After leaving the pavilion, Jingyun walked with a spring in his step.
In the end, Master Zhong had not come along. After all, he had not finished teaching his class.
Li Ping'an?
Jingyun was a little surprised.
The name was not unfamiliar to him.
As a young child, he had heard his father tell stories about his younger days.
Things like journeying south to escort students, the Three Heroes of the Nine Provinces, the Battle of Tengchong City...
Later, those stories had grown even more outlandish as they spread among the people.
Now, hearing that this Li Ping'an was in his own home...
It felt as though a figure from legend had suddenly come alive and stepped into reality.
The feeling was... truly marvelous.
At that thought, he wished he could fly home.
But halfway there, he encountered a grand procession.
He hurried to stand to one side, bowing to show his respect.
The imperial palanquin passed slowly, the emperor seated in it leaning slightly to one side.
She toyed with a string of prayer beads in her hand.
Even simply sitting there, she inspired awe and fear.
There were different ranks even among worldly emperors.
Someone like Liu Yun had led Great Sui's iron cavalry in sweeping across Central Province and established an incomparably powerful empire.
Never mind ordinary officials-even cultivators of the upper third realm had to show her the utmost respect.
"Stop."
The palanquin abruptly halted.
Liu Yun tilted her head slightly. "You're... Jing Yu's child, Jingyun?"
Jingyun was overwhelmed by the favor. He had never expected the emperor to remember him.
"Your Majesty, my father is indeed Jing Yu."
"You do bear some resemblance to Jing Yu."
Liu Yun looked him up and down and asked casually, "I recall Master Zhong is teaching at the Imperial