"Actually, I’ve co this ti not only to express my gratitude to you both, but also with a request..."
As he spoke, he sized up the old Daoist before him. The old man’s eyelids remained lowered, his expression betraying no change or ripple of emotion.
After so consideration, Lü Buwei continued with a gentle smile:
"I’ll be direct. I would like to invite you both to beco Honored Guest Ministers of my Lü Family Chamber of Comrce... If you agree, the Lü Family Chamber of Comrce will provide you with a monthly stipend, and you will have free access to most of our resources..."
"That won’t be necessary," Lu Xuan refused flatly.
Lü Buwei, who had been about to launch into a long-winded speech, froze for a mont before smiling.
"Daoist Lu, perhaps you could reconsider? My Lü Family Chamber of Comrce is ranked among the top five rchant families in the world today. In terms of wealth alone, we are comparable to an ordinary Dukes State. Even in terms of power and influence, we can hold our own against the weaker Dukes States..."
"Still no," Lu Xuan refused again with a faint shake of his head.
Beside them, Zhao Zheng couldn’t help but chuckle. ’This Uncle Lü is far too ambitious, trying to recruit Foster Grandsire as an Honored Guest Minister?’
’How absurd...’
Lü Buwei seed reluctant to give up and was about to say more, but Lü Niangrong, at his side, rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Dad! Daoist Lu and Brother Zhao are benefactors of our Lü Family, after all. How could you be like this...?"
Lü Buwei sighed, his voice full of regret.
"I have been conversing with Daoist Lu for a long ti and felt a sense of kinship, which is why the thought occurred to . Thinking back on it now, I was indeed too presumptuous..."
In truth, during their recent casual conversation, Lü Buwei had tried to probe from various angles. Although he hadn’t learned anything concrete, he sensed that this Daoist Lu was even more extraordinary than he had imagined.
No matter the topic—from the state of the world to the conflicts between the Dukes States, from the Zhou Dynasty to even the Immortal Officials and Divine Officials of the heavens—
this Daoist Lu spoke of them all with casual ease. On so matters, just a few of his words were enough to feel like a sudden, profound enlightennt...
’A great talent, a truly great talent...’
After a mont of thought, Lü Buwei chuckled and dropped the subject.
"By the way, what are your plans for the future, Daoist Lu and Young Master Zhao? I heard from Niangrong that you intend to travel far..."
"Mm," the old Daoist nodded faintly. "Master Kong has arrived. After I see him, I will probably take a trip to the Chu Kingdom Capital."
He had originally planned to see Senior Brother Zhang and the soon-to-arrive Grandpa Chu, as well as his own ’past’ self, to try and interfere with his own past.
However, his teacher wanted to follow him, and he wasn’t sure if he should still do it. The Three Masters had said he must never tell his teacher the details, or it would trigger a great catastrophe...
But Lu Xuan couldn’t shake the feeling that sothing was wrong. Why couldn’t his teacher know about this?
While he was lost in thought, Lü Buwei, standing to the side, showed a hint of surprise and asked casually:
"So the purple qi in the sky really was caused by the legendary Master Kong... Judging by your tone, Daoist Lu, it seems you are acquainted with Master Kong?"
Lu Xuan returned to his senses, cald his thoughts, and said flatly:
"Mm, we know each other."
Lü Buwei and the old servant beside him exchanged a glance, a flash of delighted surprise in their eyes. They had just been worrying about how to pay a visit to Master Kong...
’I just don’t know what kind of relationship Daoist Lu has with Master Kong.’
Lü Buwei’s mind raced. ’Are they well-acquainted, or have they only t a few tis? It must be the latter. After all, I’d never heard of this Daoist Lu before, whereas Master Kong’s Seventy-two Disciples and three thousand followers are all world-renowned.’
’Still, even if they’ve only t a few tis, it would make a visit seem less abrupt. I could just tag along with him...’
As a thousand thoughts spun through his mind, Lü Buwei let out a casual-seeming laugh and asked:
"I have long admired Master Kong’s na. I’ve always wanted to pay him a visit but never had the chance... Now that Master Kong has co to Jiangling, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask Daoist Lu for an introduction."
"Alright." Lu Xuan gave a faint nod. He was busy contemplating his next steps, so his reply was brief.
Lü Buwei didn’t mind and continued to make small talk with the old Daoist for a while. Seeing the purple qi in the sky grow ever more imnse, he knew Master Kong was probably getting close and offered a reminder:
"Daoist Lu, Master Kong may have already reached the city gates. Shouldn’t we go... and pay our respects?"
