mijobooks Chapter 190 Engagement Day: The Visitors Are Not Friendly
Chapter 190 Engagement Day: The Visitors Are Not Friendly
On the 21st day of the first lunar month, at Linggu Cave.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the valley was a vast expanse of white.
Li Jun pushed open the window, and a gust of cool air rushed in, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees and a faint scent of herbs.
The waterfall in the distance was faintly visible in the mist; only the thunderous sound of the water could be heard, but its true form could not be seen.
He stood by the window and took a deep breath.
He sensed what was happening to Yin Jian last night.
The wooden carving glowed, releasing energy, and the two entered a meditative state.
Overnight, Yin Jian's aura has now stabilized at the early stage of Qi Refining.
Lan Nianzhen's Gu worms have also completed the initial stage of advancement.
The results were alright.
Li Jun's lips curved slightly.
He turned around, got dressed, and went out the door.
The corridor was quiet.
He first woke Jin Hao up, then walked to his master's door and gently knocked.
"Master?"
The old Taoist priest's voice came from inside the house.
"Get up, come in."
Li Jun pushed open the door and went in.
The old Taoist priest was standing by the window, looking out at the misty valley.
"Jun'er, this place is really nice, the air is even better than in our Lu County."
Li Jun smiled.
"As long as Master is happy."
As the master and apprentice were talking, footsteps came from downstairs.
Soon, Amu's voice rang out.
"Master Li, Master Zhang, Young Master Jin, breakfast is ready. Your aunt invites you to come down and have your meal."
The three of them went downstairs.
Lan Cailing was already in the lobby.
Seeing the three of them come down, she quickly got up.
"Master Li, Master Zhang, did you rest well last night?"
The old Taoist priest nodded with a smile.
"Okay, okay, I slept very soundly."
Lan Cailing smiled and said, "That's good, please have a seat."
A breakfast featuring Miao ethnic characteristics was laid out on the table.
Steaming hot rice noodles, topped with pickled vegetables, minced meat, peanuts, and a bowl of bone broth.
The old Taoist priest ate with great relish.
After eating for a while, he suddenly asked:
"Lord Lan Dong, what about Yin Jian and Nian Zhen?"
Lan Cailing laughed and said, "Those two children are still cultivating. I don't know what happened last night, but they suddenly entered a meditative state together and haven't come out yet."
"I've already had someone keep an eye on them. They'll come to pay their respects to you once they've come out."
The old Taoist priest nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Jin Hao glanced at Li Jun.
But Li Jun kept his head down, eating his noodles, with no expression on his face.
After breakfast.
Lan Cailing spoke up:
"Master Li, Master Zhang, the day after tomorrow is the engagement day for Nianzhen and Xiaoyin."
"The next two days may be a bit noisy, please bear with us."
Li Jun nodded.
"Aunt Lan, you're too kind. It's more lively with more people."
……
Another wooden building.
In Yin Jian's room.
The golden light had completely subsided.
The wooden sculpture of the Two Immortals of Harmony and Union lay quietly in the box, looking no different from any other wooden sculpture.
But the two people in the bed were in completely different states.
Lan Nianzhen was the first to open her eyes.
She took a deep breath, a look of shock flashing in her eyes.
Overnight, all the Gu worms she had been cultivating with her life force completed their initial transformation.
Although he hasn't officially advanced yet, he has already laid a solid foundation.
She looked at Yin Jian across from her.
Yin Jian still had his eyes closed, and there was a faint flow of energy around him.
That's a sign that true qi is circulating in the body.
Early stage of Qi cultivation.
Overnight, he went from an ordinary person with no cultivation to steadily stepping into the early stage of Qi Refining.
This speed...
Lan Nianzhen recalled that when she first entered the sect, it took her a whole month to refine her first Qi.
That was the result of the mother's abundant resources.
But for Yin Jian, it was only one night.
Lan Nianzhen looked at the wooden carving with a look of awe.
Another half hour passed.
Yin Jian finally opened his eyes.
The first thing he did was look down at his hands.
Then, he raised his head and looked at Lan Nianzhen.
"Nianzhen, I...I feel like I'm different now."
Lan Nianzhen nodded.
"You've cultivated Qi; you're now in the early stages of Qi Refining."
Yin Jian was stunned.
Early stage of Qi Refining?
It was done overnight?
He looked at the box.
The wooden carving lay there quietly.
The two immortals wore smiles.
"Taoist brother..." he murmured.
Lan Nianzhen took his hand.
"Yin Jian, you have a good older brother."
Yin Jian nodded.
"yes."
He took a deep breath, carefully put the wood carving away, and closed the box.
Then, the two stood up, straightened their clothes, and went out the door.
……
the other side.
Li Jun was drinking tea from his teacup.
Footsteps could be heard outside.
He looked up.
Yin Jian and Lan Nianzhen walked over side by side.
The difference in their mental state was visibly noticeable.
Lan Nianzhen's aura became more restrained, subtly revealing a vibrant sense of life.
Yin Jian went directly from an ordinary person to the early stage of Qi Refining.
Lan Cailing immediately noticed the changes in her daughter and son-in-law.
"Xiao Yin, you..."
