I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 227: Chapter 93: Spring Outing (Part 2)

In Huaiyin Prefecture, the Zheng Family’s power was second only to that of the Great Yu Court, and the two were tied together by a thousand intricate threads.

For example, nearly half of the Jade Seal Divine Hunters, Golden Seal Renowned Hunters, and Silver Seal Chief Constables within the Divine Capture Bureau were members of the Zheng Family.

Nanshan Garden, located on Nanshan outside the city, was a garden—but it was no ordinary garden.

There was a children’s rhyme about Nanshan Garden: ’South of Nanshan, Nanshan Garden; Nanshan Garden, vast beyond measure; Ten days to see it, and still see no end; The Emperor sighed, the Immortal praised...’

That’s right! An Emperor of Great Yu had once visited this very garden during a southern tour. And this Nanshan Garden belonged to the Zheng Family.

—This showed that the Zheng Family was at the very height of its power and glory, flourishing in extravagance.

’The nursery rhyme mentions an Emperor and an Immortal. The Emperor makes sense, but the Immortal... Could that be a powerful Spirit Master?’

Fang Rui wondered to himself.

Just then, from the carriage behind them, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family heard the commotion and poked her head out to ask, ”Brother Rui, is everything alright?”

”It’s nothing,” Fang Rui replied. ”The Zheng Family is leaving the city up ahead, so they’ve blocked the gate. We’ll just have to wait a moment. It won’t take long.”

”The Zheng Family? Hmm, we’re in no hurry.”

The Zheng Family’s reputation was known to all in Huaiyin Prefecture; even Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, who rarely left the Fang Mansion, had heard of them.

It was just a minor incident.

A short while later, after the Zheng Family had departed, the gate was unblocked. The Fang Family’s carriages were among the first to pass through and exit the city.

Once outside the city, the procession headed straight for Mochou Lake. The rest of the journey was uneventful.

...

They arrived at Mochou Lake.

It was a beautiful, sunny day, and a few wealthy families had already come out for a spring excursion. However, families with such a leisurely spirit—or rather, the spare time and money—were still relatively few.

Besides, it was still early spring, with a slight chill in the air, so all in all, there weren’t too many visitors.

Even so, Fang Rui didn’t follow the crowd. Instead of settling in the more populated areas, he chose a relatively secluded, open clearing where he often went fishing.

”Alright, let’s set up here,” Fang Rui instructed. ”Qing Yun, Bai Shao, take the young maids and get things ready.”

Indeed, this time he had not only brought his two head maids, Qing Yun and Bai Shao, but also six young maids.

He had brought half of his twelve young maids—a group named after themes like the seasons, weather, and noble flowers—leaving the other half to watch the mansion.

—Originally, two of those young maids had been assigned to Liu Pan’Er. However, because Fang Rui was accustomed to them, Third Lady had transferred them back, choosing two new maids from the Four Seas Building to take their place.

Once everything was set up, they began to enjoy the outing.

「At that moment.」

The sky was a deep azure, hinting at rain. A few clouds like wisps of cotton candy drifted across the expanse, creating a scene straight out of a picture book.

Gentle sunlight enveloped the land. The grass was lush, the lake was placid, the sky was clear, and the water and heavens blended into a single hue.

The shimmering lake on this spring day was intoxicating.

Taking a deep breath in such surroundings made one’s heart feel open and expansive.

”COO COO!”

Fang Rui often came here to fish, so the White-headed Gull was quite familiar with him. Unafraid of Fang Rui’s party, it flew down, landed, and took a few quick little steps as it stretched its wings.

”Wow, Little White, come here! Come here! Do you remember me?”

”Let me pet you!”

Fang Ling and Nannan went to pet it, and the White-headed Gull didn’t shy away. Instead, it extended a wing and patted their heads as if they were its own fledglings.

This made the two little girls giggle.

A moment later, the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, were bouncing around again like birds freed from a cage, frolicking and running all over the lush green grass.

When he looked over again, they were already flying kites, led by the two head maids, Qing Yun and Bai Shao, and surrounded by a cluster of young maids.

They were the very picture of liveliness and boundless energy.

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady sat by the lake as Fang Rui taught them how to fish, their faces lit up with lighthearted joy. Beside them, a blanket was spread with all sorts of snacks and fruit.

「Mid-morning.」

”SKREEE!”

Ge Changgeng arrived with the Child, riding on the backs of a large and a small white crane. Wreathed in Spiritual Light, they descended from the sky and drifted down to a gentle landing.

Such an extraordinary entrance immediately drew gasps of astonishment from all the maids.

”How incredible!”

”Just like the Immortals from the storybooks!”

”Hey, look! That Daoist is coming over! It looks like he knows our master!”

...

Bouncing with excitement, the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, were the first to run up to him.

”Wow, Daoist Grandpa, did you come here by riding a crane?” Fang Ling asked, poking her head forward curiously.

But linking the common verb ”to ride” with a majestic crane made one subconsciously think of riding a cow, a donkey, or even a goose. It had a strangely comical effect that instantly shattered the grand, otherworldly atmosphere.

”Ah, it’s young lady Ling’Er!”

The hand Ge Changgeng was using to stroke his long, white beard trembled slightly. He corrected her with great seriousness, ”We are not ’riding’ the cranes, we are ’journeying’ on them!”

”Daoist Grandpa, can I pet it?” Nannan asked in a tiny voice.

”Nannan, be polite!”

Third Lady quickly pulled Nannan back.

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family was also chiding Fang Ling, ”Show some respect.”

”It’s quite all right.”

But Ge Changgeng shook his head, stroking his beard, and actually commanded the large white crane to allow Nannan to pet it.

”You can pet mine, too,” said the Qing Yan Little Child beside him, putting an arm around his own small crane’s neck and leading it over to Fang Ling.

’For a white crane to be able to carry a person, even with the aid of Daoist Ge’s Light Body Technique, it must be an Exotic Beast.’

Watching the two little girls’ delighted expressions, Fang Rui felt a stir of envy. ’One of these days, I’ll have to get a Flying Exotic Beast and tame it for myself.’