Hearing this, Master Zhang looked at the gatekeeper. "Don't get too carried away, Feng Linjie. Even though YunDu City ranks last in the annual Grand Examination, you are not someone to be humiliated by a mere gatekeeper. After all, I am the lord of the city, or at least the city lord appointed by Huang Zengtian of the Imperial Palace. I was courteous to you before, even when you mocked me. I didn't take it to heart. Yet you think I'm too weak to argue with you? You really have taken advantage of my tolerance and gone further. Since you want to challenge me today, let's go to Huang Zengtian and see who he will support!"
Upon hearing these words, Feng Linjie felt as if the ground was spinning under his feet. He really dared not confront Huang Zengtian of the Imperial Palace. After all, he was just a gatekeeper, a position far too low. Those who were sent to be city lords were former influential officers of Huang Zengtian, not someone like him a gatekeeper could compare to. Although they sometimes gave him face and occasionally gave him tips, it was purely because they didn't want the trouble of being checked in and out of the city. It was convenient for everyone that way. If it really came to Huang Zengtian's attention, he estimated that his job as a gatekeeper would definitely be at risk. It would be better not to argue with him first and have someone check thoroughly when they return! Thinking of this, he hurriedly bowed with a smiling face. "City Lord Zhang, you are magnanimous and do not hold grudges against inferiors. Please don't take offense at me. It's all my fault for causing you trouble. Please enter the city quickly, City Lord Zhang! You all lack foresight; why don't you let City Lord Zhang pass without further delay? Do you want me to take action myself?"
Upon hearing these words, the soldiers guarding the gate quickly removed all obstacles.
Feng Linjie chuckled, "City Lord Zhang, it was all a misunderstanding. Please do not take it to heart. It's my fault for being naive. I hope City Lord Zhang will be magnanimous and not hold a grudge against me!"
Master Zhang looked at Feng Linjie and let out a sigh. "Alright, let's put this matter behind us. I didn't have any intention of causing trouble. Since you've said that, if I continue to pursue it, it would only make me seem petty. I'm not that narrow-minded. You guys, come with me to see Emperor Huang Zengtian."
Master Zhang and Mo Wenjie walked directly to Huang Zengtian's palace!
Huang Premier, Liang Master of Clerks, and Liu Guard went to the post station to report, and arranged their accommodation and meals!
Master Zhang glanced at Mo Wenjie. "Mo Association President, today we came to Emperor Huang Zengtian's palace. You should know the purpose for which you were summoned. Of course, I hope you can stay in YunDu City, as good as it is, but it's still not your own home!"
Mo Wenjie nodded at Master Zhang. "Your Lordship, I have understood your concerns on this matter all along. No matter how great the temptation, I will definitely decline Emperor Huang Zengtian's invitation. I will do it in a polite way, so it should be acceptable!"
Master Zhang chuckled, "Mo Association President, please don't say that. I am also very fond of talent and do not want you to leave YunDu City. That's why I've been so talkative about it. Please do not take it to heart. Can I promise you that I will no longer mention this again?"
Mo Wenjie nodded upon hearing this. "Your Lordship, I am very aware of your thoughts. Even if you didn't say anything, I would choose to stay in YunDu City. After all, I have family and friends here, which is not something that can be easily abandoned!"
Master Zhang laughed heartily upon hearing this. "Mo Association President, you are absolutely right. How can one's feelings be easily discarded? Now that we both miss the old days, I have decided to let you help YunDu City rise again. I know this task is indeed difficult, but as the all-powerful Mo Association President, it's nothing for you!"
Mo Wenjie looked at Master Zhang and shook his head. "It seems like you're already hooked on this, isn't that right? Is it because of such a trivial matter that you've gone to great lengths? Do you really think this is meaningful? I've already told you we don't need any of this between us. Just do what you're supposed to do. City Lord, please stop behaving like this. My memory is excellent, and I know that for years, you've been bullied and suffered from your heart. Now that you have the opportunity to stand out among others, if you want to stay this way forever, I understand your feelings and will help you. However, as for the future, it's up to us to see what happens!"
Master Zhang looked at Mo Wenjie upon hearing his words, and he sheepishly scratched his head. "To be honest, Mo Association President, what you said just now is very true. I do have that thought in mind. I want to keep you by my side forever and make sure YunDu City remains the number one in the Taihuang Domain!"
Mo Wenjie smiled and nodded at Master Zhang. "City Lord, what you think is correct. People are like that. I can understand your feelings, and I will do my best to help YunDu City. However, City Lord, you should also know that all good things must come to an end. My future will not necessarily be spent in YunDu City forever. I have my own ideals and the future is uncertain for me. Therefore, when I'm in the higher realm, I will definitely help YunDu City, but if one day I leave that realm, there's nothing I can do to help YunDu City. I hope the city lord can understand!"
Master Zhang looked at Mo Wenjie and chuckled. "Mo Association President, you have lofty ambitions, and I will certainly not hinder your progress. I'm sorry that I cannot assist you, but how can I let you stagnate? You also don't need to worry. As long as you have the chance to leave the higher realm, I will lead the people of YunDu City to bid farewell!"
