The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 322 Warm Tent (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Three days later, Murong Longcheng, carrying the scroll, went out to find Zhao Ti with mixed feelings.

He felt that everything was unreal, like a dream, which aroused many doubts and worries in his heart.

Cultivating within the immortal mountain is a dream; this is yet another dream, containing elements of the other, all hazy and indistinct, like viewing flowers through mist or gazing at the moon in water—an illusory and false scene.

On his way to the Pacification Commissioner's Office, he pondered to himself, "Is my name really Li Longcheng? Then why was I called 'Tai' in my dream?"
The name Li Longcheng was given to him by someone else, but the "Tai" was something he dreamed about.

If Li Longcheng is fake and "Tai" is real, then the former will inevitably feel unfamiliar to him, while the latter will feel close to him.

But whether it was the surname Li or the given name Longcheng, he felt very familiar with them, a familiarity that was closely related to his own family, as if they were his own.

On the contrary, the word "too" carries a slight sense of unfamiliarity.

It seems that I am still called Li Longcheng. The young master did not deceive me. What is there for the young master to deceive me about?

Thinking of this, Murong Longcheng felt extremely ashamed and quickened his pace, arriving at the military headquarters gate in a short while.

The soldiers went inside to report, and then went in to see Zhao Ti sitting behind his desk reviewing official documents.

Murong Longcheng bowed and said, "Young Master."

Zhao Ti looked up, smiling at him, his gaze sweeping over the scroll in his hand: "Senior, have you finished drawing the portrait of your master?"

Murong Longcheng said, "Young master, I have not failed you. The painting is finished."

Zhao Ti nodded, stood up and stepped outside the table. He lightly dusted off the dust with his sleeves and adopted a solemn expression: "Please, senior, unroll the scroll so that I may admire my master's divine countenance."

Seeing Zhao Ti's solemn demeanor, Murong Longcheng couldn't help but admire him inwardly. The young master acted with composure and sincerity, possessing the demeanor of an ancient gentleman, which truly inspired respect.

Zhao Ti watched as Murong Longcheng slowly unrolled the scroll. Upon closer inspection, he saw an image unfolding in the other's hands.

The painting depicts a fairy mountain background, with a few strokes depicting mountains, water, and palaces. In front of it, there is a cloud of air that looks like a chicken egg.

This cloud of energy appeared as tall as a house, enveloped in a misty aura that seemed to be in motion. It contained a mix of gold and white, with more white than gold, giving it the appearance of billowing clouds and mist, creating a mysterious and ethereal atmosphere.

Within the mass of energy, a figure could be vaguely discerned, but its appearance was obscured, only its form visible. The chaotic primordial energy seemed to surge, making the figure appear both real and ethereal, enveloped in a hazy aura, as if endless mysteries were flowing within it, inspiring awe and wonder at this unfathomable being that transcends all things.

"Is this Master?" Zhao Ti nodded: "Good, good, good. I will now invite Master's portrait into the main hall of the palace for worship, and the ceremony of formally becoming Master will be held tomorrow."

Murong Longcheng said, "In the dream, the mist swirled and crackled like thunder, but Master's voice was very kind."

"The mist is like thunder? It is recorded in the Seven Books of the Cloud Book that the two energies merge and oppose each other, and when they move in an intertwined manner, the sound is like thunder. It is indeed the aura of chaos!" Zhao Ti nodded and smiled, "Master's voice is kind?"

“That’s right,” Murong Longcheng said. “He’s not devoid of emotions and feelings; on the contrary, he’s kind and compassionate.”

"Good, good, good." Zhao Ti reached out and took the portrait, his expression delighted. "Kindness is good, compassion is good. Senior, please go back. I will have someone send you clothes, hats, shoes, and various ceremonial items later. Tomorrow, you will enter the palace for the apprenticeship ceremony."

Murong Longcheng agreed, returned home to rest for the night, and before dawn the next day, he changed his clothes, took what he needed, and went to the palace.

