Supreme Golden Palace

Chapter 234 The Banished Immortal (Part 1)

Madam Li frowned and said, "Lord Lu, I've heard from the old clerk in the alley that this man is a meritorious official who returned from the northern expedition with the Prince of Kao Shan, and is also a member of the imperial family. He was granted the title of Duke of Lu at such a young age."

"His willingness to promote you despite the usual circumstances suggests he genuinely appreciates your talent, which may not be a bad thing."

"competence?"

Fang Yanqian sighed and said, "Talented people are as numerous as carp crossing a river. What are my little skills compared to that?"

As he spoke, he put down his bowl and said quietly, "Right now, all I want is to stay with you and our child, be a leisurely official, and live a peaceful life."

Seeing Fang Yanqian's furrowed brows, Li Shi rose and walked to his side, gently pressing his shoulder, and said, "Times have changed, and now it is the Sui Dynasty. I know you are unwilling to serve the Sui, remembering the old kindness of the Gao Qi."

"But now that you are an official in the Sui Dynasty, and Magistrate Wei has treated you well, and Duke Lu values ​​you so highly, perhaps this is your destiny?"

"Life?"

Fang Yanqian muttered to himself, his gaze unconsciously drifting to his young son who was taking small bites of mutton.

The little one seemed to sense his father's gaze, raised his oily little face, and said, "Father,"

"Um,"

Fang Yanqian's heart softened, and he reached out to ruffle his son's hair, saying, "Since A-Qiao likes it, have the cook make it again tomorrow."

Looking at the father and son, Li said softly, "Look at Qiao, although he is only nine years old, he is much more mature than other children his age."

“You always say you want a peaceful and stable life, but if you can go further in your career, when A-Qiao grows up, she will have someone to rely on.”

"You mean,"

Fang Yanqian's heart stirred. He had difficulty conceiving, so he naturally doted on this only son to the core.

"I didn't mean anything by it,"

Li interrupted him, saying, "I just feel that since Duke Lu has promoted you exceptionally, there must be a reason. If you are really uneasy, just be careful with your words and actions when you go to work under Duke Lü tomorrow."

"Since we don't seek high positions and generous salaries, but only a clear conscience, can't we live a peaceful life?"

"Perhaps you are right,"

Fang Yanqian remained silent for a moment, then finally breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the bowl, and drank the rest of the soup in one gulp.

Fang Yanqian held Li in high esteem, not only because she was a member of the Longxi Li clan, a prominent family with five surnames and seven prominent clans.

Furthermore, since Li entered the Fang family, she has been filial to her parents, respectful to her husband, and diligent in managing the household, leaving no room for gossip, which makes her worthy of his admiration.

Therefore, Fang Yanqian truly took Li's words to heart.

"Ah Qiao, do you still remember the Analects that I taught you a few days ago?"

Looking at his only son, Fang Yanqian suddenly spoke, his expression solemn.

Upon hearing this, Fang Qiao looked up, put down his bowl, and replied, "Father, I remember, what I learned was 'I examine myself three times a day.'"

"You said that loyalty is essential in serving others and trustworthiness is crucial in dealing with friends; these are the foundations of one's character."

Despite his young age, he speaks very clearly.

Fang Yanqian nodded gently and said, "It's good that you remember. Tomorrow, Father will be taking up his post under Duke Lu. You must listen to Mother at home."

Fang Qiao blinked and said, "Father, don't worry. With me at home, I will definitely help Mother take care of the household and not let you be distracted."

"Okay, okay,"

Fang Yanqian laughed heartily and said, "With such a son, Father is naturally at ease."

Li, standing to the side, also felt a warmth in her eyes. She took a handkerchief, bent down, and gently wiped the grease from Fang Qiao's lips, scolding, "You child, you eat without a care in the world, carefully rubbing it all over your clothes. The laundry lady will have to worry about you again tomorrow."

