On the balcony, everyone was shocked by Zhou Fuling's attitude towards Lu Ming. Anyone could see that when she saw this unfamiliar young man, the faint sense of distance that had always been in the eyes of this noble lady from the Great Shang Imperial Domain completely disappeared.
Clearly, their relationship was not ordinary.
"May I ask who this friend is?" Huo Qing was equally surprised by Zhou Fuling's change in attitude. He looked Lu Ming up and down and asked with some doubt.
Among the young talents from various factions in Fengyang Prefecture whom he knew, there was clearly no such person among them.
"Brother Huo, this is my cousin Lu Ming. He used to live in Qingyuan Market. He came to the prefectural city to celebrate my grandfather's birthday," Zhong Quan said.
" Qingyuan Market?"
Huo Qing was stunned for a long moment. This young man also came from that small place, Qingyuan Market? So he wasn't some outstanding young prodigy from a powerful family? How could he have won Zhou Fuling's favor so much?
Furthermore, why would Zhou Fuling call him her junior brother?
"Does Miss Fuling know my cousin?" Zhong Quan, who was standing to the side, was equally curious and couldn't help but ask.
" Lu Ming is practicing Dao of Alchemy under my fourth uncle's tutelage. I personally taught him the basics of Dao of Alchemy. Doesn't that make him my junior brother? Don't you agree, junior brother?" Zhou Fuling said to Lu Ming with a mischievous smile.
Lu Ming nodded and said frankly, "I am honored to be called 'Senior Sister' for teaching me pharmacology."
"Cousin Lu Ming, you're practicing Dao of Alchemy with Miss Fuling's fourth uncle? You even have a talent for Dao of Alchemy?" Zhong Quan was astonished. He realized that his little cousin seemed to have endless surprises to discover.
"I just casually learned something; it's nothing special," Lu Ming said modestly.
"Hypocritical! Your ' True Explanation of Six Refinements of Clear Qi ' is almost catching up with mine." Zhou Fuling mercilessly exposed Lu Ming's modesty.
Zhong Quan, Zhong Xia, and the others stared at Lu Ming in astonishment. The latter actually possessed talent in Dao of Alchemy?
Lu Ming sighed, not wanting to dwell on the topic and have to explain again, so he changed the subject. "Senior sister, what are you doing here?"
"What? Not welcome? Hmph, of course, it's because Fourth Uncle is here too, that's why I came along. Otherwise, what do you think I came here for? Just to see you? Heh." Zhou Fuling snorted and said.
"Of course, you're most welcome! If I had known you were coming, I would have personally greeted you at the door." Lu Ming knew his proud senior sister's temperament all too well, and immediately flattered her.
Zhou Fuling's red lips immediately curled up slightly.
Seeing the two conversing so skillfully and easily, the onlookers realized that they had a very close relationship, and their expressions varied.
Zhao Qian glanced at Lu Ming silently, then quietly took two steps back. Who would have thought that the young master of the Qingyuan Market Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall, whom she had previously looked down upon, would actually be acquainted with a noble lady from a top-tier divine ability family in the Great Shang Imperial Domain? Moreover, their relationship was already somewhat unusual.
As a woman herself, she could sense that this noblewoman named Zhou Fuling showed a clearer sense of closeness to Lu Ming.
Such a comparison evokes a strange sense of shame and embarrassment.
Zhou Fuling's level was too high, so high that Zhao Qian could only look up to her. Therefore, she could not be arrogant enough to think that she could catch up with her in terms of knowledge and experience. However, even such a noble lady would be fond of this young master from the Third-Tier Divine Ability Hall, so this young man must have advantages that she could not imagine.
She's just short-sighted and unable to see it.
While Zhao Qian felt awkward, Huo Qing, the son of the prefect, couldn't help but scrutinize Lu Ming. He knew Zhou Fuling's identity, so since she came to the prefectural office, he had been at his father's behest, using the excuse of showing Zhou Fuling around Fengyang Prefecture to warmly invite her to wander around.
Huo Qing understood his father's meaning; he clearly wanted him to seize the opportunity.
After all, his father, though seemingly the lord of Fengyang Prefecture, was as powerful and prestigious as a top-tier family of supernatural powers in the Great Shang Imperial Domain, he was like a poor family in a remote mountain village. Now that there was an opportunity to make contact, even if the chance was slim, if he could win the favor of the noble lady and establish a relationship with the top-tier family of supernatural powers behind her, it would be of great benefit to his future.
Therefore, Huo Qing worked very hard.
Unfortunately, the result wasn't good.
