Why do I have so many masters?

This outcome was within Yu Wenze's expectations.

This also meant that the forces hidden behind this matter had never truly taken this incident, or at least Wang Anfeng and his companions, too seriously, having never deployed any real experts.

In other words, using these juniors as bait could no longer lure any significant fish.

With a thought in his mind, Yu Wenze waved his hand to dismiss his subordinate, casually tossing the Three-Edged Double-Bladed Blade in his hand. It flew diagonally backward and landed on the weapon rack, evenly balanced without making a sound.

He turned and strode toward the study.

Dipping the brush into ink, he wrote on the light gold letter paper with the same inquiry and impeachment words as always, his strokes firm, just like the man himself—a straightforward soldier, who had been in the military since fourteen, endured life and death for thirty-four years, stubborn and rigid, with not a trace of political acumen.

The incident in early May had occurred more than two months ago.

Any official who wasn't extremely foolish would know what they should do.

But he had written one memorial after another.

After finishing this memorial, Yu Wenze fell into silence, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment, he rose and went into the inner chamber, locked the door, and then took out a new sheet of white paper. He dipped the brush in ink, concentrated, and briefly recounted the events. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

He paused slightly and wrote at the end:

"Your servant, Yu Wenze, bows thrice."

"Former Emperor..."

"Your Majesty."

His expression was solemn, his brushstrokes meticulous, scrupulous, just as they had always been.

...............…

Fufeng Academy · Wind Character Tower

The majestic Wind Character Tower had not changed in the slightest since Wang Anfeng had left.

The youth lightened his steps and quietly pushed the door open, immediately greeted by the long-missed fragrance of ink, which led up the hundred-zhang high staircase. There, young men and women clad in Confucian or Taoist robes held scrolls and read silently, all looking serious.

At the base of Wind Character Tower, the Tai Chi of Yin and Yang opposed the myriad stars of the celestial dome. At the intersection of Yin and Yang, where divinatory symbols converged, there was a desk placed flat. Behind it sat an elder in a green robe, serious-faced, flipping through the bamboo slips in his hand.

Without looking up, an elderly voice sounded by Wang Anfeng's ear:

"Back, are you?"

Wang Anfeng was slightly startled, suppressing the nostalgia of returning to this place. He hastened his steps and stopped three paces before the elder, bowed his fists in a junior's greeting, and said:

"This junior pays respect to Elder Ren."

The elder in the green gown lifted his head. Whether it was Wang Anfeng's illusion, he only felt that, not having seen the elder for a month, there appeared to be a bit more desolation and age on the elder's face which had lost its former clarity. His lips had not moved, yet a voice sounded beside the youth's ear:

"How was the experience?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Anfeng thought back for a moment, lowered his voice, and explained his journey to Qingfeng Edge in detail to the elder. Due to the unusual reaction of the Sect Leader and the Great Elder during their first meeting, the youth subconsciously went into detail about the Great Elder's affairs.

He described her as still in the prime of youth, her martial arts becoming increasingly profound and unfathomable, her demeanor cool and quiet, as if she were a fairy from the Turquoise Pool stepping down from Jade Void Palace, her mere pointing capable of altering Heaven and Earth.

Ren Changge remained silent for a long time, Wang Anfeng stood with his head bowed in front of him, making no move.

Although he was not yet of an age to fully understand the love and hatred of these elders, he could feel the ineradicable sorrow emanating from the elder in front of him.

Just like Mr. Ying who had stood hands behind his back in the falling snow that Winter Solstice.

Something dawned on Wang Anfeng.

"That's enough... sufficient…"."

"You may leave now."

Ren Changge's eyes regained their usual light. Realizing he had lost his composure, yet too tired to hide it, he waved for Wang Anfeng to leave.

The latter bowed again and turned to leave.

Just then, an unexciting whooshing sound came from behind, and the youth instinctively raised his hand, catching the object flying towards him. It felt warm and slightly slippery, proving to be a fine piece of jade carved in the shape of a crescent moon. On it, an intricately designed dragon was engraved, entwining itself around the surface.

Wang Anfeng stood still, turned sideways to look at the elder.

Ren Changge had already resumed reading his scroll, not minding him. Wang Anfeng rubbed the jade pendant between his fingers, understanding dawned on him.

This must be... Elder Ren's reward for him.

The youth shook his head, chuckling lightly.

