The national teacher wasn't in a hurry. In fact, he thought it wouldn't hurt Mo Tianyu to suffer a bit. Mo Tianyu's temperament was too wild, too arrogant. He dared to call himself "Mad Mo," with ambitions soaring higher than the sky. When he was tasked with inviting Lu Fan, not only did he fail to comply, but he also sneaked over the wall in the dead of night, only to be mistaken for a vegetable and inserted into the ground. All of this was self-inflicted.
From the information obtained, the national teacher deduced that Lu Fan was very likely bestowed with the same fortune as the Emperor, becoming a recipient of heavenly blessings. Yes, the national teacher referred to those bestowed with such blessings as "heavenly recipients." Furthermore, based on the description from Yuwen Xiu, the national teacher could roughly guess the identity of another person, but he didn't reveal it to Yuwen Xiu.
Proud and lofty, refusing to bow to heaven or earth, only kneeling to serve the people but not the gods. Such people were rare in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Yuwen Xiu might not have thought of it, but the national teacher had researched intelligence from all over the world and encountered all sorts of people, studying their temperaments and habits. The national teacher speculated that there were three possible candidates for another blessed recipient in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
The first was Jiang Li, the lord of Drunken Dragon City, a man who rose from the martial world to become renowned in the imperial court, serving as the late emperor's most trusted blade. After the late emperor's passing, Jiang Li remained in Drunken Dragon City, guarding the country's borders on behalf of the Emperor.
The second was Xiang Shaoyun, the governor of the Western County and the ruler of the Western Liang.
The third was Mo Tianyu... cough, it was better not to say anything about him.
In the national teacher's view, if Jiang Li became a heavenly recipient, it wouldn't be a bad thing for the Great Zhou. But if Xiang Shaoyun became one, the situation in the world would become even more unpredictable. Teaming up with the powerful Mohist School, Xiang Shaoyun was definitely not someone the national teacher could take lightly. Even if he possessed top-tier martial arts skills, he wouldn't be a match for the Mohists. However, if Xiang Shaoyun became a heavenly recipient, then it would be hard to say.
The reason the national teacher went to Beiluo City was not only to rescue Mo Tianyu but also for Lu Fan. Lu Ping'an of Beiluo City was also a heavenly recipient. The national teacher wouldn't force Lu Changkong to "pull onions," and Lu Changkong wouldn't push the national teacher to do so either. After learning that Lu Fan had left, heading to the brothel they had recently acquired from the three major families, Lu Changkong ordered someone to prepare a carriage and invited the national teacher to go to the Heart Lake Island.
...
Heart Lake Island.
The gentle breeze rustled, causing ripples on the lake surface.
On the fishing boat, an old man in white robes lightly held a green bamboo staff. His eyes were deep, and the shiny turtle shell in his hand was eye-catching.
"Tianji Family?"
On the wheelchair, Lu Fan raised an eyebrow slightly.
The Tianji Family, quite mysterious among the Hundred Schools of Thought, was known for divination, calculations, and fortune-telling.
"Interesting. Representatives from various schools have come to Beiluo, and I've killed them all, their bodies sinking to the bottom of this lake. So, I'm curious, why haven't you left?"
Leaning back in his wheelchair, Lu Fan played with a black chess piece, bathed in the breeze by the lake, speaking calmly.
Ling Qi emanated from Nie Changqing's dantian, entwining around his butcher knife, his eyes sharp.
Ning Zhao did the same.
Yi Yue's delicate hand rested on the whip at her waist, alert.
"Urgh..."
Ni Yu continued to vomit over the side of the boat, somewhat ruining the atmosphere.
"Young Master Lu, there's no need for such hostility. Let's talk things out. The Tianji Family has never intervened in court affairs or been involved in Jianghu disputes. Therefore, Young Master Lu has no reason to kill an old man like me, right?"
Lü Mu Dui smiled, revealing his missing tooth.
"Your smile... is so ugly. Is that a reason?"
Lu Fan flipped the chess piece in his palm, rubbing it gently.
