Chapter 1094

Chen Wuji ordered the army to rest in place.

He also ordered people to lay out mats and set up tables by the road to prepare a banquet to welcome Daoist Yu Yu.

Flames rose in the tea stove, soon causing the mountain spring water placed upon it to emit steaming white vapor; Chen Wuji pinched a handful of tea leaves and tossed them in, and the tea fragrance instantly dispersed with the vapor.

Chen Wuji waited for it to bubble slightly a few times, then picked up the teapot and poured a cup for Daoist Yu Yu first, saying, "Daoist, in this deep winter, aren't you cold at all? Walking barefoot in this season, I find it hard to bear just watching."

Daoist Yu Yu chuckled, "It is not that I wish to act unusually to stand out; rather, I have recently gained some insight in my cultivation path and need to draw upon earth energy—wearing shoes hinders my practice."

"Though it is indeed not very cold, whether cultivator or martial artist, the extreme cold or heat of weather has long become an external matter; are not all the generals beside the Marquis dressed in single layers?"

Chen Wuji shook his head, "I truly cannot converse with you exalted ones; anyway, I find it uncomfortable. Daoist, try this tea—I grew it myself in our village; perhaps due to some personal thoughts and distractions, I find its flavor not inferior to those famous mountain teas!"

Daoist Yu Yu laughed, "Marquis, is not Shenxian Ling also a renowned mountain and river?"

"This tea, before even entering the mouth, its fragrance already mists like vapor—indeed it rivals any long-famed tea leaves. Once the word 'famous' is established, it inevitably obscures some things; good qualities, no matter how small, will have countless people singing their praise, while bad qualities, no matter how dire, will have someone conceal them for profit."

Chen Wuji pondered Daoist Yu Yu's words carefully, then feigned jest, saying, "Daoist, are you not pointing at me with these words? If I have any impropriety, Daoist, please speak plainly."

"In this world, no one is perfect; I too cannot attain utter perfection; many things are still in the process of trial and error, correction, hoping to do better."

Daoist Yu Yu waved his hand and set down his teacup, "Marquis, you overthink; merely, having spoken thus far, I feel compelled to add a few more words. The realm of Da Yu has now fully entered the era of feudal lords vying for supremacy—this is the inevitable division and unification of the world. Though I do not specially understand the state of the world, I have heard a little."

"At least, up to now, no one has done better than the Marquis. And in my personal view, if the Marquis does even better, he ought to become a sage."

Chen Wuji stared at Daoist Yu Yu with a shocked expression, "Daoist, anyone could say this, but hearing it from your mouth truly startles me."

"Daoist, I was born in Nan Jun, raised in Nan Jun; I have seen what Nan Jun is like for dozens of years. Because of the Marquis's governance, the incense offerings at our observatory have flourished considerably this past year." Daoist Yu Yu said.

"I do not know how others view sages, but in my eyes, one who enables the world's people to have food to eat, clothes to wear, and smiles on their faces is a true sage."

Chen Wuji was genuinely somewhat startled by favor.

This had nothing to do with power, but entirely with virtue, learning, and Dao cultivation.

He knew what kind of person Daoist Yu Yu was, and precisely because he knew, he felt all the more the weight of these two sentences.

These two sentences outweigh thousands of words from western officials; they are truly capable of representing the people.

"Daoist dare not flatter me—if you speak thus, I truly might float." Chen Wuji jested, for no one dislikes praise, but now he prefers hearing truth.

The greater the power, the fewer true words he can hear.

Daoist Yu Yu smiled faintly and nodded, "I have heard the Marquis wishes to go to Magic Capital Mountain to offer sacrifices to heaven, and even to rename it, change its foundation. I am quite versed in rites and rituals, and wish to lend the Marquis my aid."

Chen Wuji gazed at Daoist Yu Yu with a strange expression, "Daoist, if you can calculate on your fingers, just say it straight—why beat around the bush? Your timing is so precise, I've even heard rumors!"

Daoist Yu Yu gave a light cough, "That too is merely hearsay!"

"I suspect you old fellow have seen it."

Since leaving Xishan Village, Chen Wuji has always suspected that outsiders are the protagonists, while he is merely an NPC, a ubiquitous big shot, each as if they had just opened.

Often, when he just adjusted his psychological threshold slightly upward and barely adapted, something even more outrageous occurs.

Now, even if someone were to claim there are gods in this world, Chen Wuji might only be mildly surprised, no longer falling into various doubts about life.

Daoist Yu Yu, upon hearing Chen Wuji's grand words, seemed also a bit at a loss for words; he drank a few sips of tea and helplessly said, "Do not hide it from the Marquis, I am indeed here specifically for the matter of offering sacrifices to heaven."

"Look, look, you old fellow are still hiding it from me." Chen Wuji wore an expression of 'I knew it,' then refilled Daoist Yu Yu's tea, asking, "When did you know? A few months ago, or years ago? Satisfy my curiosity!"

"..."

Daoist Yu Yu silently lowered his head and drank tea.

This remark now cannot be followed up.

"Understood, a few years ago, right?" Chen Wuji said.

"No, Marquis, do not guess wildly—there is nothing so exaggerated; it is merely one year ago." Daoist Yu Yu hurriedly said, fearing Chen Wuji would guess further, leading him to be ranked among the immortals, which would be a major disaster.

Chen Wuji stared in shock at Daoist Yu Yu, when suddenly an idea sprang to mind.

With such finger-calculating ability right before him, why must he still fuss over tactics against the Uyghurs? Let this person calculate and give a clear answer—would that not be better?

Just as he was about to speak, Daoist Yu Yu suddenly raised his hand nervously, "Marquis, no, no!"

"I haven't even said anything yet, and you already say 'no'? Are you, old fellow, actually versed in mind-reading techniques?!" Chen Wuji exclaimed in shock.

He was truly startled.

He had merely thought it in his heart a moment ago, not uttering a single word.

Daoist Yu Yu's mouth corner twitched slightly, the smile on his face gradually turning bitter, "Marquis, I have no mind-reading technique; I merely guessed, truly just guessed. These matters involve a long explanation, but... the root lies in heart-mind movement."

"Not all heart-mind movements are accurate or foreseeable; it is just like your demeanor just now—once heart-mind stirs, I can relatively easily guess it."

Chen Wuji understands these four words 'heart-mind movement' and their general meaning.

After all, he has studied traditional medicine, albeit superficially, but grasps some common knowledge.

However, the heart-mind movements he has stirred seem somewhat different from what Daoist Yu Yu spoke of.

What he has learned cannot perceive others' heart-mind movements—that is entirely his own.

"Daoist, I will not make things difficult for you; just tell me, can you do it?" Chen Wuji asked.

"..."

Daoist Yu Yu supported his forehead with his hand and sighed deeply, "Marquis, follow your own true heart."

"My true heart is now in chaos, precisely because it is chaotic, I need to seek guidance."

"..."

Good heavens!