Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 145 Don’t worry about him
Lu Zheng sat there, feeling much more energetic and refreshed.

He shifted his gaze and looked at Qing Wan who was staring at him eagerly.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but smile, raised his hand to take out the painting he had just obtained, unfolded it again and placed it on the table.

Zhang Bo and others nearby also gathered around curiously to admire this extremely realistic green bamboo painting again.

Qing Wan's eyes lit up and she threw herself directly onto the scroll, breathing deeply.

I saw that the breath of life in the painting was being absorbed by Qingwan.

Everyone was amazed when they saw this. They didn't expect that the vitality contained in this painting would be beneficial to Qingwan's practice.

But if you think about it, they are all plants and trees, so it makes sense that they have something in common.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "This painting is for you, don't be greedy."

"Thank you! I'll treat you to some peas!" Qingwan grinned.

Lu Zheng quickly said, "No thanks. Save your energy so you can learn how to turn beans into soldiers later."

Hearing this, Qingwan's eyes sparkled and she became even more excited.

Zhang Bo was filled with envy. This painting was truly extraordinary.

Just as the courtesan said before, carrying this painting with you can cultivate your gentlemanly spirit.

Lu Zheng was so generous in giving it to Qing Wan as a cultivation tool, which was a bit of a waste.

Zhang Bo examined the painting carefully and said, "Mr. Chen Yu... this man is truly a master painter from the previous dynasty. It's said that he's good at painting figures. The many servants serving in his home were all drawn by him himself. They're full of flesh and blood, just like real people."

"No different from a living person?" Lu Zheng asked curiously.

Zhang Bo nodded and said, "Pretty much just an ordinary mortal. They'll grow old, get sick, and die. Their lifespan won't exceed a hundred years."

That's truly amazing... Lu Zheng couldn't help but marvel in his heart.

This can be said to have created a living being.

Lu Zheng asked curiously again, "Can you draw a living person who can practice cultivation?"

Zhang Bo thought for a moment and said, "This person probably can't achieve that... Of all things, humans are the most difficult to draw. If you want to draw a living person who practices cultivation as Brother Lu mentioned, you have to be even more skilled than this one, probably reaching the level of a great Confucian or Taoist scholar."

A great scholar of Confucianism and Taoism is at the seventh level of Confucianism and Taoism. If you go further, you can enter the realm of sainthood.

Lu Zheng didn't know how the realms of painting were divided, but in comparison, he felt that there were probably not many masters of that level.

Several people chatted while admiring the painting.

After a while, Qing Wan stood up, patted herself, and said crisply, "I'm full!"

After careful observation, everyone discovered that the painting was indeed lacking a little of its vitality.

Even the swaying green bamboo leaves have become a little duller in color.

Zhang Bo felt a little distressed when he saw this and couldn't help but say, "Some spiritual paintings of extraordinary quality can absorb spiritual energy from the heaven and earth to replenish their own spiritual energy loss. I think this painting has been able to last for so long, so it should be possible."

"A bamboo painting like this is best placed in a bamboo forest to preserve its beauty. I happen to have a bamboo forest in my back garden, so maybe you could give it a try, Brother Lu."

When everyone heard this, they all became curious.

The group took the paintings to the bamboo forest in the garden and hung them in a place.

Soon, everyone discovered that this green bamboo painting could indeed absorb spiritual energy and vitality from the outside world.

However, this also damaged the vitality of the bamboos in the bamboo forest. The bamboo leaves turned yellow at a speed visible to the naked eye and fluttered down.

Seeing this, Lu Zheng put the painting away.

He didn't want to destroy a bamboo forest because of a painting.

Zhang Bo said nonchalantly, "It's okay. These bamboos won't die. I'll have my servants fertilize them later."

Lu Zheng placed the painting in the Wen Palace and discovered that the righteous energy in the palace could also nourish the painting and restore its spirit, but the lost vitality of the green bamboo recovered very slowly.

Just then, the servants in the mansion invited a few people to have dinner.

Zhang Bo did ask someone to stew a chicken with a ginseng. This was a very nutritious ingredient, so he shared it among several people.

After eating and drinking their fill, everyone sat in the living room with rosy faces.

Li Zhao smacked his lips and said leisurely, "Brother Zhang, the spiritual ginseng you got is quite good. You're really willing to give it away. Aren't you afraid of what the elders at home will say?"

Zhang Bo said with a smile, "This thing was originally prepared for me. I'm going to Hongzhou to participate in the Autumn Examination. The elders at home sent me some supplements..."

Zhang Bo paused, then continued, "I've already asked someone to prepare the carriages and horses. After a short rest, we can set off."

"Confucius said, 'Time flies like an arrow.'" Li Zhao couldn't help but sigh, "Time flies by so fast! A month of study abroad has already flown by. I still have to write a good article, otherwise I won't be able to report to the dean!"

They said they were out studying, but Li Zhao found that they didn't seem to do anything and the days passed by in a flash.

Li Zhao looked at Lu Zheng again and said excitedly, "Brother Lu, you are good at finding monsters and ghosts, so why don't you take us to kill some monsters and ghosts so that we can report back to our superiors!"

Lu Zheng smiled when he heard this and said, "That's not impossible."

