Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 15 Tracking
The golden lion licked him for a while before letting go. Lu Chenyuan's face was covered in saliva, but fortunately, the beast's mouth didn't taste like anything. Since Lu Chenyuan needed the cat's help, he let it do as it pleased.

"May I ask, benefactor, what is the name of this piece of music?"

Zen Master Yunhe, his eyes filled with kindness, asked, "Could it originate from the story of the ancient overlord?"

"Master Fa'er."

Lu Chenyuan took out a handkerchief to wipe his face and said, "This piece is called 'The Hegemon Bids Farewell to His Concubine.' I heard someone play it a few times when I was young and was lucky enough to memorize it. My skills are rough, so please forgive me, Princess, Master, and Steward Yuan."

Zen Master Yunhe shook his head, becoming more and more satisfied with what he saw.

Yuan Qingshuang smiled and said, "Lord Lu is too modest. The Book of Music says: All music originates from the human heart. Although technique is a vehicle for expressing emotions, its value lies in whether it can 'communicate with the virtues of the gods and understand the feelings of all things.' Your piece has touched people's hearts and has reached a higher level. I admire you."

Even with his thick skin, Lu Chenyuan couldn't quite handle such praise. He thanked his old flame in his heart, but humbly replied, "This zither is truly excellent. Its tone is ethereal and clear, with endless lingering resonance, which masks any flaws in my technique."

Seeing his smugness, Li Lingyue couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. This feeling came out of nowhere. Just as she was about to make sarcastic remarks, she heard him take credit for the [Dongling Zheng], so she had to swallow the words she was about to say, feeling extremely frustrated.

Lu Chenyuan chuckled inwardly.

Some say that a woman's life is a constant pursuit of being loved, and beautiful women are no exception. That's why the manipulative tactics of playing hard to get and being hot and cold with a scumbag man are so effective.

Lu Chenyuan disdained using such methods to gain favor. Of course, he didn't mind using them to attract attention in the early stages, but there was no need for it afterward.

He has a very clear understanding of himself, and he sets an 80% target for building goodwill; the higher the target, the more dangerous it becomes, which is a threshold for both himself and his clients.

He wouldn't take a physical relationship to the next level. He sees himself much like a gigolo, it's just a transaction—anything that can be bought with money is definitely fake. Lu Chenyuan is just good at making fake things seem 90% real.

He has many nicknames in the industry.

Names like "Midnight Absolute," "Cyber ​​Love Poison," "Cold-Faced Sweetheart," and "Hexagonal Warrior" have business cards that read, "Accompanying you to eat, drink, chat, sleep, and be emotional, but not to your conscience." Many clients complain that his "cold-faced sweetheart" charm only depends on the money; the more money he has, the sweeter he becomes.

Princess Taiping looked down on Wu Youji.

The higher her status and the more she knew, the fewer men she could match. Wu Youji was neither talented nor beautiful, and the two of them were from completely different worlds. She could not satisfy her emotional needs with her nominal husband, so she naturally had to look for someone else. There were very few people who could match her, and these people were not necessarily indispensable to her, so she could only settle for second best and choose someone who was good-looking.

From a psychological perspective, it is understandable and even predictable that Empress Wu Zetian and Princess Taiping would seek male favorites.

Not to mention, Lu Chenyuan also knows history.

Since Princess Taiping would have many male lovers, it wouldn't be unreasonable for him to reserve a spot first.

This woman used him as a shield, so this is a good compensation.

Anyway, it won't stop her from having fun in the future. Everyone gets what they want, so why not?

Li Lingyue didn't know what he was thinking, but she felt that his emotions were changing more and more frequently. She became vigilant, circulated her internal energy, and felt a chill run through her meridians, which cleared her mind: "It seems that the Golden Clan has recognized you. In that case, you can come here to play the zither every day after you finish your duty. Zen Master Yunhe is a master of music. You can ask him for advice. I think the master also appreciates talent. Perhaps he can help you improve your skills."

