Grand Tutor Gao Fan Offers Counsel

Zhu Xuan asked again about the search results for the divine beast phoenix.

"If my ministers have no other matters to report, then court is dismissed," Zhu Xuan said.

Grand Tutor Gao Fan suddenly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, according to Imperial Physician Ge Xu, Zhou Wei's heart meridians have suffered grave damage, with no hope of recovery. Since Zhou Wei's heart meridians are severely damaged and cannot be healed, making him unable to take the field and kill enemies, this minister believes it is truly inappropriate for Zhou Wei to continue serving as General of the Nation."

Everyone understood the meaning behind Grand Tutor Gao Fan's words: he wanted Zhou Wei stripped of his position as General of the Nation.

The civil and military officials in the great hall fell silent.

Everyone knew that Grand Tutor Gao Fan and General of the Nation Zhou Wei had never gotten along. No one had expected Grand Tutor Gao Fan to strike the moment Zhou Wei was gravely wounded in an assassination attempt.

A military official suddenly stepped forward and echoed, "This subordinate agrees. Grand Tutor's words are reasonable. Since Lord Zhou Wei can no longer take the field and kill enemies, it is inappropriate for him to remain General of the Nation."

The military official who had echoed him was Cavalry General Song Xiu.

A Cavalry General held an extremely high position in the Great Feng Dynasty's army, with authority second only to Zhou Wei, the General of the Nation.

However, Cavalry General Song Xiu had always followed Grand Tutor Gao Fan's lead.

After that, several ministers from the Grand Tutor's faction stepped forward one after another in support of Gao Fan, saying that Zhou Wei should be removed as General of the Nation.

The Grand Tutor wielded immense power in the Great Feng Dynasty. Since the matter did not concern them, the other officials did not dare speak up.

Grand Tutor Li Bin, who stood beside the Grand Tutor, sneered. "Utterly ridiculous. It is inevitable for soldiers to be wounded in battle. Gao Fan, by your logic, if a soldier is injured, he must be stripped of his post. Then how many officers in Da Feng's army would have to be removed now?"

Hearing Grand Tutor Li Bin address Gao Fan by name without the slightest courtesy, the expressions of everyone in the hall varied.

Grand Tutor Gao Fan frowned.

Li Bin continued, "Moreover, if soldiers are stripped of their posts the moment they are injured, such conduct will chill people to the bone. Who would dare take the field and kill enemies then?"

"Or will you, Gao Fan, personally take the field and kill enemies when the time comes?"

After Zhou Cheng and his mother Luo Shui had stayed at Heavenly Dragon Temple for an hour, they finally left.

Originally, Zhou Cheng had not wanted to leave Heavenly Dragon Temple so soon, but his mother Luo Shui was leaving, and he could hardly remain behind lazily.

Still, Heavenly Dragon Temple was in the Capital City. He could come here every day in the future to "pray for blessings," so there was no need to rush.

As they left Heavenly Dragon Temple, the sky suddenly darkened. Dark clouds blanketed the heavens, and waves of cool wind swept over the land that had been scorching only moments before.

Looking at the dense clouds overhead, Luo Shui said, "It is going to rain. I am afraid this shower will not be small."

Thunder rumbled.

The wind grew stronger.

Wave after wave.

The system's voice rang out.

"Your Wind-Facing Willow Steps are greatly excited amid the fierce wind. Their cultivation speed has increased substantially."

"+1."

"+2."

"+3."

Every gust of strong wind that swept past raised Zhou Cheng's Wind-Facing Willow Steps by 1.

Zhou Cheng's Wind-Facing Willow Steps had originally been at 43 progress toward Beginner, but they soon rose to 63.

After the fierce wind, a drizzling rain began to fall from the sky, and the wind slowly subsided.

Wind-Facing Willow Steps finally stopped at Beginner 69.

When they returned to the Grand General's Mansion, they saw a luxurious carriage parked at the entrance. Two enormous blades were branded onto its body—the carriage of the Great Feng Dynasty's Minister of War.

His father, Zhou Wei, and Minister of War Jiang Haidong were good friends with a close relationship. Zhou Wei was the General of the Nation and got along well with most people in the Ministry of War.

Because of the relationship between Zhou Wei and Jiang Haidong, Zhou Cheng and Jiang Haidong's second son, Jiang Feng, were friends—and the best of friends.

Sure enough, when Zhou Cheng and Luo Shui arrived at the main hall, they saw Zhou Wei entertaining Jiang Haidong.

