The Long Journey to Immortality

All he wanted to do now was leave the Dragon Head Islands as soon as possible, so that Lü Zhi wouldn't be able to show off and act arrogantly in front of him.

Because there is still a glimmer of hope, and the reputation of Dongweng Shop needs to be considered, things that need to be covered up still need to be covered up.

At the center of the vortex, and having to temporarily leave the Dragon Head Islands, Young Master Lanya announced that he would be in seclusion for a year to diligently cultivate his skills.

As previously arranged, Vice President Chai continued to maintain a public image of peace and stability while maintaining an internal silence to prevent any further leaks of secrets. He planned to wait until the matter subsided before making a final decision based on the outcome.

However, with Lü Zhi constantly gossiping outside, the matter is unlikely to be calmed down.

In the end, within ten days, the cultivators on Dragon Head Islands who were concerned about this matter basically believed the "story" told by Lü Zhi. The so-called "concealing the shame" was just a one-sided effort to make Dong Weng's shop look a little better.

This matter is now essentially over, ending with Han Lu, Lü Zhi, and others emerging victorious.

Chapter 854 A Touching Touch, An Invitation

Although they claimed to have won a great victory, Han Lu, Lü Zhi, and the others felt somewhat regretful because they did not know what would become of Young Master Lan Ya.

"It's such a pity that we didn't achieve our goal," Lü Zhi said regretfully, shaking his head as he faced the other four people sitting around a round table at the banquet. "If I had known, I wouldn't have mentioned this to my father."

In his several confrontations with Young Master Lanya, Lü Zhi, who was skilled in business but lacked strategy, suffered repeated setbacks and was always at a disadvantage.

This time, in order to achieve immediate success, after subtly finding out his father's intentions, he told his father everything he and Han Lu had done, hoping to rely on his father's help to deliver a powerful punch.

As it turned out, this approach did indeed work.

With more support, Lü Zhi was able to control the pace of instigating trouble and leaking information effectively, and skillfully employ various methods to further protect himself, who was already seemingly unrelated to the matter.

It works quickly and is highly concealed, but it also puts Lü Zhi in an invisible shackle, giving him an extra supervisor to oversee all his actions in this regard.

Just as Lü Zhi was about to snap Lan Ya Gongzi's neck to bring this joyous occasion to a perfect close, he was stopped by his father.

Otherwise, Young Master Lanya would not have had the opportunity to temporarily escape danger by "shedding his skin like a cicada's shell," preserving some face on the surface and leaving room for maneuver and a comeback.

Because of this, Lü Zhike went to see his father once, telling him about his grudge against Young Master Lanya and complaining that his father's momentary leniency had caused him to miss this excellent opportunity for revenge.

There were many complaints, and they seemed ready to interrogate him.

But when he finally left his father's office, Lü Zhi was criticized and honestly accepted it, reflecting on his various mistakes in the matter.

This gathering was an opportunity for Lü Zhi to bring the five people together and explain things that the others didn't know.

By the way, please also pass on a few words to my father, to the beautiful and talented woman sitting next to him now, Han Lu, who can be described with countless wonderful words.

"In short, three days ago, when I was still trying to make a big fuss about this," Lu Zhi said, holding his wine glass, taking a swig of spirit wine, and pursing his lips before continuing, "he told me a lot of big and small principles."

Yi Qiyan asked curiously, "What principles?"

“These are the kinds of superstitious beliefs that only monks who are involved in business believe in,” Lu Zhi said, swirling his wine glass as he looked at Yi Qiyan’s face, but his eyes were somewhat unfocused. “These are some things that have been said to me since I was a child.”

Lu Zhi's free left hand rhythmically flicked as words popped out of his mouth.

"Business rules".

"Reputation".

"Rate of return".

……

A series of words, some of which Han Lu and the other two could understand, and they instantly realized why Lü Zhi's father had mentioned these words.

However, some are confused and can't grasp the key points.

However, the last few sentences of Lü Zhi's series of remarks were what captivated every listener present.

"Finally, my father asked me to pass on a message."