Zen Master Yunhe gently twirled the Bodhi beads in his hand, nodded, and smiled, saying, "Young friend, your talent is exceptional; this old monk certainly intends to discuss the Dao with you."

Seeing this, Lu Chenyuan didn't stand on ceremony and clasped his hands in a salute: "Master, I am honored by your kindness." Then he turned to Li Lingyue and smiled: "I also want to thank the princess. Your Highness is indeed beautiful and kind-hearted."

Li Lingyue felt much better: "Then let's go."

Lu Chenyuan smiled, his respectful demeanor tinged with friendliness, and stepped back step by step, leading the golden lion out of the Lingni Palace.

Li Lingyue had been paying attention to his expression. Seeing that he remained consistent, she thought to herself that he might be telling the truth this time. Her mood improved considerably. When she turned her head, she caught a glimpse of Yuan Qingshuang with a smile on her face, watching Lu Chenyuan walk away, her eyes revealing a hint of appreciation.

This is only human nature; everyone has a love for beauty. Moreover, Lu Chenyuan is not only handsome but also talented. Putting aside romantic feelings, there's nothing wrong with appreciating someone else's musical skills. However, Li Lingyue still felt a sense of annoyance—this look was just like the one Princess Qianjin had given her when she stared at the mermaid tears in her dressing case!

"Return to Xiaoxiang Pavilion."

"Yes."

……

[Successfully played a piece, proficiency +15.]

Even after leaving the main hall, Lu Chenyuan's mind was still filled with various techniques he had learned. By comparing them with the knowledge he had received before, he could find his shortcomings and his thoughts became more and more clear.

"To learn and then practice what you have learned is a pleasure, isn't it? ... Indeed it is!"

Lu Chenyuan was secretly surprised. The Insightful Eye was too abnormal. It could increase experience with any skill. Given enough time, it was basically foreseeable that he would become an all-rounder. He just didn't know if there would be any side effects.

I feel that as my experience grows, so does my love for music.

His mindset is changing!

Lu Chenyuan is already proficient in musical instruments, and once his experience points exceed 10,000, he will become a "Grandmaster".

What is the mindset of a master?
Confidence, perseverance, passion, obsession, dedication...

These emotions, or rather, this mindset, are not wrong; on the contrary, they are essential factors for success.

To succeed in a certain field, you must have this mindset.

Only with the right mindset can one strive for excellence and go further.

but……

There are always exceptions to everything. As the saying goes, too much of anything is bad, things will turn into their opposites when they reach their extreme, the sun will decline when it is at its zenith, and the moon will wane when it is full.

When this mindset exceeds a certain limit, it will turn into something else entirely.

Confidence turns into arrogance, persistence into obsession, passion into fanaticism, and infatuation into aloofness.

This is just about music, and it has already subtly changed his mindset. If he becomes a master in all skills and has this mindset in every field, what will he become?

Lu Chenyuan's heart pounded wildly!
Some people become arrogant when they succeed in one field. Imagine how much impact it would have if they succeeded in every field.

"This is not good, we need to prepare as soon as possible..."

Lu Chenyuan was secretly on guard. This was the side effect. Without the necessary mental cultivation, one simply could not withstand the mental impact brought about by the improvement of these skills. If one only cultivates skills and not the mind, one might end up becoming an arrogant madman!

"wrong……"

Lu Chenyuan recalled Gu Yunsheng, whom Li Lingyue had mentioned: "A master of a hundred schools of thought, a sage of three religions, his reputation is surely well-deserved... How did he do it? What kind of experiences allowed him to rise from a down-on-his-luck student to a contemporary sage without any consequences? We need to find out more about him..."

"Ow!"

Seeing him in a daze, the golden lion called out.

Lu Chenyuan suppressed his emotions and quickly explained the whole story, saying, "This place has a strong smell of blood, so there might be a blood pool for raising Gu poison. There's also a lot of incense, most likely the tribute incense 'Cold Pool Crane Shadow' used at the Mingtang banquet that day, which makes it easier to mix the blood Gu poison into it. I guess it's in the Congshanfang area. Smell around and see if you can find a place like this?"

