The road is right under your feet

Zhuo Pingjian's expression was a little ugly, but he concealed it very well. If Bai Xing hadn't observed carefully, he might not have noticed it.

"We in Dayun also had an alchemy master, but since His Majesty disappeared, he was recruited by Daqi."

"After that, the other alchemy practitioners also left one after another, and the supply of elixirs was insufficient. Dayun began to decline from then on."

"Later, Senior Murong, one of the only sixth-level alchemists in the country, stepped forward and resolutely went to the Alchemy Hall in the Central Region to seek a teacher."

Zhuo Pingjian clenched his fists, "I didn't expect that the Dan Hall would go too far. Not only did they order you to do the lowest level of chores, they also humiliated you time and again."

Zhuo Pingjian's chest rose and fell slightly. "Senior worked hard and finally became a master of alchemy, but was imprisoned by the Alchemy Hall. The alchemy practitioners of Dayun were dying out, and the senior was worried. He did not hesitate to abandon his own foundation, and used up all his alchemy strength. He also used a secret method to turn himself into an idiot."

His voice gradually choked up, "Just to return to Dayun."

"The Dan Hall, for the sake of its so-called reputation, eventually sent Senior back to their country."

"After returning, the senior was insane for many years before he was finally discovered by an old senior, who lifted the forbidden technique."

"After the senior recovered, he begged the old senior to meet His Highness and asked him to open a class to train alchemists. Later, the senior succeeded and became a leading alchemist. Since then, many alchemists have emerged in Dayun, but because of the short time, there is still no alchemy master."

Bai Xing lowered his head and his expression was unclear.

Although Zhuo Pingjian tried his best to restrain himself, one could still hear the changes in his emotions.

"If my guess is correct, this should be Dayun's secret. How did you know about it?"

thump—

Zhuo Pingjian suddenly knelt on the ground, supported his knees with clenched fists, lowered his head, and his shoulders twitched.

Bai Xing was stunned, his eyes were complicated.

After a long while, he spoke slowly with a heavy nasal voice, "That senior was my grandfather. When my grandfather had an accident, my mother cried all day and passed away soon after. Everyone said that she was sick from overthinking. I was only five years old that year, but I can never forget what my mother said to me before she died."

"My original name was not Zhuo Pingjian. My mother changed my name before she died. She said: 'Pingjian, poor and humble, a humble name is easy to support.' She said she hoped that I would be an ordinary person and live a safe and healthy life. She also said that if I have the opportunity in the future, I will leave the City Lord's Mansion."

Zhuo Pingjian didn't say anything else. He had already burst into tears.

Bai Xing flashed in front of Zhuo Pingjian, helped him up, and was silent for a few seconds, "Why me?"

Zhuo Pingjian seemed to have touched some kind of mechanism. He wiped away his tears with his sleeve and sniffed. "You are the Marquis, the Marquis who fought to the death outside Yongxiao City, and you have a special relationship with His Highness, so I dare to guess that you will not sit idly by."

Bai Xing frowned, "Why should I help you?"

"Since the disappearance of Your Majesty, Dayun has been leaderless, and Prince Yu has caused chaos in the court. That year, Your Highness was still young, and fortunately, with the help of our elders, the rebels were expelled from the country, but the seeds of disaster were also sown. Now, Elder Hao has passed away, and the elders are approaching their lifespans, and Dayun is in danger."

Bai Xing frowned slightly and remained silent.

"My great-grandfather was a senior official of the dynasty, and my maternal grandfather was an alchemist. Over the years, I have used my status to gain some connections, and I can help the Marquis get preferential treatment."

He bowed to Bai Xing and said, "I hope the Lord will agree."

Bai Xing's expression remained unchanged. "You already have a distinguished grandfather, so why do you need to ask me for help?"

Zhuo Pingjian suddenly shed a tear, "My grandfather passed away a few years ago."

Shirahoshi was silent, "What do you need me to do?"

Zhuo Pingjian suddenly raised his head and said seriously: "I hope you can protect me. I want to find out who killed my mother."

He paused for a moment, trembling all over, as if he was trying hard to endure something. "If one day, I will make all the people in Dantang go to my maternal ancestor's grave, kowtow and apologize, and pay the price for what they did!"

Bai Xing nodded, "Okay, from now on, you will be my disciple. Anyone who wants to touch you must get my permission first."

Zhuo Pingjian knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times to Bai Xing. "In my life, I, Zhuo Pingjian, have never knelt before anyone except my mother and my maternal grandfather. Today, I am willing to do so."

Bai Xing hurriedly helped him up and said, "If you don't rebel, I will live up to your expectations."

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Pingjian burst into tears of joy.

Bai Xing's eyebrows softened, "It's getting late, you should go back first. If you have anything, you can come to Bingzi Mountain Stream to find me."

Zhuo Pingjian bids farewell and hands Shirahoshi two scrolls before leaving.

After the people left, Bai Xing loosened his tightly clenched hands and looked up at the sunset in the sky. "The sun sets in the west, how can I know the sorrow?"

"Yun Ze'an, how have you been through these years?"

Bai Xing turned and left.

He returned to the courtyard and was a little surprised to see Su Shixuan waiting outside the door.

Bai Xing took out the pass to the courtyard, and the two of them walked into the courtyard one after the other and sat down in the pavilion.

Su Shixuan poured tea for the two of them and smiled, "Sir, I took part in the assessment of the Equipment Refining Institute today and passed."

Bai Xing smiled slightly, picked up the teacup and blew on it, "This is a good thing, congratulations."

He put down the teacup, "But why are you suddenly interested in refining weapons?"

Su Shixuan did not answer immediately, but just stared at Bai Xing's hand.

Bai Xing raised his hand in confusion and saw that the palm of his hand was covered in blood and the wound was very deep.

Bai Xing pursed her lips and withdrew her hand without leaving a trace.

Su Shixuan refused. He stood up, walked quickly to Bai Xing, squatted in front of him, forcefully pulled Bai Xing's left hand, tore off a piece of soft inner clothes, and gently wiped Bai Xing's hand.

"Sir, does it hurt?"

"Sir, what happened?"

"Sir, has anyone offended you again today?"

Listening to Su Shixuan's mumbling, Bai Xing suddenly felt a headache, but a warm current flowed into his heart.

Bai Xing finally sighed, "No, I went to participate in the assessment of the Alchemy Institute today. Maybe I accidentally got hurt then?"

Su Shixuan gritted his teeth and said, "Sir, don't lie to me. This injury is obviously caused by a deep nail."

After applying the medicine to Bai Xing, Su Shixuan sat back in his original seat, sipping tea in silence and watching the sunset.

Bai Xing was helpless, "Today I met a young man with a miserable life, who asked me for protection. I was moved by his misery and lost my composure for a moment."

Su Shixuan heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this. "So that's the case, sir. You should take better care of yourself in the future."

Bai Xing nodded, picked up the teacup guiltily and took a sip.

"I noticed that you didn't have many decent spiritual weapons, so you took the initiative to enter the weapon refining academy."

Bai Xing paused and put down the teacup. "You don't have to do this. If you follow your heart in cultivation, you will become a great man."

Su Shixuan smiled slightly, "Don't worry, young master. Refining weapons is also what I want. I can't sense the power of attributes, just like losing an arm. Now I can enter the weapon academy and share your worries. Shixuan is happy."