Wugensheng, why are you blushing like that?

Chapter 58 Wugensheng, why are you blushing like that?

half an hour.

Wugensheng, who was lying on the ground, finally recovered from his initial shock.

He propped himself up, haphazardly brushed the dirt off his body, and reached out to grab the hat that had flown off.

But after trying several times without success, he gave up and looked up at Li Yuan with his messy hair.

Those eyes were still incredibly bright.

Even though he was disheveled and his heart was filled with shock, there was no resentment or fear in his eyes.

only-

curious.

Pure and undisguised curiosity.

"you..."

Wugensheng opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know where to begin.

The chestnut horse that had been lying on the ground had recovered by now.

It stood up shakily, its four hooves still trembling slightly, but it dared not look at Li Yuan again. It just lowered its head and stood there obediently, as well as a newly tamed foal.

Wugensheng's eyes widened even more as he watched this scene.

He scratched his head, finally managing to stammer, "Did you make this horse stop?"

As soon as he said it, Wugensheng realized how stupid the question was.

If it wasn't this Taoist priest in front of us who made us stop, then who else could it be?

But he really couldn't understand how a single word could freeze a mad horse in place.

This was completely beyond his comprehension.

Looking at Wugensheng's appearance, Li Yuan's smile deepened.

"You were riding it just now, and you almost hurt quite a few people."

Upon hearing this, Wugensheng's face immediately turned red.

He quickly turned around and looked at the mess behind him—

The vegetable stalls were overturned, the greens under the radishes were scattered all over the ground, the tea stall owner was slumped on the ground, and the people who were watching from a distance, pointing and whispering.

Her face immediately turned even redder.

"I'm...I'm sorry!"

Wugensheng shouted loudly, repeatedly bowing and clasping his hands in apology to the people, "Fellow villagers! I'm so sorry! I'm truly so sorry!"

"I...I can't ride a horse, I'm sorry for causing you all trouble!"

"I'll pay for the vegetable stall! I'll pay for the tea stall too!"

As he spoke, Wugensheng subconsciously reached into his robes and touched himself.

But as he touched her repeatedly, several times in total, her expression kept changing.

Wugensheng, refusing to give up, touched it again, his expression growing even more grim.

He stood there awkwardly, his hands still in his pockets, unsure whether to reach in or not.

The onlookers were stunned at first when they saw Wugensheng's appearance, and then they burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Young man, you don't have the money to pay for it, do you!"

"What are you yelling for compensation for if you don't have the money!"

"Judging by your attire, you probably don't even have money for your own food, let alone be losing money at someone else's vegetable stall?"

Laughter rose and fell, but there was little malice in it; it was mostly good-natured teasing.

Wu Gensheng's face was so red it looked like it was about to bleed.

He sheepishly withdrew his hand, bowed deeply to the people again, and said, "Please...please rest assured!"

"I, Feng Yao, keep my word!"

What I owe today, I will repay double another day! I promise!

Wugensheng spoke earnestly, and his eyes were full of sincerity.

The laughter of the people gradually stopped when they saw him like this.

An old woman walked over; she was the one who had almost been knocked over by the horse earlier.

She looked Wugensheng up and down, then glanced at the honest-looking horse, and finally her gaze lingered on Liyuan for a moment.

Then, she turned around and waved to the crowd, "Alright, alright, everyone disperse!"

"The guy didn't do it on purpose, and besides, no one was hurt!"

She then looked at the tea stall owner who was slumped on the ground: "Old Zhang, don't sit there. Your tea stall didn't collapse. It's just a scare. Is it really that big of a deal?"

The tea stall owner sheepishly got up, patted his backside, and muttered, "I...I just had weak legs..."

This remark was met with another burst of laughter.

Amidst the laughter, the people gradually dispersed, each going back to their own business.

The old woman glanced at Wugensheng and said irritably, "Young man, if you can't ride a horse, don't ride it. You've met a master today; otherwise, you'd probably be in big trouble by now!"

After saying that, the old woman turned and left.

Wugensheng stood there blankly for a long while before bowing deeply again to the old woman's retreating figure: "Thank you, Auntie!"