Jin Ni nodded. This wasn't difficult; it could do it in the princess's residence. It closed its eyes and took a deep breath.

In an instant, the entire capital city seemed to freeze in its tracks!

Ten thousand wisps of smoke mingled with the perfumed scents of eight hundred markets, the dust kicked up by iron hooves on the hundred-mile post road, the rusty smell of the bronze bells vibrating on the eaves of the Purple Palace, and the rotting twin lotus blossoms in the silt at the bottom of the Luo River—all of these instantly transformed into a surging tide that flooded the nostrils! The golden lion's muscles suddenly tensed like a bow, its sharp claws carving deep furrows into the ground.

The stench of rotting rats, the stench of newly brewed sweet spring water, the metallic scent of the execution ground, the fragrance of medicine in the inner chambers... countless smells transform into colorful venomous snakes, coiling and tearing in the nasal cavity.

Upon closer inspection, a crane's cry suddenly pierced the air, and a wisp of cold, fragrant scent from a deep pool broke through the chaos, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible smell of blood and rust, winding its way from a crack in the southeastern wall.

found it!
The golden lion opened its eyes, its eyes flashing with a sharp light, and it leaped out of the princess's residence as a golden beam of light!

It's right from the direction of Shanfang!
Lu Chenyuan used his lightness skill to follow closely behind.

……

Wang Yizhi was watching from the street.

As noon approached, he found a nearby eatery and spent forty coins to buy a bowl of mutton soup and three flatbreads. He had intended to buy one for Lu Chenyuan as well, but considering that he didn't know when Lu Chenyuan would return and that the food would spoil if left out for too long, he didn't order it. He sat alone at the table in front of the shop, enjoying his meal with a bite of flatbread and a spoonful of soup.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves and armor being sharpened came from the north side of the long street.

A group of Imperial Guards clad in gleaming armor hurried past.

The leader was a man with a pointed face and monkey-like features. He wore a scarlet imperial censor's robe and rode a fine horse with pure gold horseshoes that clattered loudly on the bluestone street.

His sharp eyes swept across both sides of the street, and he unexpectedly spotted a familiar face. He raised an eyebrow, smiled, and gestured, "Stop."

All the Imperial Guards immediately stopped and stood at attention, and the sound of armor being sharpened vanished instantly.

When the vendors and pedestrians around him saw what he looked like, they were all terrified, swallowing hard. They wanted to run but dared not, wanted to hide but could not, and could only stand there dumbfounded, letting him do as he pleased.

The man ignored his surroundings, dismounted, tossed the reins to his subordinate, put his hands behind his back, and strode over to Wang Yizhi, smiling as he said, "Young Master Wang, how have you been?"

Wang Yizhi continued drinking his soup and eating his flatbread, pretending not to hear.

The man chuckled dismissively, glancing at the food on the table. "You can actually swallow this junk, Young Master Wang," he laughed. "Looks like your temperament has truly changed. I knew it needed some polishing. A jade stone must be carved to become a gem."

boom!
Wang Yizhi put down the bowl, his true energy surged, and the ancient zither behind him spontaneously produced strings, exuding a powerful killing intent.

The surrounding guards drew their swords and rushed forward to protect them.

"It doesn't matter."

The man waved his hand and sneered, "If I stand here and let him kill me, he won't dare to move! The Wang family of Taiyuan is nothing but a bunch of spineless cowards!"

"..."

Wang Yizhi was furious, his face contorted with rage, but he truly couldn't move.

This man's name is Hou Sizhi, a henchman of Lijing Prison, and a notorious lackey of Lai Junchen.

He was the one who proposed marriage to the Wang family of Taiyuan on behalf of Lai Junchen that day!

This man came from a poor family and worked as a pancake seller in his early years. He served as a servant to Gao Yuanli, a military advisor in Hengzhou. He gained the favor of the current emperor for his involvement in falsely accusing Pei Zhen, the governor of Hengzhou, of conspiring with Prince Shu, Li Yuanming, to rebel.

