Chapter 355: Grand Tutor

On the flying boat, the two men conversed so pleasantly that they were on the verge of becoming sworn brothers. With similar cultivation levels, they exchanged insights into their training, confirming their own understanding, and both gained profound enlightenment.

The flying boat sped rapidly through the air; it would still be a long time before they reached Hanjia Fort. Qin Sang did not enter a meditative state to cultivate; instead, he kept looking out of the flying boat. White clouds drifted lazily across the clear, azure sky. Varied landscapes of mountains, rivers, and wetlands, along with scattered mortal villages—scenes utterly distinct from the ancient immortal battlefield—rapidly receded from his view.

"Fellow Daoist Han," Qin Sang suddenly stood up and said apologetically, "I've just remembered something urgent. I'm afraid I won't be able to return to Hanjia Fort with you. If the opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly visit."

The Han Patriarch was astonished and quickly tried to persuade him to stay. "What urgent matter could be so pressing, Fellow Daoist Qin? You saved my life, yet I nearly repaid kindness with enmity and haven't even apologized to you. And then there's Zhen Ming..."

Qin Sang slowly shook his head. "At Guling Mountain, it was merely a small effort on my part, Fellow Daoist Han; please don't mention any life-saving grace again. Furthermore, this matter is not your fault, Fellow Daoist Han. Your guidance to Youshan Market back then, which set me on the immortal path, was an opportunity others could only dream of. I truly do have an urgent matter. I will trouble Hanjia Fort another day, and then we can enjoy a good drink together, Fellow Daoist Han. As for Zhen Ming's matter, so many years have passed that the truth is no longer important..."

The Han Patriarch listened, looking thoughtful. After pondering for a moment, he looked deeply at Qin Sang and said, "I understand! However, Zhen Ming harbored ill intentions, and an explanation must be given to Fellow Daoist Qin. Please rest assured, Fellow Daoist Qin, I will handle it properly. No matter what, I, Han, will never forget your kindness. If you ever encounter trouble in the future, Fellow Daoist Qin, just send word, and I will certainly lend my full assistance!"

Qin Sang nodded, then leaped from the flying boat and said, "Until we meet again, Fellow Daoist Han."

"Until we meet again!"

The Han Patriarch cupped his hands in farewell, then suddenly remembered something and shouted to Qin Sang's retreating back, "Fellow Daoist Qin, the Great Sui has not moved its capital; the imperial capital is still in its original location."

As night fell.

In the Imperial Capital of Great Sui, thousands of lights illuminated homes. Qin Sang stood on a mountain peak north of the capital, overlooking the magnificent city. He noticed that the imperial capital's current size was at least twice as large as when he had left, with even Pilgrimage Mountain, formerly outside the city, now enclosed within its walls. Its prosperity far surpassed that of the past. In just a few decades, it had transformed from a city ravaged by war to its current impressive state. The Han Patriarch's words about the Empress's immense talent were certainly no exaggeration.

Suddenly, a rush of wind announced the arrival of a figure, indiscernible to the naked eye, who drifted gracefully like a wisp of breeze. This was clearly a movement technique, indicating the person was not a martial arts master but a cultivator.

Qin Sang withdrew his gaze and looked down at the newcomer.

"May I ask if you are Senior Qin?"

The person landed before Qin Sang, glanced at him, and quickly bowed in greeting.

"Who are you?"

Qin Sang scrutinized the person. By appearance, he seemed to be in his forties or fifties, with a goatee, resembling a scholar. His cultivation was not high, only at the eleventh level of Qi Condensation, and he wore an exceptionally luxurious brocade robe.

"Reporting to Senior, this junior is a descendant of the Han family, and the current patriarch is my paternal uncle..."