He straightened up, turned around, and looked at Li Yuan.

Those eyes were filled with gratitude and an irrepressible curiosity.

"Thank you so much, Taoist priest, for saving my life!"

Wugensheng bowed respectfully, his attitude sincere: "If it weren't for the Daoist's intervention just now, I, Feng Yao, would probably... I'm afraid I would have caused a great disaster today!"

Li Yuan shook his head slightly, his tone nonchalant: "It was nothing, no need for thanks."

Wugensheng straightened up, scratched his head, as if he wanted to say something, but didn't know how to start.

He looked at Li Yuan, then at the honest-looking horse, then back at Li Yuan, and finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been nagging at him: "Daoist Master... how did you manage to say 'stop' just now?"

"I...I've seen some extraordinary people who know strange and unusual methods, but I've never seen anything like this..."

As he spoke, he seemed to realize that his question had been too abrupt, and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Master, please don't misunderstand!"

"I'm not trying to find out your cultivation techniques! It's just... I just really can't help but ask..."

The way he scratched his head made him look like a child who had done something wrong.

Looking at Wugensheng's appearance, Li Yuan couldn't help but feel a bit intrigued.

This future leader of Quanxing is currently just a greenhorn.

Dressed in coarse cloth, covered in mud, with disheveled hair, he looked as wretched as a beggar who had just rolled out of the mud.

But those eyes, those incredibly bright eyes, already subtly revealed something different from ordinary people.

Li Yuan did not answer Wu Gengsheng's question, but simply smiled and asked in return, "You just said that you have met some extraordinary people?"

Upon hearing this, Wugensheng's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes! I've traveled all over the country these past few years and seen many strange and unusual people and things!"

"Some can breathe fire, some can summon lightning, some can break a large tree with a single punch, and some can scale walls and roofs—more agile than monkeys!"

Wugensheng spoke with great enthusiasm, his eyes shining even brighter.

But as he was talking, he suddenly stopped, looked at Li Yuan, and there was something in his eyes that was hard to describe.

"But..."

Wugensheng carefully chose his words and cautiously asked, "Daoist Master, you and they... seem quite different?"

Li Yuan looked at him, his gaze still gentle: "Oh? How is it different?"

Wugensheng thought for a moment and said seriously, "Those extraordinary people, although I find them amazing, I still feel that they are still human."

"But you..."

He paused, as if trying to find the right words: "You were standing here just now, and when that horse charged at us, all I could think was that it was over, that it was going to kill someone, but you didn't even blink."

"You stand there as if... as if you were meant to stand there, and the horse was meant to stop in front of you."

"This feeling, I... I've never felt it from anyone before."

After Wugensheng finished speaking, he looked at Liyuan with some trepidation, unsure whether what he said was correct.

Li Yuan listened quietly, and after he finished, he smiled slightly. His smile was as faint as a distant mountain, yet it seemed to carry some indescribable profound meaning.

"You certainly know how to talk."

Wugensheng scratched his head and smiled sheepishly: "I...I'm just telling the truth."

Li Yuan said no more, only glanced at him, and turned to leave.

Upon seeing this, Wugensheng quickly took two steps forward: "Daoist Master! You...you're leaving?"

Li Yuan paused slightly and glanced at him.

Wugensheng was momentarily flustered by that gaze, but still forced himself to say, "I...I'm called Feng Yao!"

"The double-character Feng means the 曜 of the sun!"

"Today, I was fortunate enough to be saved by the Taoist priest. I... I wish to know the name of my benefactor, so that in the future... so that..."

'

He couldn't continue.

Because he couldn't bring himself to say something like, "I can repay you in the future."

He was a penniless young man who couldn't even afford to pay for his vegetable stall. How could he possibly repay them?

Looking at Wugensheng's embarrassed appearance, Li Yuan's eyes flashed with a very faint smile.

"This humble Taoist priest has departed from the abyss."

He only said those four words.

Then, he turned around and took a step.

The moon-white Taoist robe fluttered gently in the morning breeze, and the figure gradually disappeared into the distance.

Wugensheng stood there blankly, watching the departing figure.

Li Yuan...

He silently repeated the name in his heart.