Wang Yizhi often thought about this.

What's the use of studying the Four Books and Five Classics? What's the use of practicing martial arts diligently? What's the use of being born into a prestigious family?

Lai Junchen was at least literate, but Hou Sizhi was completely illiterate. Yet, with just the phrase "Even the Xie Zhi is illiterate, yet it can touch evil spirits," he went from a rogue to a fifth-rank imperial censor, and even earned the reputation of being "as virtuous as the Xie Zhi."

He was initially very angry and indignant, but after meeting Lu Chenyuan today, he began to understand things a little better.

There's no need to be angry.

If Lu Chenyuan hadn't become the emperor, he would still be a lowly, unranked guard.

These "loopholes" are meant to be exploited; whoever exploits them, it doesn't matter.

During Emperor Taizong's reign, to rise above others, one either had to study or fight in battles; now, to rise above others, one either has to inform on others or be a cruel official.

Such is the state of the world; what the current emperor wants is a group of beasts constantly selecting more beasts to enslave those who are vying to become beasts yet.

Living in a pigsty, even if you're not an animal, you're still an animal. Since we're all animals, who's more noble than whom?
Wang Yizhi smiled with relief.

He sat down and continued eating his bread and drinking his soup.

This laugh angered Hou Sizhi.

What he most wanted to see was the pathetic sight of these high-ranking officials wanting to kill him but not daring to! If Wang Yizhi ignored it, he would only make himself look like a frivolous actor.

Thinking of this, he sat down and decided to give the young master a good taunt: "What are you doing here? Looking for prostitutes in broad daylight?"

Wang Yizhi calmly replied, "Likewise."

Hou Sizhi sneered, "Unlike Young Master Wang, I, Hou, still have important matters to attend to."

Wang Yizhi: "Really? I really couldn't tell."

Hou Sizhi: "...Why are you all alone? Can't you even become a seventh-rank official?"

Wang Yizhi: "People like you are getting higher and higher, while people like me are naturally getting lower and lower. What's so strange about that?"

Mocking me?!
Hou Sizhi was furious. The more he listened, the angrier he became. He gritted his teeth and said, "You've gotten quite sharp-tongued in just a few days!"

Wang Yizhi said calmly, "I'm not only sharp-tongued, but also tough. It's precisely because I'm so tough that I tolerate a villain like you swaggering in front of me! If I had just knelt down and sided with Lai Junchen back then, you'd probably be dead by now. Isn't that right?"

Hou Sizhi was startled, but he quickly recovered and sneered, "What? Is Young Master Wang planning to reconcile with my master?"

Wang Yizhi looked at him carefully and said, word by word, "He is, after all, my brother-in-law in name only. If you cause trouble again, I might really stoop to your level! In this day and age, it doesn't matter who you kowtow to. Tell me, would he kill me or you?"

Hou Sizhi was startled, a chill running down his spine.

These people dared not touch him because they had families to support and could not bear the consequences of killing an official or committing adultery. But Lai Junchen was different; he had a thousand ways to kill people, and the Empress Wu would not bother him.

Wang Yizhi and his family have a strong background. The reason why Lai Junchen divorced his wife and forced her to marry a woman from the Wang family was to elevate his status and fully integrate into the aristocratic family. In the future, he might even be able to establish a branch of the "Lai family". It is obvious which is more important. As long as Wang Yizhi can soften his stance, Lai Junchen will definitely not be polite in order to please him and the Wang family!
By then, even a peaceful death won't be easy for him.

Hou Sizhi broke out in a cold sweat.

Even if he knew that Wang Yizhi wasn't that kind of person, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't change his mind. If he put himself in Wang Yizhi's shoes and his career was ruined because of a single sentence, he would have given up long ago. Perhaps Wang Yizhi had also come to terms with it?

Hou Sizhi was sweating profusely and couldn't sit still any longer.

Just then, a streak of light flashed across the sky, followed by a figure descending from the heavens, carrying with him the scent of pine breezes and bamboo dew—it was Lu Chenyuan…

(End of this chapter)