The apprenticeship ceremony was grand, and even though Murong Longcheng had a premonition, he did not expect it to be so solemn.

That hall was magnificent, its purpose unknown. The eaves were decorated with dragons, the beams and pillars with phoenixes, and it was resplendent in gold and jade. Inside, it was inlaid with bright jewels and jade, its light shimmering and flowing. Even without candles, it was incredibly bright.

Above the altar hung a portrait, already framed with gold and silver threads, and even in front of it hung a layer of gauze curtain, with the faint scent of sandalwood wafting through the air, creating a mysterious atmosphere.

There are as many as 108 kinds of offerings in front of the shrine, including all kinds of snacks and fruits, which are dazzling to the eye.

Furthermore, there is the gentle playing of Taoist music, the sound soft and soothing, yet subtly conveying the meaning of scriptures, making people unable to help but ponder and comprehend.

On both sides are statues of golden boys and celestial maidens, and incense is burned, respectfully serving the portrait of the Primordial Ancestor in the center.

The ceremony lasted all morning. Murong Longcheng finished accepting disciples on behalf of his master. It should have been a happy occasion, but because the ceremony was so grand, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

If the dream was false, and there was no master or junior brother at all, then the young master's grand display made him feel somewhat sorry for the young master, as if he had deceived and cheated him.

If the dream truly reflects events from a past life, and the master possesses unparalleled magical power, capable of manipulating primordial energy and having the ability to penetrate heaven and earth, then would accepting disciples on behalf of the master displease the master and cause him to blame him?

But it wouldn't be right for me to just take the young master as my disciple. What kind of behavior would that be? And how would I face him then?
Forget it, never mind. If I'm going to take on a disciple on behalf of my master, then I'll take on a disciple on behalf of my master. If there's any karmic retribution involved, and my master blames me, I'll just bear it all myself.

Murong Longcheng made up his mind and decided not to dwell on the matter any longer.

After the ceremony, a grand banquet was held in the palace in the afternoon. Zhao Ti addressed Murong Longcheng as "Senior Brother" and invited him to sit at the head of the table.

Murong Longcheng refused no matter what, but Zhao Ti said, "Today is different from usual. Senior brother is acting on behalf of our master, so please don't refuse. After today, we will no longer perform this ceremony."

Murong Longcheng had no choice but to sit in the middle and accept the toasts and drinks until the banquet finally ended in the evening.

Afterwards, Zhao Ti went to the Hongmeng Ancestral Master Hall to offer incense and pay respects, instructing everyone to take good care of the offerings, ensuring that the candles and incense were not extinguished, before heading towards his bedchamber.

He walked to the front of the palace and saw a person standing under a tree, holding a yellow leaf in their hand. It was Mu Wanqing.

Mu Wanqing was still dressed in black, but she changed from the original tight-fitting arrow sleeves to a black gauze dress, which accentuated her fair skin, delicate eyebrows, starry eyes, exquisite nose, and cherry lips. Her cheeks were so beautiful that she looked like a figure in a painting.

Zhao Ti smiled and asked, "What is Wan'er doing here?"

Mu Wanqing walked over, her face slightly flushed: "Your Highness, I have some questions about cultivation that I would like to ask you."

Zhao Ti nodded, took her soft hand and gently held it: "What don't you understand? Tell me."

Mu Wanqing's face flushed, and she whispered, "Your Highness, there is someone who will see this."

Zhao Ti shook his head: "So what if I see it? What can I do about it?"

Mu Wanqing lowered her head: "It wouldn't be good if Ling'er and the others saw us..."

Zhao Ti raised his hand and gently lifted her pointed chin: "Ling'er, are you afraid that Ling'er will see this?"

Mu Wanqing said, "Ling'er is still the younger sister, and I am the older sister. What kind of behavior is it to see this..."

