Grand Tutor Wen's Conscience Ached

In Chaoge City, within an ordinary civilian residence.

Grand Tutor Wen and Zhao Gongming sat opposite each other.

On the square table between them sat a teapot and two teacups. The tea in the cups was a pale green, emitting a fragrant aroma.

Zhao Gongming refilled Wen Zhong's teacup, then poured some for himself. He took a sip and looked at Wen Zhong, "Fellow Daoist Wen, I truly don't understand. Is it necessary for you to beg someone for King Zhou's sake?"

Wen Zhong sighed and forced a smile. "I, Wen Zhong, have assisted the Shang Dynasty for twenty-six years. The late King placed great trust in me and entrusted his son to me before his passing. I watched the Great King grow up. However, this time, I deceived the Great King. Seeing his expression then, my heart ached terribly. That's why I came to you, Fellow Daoist. If you have any difficulties, just pretend I never came."

As he spoke, Wen Zhong slowly stood up and cupped his hands towards Zhao Gongming.

Zhao Gongming reached out to stop him. "Ah... Fellow Daoist Wen, why must you be like this? At least let me finish speaking, won't you? Just now, I asked about Di Xin's cultivation aptitude, and you yourself said his aptitude is extremely poor, making significant progress impossible. Are you willing to waste such a precious Spirit Pill on him? You know you have two disciples!"

Wen Zhong stood there in silence.

Zhao Gongming also stood up, shaking his head and sighing. "In the past, I owed Golden Spirit Mother a favor. But she is the personal disciple of the Sect Master, while I am merely a disciple of the sect, and my cultivation is not as profound as hers. Naturally, Mother has never needed my help. Today, I will give this Spirit Pill to you, Fellow Daoist Wen, to settle that favor with Mother. As for how you use it, that is for you to decide."

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Wen Zhong's face, and he bowed to Zhao Gongming. "Today, I, Wen Zhong, owe Fellow Daoist Zhao a favor."

"Heh heh, you're still the same!"

Zhao Gongming playfully tapped Wen Zhong a few times with his finger before smiling. "If that's the case, Fellow Daoist Wen, are you still in a hurry to leave? Won't you sit down and chat a while longer?"

Wen Zhong sat down as requested, refilled Zhao Gongming's tea, and took a sip from his own cup. "The spirit tea from Mount Emei is indeed exceptional!"

"If you like it, Fellow Daoist Wen, I have some more here."

As he spoke, he made a gesture, and a jade bottle and a jade jar appeared on the table.

Wen Zhong didn't stand on ceremony. He opened both and took a look, his smile widening. "In that case, Wen Zhong thanks Fellow Daoist Zhao again. By the way, have there been any developments regarding the Dragon Binding Rope?"

Mentioning this matter, Zhao Gongming immediately felt that the spirit tea no longer tasted as good. "During this time, my three sisters and I have been secretly investigating within the city. Yang Jian and Goddess Nuwa's two disciples have also been busy. Furthermore, True Person Taiyi sent his disciple, Golden Cloud Boy, to Chaoge for covert investigations, but there have been no breakthroughs. Yesterday, we did observe Huang Feihu, a minister of the Shang Dynasty, meeting with a white-haired old man, intending to have him examine Di Xin's cultivation aptitude. Sister Qiongxiao suspected he was a Daoist practitioner with magic power, so she focused on tracking him, but there's still no result."

Wen Zhong nodded upon hearing this. "The Great King has already issued a royal proclamation recruiting extraordinary individuals from across the land. It's perfectly normal for there to be Daoist practitioners in Chaoge..."

As they were talking, a young female Daoist priest pushed open the door and entered.

"Ah, Fellow Daoist Qiongxiao..."

Wen Zhong quickly stood up and paid his respects to Lady Qiongxiao.

After a brief, polite exchange with Wen Zhong, Qiong Xiao turned to Zhao Gongming. "Elder Brother, that Celestial Master Zhang has been confirmed not to be a Daoist practitioner. He was originally a charlatan, hired by ministers like Huang Feihu to use his words to declare Di Xin has no cultivation aptitude, thereby forcing Di Xin to give up on cultivating. That swindler, because Di Xin had promised a reward of ten thousand gold if he possessed cultivation aptitude, ended up stating in front of all the ministers that Di Xin did have cultivation aptitude. This caused me quite a bit of trouble. I intercepted him outside the city and forced him to reveal the truth. This lead has been cut off!"

After speaking, Qiong Xiao sighed softly, her face filled with melancholy.

She then looked at Wen Zhong. "Fellow Daoist Wen, did you come here because you discovered some clue?"

Wen Zhong showed an embarrassed expression, glanced at Zhao Gongming, and explained, "I, Wen Zhong, have also been paying close attention to this matter but haven't found anything. I came to see Fellow Daoist Zhao this time to request a Spirit Pill for my Great King."

"Di Xin? A Spirit Pill for him?"

Qiong Xiao's expression was one of surprise.

Wen Zhong nodded but didn't say much more before bidding them farewell and leaving.

As night fell, Wen Zhong entered the Royal Palace and headed straight for the Ancestral Temple.

His identity was special, and his status was lofty. He was one of the few in the Royal Palace who could move about freely without announcement.

However, he rarely used this privilege, always following proper procedure, announcing himself when necessary and waiting when required.

Because he knew Di Xin would be in the Ancestral Temple, he didn't want to cause too much commotion in the Royal Palace at night.

"Great King... Wen Zhong seeks an audience!"

He called out softly at the door of the room.

The door quickly opened, and Di Xin emerged, holding a white silk scroll that had been somewhat darkened from his constant handling.

"Grand Tutor, you've arrived at the perfect time. I have a few points I don't understand and wanted to ask you about. Come in quickly!"

Seeing the inferior cultivation technique meant to deceive, and looking at Di Xin's appearance, Grand Tutor Wen felt his conscience ache several times.

Upon entering the room, Di Xin invited the Grand Tutor to sit, put down the silk scroll, and began to ask questions about the cultivation technique.

He didn't even look at the scroll but recited the technique casually, with extreme fluency. It was clear he had put in a great deal of effort to master it to this extent.

Wen Zhong felt his conscience ache even more.

Moreover, the questions Di Xin asked were not superficial, no longer about mere acupoints or definitions of terms.

The questions he posed were ones that could only be asked after mastering the cultivation technique to a certain degree, indicating how much thought the Great King had put into it.

To become this familiar with the cultivation technique in such a short time, one could guess without asking how much effort he had expended.

Wen Zhong secretly sighed, feeling his conscience ache for the third time.

He began to explain each point to Di Xin. While listening, Di Xin also casually asked follow-up questions that arose from the explanations.

They continued their question-and-answer session, and before they knew it, over an hour had passed.

Only when Di Xin had finished asking all his questions did he excitedly stand up and say to Wen Zhong, "Grand Tutor, I feel I have benefited greatly today. You have been so open with me, without any hidden motives. I don't know how I can ever repay you. If you need anything, Grand Tutor, please tell me, and I will do my utmost to satisfy you."

Hearing this, Di Xin's conscience ached for the fourth time.

However, listening to Di Xin's words, Wen Zhong actually took him seriously. He pondered for a moment and said, "Your subject does indeed have something to request your permission for."

"Speak, say anything. I can grant any request from the Grand Tutor!"

Di Xin readily agreed.

Grand Tutor Wen stared at Di Xin and said, word by word, "This subject wishes for the Great King to kill You Hun!"