By the North Luo Lake.
The carriage moved slowly, a gentle breeze brushing past, rustling the reeds and small trees by the lakeside.
Nie Changqing rolled up the reins and jumped off the carriage, coming to the side of the carriage, lowering the door board. Lu Fan sat in the wheelchair and slid down slowly.
Ning Zhao's delicate hands rested on the handle, the wind from the lake blowing, causing her gauzy skirt to flutter.
Yi Yue held the umbrella, gazing at the lakeside with some anticipation.
"The young master's power, 'Bai Yu Jing,' Ning Zhao and Yi Yue mentioned, but Yi Yue has not seen it yet. Today, she can go to the island to take a look."
Ni Yu carried the chessboard on her back, her face showing a hint of fear, looking at the rippling lake, almost on the verge of tears.
Another... We have to take a boat again?!
Nie Shuang, held by Nie Changqing's hand, looked obediently at the lake.
Lu Fan, dressed in white, with rosy lips and white teeth, the strands of hair on his forehead fluttering slightly, appeared somewhat elegant.
Looking at the busy fishing boats on the pier, his eyebrows raised slightly.
"The fishing boats on the North Luo Lake are not forbidden, but... all the disorderly flower boats and the like have been expelled."
He said.
His palm rested on the armrest, gazing at the mist-covered lake.
"Old Nie, I'll leave the task of guarding Huixin Island to you. If they are not disciples of Bai Yu Jing, no one is allowed to go to the island without my consent. Those who go to the island without permission will be killed without mercy."
Lu Fan said indifferently.
"Yes."
There was a serious expression on Nie Changqing's weathered face.
His hand was already on the butcher knife at his waist, his momentum slowly condensing.
"What about that old man from the other day?"
Lu Fan eased his tone and asked.
"He might be fishing in the lake."
Nie Changqing thought for a moment and replied.
"We need that fishing boat to travel to the island. "
Lu Fan smiled.
"Master, I have already arranged for a boat specifically for you to go to and from the island."
Ning Zhao gently bowed, her green silk falling, her red lips lightly opened.
Huh?
Lu Fan was taken aback.
Then, he waved his hand.
"No, I don't want it. I want the old man's fishing boat."
Lu Fan's words sounded a bit petulant.
Ning Zhao was momentarily stunned.
The boat she had prepared was large and comfortable, much more advanced than the small fishing boat.
Did the young master have a unique taste and prefer the small fishing boat?
"Shall I send someone to the lake now?" Ning Zhao asked.
Since the young master was being willful, she could only accompany him in his willfulness.
"No need, he's here."
However, Lu Fan leaned back in his wheelchair, his cheek resting on his curled fingers, and chuckled.
Ning Zhao was stunned, raised her head, brushed the green silk in front of her forehead, curled it behind her ear, and looked out at the lake.
A lone boat swayed and floated from the mist-covered lake.
On the boat, an old man wearing a bamboo hat and straw raincoat paddled the boat.
The fishing boat docked at the pier.
"Master, shall we board?"
The old man lifted his bamboo hat, revealing a face full of wrinkles and a missing tooth, and smiled warmly.
"Then, thank you, old man."
Lu Fan sat in the wheelchair, his lips slightly raised, looking at the old man.
Nie Changqing's gaze was deep as he stared at the old man, his brow furrowed, as if pondering something.
As the group approached, Lu Fan sat in the wheelchair, placed in the center of the boat.
As soon as Ni Yu boarded the boat, she found a familiar spot to lie down, ready for seasickness.
Nie Shuang was a bit curious and looked around on the fishing boat.
Ning Zhao and Yi Yue stood on either side of Lu Fan.
Nie Changqing's hand rested on the butcher knife at his waist as he sat at the stern, staring at the old man rowing the boat.
Splash.
With a forceful push of the boat pole against the green stone of the pier, the boat began to sway and create ripples.
After sailing out of the pier for a mile or two, the lake rippled, and plump bass popped up in the water, spitting out water bubbles. With a gurgle, they left behind a ripple and darted away into the distance.
On the fishing boat, there was a fish basket filled with plump bass, occasionally struggling and making soft sounds.
"These fish are quite fat."
Lu Fan squinted, enjoying the fresh breeze from the lake, listening to the struggling sound of the bass in the fish basket, and said softly.
The old man with the missing tooth, paddling the boat with one hand, grinned.
"Right now it's just late summer, the fish aren't fat yet. Wait until it's deep autumn, just into early winter, that's when the fish are fat. Cut three slashes on both sides of the fish with a kitchen knife, smear them with rice wine, sprinkle with ginger slices and small mushrooms, steam them in a steamer. The fish meat is tender but not greasy, that's delicious."
