lotus remnants. If they provoke Western eccentrics as well...?

The White Lotus master sighed deeply. "Daoist brother, let this matter rest. I will make my own arrangements."

He had to consider the whole White Lotus Sect.

"That's nonsense!" the green-robed stranger erupted in fury, slamming the table. "How dare mere foreigners be so arrogant? Let me show them..."

Before he could finish, his two disciples below cheered him on.

---

The thin disciple declared loudly, "Master is mighty! Let those foreign devils witness our... xingqi!"

The fat disciple, curious, asked, "Senior, what is xingqi?"

The thin one grinned, "Xingqi is our founder Zheng’s..."

"Rebellious child, shut up!" the green-robed stranger shouted, leaping from the platform, beating and scolding his two disciples out of the courtyard.

Damn! Better clean house now!

He felt these two brats would be the death of him. They hadn't even said much, yet they were already leaking secrets, mentioning the founder's name before mastering the arts—a sure way to court disaster.

The trio left the courtyard, leaving only the White Lotus master behind.

A minute passed, then five, ten, half an hour...

The atmosphere grew awkward.

The White Lotus master never saw the green-robed stranger return to discipline his disciples.

...

The Black Dragon Gang affair was settled.

But now there was an extra person in the household. Initially, Luo Feng thought Zheng Zha wouldn’t like Yuan Yuan.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Zha cared for Yuan Yuan more attentively than Luo Feng himself.

Luo Feng once asked him why.

Zheng Zha sighed gloomily, "If I had married, my child would be about Yuan Yuan’s age."

After that, Luo Feng never pressed the matter.

Everyone has their past and their privacy; if they don’t wish to share, it’s best not to ask.

Life in Yang Village was exceedingly leisurely.

In Zheng Zha’s words, it was much like clocking in for work: eating, cultivating, and playing with Yuan Yuan.

Another day spent diligently slacking off.

Yet, peace was always bound to be disrupted!

Matchmaking—a terrifying topic.

Luo Feng stared at Yang, the village chief, who was puffing on a dry pipe, unable to stop his lips from twitching.

He had been a reincarnator, traveled worlds, yet could not escape the fate of forced marriage?

Listening to boisterous voices from the next room, deliberately lowered but still loud,

"This is called love, do you understand love..."

"Is that love? You just lust after his body!"

"You’re shameless!"

...

Yang, the village chief, took a deep drag, put down his pipe, and tapped the table, "Young man, have you considered? The girls here are famed beauties for miles around, and aren’t bothered that you’re raising a child."

"You’re not so young anymore..."

The chief rambled on, lacking eloquence but employing rural proverbs with uncanny precision!

It was as if, if Luo Feng did not marry soon, even heaven would be outraged.

Love? Girlfriend?

"No!"

"None!"

"Impossible!"

Luo Feng: My heart is set on one thing—cultivation.

After repeated refusals, the chief sighed and let Luo Feng go.

Returning home, Luo Feng reflected deeply, examining himself, and finally realized why the chief had sought him out.

Though he was undeniably handsome, with sword-like brows, a refreshing elegance, thin lips, a dashing air, graceful poise, carved features, calm and noble, captivatingly handsome, a gentle smile, striking without flaw, dignified, debonair, well-mannered, looks like Pan An, commanding, scholarly, jade-like, possessing both talent and beauty.

But this was not the true reason for the chief’s matchmaking.

The real reason—the chief pressed for marriage—was because Luo Feng was too conspicuous!

First: He did not farm, yet had surplus wealth. Second: He adopted Yuan Yuan, showing compassion. Third: He had excellent relations in the village, warm and generous...

Listing each point, Luo Feng couldn’t help but gasp.

Unknowingly, he had exposed so many details.

This was no path of a hidden master—it was clearly that of a respected local gentry!

"No, I must change!"

After pondering, Luo Feng’s eyes flashed, as if lightning sparked in the void.

Thanks to Su Mustard for the generous reward of 1000; the author is deeply grateful and promises an extra chapter.

Two chapters today.

(End of this chapter)