Chapter 3, Ten years of infatuation devoted to the flowing water

Wow! Zheng Dongting angrily grabbed the wolf hair brush handle and pointed around, asking, "Who is causing trouble?"

What is it now? Zheng Dongting couldn't help but feel irritated

"You like her? Oh, I almost forgot that you are a talented man who knows how to win women's favor!" Zheng Dongting grabbed Zu Beiqiu by the collar and dragged him harshly to the wall of the Falling Petals Forest. "Your wife enjoys painting, so you decided to learn how to create a painting of turtles and cranes for longevity. Not bad, you have an idea! But after a full six hours, you painted over two hundred turtles and only thirty or so cranes. What kind of longevity painting is that?"

"Why has it never been said? These words are absolute truths. The one who can articulate these truths is the Buddha!" Zheng Dongting said with conviction.

"Do you not know that cranes are more attractive to women? Why draw so many turtles? Why not go and make turtles yourself!" At this point, Zheng Dongting was filled with anger and kicked Zu Beiqiu to the ground.

Having mastered the art of lightness, you can race with the wind, travel alongside the sun and moon, scale rooftops, and traverse walls with ease. High cliffs and deep valleys, rivers and lakes, you walk on waves as if on solid ground. Imagine, you could transform into a swift steed, traveling a thousand miles a day, reaching Yangzhou in five days, Luoyang in seven days, Chang'an in ten days, and making a round trip on the Silk Road in two months. That exhilarating freedom, unmatched by any of the myriad wonders of the world, represents the most complete freedom one can experience in life, a way of living you would never wish to lose. As Zheng Dongting spoke, his eyes sparkled with brilliance, as if recalling the joy he felt when he first learned the art of lightness and entered the martial world.

"You want me to divorce my wife?" Zu Beiqiu was taken aback.

After a moment of silence, Zu Beiqiu finally spoke softly, "No."

"Junior brother, why must you be so sorrowful? Just because junior sister is not coming back today does not mean she won't return tomorrow..." Zheng Dongting approached and spoke in a gentle and comforting manner

These are famous dishes, pastries, and snacks from various regions. As Zu Beiqiu directed the young servant beside him to paint the walls of the Tingyu Pavilion and the surrounding area of the Luoying Forest white, he said, I believe that after ten years of wandering the world, she must have developed new favorite dishes in different places. I will do my best to gather ingredients from the six hundred prefectures of the Great Tang, hoping to find something that will attract her back.

Wake up, junior brother. Luo Qiutong has been wandering the rivers and lakes for ten years. Can you guarantee that she has not done anything to betray you? She might have long since found someone else and forgotten you completely. Why do you still cling to her? You are my junior brother, and I absolutely cannot allow you to lose yourself like this

"Our fault?" Zheng Dongting's face turned red with anger as he rushed forward and grabbed Zu Beiqiu by the collar, "Where is that ink stain you mentioned? Where is it? A drop of ink the size of a sesame seed, and you wail like you've lost your father. I'm a woman, and I don't want you either!" Saying this, he threw Zu Beiqiu to the ground and strode over to the table where the banquet was being set up.

"You have not experienced the art of lightness, but I can tell you that its importance to those in the martial world is akin to the significance of water to fish." Zheng Dongting sighed and said solemnly, "Lightness is the dividing line between those of the martial world and ordinary people"

"Alright, it was me who ate it, so what? It’s too wasteful to have such an extravagant meal just for my younger siblings! I ate some for you, to spare you from divine retribution!" Zheng Dongting said, glaring.

What now? Zheng Dongting felt that his ears could no longer endure the torment of Zu Beiqiu.

"What did you say?" Zu Bei Qiu asked, widening his eyes.

Did the Buddha say these words? "The ancestor stared wide-eyed in sorrow and asked.

Not bad

Zhu Beiqiu, in a state of panic and despair, tugged at his snow-white collar: "Here, here! There is a bit of ink stain here, it must have been accidentally smeared when I was writing. Qiu Tong despises untidy and dirty people the most; she has always loved cleanliness. Seeing me like this, she will surely be disgusted with me, and she will leave me! I know she will definitely leave me!"