With Lu Fan's words, Lü Mu Dui's smile stiffened for a moment. He subconsciously pressed his lips together, hiding his missing tooth.
"Alright, I won't kill you for now. Let's go ashore and chat. I have some questions for you."
"Good answer, then I'll live."
"Old Nie, set sail."
Lu Fan ordered.
"Yes."
Nie Changqing's face was cold as he stood at the stern, his body leaning back, blood and qi surging. With a forceful push of his foot, the fishing boat swiftly sped towards Heart Lake Island.
The fishing boat cut across the emerald green lake, startling the fish in the lake, while gulls and herons flew on both sides.
Soon, the boat reached the shore.
Lu Fan sat in the wheelchair, disembarked, and Ning Zhao pushed the wheelchair, moving slowly. Yi Yue, holding Ni Yu, who was retching miserably, followed beside Lu Fan.
The Tianji Family's Lü Mu Dui, dressed in white robes, stepped off the fishing boat, tapping his green bamboo staff.
Huh?
As soon as he stepped off the boat, his body suddenly trembled.
This small island seemed somewhat unusual. He took a deep breath, tilted his head back, and closed his eyes.
Between heaven and earth, there seemed to be a stream of energy, moving as swiftly as fish.
What is this?
Lü Mu Dui opened his eyes, filled with shock and horror. He looked around and saw that on the island, all the trees and flowers had withered, replaced by ten plants.
Looking closely, he realized that they were ten... chrysanthemums.
Huh, chrysanthemums?!
Watching those chrysanthemums, which stood three feet tall with stems as thick as a girl's wrist, Lü Mu Dui's expression was quite colorful.
That strange flow of energy seemed to emanate from these chrysanthemums.
What is this flow of energy?
Why does it make him feel such a strong sense of longing in his heart!
In fact, not only Lü Mu Dui, but also Ning Zhao, pushing the wheelchair, and Nie Changqing, holding Nie Shuang, were overwhelmed with emotion. They had experienced the taste of spiritual energy, so they were even clearer than Lü Mu Dui in sensing it!
The chaotic movements on the island were not anything else but extremely precious spiritual energy!
Is there spiritual energy between heaven and earth?!
No...
Nie Changqing and Ning Zhao instantly realized that this spiritual energy... was because of the ten chrysanthemums planted by Young Master.
Initially feeling that these chrysanthemums were somewhat eerie, Nie Changqing and Ning Zhao suddenly became ecstatic. With spiritual energy between heaven and earth, could they absorb it for cultivation and break through their realms?!
"Wow, the flowers have bloomed?"
Lu Fan, sitting in the wheelchair, brightened with surprise as he looked at the ten Morning Glory Chrysanthemums emitting spiritual energy, unable to help but smile.
After absorbing the essence of the peninsula's peach blossoms, it seemed that it hadn't gone to waste.
Each of the ten Morning Glory Chrysanthemums produced a wisp of spiritual energy every three days. If the spiritual energy was not consumed, it would continue to produce and consume. After consumption, the Morning Glory Chrysanthemums would gestate a wisp of spiritual energy within three days.
Lu Fan originally thought the Morning Glory Chrysanthemums would need a long time before they bloomed. He hadn't expected them to bloom so quickly.
What an unexpected joy.
Lu Fan didn't delve too much into the Morning Glory Chrysanthemums. He let Ning Zhao push him into the "White Jade Pavilion" building.
"Please."
Nie Changqing, carrying his butcher knife, glanced expressionlessly at Lü Mu Dui and said.
Lü Mu Dui reluctantly tore his gaze away from the Morning Glory Chrysanthemums, swallowed hard, and felt a tumultuous sea in his heart. He found that there were more and more mysteries surrounding Lu Fan.
Stepping onto the green stone steps and arriving in front of the building, Lü Mu Dui lightly tapped his green bamboo staff and intended to follow Lu Fan into the White Jade Pavilion building.
Suddenly, he froze in his tracks.
Feeling something in his heart, he raised his gaze.
It fell on the couplets hanging on either side of the building's entrance.
There, a pair of ordinary couplets caught his eye.