Chapter 912: Journey to the Bamboo Hall
"Brother Liang, why are you so late?"
"Sorry, cooking will take a little longer."
When Ouyang Rong arrived at a ferry crossing near the small island where the servants lived in Qingliang Valley, carrying a food box, Li Wan, Song Zhian, and Yu Mili were already waiting by the bamboo raft.
The two women, Song and Yu, were dressed in matching white Wu-style clothing, with peach-shaped pendants hanging from their waists. However, Song Zhian's cuffs had sword patterns unique to Qiutang, making her even more delicate and refined.
Compared to the two young and beautiful women beside her, Li Wan was more mature and voluptuous. Perhaps because she was going to visit her promising son, she had changed into a crimson ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today, which was both elegant and festive.
Li Wan was clearly getting impatient, looking around restlessly. When she saw Ouyang Rong's figure appear in the woods, she immediately went to greet him, her tone slightly complaining.
However, after Ouyang Rong explained, Li Wan immediately changed her expression after seeing the food box in his hand that was faintly emitting the aroma of food.
The woman took the food box, opened it, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face:
"Alright, alright, the food definitely needs to be prepared properly, we can't rush it... Great, so many dishes, wait, is this stewed turtle?"
Her tone was one of surprise and delight.
"Um."
Ouyang Rong nodded blankly, then exchanged glances with Song Zhian and Yu Mili behind him, nodding in greeting.
"Brother Liu."
With everyone present, the four of them did not linger any longer.
The sky was still a clear blue, and a wisp of sunset was gradually climbing up the horizon. The sun had not yet completely set, but it would still take quite some time to reach the island where the Bamboo Hall was located.
As she led everyone onto the ship, the noblewoman couldn't resist taking a spoonful and tasting it.
"Hmm~"
Li Wan's eyes lit up, and she glanced at Ouyang Rong a few more times, praising him:
“Ah Liang, you’re really thoughtful. This is a real delicacy. I rarely ate it when I was in Luoyang, mainly because the fishy smell was hard to remove. There’s a restaurant in Luoyang called Ruyi Fang that uses this dish as one of its signature dishes. It’s known as the best in Luoyang, and it’s always packed every day… Ah Liang, you used pepper, ginger, and… dogwood. You used spiciness to remove the fishy smell? Brilliant.”
As she savored the food, she frequently glanced at Ouyang Rong, as if she were looking at him with newfound respect.
Ouyang Rong nodded, glanced at Li Wan again, and said in a low voice:
"Your wife is truly remarkable, with a wealth of knowledge and experience. I am just a rough man with no education, and my remedies are nothing more than folk remedies, hardly presentable."
That is incorrect.
Li Wan gracefully put down her spoon, preparing to close the box lid. Her gaze shifted, finally settling on the young man in monk's robes:
"Ah Liang, to be honest, your cooking skills are truly amazing. Who did you learn all this from? With such skills, why were you doing odd jobs and ringing bells in Peach Blossom Town before?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head:
“I used to only cook for my sister and mother. These dishes are all traditional recipes from my hometown. I never thought they would be presentable.”
Li Wan's gaze was drawn to something in the food box. Pointing to a plate of stewed pork, she asked curiously:
"What kind of dish is this? I've never seen it before."
Ouyang Rong said in a muffled voice, "Dongpo pork."
Before Li Wan could ask, he explained, "There is a place in my hometown called Dongpo, hence the name."
Li Wan found it intriguing, but didn't ask any further questions. She closed the lid to keep the food warm, as they still had a long way to go to the Bamboo Hall.
While Ouyang Rong and Li Wan were talking, Yu Mili watched with great envy, especially when she saw Li Wan tasting it with a spoon.
She had already reached out, eyeing another plate of meat and vegetables in the box, ready to grab a piece to eat, when Li Wan suddenly closed the food box with a "snap," almost pinching her finger.
The timing was so precise that Li Wan didn't know whether it was intentional or not.
Yu Mili couldn't help but glance at the smiling woman holding the box, her gaze gradually shifting downwards to the food box she was holding in her arms, and she swallowed hard.
Yu Mili raised her hand with a surprisingly serious expression and offered her suggestion:
"I say, why don't we hurry up and find Young Master Lu and Brother Er Gou as soon as possible so we can start eating sooner? Brother Liu is amazing, his cooking skills are simply incredible. Why doesn't the Qingliang Valley restaurant let Brother Liu cook? They're so stingy."
Song Zhian also wanted to try Ouyang Rong's cooking, but unlike Yu Mili, she remained reserved and spoke to Li Wan instead:
"Does Madam Li know how to get to Zhutang?"
"I don't know, but for today's trip, I asked someone to report to the Queen's Palace that the fairy on the bamboo raft ahead will take us there."
