Under One Person: Starting with the Dual Cultivation of Body and Soul.

Chapter 71 The Day of the Banquet

The apprenticeship process mainly involves the traditional three bows and six rites, which is not complicated, but can only be described as somewhat tedious.

Li Chang'an possessed a photographic memory; after only one pass with the protocol officer, he memorized all the details.

After familiarizing himself with the procedures, Xiao Xiao, the king of awkward silences on stage, was booed off the stage.

He sat in a corner below the stage, surrounded by Lu Linglong and a few others.

"Xiao Xiao, Hua'er, Xiao Bai, and I have been trying our best to liven things up for you, but everyone else is keeping a straight face while we're the only ones laughing like idiots."

Lu Linglong complained angrily, "Just now, I overheard my grandfather telling my father to pay more attention to me, saying that after studying in the capital for a few years, I'm not as smart as before, and I'm just standing there grinning like an idiot."

"Xiao Xiao, you made me look bad in front of my family. You have to pay me for emotional distress."

Zhi Jinhua pushed up her glasses and added, "That's right. My abs are sore from laughing so much to match you. When we get back to the capital, you'll have to treat us to a big meal as compensation."

"Alright, alright, I'll treat you to Peking duck at Quanjude when we get back!" Xiao Xiao said helplessly.

"Hmm...that's more like it."

Lu Linglong nodded in satisfaction and then said:

"By the way, Teacher Yu originally planned to have you go on stage as the straight man, but your previous performance was really too bad, so Teacher Yu has decided that you should stay in the audience."

Xiao Xiao looked miserable and muttered, "Linglong, Hua'er, my talent for crosstalk is not a problem, I just need to find suitable material."

"Even if I'm not very good at it now, I'm still the most handsome crosstalk performer, and the best crosstalk performer among handsome men."

"You should discover more of my strengths. In addition, I will definitely follow my master to study hard and strive to excel in both arts and sports."

"You've excelled in both literature and sports, you should just focus on practicing your Qi cultivation!" Bai Shixue said, mimicking Xiao Xiao's accent.

Lu Jin ignored the antics of Lu Linglong's inner circle.

He took Li Chang'an to the person in charge of arranging the program, went through the program list, and finalized the performance order for tomorrow.

Lu Jin then told him to go back.

He understood Li Chang'an's personality and knew that he wasn't very good at interpersonal relationships, so he didn't plan to assign him too many tasks.

Li Chang'an returned to the courtyard, entered a meditative state, and awaited the arrival of the next day.

……

……

The next morning, Li Chang'an opened his eyes on time, ending his cultivation.

He pushed open the door and came to Lu Jin's courtyard, only to find it empty.

I asked a member of the Lu family who was passing by, and that's how I learned that Lu Jin was in the Sanyi Ancestral Hall in the backyard.

The Sanyi Ancestral Hall is not large, and it contains several rows of memorial tablets.

Lu Jin stood in front of the memorial tablet, still wearing yesterday's suit, clearly having stood there all night.

Hearing footsteps, Lu Jin turned around, her face showing no signs of fatigue, only a smile:

"Let's go, Chang'an."

Li Chang'an nodded without saying anything more, and followed Lu Jin to the front yard of the Lu family.

Although it was still early morning, many early-arriving people had already gathered in the courtyard.

Lu Jin walked to the courtyard gate, faced the crowd, clasped his hands in greeting, and said a few polite words.

The people in the courtyard all returned the greeting respectfully.

Li Chang'an immediately recognized his grandfather in the courtyard.

Li Shaoyun stood in the crowd, surrounded by a group of Li family members.

On such an occasion, the Li family naturally couldn't be absent, and they arrived early.

Li Chang'an walked over and greeted them.

He was still dressed in white today, his white hair tied back, standing there, exuding an aura of being untouched by worldly affairs.

The Li family members looked at him and were all stunned for a moment, all of them very surprised.

It's only been a short time since I last saw him, but how come the aura around my son has undergone such a dramatic change?

Not only the Li family members, but also other extraordinary people around them looked over, and various exclamations of praise could be heard.

Li Shaoyun cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to those around him, then patted Li Chang'an on the shoulder and said:

"Go with Grandpa, don't worry about us."

He was a man of discretion. In this situation, the Li family were guests, and Li Chang'an was practically a host.

The distinction between host and guest must be clearly made.

Li Chang'an nodded and turned back to Lu Jin's side.

Lu Jin was looking at the platform in the middle of the courtyard.

A portrait hangs on the table.

The painting depicts a young man in white robes, with a handsome face, gentle features, and a faint smile on his lips, exuding an otherworldly and refined air.

This is a portrait of Zuo Ruotong, the Immortal of Daying.

There was an incense burner in front of the portrait, but the incense inside had not yet been lit. This was in preparation for the apprenticeship ceremony.

This kind of ceremony should ideally be held at the site of Trinity.

But the place has been abandoned for many years, and it would be too much trouble to clean it up.

Moreover, it's inconvenient for people in the industry to go there.

That's why Lu Jin chose the Lu family compound as the location.

Lu Jin looked at her master's portrait, then glanced at Li Chang'an beside her.

The same white clothes, the same white hair.

One is in the painting, the other is outside the painting.

He seemed somewhat lost in thought.

At this moment, Lu Lin's father walked over quickly and whispered in Lu Jin's ear:

"Grandpa, the newly promoted Ten Elders, Na Ruhu, has arrived."

