The two looked up at the sky in silence. They had found quite a few orphans these past few days, but very few matched their ages.
But in this Black Dragon Pool, almost all the disciples are in their early twenties. How could they possibly tell who the Emperor is looking for?
Helpless, the two inquired about the number of people and found that there were more than 20 people who had been brought back to Black Dragon Pool by the Valley Master 20 years ago.
Everyone sighed with regret as they watched the Imperial Guards return defeated.
On a rock at the top of the mountain, Shui Sheng finished practicing a set of boxing techniques and prepared to take a bath in the hot spring behind the mountain.
Just as he was about to descend the mountain, he saw two dark figures rushing down the mountain.
He could tell at a glance that the two people were not his senior brothers.
Could it be that Sui Sui has sent another letter?
Shui Sheng jumped off the rock, grabbed a thick vine, and leaped down.
"Seventh Senior Brother, Ninth Senior Brother, Thirteenth Senior Brother, has a letter arrived from the capital?" Shui Sheng shouted as he ran.
Several senior brothers shook their heads at him, then hurried toward the main hall.
The main hall is located on the east side of the mountaintop. The halls are arranged in a staggered manner, standing quietly among the pines and cypresses, with red walls and green tiles, solemn and mysterious.
From a distance, the entire palace resembles a dazzling pearl, nestled atop the verdant cypress trees.
Looking down from the main hall, the sea of clouds surges and the mist is thick, like a fairyland on earth.
The treetops and branches were covered with snow, and the ground outside the main hall looked like it was covered with a thick layer of cotton.
The main hall has a dome-shaped roof, supported by more than ten large pillars and countless carved beams.
Inside the main hall, a man in his fifties sat at an octagonal table, with tea being brewed on a stove beside it.
As the water boiled and wisps of steam rose, he lifted the wide sleeve of his right hand with his left, picked up the copper kettle, warmed the teaware, placed the tea leaves, washed the tea, awakened the tea, and brewed it. His movements were fluid and seamless.
Nangong Jue had distinct facial features, indicating that he was an exceptionally handsome man in his youth.
His temples were already streaked with white, and his eyes were bright and piercing. An expert could tell at a glance that he possessed profound inner strength.
After the tea was brewed, he slowly picked it up, held it to his lips for a moment, and then savored it.
A series of hurried footsteps sounded as the disciples entered.
"Master, the Embroidered Uniform Guards have gone up the mountain to search for someone's whereabouts." The seventh brother, who was in charge, recounted what had just happened.
After listening to his disciple's report, Nangong Jue fell into deep thought.
He did not blame his disciples for taking it upon themselves to send the Imperial Guards away. He slightly raised his wide sleeves and said, "Go back to your practice. I will try to recall if anything strange happened twenty years ago."
The fact that it alarmed the Emperor shows that the child's identity is not simple.
Thirty years ago, Nangong Jue retired from the martial arts world and came alone to the secluded Black Dragon Pool.
He spent a fortune to build magnificent palaces here, and all the disciples under his and his junior brother's tutelage were adopted by chance when they came down the mountain.
Who exactly was the person the Emperor had sought out? Was he one of his many disciples? He had no idea.
Past events resurfaced in his mind.
When Shui Sheng arrived outside the main hall, he saw his fellow disciples coming out of the hall one after another. As they passed by him, they all reached out and touched the top of his head.
"Junior brother, Master has kicked us out. Go in and keep Master company. If Master reveals any earth-shattering secrets, remember to tell your senior brother."
The thirteenth senior brother walked at the very back and whispered mysteriously in his ear.
His senior brothers doted on him, and Shui Sheng grinned and said, "Yes, I'll listen to my senior brothers."
In front of his senior brothers, Shui Sheng mainly presented himself as well-behaved.
He secretly thought to himself, "Master is with everyone every day, what secrets could he possibly have?"
If Master says there's a peerless martial arts manual hidden in the pool behind the mountain, would everyone still go down to retrieve it?
Seeing that his disciples had all left the main hall, Nangong Jue hurried towards his bedroom.
When Shui Sheng entered the hall, his master was nowhere to be seen, and the teacups on the octagonal table were steaming.
In the bedroom, Nangong Jue took out a yellowed booklet from a hidden compartment and slowly opened it.
The further he flipped through the pages, the more his brow furrowed.
His thoughts drifted back to that winter twenty years ago...
...
A few days passed in the blink of an eye.
A shocking thing happened in Beijing—Juxian Pavilion started selling barbecue.
In front of Juxian Pavilion, more than a dozen handsome waiters stood in a row, each holding a skewer of meat and flipping it quickly.
The rabbit meat sizzled as it was roasted until golden brown. It was quickly placed on a tray next to the grill, brushed with seasoning, and a rich aroma of cumin wafted away on the wind.
"Wow! It smells so good! What are they selling up ahead? Why is everyone running east?"
While selecting jewelry in a jewelry shop, Madam Wu put down a gold-inlaid jade hairpin and asked the maid beside her.
The maid was slightly taken aback, then stepped out of the shop and grabbed a woman, asking, "Madam, why are you all heading east?"
"Oh my! Little girl, can't you smell the delicious aroma? Today, Juxian Pavilion is launching a new product called barbecue, or kebabs, and it's being sold right in front of the restaurant!"
The woman spoke with great enthusiasm, but seeing that the maid still looked confused, she pointed in the direction of Juxian Pavilion.
"Look, there's already a long queue ahead. Three coins for a small skewer, five coins for a large skewer, all meat. The dishes at Juxian Pavilion aren't cheap. We wouldn't even dare to dream of them on ordinary days. Today, we absolutely have to try them."
"Girl, don't ask anymore. Go and see for yourself. I'm busy going to buy a few more skewers to take home for the kids to try. I've never seen this way of eating before."
As she spoke, the woman broke free from the maid's hand and ran forward in a hurry.
"Madam, it's Juxian Pavilion that's selling food."
Madam Huo, the eldest daughter-in-law of Wu, turned to the waiter and said, "Send all the items I selected to the Grand Commandant's residence."
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