The dinner at Liping's official residence was just a formality for Ji Yuan and Zuo Wuji, mainly because they had something on their minds. Although they were polite, that was all. Liping tried to ask something indirectly several times at the dinner, but Zuo Wuji was so sleepy and dazed that he naturally didn't respond.
However, Li Ping did not think that this reaction was rude. Instead, he felt that it was indeed the attitude of a master. He also heard from Li Feng that the Martial Saint was still a little uncomfortable with the language here. On the contrary, Li Feng noticed that Zuo Wuji was a little abnormal, and Ji Yuan just drank and ate the whole time, and signaled not to let Li Feng talk to him, acting as a qualified foil.
As soon as the banquet was over, Zuo Wuji returned to his room and fell asleep. This time he really fell into a coma and did not wake up even when there was thunder for a whole month. He would only wake up in response to stress if there was danger approaching.
During Zuo Wuji's coma, he was recovering his spirit in the first half, and occasionally had dreams in the second half. These dreams were mainly about discussing martial arts with Ji Yuan and Zhu Yan. Even the true energy in his body would react to varying degrees and move around.
During this month, servants in the official residence often came to see Zuo Wuji, and even Li Ping came in person occasionally, but the great hero Zuo had been in "seclusion".
But even so, Li Feng still ran to this yard every day, stayed beside Ji Yuan, watched Ji Yuan write and talked to Ji Yuan, just like today.
"Mr. Ji, why do you write the same words every day? Why do you erase them over and over again?"
Li Feng sat at the table, holding his chin and watching Ji Yuan writing the "Sword Intent Letter" with ink again. The small characters on it had been silent during this period, just like Li Feng, as they were all in a state of retreat and recovery.
"These words will eat ink, just like you need to eat to grow."
"Oh, so does a good ink stick mean a better meal?"
Ji Yuan glanced at Li Feng and nodded with a smile.
"This young man is teachable!"
Li Feng also smiled and turned to look at Zuo Wuji's house opposite, the door was still closed.
"Mr. Ji, when will Hero Zuo come out of seclusion? I just taught him the previous stance once, and my father has asked me several times. It seems that the emperor wants to invite Hero Zuo to the palace."
Ji Yuan finished painting the last word on the "Sword Intent Letter" with ink, then put the "Sword Intent Letter" into his sleeve and looked up at Zuo Wuji's house.
"I woke up right away."
Not long after the words fell, Zuo Wuji in the opposite room opened his eyes. He lay on the bed and took deep breaths for a long time. He was still a little dazed and kept recalling things in his dream. After a while, he sat up and stretched his hands.
"Kala la la..."
There was a crisp sound in his bones and Zuo Wuji stood up from the bed. He had been sleeping with his clothes on a month ago, so he didn't need to put on any clothes now.
"Huh... I don't know how long I slept, but I finally feel like I've recovered a bit."
Zuo Wuji waved his fists left and right, causing gusts of wind, and then opened the door in front of him.
"Master Zuo, are you out of seclusion?"
Li Feng excitedly ran out of Ji Yuan's room and rushed to Zuo Wuji. The latter walked out of the room and stretched again, breathing in the fresh air. He felt as relaxed as if he had unloaded a huge burden.
"Yeah, I'm out!"
As he spoke, Zuo Wuji bowed to Ji Yuan who was standing opposite him, while the latter looked at Zuo Wuji with wide eyes.
Whether it is the magic power of immortals or the demon power of demon cultivators, when they reach a certain higher realm, there is only true spirit in the breath and laws. The flow of magic power is extremely close to oneself, and it is even another level of limbs and vitality. The inner spiritual breath can be called the breath of true essence.
Therefore, according to some legends in ancient times, sometimes people use true essence to refer to the pure and profound magical power, or simply refer to the magical power of masters.
However, Zuo Wuji's true Qi and Wusha Yuan Gang had already merged together, and on this basis, he truly connected the inner and outer world. Although he was not like immortal cultivators who could draw on the power of heaven and earth for their own use, his every martial arts move was in harmony with heaven and earth. In Ji Yuan's view, this could also be called the true essence of martial arts.
At this moment, Ji Yuan could clearly feel that Zuo Wuji's true energy was moving or staying in various acupoints in his body in a regular pattern. Some acupoint locations should cause considerable pain, but just looking at the way Zuo Wuji was chatting and laughing with the excited Li Feng, he did not seem to feel any discomfort at all.