Upon hearing this, Lu Jin was somewhat surprised. There is an unwritten rule in the industry that the older and more senior one is, the more likely one is to make a grand entrance last.

When it came to the old master Lu's birthday celebration, the last two people to arrive were the Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing and the Great Ying Immortal Zuo Ruotong.

Na Ruhu is a newly promoted member of the "Ten Elders," a big shot in Beijing's elite circles. People of this caliber usually don't arrive early.

The gentlemen of Beijing are very concerned about their image and do things in a way that is both respectable and dignified. Only by being the last to act can they show their status.

But now, he actually arrived very early in the morning, which is quite a show of respect for the senior, Lu Jin.

Since they were being so kind, Lu Jin naturally couldn't be negligent. He immediately took Li Chang'an and Lu Lin to the door to greet Ru Hu.

The tiger was tall and imposing, with thick, dark eyebrows. Standing there, he exuded the aura of a fierce general.

Upon seeing Lu Jin, he strode forward, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting:

"Mr. Lu, congratulations!"

"Xiao Na, it's been a long time."

Lu Jin smiled and patted the tiger-like shoulder, looking him up and down:

"Look at your imposing figure, with a dragon's waist, bear's shoulders, and tiger's head. Your cultivation has improved again, hasn't it?"

Na Ruhu laughed and said, "I'm embarrassed by what you said, Elder Lu. My skills are far from being on par with yours."

"Don't be modest. Everyone in the industry gives you a thumbs up for your skills. We old bones are getting worse every day. In the future, we'll have to rely on young people like you to hold up the scene."

"It's all thanks to the seniors for being so kind; we all know what's going on," Na Ruhu said with a hearty laugh.

While the two were exchanging pleasantries, Li Chang'an took a look at the tiger-like neck. Hmm... it was indeed very thick; one hand certainly couldn't wrap it around.

Chapter 72 Four Families Gather

After a round of mutual flattery, the tiger-like gaze naturally fell on Li Chang'an.

In fact, from the moment Li Chang'an appeared, Na Ruhu had already noticed him.

Even while exchanging pleasantries with Lu Jin, he was secretly observing Li Chang'an out of the corner of his eye.

There was no way around it; Li Chang'an's appearance was simply too stunning.

The last time he was amazed was by Zhang Lingyu, the disciple of the Celestial Master.

However, compared to the person before him, Zhang Lingyu's aloofness still lacked a certain ethereal, otherworldly quality.

However, as one of the Ten Elders, his sharp eye was still quite keen.

He could tell at a glance that Li Chang'an was not in an ordinary state, but rather looked more like Lu Jin after he activated his rebirth.

Why does this kid always maintain a reverse-life state when receiving guests?

He was somewhat puzzled, but didn't ask, and smiled:

"This must be Elder Lu's outstanding disciple. He is indeed extraordinary. I have seen many talented young people over the years, but those with this kind of demeanor are few and far between."

Li Chang'an clasped his hands and said, "You're too kind, senior."

"Senior, it's been a long time." Lu Lin also clasped her hands in greeting.

Ru Hu looked Lu Lin up and down and laughed:

"It must be Lu Lin! It's been a while since I last saw you. You've grown taller and more energetic. Back in the day, when I visited the Lu family with my master, I even held you in my arms."

“Senior, I also remember Teacher Chai. Did Teacher Chai not come this time?” Lu Lin asked.

“Master will probably come, but he won’t be coming with me,” Na Ruhu said with a smile.

After exchanging a few polite words, Lu Jin led the guests to the Lu family compound and seated them. Tea was served, and they chatted while drinking.

During the conversation, someone came to report that the head of the Gao family had arrived.

"You must be Gao Lian, the head of the company's Northeast region," Na Ruhu said with a smile.

"Xiao Na, do you know Xiao Gao?" Lu Jin asked.

“I’ve had dealings with her before. I occasionally have some contact with my great-aunt, and I’ve also met this person a few times.”

Na Ruhu tactfully stood up: "Old Lu, since we have distinguished guests, you should go and get back to work."

Excuse me.

Lu Jin got up to greet the head of the Gao family.

Li Chang'an and Lu Lin followed closely behind.

As soon as they reached the gate of the compound, they saw a tall man with a buzz cut, round-framed glasses, and a thick beard standing in front of them. He was talking to Lu Linglong's father.

Upon seeing Lu Jin, he quickly clasped his hands in a respectful greeting:

"Mr. Lu! It's been a long time! You're still as healthy as ever!"

"Xiao Lian, you must have had a long journey. You came all the way from the Northeast. Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

“It’s about Master Lu, so I have to come no matter how far away it is.” Gao Lian said with a smile. “Before I came, my aunt specifically told me to give Master Lu my regards. She has difficulty walking, otherwise she would definitely have come in person.”

"I understand, I understand!" Lu Jin nodded with a smile.

The "aunt" mentioned by Ru Hu and the "aunt" mentioned by Gao Lian are the same person: Guan Shihua, a sorceress from Northeast China.

Because of her past affair with Wang Ai, and the reason for the summoning of spirits and generals, Guan Shihua had not entered the pass for a long time.

Lu Jin is hosting a banquet this time, and the Wang family, being one of the four families, is a must-attend. Naturally, she wouldn't come here to make a fool of herself.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Gao Lian's gaze naturally fell on Li Chang'an:

"Master Lu, this must be your outstanding student. He is indeed a man of exceptional talent and bearing. Just standing there, he outshines all the other young people in the courtyard."

Li Chang'an nodded to Gao Lian and said, "You flatter me, senior."