Li Wan pointed to the raft moored by the ferry. On the raft was a woman dressed in Wu and Yue clothing, with a silver badge hanging from her waist. She nodded slightly to the four of them in greeting.
The four of them gave polite instructions.
Soon, the raft set off, heading southwest. The lake there was vast and open, and it took a long time to see an island... Compared to the core location of Qingliang Valley, the island where Zhutang was located was indeed remote.
On the raft, the four remained silent, and the journey continued in complete silence.
As the sunset gradually filled the vast western sky, dusk was approaching.
The raft rocked and swayed until it reached the edge of an island isolated off the coast of the Sword Swamp Islands.
This island looks very large, with valleys, lush forests and tall bamboos. When the wind blows, it looks like a sea of trees, with waves of leaves, which is pleasing to the eye and spectacular.
It is a peaceful and livable place.
There seemed to be quite a few guests on the island, and figures could be seen appearing and disappearing from time to time along the forest paths.
The silver-medal Yue woman leading the way, standing on a wooden raft, moored at a small beach. She clasped her hands in a gesture of respect.
"Madam, gentlemen, please descend. I will wait here for two hours. Do not be late."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Fairy."
Li Wan smiled and thanked them, then, carrying the food box, led Ouyang Rong and the other two off the raft and onto the small island.
Ouyang Rong looked around and spotted some familiar young figures among the passersby on the island.
He seemed to have seen these figures before when they were undergoing trials on the initial island. Later, they were also selected for the Bamboo Hall.
However, right now, everyone on the island seems to be coming and going in a hurry.
Ouyang Rong wasn't very familiar with them, and besides, his attire was unremarkable. Following behind Li Wan, Song Zhi'an, and the other two women, with them looking so beautiful and eye-catching, Ouyang Rong was practically invisible. Anyone who didn't know him would think he was a servant or handyman. Well, he really was a handyman...
As they walked forward, most of the young men and women passing by on the main road curiously focused their gazes on the three women.
It's getting close to evening, and these pedestrians should all be heading home.
This secluded place is free from the hustle and bustle of the world below. It also has a great advantage: everyone has a regular schedule, going out early and returning late, with little to no nightlife, and no one daring to have one.
It's a very simple logic. For example, lunch and dinner are served at fixed times and don't wait for anyone. If you reverse your day and night, you'll miss mealtimes.
In addition, according to Ouyang Rong's observation, after midnight, there is a curfew on all the major islands in Jianze. Yue women and servants are not allowed to wander around at night. Otherwise, if they are caught by the Yue women patrolling the thatched cottage, the punishment will be severe, no matter what reason they have.
Song Zhian looked around:
"This island is quite large... Madam Li, do you know where Young Master Lu lives?"
Li Wan shook her head: "I don't know. I asked him several times, but that brat never gave me any details."
Yu Mili nodded, touched her belly which was already rumbling in protest, and quietly pressed her stomach, trying to perk herself up:
"Well, it's lunchtime. Since things have come to this, let's eat first. Just save one portion for Young Master Lu to fill his stomach. We can look for food later. There's no rush. What do you all think?"
She asked the crowd expectantly, awaiting their reply.
Li Wan maintained her smile, seemingly ignoring her as if she hadn't heard her. The woman smiled at Song Zhi'an and Ouyang Rong, who were slightly frowning:
"However, I do know about the master that Jinghong recently became acquainted with. Well, I heard him mention him casually... He's supposedly one of the top seniors in the Bamboo Hall, one of the best, a foreign swordsman who can be guaranteed to be safe and sound..."
She seemed to know all these details perfectly, and with a smile, she explained them, then added:
"We can find out by asking someone. Everyone on this island should be from the Bamboo Hall, so let's just ask for directions and go find him."
Under the varied gazes of the three, Li Wan glanced at the sky, a hint of resentment in her eyes:
"Besides, at this hour, given Jinghong's diligence, he should still be studying and practicing diligently with his master, forgetting to eat and sleep. You don't know, Jinghong used to always forget to eat. I used to lock him in the small building in the back mansion, and whether he was studying or practicing swordsmanship, he was always like that, which made me worry about him..."
"I was a little worried about this when I brought the food over this time. It seems like it's going to come true again. This brat really makes his mother worry."
Song Zhian and Yu Mili exchanged a silent glance.
"Yes, Young Master Lu is indeed inspiring and hardworking, which is a good thing."
Song Zhian politely addressed Li Wan, whether as a genuine complaint or a Versailles vibe, then nodded in agreement, offering words of comfort:
"Furthermore, being able to become a disciple of the Jade Tablet Sword Cultivator is a very precious opportunity. Judging from Young Master Lu's personality, he should be able to seize it diligently. But Madam, don't worry too much. Perhaps Senior Jade Tablet has already arranged Young Master Lu's accommodations and meals. After all, seniors should all like such outstanding talents."
