Chapter 115

073-Fan Fan Qinghui: Call Me White Lotus! (Seeking auto-subscription)

Great Song, Bianjing City.

"Your Majesty, the State Preceptor has returned."

Outside the door, a soft, feminine voice rang out.

What?!

The State Preceptor has returned?!

Zhao Ji stood up with a start.

Without a second thought, he said,

"Invite him in quickly!"

"Yes."

As the words fell,

a figure hurried in from outside the door.

Looking at his face, it was none other than Huang Shang!

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Seeing Zhao Ji,

Huang Shang bowed respectfully,

though his face still carried an unconcealable look of exhaustion.

"No need for formalities. The State Preceptor has had a hard journey."

Zhao Ji waved his hand, his tone unable to hide his anticipation.

Knowing full well what he was thinking,

Huang Shang gave a bitter smile and bowed again.

"I beg Your Majesty to forgive me. This old subject is incompetent and failed to bring back the Longevity Pill."

Hearing this,

the smile on Zhao Ji's face stiffened.

The question that had reached his lips was stuck in his throat.

Although he quickly covered it up,

the fleeting disappointment in his eyes was still caught by Huang Shang.

"State Preceptor, do not blame yourself."

"With those few people involved, I never held much expectation for this matter to begin with."

Calming his mind,

Zhao Ji spoke with a magnanimous tone.

Then, changing the subject, he asked,

"But does the State Preceptor know who obtained the Longevity Pill?"

"No one obtained it."

Huang Shang shook his head and immediately explained.

"Your Majesty may not know,"

"our various factions practically dug three feet into the ground in Great Han."

"But we still could not find a trace of the Old Immortal Nanhua."

"Furthermore, since we didn't know what he looked like, it was inevitably more difficult to act."

"A few days ago, I heard about the turmoil in Great Han and Great Sui, and fearing for Your Majesty's safety, I rushed back without stopping."

"I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

The words were

clear and logical.

Zhao Ji, who had never intended to make things difficult for him,

felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing that he had rushed back out of concern for his safety.

"The State Preceptor is devoted to the country and to me. What crime is there?"

"Your subject...."

Huang Shang was about to say more,

but before he could speak, he was interrupted by Zhao Ji's wave.

"State Preceptor, say no more. I know what I'm doing."

"Having rushed back in such a hurry, you must not have had time to rest on the road, right?"

"Go back and rest first. Tomorrow, I have other important matters to entrust to you!"

Listening to the trust and concern in his words,

Huang Shang looked grateful.

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. This subject withdraws."

Having said that,

he bowed and turned to leave.

Watching him leave,

and feeling the tranquility in the hall, Zhao Ji suddenly smiled.

"Is the Old Ancestor wondering what I intend to entrust to him tomorrow?"

"This old subject is terrified and dares not speculate on the Heavenly Heart."

Hearing this,

the Sunflower Old Ancestor's eyelids twitched, and he hurriedly denied it.

"No matter. I never intended to hide this from you anyway."

Zhao Ji smiled and waved his hand.

He asked with quite a bit of anticipation,

"Old Ancestor, do you think that if I send the State Preceptor to recruit those few retainers from Great Sui, he will succeed?"

"Your Majesty intends to...."

The Sunflower Old Ancestor was shocked.

He stopped speaking before he could finish.

After frowning and pondering for a while,

he spoke his thoughts with some hesitation.

"This might be feasible."

"But as for the probability of success, this old subject dares not speak rashly."

"Firstly, ever since the Sui Emperor fell, they disappeared without a trace that very day."

"Secondly, perhaps other dynasties will also extend an olive branch, so...."

He didn't finish the rest of the sentence,

but Zhao Ji understood instantly.

His brows furrowed subconsciously.

He fell into silence.

Mount Dita, Pudu Cihang Hall.

Looking at the number of people sitting around, which had decreased by nearly half,

Fan Fan Qinghui took a deep breath and pulled herself together.

"I presume you all know by now."

"The Sui Emperor Yang Guang has fallen, the Great Sui Dynasty has collapsed, the Four Major Clans have risen to power, and the people are living in misery."

Everyone nodded in unison.

They lived within the borders of the Great Sui Dynasty,

and the news they received was much earlier than in other places. ===== CHAPTER 116 =====