CHAPTER 246: CHAPTER 246 FIVE BEAUTIES MANOR

Seeing Lu Zheng and Shen Ying, a woman in a white gauzy dress took a gentle step back, hiding behind a taller woman in a purple dress.

The woman in a black body and white-edged pleated skirt on the far left looked over curiously, while the woman in red on the far right blinked flirtatiously, looking Lu Zheng up and down.

The woman in the warm yellow cloud-patterned palace attire, who appeared dignified and beautiful, stepped forward and gracefully saluted, "We are simple country folk, and we apologize for our earlier rudeness. Please forgive us."

"No problem, no problem. We just accidentally discovered this hot spring and were bathing, thinking it was unowned land..." Lu Zheng said.

At that moment, he was fully submerged in water, with his clothes on the shore, naturally unable to give a full salute, so he just rose halfway and clasped his hands in reply.

However, this action exposed half of his upper body, and when his hands broke the water’s surface, the woman in white, who had just peeked out, shrank back.

"This place is so connected with nature, it is truly unclaimed. We sisters live in a manor more than twenty li away, and because it’s not far, we often come here for a bath," explained the woman in yellow.

"We won’t disturb you; we’ll go to the other side," said the woman in yellow, leading her four sisters inward to the largest spring.

As the women followed along, they couldn’t help but glance back at the two, displaying various expressions such as cheerfulness, flirtation, or curiosity.

Lu Zheng and Shen Ying didn’t mind and simply waved their hands, as if greeting.

Both sides clearly knew the others weren’t ordinary. After all, this place was deep in the mountains where even a mountain path didn’t exist. Other than hunters and medicine gatherers, who could come here?

The five women quickly disappeared into the mist, accompanied by the faint sounds of rustling and quiet splashes as they entered the water.

"Woo——"

"Comfortable——"

"Eh, what’s this smell? It’s strange, sometimes it’s in Third Sister’s room too."

"Oh, Third Sister, why did you hit me?"

"Hehe, it’s a romance of talents and beauty, what do you think the smell is?"

"I don’t know. Ouch, Second Sister, what are you doing? Stop, don’t, woo——"

Sleeves of sounds reached them, making Lu Zheng swallow a mouthful of saliva, causing Shen Ying to rise a fraction.

Shen Ying blushed and lightly bit Lu Zheng’s shoulder, "You rogue!"

This was beyond control!

Lu Zheng coughed twice, "The hot spring water here is a bit hot, excellent for invigorating blood, dispersing stasis, and nurturing health, very effective."

"Is that so?" Shen Ying tilted her lips into a smile, removed her hairpin, placed it on the shore, shook her head, letting her long hair fall, and gave Lu Zheng a captivating smile, "Let me see~"

Then softly submerged back into the water.

"Hiss——"

...

An hour later, Lu Zheng and Shen Ying finished their bath and got dressed.

Coincidentally, the five women had also finished bathing and came out from inside.

The two parties happened to face each other, and they got a clear view of Lu Zheng and Shen Ying’s true appearances.

A handsome, elegant young gentleman and a breathtakingly beautiful and elegance lady.

They formally greeted each other.

Lu Zheng clasped his hands, "Lu Zheng from Tonglin County, pleased to meet you ladies. This is my wife, Shen Ying."

The ladies each introduced themselves in turn.

"It’s destined that we meet. It’s getting late, and if you don’t mind, how about having lunch at our manor before you leave?" Hua Yixing in yellow invited.

He looked up at the sky; the sun indeed had moved past noon.

"Is it convenient?" Lu Zheng asked.

"Convenient, our manor is twenty li south, and not far from the village path," Hu Cai Niang in red said, looking at Lu Zheng with sparkling eyes.

Lin Jing’Er in purple looked at Lu Zheng and Shen Ying with great interest, her eyes flashing with a somewhat challenging glint.

Lu Zheng glanced at Shen Ying, who nodded slightly to indicate it was fine.

So Lu Zheng agreed, "Then we’ll impose upon you."

After all, they were just five demons. Since they dared to invite, what was there to fear?

The seven of them joined forces and headed south directly.

...

Twenty li wasn’t far, and soon they reached a manor.

The manor sat amidst a cluster of mountains and forests, shaded by green trees, with a small stream flowing by the side.

The manor had gray tiles and white walls, appeared quite ordinary, and the plaque above the door read "Five Beauties Manor" in simple handwriting, not a work of a master.

"There are only the five of us in the manor, so please feel free!"

Hua Yixing opened the main door, inviting Lu Zheng and Shen Ying in, and then instructed, "Mingxin, Ting’Er, go prepare lunch."

"Sure thing."

"Got it, Big Sister!"

Yu Mingxin in a black dress and Bai Ting’Er in white walked towards the side yard kitchen.

Hua Yixing invited Lu Zheng and Shen Ying to sit on the left side of the front hall, sat in the main seat, with Lin Jing’Er and Hu Cai Niang accompanying on the right.

"We sisters live reclusively and don’t interact much with the secular world. You both seem to be mingling with the mundane?" asked Hua Yixing.

"What makes you think that?" Lu Zheng asked.

Hua Yixing winked, "Didn’t you just mention Tonglin County?"

"Uh, alright, it’s true, that makes sense." Lu Zheng could only nod.

"Indeed, we live in Tonglin County," Lu Zheng turned to ask, "You never set foot into the secular world?"

Hua Yixing shook her head, "Not really, our manor was built by rural masons we hired, and occasionally lost night travelers might stay over.

But we never went beyond the village, so we have little interaction with the secular world, hence our abrupt invitation to you, hoping you could tell us about it."

"A small matter!" Lu Zheng nodded, thinking that they were simply gathering information.

At this time, Yu Mingxin and Bai Ting’Er came into the front hall with trays, and lunch was ready.

They set up tables, chairs, and dishes, and Lu Zheng realized it was a table full of vegetarian dishes and fruit and vegetables, with a small bowl of rice each.

Seems like these demons are vegetarians.

"Please!"

They sat around the round table, and Lu Zheng and Shen Ying casually shared stories.

Lu Zheng, often wandering about the county and listening to storytelling at Leping Building, and Shen Ying, who had lived at Peach Blossom Plain for decades and seen all aspects of human life, naturally had much to say.

Lu Zheng realized as they spoke that while these five women were unfamiliar with the outside world’s details, it didn’t mean they lacked insight.

Though the countryside wasn’t bustling, they had libraries and schools, and the five women frequently visited towns, purchasing many books to read at the manor, learning to read, write, and appreciate etiquette.

Not only that, but each of the five women had her own strengths.

The eldest, Hua Yixing, excelled at embroidery, the second, Lin Jing’Er, at painting and calligraphy, the third, Hu Cai Niang, at dance, the fourth, Yu Mingxin, at singing, and the youngest, Bai Ting’Er, was proficient with musical instruments of all kinds.

"Impressive! Impressive!"

As Lu Zheng marveled, he suddenly felt a jade foot appear and brush against his calf.

Lu Zheng: (°ー°〃)