Li Zhao slapped his thigh and said with a grin, "Anyway, it's the 15th at the latest. It's just right for me to follow Brother Lu. We can have more fun... ahem, study abroad for a few more days!"

If they were late returning to the academy, they could just say they were with Lu Zheng, and Dean Xiao would probably not punish them.

Lu Zheng saw through Li Zhao's little thoughts, but didn't say anything.

There's nothing wrong with bringing these people around so we can learn from each other. It's just a few days.

Li Zhao then said to Zhang Bo, "Brother Zhang, you're not in a hurry to take the Autumn Examination, are you? Why don't you stay with us for a few more days?"

Zhang Bo was very curious about how Lu Zheng traveled and studied. He had heard about his experiences before, and he was somewhat envious. Seeing Li Zhao say this, he nodded and said, "I have plenty of time to go to Hongzhou to take the provincial examination. I can go with Brother Lu for a few days to study. Perhaps I can gain a lot and benefit from it."

Zhang Bo looked at Lu Zheng and said, "I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you along the way, Brother Lu."

"Why do you say that?" Lu Zheng smiled slightly.

Lu Zheng paused, then continued, "I don't know much about Changchuan County. Brother Zhang, do you have a map of Changchuan County?"

Zhang Bo said, "I have a rough map. I'll get it for Brother Lu!"

After saying that, Zhang Bo went to the study and soon came back with a large picture.

When I unfolded it, I saw a map of Changchuan County, which was indeed not very detailed.

Compared to the Kaiyang County map that Lu Zheng had seen in the county government office, this map was much rougher, with only some locations and some mountain routes simply marked.

Lu Zheng looked at it for a moment, memorized the picture in his mind, and combined it with the information he had obtained before.

He began, "Since you all want to travel with me for a few days, you have to listen to me on some matters. I will decide the route. Do you have any objections?"

When everyone heard this, they all said that there was no problem.

They usually live a life of luxury, and have never gone out alone to kill any demons or monsters, nor have they traveled to any remote places.

Since Lu Zheng has such experience, they naturally won't object.

Lu Zheng pointed at the map and gave a rough route.

Zhang Bo was quite familiar with the county and didn't think there was anything wrong, so he nodded in agreement.

Others had no objection.

Everyone went back to pack their luggage and left Zhang's house.

For this trip, Zhang Bo had two spacious carriages prepared, which were more than enough for five people.

Other guards drove or rode horses to protect their safety.

Zhang Bo was traveling to the provincial capital, which was a thousand miles away, so he naturally had to bring some guards with him to avoid any danger.

It is actually rare to see a scholar like Lu Zheng who goes out without an attendant.

A Confucian or Taoist student with a good reputation could even make some warriors eager to recommend themselves and come to serve as his attendants.

Zhang Bo wanted to nominate a few people to serve as Lu Zheng's attendants, but was rejected by Lu Zheng.

The group took a carriage and headed south along the official road.

Not long after leaving the city, Lu Zheng and his companions saw some students riding horses ahead.

Jia Gu, who was sitting on his horse, heard the noise, turned his head slightly, and saw Lu Zheng and others in the carriage.

He couldn't help but rein in his horse and stop, bowing and greeting politely.

"Are you guys going back to Kaiyang County?" Jia Gu couldn't help but ask.

Lu Zheng said, "There are still some things that I am afraid I will not be able to go with you."

"Oh." Jia Gu nodded slightly and continued, "We will go back to Kaiyang County first. After that, I will go to participate in the Autumn Examination... Brother Lu is very talented and has an amazing talent in mathematics. He can go to the state capital to demonstrate his talents and perhaps get an additional promotion to become a Juren. I have an acquaintance in Hongzhou who can recommend Brother Lu."

Lu Zheng smiled slightly, "Brother Jia, it's kind, but I don't have such an idea for the time being."

Upon hearing this, Jia Gu said nothing more, bowed, and rode away.

Li Zhao curled his lips upon hearing this and said, "Brother Lu, you are admired by the Fengcheng County Lord. Why do you need him to recommend you? He just wants to curry favor with you because he sees that you are famous now."

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "As long as it doesn't cause trouble."

……

On the Hongjiang River, the ship carrying the Princess of Fengcheng County was slowly returning to Fengzhou.

She sat in the room, listening to the guard's story, her eyebrows furrowed.

"You mean, he accepted the gift from the Wu people and returned the gift?"

The guard said respectfully, "I dare not speak carelessly, but from what I see, Lu Zheng doesn't seem to want to make friends with them."

"Why is that?"

Anyang's pretty face turned cold, and she felt that this matter was not simple.

"I don't know. Those Wu people gave gifts and left. Lu Zheng and his friends also left Changchuan County. Judging from their route, they should be returning to Kaiyang County."

Anyang waved his hand and said, "Okay. If you have any important news about him in the future, please inform me as soon as possible."

"As you wish." The guards quickly retreated.

At this moment, a white shadow flew to the windowsill. It was a snow-white falcon.

Anyang's eyes lit up, "Imperial Sister An Jing has replied!"

She walked over eagerly and took out a roll of paper from the falcon's feet.

When he opened it, Anyang frowned.

She talked a lot about Lu Zheng and wanted An Jing to give her some advice on how to recruit this young talent.

As a result, An Jing didn't seem to care about Lu Zheng and just replied with four simple words.

"Don't worry about him."

(End of this chapter)