[Liu Jinchan had intended to ask the Eighth Prince to stay, planning to host a vegetarian feast at an ancient temple on Mount Zhongnan as a show of respect.]
[Zhou Cheng declined. After returning the courtesy, he descended the mountain, leaving behind the words: "Grand Tutor, when we meet again, I will openly and honorably invite you to leave Zhongnan."]
[Liu Jinchan understood Zhou Cheng's meaning well. He knew that the several princes before him had all come in secret.]
[Only when the visit was open and aboveboard would it mean the reigning Emperor himself had arrived.]
[Prince Jing's intentions were plain for all to see.]
[Lu Yu wished to keep his uncle on Mount Zhongnan for a few more days, but his uncle was burdened with official duties and could not remain long.]
[Lu Yu could not help sighing. "I fear that, in the future, the days when I see Uncle will grow fewer and fewer."]
[You lightly patted Lu Yu's shoulder and consoled him. "Each man has his own aspirations. Building a family and establishing a career are but the common course of life."]
[Liu Jinchan asked you, "Shenzhou, I saw that the Eighth Prince spoke with great sincerity. You have always possessed Insight into People and known how to employ talent. In your view, how much of his heart was genuine?"]
[With your talent for Insight into People, you smiled faintly. "His words were a weave of truth and falsehood—sincerity on the surface, hypocrisy concealed beneath.]
["Yet I am merely a small Daoist of the Three Truths Sect, worlds apart from his station as a prince. To me, whether his words are true or false makes no difference."]
[Liu Jinchan could not help letting out a long sigh in his heart.]
["Shenzhou, you have been like this since childhood, focused on cultivating the Dao and practicing martial arts, with no fondness for worldly affairs."]
["At this rate, the future Sect Leader of our Three Truths Sect may only be entrusted to You'an."]
[He had originally believed that Lu Chen's reputation and temperament made him the most suitable person to inherit the heavy responsibility of the Three Truths Sect.]
[Lu Yu's talent for cultivation was truly astounding, yet his nature was free and unrestrained, impossible to bind. Only Lu Chen could keep him in check.]
[With Lu Chen handling external affairs and Lu Yu managing internal ones, why should the Three Truths Sect fear that it would not prosper?]
[Lu Yu also wore a troubled expression and said with feeling, "The incense offerings on Mount Zhongnan are simply too flourishing. Brother, I cannot possibly handle everything alone. Why not lend me a hand?"]
[You merely smiled and gave no reply.]
[Seeing this, Liu Jinchan smiled. "I do have an idea. Why not take in a few disciples and have them help share your burden?"]
["With your cultivation, you are already a true peerless Master Realm expert of the martial world. Taking in a few disciples would be easy enough."]
["It is only right and proper for disciples to share their master's burden."]
[At those words, a gleam flashed through Lu Yu's eyes. Taking disciples was something he had never considered before, but now it seemed a splendid plan.]
[He turned toward you, his eyes full of inquiry.]
[Seeing his excited expression, you had already made up your mind.]
[Thus, you decided...]
1. Approve of Lu Yu taking disciples. 2. Disapprove of Lu Yu taking disciples. 3. Participate personally. (1/3)
Yu Ke did not hesitate in the slightest and chose 1. Approve of Lu Yu taking disciples.
Once Lu Yu had disciples, would they not be your martial nephews? They would all be part of your foundation.
For some reason, a warm current surged up from the depths of your heart, and Lu Yu's familiar voice and smile surfaced in your mind.
Within this simulation, whether studying the Dao or joining the army,
Lu Yu had always accompanied you. No matter what you did, he supported you without condition.
Now that Lu Yu had disciples, he would surely be happy.
The corners of Lu Yu's lips could not help but lift.
[Upon hearing your approval, Lu Yu's face immediately bloomed with a smile.]
[Master Liu Jinchan solemnly informed you that Emperor Qing's coming to the mountain to pray for blessings would be far from an ordinary sacrificial ceremony.]
[In truth, it would be a grand feast, gathering outstanding talents from all directions.]
[Princes and nobles, civil and military officials of the court, even the Northern Grand Princess who had married far away and the North Wind Delegation would all attend. Rumor had it that Qianyuan, Han, and Chu had also dispatched delegations.]