I feel like I've heard this name somewhere before.

Not just something you've heard of in ordinary times, but something like—

The kind of "heard of" that is repeatedly mentioned in someone's ear, discussed by countless people with awe, and circulated in a mystical way.

Li Yuan...

Leave...

deep...

Wu Gensheng's eyes suddenly widened.

He suddenly raised his head and looked at the receding, pale figure, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an egg.

"Li...Li Yuan?!"

He cried out in disbelief.

In that voice, there was shock, disbelief, and a hint of—

ecstasy!

"Li Yuan Dao Zi! That Li Yuan Dao Zi from the Mianshan Daluo Palace!"

Wugensheng jumped up, looking just like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

He finally remembered!

He had heard this name at least a hundred times in the past few months!

In taverns, at tea stalls, and among the wandering hermits, one could hear the words, "That born Daoist is said to be naturally gifted, able to correct the talismans of a high-ranking master of Longhu Mountain at the age of three!"

"When he was eight years old, even the Celestial Master was stumped by his question! What was it again? Oh right, it was: if the greatest calamity cloud were to destroy all magic and all those who understand self-cultivation, should one first unleash thunder magic or first calm the mind?"

"At the age of twelve, he challenged the abbot of Baiyun Temple with a question that made the abbot stand up and offer a half-bow!"

"At the age of fifteen, he taught the *Zhouyi Cantongqi* on behalf of his teacher. Those who listened said that with a casual gesture, black and white energies would swirl around him!"

"Last month, the Wudang sect leader discussed the Dao with him for seven days. When he descended the mountain, he said, 'I saw no supernatural powers, but I saw the Dao. This young man has entered another world.'"

"It's said that for Old Master Lu's upcoming birthday celebration, he personally sent someone to invite that Daoist priest, and he has already agreed to attend the banquet!"

Those words, those legends, those stories that have been embellished countless times, all rushed into Wugensheng's mind at this moment.

He rushed to Tanzhou at all costs, even though he didn't know how to ride a horse, he had to bite the bullet and ride it anyway.

Isn't it all for the Lu family's birthday banquet, to see this legendary born Daoist in person?

Isn't it all for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ask this extraordinary person, who is said to be "born with knowledge," about the question that has troubled me for countless days and nights?

But now—

That Daozi is right in front of us!

It was right in front of me!

They even did me such a huge favor!

And I actually let him leave like that?!

Wugensheng felt a "buzz" in his head, and his whole body exploded.

"Taoist Master—!"

He shouted and took off after him.

The chestnut horse was startled by his shout and almost ran away again.

But Wugensheng couldn't care less about it.

He took off running, shouting as he went, "Taoist Master, please wait! Taoist Master, please wait—!"

Those worn-out cloth shoes stepped on the dusty official road, raising a trail of smoke and dust.

His coarse cloth clothes fluttered in the morning breeze, and his already messy hair was blown even more tangled, making him look like a madman.

But it doesn't matter if it has no roots.

He just ran as fast as he could.

He ran towards the figure in the moon-white Taoist robe.

He ran toward the person he had been longing to see day and night for the past few months.

Li Yuan did not stop walking; he continued walking at a leisurely pace.

But he didn't walk any faster.

As if waiting for something.

Wugensheng, panting heavily, finally caught up with Li Yuan. He was bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath: "Dao...Daoist Master...huff...huff...please wait..."

Li Yuan then stopped and turned slightly to look at him.

In those gentle eyes, there was no surprise, no doubt, only one thing—

It was as if they had already anticipated this calm and composed demeanor.

"What is it?"

Wugensheng took a few deep breaths and finally straightened up.

He stood there, looking at Li Yuan, at that otherworldly face so close to his own, and suddenly felt a little lost.

She couldn't recall a single word of the words she had rehearsed countless times in her mind; she simply stared blankly at Li Yuan.

Looking at this legendary figure, whom countless people had described as divine and whom he had longed to meet day and night, he was filled with awe.

half an hour.

Wugensheng took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Liyuan.

This bow was deeper, heavier, and more solemn than the one he had just used to express his gratitude.

"Li Yuan Daozi!"

