Which Foot Entered First

Stopping the carriage to inquire at the Marquis of Qu Ni's residence was just a minor incident.

Wei Qing left quickly and returned quickly.

However, compared to his previous friendly conversation with Zhang Xuezhou, he appeared somewhat silent now.

The cracking of the whip created a crisp rhythm, and the old horse pulling the cart galloped swiftly.

"Hey, three and a half taels of silver!"

When Wei Qing drove Zhang Xuezhou to Laoshu Hutong, he even forgot to collect the fare.

Hearing Zhang Xuezhou calling from behind, he ultimately did not turn around.

"I have something urgent to attend to right now, I'll ask you for it next time I come!"

Wei Qing let out a cry.

He hadn't forgotten about asking Zhang Xuezhou to contact Lei Bei, and he also left a reason for visiting, so he could conveniently postpone collecting the money.

"Even for three and a half taels of silver, we'd have to come back again; the delivery fee wouldn't even cover it!"

Zhang Xuezhou muttered something.

Zhang Xuezhou and Wei Qing had little interaction, which made it difficult for him to figure out why Wei Qing had come to him.

But Zhang Xuezhou guessed that the matter might not be important, since Wei Qing's current unease was more due to Wei Shao'er having a child.

They say a new emperor brings a new court, but none of us who serve His Majesty have a good life!

Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. He then thought about Zhang Qian and Wu Chao who had gone to the Xiong State, and Sang Hongyang and the others who hadn't been seen for a while.

If these people aren't doing well, it only proves that the new emperor himself isn't doing so well either.

Thinking about everyone's situation, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but consider for the first time why the new emperor was living such a mediocre life, and when his life would improve.

The imperial court has recently undergone a major upheaval, involving top positions such as the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, and the King of Huainan has entered Chang'an City with a large number of troops.

Zhang Xuezhou sensed an ominous feeling emanating from the air.

"If the Empress Dowager strongly supports him, the King of Huainan should have the opportunity to directly move into the Weiyang Palace!"

The feudal lords had a system of coming to the court to pay homage. The King of Huainan came to Chang'an City at an excellent time, even encountering a rare situation in the court.

The King of Huainan's Household has many talented individuals who can perfectly fill the gaps in the imperial court's official ranks.

If the Empress Dowager is looking to consolidate resources, Zhang Xuezhou believes now is a good opportunity.

But this scene was not so friendly to the new emperor, and even to those who followed him.

Just thinking about the guest minister system in the King of Huainan's Household, Zhang Xuezhou felt that if the King of Huainan were in power, someone of his ability would have a hard time even making a living, let alone holding office while ill.

"I wonder how His Majesty will respond?"

Zhang Xuezhou pondered for a while and realized that someone like him could only watch the show.

Within this vast center of power, these insignificant figures are neither prominent nor capable of shaking the existing system.

The only one truly capable of responding is undoubtedly the new emperor.

This is a difficult hurdle for the new emperor, and only he himself can overcome it.

"Cousin, Yi Shuo came to our house to freeload, and she even hit me!"

Zhang Xuezhou only came to his senses when Rong Tianding started complaining.

He looked at Rong Tianding in the kitchen, who was trying to grab Yi Shuo's braid, and then at the position where Yi Shuo's hands were clasped together. He felt that Rong Tianding had been beaten to a pulp.

However, Rong Tianding's situation is not shameful, after all, there is a gap of several major realms between the Meridian Circulation Realm and the True Spirit Realm.

Even in their playful banter, it's still a genuine clash between the low and the high.

"I was kicked out by the teacher," Yi Shuo said sullenly, "But the teacher told me to learn from you!"

"I only taught you how to starve," Zhang Xuezhou said, puzzled. "Old Zheng wouldn't kick you out, would he?"

"It's not about practicing that Grain Avoidance Technique," Yi Shuo shook her head and said, "My teacher said that last night I completely overturned the Xuanhu Sect's cultivation techniques, so he can't teach me anymore, and then he sent me away!"

"Then I didn't guide you in overturning the Xuanhu Sect's realm technique," Zhang Xuezhou said in astonishment. "I didn't do anything, you can't pin this on me!"

"My teacher said that I used to be able to cultivate by eating coarse grains, but now that my body is used to refined grains, I can no longer cultivate in the normal way!"

"What do you mean by coarse grains and refined grains!"

