Seeing Lu Chen arrive, the blacksmith Ruan smiled and got up, ready to prepare a few more dishes.
Ruan Xiu, after serving everyone rice, started eating directly. She was starving.
Lu Chen took a bite of the dish made by Ruan, nodded and said, "Not bad. Although it's not as good as Chen Sui Nian's, it's still palatable."
Lu Chen gestured to Ning Yao that it was okay and she could eat. The taste was not bad.
Ning Yao took a bite and said, "Not bad! Chen Sui Nian's cooking is like a banquet, while Ruan's is like home-style dishes. It's nice to have a change of taste occasionally!"
When Ruan returned with the dishes, seeing Ruan Xiu eating very fast, he said, "Xiu Xiu, eat slowly! Don't rush!"
Ruan Xiu, who had been eating quickly, stopped her movements. Her chopsticks froze in mid-air, and her face puffed up with anger!
Lu Chen laughed and said, "It's alright. They're all young and growing, so it's fine to eat a little more!"
"Let Miss Ruan Xiu eat more, it's no problem!"
Within a short while, everyone finished their meal and thanked Ruan.
Lu Chen laughed, "Ruan Shifu, your cooking is excellent. This Daoist thanks you for your hospitality!"
Ruan, flattered, said, "Daoist Lu Chen, you're exaggerating. It's just a simple vegetarian meal. Please don't laugh."
...
After everyone left, Lu Chen hid aside, sat on a tree, found a suitable place to lie down, and pulled out a plate of cakes and a pot of wine from somewhere. He leisurely ate and said, "Ah, I've had a full meal, so I must have some wine and cakes! Thankfully, before they left, I begged Chen Sui Nian to leave me some wine and make some snacks!"
At this time, a flying sword suddenly landed on Lu Chen's neck. "Lu Chen, I told you, you disappeared so suddenly. You were hiding here eating all the good stuff by yourself!"
Lu Chen's body froze. He turned his head towards the owner of the flying sword - Ning Yao and Ruan Xiu!
......
On the other side, Chen Ping An was searching for Snake Gall Stones by the stream. Today, Ruan didn't ask him to work the forge, instead, telling him to relax. He said that Chen Ping An's physical body had reached its limit and it was better to stop forging for now.
Chen Sui Nian met a beautiful young woman, even prettier than Cai Jin Jian.
But she was a female Daoist!
There were several people with her, including young Daoists and sword-carrying martial artists.
Next to the female Daoist was a cute little girl. She was introducing Chen Ping An's identity and background at this moment.
There was also a white deer next to the female Daoist. The white deer ran to Chen Ping An and rubbed against his shoulder.
The female Daoist said something to the little girl, who translated it. Roughly, it meant, "My name is He Xiao Liang. We've met by chance, but I'm sorry, your talent is too shallow, you're not qualified to enter my sect."
Chen Ping An was confused. He Xiao Liang smiled and calmly explained,
“You might have wasted your precious opportunity by meeting us. I'm sorry about that.”
Chen Ping An smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It's alright."
He Xiao Liang glanced at the stone behind Chen Ping An and suddenly asked if it was Lu Chen who told him to pick up this stone?
Chen Ping An silently shook his head and said no.
He Xiao Liang said, "This is our Junior Uncle Lu."
Chen Ping An looked up at He Xiao Liang, then smiled and handed her a Snake Gall Stone.
He Xiao Liang accepted it and performed a Daoist bow.
Chen Ping An remembered that when Lu Chen was teaching him to fight, he casually taught him Daoist courtesy, so he returned the bow according to what Lu Chen taught him.
But Lu Chen didn't teach him how to perform a bow.
The young Daoist on the side frowned at the way Chen Ping An bowed.
He Xiao Liang curiously asked, "Who taught you Daoist courtesy?"
Chen Ping An said, "Daoist Lu Chen."
He Xiao Liang was silent, then smiled at Chen Ping An and nodded.
Chen Ping An also gave the little girl and the young Daoist a Snake Gall Stone each, then put on his bamboo basket and turned to leave.
After Chen Ping An left, the young Daoist frowned. "How did Junior Uncle teach him the way to bow to elders?"
He Xiao Liang smiled, "Maybe Junior Uncle Lu's abilities allowed him to foresee that we would meet this young man, and that he would give us a Snake Gall Stone in return for his kindness or out of respect for him? Then he deliberately taught him the Daoist way to bow to elders, to playfully tease this young man. Otherwise, how would a young man like him know Daoist courtesy? We can tell at a glance."
The young Daoist nodded in agreement, casually evaluating Chen Ping An's talent, destiny, luck, character, temperament, etc., finally reaching a conclusion: "A life like grass, floating in the wind; a heart like dead wood, a common man's destiny!"
He Xiao Liang chuckled, not convinced. "Maybe not?"
In fact, the reason Lu Chen taught Chen Ping An the Daoist way to bow to elders was simply because he had chosen Chen Ping An as his disciple.
He felt that whether it was Confucianism, Buddhism, or Daoism, from the perspective of elders in these three teachings, based on Lu Chen's identity and background, Chen Ping An should not have to learn Daoist courtesy.
My disciple, Lu Chen, doesn't need to bow to anyone younger than three generations. Even if they are older than three generations, they don't need to, except for the founding ancestors of the three teachings! Simply because Chen Ping An is my disciple, Lu Chen!
As for the founding ancestors of the three teachings, whether Chen Ping An can meet them or not is his destiny!
He Xiao Liang had just finished discussing the whereabouts of Ma Ku Xuan, the most talented person in the town, when Lu Chen appeared in front of everyone, looking utterly dejected, with two women who were eating cakes.
Ning Yao came to Chen Sui Nian and handed him a piece of cake, saying, "That despicable and shameless Lu Chen, he was eating all the good stuff by himself. Thankfully, Ruan Xiu and I have good noses, or he would have gotten away with it."
"This cake was made by your brother before. It tastes better! Lu Chen said he specially begged Chen Sui Nian to make this for him."
Chen Ping An took the cake, put it in his mouth, and it tasted amazing, melting in his mouth! The aroma filled his entire mouth. Chen Ping An closed his eyes in delight.
Chen Ping An said to Lu Chen, "Daoist Lu Chen, there seems to be someone you know over there."
Lu Chen took a piece of cake and put it in his mouth, looked over, and casually said, "Oh, well, they're sort of an acquaintance."
Lu Chen walked over to He Xiao Liang. He Xiao Liang and the young Daoist bowed, including the sword-carrying martial artist.
Lu Chen casually returned the bow and asked, "What brings you here?"
He Xiao Liang said, "It's about Ma Ku Xuan...
The sword-carrying martial artist was sweating profusely. Was he going to interfere? But he didn't seem to be able to stop him. He Xiao Liang, this Junior Uncle, was mysterious and her cultivation level was unknown.
Lu Chen casually said, "He can go wherever he wants. It's up to him!"
He Xiao Liang nodded. Lu Chen waved his hand, said goodbye, and then left and returned to Chen Ping An's group.
He Xiao Liang watched Lu Chen's departing figure, then looked at Chen Ping An's back. Suddenly, she thought of something.
So, Chen Ping An is your chosen disciple? She had heard by chance that Junior Uncle Lu was from Qingming.
Lu Chen only taught him how to return a bow, not how to perform one!
My disciple, Lu Chen, only needs to return a bow to elders, they don't need to perform one!
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