Martial Cultivator

After saying this, Ouyang Ni also descended the mountain.

Watching his retreating figure, the dark clouds in Yang Furen’s heart grew heavier.

After making a trip to the guest hall, Yang Furen returned to the bamboo house.

At this moment, a breeze happened to stir, causing the bamboo house to produce continuous sounds, as if someone were playing the zither, making one feel extraordinarily comfortable upon hearing it.

This also improved Yang Furen’s mood considerably.

Li Heng stood under the eaves, looking at this Mountain Lord of Sword Qi Mountain, who had hurried back in less than an hour. He said calmly, ”If Mountain Lord wants to scold someone, you can go ahead now. Don’t worry about anything, I’ll assume you’re cursing me, not anyone else.”

Yang Furen looked at him and asked bitterly, ”Is this also one of your tactics?”

Li Heng shook his head. ”His Majesty never resorts to such things, what he says is what it is. The so-called scheming of a monarch is already exhausting enough when used on officials; how could they possibly be used on Mountain Lord?”

Yang Furen said, ”Then it’s an open scheme.”

Li Heng did not argue and repeated once more, ”I still want to say to Mountain Lord again, there’s one thing I hope I never have to tell you.”

……

……

Because of Li Heng’s departure from the palace, a handsome young eunuch now served the Great Liang Emperor. Li Heng had been castrated as a youth and was gifted by Emperor Lingzong to the current emperor as an attendant. He had never been involved in any romantic or sexual relationships. Despite the common practice in the palace of eunuchs and palace maids forming pairs, Li Heng had never participated in such affairs. However, several years ago, Li Heng, this chief eunuch, took in a young disciple who was also another unfortunate child.

This boy had been deceived and paid a significant amount of money, being told that after castration, he would be sent to the palace. Hence, that child’s own father took up a pair of scissors and castrated the boy himself. After finally managing to recover, when they went to find the person who had made the promise, they discovered he had disappeared without a trace. Realizing they had been swindled, they had no choice but to try their luck at the palace. As expected, the boy was eliminated in the first round of selection.

The young eunuch who was still just a child cried his lungs out upon hearing the news. When the palace attendants were about to throw him out, they encountered Li Heng. At that time, this chief eunuch squatted down, looked at the crying child, and simply asked, ”Did it hurt?”

The child did not know Li Heng’s identity and nodded vigorously, begging to stay through his tears.

Li Heng did not say much, he simply instructed that the boy be allowed to stay. Initially, the boy was assigned to do menial tasks in the imperial kitchen, where he was frequently bullied. Li Heng turned a blind eye to this for several years. It was not until the boy grew older that Li Heng summoned the kitchen steward to inquire about the boy’s experiences. After learning about his hardships, Li Heng decided to take the boy as his disciple, naming him Li Shou, treating him much like his own son.

Despite this, the young eunuch never received any official position within the palace. His daily duties consisted of attending to Li Heng in his free time, during which Li Heng taught him to read and write.

This departure from the palace was Li Heng’s first time in many years. Concerned for the Great Liang Emperor, he mentioned to the emperor that Li Shou would be serving him for a while. The emperor did not refuse, making this Li Shou’s first time meeting the Great Liang Emperor. Despite being cautious and walking on eggshells these few days, Li Shou had managed to avoid any mistakes.

However, even after serving the emperor for some time, Li Shou dared not lift his eyes to look at the emperor directly.

This ruler of the world whom his master frequently spoke of, was someone he admired greatly. Yet, he always remembered the hierarchy, understanding that no matter how deep the bond between his master and the emperor, it was a bond between his master and the emperor, not his own.

Committing an act of overstepping one’s bounds even once could lead to losing one’s head.

In the Imperial Study, the Great Liang Emperor stood up from behind his desk, rubbing his temples, and casually said, ”Li Heng, let’s go for a walk.”

Li Shou kept his head down and reminded quietly, ”Your Majesty, Master hasn’t returned yet.”

Only then, did the Great Liang Emperor realize. Looking at this young eunuch who always kept his head lowered, the Great Liang Emperor said, ”We must be getting old, forgetting such things. Never mind, you accompany Us for a walk.”

Li Shou gave his acknowledgment in a soft tone, then went to open the study door, standing quietly to one side and waiting for the emperor to step out first.

The Great Liang Emperor stepped out of the Imperial Study, walking slowly. After a few steps, he chuckled to himself and said, ”It seems Li Heng treats you quite well.”

Caught off guard by the remark, Li Shou did not know how to respond and just kept his head down.

”We heard that when Li Heng has free time, he teaches you to read and write. What books have you read?”

The Great Liang Emperor asked casually as he strolled through the palace.

Li Shou kept his head lowered, listing several book titles in a soft voice. They were no longer elementary school books, many were actually the same as those read by scholars.

”It seems you’re half a scholar yourself. Why not leave the palace and take the civil service exam?”

The Great Liang Emperor chuckled, perhaps reminiscing about the young Li Heng. Back then, as a youth, Li Heng spoke more freely, unlike now, where he seemed to lack any sharp edges, appearing as a mild-mannered person.

”Your Majesty, this servant only wishes to stay with my master and has no desire to become an official.”

This was something Li Shou probably should not have said, but the Great Liang Emperor did not mind.

”You’re a little reserved. Your temperament is not to Our liking. But it doesn’t matter, We have Li Heng, so you don’t need to accompany Us.”

The Great Liang Emperor’s words seemed to carry an underlying meaning. But Li Shou was still quite perceptive, quickly stopping in his tracks, and did not follow the Great Liang Emperor any further.

Thus, the Great Liang Emperor continued walking alone through the palace corridors on a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Red walls and yellow tiles, after so many years, the Great Liang Emperor had lost interest. He walked alone, his heart as still as water.

”Forging a saber is different from forging a sword, but is it really that hard to understand?” The Great Liang Emperor shook his head and sighed.

After walking for a while, for some reason, he found himself standing in front of the Empress’s quarters. The Great Liang Emperor paused for a moment before stepping inside. Ever since the Empress passed away, he had decreed that no outsiders were allowed to enter. As a result, this vast palace was devoid of any maids or eunuchs.

Entering the hall, the Great Liang Emperor approached a dressing table. The brass mirror on it was already covered with a layer of dust.

The Great Liang Emperor picked up an eyebrow pencil and then set it down again.

Looking at the empty dressing table, perhaps remembering the woman who used to sit there every day to dress and adorn herself, the Great Liang Emperor’s eyes showed a trace of joy.

Setting down the eyebrow pencil, the Great Liang Emperor smiled and said, ”Missing you a little.”