CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 105: BUILDING A SNOWMAN

In the days that followed, Lu Zheng practiced illusion techniques and "White Cloud Swordsmanship" at home in the morning. In the afternoon, he either taught Lin Wan martial arts or went to Renxin Hall to practice his medical skills. In the evening, Aunt Liu cooked meals for two more people, and he taught Hu Zhou the "Eighteen Mountain-Carrying Techniques" for half an hour. At midnight, he either chatted with Shen Ying or drank with the City God. Life was extremely fulfilling.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. Besides improving his illusion techniques, swordsmanship, as well as his True Qi, Blood Qi, constitution, and spirit, Lu Zheng used up most of the remaining Light of Fortune, leaving only three strands, stored alone within the Mind Jade Seal for emergencies.

"Wow, when it comes to cultivation, these dozens of strands of Light of Fortune are simply not enough! They’ve been used up already?"

Lu Zheng recalled the scene of defeating the Scorpion Demon Ghost Python, and it didn’t seem that long ago?

Although his one-time consumption of Light of Fortune increased with his power, those were nearly fifty strands of Light of Fortune, equivalent to the amount provided by two Centennial Demons. And it’s already all spent?

"Jade Seal, Jade Seal, how much of the Light of Fortune do you take as commission?"

"Can we take a little more next time, keep some for ourselves, and hand over a bit less to the Heavenly Dao?"

"Your master is very short on Light of Fortune right now! With the current situation of a Centennial Demon only supporting my cultivation for one or two months, you’re forcing me to make trouble!"

"If I encounter some formidable opponent, your master could easily die before accomplishing anything!"

"Calling Jade Seal! Calling Jade Seal! Jade Seal, please respond!"

Jade Seal: ...

...

The time had come to December, and it was already very cold in Hai City. In Tonglin County, the first snow of early winter had already fallen.

Lu Zheng woke up in the morning, opened the door, and saw outside had turned into a white world overnight, with faint sounds of children running and playing coming from outside.

Among them seemed to be... Liu Qingquan?

"Speaking of which, since the first time I crossed over here, it’s already been half a year."

Lu Zheng stood at the bedroom door, feeling almost like a world apart.

Half a year ago, he had just graduated, was laid off halfway, and his future employment was uncertain.

Half a year later, he had crossed between two worlds, had beauties by his side, and his cultivation was smooth.

"Reality is more magical than a novel!" Lu Zheng sighed to himself. "The protagonists in those novels, despite their flamboyance, can’t return home like I can, crossing over whenever I wish and returning home whenever I want!"

"Knock knock knock!" The sound of knocking on the door rang out.

"Brother Lu, are you up?" Liu Qingquan’s voice came from outside the main door.

"I’m up!"

Lu Zheng shouted, and his gaze met Uncle Li’s head peeking out from the side door.

Uncle Li chuckled, "Young Master, my wife made porridge and meat buns. Shall I prepare them for you in the main hall?"

"Alright!" Lu Zheng nodded, "Go ask Qingquan if she wants some too."

"Got it!"

Then Lu Zheng sat facing Liu Qingquan in the main hall, each holding a meat bun and eating.

"Yum yum, mmm, delicious!"

Liu Qingquan said to Lu Zheng while munching on her meat bun, "Brother Lu, let’s have a snowball fight later! I love playing in the snow!"

Lu Zheng smacked his lips; playing a snowball fight with Liu Qingyan or Shen Ying seemed more romantic. What was the point of playing with Liu Qingquan and a bunch of nearby kids?

Lu Zheng took a bite of his bun, "What’s the point of a snowball fight? Let’s build a snowman instead!"

Liu Qingquan grumbled, "What’s interesting about building a snowman? Snow is all over, isn’t a pile just a pile?"

"It’s different. Let’s see, has your sister already gone to Renxin Hall?"

"Yes!" Liu Qingquan nodded.

"Then let’s go to your house to build a snowman and show you my snowman-building skills!"

Liu Qingquan blinked, wondering if building a snowman required skills?

...

After breakfast, the two of them went to the Liu family together, greeted Madam Liu, and got busy in the front yard.

Lu Zheng gathered all the clean snow from the courtyard and piled it into two snow mounds, one big and one small, in a corner, then pressed it firmly to make them solid.

After pressing them down, Lu Zheng took two steps back, contemplating the design.

Liu Qingquan blinked, "Finished?"

Lu Zheng shook his head, "Just started!"

After borrowing some tools from the Liu family’s old servant, Lu Zheng began creating.

Although Lu Zheng didn’t enhance his sculpting technique, he had boosted his skills in the arts. As the saying goes, mastering one technique helps with others, and he had no trouble carving a simple figure out of snow.

The carving knife in Lu Zheng’s hand moved deftly, whittling layers off the snow, forming into flakes that gently fell.

Liu Qingquan watched on, her eyes widening because she saw her own sister’s face taking shape under Lu Zheng’s carving.

"Sister!"

With a cry of surprise, two old servants came over as well.

"Young Master Lu is indeed talented!"

"Definitely impressive. With such skill, he’ll never go hungry."

Lu Zheng pursed his lips upon hearing this. Although the comment was valid, it somehow felt unsettling.

He continued working...

Not having invested in this side skill, and being currently low on Light of Fortune, Lu Zheng had no reason to invest in this extracurricular activity, so he proceeded cautiously, making modifications as needed.

The results were still satisfactory; soon, a pure white Liu Qingyan appeared in the courtyard vividly.

"Wow—" Liu Qingquan exclaimed in admiration.

"How is it?" Lu Zheng raised his eyebrows, smiled proudly, and patted the smaller snow mound, "Who should I make from this one?"

"Make me, make me!" Liu Qingquan jumped excitedly and immediately grabbed Lu Zheng’s sleeve, "Brother Lu, make me!"

Lu Zheng laughed heartily, "Alright, let’s make a snowman of you then!"

Liu Qingquan gleefully clapped her hands.

But now it was nearing noon, so the two had lunch before continuing.

In the afternoon, even the idle Madam Liu came out to take a look, admiring the work.

In a little over an hour, a snow sculpture of Liu Qingquan appeared beside Liu Qingyan.

Liu Qingyan stood poised and looked gentle and quiet, while Liu Qingquan had a playful pose, as if she were romping around.

A big and small, one dynamic and one static, the scene suddenly came to life.

"Is it nice?"

"Nice, nice!" Liu Qingquan clapped, "Sister will be surprised when she comes back later!"

Madam Liu returned from the backyard, "After such a busy day, you might as well stay for dinner at home tonight."

Lu Zheng naturally went with the flow, went home to tell Aunt Liu not to prepare dinner, and then, seeing there was still time, crafted a few simple cats and dogs, turning the southeastern corner of the courtyard entirely into a snowy world.