"Han Lu," after they became familiar with each other, Lü Zhi addressed Han Lu by her full name, just like Yi Qiyan, "My father wants to meet you and have a chat with you."

"Me?" Han Lu was slightly puzzled. "Isn't Yi Qiyan your lover? Why are you seeing me and chatting with me?"

As soon as she said that, Han Lu immediately realized what she meant and said, "You're not going to hold me accountable for leading you astray and making you do things that the young master of the Immortal Pavilion shouldn't do, are you?"

Lu Zhi shrugged, put down his wine glass, and laughed, "Who knows? Maybe."

He then speculated, "Most likely he'll tell you about recent events, but maybe..."

Changing the subject, Lü Zhi continued.

"The major trading companies in the East China Sea have already reached their limits. To quote my father, continuing would only lead to internal friction and be counterproductive, without earning more spirit stones."

"Maybe my father suddenly had the idea of ​​expanding his business to some remote and uncivilized place, and wanted to ask you for some advice."

Upon hearing this, Han Lu nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, the second explanation makes more sense."

Immediately afterwards, Han Lu felt a little uneasy. Thinking of the scene when she met the High Priest in the Western Regions, she quickly asked Lü Zhi, the young master of the Immortal Pavilion, about it.

"Lu Zhi, what kind of cultivator was your father?"

“My father?” Lü Zhi laughed. “I can’t say for sure. Let Brother Kong tell you.”

As he spoke, Lü Zhi nudged Kong Qiaosheng with his elbow.

After a moment of contemplation, Kong Qiaosheng said, "A not-so-qualified father, but an exceptionally outstanding president of the chamber of commerce."

"If the Bitter Tea Guild Master had been born ten thousand years earlier, the Immortal Pavilion would have been several times stronger than it is now."

Bitter Tea was the Taoist name of Lü Zhi's father.

Kong Qiaosheng's high praise aroused Han Lu's curiosity about this cultivator whose Daoist name was "Bitter Tea".

“Alright, I will go to see your father tomorrow as invited,” Han Lu then muttered in a low voice that all five of them could hear, “I hope we won’t talk about anything too awkward or troublesome.”

Coming to the East China Sea is ultimately about relaxing, seeing a new world, and having a lighthearted and entertaining mindset.

Han Lu didn't want to return to the Central Plains with a host of grudges and trouble after her trip, thinking that way.

"Don't worry," Lü Zhi said, "Although my father is meticulous in his work, what he hates most is trouble."

"Of course, he won't cause you any trouble."

After the brief incident, the banquet among the five continued.

All good things must come to an end. Although Yi Qiyan and Lü Zhi were already deeply in love and were not far from discussing marriage, the two were still getting along very well.

Whether Yi Qiyan will stay in the Dragon Head Islands to continue her relationship with Lü Zhi or continue traveling has become a point of interest for everyone.

It's inappropriate for three outsiders to interfere in matters of the heart, but because the two parties involved are also unclear about their own feelings and how things will develop in the future, this has made what is actually a very simple problem somewhat complicated.

In the end, Lü Zhi made a swift and decisive decision.

"If love between two people is meant to last, why should they be together every day and night?"

"If Qiyan and I are truly destined to be together for a thousand years, what difference will three months or half a year make?"

"Besides, distance makes the heart grow fonder. If we keep a little distance and let our passion cool down temporarily, we might be able to see more clearly whether my feelings for you are just a passing impulse."

It wasn't complicated, but it was reasonable and well-founded. Naturally, the decision was made to continue the trip with Yi Qiyan, Han Lu, and Wen Erya.

The banquet lasted for about an hour and a half, and even Han Lu, who didn't like drinking much, drank quite a bit of spirit wine.

However, due to her profound cultivation, possession of true spiritual bloodline, and robust physique, this amount of spiritual wine did not bring Han Lu down.

Even at the end of the banquet, it was Han Lu, the only one who remained sober, who cleaned up the mess for everyone.

The next day, while Lü Zhi and Kong Qiaosheng were still fast asleep in their guest room, Han Lu set off to Xiange to meet Lü Zhi's father, as invited.

