The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

Wang Zhenhuan was so excited that he kept thinking about it all afternoon. Ao Shuang, having drunk too much at noon, slept soundly all afternoon, and Wang Zhenhuan didn't disturb her.

He simply instructed the servants in the manor to inform Ao Shuang if he woke up. Then he went to the side room and saw Ling Zhizi resting with her eyes closed. After thinking for a moment, he returned to his own room.

Xiao Liu went to town to say goodbye to the innkeeper and settle his wages. And so, Wang Zhen stole half a day of leisure and returned to his room alone.

Back in his room, he did nothing. He sat in a chair, closed his eyes, and pondered, recalling the contents of the bamboo slips concerning thunder magic. He wanted to ensure he wouldn't overlook anything when he met with Okiko that evening.

Half a day passed in a flash, and by dusk, the sun had set. After eating the dinner brought by the servants, Wang Huanzhen got up and went out of his room. The snow falling outside had stopped sometime earlier.

He didn't rush to meet with Okiko. Instead, he first went to check on Lingzhizi's room. After confirming that there were servants attending to her, he then went to Aoshuang's room.

This lightning technique was discovered by him and Ao Shuang together, and it shouldn't have been kept from him, both morally and logically. Moreover, Ao Shuang was his elder brother, and it was always right to ask an elder about everything.

Unfortunately, whether it was because he couldn't hold his liquor or because Lord Sun's treasured wine had a strong aftereffect, Ao Shuang was still lying on the bed with a flushed face and snoring loudly, just like when he came to see her at noon.

Wang Zhenhuan sighed and shook his head. Even so, Ao Shuang still wanted him to treat her to drinks. After two cups, he lay there for a long time, still not sober. He turned and left the room, closing the door behind him, just as he saw Master Lu returning with two fish.

Seeing Wang Huanzhen come out, he smiled and nodded to him, saying, "Young Taoist priest, my elder brother is still not awake. Madam Sun asked me to buy two fish to nourish your friends."

As she spoke, she lifted the fish in her hand slightly, gesturing to Wang Zhenhuan. Wang Zhenhuan smiled and nodded in return, saying, "You're too kind, Madam. I never expected my brother to be so unable to hold his liquor."

"Oh, by the way, does the clerk know where Daoist Chonghezi lives? I have some business to discuss with him."

"Huh? Daoist Master, didn't you know? This afternoon, Master Tongmiao and Lord Sun went to Huainan by carriage to buy stone materials. They said they wanted to build the river embankment first." Master Lu looked at Wang Zhenhuan with suspicion.

"What??" Wang Zhenhuan was stunned when he heard his words. A sense of absurdity welled up in his heart. He had clearly agreed at noon, but the person had disappeared in the afternoon?

No wonder he seemed to flee in panic when he saw Master Chonghezi's retreating figure. It turned out he had been prepared all along! Wang Zhenhuan suddenly felt like he had been tricked.

He was immediately amused and annoyed. This Chong Hezi, a dignified Purple Qi True Person, actually dared to play such petty tricks on a junior cultivator. It seemed he had overestimated him.

He wasn't some mischievous child at all; he was a cunning and shrewd old man. He just usually acted like a wise and venerable immortal, and his cultivation was so high that Wang Zhen didn't pay any attention to these details.

Looking back now, it really...it really...was awful!!!

When Master Lu saw Wang Zhenhuan standing there, his expression shifting uncertainly after hearing his words, he thought he had said something wrong and subconsciously asked, "Young Taoist priest, are you alright? Did I say something wrong?"

"It's alright, it's alright. It has nothing to do with you, Master Lu. I was just too careless," Wang Zhenhuan said with a smile, shaking his head as he explained to Master Lu. Only after hearing his words did Master Lu feel relieved.

After saying goodbye to Wang Zhenhuan, he carried the fish to the kitchen. Wang Zhenhuan stood in the courtyard, watching Master Lu's retreating figure. He pondered to himself, "Since Master Chonghezi isn't here..."

The meeting was definitely out of the question, but Ling Zhizi was still bedridden, and Ao Shuang was still asleep. Leaving in the short term seemed unlikely, but fortunately, Daoist Xuan Yangzi hadn't given him a specific timeframe.

Therefore, Wang Zhen wasn't in a hurry. There were still quite a few days until the Shangqing Dharma Assembly. He could stay at Lord Sun's residence for a few days; it was just a pity that he found out too late.

If he had known earlier that Master Okiwako wouldn't be returning tonight, he would have gone with him. But then he thought, perhaps Okiwako had considered this as well, which was why he hadn't told him.

Fortunately, the Taoist priest valued his promises most, and since he had agreed, he shouldn't lie to him. So all he had to do now was wait patiently. After figuring this out, Wang Zhenhuan felt much better.

He wasn't angry, just felt a sense of absurdity, as if he'd been tricked. Since Master Chonghezi wasn't there, he had no reason to linger. He watched Master Lu's retreating figure disappear around the corner.

Wang Huanzhen turned and walked towards the room. Just as he reached the door, the snowflakes began to fall again in a flurry. It is said that a timely snowfall foretells a bountiful year, but this year the court is in turmoil, and war is raging.

With such heavy snow, countless refugees fleeing south will freeze to death in this icy wasteland. In chaotic times, human life is perhaps the cheapest commodity. Wang Huanzhen sighed and reached out to open the door.

The instant his hand touched the door, a sudden inspiration struck him. He stood there, frowning in thought. Then, as if remembering something, he quickly turned and ran towards the kitchen.

Upon arriving at the kitchen, they saw Master Lu and the old woman who cooked, busy at work. Seeing Wang Zhen rushing over, they assumed something had happened.

He wiped his hands clean on the cloth covering the stove and looked at Wang Huanzhen, asking, "Young Taoist priest, what's the matter that's causing this rush? Has something unclean come to your residence?"

"Not at all. This government office is upright and awe-inspiring. What kind of ignorant filth would dare to run here? Besides, with so many Taoist priests in the mansion, wouldn't such a filth just walk into a trap?" Wang Zhenhuan replied with a smile.

Seeing that Wang Zhen was still in the mood to tease him, Master Lu immediately understood that it wasn't anything serious. So he picked up the spoon he had put down again, stirring the fish soup as he asked, "Then what is it?"

"I've come to ask you, Master, where is the room of Master Chonghe?" Wang Huanzhen cupped his hands and asked with a smile.

"Hmm? Didn't you just find out, Daoist Master, that Master Tongmiao isn't at home?" Master Lu stood up curiously, looking at Wang Zhenhuan, not understanding what he was up to.

"No, I am not looking for Master Chonghe. I had made an appointment with him to meet tonight. But he is not at home now, so I suspect that he left something for me in his room."

I want to verify this...