Li Wan beamed with joy, her smile wide, but she tried hard to control her facial muscles and waved her hand seriously:
"Hey, he's just a brat, all impetuous and reckless. He's only a bit obsessed with cultivation. He's not a promising talent at all. He can't compare to you, Miss Song."
“No…” Song Zhian shook her head vigorously, then added a polite remark.
Li Wan suppressed a laugh and prepared to give a unified reply.
Just then, Yu Mili's weak voice came from the side:
"Why don't you eat something, Madam Li? Let's eat first, and then we can chat and ask for directions slowly. Please, I'm so hungry..."
Li Wan's eyes showed some displeasure, but she suppressed it immediately. She didn't reply and, under Yu Mili's expectant gaze, shrank the food box behind her.
Li Wan walked forward with a calm expression and approached a passerby to ask for directions.
Yu Mili rubbed her tummy with a resentful look, her eyes seemingly glued to the food box, and obediently followed.
Ouyang Rong followed behind the three women, and after disembarking, he did not interrupt or ask any questions.
He walked along the road, silently looking around, searching for the figure of a short-haired young man.
Whether Lu Jinghong was a workaholic who forgot to eat and sleep, he didn't know, but Sha Ergou definitely left the school on time for meals and wouldn't linger with his new master for even a second.
Ouyang Rong knew this kid too well; he wouldn't be surprised if they bumped into each other among the pedestrians on the street the next second.
However, this time when he delivered the food, he also specially prepared a portion for Sha Ergou. Of course, he had mentioned this little thing to Li Wan beforehand, and Li Wan had casually agreed...
"Hello, may I ask if you are a disciple of the Bamboo Hall?"
Li Wan stopped a sickly-looking young woman carrying a sword and politely asked her question.
The young men and women coming and going on the main road of the island did not wear the Wu clothing of the time-traveling women; their clothes were varied and not uniform, except for the bamboo tags at their waists, which were all of the same standard.
On the emerald green bamboo plaque, there were characters carved twice in red ink, which appeared to be a name.
The young woman with the sword looked around in confusion, realizing that Li Wan was asking her a question. She then glanced at the four unfamiliar people who weren't wearing bamboo badges and asked in return:
Whom are you all looking for?
Li Wan asked kindly:
"Do you know Lu Jinghong?"
The girl with the sword shook her head.
Seemingly in a hurry to get back, she urged him on:
"Are you looking for a disciple, or Senior Zhutang?"
Li Wan thought for a moment and didn't answer. Under the watchful eyes of Ouyang Rong, Song Zhian, and the other two behind her, she changed her question and asked:
"May I ask, sir, which senior in the Bamboo Hall has the 'Peace and Safety' plaque hanging inside?"
Upon hearing the words "Peace and Safety Plaque," the sword-wielding girl paused, her sickly face immediately hardening into a serious expression.
"Currently, there are only two Jade Token Sword Cultivators who are still cultivating in the Bamboo Hall: Senior Jia Shu and Senior Dong Ya. Which one would you like to visit?"
Li Wan subconsciously asked, "Does Your Excellency know which of these two seniors has recently taken on a disciple?"
Do you accept apprentices?
The girl with the sword looked Li Wan up and down, and after hearing her question, she roughly understood the reason.
The sword-wielding girl's eyes showed a hint of reminiscence as she said:
"A large number of newcomers arrived a few days ago. It seems that Senior Jia Shu and Senior Dong Ya have both come out of seclusion and personally went to take on disciples. It's a rare thing... Moreover, I heard that there was a very outstanding newcomer who was fought over by these two seniors on the spot. In the end, I forgot who took him under their wing... I only heard this from someone else."
After she finished speaking, she couldn't help but glance at Li Wan and the food box in her hand.
Feeling the surprised gaze of the girl with the sword, Li Wan couldn't suppress the smile on her lips, especially when she also felt the silent glances from Song Zhian, Yu Mili, and others beside her.
As she enjoyed herself alone, she humbly spoke:
“That’s it. How about this, could you please tell us where the two seniors live? We’ll go find them ourselves so as not to bother you any further. You seem quite busy, and we’re really sorry to be bothering you.”
You're too kind.
The sword-wielding girl shook her head, pointed to the east side of the road, and explained in detail:
"Go north, enter the valley, follow the road, cross this mountain, and you will see a lake. The lake is named Ruqin. There is a corner planted with lotus seeds. Senior Dongya's elegant residence is located on the shore of Lotus Seed Lake.
"After passing Ruqin Lake, you can continue south. A hundred paces ahead is a bamboo forest, nestled at the foot of a cliff. There are many courtyards in the forest, and Senior Jia Shu's secluded retreat is located there. You can ask someone for directions when you get there..."
(End of this chapter)
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