Wugensheng's voice trembled slightly with excitement, yet it was exceptionally sincere: "My name is Feng Yao, and I dare... I dare to ask Daoist to stay!"

"I have traveled a great distance to Tanzhou precisely so that I may have the opportunity to meet the Daoist Master!"

"I just want to see for myself whether that Daozi is really as the legends say... as the legends say..."

At this point, Wugensheng paused slightly, seemingly searching for the right words, before finally giving up: "Anyway, I just want to see you in person!"

"I also have a personal motive; I'd like to ask Daozi a question that has puzzled me for a long time!"

"I am aware of my humble status and limited knowledge, and I should not have such aspirations..."

"But just now, Daozi saved me, and I was fortunate enough to learn of your identity..."

"If I were to miss this opportunity, I... I fear I would never forgive myself for the rest of my life!"

As Wugensheng spoke, he raised his head, his bright eyes looking directly at Li Yuan, his gaze full of earnestness and expectation.

"So...so I dared to follow you!"

"I implore Michiko... to give me another chance!"

"Even if Daozi only wishes to hear me finish explaining my problem, I will be completely satisfied!"

After saying this, Wugensheng bowed deeply again and did not straighten up for a long time.

The morning breeze swept by, ruffling his disheveled hair and the mud-covered corners of his clothes.

Wugensheng just stood there, bent over, waiting.

Waiting for Li Yuan's response.

Waiting for the answer he's been longing for day and night.

He was waiting for what might be his only chance in his life.

Li Yuan watched him quietly.

Looking at this young man who was bent over, with messy hair and a disheveled appearance.

Looking at his devout posture of bowing deeply.

Looking at his eyes, which were still incredibly bright even when he looked down.

After a while.

Li Yuan nodded slightly, his voice still gentle and calm: "Stand up."

Upon hearing this, Wugensheng immediately straightened up and looked at Liyuan with trepidation.

Li Yuan looked at him and slowly said, "You chased after me just to ask one question?"

Wugensheng nodded vigorously.

"What's the problem?"

Wugensheng took a deep breath.

He knew that this moment had finally arrived.

He opened his mouth, about to speak—

But Li Yuan raised his hand to stop him.

"No rush."

Li Yuan's gaze passed over him and looked at the gradually awakening city in the distance.

"This is a busy place, not a place for conversation."

He withdrew his gaze and turned it back to Wugensheng.

"You have traveled a great distance to find me, and have followed me for so long..."

"Then come with me."

"Let's talk as we walk."

Wugensheng was stunned.

Suddenly, the light in those eyes intensified!

Within that light, there was ecstasy, excitement, and disbelief—"Thank you, Daoist! Thank you, Daoist!"

Wugensheng bowed repeatedly, looking as if he had gotten a great deal.

Looking at him like this, Li Yuan's smile deepened.

He didn't say anything more, but simply turned around and continued walking.

The moon-white Taoist robe fluttered gently in the morning breeze.

Wugensheng quickly followed behind.

The disheveled young man in coarse cloth clothes and the composed figure in a moon-white Taoist robe walked side by side along the official road, heading into the deepening morning light.

Ahead, the hustle and bustle of Qingyuan County is gradually awakening.

Behind him stood the chestnut horse, which had finally recovered, standing there blankly watching its owner walk further and further away.

And in those bright eyes, there was only a moon-white figure at that moment.

And the question he was about to ask, the question that had troubled him for countless days and nights.

As the morning light deepened, the official road stretched forward.

Li Yuan walked with a calm and unhurried pace, his moon-white Taoist robe gleaming warmly in the morning light.

Wugensheng followed half a step behind, his coarse cloth clothes covered in mud contrasting sharply with his otherworldly figure.

He opened his mouth several times, then closed it again. The questions that had been brewing in his mind countless times were now on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't know where to begin.

Li Yuan did not urge him.

They just walked quietly.

Along the roadside, early-rising farmers had already begun their work in the fields. Occasionally, villagers carrying loads would pass by on the ridges of the fields. Upon seeing these two figures, one from the countryside and one from the countryside, they would glance at them a few more times, but they would not stop.

After walking for a while, Wugensheng finally couldn't hold back any longer.