Noon, Ruyi Tower.
Lin Ji led Lu Cong to sit on the second floor by the window.
"Boss, the elbow here is really well-made." Lu Cong's mouth was full of oil.
"To eat the elbow, you should first taste the skin before the meat. How can you just gnaw on it like that?" Lin Ji was somewhat speechless. "I mean, as a demon catcher, can you at least save some face for us? You look like a starving ghost reincarnated."
"It's so satisfying to eat like this, and no one is making fun of us." Lu Cong said.
Lin Ji shook his head, too lazy to argue with this guy.
After the meal, Lu Cong held his stomach and leaned back on the chair lazily. "Boss, have you heard? Zhou Qian is getting married."
"Is that so?" Lin Ji was quite surprised.
A person who owned sixteen houses in the county, kept sixteen concubines, and frequented brothels all the time, suddenly getting married?
"I also met Zhou Qian this morning, and he told me himself," Lu Cong said. "It's the girl he brought out to dinner with us last time."
Lin Ji suddenly remembered that not long ago, on the night the fox demon case was closed, when the group of catchers gathered for a meal at this Ruyi Tower, Zhou Qian arrived the latest, bringing a girl with him.
"That girl looks pretty good, what's her background?"
"She's the one Zhou Qian redeemed from Minghua Tower, called Xiaomei."
Lin Ji figured Lu Cong probably only knew this much, so he didn't bother asking further. Anyway, Zhou Qian would definitely tell them about it later.
In the afternoon, Lin Ji was directing some servants from an unknown household in his own courtyard to build a wall.
Since the wealthy people in the county heard that the head of the Lin family's courtyard had collapsed, each family sent servants to help.
"Hey, the bricks are all crooked, what are you looking at!"
"The one on the right, if you can't reach it, bring a chair over. Will tiptoeing help?"
Lin Ji sat in the middle of the courtyard, giving orders confidently.
Just as he was enjoying himself, Zhou Qian arrived.
"Boss, here's the invitation. I'm getting married on the thirteenth of the fourth month, three days from now. Please grace us with your presence."
"You're really getting married? I just heard about it from Lu Cong, and now you're delivering the invitation." Lin Ji took the invitation.
The invitation was bordered with gold, and Lin Ji figured it must be real gold.
The Zhou family had nothing but a lot of money. Zhou Qian was indeed a spendthrift.
"Yes, Xiaomei and I have a deep connection after all these years, she's the only one I truly love." Zhou Qian had a sweet expression on his face.
Lin Ji narrowed his eyes slightly.
He knew this kid's character very well, and he had seen Xiaomei before. Although she was indeed beautiful, she shouldn't have captivated Zhou Qian so deeply.
Lin Ji secretly activated his spiritual eye and observed Zhou Qian.
"Huh? Full of spiritual energy?"
Lin Ji was stunned, and looked again.
"Spiritual energy overflowing, is he about to break through? Ah?"
This situation completely caught Lin Ji off guard. He thought it might be some kind of enchantment or charm, as such things were not uncommon.
But Zhou Qian's current situation was completely unrelated to being enchanted.
Not only that, Zhou Qian's cultivation talent was not considered good, barely reaching the entry level, and he had been stuck at the Body Tempering Realm for years.
And now, he was suddenly about to enter the second realm and start cultivating his qi.
Truly strange.
Lin Ji couldn't make sense of it either. He put away the invitation and said with a smile, "Alright, I will definitely attend."
"Great." Zhou Qian left with a smile.
Seeing that there was nothing wrong with him, Lin Ji, although finding the situation strange, didn't dwell on it.
Perhaps the man had truly found his true love.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the thirteenth of the fourth month.
The town of Qingyang was bustling with excitement.
The young master of the Zhou family was getting married, so naturally, they had to prepare well.
Starting early in the morning, every servant of the Zhou family carried a basket, each filled with sealed red envelopes.
Each envelope was not large, just a couple of silver coins.
But the servants of the Zhou family gave them out to everyone they saw, regardless of whether they had received one before. As long as you asked for it, they would give it to you.
This highlighted their wealth.
The main street of the county was decorated with lights and lanterns, with every household hanging new red lanterns.
Lin Ji led the demon catchers from the yamen towards the Zhou residence, marveling as they walked.
"I've really broadened my horizons. I knew the Zhou family was wealthy, but I didn't expect them to be this rich," Lin Ji sighed. "I heard that they gave lanterns to every household, and as long as you hung them up, they would pay you."
"If I had that much money, I would buy Ruyi Tower and live there every day," Lu Cong joked.
Guo Yi pondered, "Perhaps the Zhou family has big business elsewhere, otherwise, just in Qingyang County alone, it wouldn't be enough to support such extravagance."
"Extravagant and luxurious," Ling Yin sneered.
Arriving at the Zhou residence, Zhou Qian, wearing a large red flower on his chest, greeted them joyfully.
"Captain Lin, my father has been waiting for you for a long time. Please come inside."
"Colleagues, please come inside as well."
Lu Cong and the others were led into the Zhou residence by the servants, while Lin Ji stopped in his tracks, curious. "Zhou Qian, your father didn't scold you for marrying a brothel girl?"
Although the timing of his question was a bit inappropriate, Lin Ji and Zhou Qian had a good relationship, so Zhou Qian wasn't angry.
He looked around discreetly, then lowered his voice. "Why isn't he angry? My father almost had a stroke before, but I was thinking, if he had passed away, this vast family fortune would be mine."
Lin Ji gave him a thumbs up. "You really have your ways."
The wedding banquet was a joyous occasion, with everyone enjoying themselves except for Zhou's father, who kept a stern face.
Until late at night, when Lu Cong led the catchers from the yamen to play pranks in the bridal chamber, Lin Ji didn't join in, but watched from a distance.
"Spiritual eye, activate."
Secretly activating his spiritual eye, Lin Ji focused all his attention on the woman beside Zhou Qian.
"She has cultivation, but only at the second realm," Lin Ji narrowed his eyes.
Having experienced the possession incident before, he also checked her soul.
"Soul and body are integrated, naturally formed, not a possession."
Lin Ji furrowed his brow slightly.
"Why would a second realm cultivator pretend to be a brothel girl to get close to Zhou Qian? Is it for money?"
Lin Ji shook his head with a wry smile.
Although a second realm cultivator wasn't powerful, they wouldn't degrade themselves like this.
Seeing Zhou Qian enjoying himself, Lin Ji didn't disturb him. After a brief greeting, he quietly left the Zhou residence.
But just as Lin Ji was leaving.
In the bridal chamber, the bride, with her red veil covering her face, tugged at Zhou Qian's sleeve, her voice barely audible.
"Sir, Captain Lin seems to have figured it out."
Zhou Qian was still dealing with his friends' pranks in the bridal chamber. He paused at her words, but remained composed, just holding the bride's hand.
When the revelry subsided and only the newlyweds were left in the room.
Zhou Qian gently lifted the bride's veil.
"Xiaomei."
"Sir, Captain Lin is a third realm cultivator. Under his spiritual eye, you can't hide anything," Zhou Qian said with a light smile. "No need to worry. If he asks, just tell the truth. It's nothing shameful."
After some hesitation, Xiaomei nodded gently.
"I'll follow your lead."
(End of Chapter)