"It's the place you took me to last night. I practiced there for a while and pushed our Suspended Gourd Sect's cultivation technique to the level of 'excessive force' that our teacher mentioned," Yi Shuo exclaimed. "Our teacher said that I could easily kill someone with my needles now."

"I think I understand," Zhang Xuezhou nodded. "You mean you overdid it during your cultivation last night and couldn't properly channel your internal Law Power?"

"Yes!"

Yi Shuo nodded repeatedly.

The realm techniques of the Suspended Pot Sect, which utilize one part of the power, are completely different from those that utilize three parts of the power.

Physicians emphasize precision in treating illnesses, but Yi Shuo possessed excessively powerful Law Power at her corresponding level, making it impossible for Zheng Wukong to teach her.

"My teacher said I've gone astray in my cultivation, and it will be extremely difficult for me to enter the Consciousness Creation Realm, let alone the Body Transformation Realm or the Divine Ability Realm Powers," Yi Shuo said. "But he never said before that our Suspended Gourd Sect shouldn't rashly expand its magical Law Power!"

"Even finding a better 'location' for cultivation doesn't work," Zhang Xuezhou complained. "This is the first time I've ever heard of such a thing!"

"Perhaps our Suspended Pot Sect has never used such a sacred cultivation Sacred Land before!"

Yi Shuo, supporting Rong Tianding, looked somewhat dejected; the joy of the fortuitous opportunity she had gained last night had vanished.

Not only did Zhang Xuezhou not think about this question, but Yi Shuo also didn't know.

In short, she is currently likely one of the most powerful cultivators in the True Spirit Realm Law Power of the Suspended Pot Sect. To adapt to cultivation techniques and medical skills, Yi Shuo can only rely on herself to adjust. Zheng Wukong can hardly provide guidance anymore, and may even set a bad example.

"I think I understand the situation," Zhang Xuezhou nodded.

"My teacher told me to follow you to those kinds of places more often so that I might be able to improve my cultivation level," Yi Shuo said.

"I can't go to those kinds of places often," Zhang Xuezhou said, shrugging. "I only go when I have the chance to join in the fun!"

"Anyway, I've been kicked out," Yi Shuo said dejectedly.

"We don't take in other people's outcasts!" Rong Tianding shouted. "I haven't had a single peaceful day since you came here."

Please take me in!

"I won't accept it!"

What Yi Shuo wanted was not Zhang Xuezhou's Zhang Xuezhou in cultivation, but rather his network of connections.

What seemed like just a trip to the secret place of the Holy Mother of Wudang was actually the fortuitous opportunity that Zheng Wukong was reluctant to bring to Yishuo.

Compared to enduring hardship with Zheng Wukong, this is far less worthwhile than making two trips with Zhang Xuezhou.

This kind of thing doesn't need to happen very often; even once every few years is enough.

Zhang Xuezhou thought it through and now fully understood why Zheng Wukong wanted to kick Yi Shuo out.

He shook his head, letting Rong Tianding and Yi Shuo bicker and fight.

He himself lacks fortuitous opportunity, how could he possibly lead a sworn brotherhood?

However, there are many advantages to getting closer to Yi Shuo. Firstly, her acupuncture skills are superb; secondly, Yi Zhang Xuezhou's cultivation methods are indeed effective and worth learning from; and thirdly, she has a medicine gourd.

He didn't necessarily expect to gain any benefit from Yi Shuo, but having such a person by his side was always a source of security.

Yi Shuo wanted to rely on Zhang Xuezhou's connections, but little did she know that Zhang Xuezhou himself was a network of connections.

Zhang Xuezhou figured it out and had no choice but to let Yi Shuo and the others have their way. Anyway, he didn't have any fortuitous opportunity at the moment, but food wasn't a problem. Besides, Yi Shuo was an official of the imperial court and didn't need him to support her.

Knock knock knock!

A knock came at the door. Zhang Xuezhou glanced at the two people fighting in the kitchen and had no choice but to open the door himself.

"I guess Old Zheng is coming!"

Zhang Xuezhou made a comment.

When he opened the door, Zhang Xuezhou almost started complaining again.

Should I step in with my left foot or my right foot?

It wasn't Zheng Wukong standing at the entrance, but the new emperor dressed in eunuch's robes.

Zhang Xuezhou glanced at the gloomy, darkening sky and felt that the new emperor was being far too diligent in his duties by leaving the palace at this time.

Just to conduct the entrance examination for him as a Jinma Gate scholar, the other party actually came to our door in a carriage to take the test.