Zhu Tian: A journey of spiritual practice starting from Joy of Life

Chapter 175 Another Trip to Jiangnan

On the morning of the third day, a large official ship arranged by Emperor Youqing was moored at the dock on the outskirts of Kyoto.

They will set sail and head south to Suzhou when the time comes.

On the bow deck, Leng Feibai sat in a wheelchair, playing Sang Wen's pipa while admiring the scenery on the water.

On the deck behind Leng Feibai, several of Emperor Qing's princes were enjoying wine while listening to the music played by Leng Feibai.

After finishing the piece, Leng Feibai handed the pipa back to Sang Wen beside him, turned his wheelchair around, and said, "Your Highnesses, I wonder how I played this piece!"

"Very good!"

Li Chengqian sincerely praised, "Even the most skilled pipa players in the palace are far inferior to your piece."

Seeing this, Leng Feibai sighed and said, "Half a lifetime spent practicing martial arts, only to realize in the end that I've wasted most of my life. I haven't done many of the things I like!"

"Do not be discouraged!"

Seeing this, Li Chengru comforted him, "There are still three years left, maybe you can return to the Grandmaster realm. At that time, everything will be fine!"

"Brother is right!"

Li Chengqian echoed his words of comfort, saying, "Becoming a Grandmaster is as difficult as ascending to heaven, but Young Master Leng, you may still be able to return to this realm."

"Thank you both, Your Highnesses!"

Leng Feibai spoke calmly, turning to look at the sea before saying, "Success or failure hinges on a single thought. But if it fails, today may be the last time I see the princes."

Upon hearing this, the princes were all taken aback.

Li Chengru quickly asked, "What, are you going to..."

Leng Feibai chuckled lightly, "I've already spoken to His Majesty. After accompanying Fan Xian to reclaim the three major workshops, I will take my two wives back to Danzhou to live out these last three years of my remaining life. I will never return to the capital!"

Upon hearing this, a look of relief appeared in the eyes of both Li Chengqian and Li Chengze.

Leng Feibai's injuries have returned to Danzhou to recuperate, which is tantamount to Fan Xian losing an arm. If they just wait three years until Leng Feibai dies, all they need to do is wait for him to die.

At that time, recruiting or dealing with Fan Xian will be a piece of cake.

No matter how amazing Fan Xian's talent is, it's impossible for him to achieve the strength of a Grandmaster in three years.

Thinking of this, Li Chengqian immediately stepped forward and said, "Young Master Leng, why didn't you say so sooner? If I had known, I would have definitely prepared a congratulatory gift for you."

I appreciate the sentiment!

Leng Feibai pushed the wheelchair and looked away, saying, "Where did Fan Xian run off to? Let's go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Fan Xian's voice rang out, "What's wrong, Brother Fei Bai? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

As soon as the voice fell, Fan Xian, along with Lin Wan'er, Fan Jian, and Liu Ruyu, came to the deck.

"This farewell is quite a grand affair!"

Fan Xian looked at the princes and felt a little uncomfortable, especially since Li Chengqian and Li Chengze, whom he disliked, were also there.

Upon seeing Fan Xian arrive, the expressions on the faces of the princes on the ship all changed.

Li Chengping, who was not particularly cunning, still had that same ignorant and somewhat afraid look on his face.

Li Chengru looked concerned, worried that something might happen to his half-brother.

As for the remaining two, their faces seemed to wear the masks of Sichuan opera performers, making them unpredictable. Li Chengze, in particular, upon learning that Leng Feibai and Fan Xian were about to head south to Jiangnan, immediately sent his trusted confidant Xie Bi'an with a handwritten letter to the Ming family in Jiangnan to deliver a warning.

It's okay to have a minor skirmish with Fan Xian, but we absolutely cannot fight to the death.

If Fan Xian really gets into trouble in Jiangnan, his father, whose attitude towards Fan Xian is unknown, will definitely wield the sword against Jiangnan.

Moreover, there is Leng Feibai, a master who is second only to the Grandmaster even after death. If he really makes a move, he can definitely wipe out the Ming family overnight without a trace.

Thinking of this, even though Li Chengze disliked Fan Xian, he had no choice but to force a smile and chat with Fan Xian.

After Fan Xian exchanged a few pleasantries with the four, Leng Feibai suddenly said, "Fan Xian, didn't you say you had something to tell the princes?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Xian looked helpless and said irritably, "Brother Fei Bai, are you in such a hurry? You have to rush me. But you're right, I do need the four princes to be my witnesses!"

As soon as he said that, everyone on the ship was stunned, wondering what this rascal Fan Xian was up to.

"As everyone knows, I grew up in Danzhou!"

Fan Xian glanced around at everyone on the boat and said righteously, "Although we've come to the capital, I've done a terrible job as a son. We've been in the capital for so long, and I haven't even kowtowed or offered incense at the Fan family ancestral hall. Do you think that's acceptable?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone except Leng Feibai, who was prepared, and Sang Wen, who was confused but impressed, was stunned.

Liu Ruyu wanted to ask something, but Fan Jian stopped her.

Fan Xian continued, "Now that my wedding is complete, and with all the princes here, I would like to ask you all to be my witnesses. When I return from Northern Qi, please allow Wan'er and me to enter the Fan family ancestral hall together, offer incense to our ancestors, and kowtow! Father, Aunt, is that alright?"

Hearing Fan Xian's self-destructive words, Li Chengqian said with a mixture of surprise and delight, "Hahaha, good, I'll bear witness for you."

Li Chengru, who was standing to the side, didn't react much after hearing this, but he did give a reminder: "Have you thought this through? Once you're in the ancestral hall and registered in the family genealogy, you'll really be surnamed Fan."

"That's what I said!"

Fan Xian raised an eyebrow and said, "Isn't my surname Fan anyway?"

As soon as this answer was given, apart from Li Chengping, who remained completely clueless, and Li Chengru, who was utterly indifferent, the other two inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

After exchanging a few words with Fan Xian, he disembarked. Li Chengru then told him that if he encountered any trouble in Jiangnan, he should send him a letter and he would come to help immediately.

As for Li Chengping, he had already requested permission from Emperor Qing to travel south with Fan Xian, his newly recognized master, to study.

After everyone else had left, Fan Jian and Liu Ruyu went up to chat with Fan Xian.

But for some reason, after saying a few words about relationships, Fan Jian became hesitant to speak further.

Seeing this, Leng Feibai changed his expression from weakness, stood up from his wheelchair, and came to Fan Jian and Liu Ruyu, saying, "Godfather, you want to ask if it's true that Fan Xian entered the ancestral hall, right?"

Upon seeing Leng Feibai's insight, Fan Jian's face immediately became somewhat embarrassed.

Upon seeing this, Fan Xian immediately went up and hugged the two of them, saying, "Father, Aunt, I've always been surnamed Fan, and I even paid my respects to you and Grandma at my wedding, so please don't abandon me!"

Seeing the three of them being so affectionate, Leng Feibai coughed twice and said calmly, "Godfather, Aunt, I don't know when I'll see you again after this farewell. Please take good care of yourselves!"

After speaking, Leng Feibai bowed to Fan Jian and the other man.

"All right!"

Fan Jian helped Leng Feibai up and said, "Take care on your journey. When you get back to Danzhou, remember to send a letter home. Also, I'm entrusting your mother to your care!"

Leng Feibai nodded, indicating that he would visit his grandmother often!
(End of this chapter)