Chapter 17: Where Do You Work? Do You Have a Partner?

Hundreds of rivers flow into the sea: Mastering the martial arts of a hundred schools, cultivated to perfect completion (89/100).

Within Ji Huo’s mind, a towering figure appeared, standing tall enough to touch the heavens, fists sweeping out gusts of wind with explosive force, changing the very color and shape of the world as the movements of the fists shifted. In the distance, volcanoes erupted, the earth trembled, the ground cracked layer upon layer, lava spewing everywhere.

This was a supreme martial art capable of altering heaven and earth!

Ji Huo took a deep breath, feeling his inner strength surging. He had a sense that, at this moment, if he casually threw a punch, he could overturn the entire morning court hall he found so displeasing...

He quickly suppressed this thought. Even if he had cultivated the Thunderous Fist of the Fierce Bear to its peak, he would only be on the same level as his father. In terms of battle experience and inner strength, he couldn’t compare—he’d still end up getting soundly beaten.

He glanced at his cultivation value. Good heavens, this mid-tier local martial art had cost him a full half a million points to master! Now he had only sixty thousand left.

If he tried another high-tier martial art, would all the points he’d accumulated over the years be insufficient to complete the “Hundreds of Rivers Flow into the Sea” task?

“Looks like I’ll have to earn some points and draw cultivation values. Back in Sichuan, it was manageable, but now that I’ve just arrived in the capital, I feel like my cultivation points aren’t enough,” Ji Huo murmured, his gaze calm as he looked toward the outer walls of the imperial palace.

There, lay the world of martial artists.

...

He waited for more than half an hour; with his sharp hearing, Ji Huo could catch the arguing inside, and the curses were particularly novel. As expected of the literati of the Zhou dynasty—even those who made it to the top had a knack for verbal combat.

But Ji Huo didn’t hear Ji Xiao Xiong’s voice, so he guessed his father was idly waiting nearby.

Finally, as the morning session ended, Ji Huo watched from the side as a group of ministers left, cursing and parched—clearly the battle had been fierce.

“Are you the Second Young Master Ji?” An elderly eunuch approached Ji Huo and asked respectfully.

“I am,” Ji Huo replied.

“His Majesty is waiting for you in the Imperial Library. Please follow me,” the eunuch said deferentially.

“Thank you, sir.” Ji Huo stepped forward, cupped his hands in salute, and discreetly slipped a silver coin to the eunuch.

The old eunuch’s face instantly lit up, expertly tucking the silver into his sleeve.

“No need to worry, Second Young Master. Just be cautious in your words and actions. His Majesty is in a good mood today.”

The two arrived outside the Imperial Library. The eunuch went in to announce their arrival, and moments later, Ji Huo was summoned inside.

Upon entering, Ji Huo saw his father was present, along with a middle-aged man in Daoist robes, exuding an air of immortality and refinement.

Zhou Dynasty’s National Advisor, Li Xiu.

Ji Huo’s heart tightened as his eyes flicked toward the man seated on the dragon throne.

Wearing a five-clawed golden dragon robe, his hair streaked with white, the emperor’s face suggested he was in his fifties or sixties. He radiated authority, with flashes of brilliance occasionally shooting from his eyes.

Just a single glance, and Ji Huo felt an overwhelming pressure—the aura of the imperial dragon, bolstered by the nation’s fate. With the power of the country behind him, Ji Huo thought that even if he fought the old emperor one-on-one, he might not win.

Yet the emperor was also a martial artist—why did he appear so aged? White hair signified depleted vitality. As emperor, he shouldn’t lack rare elixirs and medicines. Could it be he suffered from hidden injuries?

These thoughts flashed through Ji Huo’s mind, but his face remained composed as he cupped his hands and saluted: “Your humble subject Ji Huo greets Your Majesty.”

Ji Xiao Xiong frowned. Why didn’t this brat kneel? Did I forget to teach him the proper etiquette before leaving home? Damn, maybe I really didn’t.

Li Xiu nodded slightly, squinting as he measured Ji Huo. But his eyes, no matter how hard he looked, could only see Ji Huo as an ordinary person—at most, he sensed the youth’s abundant vitality.

If he tried to probe further, a strange unease crept into his heart, so he quickly withdrew his gaze.

“How dare you!” a nearby eunuch rebuked loudly.

The old emperor waved his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing.”

He turned to Ji Huo and smiled: “I’ve long heard that Lord Protector has finally found his long-lost son. Today, I see for myself—a truly outstanding young man, with all the vigor Lord Protector had in his youth.”

If I looked like my father, I’d have swallowed dung long ago. How did you see any resemblance to him in his youth?... Ji Huo cupped his hands and said, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s praise.”

The emperor continued: “Do you have any plans for the future? Lord Protector has served the country for years. If you wish to serve in the court, it’s but a word from me.”

Ji Xiao Xiong’s heart skipped a beat, worried the brat might say something outrageous again.

“Your Majesty, I have only just reunited with my family and have no plans at present,” Ji Huo replied respectfully.

“That’s understandable. I heard you wandered for many years. With your identity suddenly changed, it must be hard to adjust. Take your time,” the emperor said, then asked, “Are you married?”

Ji Huo: “...”

Suddenly, he felt this was just small talk. No wonder it seemed so familiar. Have you found a job? Are you married? Next, will you say you’ll help find a match?

“Not yet married.”

“If you fancy any noble lady, I can grant you a marriage,” the emperor said with a smile. “It’s a pity my own children are too old; otherwise, such a fine young man would make a good match for my family and for Lord Protector.”

Ji Xiao Xiong quickly cupped his hands. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. But the boy is wild and unruly, hard to tame, and I fear he would disgrace the royal dignity.”

He gritted his teeth as he spoke, and both the emperor and Li Xiu looked at him oddly. Lord Protector was a straightforward man; for him to say such words, perhaps the boy was only pretending to be well-behaved?

Outwardly honest, but inwardly a rascal?

A hint of contemplation flashed across the emperor’s eyes, and he suddenly recalled the matter that had been troubling him these past few days. He probed, “Young Ji, have you practiced martial arts?”

“A little,” Ji Huo replied after some thought.

“I see...” The emperor’s tone drew out, disappointed. He guessed that Ji Huo, just newly acknowledged, could hardly have mastered Ji Xiao Xiong’s Thunderous Fist of the Fierce Bear so quickly. He remembered how long it took Ji Xiao Xiong to learn that set.

But that matter—how to handle it?... The emperor looked at Ji Xiao Xiong.

As an old comrade, Ji Xiao Xiong knew exactly what the emperor was troubled about. He flashed a sly grin at Ji Huo, making Ji Huo’s scalp tingle.

No way! What are you up to?!

Before Ji Huo could protest, Ji Xiao Xiong blurted, “Your Majesty, the brat learned a few moves in the mountains—he’s decent enough.”

The implication was clear, and the emperor’s eyes immediately brightened as he decided, “That settles it! Young Ji, there’s a banquet in the palace tonight. I want you to attend.”

I feel like my father just threw me under the bus... Ji Huo shot him a glare and cupped his hands: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Very well, you may withdraw now.”