Yin Jian scratched his head and smiled somewhat embarrassedly.
"Aunt Lan, I...I've mastered Qi."
Lan Cailing fell silent.
She looked at Yin Jian, then at her daughter.
Lan Nianzhen nodded slightly to her.
Lan Cailing took a deep breath and glanced at Li Jun without making a sound.
Master Li just arrived yesterday...
How could it have caused such a big impact?
She was deeply shocked, but she didn't show it on her face.
He just smiled and said:
"Great, great, great news!"
She gestured for the two of them to sit down.
"Hurry up and eat. You must be hungry after cultivating all night."
After exchanging greetings, Yin Jian and Lan Nianzhen sat down at the table and began to eat breakfast.
Li Jun held his teacup and sipped it slowly.
The old Taoist priest looked at Yin Jian, then at Li Jun, seemingly lost in thought.
But he didn't ask anything.
……
The 23rd day of the first lunar month.
It is auspicious for marriage, betrothal, and asking for a name.
Before dawn, Linggu Cave was already bustling with activity.
Beside the square, a dozen young people were hanging red lanterns on the trees. The bright red lanterns hung high, making the old banyan trees look festive.
"Hurry, hurry, move a little to the left!"
"Alright, alright, that's enough!"
"Hang another string over there!"
Shouts and laughter rose and fell in waves.
Yin Jian stood at the entrance of the wooden building, wearing a brand-new dark blue Miao costume. It was made for him by Lan Nianzhen herself. It was a short jacket with embroidered patterns, wide-legged trousers, a silver belt around his waist, and a blue cloth headscarf.
He looked down at his own clothes, then looked up at the busy crowd not far away, unable to stop smiling.
"Silver Horn!"
Jin Hao walked over from behind and put his arm around his shoulder.
Are you nervous?
Yin Jian turned to look at him.
Jin Hao also changed into a new outfit today, a black casual suit with a white shirt underneath, and his hair was neatly combed, making him look quite presentable.
"I'm not nervous," Yin Jian said. "It just feels a little unreal."
Jin Hao glanced at him.
Not nervous? Then why are your hands shaking?!
However, Jin Hao didn't point it out, but instead patted Yin Jian on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, with Brother Taoist here, nothing will happen today."
Yin Jian nodded.
He subconsciously looked upstairs.
The Taoist priest and Master Zhang haven't come down yet.
……
The second floor.
Li Jun stood by the window, looking at the lively scene below.
Sunlight streamed in from the eastern mountaintop, falling into the valley and turning the waterfall golden.
The old Taoist priest sat on the edge of the bed, putting on a new pair of shoes.
Yin Jian brought them over last night, saying they were made by Lan Nianzhen. They have black uppers, multi-layered soles, and fine stitching; they're very comfortable to wear.
"Jun'er." The old Taoist priest put on his shoes, stood up and took a few steps. "These shoes are really nice. You should thank the young lady properly when you get back."
Li Jun turned around.
"Master, are you dressed?"
The old Taoist priest nodded, walked to the window, and glanced outside.
"It's so lively!"
He paused.
"I've lived for over eighty years, and this is the first time I've ever attended an engagement banquet in Miao territory."
Li Jun smiled.
"Then you should have a good experience today."
The old Taoist priest looked at him.
"And you? Are you ready?"
Li Jun was stunned for a moment.
What should I prepare?
The old Taoist priest snorted.
"You're here to support Yin this time, so don't let him down."
Li Jun was both amused and exasperated.
"Master, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
……
Nine o'clock in the morning.
The guests arrived one after another.
The first to arrive were the local villagers of Linggudong.
Elders, dressed in traditional clothing, entered the village in twos and threes, carrying gifts in bamboo baskets.
There was homemade rice wine, dried wild mushrooms, embroidered cloth, and silver ornaments wrapped in red paper.
Lan Cailing stood at the entrance of the village to personally greet them.
"Third Uncle, you've arrived! Please come in!"
"Second Aunt, you're here too. How are you feeling?"
"Brother Aniu, where's your son?"
Laughter and greetings rose and fell.
Next came the chieftains of several nearby villages.
Long Haishan, the chieftain of Longjia Village, arrived first with his son Long Fei.
Long Haishan was in his fifties, burly, with a face full of menacing features; he was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
His son, Long Fei, was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Tall and thin, with a somewhat sinister look in his eyes, he followed behind his father with a faint smile on his face.
"Master, congratulations!" Long Haishan said, clasping his hands in greeting.
Lan Cailing smiled.
"You're too kind, Master Longdong. Please come inside."
Long Haishan glanced at Lan Cailing, then looked towards the village.
What is he looking for?
Lan Cailing saw it all, but remained silent.
Next, the chieftains of Majiazhai, Shijiazhai, and Wujiazhai also arrived one after another.
Behind each chieftain were one or two younger disciples.
Lan Cailing greeted them one by one, always with a polite smile on her face.
But her heart grew heavier and heavier.
These chieftains were the most vocal in opposing Nianzhen's marriage to another woman.
The chieftain of Wu Family Village, in particular, only became obedient after being punched twice by her.
They all came today, and even brought their juniors...
The visitor is not good.