Under One Person: Starting with the Dual Cultivation of Body and Soul

Faced with so many praises from elders, a normal person from a prominent family would stand up gracefully, clasp their hands in greeting, and say a few polite words such as "You flatter me, seniors," "You're too kind, seniors," and "This junior is like this."

Then the elders would praise the child, saying, "This child knows how to behave."

But Li Chang'an was busy suppressing these thoughts and had no time to care about these social niceties.

He stood there, eyes downcast, expressionless.

To the Lu family, this behavior was undoubtedly extremely aloof.

A large group of our elders came all the way to the door to greet us, and instead of hurrying over to pay your respects to each of us, you just stood there like a wooden post, putting on airs.

Of course, they wouldn't hold a grudge against a child, but their enthusiasm had definitely diminished.

The elderly members of the Lu family exchanged glances, smiled, and looked away from Li Chang'an.

After everyone's gazes gradually dispersed, Li Chang'an keenly noticed a strange look in someone's eyes.

He followed the gaze and saw at the edge of the crowd a black-haired boy holding the hand of a pink-haired girl, staring blankly at him.

Seeing Li Chang'an looking over, the black-haired boy quickly looked away.

The little girl with pink hair, however, stared straight at Li Chang'an with her big eyes, without flinching, as if she were sizing up a new playmate who was still unsure whether he would be fun or not.

At this age, with pink hair and hereditary blush... it must be Lu Linglong... Li Chang'an glanced at her, then looked away and focused his attention on himself.

He noticed something strange: the boy's gaze had stirred a deep, unspoken joy within him.

What was different about the gaze of that black-haired boy compared to the gazes of others? Why did I feel a sense of joy...? Li Chang'an pondered to himself.

"Alright, alright, everyone disperse, disperse. The child is shy, and you're all making him feel awkward."

Lu Jin also noticed Li Chang'an's unusual behavior and worried that she might not be used to the scene, so she waved her hand to disperse the crowd.

After the old man gave the order, the crowd dispersed in twos and threes.

The black-haired boy also pulled the pink-haired girl back.

"Brother! Grandpa has taken on a new apprentice! Aren't you feeling a little pressured?"

The pink-haired little girl asked with a serious face, like a little adult.

"No way, that guy looks...really cool!" the black-haired boy said.

"What's so cool about that? They didn't even say hello."

The pink-haired girl wrinkled her nose, thinking that the new guy might be difficult to get along with.

"I think it's really cool," the black-haired boy laughed.

But he didn't explain why, because he knew his sister wouldn't understand anyway.

Because my younger sister is an outgoing person, although she is still young, she can handle any lively scene with ease.

He is not good at socializing and is an introverted person.

The scene of a large group of elders praising him was what he feared most.

He put himself in the other person's shoes and realized that if he were in that situation, he would definitely be so flustered that he wouldn't know what to do with his hands and feet.

But that young man completely ignored the praise from those highly respected second and third grandfathers, and didn't even give them a second glance.

Isn't that cool?!

I wish I could be as carefree as him.

The black-haired boy thought to himself.

……

"Chang'an, this is your elders' way of welcoming you. You don't need to feel guilty."

Lu Jin thought Li Chang'an was not used to this situation, so she took his hand and said.

Li Chang'an nodded, offered no further explanation, and followed Lu Jin toward the gate.

Before entering, he looked up at the door.

The couplet on the pillars at the entrance of the Lu Family Compound reads:

An official has no fixed possessions, only a desire for truth. A family with a will has no use for gold.

This couplet perfectly reflects the Lu family's tradition.

Stepping into the courtyard, the view suddenly opened up before my eyes.

This is an extremely beautiful Suzhou-style garden. Winding paths lead to secluded spots, white walls and black tiles, craggy rockeries, clear pond water, and a beautiful view at every turn, with exquisite details everywhere.

It's not the kind of extravagant refinement, but rather a refined refinement that's just right—any more would be too much, and any less would be too little.

After entering the compound, Lu Jin led Li Chang'an to the ancestral hall deep within the compound.

There are two ancestral halls standing side by side here.

One is the Lu Clan Ancestral Hall.

One is a shrine with the Sanyi Gate.

They went to the Trinity Temple first.

The ancestral hall is not large, with blue brick flooring and an old wooden offering table placed against the wall in the center.

Dozens of memorial tablets stand on the offering table, with the one in the very center being the darkest in color. It reads: "The Spirit Tablet of the Late Master, the Great Immortal Zuo Gong, whose given name is Ruotong."

On both sides were the memorial tablets of all the fellow disciples, lined up in rows, as if they were still alive, standing beside their master.

Lu Jin lit incense and gave three sticks to Li Chang'an.

The two respectfully offered incense to the memorial tablets of the deceased.

Lu Jin whispered something, her voice so soft that Li Chang'an couldn't hear her.

After offering incense, Lu Jin led Li Chang'an to the Lu Clan Ancestral Hall next door.

After accepting a disciple, Li Chang'an was considered half a member of the Lu family, and it was customary for him to pay respects to the ancestors of the Lu family.

The Lu Clan Ancestral Hall is much larger than the ancestral hall at Sanyi Gate. The offering table stretches from one end to the other, with ancestral tablets arranged in layers, like an open genealogy book.

When Li Chang'an offered incense, he looked up at the memorial tablet on the offering table.

His gaze suddenly stopped on two of the memorial tablets.

One of the two memorial tablets reads "The Spirit Tablet of Lord Lu Xun, Prime Minister of Wu." The other reads "The Spirit Tablet of Lord Lu Xiufu, Left Prime Minister of Song."

Lu Xun of Eastern Wu. The one who burned Yiling.

Lu Xiufu. The one who carried the young emperor and jumped into the sea during the Battle of Yamen.

They were all from the Lu family? Li Chang'an now had a rough idea of ​​the Lu family's background.

The Lu family of Wu County was a leading aristocratic family in Jiangnan. Throughout history, they have produced many talented individuals, truly deserving of their reputation as a thousand-year-old family.

He withdrew his gaze, respectfully offered incense, and then followed Lu Jin out of the ancestral hall.

Lu Jin led Li Chang'an to his residence.

To facilitate guidance on the cultivation of the Threefold Reversal of Life, Li Chang'an's courtyard was located right next to Lu Jin's residence.

This is a quiet little courtyard.

The courtyard was not large, with three rooms: one bright and two dark. The main room was his bedroom and study, the east wing was a quiet room for meditation, and the west wing was empty and temporarily used as a tea room.

The courtyard was paved with blue bricks, and a loquat tree was planted in the corner of the wall.

There was a stone vat under the tree.

There were several koi carp in the tank, and a few water lily leaves floating on the surface of the water.

Pushing open the door, the room was small but tastefully decorated. Inside was a four-poster bed with a plain, moon-white cotton canopy and neatly folded quilts.

There was a desk by the window, with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone on it.

A bookshelf stands next to the desk.

Some books were already on the shelf, mostly cultivation scriptures.

Li Chang'an looked it over inside and out and was very satisfied.

The treatment of children from prominent families is indeed extraordinary.

"Chang'an, get some rest. You'll begin your formal training tomorrow."

After Lu Jin finished speaking, he left. As the head of the Lu family, he had some things to take care of after leaving for a month or two.