Zhao Ti thought for a moment: "What's wrong with that? I think we might as well call Ling'er over too. Since we're sisters..." Mu Wanqing blushed and said hastily, "Your Highness, Your Highness, please explain the cultivation method."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Let's talk as we walk. We can go to the palace for tea."

Mu Wanqing murmured to herself, and then began to talk about cultivation. She had already finished refining the seed of the Kinnara God King's mark and had begun to practice her spells.

Kinnara God-King, also known as the Music God or the God of Song, inherits a lineage that, in addition to his main cultivation techniques, primarily uses musical techniques. His magical power is transformed into sound waves, which manifest various phenomena with immense power.

One of them is the Rahu Soul Chant, which is one of the more powerful spells for beginners. It uses the mysterious voice of the Kinnara to chant a tune that can bewitch the soul. The melody is like a river of the underworld, causing the opponent to lose their mind in the melody.

However, this spell is somewhat difficult to master. Although the transmission details it, some terms still have multiple interpretations. After all, the God King belongs to Buddhism, and the terminology used in the transmission is predominantly Buddhist, which Mu Wanqing finds difficult to understand.

After listening and discerning the meaning, Zhao Ti knew which interpretation to choose and then began to explain it to her.

After a short while, they entered the palace. A maid brought over some tea, and the two discussed martial arts techniques while drinking tea.

At this time, Mu Wanqing had already mastered the Heavenly Sound Breaking the Sky Melody. This technique uses a powerful singing voice to transform into sound waves that soar straight into the sky, like a god-king descending to earth. The sound waves are like the collapse of the dome, containing the divine power to destroy the world.

Unlike the Heavenly Sound Breaking the Sky Melody, the Luo Hou Soul Chant has a greater single-target destructive power, mainly targeting the soul, catching people off guard. Once mastered, it can even directly shatter the enemy's soul.

“Your Highness, the Heavenly Sound Breaking the Sky Melody is said to have been created jointly by the Gandharva God King and the Kinnara God King,” Mu Wanqing said.

"Was it co-created by the Gandharva God Kings?" Zhao Ti nodded: "Legend has it that the two tribes have always been friendly and have a long history of intermarriage. In one lifetime, the two God Kings became husband and wife and lived together. It is likely that this magic was created in that lifetime."

"I wonder how A'Zhu's cultivation is progressing?" Mu Wanqing said, knowing that Zhao Ti had passed on the Gandharva God King to A'Zhu.

“A-Zhu…” Zhao Ti said, “I haven’t seen her these past two days. She must be practicing her skills diligently.”

“Your Highness, Sister A’Zhu is so diligent, I… I’ll go back and practice too.” Mu Wanqing stood up upon hearing this.

"Where does Wan'er want to go back to?" Zhao Ti pulled her fair wrist.

"Of course, of course I'll go back to my residence to practice..." Mu Wanqing trembled and whispered.

Zhao Ti gently pulled her into his arms: "Isn't it the same to practice here? Why go back?"

“Here…” Mu Wanqing whispered, “With His Highness by my side, Wan’er cannot, cannot concentrate fully on cultivation.”

Zhao Ti felt that the other person's breath was as fragrant as orchids and her body was as soft as if it had no bones. He smiled and said, "Then let's not practice tonight. It won't make a difference if we don't practice for one more night. Wan'er, stay and keep me company."

Mu Wanqing's voice was barely audible: "Your Highness, have you missed Wan'er all this time?"

Zhao Ti sighed softly, "How could I not want to? Otherwise, how could I have gone to Shambhala?"

Mu Wanqing blushed: "Your Highness, Your Highness, your hand..."

Zhao Ti lowered his head, and Mu Wanqing immediately opened her eyes wide, "Your Highness, mmm..."

A moment later, Zhao Ti picked up Mu Wanqing by the waist and carried her into the inner room, gently setting her down in front of the bed.

Mu Wanqing's voice was barely audible: "Your Highness, I..."

Zhao Ti said, "I won't leave tonight. It's getting cold in autumn, so I'll stay here with you."