Lu Xuan was slightly surprised. His original intention was to wait for Confucius to find him, but on second thought, it was only proper to go and see him in person.
’I wonder how far Master Kong has progressed in the past thirty years?’
In the Current World, the records regarding Master Kong are relatively clear. If I recall correctly, it was after his travels through the various states that Confucius earned the title of Saint.
With this in mind, Lu Xuan rose gracefully, a faint smile on his face.
"Then let’s go see him."
Zhao Zheng rose as well and asked respectfully:
"Foster Grandsire, should we bring Old Li and the Cyan Bull?"
Lu Xuan’s smile stiffened. Just as he was about to refuse, he saw the farr leading Niu’er out slowly from the backyard.
The old farr smiled honestly.
"Daoist, are you going to see the legendary Master Kong? I’ve heard he is a man of great benevolence and righteousness. He is indeed worth eting."
Lü Buwei, his old servant, and Lü Niangrong all glanced at the old farr in surprise but didn’t think much of it. Lu Xuan, however, quickly turned his head and subconsciously cupped his hands in a salute.
"So be it."
Lü Buwei and his old servant looked at each other, both feeling a bit emotional. ’It seems this Daoist Lu really is as approachable as Lü Niangrong said,’ they thought, ’to be so courteous to an old farr...’
.........
「Outside Jiangling City.」
An opulent carriage slowly drove up to the city gates. It was emblazoned with a large character for "Lü" and drawn by four large horses. The old servant driving it had a solemn expression.
Beside the opulent carriage, an old farr led a Cyan Bull. A young man who looked to be in his twenties or thirties walked beside them, and on the bull’s back sat a venerable-looking Daoist.
However, the Daoist didn’t look very comfortable, seeming rather restless.
"Daoist, Master Kong is almost here," the old farr said with a grin.
Lu Xuan’s expression didn’t change, but his tone was exceedingly gentle—almost excessively so.
"Old Li, you must be tired from leading him. Why don’t you co up on the bull’s back and rest for a bit?"
Zhao Zheng turned his head, a little surprised. Nearby, Lü Buwei poked his head out of the opulent carriage and said with a laugh:
"Daoist Lu, you certainly are kind-hearted..."
Lu Xuan’s face twitched, but he didn’t reply.
Lü Buwei paid it no mind, his thoughts spinning once more. ’By using Daoist Lu as a bridge to et Master Kong, if he and Master Kong are well-acquainted, perhaps the trouble with the Duanmu Family can be easily resolved.’
’But if they’ve only t a few tis, then I’m afraid I’ll still have to have a proper talk with that Zi Gong...’
While he was pondering, a clamor arose from all around. Lü Buwei subconsciously looked up, his pupils contracting slightly.
He saw a carriage approaching slowly. Purple qi swirled above it, and a myriad of auras descended. As its wheels rolled over the ground, they didn’t make a rumbling sound, but rather the resonant clash of the Dao and its principles interweaving!
Behind the carriage, seventy-two people led by the Ten Sages strolled along. Following the carriage, their footsteps resounded with the cadence of benevolence and righteousness, kicking up shimring golden light.
Farther back was a small sea of three thousand people. Each was dressed plainly, yet each was extraordinary—all of them in the Celestial Human Realm!
"It really is Master Kong!" a citizen who had co out to see the commotion cried out in astonishnt. Thousands upon thousands of people all bowed in unison. Only then did Lü Buwei snap back to his senses, hastily helping Lü Niangrong out of the carriage.
Lü Niangrong swallowed hard.
"Dad, is that Master Kong? What a grand spectacle..."
"Hush!" Lü Buwei warned. "Do not speak carelessly in a mont. Master Kong already has the bearing of a Saint. When he travels, purple qi follows him, his wheel-turns are dense with principles, and the Ten Sages behind him are all nearing the state of Great Virtue..."
Lü Niangrong shrank back and glanced to the side. She saw that Daoist Lu had not dismounted from the bull’s back. Just as she was about to remind him, she heard another cry of alarm.
"The carriage is heading this way!" a citizen shouted in wild delight.
Lü Niangrong’s expression shifted slightly. She turned her head back and saw the carriage slowly approach, stopping thirty ters in front of them.
Then, a middle-aged man stepped down from the carriage, and with a single step, ten thousand lotuses blood.
Lü Niangrong’s heart began to pound. ’This is... Master Kong?’
’Hm?’
’Wait, why is Master Kong... bowing?’
Thirty ters away, amidst a dead silence, Master Kong bent at the waist, performing a deep and formal bow.
Watching the tide of lotuses cascade toward them, Lü Niangrong felt her scalp tingle with shock.
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