Wen Jiong came and went in a hurry, soon vanishing into the depths of the forest.
Lu Zheng exchanged smiles with the two women and paid no further mind to the grudges within the Netherworld. They returned to Peach Blossom Manor, where Lu Zheng personally prepared a lavish dinner.
They stayed the night at Peach Blossom Manor.
Early the next morning, Lu Zheng flew back to Tonglin County with Liu Qingyan, arriving just in time for Renxin Hall to open.
Liu Qingyan and Du YueYao sat in consultation in the hall, chatting and laughing, while Lu Zheng prepared to head home.
But just as he reached his doorstep, he saw a paper crane wobbling down from the sky.
"Hmm?"
Lu Zheng reached out and caught the paper crane. With a slight sense of it, he knew it was White Cloud Temple's standard paper-crane communication method.
The message was from Daoist Priest Mingzhang, telling him to return to Shaotong Mountain. Daoist Priest Yuting had come to visit and wanted to play chess with him.
Lu Zheng was speechless.
Daoist Priest Mingzhang's cultivation had already surpassed Daoist Priest Yuting's, but his chess skills had not improved. Now that Daoist Priest Yuting had come calling, he had begun summoning Lu Zheng.
Thus, Lu Zheng did not go home at all. He rose directly into the clouds and arrived at the summit of Shaotong Mountain moments later.
It was a brilliantly clear day. On the snow-covered mountaintop, Daoist Priest Mingzhang and Daoist Priest Yuting sat on opposite sides of a chessboard atop a stone table.
"Master! Daoist Priest Yuting!"
Lu Zheng drifted down gracefully and cupped his hands in salute to the two elders.
Daoist Priest Mingzhang nodded. Naturally, he did not immediately yield his seat, but instead smiled at Daoist Priest Yuting.