Hmm?" Zu Bei Qiu asked without raising his head, but his thoughts were clearly not on the conversation with Zheng Dong Ting

"Disciple, you must break off with this heartless and ungrateful Luo Qiutong. Such a promiscuous woman is absolutely unsuitable for you" Zheng Dongting said sternly

Zhu, with swollen eyes, stumbled up from the ground and approached the banquet in front of the Listening to the Rain Pavilion, clutching the table and choking back sobs as if in spasm

My beloved is fond of painting, and for this reason, I have specially mastered the art of painting turtles and cranes to win her favor. Today, I will paint continuously on these walls, hoping that the first sight she sees upon her return will be of me wielding my brush. This is the most captivating aspect of my ancestor, Zu Beiqiu, and I hope that upon seeing me, she will change her mind and return to my side. As Zu Beiqiu spoke, she slowly rolled up her sleeves, picked up a purple brush, and instructed the servant to pour the fragrant Hui ink into the inkstone before her. Dipping the brush, she then grandly walked to the snow-white wall of the He-Tu-Shu.

"Have you all had a meal together?" Zheng Dongting asked, shrugging his shoulders

Ah! Suddenly, Zu Bei Qiu let out a piercing scream.

108, 109 ... ... 221, 222 ... ... Zheng Dongting leaned listlessly against the pillar of the pavilion by the ancestral garden pond, weakly counting the turtles on the wall. The wall adorned with cranes and turtles seemed to come alive at that moment, fluttering before his eyes. He looked up and yawned, glancing at the sky. The sun was setting in the west, dusk was spreading, and the jade rabbit was rising in the east, as he watched a precious day slip away in the mad scrawls of Zu Beiqiu. The wall adorned with cranes and turtles seemed to come alive at that moment, fluttering before his eyes. He looked up and yawned, glancing at the sky. The sun was setting in the west, dusk was spreading, and the jade rabbit was rising in the east, as he watched a precious day slip away in the mad scrawls of Zu Beiqiu. He felt drowsiness gradually dissipating from his body, until he unknowingly fell into a deep sleep. He gently stretched his back, easing the soreness in his muscles, and leaned his head against the other side of the pavilion pillar, wanting to doze off for a while longer

"Does your wife like you? Has she ever smiled at you? Has she shared a bed with you? She doesn't even eat with you!" Zheng Dongting grabbed the pastries on the table and violently threw them at Zu Beiqiu's face

I originally had 25 pieces of single-layer golden milk cakes, 16 pieces of cloud joy cakes, 20 pieces of crystal dragon and phoenix cakes, 108 pieces of heartless pork skewers, and 18 segments of purple deer lips. Now, only 24 pieces of golden milk cakes remain, 14 pieces of cloud joy cakes are left, only 95 pieces of heartless pork skewers are left, and there are merely 16 segments of purple deer lips remaining. Most infuriatingly, the crystal dragon and phoenix cakes have dwindled to just 16 pieces. Although they have been arranged back into their original tower shape, it is evident to anyone that four pieces of the cakes have mysteriously disappeared. Zu Beiqiu raised his head and fixed his blood-red eyes fiercely on Zheng Dongting, saying, "There are only the two of us here. I have been painting all along, the only one capable of committing the crime..."

There was no one else around; the entire falling leaves grove was occupied only by Zheng Dongting and Zu Beiqiu. Just a moment ago, it was Zu Beiqiu, who had been engrossed in painting, that had let out a frenzied roar. At this moment, his face was as red as a plum, rolling and crawling on the ground, desperately chasing the last ray of sunset in the grove. However, as the sun sank lower, this ray of afterglow quickly slipped towards the base of the ancestral garden's wall, ultimately dissipating into nothingness. Zu Beiqiu, disregarding everything, lunged forward and crashed into the wall, his entire body collapsing like a deflated balloon, weakly lying on the ground. However, as the sun sank lower, this ray of afterglow quickly slipped towards the base of the ancestral garden's wall, ultimately dissipating into nothingness. Zu Beiqiu, disregarding everything, lunged forward and crashed into the wall, his entire body collapsing like a deflated balloon, weakly lying on the ground

Zheng Dongting involuntarily took a few steps back, wanting to see clearly from a distance the ink wash painting created by Zu Beiqiu, which was characterized by its bold strokes. To his surprise, Zu Beiqiu approached the white wall, immediately crouched down, and began to carefully paint a small turtle resting on a green stone in a corner at the end of the white wall.

