Mountain Carrying Eighteen Forms

As his words fell, Lu Zheng stepped forward.

"Make him bleed!" the leading man shouted fiercely as he charged straight ahead.

Lu Zheng's eyes flashed. He shifted left, waiting until the man in the middle—the leader—moved his center of gravity, then suddenly darted right.

Probe! Deflect! Whip! Smack!

A peach branch lashed viciously across the face of the man on the right.

"Argh!"

A side kick followed, sending the man sprawling like a rolling gourd. He tumbled away, groaning as he failed to get back up.

"This one's tough!"

When an expert made a move, one could tell whether there was substance to it. They had come fully prepared and had begun to surround him, yet Lu Zheng had crippled one of them in two moves.

This was no mere street brawl.

Street thugs might have ten thousand faults, but one virtue was highly commendable: they were exceptionally perceptive. Once they knew they could not afford to provoke someone, they would decisively admit defeat.

Thus, when Lu Zheng turned around, he saw the other two immediately stop in their tracks and slowly back away with grave expressions.

Just as Lu Zheng thought they were preparing to circle around and surround him for another attack, the two men simply turned and ran without looking back.

They did not even care about their companion!

They did not even leave behind a harsh word!

Lu Zheng: ┐(-｀)┌

I just strengthened my saber techniques a little and was getting ready for a grand battle. Did I do all that for nothing? "Wow, big brother Lu, you're amazing!" Liu Qingquan sprang out from behind her sister with a whoosh, her eyes shining as she looked at Lu Zheng with open admiration.

"I never expected Young Master Lu to possess such skill." Shen Ying's eyes held a thoughtful look.

Liu Qingyan said nothing. She merely smiled faintly, her eyes bright.

Holding the branch, Lu Zheng slowly walked over to the third man, who was still twitching on the ground.

"Sir! Sir! I was wrong! I'll never dare do it again! Just treat me like a fart and let me go!"

The man curled into a ball and did not even dare stand up.

Lu Zheng tilted his head, signaling for him to get lost.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

The man scrambled to his feet and ran. In the blink of an eye, he had vanished without a trace.

"Meeting is fate. My sister and I hit it off at first sight, and it is nearly noon now. Why not come to my home for a meal?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingyan glanced at Lu Zheng. "Would it be convenient?"

"There's nothing inconvenient about it." Shen Ying nodded. "There are not many people in my home anyway—just two elderly servants and a maid."

"But we bought Peach Blossom Pastry," Liu Qingquan pointed out.

"My home has Peach Blossom Pastry too. It's especially delicious, and there are also candied peach preserves and sweet peach juice."

"Then let's go!" Liu Qingquan nodded as rapidly as a chick pecking rice.

So the group followed Shen Ying deeper into Peach Blossom Glade. After walking less than two li, they saw an estate faintly emerge in the distance.

"Miss is back!"

An old gatekeeper opened the door and gave Lu Zheng a surprised glance. However, he asked no questions and ushered them inside.

"Wow, what a huge peach tree!"

After passing the screen wall, Lu Zheng saw a towering peach tree in the courtyard, so thick that two people would be needed to encircle its trunk.

Its crown spread like a canopy of clouds, nearly shading the entire front courtyard. Pink blossoms dotted its branches, countless peach flowers in bloom, a sight too beautiful to take in.

"It was because of this peach tree that Peach Blossom Manor came to be," Shen Ying explained. Then she told the old servant, "We have guests today. Prepare some peach-flower delicacies."

"Right away!" The old servant nodded and hurried off.

In the main hall of the front courtyard, the group sat around a round table laden with food and pastries, exquisite and delicious, their fragrance wafting through the air.

As they ate and chatted, Lu Zheng learned that Shen Ying's husband had died young, after which she had returned home alone. Her parents had since passed away as well, leaving her to live alone in Peach Blossom Manor, accompanied only by two elderly servants and a maid.

As for anything deeper, Shen Ying did not speak of it, and naturally Lu Zheng and the others could not ask.

"Young Master Lu, I see that your movements are sharp and fierce. Ordinary martial artists cannot compare with you, yet you rely entirely on your own strength, without any surging blood qi."

Shen Ying asked curiously, "Is it that Young Master disdains to activate it, or have you never cultivated the methods of Martial Cultivation?"

Lu Zheng: (⊙o⊙) Fucking hell inwardly, yet outwardly calm and composed, Lu Zheng nodded helplessly. "This unworthy one has admired those heroes and masters who come and go on high since childhood. But I have never had the fortune to meet them or receive an inheritance. The little saber skill I possess was merely practiced blindly on my own."

Shen Ying's almond eyes widened slightly, and even the chopsticks in her hand paused in midair. She was clearly genuinely surprised.

"Young Master truly has never cultivated the martial path? And you call such nimble skill blind practice?"

"I am ashamed. Please forgive the laughter."

Shen Ying set down her chopsticks and said seriously, "Young Master possesses extraordinary talent. If you cultivated the blood qi methods of Martial Cultivation, you would surely achieve something. Would the world not then gain another hero who looked down upon kings and nobles?"

"You flatter me. One should not speak too absolutely—what if I am unsuited to the path of Martial Cultivation? Besides, I already have some ability to protect myself. Three or five ordinary people cannot get near me, so it is enough."

"That is hard to say. Among mountain bandits and nocturnal visitors, there may well be martial artists hiding in their ranks. Though Young Master's skills are fierce and your physique excellent, you would still struggle to withstand the valor of a martial artist's Martial Blood Qi.

"Besides, with such skill, Young Master's confidence will soar, making you more likely to encounter martial artists—and therefore face even greater danger."

Lu Zheng chuckled. "When fate has not arrived, what can one do? As they say, do not force what should not be forced. If one insists on seeking what cannot be sought, one only troubles oneself.

"Besides, I will be careful. I generally do not make a move either."

"Young Master has a fine state of mind." Shen Ying nodded, pushed herself away from the table, and stood. "Please wait a moment."

After Shen Ying entered the rear hall, Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan exchanged a glance.

Lu Zheng muttered softly, "Could it be..."

Liu Qingyan nodded, looking somewhat excited. "It is possible. Congratulations, Lu Lang."

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate... Wouldn't it be too hasty?"

"If Sister Shen has such intentions, Lu Lang need only accept it," Liu Qingyan encouraged him.

"Ah-woo!" Liu Qingquan bit off half a Peach Blossom Pastry in one mouthful. "It's so delicious!"

Lu Zheng smiled slightly. Liu Qingyan's face reddened, and she shifted her gaze away.

The sound of footsteps gradually approached. Shen Ying returned to the hall, holding a thin book in her hands.

"This is a Martial Cultivation method my father obtained in his early years. However, his talent was limited, and he achieved nothing with it."

Shen Ying handed the book to Lu Zheng. "Meeting is fate. I give this Martial Cultivation method to Young Master Lu."

Lu Zheng hurriedly stood and repeatedly waved his hands. "This is too precious. Lu has rendered no service and cannot accept such a generous gift from Madam."

A smile curved Shen Ying's lips. "Young Master Lu, accept it. This cultivation method has value only in your hands. Must it continue gathering dust in mine?"

"Sister Shen's feelings are sincere, Lu Lang. Just accept it. We can come visit Sister more often in the future, keep her company, and ease her loneliness."

"Precisely!"

"Then thank you, Madam. I shall not refuse such kindness."

Lu Zheng accepted it with both hands, his eyes immediately falling upon the book's cover.

"Mountain Carrying Eighteen Forms."