Mu Wanqing's face grew even more flushed, and she dared not speak. She closed her eyes and felt Zhao Ti stripping her clothes off one by one. Her body went limp, and with a soft moan, she burrowed into the brocade quilt...

The next day, as dawn broke, Zhao Ti stretched and gently stroked the black hair beside his pillow, which fell onto his smooth, jade-like cheek.

Mu Wanqing's starry eyes were filled with confusion as she murmured, "Zhao Lang..." She stretched out her arms and hugged Zhao Ti tightly.

Zhao Ti thought for a moment, then continued stroking her. After a few breaths, he took a breath, turned over slightly, and Mu Wanqing couldn't help but let out a soft cry...

Halfway through the morning, Zhao Ti summoned all the officials in the city to a meeting at the Pacification Commissioner's Office.

An imperial edict arrived from Tokyo, reporting unusual activity on the northern border between the Song and Liao dynasties. Liao troops were preparing for war in several prefectures along the border.

When the officials learned of this, they all frowned and had various opinions. Some said that the Liao Kingdom was just bluffing and trying to extort benefits, while others said that Liao had always been resentful of the Hequ region and might really be planning a war, so they had to be careful.

Zhao Ti looked at everyone and slowly said, "Your Majesty's intention is that, regardless of whether the other side's war is genuine or not, we should take this opportunity to recover Yan and Yun in one fell swoop!"

Recapture Yan and Yun?! Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, and then fell silent.

Seeing this, Zhao Ti remained silent, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes slightly, as if lost in thought.

After a long pause, someone finally said, "Your Highness, our Great Song Dynasty has only acquired the Hequ region a year ago. It would be inappropriate to launch another large-scale military campaign."

Another person said, "Now is the time to rest and recuperate. Even if the Liao Kingdom provokes us, it is best to play along and even if we have to pay some tribute, we should try to buy ourselves a few more years before making any further moves."

Others said, "At this moment, our troops are exhausted. The elite troops we fought against the Western Xia suffered heavy losses, and we have depleted our decades-long reserves of military equipment. It has only been a year, so the Tokyo Arsenal has probably not produced many more."

Zhao Ti opened his eyes: "Your Majesty means to transfer the military equipment stored in the southern regions. Moreover, the military equipment bureau in the capital has been operating continuously since the end of the war with Western Xia in the spring, and there has been some accumulation now."

"The military supplies in the southern regions?" The man who had spoken earlier said with a wry smile, "Forgive me for speaking so disrespectfully, but Your Majesty is thinking too much, too much... Those military supplies in the southern regions are probably already rotten and useless."

“That’s right.” Another person said, “I have served as an official in Jiangnan and Jingnan several times. These places have not experienced war for many years. Not only are the soldiers lax, but the military equipment stores are also abandoned. Bows and swords are lost, guns and crossbows are rusted, and even heavy weapons such as ballistae are mostly unusable.”

Zhao Ti ignored what they were saying and said calmly, "Except for Xihe Road, the remaining four routes of the Northwest Five Routes will have their troops transferred north. From now on, the name of the route will be removed and it will only be called the Anfu Road. The regular garrison will be no different from other Anfu Roads, numbering several thousand but no more than ten thousand."

"This..." Upon hearing this, no one spoke. After the Hequ region was captured, apart from Xihe Road which needed to be guarded against the Tubo, there was indeed no need to station heavy troops in the remaining four routes.

"We will keep 200,000 troops stationed in Hequ and Longyou, but some generals from the original four northwestern routes will be transferred there to deal with the Liao war," Zhao Ti continued.

The crowd remained silent, which was fine, since the situation was relatively stable at the moment. As long as the army remained in place, changing generals wouldn't be a big deal.

Seeing that no one spoke, Zhao Ti waved his hand and dismissed the meeting.

Once the office was empty, he began writing to Zhao Xu, describing the situation of shamanism and the strange occurrences on the grasslands.

(End of this chapter)