No, these are all prepared for my humble wife; we cannot partake. She detests dining at the same table as other foul men, " said Zu Beiqiu in a low voice.

What a sumptuous feast! Standing together with Zu Beiqiu in the grove of fallen blossoms, Zheng Dongting was completely awestruck by the luxurious banquet before him

"Hey, junior brother, what are you daydreaming about? Why are you chasing after the setting sun?" Zheng Dongting tossed aside the wolf hair brush in his hand and rushed forward to support Zu Beiqiu.

"Oh, it's simply touching, you truly are a sentimental fool..." Zheng Dongting rolled his eyes, "If one didn't know better, they might think you married the Kitchen God." He lifted his chin and pointed with his hand at the glaring white walls around them, "Why did you paint the walls white?"

Someone has tampered with the banquet I prepared for Qiutong!" Grandfather Bei Qiu shouted loudly

Ah—! Zubi Qiu cried out in despair once again

You have never seen Qiutong; if you had seen her, you would absolutely not have such a filthy thought. She is like a celestial being descended to the mortal realm

On this day, Ancestor Bei Qiu held a grand banquet in the Falling Petal Forest, inviting renowned chefs from the family to present all the popular dishes available in the market at the Tingyu Pavilion. Dishes such as green pepper beef, five-spice lamb, heartless pork, six-flavor colorful chicken soup, steamed purple deer lips, and ginger-cinnamon five-color sashimi filled the tables, while an array of pastries surrounded the main dishes like stars encircling the moon. Among the pastries, there were various types of pancakes including mantou pancakes, single-steamed golden milk pancakes, sugar-crisp pancakes, heron pancakes, fog-removing pancakes, cloud-happiness pancakes, honey cloud pancakes, pi suo pancakes, persimmon pancakes, and five-color pancakes. The desserts included crystal dragon and phoenix cake, purple dragon cake, green taro cake, golden millet cake, double ninth cake, jade grain cake, and honey golden fur cake. Even the staple foods were diverse: fragrant rice, yellow millet rice, sesame rice, chestnut porridge, black rice, round oil rice, pocket rice, clear breeze rice, Longhua rice, pine flower rice, and peach blossom rice dazzled the eyes. Even though it was not the Dragon Boat Festival, the lavish banquet featured the most beloved zongzi of the people of Yizhou, including the hundred-thread zongzi and nine-children zongzi.

"Are you saying that there are others... they all have specific titles?" Zu Beiqiu rubbed her eyes, exclaiming in shock, "Why? Why is this happening? Just because they have learned lightness skills, can they abandon everything? How can they commit such morally reprehensible acts as abandoning their husbands and children!"

"Oh? You already know? That's impressive, it only took ten years." Zheng Dongting widened his eyes, carefully staring at Zu Beiqiu's collar, and after a long while, he finally spotted the nearly invisible ink droplet.

Zu He tapped his hands, and immediately several young attendants gathered around him, respectfully placing the brush, ink, and inkstone by his side

"I... I can hardly imagine such a life..." Zu Beiqiu fell silent for a moment, and finally shook his head, "However, in order to find my wife, I will make an effort to learn."

"It's gone, it's gone, this day is already gone. Qiutong, Qiutong, where are you! Why don't you come back to see me? Why haven't you kept your promise?" Zu Beiqiu forcefully pushed away Zheng Dongting, who was trying to help him, and fell to the ground, pounding his chest with both hands, wailing in agony. Watching Zu Beiqiu's round figure kneeling on the ground, resembling a lovesick fool, Zheng Dongting initially found it quite amusing. However, upon hearing the sorrow in his words and recalling his own misfortunes, he felt an overwhelming sense of despair and could hardly bear it.

You... you clearly know that today is the day my wife and I are supposed to meet, yet you still come to cause trouble. Now that my wife has finally not returned, I have wasted ten years waiting, and what hope do I have for the future? I might as well be dead. You and your apprentice have nothing good to offer; you both wish for my misfortune to the point of death!" Zu Beiqiu raised his plump fists and charged at Zheng Dongting like a madman. "You and your apprentice have nothing good to offer; you both wish for my misfortune to the point of death!" Zu Beiqiu raised his plump fists and charged at Zheng Dongting like a madman.