Jiang Feng sat below Jiang Haidong. Though he was the same age as Zhou Cheng, he was already nearly 1.7 meters tall, considerably taller than his father Jiang Haidong.

Jiang Haidong was the Minister of War, yet he was not large in stature. On the contrary, he was somewhat thin and small. His eyes shone brightly, and he looked full of vigor.

Zhou Cheng stepped forward and paid Jiang Haidong the respects due from a junior.

Jiang Haidong stroked the three wisps of beard on his chin and smiled as he nodded at Zhou Cheng, praising him with the usual remarks about how sensible he was.

Since it was inconvenient for the younger generation to linger while the adults discussed matters, Zhou Cheng and Jiang Feng went outside.

When they arrived at Zhou Cheng's courtyard, Jiang Feng saw the Ice Snow Phoenix frolicking in the rain and was quite curious. "When did you start keeping this little bird? How come I did not know?"

It was his first time seeing such an ice-blue little bird.

"This morning," Zhou Cheng said.

"This morning?" Jiang Feng moved closer to the Ice Snow Phoenix, greatly interested. "Which merchant house did you buy it from?"

"It flew here on its own," Zhou Cheng said with a smile.

The Ice Snow Phoenix rolled its eyes. It was a habitual gesture.

Yet that gesture only made it look even cuter. Jiang Feng did not think much of it and played with the Ice Snow Phoenix for a while before sitting down with Zhou Cheng in the stone pavilion.

"I heard from my father that during morning court, the Grand Tutor advised the Emperor to strip Uncle Zhou of his post as General of the Nation," Jiang Feng suddenly said.

"Strip my father of his post?" Zhou Cheng frowned.

He knew of Grand Tutor Gao Fan. The man wielded tremendous power in the Great Feng Dynasty, formed cliques for private gain, and nearly one-third of the civil and military officials were his people.

Moreover, Gao Fan had always been at odds with his father and regarded him as a thorn in his eye.

Jiang Feng said indignantly, "He said Uncle Zhou's heart meridians were injured and that he could no longer take the field to kill enemies, so it was inappropriate for him to remain General of the Nation. He also said that this Grand General's Mansion belongs to the court and should be reclaimed as well."

At this point, Jiang Feng slammed his fist onto the stone table. "Gao Fan relies on his great strength, his status as a veteran of three reigns, and his merit as a founding hero to run rampant in court, harming loyal and good officials. Despicable!"

Gao Fan was one of the Great Feng Dynasty's few true experts. His strength was formidable, second only to Saint Ancestor Taiming. He was a grandmaster at the late stage of Xiantian Level Ten.

"What did the Emperor say?" Zhou Cheng asked.

Jiang Feng shook his head. "The Emperor did not state his position during morning court."

Not stating a position was even worse.

That meant the Emperor was considering Gao Fan's proposal.

"Oh, right, there is a poetry gathering tomorrow morning. Do you want to come?" Jiang Feng suddenly changed the subject.

Normally, the young masters and ladies of the Capital City gathered for poetry gatherings, reciting poems and competing in martial arts.

Of course, in Zhou Cheng's circle, those attending such gatherings were generally the children of officials ranked third grade or above.

Lowering his voice, Jiang Feng smiled. "Chen Yuan will be there tomorrow too. And the young prince invited Princess Zixue."

Then he nudged Zhou Cheng. "I heard that Auntie intends to arrange an engagement between you and Chen Yuan."

Zhou Cheng was stunned. "You know about it?"

Jiang Feng grinned. "It has already spread everywhere. Not only do I know, many people know."

Zhou Cheng had a headache.

"So? You are coming to tomorrow's poetry gathering, right?" Jiang Feng asked with a smile.

"I am not going. I need to practice martial arts," Zhou Cheng said, shaking his head.

Jiang Feng was surprised. Whenever there had been a poetry gathering in the past, Zhou Cheng had certainly attended. He had always hated martial arts practice, so why had he suddenly changed his ways today?

Night fell.

After soaking in a medicinal bath, Zhou Cheng used the Demon God Garment to conceal himself. Then he left the mansion with Qin Meng and Lin Ru, arriving at the Green Demon Mountain Range several hundred li away.

Holding the God-Slaying Saber, Zhou Cheng entered the Green Demon Mountain Range in a flash with Qin Meng and Lin Ru.

Not long after Zhou Cheng entered the Green Demon Mountain Range, Gao Jun, the Grand Tutor's grandson, also arrived there with a large group of guards.

"Split into groups of two and search separately. You must find that Black Fox's lair for me!" Gao Jun shouted at his men.