Led by Old Master Lu, Zhang Jingqing, Gojo, and Zhang Zhiwei entered the Lu Family estate.
"Brother Lu, have you been busy lately?"
Zhang Jingqing asked with a smile as they walked.
"To be honest, not too busy these past few days," Old Master Lu replied with a chuckle. "But once the banquet starts tomorrow, I'll probably be run off my feet."
"Haha, you say you're busy—but at your age, who would dare make you work?" Zhang Jingqing teased.
Then he turned to Gojo and Zhang Zhiwei.
"I'll have a chat with Brother Lu. You two go take a look around—but don't stay out too late."
With a wave of his hand, he sent them off.
"Yes!"
Gojo and Zhang Zhiwei bowed with smiles and quickly left.
—
To host this grand birthday banquet, the Lu Family had reserved three entire streets and even a stretch of river.
Naturally, there was no shortage of entertainment.
Sugar figurines, blown sugar art, shadow puppetry, lion dances, opera performances, face-changing acts—everything imaginable was present.
And not just on land—
Several decorated boats were docked along the riverbank, each hosting performances similar to those on the streets.
Before long, Gojo and Zhang Zhiwei arrived at the bustling marketplace.
Gojo's gaze swept across the stalls before stopping at a sugar painting stand.
"Senior Brother, want a sugar figurine?"
He asked while reaching into his pocket for silver dollars.
During their journey down the mountain, they had wiped out quite a few bandits.
Most of the spoils had been donated by Zhang Jingqing to the poor—
But a small portion had been left to them.
So now, both of them had a fair amount of spending money.
As for sugar figurines—
Gojo had never tried one before, neither in his past life nor after transmigrating.
Since he had rarely left Longhu Mountain, this was a rare chance to relax.
"Sure, let's take a look."
Zhang Zhiwei nodded, and the two walked over.
After confirming the price, Gojo said,
"Old sir, we'd like two sugar figurines."
"Of course, Daoist sirs—what would you like me to make?"
The vendor asked cheerfully.
Gojo thought for a moment.
With his Thunder Arts nearing a breakthrough, he smiled and said,
"…I'll have Sun Wukong."
Zhang Zhiwei rubbed his chin, thinking as well, before grinning.
"If Junior Brother wants Sun Wukong, then… I'll take Zhu Bajie."
"Coming right up!"
The vendor responded energetically, scooping up molten sugar and skillfully pouring it onto a slab, shaping it into intricate lines.
"Heh, Senior Brother Zhiwei—why Zhu Bajie?"
Gojo turned and grinned.
"Thinking of becoming my junior brother?"
"Hm?"
Zhang Zhiwei froze for a moment—then burst into laughter, slinging an arm over Gojo's shoulder.
"If you're so eager to be my senior brother, how about we head to the woods right now for a match?"
"If you win, you can be the senior brother."
He gave Gojo a look as if offering him a huge advantage.
"Well?"
"Heh, Senior Brother, we already agreed—we'll spar after we return to Longhu Mountain."
Gojo shook his head repeatedly.
"By then… maybe you really will be my junior brother~"
No way was he fighting now.
He wasn't Zhang Zhiwei's match—yet.
But after returning?
That would be a different story.
"You brat…"
Zhang Zhiwei laughed and playfully shoved him.
—
"Hey! What kind of Sun Wukong is that supposed to be?"
A voice suddenly interrupted them.
Both Gojo and Zhang Zhiwei turned to look.
The speaker was a chubby boy wearing a red vest, his neatly parted hair framing his face.
He held a skewer of candied hawthorn in his hand.
At a glance, he clearly came from a wealthy family.
"And who's this?"
Zhang Zhiwei narrowed his eyes slightly.
He didn't recognize the boy—
But Gojo did.
Though his current appearance was quite different from the future—
Gojo still recognized him immediately.
Wang Ai.
One of the future Ten Elders.
"Looks simple and honest now… who would've thought he'd grow into such a scheming old fox?"
Before Gojo could dwell on it further, another voice sounded.
"Fatty Wang, what are you doing here?"
A handsome young man with white hair and a red vest walked over.
Gojo recognized him instantly as well—
Lu Jin, the man later known as "Flawless."
"I'm just saying—his Sun Wukong doesn't look right!"
Wang Ai pointed at the sugar figurine as he spoke.
"That's something the Daoists bought. If they didn't complain, why are you?"
Lu Jin shot him a look, then quickly apologized to the vendor—and to Gojo and Zhang Zhiwei.
"I am Lu Jin of the San Yi Sect. May I ask who you two are?"
His gaze lingered on them with curiosity.
"Tianshi Mansion—Zhang Zhiwei!"
"Tianshi Mansion—Gojo!"
The two returned the greeting with cupped fists.
"So you're disciples of Tianshi Mansion!"
Lu Jin's eyes lit up.
"Has the Celestial Master arrived?"
"Master is currently speaking with Old Master Lu," Gojo replied.
"I—I'm Wang Ai of the Wang Family!"
The chubby boy hurried over, still clutching his candied hawthorn, and awkwardly returned the greeting.
"Mm."
Gojo and Zhang Zhiwei nodded in acknowledgment.
"Hey! That—what's that over there?!"
Suddenly, Wang Ai seemed to spot something interesting and ran off excitedly, still holding his snack.
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