Since the jade came from the hands of a Martial Arts predecessor like Ren Changge, it ought to be more than a mere ornament; it likely had other miraculous uses. However, since it wasn't appropriate to ask Ren Changge himself, he would have to find another way to look up the information.

Wang Anfeng casually hung the Jade Pendant on his waist.

He lifted his eyes slightly and spotted an empty corner he frequently visited; seizing the opportunity, he walked over and sat down beside a bookshelf, pulling out a travel journal he hadn't finished last time, feeling quite content internally.

The youth suddenly began to understand something.

Why Fu Mo, the Master, disliked leaving Fufeng Academy so much.

If it were me living in such an environment for forty or fifty years, I probably wouldn't want to leave either.

Wang Anfeng reflected on this thought and then focused his attention on the travel journal in his hands.

Over the past month, having traversed many towns within Fufeng County, and despite leaving every one or two days, he had seen many customs he had never seen before; now, comparing them with the texts in the book, he felt a sudden realization.

To read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles is just like this.

Reading can easily immerse one deeply; by the time Wang Anfeng felt a bit of soreness in his neck, the sky outside had already been taken over by a blood-red hue. The setting sun melted gold; clouds steamed and mist swirled, casting a spectacular color across the distant horizon. A youth was standing before him.

Dressed in light blue clothes with bright white sleeves alone, his features refined and bearing a bit of a carefree vagabond's air, he now stood with his arms folded across his chest, looking at him helplessly.

It was unclear how long he had been there.

Wang Anfeng blinked.

At that moment, he was still absorbed in the world of his book, unable to extricate himself, appearing as if he had just woken up, his demeanor puzzled and slightly innocent. He gazed at the youth in front of him as if recalling who he was, stood there dazed for about three or four breaths, then came to his senses and said,

"Su Brother?"

The handsome youth rolled his eyes, clapping heavily on Wang Anfeng's shoulder. The latter's palm trembled slightly, restraining his body's instinct to retaliate so that he wouldn't reflexively strike back. Still slightly puzzled, he cleared his mind and heard the youth lower his voice and say,

"How many times have I told you, just call me Wen Chang."

It was Su Wenchang, a student of the Yin Yang Family who had opened a gambling ring and heavily profited off students of the Military Family when Wang Anfeng first arrived at Fufeng Academy, and one of his few friends within the Academy. He now raised his eyebrows, feigning displeasure.

Wang Anfeng chuckled, yielding amiably, and whispered,

"So... Wen Chang, did you come to find me for something?"

Su Wenchang rolled his eyes again and said,

"What, can't I come see you if there's nothing up?"

"You've been out for a month, and when you finally come back, you don't go out for a drink with the brothers but hide here to read... If someone hadn't seen Tuoba Yue, we wouldn't have known you were back."

Saying this, he seemed somewhat annoyed. He snatched the book from Wang Anfeng's hand, muttering,

"Reading, reading, reading."

"Always reading; does the book contain beauties or gold? I think if you keep reading like this, you'll age before your time, just like old man Ren."

Although he was handsome, he carried a bit of the ranger's unrestrained air; otherwise, he wouldn't have been nicknamed 'Su the Gambler.' Seeing his good friend after a long time, he got carried away and spoke quite boldly.

No sooner had he spoken than he realized his slip of the tongue, his body stiffening slightly.

He sneakily glanced at the Wind Character Tower's book desk below and saw that the green-shirted elder was still reading as usual, seemingly not noticing what he had said nor showing any anger, which made him secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, thank goodness...

The next moment, before he could react, a great force swept over him, rolling him out of the Wind Character Tower like a ball, tumbling down the nine steps, coated in dust and leaves, and crashing heavily to the ground to the laughter of the students walking by.

It took a few breaths before Su Wenchang recovered, pushing himself off the ground, covering his bruised forehead, touching the swollen area, and grimacing as he gasped in pain.

So painful, so painful... such fiery hands.

Right, how was Anfeng?

Just as he turned his head, he saw Wang Anfeng beside him, also covered in leaves and dust, seemingly as surprised as himself by this treatment, his face still showing two or three parts of innocent bewilderment. After being dazed for a few breaths, his eyes twinkled as they landed on Su Wenchang.

The latter chuckled dryly and said,

"Welcome, welcome back..."

PS: Today's first update, a bit late, but don't worry, there won't be fewer. (Clenched fist)