The old man paddled with one hand, smiling.
As the description of steamed bass filled the air, Ni Yu, who had been nauseous at the side of the boat, perked up a bit.
Lu Fan sat in his wheelchair and smiled. "If the young master wants fish, would the old man be willing to catch some for the young master tomorrow morning?"
The old man asked.
Sitting in the wheelchair, Lu Fan waved his hand while enjoying the lake breeze. "Fishing is not necessary..."
"Hey, then forget about it," the old man grinned, revealing his missing tooth.
"If fishing isn't needed, would the old man be willing to help if it's catching people?"
Lu Fan's light laughter echoed over the lake.
The words fell.
Suddenly, the fishing boat fell into silence.
Ning Zhao, after hearing Lu Fan's words, was slightly stunned. Then, subconsciously, she glanced at the old man, her eyes showing a hint of vigilance. It seemed she had detected something else from Lu Fan's words.
Meanwhile, Nie Changqing had already drawn his butcher knife and was wiping it with cloth, the friction producing a chilling sensation.
On the fishing boat, the old man squinted, his missing tooth frozen in a smile under the bamboo hat.
"Young master, old man doesn't engage in killing people's business, old man is a law-abiding citizen!"
The old man suddenly threw down the boat pole, kneeling on the fishing boat with tears and snot streaming down his face.
"Young master, old man likes law-abiding citizens the most."
Lu Fan looked at the old man with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Then, he sighed.
"To be honest, I'm curious why you haven't left. Curiosity killed the cat, and it can kill people too. What are you curious about?"
Lu Fan's tone gradually became flat and indifferent.
Bang!
Ning Zhao's face turned frosty as she slapped the armrest of the wheelchair, and the Cicada Wing Sword popped out, held in her hand.
At the stern, Nie Changqing slowly stood up, ready with his sword technique.
A sense of solemn killing intent spread.
The old man kneeling on the fishing boat continued to tremble, his face covered in tears and snot.
"What are you saying, young master? The old man doesn't understand!"
The old man's throat was hoarse from crying.
"Don't worry, keep crying. I, the young master, have a good temper. I hate to see people cry..."
Lu Fan tapped his finger lightly on the armrest of the wheelchair.
Glancing at the old man, he said, "The more you cry, the more I want to laugh."
The sobbing of the old man kneeling on the boat suddenly stopped.
He took off his bamboo hat, wiped away the tears on his face. When Lu Fan said he had a good temper, it meant someone was about to be killed. There was no point in continuing the act.
The old man took off his straw raincoat, revealing a neat white shirt underneath. Around his neck, there were three copper coins strung together with a golden rope, and on his hand, he held a shiny turtle shell.
The boat pole was broken, and a five-foot-long emerald bamboo staff was pulled out from it.
The old man's demeanor suddenly changed from that of an ordinary old fisherman to a mysterious and unfathomable one.
With one hand holding the bamboo staff and the other holding the turtle shell, he smiled at Lu Fan and bowed slightly.
"Diviner's House, Lü Mu Dui, has seen Master Lu."
...
The curtain of the carriage was lifted.
An old man with white hair got out of the carriage, his face full of kindness as he supported the bowing Lu Changkong.
"Master Lu, no need for formalities."
"I come today with a heavy heart. Apart from apologizing to Ping An for his disobedience, I also came specifically for Ping An."
The national teacher shook his head, his frail body filled with helplessness.
Lu Changkong smiled bitterly, "My son has had a leg ailment for a long time, his temper isn't very good, and he's stubborn. As a father, I can't control him. Instead, I've made Mr. Mo suffer..."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two walked into Beiluo City.
As they entered Beiluo City, the national teacher looked around.
After the thorough cleansing brought by Lu Fan's storm-like actions, Beiluo City not only didn't become desolate, but it became even more prosperous.
Due to the downfall of many major merchants, many small merchants seized the opportunity, and some small families that had been oppressed by the three major families took advantage of this time to rise to power.
The entire Beiluo City was more vibrant than before.
A hint of surprise flashed in the national teacher's eyes, then he lightly stroked his white beard, lost in thought.
"Master Lu, I intend to see Ping An first. Do you know where Ping An is?"
As they walked along the main axis of Beiluo, the national teacher suddenly said.
Lu Changkong, who was about to take the national teacher to "pull onions" at the Lu Mansion, was slightly stunned.
What?
Onions... oh no, did Mo Tianyu stop pulling them?
"Teacher, why don't we go first..." Lu Changkong hesitated for a moment, then said.
"No rush, no rush."
The national teacher coughed lightly and waved his hand casually.
Lu Changkong's face twitched.
Mo Tianyu is probably a fake disciple, right?
How can there be no rush for this?