Mo Wenjie looked at Master Zhang and said, "Thank you for your kind offer, City Lord. I am definitely staying in YunDu City now. As for Emperor Huang Zengtian, if he really wants me to stay in Fei Huang City, I can't accept that either. Besides, Emperor Huang Zengtian may not want me to stay in Fei Huang City either. Isn't it a bit unnecessary to discuss something that hasn't happened yet?"
Master Zhang laughed heartily upon hearing this. "Mo Association President, you're absolutely right. Emperor Huang Zengtian hasn't mentioned anything about wanting you to stay in Fei Huang City either. It's just that I overthink things, and since I've been fortunate enough to meet you, I truly fear losing you. That's why I've been so persistent. I'll stop overthinking now and just take it one step at a time. When the car reaches the mountain, there will be a path ahead of us. We'll see Emperor Huang Zengtian and everything will be clear. In any case, it's already happened, so there's no big deal anymore. I've also come to terms with myself: Many years as a follower have already accepted their fate, why can't I accept it now? This is indeed the case of human greed!"
Master Zhang, you came quickly, didn't you? Huang Zengtian has been waiting for you in the palace already. I've been expecting you for a while now. A person dressed in a scribe's robe is conversing with Master Zhang!
Master Zhang laughed heartily upon hearing this. "Gongsun Scribe, thank you for waiting here for us. I'm truly honored!"
Gongsun Scribe looked at Mo Wenjie and smiled, nodding. "City Lord Zhang, YunDu City has indeed produced a talented individual. With your elevated status, it is only natural that I come to greet you. This is the imperial edict from Emperor Huang Zengtian. How could I dare disobey? Here I stand, waiting with reverence for City Lord Zhang's arrival!"
Master Zhang laughed heartily upon hearing this. "Oh, Gongsun Scribe, you are too modest. How could I dare to have you, Gongsun Scribe, greet me here? I certainly don't have that much face. It's all because of Mo Wenjie, Mo Association President. Over the years, what kind of character I am, Gongsun Scribe should be well aware of. It's just luck on my part!"
Gongsun Hao-Ran glanced at Master Zhang and said, "Old Zhang, luck is also a part of strength. This is something that others cannot match. Let me tell you, Emperor Huang Zengtian also wishes to have such good luck. Who doesn't want to have such luck? Even I am envious and jealous. We shouldn't stand here talking so much. We must not delay our guest, who is none other than the new favorite of the higher realm, a person praised by Emperor Huang Zengtian himself. How can we dare to be disrespectful? Brother Mo, please follow me!"
Master Zhang and Mo Wenjie followed Gongsun Hao-Ran into Emperor Huang Zengtian's palace!
Gongsun Hao-Ran bowed deeply before the emperor sitting on the dragon chair, and reported, "Your Imperial Majesty, Zhang City Lord and Mo Association President have been brought here by me."
Master Zhang and Mo Wenjie looked at Emperor Huang Zengtian sitting on the dragon chair!
Master Zhang bowed and saluted, "Your Imperial Majesty, I, Zhang Chenyu, am honored to meet you."
Emperor Huang Zengtian looked at Zhang Chenyu and Mo Wenjie and asked, "Zhang Chenyu, the young man beside you should be Mo Wenjie, right?"
Zhang Chenyu bowed and saluted quickly, "Your Imperial Majesty, he is indeed Mo Wenjie. I brought him here on purpose today. Please feel free to make your command!"
Emperor Huang Zengtian looked at Mo Wenjie and smiled, nodding. Then, he turned to Zhang Chenyu with a leer, "Are you sure about that? Is it a bit insincere? Don't force it, please! Mo Wenjie is from YunDu City, after all; he can be seen as under your command. If I were to keep Mo Wenjie in Fei Huang City, would you have any objections?"
Master Zhang laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Your Imperial Majesty, are you joking with me? I think you're just teasing me for fun!"
Emperor Huang Zengtian laughed and said, "Zhang Chenyu, you're indeed clever. You deliberately used words to trap me. Do you really think I don't know what you're thinking? Let me be straightforward with you. I have already had my people investigate everything about Mo Wenjie, and he is indeed a rare talent. Moreover, his alchemy skills far exceed all alchemists in the Taihuang Domain. The pills that Ye Wenyuan purchased have already been sent to me. As soon as I received them, I immediately had the president of the Taihuang Alchemy Association, Ding Haiyuan, evaluate them. His evaluation was that I am not as good as this person; his alchemy skills far surpass mine by a wide margin. The best I can do for him is to serve as his apprentice. Therefore, please allow Emperor Huang Zengtian to keep this person in Fei Huang City and make him the president of the Taihuang Alchemy Association. I, Ding Haiyuan, would be more than willing to serve him as his apprentice. Zhang Chenyu, do you think what I should do is not joking?"
Master Zhang looked at Mo Wenjie and his heart skipped a beat, silently thinking, "Bad luck! It seems that the idea of keeping Mo Wenjie in YunDu City is not going to happen anymore. What should I do now?"