This is not to say that Zuo Wuji could not feel the pain, but that with his amazing perseverance and endurance, he suppressed all the pain deep in his mind and did not show it.
In Ji Yuan's fully opened Dharma Eye, the acupoints all over Zuo Wuji's body were like stars in the sky, flashing and connecting according to the order of the impact of his true energy, forming various constellation-like patterns. Under this circumstance, the Qi and blood in his body sometimes flowed like a ferocious beast.
Zuo Wuji is now at the forefront of martial arts. Even Ji Yuan and Zhu Yan are just giving instructions from the side. So even though Zuo Wuji has clearly seen the direction at this moment, there is only a goal but no road ahead. He needs to cut through the thorns and brambles on his own.
This process will certainly not be easy and will be accompanied by all kinds of setbacks. For example, Zuo Wuji’s current way of practice is filled with so much pain and confusion that he, as a pioneer, needs to try it out before he can point out the correct path for those who come after him.
"Master Zuo, my father told me to tell you that the emperor has ordered you to enter the palace."
Li Feng talked with Zuo Wuji for a long time about what happened in the past month, and also told him that he had not slacked off in his basic practice. After a while, he remembered that there seemed to be another important matter that his father had entrusted to him, so he told him the will of Emperor Xia Yong.
Zuo Wuji found it somewhat funny after hearing it.
"I am not a citizen of Xia Yong, and I have not violated the laws of the king here. Why should I go to the palace to see the emperor when he summons me?"
Li Feng immediately felt that it made a lot of sense.
"That's what I mean. It's not like the Emperor Dazhen summoned me."
Zuo Wuji added with a slightly embarrassed look on his face.
"Even if Emperor Dazhen summons me, I may not go."
Li Feng's expression changed immediately.
"That's what I mean. Why should I go when the emperor summons me?"
Ji Yuan laughed out loud when seeing this scene. It was really funny to see these two people together. As he was laughing, Li Ping came hurriedly to the courtyard gate.
There were servants guarding outside the courtyard, and everyone knew that Zuo Wuji had awakened. Naturally, someone hurried to inform Li Ping. The latter happened to be in the official residence, so he naturally dropped what he was doing and rushed over.
"Congratulations, Master Zuo, for coming out of confinement!"
Li Ping approached while bowing, with a sincere expression on his face. Zuo Wuji also bowed in return, saying "Master Li, you're welcome".
"Uh, Feng'er, have you told Hero Zuo?"
Li Ping looked at Li Feng on the side, and the latter's expression immediately changed and he answered very obediently.
"I said, Dad, I just said..."
Li Ping nodded and walked closer to Zuo Wuji while maintaining a bow.
"Master Zuo, you are now famous all over the world. His Majesty heard from Master Tang that you were in my house, so he summoned me to inquire about this matter. Li Ping did not dare to hide it. His Majesty was very happy to know that the Martial Saint was here, so he issued an order hoping that the Martial Saint could come to the palace. Don't worry, it's not to recruit you as an official, but..."
Li Ping told him everything he had prepared in his mind. It was simply all kinds of benefits that the Xia Yong Dynasty gave to Zuo Wuji. Not only did they give him money and food, they also gave him land and people. They were even willing to help him open a martial arts arena in some famous mountain or city. In short, it was all kinds of benefits.
Zuo Wuji nodded.
"I hope Lord Li will tell the emperor of your dynasty that I am very honored by his appreciation, but I am just a rough man in the martial arts world and cannot be accepted in a high-class hall, so I will not bother him in the Golden Palace."
Li Ping was about to say something when Zuo Wuji raised his hand and continued speaking.
"Also, Mr. Li Feng is very much my type. I hope to bring him to practice martial arts with me. What do you think, Lord Li?"
Although Li Feng wanted to take Ji Yuan as his master, he and Zuo Wuji were master and disciple in reality, not in name only. Zuo Wuji had made up his mind.
Li Feng on the side showed joy on his face, but he was trying hard not to laugh out loud. He could already imagine all kinds of fun and novel things. The key was to be able to get rid of all the people and things he hated.
"Uh, I wonder where Master Wusheng is taking Feng'er?"
Zuo Wuji told the truth.
