Lu Zheng originally thought he would be quite busy, still waiting for the Eighteen Peach Blossom Celestial Maidens to ask for help.

But...

After waiting for more than a month, until the modern era's New Year was approaching, there was still no request for help.

According to the news from the Eighteen Celestial Maidens, cultivators from various sects in Yizhou have made rounds in their respective territories because of this matter, cooperating with people sent by the Anomaly Suppression Bureau, and have eliminated at least twenty ghosts that surfaced.

It's estimated that some clever ones are hiding in the shadows or have fled to other state capitals, but those are scattered and unorganized, unable to cause larger disruptions, and abnormal people from other state capitals will take action at that time.

The Black Wheel King's claim to turn Yizhou Prefecture upside down ended up creating only a small ripple.

"Poof," and it was gone.

The only pity is that the Yin Soul Origin of the Black Wheel King was never found.

According to Shen Ying, after such a big commotion, it's estimated that the Black Wheel King's Yin Soul Origin either escaped back to the Netherworld or has already left the territory of Yizhou.

Thus, the plan to obtain the Light of Fortune couldn't be carried out, and Lu Zheng could only cross back to the modern era and prepare to spend the New Year with Lin Wan.

Just that...

Lu Zheng had already booked plane tickets to fly with Lin Wan to Australia, but plans often don't go as intended, as Lin Wan, who was usually free, was sent on a business trip and wouldn't return soon.

So Lu Zheng took some reishi mushroom wine home to visit his parents, then went to Lin Wan's home in Lu Province, bringing a few bottles of health wine for Lin's Mother.

On New Year's Eve, he video-called Lin Wan, who apologetically told Lu Zheng she would have a long holiday upon returning to the country, and would accompany him on a trip then.

Lu Zheng agreed, and under the excuse of not being around for New Year's Eve, he had Lin Wan sign several agreements, to which Lin Wan blushingly obliged.

After hanging up the phone with satisfaction, Lu Zheng turned around and crossed back to ancient times, pondering whether to sniff the fragrance pouch or touch the wooden token tonight.

...

Not even half a month after the modern New Year had passed, the New Year arrived in the ancient era.

He didn't return to Jizhou this year, spent New Year's Eve with the Liu Family, and in the days following visited the White Cloud Temple, Lu River God's Mansion, and City God Temple.

After the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth, the New Year was considered over.

...

"So, is this a business trip or a transfer?" Lu Zheng inquired.

On the phone screen, Lin Wan also showed a hint of resignation.

"A business trip, a real business trip. It's just that this investigation task is purely physical labor, although not difficult, it is very time-consuming."

"Alright, are you sure you don't want my help?"

"Don't worry, I don't need it, I've already seen the light at the end of the tunnel here."

"As long as you're sure."

...

"Young Master, will you be eating lunch at home?" Aunt Liu asked.

Lu Zheng waved his hand, "No need, I'll go for a walk, for lunch..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly emerged from under the small courtyard.

"Elder Song?" Lu Zheng called out in surprise.

The visitor turned out to be Song Kaichuan, the owner of the northeastern deep mountain cave.

Since Elder Song taught him the Earth Travel Technique two years ago and left, Lu Zheng had gone to the cave to collect stalactite essence more than ten times but had never seen a trace of him.

Lu Zheng was thinking that maybe Elder Song would disappear for another thirty years, but unexpectedly, he came directly.

"Young friend." Song Kaichuan nodded.

Lu Zheng turned to Aunt Liu and said, "I'll have lunch at home."

Knowing Lu Zheng was an Abnormal Person, Aunt Liu, although surprised by Song Kaichuan's appearance, quickly calmed down and greeted Elder Song before hurriedly going to the front yard to cook.

"Please, Elder Song!" Lu Zheng invited Song Kaichuan to the front hall, serving water and making tea.

Song Kaichuan picked up the teacup, took a sip, nodded, and looked at Lu Zheng, "Young friend, your cultivation has made considerable progress over these two years."

"You flatter me, Elder. I've made a small achievement." Lu Zheng replied modestly.

"Have your chess skills improved?"

Lu Zheng blinked, "They're alright."

"Come, come, let's have a game." Song Kaichuan put down the teacup with blazing eyes.

"Uh... alright, Elder, this way, please." Lu Zheng stood up and led Song Kaichuan to the study, setting up the chessboard and pieces, and they both took their seats.

As the junior, Lu Zheng played the white stones first, starting at Heaven's Star.

Going back and forth, after more than ten moves, their pace slowed down.

"The method young friend used to solve the situation that day was truly imaginative and profound. I won against that old pine tree in the Southern Border thanks to your efforts." Song Kaichuan reversed his hand and placed a bag of pine nuts beside him, "These are pine nuts I took from him, they can greatly aid your cultivation, take them as a snack."

Lu Zheng glanced sideways, noticing the pine nuts were as large as thumbs, their surface shimmering, with a refreshing fragrance wafting out, of higher quality than the pinecones given to him by the ancestor of White Cloud Temple last year.

"Gasp—"

Lu Zheng drew in a sharp breath, hurriedly declining, "I can't, they're too valuable."

Song Kaichuan waved his hand, "It's fine, that old pine tree doesn't have much else, just a lot of pine nuts, occupying such a large mountain peak, every year's unused spiritual qi gets condensed into the pine nuts."

"Then I'll accept with gratitude."

Song Kaichuan nodded, then saw Lu Zheng patting the gourd to collect the pine nuts.

His eyebrow rose, surprised that Lu Zheng had a dharma artifact capable of holding Sumeru within a mustard seed.

Song Kaichuan placed another stone while casually chatting, "I must say, that old pine tree's chess skill truly surpasses mine, I've often lost to him, a single game position stuck me for over thirty years, but young friend solved it, which also greatly benefited me, I feel my chess skill even improved."

"You're too polite, Elder, it's your long accumulation that led to such progress, what does it have to do with me?"

Song Kaichuan shook his head, "No, this step isn't easy to cross, the position the old pine tree set was meant to help me cross this step, but in the end, it still needed young friend's assistance."

Luckily, Song Kaichuan had pondered for thirty years, only missing the final move that Lu Zheng assisted with, not weakening Song Kaichuan's insight too much.

Neither took long pauses, even when uncertain, they merely pondered briefly before placing a stone.

When Aunt Liu called from outside the courtyard, Lu Zheng and Song Kaichuan had already finished the game.

Not only was Song Kaichuan a chess enthusiast, but also an extraordinary player, so Lu Zheng didn't hold back, forcibly winning by three stones.

"Good! Great chess skills!" Song Kaichuan clapped and laughed, sounding very pleased.

"Elder Song, the servants at home have prepared lunch, please!"

Song Kaichuan nodded, "I haven't eaten food in a long while, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, I'll have a little."

Lu Zheng's unbeatable taste plan finally failed, as Song Kaichuan was indifferent to food, sampling each dish only slightly, offering a "not bad" assessment.

After lunch, they returned to the living room, and Song Kaichuan finally got to the point, "Young friend's chess skills surpass mine. You could aid my old friend. Do you have time to go to the Southern Border?"