The scholar introduced himself, then took out a letter and presented it to Qin Sang with both hands. "The Patriarch instructed this junior to deliver this letter into Senior Qin's hands and also to report to Senior Qin. Back then, Zhen Ming's younger brother lacked sufficient aptitude. Zhen Ming wanted his brother to enter the inner sect in two years, taking advantage of the opportunity when the inner sect recruited guards. Fearing his brother would be replaced, he resorted to deception and committed that despicable act. The Patriarch has already handled it according to clan rules. The principal culprit has been executed. Additionally, his descendants' cultivation has been crippled; they have been expelled from Hanjia Fort and left to their own devices."

Qin Sang listened as the scholar recounted this, while simultaneously opening and reading the letter. This was a handwritten letter from the Han Patriarch, containing words of gratitude and apology, as well as an invitation for Qin Sang to visit Hanjia Fort as a guest.

Qin Sang put away the letter and cupped his hands to the scholar, saying, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for making this trip. Please also convey to the Han Patriarch on my behalf that I, Qin, thank him for upholding justice, and if I have leisure, I will certainly visit."

"This junior obeys your command!"

The scholar paused, and seeing that Qin Sang had no further instructions, he discreetly withdrew.

Great Sui, Grand Tutor's Residence.

It was already late at night, and the study was still brightly lit. A white-haired old man was bent over his desk, writing furiously, with a mountain of documents piled before him. The old man put down his brush, blew on the ink to dry it, folded the paper neatly, and placed it into an envelope. Just then, the old man suddenly frowned and began to cough violently. He covered his mouth with his hand to muffle the sound, preventing anyone outside from hearing, and it took a long time before he could barely calm himself.

"Alas! Time spares no one!"

The old man gently massaged his lower back, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and softly said, "Zhinian, please replace a few candles and brew a cup of refreshing tea..."

*Creak!*

An elderly woman entered, pushing the door open while carrying tea. Her gaze flickered across the old man's face, and she immediately sensed something amiss, saying with concern, "Coughing again? I told you to ask the officials for two pills, but you wouldn't go! Enduring like this isn't a solution! Didn't you say the officials were getting increasingly tired of you, and you wanted to resign and retire? Why are you still worrying about so many things every day?"

The old man took a sip of tea; his complexion improved slightly. He patted the woman's hand and said wistfully, "To resign, I must first complete the task entrusted to me by the late Emperor, to inform his spirit, and only then can I make further plans. The foundation established by the late Emperor and my colleagues, through their exhaustive efforts, must never suffer the tragedy of a leader's death leading to the collapse of policies. I can only ask the current ruler to endure for a few more years. Once this is done, we will return to your hometown to live in seclusion, unconcerned with worldly affairs. Whether the Great Sui prospers or perishes will no longer concern this old man."

"What good would it do to return to Guling Mountain!"

The woman massaged the old man's shoulders. "My childhood memories are filled with nothing but suffering. When your troops attacked, I was even captured and nearly... it was only after you rescued me that I began to live a peaceful life. Wherever you are, that is my home. Huh? Isn't your father buried on Cuiming Mountain? Why don't we go there then? The scenery there is also quite good..."

As she spoke, the woman looked back at the rear of the study. It was strange; there was only one ancestral tablet for the Wu family, not placed in the ancestral hall, but in the study. Even stranger, the tablet bore the name 'Wu the Mute,' which didn't sound like a proper human name. Next to the tablet, there was also a scroll painting that had been there for years, never unrolled. She had only ever seen her husband kowtow to it, but never offer incense. Even after so many years of marriage, her husband had never revealed the identity of this person to her. Their children were ordered by her husband to kowtow to the portrait. When they asked out of curiosity, he simply replied that it was his teacher. When asked why he only kowtowed and didn't offer incense, he would explain that his teacher had profound blessings and would surely achieve immortality.

This old man was Wu Chuanzong, the beggar from years ago, now serving as Grand Tutor.

Hearing his wife mention Cuiming Mountain, Wu Chuanzong immediately thought of an old friend. He fell into a daze, muttering softly, "I wonder where my teacher is today? Has he become an immortal?"