Huo Qing used to be very successful in Fengyang Prefecture because of his talent and status. Most of the noble ladies from other families with supernatural abilities would take the initiative to befriend him. However, none of this had any effect on Zhou Fuling. This girl would politely decline his enthusiastic invitations.
It was today that he suddenly mentioned coming to the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall to celebrate his birthday, and this noble lady, who wasn't particularly interested in anything, suddenly became interested and came with him.
But now it seems that Zhou Fuling came to the Golden Bell Mystic Gang Hall specifically to find this boy named Lu Ming...
This made Huo Qing feel like a clown.
Even though he felt uncomfortable, Huo Qing did not make any sarcastic or rude remarks at this moment, because he knew that doing so would only offend Zhou Fuling and make all the effort he had put into building a relationship over the past few days go to waste.
Such low-level tactics are meaningless except for satisfying a moment's boasting.
Moreover, Huo Qing could tell that Zhou Fuling might have developed a slight liking for Lu Ming because she spent more time with him, but that was probably all.
Huo Qing was very confident in himself. Although he could not compare to the top geniuses that Zhou Fuling had encountered in the Great Shang Imperial Domain, he should at least have a clear advantage over Lu Ming.
Competing against such an opponent is actually a good thing, as it allows one to highlight their own excellence.
Huo Qing then smiled and said, "I didn't expect Brother Lu Ming to have Dao of Alchemy talent in alchemy. I was too naive. Since you are Miss Fuling's friend, if you need any help in Fengyang Prefecture in the future, please feel free to come to the prefectural office to find me. I will do my best to assist you."
"Then thank you very much, Young Master Huo." Since the other party maintained his composure, Lu Ming naturally wouldn't be cold to him and immediately smiled and accepted.
However, he could also see that Huo Qing clearly had designs on Zhou Fuling, which was normal, since he had witnessed her charm more than once since meeting Zhou Fuling in Qingyuan Market.
He then cast an admiring glance at Zhou Fuling, congratulating her on winning over another suitor.
Zhou Fuling, who instantly understood his meaning, was inexplicably a little angry. She immediately glared at him fiercely. This junior brother, whom she hadn't seen for a few days, still liked to make people angry. She really wanted to beat him up.
With Zhou Fuling and Huo Qing joining them, the scene on the pavilion became even more lively, with a group of young people gathered together, laughing continuously.
Lu Ming accompanied them for a while, but then got a little bored and slipped away to rest.
A short while later, Zhou Fuling strolled over and stood beside him. Gazing at the lake view, she smiled and said, "You're quite the lazy one. As the host, instead of entertaining your guests, you hide away."
"With my older cousin around, there's no need for me to do these things."
Lu Ming smiled, turned to look at the girl beside him, and said, "But you, noble lady from the Great Shang Imperial Domain, you're the core member, why did you slip away too?"
Zhou Fuling pursed her red lips slightly, lazily stretched her arms, yawned, and complained, "So boring! Dealing with them is less worthwhile than going home to refine some pills."
As she stretched out her slender arm, Lu Ming noticed the emerald green herb bracelet on her snow-white wrist and immediately laughed, "Why is that herb bracelet still here? Shouldn't it have withered by now?"
Zhou Fuling quickly withdrew her arm and explained casually, "After wearing those expensive bracelets for so long, this simple thing has a unique charm. So I soaked it in a special potion to solidify its vitality and slow down its withering."
"But I'll throw it away when I get tired of wearing it. How could I possibly wear something so simple and casual forever?"
Lu Ming laughed and said, "It's alright. As long as Senior Sister likes it, I'll make you an even prettier one later."
A glint flashed in Zhou Fuling's bright eyes, and her red lips couldn't help but curl slightly, but she still said casually, "It depends on my mood then. If I'm in a good mood, I might accept it."
Even though she tried to restrain herself, her clear voice still betrayed the girl's joy.
Immediately, Zhou Fuling, overjoyed, put her hands behind her back and said with a smile, "Since you're so good at talking, I'll tell you some good news."
"What good news?"
"The information about the Spirit Fire you requested."
"What?!"
Lu Ming's spirits soared. He looked at Zhou Fuling with great joy, so excited that he couldn't help but take two steps forward, almost picking her up and spinning her around to celebrate.
Zhou Fuling sensed his intention and quickly took two steps back, staring at him warily. Her delicate, fair earlobes turned red, and she said irritably, "Don't do anything reckless, you'll get beaten to death."
"Ha ha."
Lu Ming smiled awkwardly, forcibly suppressing his overwhelming joy, and asked excitedly.
"Senior sister, you're truly my lucky star."
Where is the Spirit Fire?