Chapter 855 A Mismatched Couple

Setting off alone, without Lu Zhi, the young master of the Immortal Pavilion, to pave the way and introduce her, Han Lu naturally encountered some minor troubles at the Immortal Pavilion.

After all, there was no invitation letter, no scheduled meeting time, and the Pavilion Master of the Immortal Pavilion, Bitter Tea Hermit, had not given any prior notice.

Fortunately, she had gained some fame in the Immortal Pavilion because of her relationship with Yi Qiyan and Lü Zhi, and many of the managers and staff in the Immortal Pavilion knew that there was such a True Phoenix Fairy from the Central Plains who was a good friend of the young master.

In addition, given Han Lu's mid-stage Golden Core cultivation level, she could certainly get the steward to relay messages and make arrangements.

After a few minor setbacks, Han Lu finally sat down in a relatively private reception room on the 29th floor of the Immortal Pavilion Tower, owned by the Bitter Tea Hermit.

She sipped her fragrant tea, waiting for the arrival of the hermit who had received the message.

Holding a teacup, Han Lu sat upright, her gaze sweeping around the reception room.

Immortal Pavilion is a commercial organization built and operated by cultivators. Naturally, the atmosphere within this organization combines the atmosphere of the cultivation world in the East Sea with that of the mortal business world.

The reception room, which was clearly arranged by the hermit of bitter tea himself, perfectly combines these two ethereal and mortal qualities.

The wooden and stone sculptures, calligraphy and paintings, and gold and silver items that ordinary merchants love are displayed in this reception room.

Magical artifacts and ancient books that only cultivators can appreciate also have a place in this reception hall.

The two are combined quite perfectly.

Naturally, the image of Wenren Mu, an old acquaintance from the Great Yu Dynasty, flashed through Han Lu's mind.

Han Lu immediately connected Wenren Mu with the fabricated image of the Bitter Tea Hermit.

Han Lu gently blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface to disperse them before taking a sip. She then carefully admired the few calligraphy and painting works in the room, passing the time through appreciation.

Since no appointment had been made, Han Lu waited for nearly half an hour before finally meeting Lü Zhi's father, the Pavilion Master Bitter Tea Hermit, who led the Immortal Pavilion from one victory to the next.

Because Master Kucha had already achieved the Golden Core stage early on, and was at the late stage of the Golden Core realm, he looked more like Lü Zhi's older brother than his father.

Dressed in white, exuding an air of scholarly refinement, he would likely be known as a "Confucian businessman" in the industry if he were an ordinary person.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry to have kept Fairy Zhenfeng waiting," the Bitter Tea Hermit said apologetically as soon as he entered, not considering himself superior to Han Lu. "I wonder if this cup of fragrant tea suits the Fairy's taste?"

"It tastes good," Han Lu said, taking another sip. "It's the best cup of tea I've had since I came to Donghai."

Hearing this, the Bitter Tea Hermit smiled and said, "I suppose that with the True Phoenix Fairy's caution, she probably hasn't tasted many cups of tea offered by outsiders since arriving in the East Sea."

As he spoke, the Bitter Tea Hermit opened a small drawer and took out two packets of tea leaves, saying, "These tea leaves were picked from the tea trees I planted. Please accept them, Fairy Zhenfeng."

"You're too kind, senior." Without standing on ceremony, Han Lu took the tea leaves and, without checking them, stuffed them directly into her storage bag.

Before arriving, Han Lu had pondered how to address the Bitter Tea Hermit, and ultimately decided to address him as "Senior" based on their cultivation levels.

Such an unguarded demeanor suggests a degree of intimacy.

Because he preferred to see himself as Lü Zhi's father rather than the head of the Immortal Pavilion, the Bitter Tea Hermit continued to communicate with Han Lu in a gentler tone.

From the Southern Dynasties to the wilderness, and because Han Lu had once been involved in the Dayu Dynasty, the place that was perhaps very close to the East Sea or perhaps very far away also came into their conversation.

Taking this opportunity, the hermit of bitter tea also talked to Han Lu about the so-called "sphere theory," proposing the conjecture that heading east would lead to the Great Yu Dynasty and open up a new sea route.