Zheng Dongting glared at him fiercely, his face revealing a look of disappointment: "Listen, we are disciples of the Mutianghou. In the future, as we traverse the martial world together, no one will respect us! Precisely because of this, we must strive to prove ourselves and not let those self-important bastards look down on us. So no matter how much you don't want to hear it, I must say it!"

"No, no!" The desperate scream suddenly pierced his eardrum, instantly driving away all his drowsiness. He abruptly raised his head, and with a 'bang,' the back of his head collided with the pavilion column. He widened his eyes, trying to see what had happened, but a wolf hair brush had already fluttered through the air and landed on his face, leaving a large ink mark on his forehead.

"Indeed, it is all your fault, all of it is your fault!" Zu Bei Qiu roared.

"Uh, no, it's nothing." Zheng Dongting thought for a moment and decided not to discourage his eccentric junior disciple. After all, considering their ages, he was still four or five years younger than this thirty-year-old junior. It would be rather ridiculous to act superior due to age. "When are we having the feast? If we don't eat these dishes soon, they'll get cold!"

You are my junior, and I do not wish to deceive you. I have encountered such matters while traversing the martial world. Women who have mastered lightness skills, often enamored by the romantic and fleeting years of the martial realm, tend to abandon their husbands and immerse themselves in the world. Such women, having freed themselves from the constraints of mundane customs, become even more extravagant and unrestrained. In the martial world, there is a specific term for them, calling them living widows. Zheng Dongting looked at Zu Beiqiu with a somber expression, and in a low voice, he said that such women, having freed themselves from the constraints of mundane customs, become even more extravagant and unrestrained. In the martial world, there is a specific term for them, calling them living widows.

The Listening to the Rain Pavilion, where Zu Beiqiu resides, is located in the southern part of the Zu Garden. Adjacent to it is a grove of cherry trees in the Falling Petals Forest. The stream that winds around the garden converges here to form a pond, which is adorned with blooming lotus flowers, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene, making it a place that Luo Qiutong cherishes greatly

"Have you ever considered what other reasons there might be for your wife leaving you?" Zheng Dongting murmured to himself, tilting his head as he looked at Zu Beiqiu, who was huddled up, focused on painting.

Have you had enough of your madness! Zheng Dongting seized Zubeiqiu's fists and casually tossed his over 200-pound body away, cursing loudly, "Your wife will never come back, so you don't need to wait any longer!"

Do not speak to me about such nonsensical matters. Look at yourself; in order to serve your wife, you have developed an obsession with cleanliness, preparing grand meals that you dare not eat yourself. You draw a picture of longevity with a tortoise and a crane, yet there are many more tortoises than cranes. A fine man standing at six feet tall has made himself both miserable and pathetic. Do you think your wife will change her mind because of your pitiful appearance? She will only run further away. Women are like shadows; the more you chase them, the more elusive they become. If you do not pursue, they will come to you on their own. The Buddha said: to rest is to marry, to marry is to rest; to rest first is to marry first, to rest later is to marry later.

"You are talking nonsense. She likes me; we are mutually infatuated. What do you, a mere rogue, understand about such feelings!" Zu Beiqiu shouted loudly as he desperately brushed the crumbs of pastry off his face onto the ground

"Junior brother, listen to me, sister-in-law..." Zheng Dongting walked to Zu Beiqiu's side, attempting to persuade him

"You are right, it is my fault, I cannot keep Qiu Tong, I am not worthy of her!" Zu Bei Qiu collapsed on the ground, weeping bitterly, as if he no longer had the strength to stand up.

But I am concerned about her

Is it that important?" Zu Bei Qiu could not help but suppress her sorrowful voice and curiously raised her head

After a series of punches and kicks, Zheng Dongting felt some of the pent-up frustration in his chest dissipate, and his mind became clearer. He let out a long breath, crouched down, and helped Zubaiqiu to sit up.

"How could you possibly know that someone has tampered with your banquet? This banquet is no different from a few hours ago!" Zheng Dongting said angrily

I am drawing a turtle with my left hand and a crane with my right hand. My left hand is more agile, so I draw the turtle better than the crane, which is why I draw more turtles.