[He instructed you that you must attend, for the matter was of great importance.]
[You understood the deeper meaning. The princes' private visits had been acts of avoiding suspicion, but if the reigning Emperor himself came to Mount Zhongnan to pray for blessings for the people, its significance would be entirely different.]
[You sighed softly, knowing there was no avoiding this time.]
[Yet for you, cultivating the Dao was the true pursuit.]
[At this moment, you remembered.]
[There was still a letter Mother had asked Uncle to deliver to you.]
[You opened the letter. The ink upon the paper seemed to bring Mother's warmth vividly before your eyes. Every line was filled with concern; she worried deeply for you two brothers.]
[Spring passed into summer, autumn brought harvest, and winter stored away its bounty. As the weather turned cold, be sure to wear more clothes and take good care of yourselves.]
[She also reassured you not to worry about Father and Mother. The residence in Kyoto and its servants were considerate, and they had hired a northern cook, so the food suited their tastes. It was only that your father had recently taken up fishing and often did not return for dinner, no matter how they tried to persuade him.]
[Lu Yu laughed. "Father certainly has refined tastes."]
[At the end of the letter, one matter was mentioned.]
[Even you were somewhat surprised!]
[Before you had entered the Three Truths Sect, Mother had arranged a marriage for you. Later, you entered the mountains to cultivate the Dao, and the North Wind army marched south, so the matter was left unresolved.]
[That young woman bore the surname Xie and came from a humble northern family.]
[However, when the Northern Region migrated south and she followed her father to Kyoto, her father's exceptional talent revived their household fortunes. He won Emperor Qing's favor, rose four ranks in succession, and was appointed to a powerful second-rank position, causing the Zhao Clan to leap into prominence among Kyoto's great families.]
[According to Mother, this young lady of the Xie Clan was not only beautiful, but also accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was well-read, sensible, gentle, and virtuous.]
[Before the Lu Family Army shook the four corners of the land, the Lu Clan could scarcely even be called a humble family. Yet when faced with marriage proposals from Kyoto's many princes and noble sons, Miss Xie rejected them one after another, declaring that she was already betrothed, displaying the grace of a proper lady who observed decorum.]
[After the Lu Clan later became renowned throughout the realm, the Xie Clan calmly came to their door and dissolved the engagement.]
[The Xie Clan was a true scholarly household, neither drifting with the current nor currying favor with the powerful.]
[Mother instructed, "Early next spring, if you are on Mount Zhongnan and happen to meet Miss Xie, be sure to treat her courteously. She is a good girl."]
[Lu Yu could not help laughing. "Who would have thought I nearly gained another sister-in-law?"]
[This was also the first time you had learned of it, yet your heart remained unruffled.]
[You raised your head and looked out the window. Mount Zhongnan's green mountains and clear waters stretched beneath a vast sky, and your thoughts drifted far away.]
[From the day you were born, you had held a firm conviction in your heart: you would surely step onto the path of martial arts and pursue the road of cultivating the Dao.]
[There were still more than half a month until the New Year festival.]
[You entered the ancient tomb of Mount Zhongnan once more and continued your cultivation.]
[Cultivation was like rowing a boat against the current: if one did not advance, one fell back.]
[Morning practice and evening practice—you never neglected either. Even in the army, you often trained diligently.]
[Yet because your talent truly was not high, now at thirty-one years old, your skills were still only at the second-rate level in the martial world.]
[Though Lu Yu and you belonged to the same sect, you had chosen different techniques. He cultivated the Innate Skill, a technique with extremely demanding requirements. One had to begin cultivating from Innate Qi, but once one entered its gate, progress would surge forward a thousand miles a day.]
[Lu Yu had reached the realm of Grandmaster at the age of twenty-four. Aside from his extraordinary talent, the Innate Skill he cultivated had also played a crucial role.]
[Curiosity could not help rising in your heart. You were filled with questions about the Innate Qi mentioned in the Innate Skill.]
[What exactly was it, and what connection did it have to the spiritual energy Lu Yu had mentioned?]
Before you continue