Fang Qiao shrank back, obediently letting her mother wipe her, and whispered, "Mother, this mutton stew is so fragrant, even more tender than the cook's a few days ago. Father also said it was delicious." Fang Yanqian smiled at Li Shi, "Indeed, today's soup must have had some orange peel added, which removed the muttony smell and added a sweetness. It's definitely more to my liking than usual."

Just as the family of three was chatting and laughing, a figure quietly appeared under the old tree in the courtyard.

Lu Shang quietly looked at the Fang family of three. Although he was in the Fang family's courtyard, it was as if he was in another world.

Although martial arts immortals do not possess the supernatural powers and transformations of Buddhist and Taoist masters, they have ultimately entered the realm of immortals and have already transcended the mortal world.

As long as Lü Shang doesn't want to reveal himself, even if he stands in front of people, apart from immortals like Fang Qiao who are reincarnations of stars from the upper realm and have a vague sense of him, ordinary people simply cannot detect his whereabouts.

"This is Fang Qiao, Fang Xuanling,"

Lu Shang looked thoughtfully at the child in the room, a deep, unsettling light flickering in his eyes.

"The Western Seven Mansions, Shen Mansion,"

He used his eyes to observe things closely, seeing through flesh and blood to their true nature.

Within the mud ball, starlight flowed, and a small ape curled up within, stretching its limbs naturally.

"Is this the state of a celestial being after reincarnation?"

Lu Shang silently watched the little ape. This was the first time he had seen the primordial spirit of a star after its reincarnation in the upper realm with his eyes.

Although Yang Lin, the Prince of Kao Shan, and Zuo Tiancheng, the Golden Knife General, were also reincarnations of stars from the upper realm, they also possessed the primordial spirit of stars.

However, the Star Constellation Primordial Spirit is their true nature, and even though they have a close relationship with Lü Shang, they will not allow Lü Shang to see into their essence.

Fang Xuanling, however, was different. Although he was a star descended to earth, he was still too young.

Even if one possesses the true nature of the stars, all that remains is instinct.

"Ginseng Water Ape,"

Lu Shang stared intently for a long time, and the little ape in the mud ball suddenly raised its head.

A pair of dark, bright eyes seemed to sparkle with starlight, and their gazes met for a fleeting moment, even through the walls of flesh and skin.

Lu Shang's mind trembled slightly, and in a daze, the phantom of a divine ape with great magical power and boundless divine strength suddenly appeared in his mind.

The divine ape was clad in a robe of stars, its fur resembled divine blades, and its eyes were like the sun and moon. It perched atop the clouds, and with a mere wave of its hand, it possessed the power to overturn rivers and seas.

"Is this the Shenshui Ape from the Twenty-Eight Mansions? It truly possesses great supernatural powers and boundless magical abilities!"

Having witnessed its power, Lü Shang's mind aligned with his thoughts, and deep within his mind, a figure with a human head, red hair, and a snake's body slowly appeared.

The next moment, the divine ape cried out in sorrow, the illusory image collapsed, and the dark light in Lü Shang's eyes grew even deeper.

Then, he slowly withdrew his gaze, and when he looked at the child in the room again, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"If the reincarnation of a celestial being from the upper realm only has this much power, then the destiny thirty years from now will be even more uncertain. Perhaps I can be a little bolder,"

After a brief exchange, and having tested the quality of the Star Spirit, Lü Shang felt reassured: "Even if fate cannot be defied, I don't need to hold myself back too much."

Lu Shangqiang is now beyond imagination. His martial arts skills are at the level of a human immortal, and he has the body of a divine being from the Great Wilderness. He has achieved two great things in one person.

He also possesses treasures such as the Heart-Reflecting Mirror and the Eight Horses Painting, making him virtually unrivaled in the world.

His only fear now is of those reincarnated gods.

When the Sui and Tang dynasties changed hands, the whole country rebelled. Eighteen rebel kings and sixty-four rebel groups emerged, and it is unknown how many of them were actually deities descended to earth.

Those reincarnated gods were no match for Lü Shang when they were in the mortal realm, but once they returned to their rightful place, Lü Shang should be careful.

(End of this chapter)