Exposed After I became an Immortal - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Liu Bowen Becomes a Disciple! Daoist Name: Qingyun! Zhu Yuanzhang Teaches His Grandson!

Time passed quickly, and six months flew by in the blink of an eye. One day, six months later, Liu Bowen emerged from the Yunmeng Dao Pavilion, completely transformed. What was once an old, withered man had become a young scholar exuding elegance. If he were to be dressed in feather fans and a silk kerchief, he would look like the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang himself!

Zhu Xuanji, who had witnessed Liu Bowen’s transformation over these six months, was amazed by the power of the “Longevity Six Paths of Reincarnation Sutra.” He had initially thought the sutra was rather mediocre, but to his surprise, its effects were profound. Liu Bowen had not only regained his youth but had been practically reborn.

Zhu Xuanji’s surprise was shared by Zhu Biao and Shan Tianxie, who were even more shocked by the transformation. Shan Tianxie, especially, was in disbelief when he learned that the young scholar before him was actually his master, Liu Bowen.

“Master! How … how did you become young?” Shan Tianxie stammered, staring at Liu Bowen in astonishment.

Liu Bowen smiled with great elegance and replied, “All of this is thanks to Senior Xuanji!”

Having been brought back from the brink of death and completely transformed in just six months, Liu Bowen was equally amazed by his own change. He never imagined that such a thing was possible—it was beyond anyone’s expectations.

At that moment, Zhu Biao stepped forward to congratulate Liu Bowen, his amazement evident. “Hahaha! I told you so! As long as Xuanji is here, you’ll be fine, sir!”

Liu Bowen nodded, feeling truly happy. “Crown Prince, I now understand why you chose to stay here. Senior Xuanji’s abilities indeed surpass ordinary imagination.”

Zhu Xuanji, standing beside them, said, “Alright, Mr. Liu, enough with the polite words. Your ability to practice the ‘Longevity Six Paths of Reincarnation Sutra’ is a result of your own efforts. And don’t call me senior—it makes me sound old! From now on, let’s call each other fellow Daoists!”

But Liu Bowen refused, and in the next moment, he knelt down in front of everyone, facing Zhu Xuanji. He said, “Senior Xuanji’s life-saving grace—Liu Bowen is eternally grateful! I have already died once, so I won’t stick to old conventions. I humbly ask Senior Xuanji to accept me as a disciple!”

With that, Liu Bowen bowed and kowtowed to Zhu Xuanji. His youthful, agile body moved quickly, leaving Zhu Xuanji feeling quite helpless. However, after a moment’s thought, Zhu Xuanji realized that accepting Liu Bowen as a disciple was indeed a significant gain.

“Alright! Alright! Do as you wish! Since you insist on becoming my disciple, I’ll give you a Daoist name. You, Liu Ji, styled Bowen, first followed the lineage of Zhuge Liang, and now join my school under Xuanji. You have vast knowledge, great wisdom, and ambition to support the righteous path and invigorate the Dao. In that case, I’ll give you the Daoist name ‘Qingyun Zi’—like a great roc soaring on the same wind, ascending straight to the azure sky. What do you think?”

Liu Bowen gratefully kowtowed to Zhu Xuanji, saying, “Disciple Liu Bowen, thanks Master for the name!”

Zhu Xuanji stepped forward to help Liu Bowen up, and the two smiled at each other. However, this left Shan Tianxie feeling somewhat at a loss. How, in such a short time, had he gone from being a disciple to a grand-disciple? From now on, he was the lowest-ranking in Yunmeng Dao Pavilion.

…

In the blink of an eye, the time had come to the end of the 30th year of Hongwu. As it was nearing the end of the year, the entire Ming Dynasty—from nobles to commoners—were preparing for the New Year. As the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, with his aged body, sat in Chonghua Hall, listening to the Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen report on the affairs of the court.

Since the beginning of winter, Zhu Yuanzhang’s health had been declining day by day. Due to his fear of the cold, several more stoves had been added to Chonghua Hall. Zhu Yunwen stood in the hall, reporting while sweating profusely. There was no choice—he wore many layers of clothing, and with the added stoves, the hall was unbearably hot. However, despite the discomfort, he dared not show any signs of it in front of his imperial grandfather.

“Imperial Grandfather, at present, all the new scholars in the court have been assigned positions. In a few more years, they will become the backbone of our Ming court,” Zhu Yunwen said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Zhu Yuanzhang, leaning back on the throne with his eyes closed, spoke slowly, “Yunwen, you, child, are kinder than your father. But as the Son of Heaven, if you only have kindness, it’s not enough. Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, Fang Xiaoru—these three—you can trust them, use them! But don’t rely on them completely! As the Son of Heaven, you must have your own ideas. Don’t let the ministers guess your thoughts, or else it’s easy to become their puppet. You must have authority! You must make them feel both fear and respect!”