I Have A Dual World Seal-Chapter 600: A Luncheon of Joy Between Host and Guests

What's going on?

Could it be that among the four suspects, none is the target?

Or perhaps that scholarly-looking person is actually the target?

Maybe that's the true appearance of Leng Li? He wouldn't have expected to attract so much attention in the Great Jing Dynasty?

Or perhaps... time was too tight, and those constables didn't gather everyone.

Lu Zheng exchanged a look with Qi Fengyun, and Qi Fengyun nodded, clearly understanding Lu Zheng's meaning.

"No hurry, let's talk about it tomorrow." Qi Fengyun thought for a moment and said, after all, without clues, there's no need to rush.

Chit-chatting casually, they soon arrived near the Lin Family Mansion.

"It's almost noon, why don't you two join us for a meal?" Lin Zhijing once again invited.

Since we're here, having a meal doesn't change anything; if not at the Lin Family, we'd go to another restaurant anyway.

"Then we'll trouble you." Lu Zheng said.

"No trouble at all, it's our pleasure." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Lin Zhijing sent the driver to take the cart to the back yard, then dispatched the gatekeeper to quickly inform Patriarch Lin Kongzhu, and led Lu Zheng and Qi Fengyun towards the main hall.

After walking just a couple of steps, Lu Zheng saw Lin Kongzhu leading, accompanied by two wives, Lin Zhidong and Xiao Yuzhen following behind, welcoming them. He was followed by some guards and household teachers.

"Patriarch Lin." Lu Zheng greeted with a bow.

"Young Master Lu, good to see you. Hello, esteemed elder." Lin Kongzhu stepped forward to salute, greeting them repeatedly, then gestured them inside, "Please come inside!"

"Forgive the intrusion."

"No intrusion at all, it's our pleasure." Lin Kongzhu quickly said, sounding just like his eldest son.

"Greetings, Young Master Lu!" Xiao Yuzhen pulled along the somewhat awkward Lin Zhidong to greet.

"Hello." Lu Zheng nodded, seeing Lin Zhidong acting respectfully, he didn't say much more, just walked with Lin Kongzhu into the main hall.

In the main hall, Lin Kongzhu invited them to sit in the guest seats, and first asked Qi Fengyun, "How should I address the esteemed elder? Here in Wanfu County, is there anything I can assist with?"

Qi Fengyun waved his hand, "No need, no need, my surname is Qi. I'm just passing through Wanfu County on my way to Yizhou to visit a friend; nothing much to trouble Patriarch Lin with."

"Understood." Lin Kongzhu nodded, "Since the esteemed elder is family to Young Master Lu, consider us on the same side. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Qi Fengyun nodded in acknowledgment.

Then, instructing the servants to prepare lunch, Lin Kongzhu introduced Lu Zheng and Qi Fengyun to several household teachers.

"This is Mr. Zhao An, very knowledgeable about 'Yuanzi'."

"Overpraised, overpraised." The speaker was a rather elderly man, with a tuft of goat-like beard hanging down his chest, giving off a celestial air.

"This is Mr. Sun Zhenyun, an excellent artist, who won top prize at the Lantern Festival in Yaozhou Prefecture."

"A minor skill, just humble flattery." Sun Zhenyun was a slightly stout middle-aged man, full-faced and smiling, politely nodding in response.

"This is Mr. Li Leng, deeply researched in 'Political Economy'."

"You're too kind, sir."

The last introduced was a man appearing in his forties, with a square face and three strands of black beard on his chest, intense gaze.

They exchanged a few pleasantries, then saw a maid arrive from the back yard, nod to Lin Kongzhu, then retreat again.

"Lunch is ready; shall we move to Qingzhu Studio and chat over a meal?" Lin Kongzhu invited with a smile.

Lu Zheng readily agreed, so everyone moved to Qingzhu Studio.

Lin Kongzhu sat at the head of the table, inviting Qi Fengyun and Lu Zheng to sit at the seats of honor, while the Lin brothers and three household teachers accompanied at the lower seats. The wives ate separately in the side hall with Lin Zhijing's wife and Xiao Yuzhen.

Before the feast started, a maid came carrying a wooden tray with a porcelain bowl on it, despite it being covered, a strong medicinal aroma was evident.

The maid approached Li Leng, who nodded in thanks, then took the bowl, removed the lid, and drank the liquid inside in one go.

Lin Kongzhu explained, "Mr. Li had some bad luck recently. He ran into bandits while with the convoy, escaped but accidentally fell off a cliff, got soaked in rain overnight, caught a cold, and depleted his primordial qi, hence taking medicine daily before meals."

"Recently?"

Damn!

Lu Zheng felt blindsided.

After running around, guessing, being cautious for so long, none of the suspects was the target, and the target was a familiar face!

Are you playing games with me?

Lu Zheng forced a smile, nodded in understanding. With his medical skill, he could easily tell the potion contained ginseng, Huang Qi, Danggui, and yam—medicines for strengthening qi and blood—not of a spiritual level but still quite effective.

"Indeed, about a month ago, I was returning from Yaozhou with medicine, happened to meet Mr. Li along the way, had some great conversations, admired Mr. Li's character and knowledge, invited him several times before he agreed to teach at our home." Lin Zhijing said.

Lu Zheng was astounded.

As Lin Zhijing spoke, Lin Kongzhu proposed to Li Leng, "If Mr. Li has some spare time, perhaps visit nearby Yizhou Tonglin County; Young Master Lu's wife runs a clinic there, Renxin Hall, skilled in medicine, surely can cure your illness quickly."

Li Leng waved his hand in thanks, "Appreciate your kindness, but it's just a chronic issue, no hurry."

"Ah, but Renxin Hall is different." Lin Kongzhu eagerly introduced, entirely ignoring Lu Zheng's discreet signals.

"Young Master Lu is an outer disciple of White Cloud Temple, a cultivator, his wife related to the north city Huangfu family, has dao practice, runs a clinic in Tonglin County—a gesture of saving lives and helping people, a blessing for ordinary folks."

"Indeed, indeed." Lin Zhijing nodded in agreement.

"Oh? A disciple of White Cloud Temple?" Li Leng seemed unfamiliar with the name, blinked and continued, "A relative of the north city Huangfu family?"

Lin Zhidong nodded, though somewhat reluctant, he said, "Doctor Liu is very skilled, I was gravely ill back when... It's Doctor Liu who saved me."

"I see." Li Leng quickly got up, saluted Lu Zheng respectfully, "Didn't expect Young Master Lu to be an abnormal person; apologies for my lack of respect, I'll certainly visit for medical attention later."

"Patriarch Lin praises too much; my wife is indeed skilled in medicine, surely can alleviate your ailments, Mr. Li." Lu Zheng replied with a gentle smile.

"That would be wonderful." Li Leng said, saluting again before sitting down, then looked at Qi Fengyun, "Are you Young Master Lu's master?"

"No, no." Qi Fengyun smiled wryly, "I'm not that fortunate, but took advantage of our elder status to ask Xiaolu to accompany me for a trip."

Everyone chuckled at his words, then proceeded to dine under the Lin family's hospitality.

The lunch was filled with mutual joy between hosts and guests.