"I don't have a fixed goal. I just practice martial arts and go wherever is suitable. Maybe I will travel all over the world."
Li Ping was stunned for a moment, and asked again after a few breaths.
"Master Zuo, how many disciples do you have?"
"Not one yet."
Hearing Zuo Wuji say this, Li Ping was both happy and hesitant. Looking at Li Feng's expectant eyes, he finally gritted his teeth and nodded.
"Master Wusheng likes Feng'er and wants him to follow him around the world to learn martial arts. This is a blessing for Feng'er and our Li family. How can Li Ping not agree?"
"Great! Great! I can go out and play!"
Li Feng jumped for joy, while Li Ping was both happy and sad. He was sad that Li Feng had to leave home at a young age, and he was also worried about how to explain to the emperor. On the contrary, it would be easier to explain to the Immortal Master Tang, because the emperor had also hoped that Li Feng could worship the Martial Saint as his teacher. It could be said that he had to obey the emperor's order.
…
In the afternoon, in the imperial study of the Xiayong Palace, Li Ping, who entered the palace alone, and several ministers and immortal masters stood in front of the imperial desk.
"What? Zuo Wuji refused to come to see me? Didn't you make it clear?"
Emperor Xia Yong looked ruddy and in his prime. When he heard that Zuo Wuji refused to enter the palace, he immediately showed dissatisfaction.
"Well, Your Majesty, I have said everything I could, but Zuo Wusheng's reaction was indifferent. It is obvious that he is not interested in these material things at all."
The emperor frowned and looked at the old monk Mo Yun beside him.
"National Master, do you have any good ideas?"
Old Monk Mo Yun also frowned.
"Your Majesty, Zuo Wusheng is a warrior after all, and he does not want to restrict himself."
"I have no intention of restricting him. If he meets me and thanks me, he will get everything he wants!"
The immortal master on the side shook his head slightly and spoke directly.
"Your Majesty, everything you said is obviously not what Zuo Wusheng wants."
"And what does he want?"
After the emperor asked this question, no one spoke. The immortal masters did not seem to want to discuss such extraordinary topics with the emperor. Even the old monk Mo Yun just chanted Buddhist names in a low voice. Li Ping hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I have talked more with Zuo Wusheng. What he is pursuing may just be a breakthrough in martial arts and the pursuit of challenging his own limits."
Master Tang's eyes flickered slightly, and he glanced at Zhu Yan beside him. Seeing the other party nod, he hesitated for a moment and suddenly said.
"However, if we use the excuse that Li Feng is still young to keep him in the capital, then Zuo Wuji will accept him as his disciple. If we don't let Li Feng leave, he will have no choice but to stay."
Li Ping was shocked.
"No, if Zuo Wusheng were to do that, he would probably just leave on his own, and Li Feng would lose the chance to become his disciple."
"If you leave on your own like this, does that mean you are not sincere in accepting me as your disciple?"
Zhu Yan also said this at this moment. Master Tang didn't want to miss Li Feng, and Zhu Yan didn't want Zuo Wuji to leave.
Another immortal master also echoed:
"That's right. If we, the immortals, accept disciples, we will definitely test their will first, and then find a way to perfect their fate."
Li Ping looked at them, then at the emperor's expression, and thought to himself that something was wrong. He could only look to the imperial teacher for help. Fortunately, the old monk Mo Yun spoke up for him.
“Good be to the Great Ming Buddha, Your Majesty, Lord Li is right. Li Feng can worship the Martial Saint as his master, and he is also the Martial Saint’s first disciple. He must have a considerable share of the martial arts luck. Moreover, Li Feng’s family and parents are all here. Just as Dazhen dared to claim that the two saints of civil and martial arts are both in Dazhen, Li Feng has always been a person of our Xiayong Dynasty... Your Majesty, if you really force Li Feng to stay, if something happens, then there will be nothing left!”
The old monk Mo Yun held a very important position in the Xia Yong Dynasty and had watched the emperor grow up. Upon hearing what he said, the emperor thought carefully and nodded.
"The Imperial Master is more thoughtful..."
…
When leaving the imperial study, Li Ping thanked the old monk Mo Yun repeatedly, while the other immortal masters on the other side shook their heads frequently. Zhu Yan looked at the old monk Mo Yun with an even more meaningful look.
... ...
PS: I wish you all a happy new year in advance and welcome a bright future in 2021!