LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 26 - Seekers of the Dao
The truth was actually quite simple.
Lingzhou had always been a land of outstanding people, producing many famous civil and military officials throughout history.
However, seeing two such breathtaking beauties like Luo Jinxuan and Luo Yingci, combined with their noble and distinguished aura, was extremely rare.
Adding to that, they were riding on horseback, drawing attention as they headed straight east toward the ancestral hall.
Many people guessed that they might be members of the royal family.
The people of Lingzhou were already quite curious about the ancestral hall, so it wasn’t surprising that many followed Luo Jinxuan and Luo Yingci, eager to see what was happening.
But as the previous kings of Great Jing had decreed, the Luo family in Lingzhou disliked being disturbed.
Yet, Lu Ping had led a large crowd, naturally provoking the displeasure of the Luo family.
The gatekeeper then said, “Please disperse quickly, or the head of the household will be angered.”
It was an ordinary statement, but it seemed to carry the weight of a royal command, with a powerful deterrent effect.
Hearing this, the people who had followed Lu Ping and the others hurriedly scattered.
Lu Ping frowned in deep confusion.
Even as the Grand Preceptor, he couldn’t make the common people obey him with just a single sentence. Yet, this gatekeeper managed to scare away a hundred people with just a few words?
“Could the head of this family be some sort of supernatural being to instill such fear in the people?”
Lu Ping muttered.
“Do not speak such nonsense!”
Luo Jinxuan and Luo Yingci scolded him in unison.
The man at the gate slowly stepped aside and gestured with his hand, “Please dismount and enter, and remember to stay quiet inside. No other outsiders are allowed in.”
Lu Ping felt slighted again.
Other outsiders?
Was he being referred to as an outsider?
The term “other” was used rather loosely here.
But seeing that both Luo Jinxuan and Luo Yingci obediently dismounted, Lu Ping didn’t dare to put on airs. He stepped aside to the stone steps and began searching for information on the Luo family in Lingzhou.
“I’ll wait for you here.”
…
It was unclear how much time had passed.
Lu Ping stood up from where he had been squatting on the stone steps.
“Are you kidding me?”
There were indeed a few character cards in the pool that belonged to people with the surname Luo in Lingzhou, but none of them had proper illustrations—only a black silhouette.
Their attributes were also just a series of question marks.
Moreover, Lu Ping could only see the “Luo” in their names; the rest was covered in a mess of symbols.
The art department sure was lazy—did the boss know about this?
After waiting for so long without seeing Luo Jinxuan and Luo Yingci emerge, Lu Ping grew bored and started pacing in front of the ancient courtyard.
Turning his head unintentionally, he noticed an old man and a young man sitting in a pavilion along the path they had come from, seemingly arguing.
Lu Ping quietly walked over.
The old man and the young man both had handsome, refined features.
Judging by their conversation, they seemed to be arguing over the current state of a chess game.
Upon noticing Lu Ping’s approach, the old man immediately pulled him over. “Sir, please judge this for us—did I lose this game?”
“I don’t know how to play chess.”
Lu Ping awkwardly explained to the old man.
But since he was already here, helping mediate shouldn’t take too long.
So Lu Ping tried to persuade the young man, “But I think that chess is just a way to pass the time. There’s no need to take it so seriously. Why not let the old gentleman have his way?”
Unexpectedly, the young man became furious. “You call him an old gentleman, then what am I?”
“A… youthful and handsome lad?”
Lu Ping was baffled. Why was this young man so hot-tempered despite his age?
The old man suddenly switched roles and became the mediator between Lu Ping and the young man, saying, “Forget it, Third Uncle. Let’s just say I lost. Don’t get yourself worked up.”
Third Uncle?
The old man called the young man “Third Uncle”?
But thinking about it, it wasn’t that unusual for younger people to have a higher rank in the family.
The young man, seemingly pacified, sat down again and began putting the chess pieces back on the board.
“You look unfamiliar to me.”
Lu Ping hesitated for a moment before replying, “I’m not from Lingzhou.”
This young man was really putting on a show.
Not recognizing him? Was he trying to memorize everyone in the world?
The young man looked up at Lu Ping. “If you’re not from Lingzhou, then why are you here?”
‘Huh?’
Lu Ping wanted to laugh.
‘Who cares why I’m here?’
‘I’m the Grand Preceptor of the court. Do I need to report to anyone about where I go?’
But before Lu Ping could respond, the young man continued, “This isn’t a place for you.”
Lu Ping couldn’t take it anymore.
He straightened his back and declared his identity, “I am the Grand Preceptor of the current dynasty. Today, I accompanied the two princesses on a casual outing and happened to pass by this place.”
Lu Ping didn’t present himself arrogantly.
Because the essence of showing off lies in subtlety.
You leave the other party enough room to imagine, letting them realize they’ve offended someone of great importance, and then watch them squirm in fear and worry.
However, the young man seemed unaware of what a Grand Preceptor was, as he calmly said, “If it was just a casual outing, then I suggest you return soon.”
Lu Ping really wanted to turn the young man’s head around and make him take a good look at who he was talking to.
‘Hey!’
‘I am the Grand Preceptor!’
‘The Grand Preceptor, who holds immense power and influence in the court!’
‘Even the Emperor shows me respect, and you’re treating me like I’m invisible?’
Seeing that Lu Ping wasn’t moving, the old man beside him took another look at him, a hint of surprise gradually appearing on his rosy face.
He leaned in close to the young man’s ear and whispered, “Third Uncle, this man carries quite a bit of fortune.”
The young man looked up at Lu Ping again. After confirming the aura surrounding Lu Ping, his previously indifferent expression softened slightly. “Since you are a seeker of the Way, I invite you to play a game of chess with me.”
Lu Ping felt like he finally understood.
These two were probably playing a different kind of game altogether.
The hermit lifestyle, seeking the Way and immortality, that kind of thing?
But why did seekers of the Way have to play chess with you?
‘Is being an immortal such a big deal?’
‘I’m the founder of a sect with three thousand disciples and a hundred thousand followers!’
‘Am I full of myself?’
‘Not at all!’
Lu Ping no longer bothered to show any respect. “I told you already, I don’t know how to play chess.”
“Heh.”
The young man sneered. “A seeker of the Way who doesn’t understand the Dao of chess?”
“Who said a seeker of the Way has to know how to play chess?”
The young man’s face darkened again. He turned to the old man beside him and said, “Hongshan, since this Dao friend looks down on us, please see him out.”
The old man nodded, reaching out his hand toward Lu Ping.
“Wait!”
When did I say I looked down on you?
Lu Ping felt like his eyes had been opened.
There really were such unreasonable people in the world.
And what was with the old man’s hand? Was he planning to use force?
The young man said, “What else do you have to say?”
Although Lu Ping was angry, he also considered that those on the path to immortality might possess mystical skills. He finally restrained himself and said, “I’ll leave on my own.”
After mentally cursing these two lunatics dozens of times, Lu Ping returned to the steps in front of the ancient courtyard. He called out to the gatekeeper, “Please inform the two princesses that Lu Ping is heading back.”
After speaking, Lu Ping glanced back at the pavilion.
To his surprise, the old man and the young man had vanished without a trace.
Then, a voice suddenly called from behind him, “Wait!”