Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 248 - 27: Becoming a Disciple

Looking out, the silhouette of a man in a green robe appeared before her eyes, standing beside the table and writing something.

In a daze, Wu Meiniang seemed to see her long-deceased father; in her memories, she often saw her father’s silhouette like this during her childhood, always bringing her a sense of inexplicable comfort. Although Wu Meiniang was always strong, she didn’t know why, at this moment, her eyes felt sour.

She tiptoed to the back of the man, peered over his shoulder, and found that he was writing about tea. There were many phrases that she couldn’t understand, but she had an inexplicable feeling that they were very impressive.

"Little girl, you’re awake," a warm voice sounded in her ear. Wu Meiniang then realized she might have been too careless, relaxing her guard before figuring out whether this person was friend or foe.

"Is it you who have been protecting me in secret?" Wu Meiniang asked cautiously.

Lu Yu turned his head, looked at the young girl who had grown into someone who could potentially bring disaster to a State with her beauty, and asked with a smile, "How come you are sure I am protecting you and not having other ulterior motives?"

At this moment, a confident smile appeared on Wu Meiniang’s face as she said, "First, you protected me from those guards, which shows you don’t want me to get hurt. And when I jumped from the high platform, you also made a move. Secondly, my clothes are intact, which shows you’re not coveting my beauty.

Now that my brothers have abandoned me, and I’m alone in the deep palace, I really can’t find anything on me worth your scheming for."

Lu Yu looked at the young girl before him with surprise, silently praising her in his heart. Perhaps this was what they called talent, to not give up in adversity, to remain calm in the face of danger, and to converse confidently with a stranger. Her character and demeanor made it little wonder she could become the Empress for all ages.

"Am I right?" Wu Meiniang said with pride, not knowing why, but in front of this man in the green robe, she couldn’t help but let down her guard and show her true self.

"What a smart little girl, yet also a pitiful one," Lu Yu said as he touched Wu Meiniang’s head, thinking if a child of her age in his previous life would still be in middle school, living a carefree life.

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Meanwhile, Wu Meiniang had already experienced family upheaval, the death of her father, bullying by her brothers, and eventually being thrown into the deep confines of the palace, alone and unsupported. She had tasted all the warmth and coldness of the world and seen the ugliest faces of humanity, learning early on to disguise herself.

Wu Meiniang quickly shrugged off Lu Yu’s hand, looking at him with disdain. She couldn’t have the hairstyle done by the palace maids, which she thought looked the best, messed up.

"Where am I pitiful?" she said loudly, covering the trembling in her heart. It had been a long time since she had heard words of concern from anyone, and Wu Meiniang felt her heart, which had grown cold, suddenly warm up.

Lu Yu just smiled and didn’t provoke the strong yet sensitive young girl further.

"What are you writing there?" the young girl asked curiously, leaning on the table and looking up.

"The Tea Sutra!"

"Oh!" The young girl responded, actually having no idea what this so-called "Tea Sutra" was, but she still graciously flattered Lu Yu.

"It’s a sort of encyclopedia about tea, sigh, I’m saying it, but you wouldn’t understand," Lu Yu said, looking at the bewildered Wu Meiniang, and was left speechless.

All of Wu Meiniang’s talents seemed to be focused on politics, with no interest at all in these so-called miscellaneous studies.

"Is that tea cup of the Supreme Emperor related to you?" Wu Meiniang’s mind suddenly flashed to that tea set in the Supreme Emperor’s palace, which was said to be his favorite.

"Oh! That one, it seems it was indeed used by Li Yuan and me." Prompted by Wu Meiniang, Lu Yu also recalled the scene from that time, that man of majestic presence, deep in the arts of power and strategy, Li Yuan, had been dead for many years now.

"Can you tell me about it?" Wu Meiniang asked with sincere curiosity, her eyes shining like the stars above, for the love of gossip is a part of human nature deeply embedded in the heart.

Lu Yu then related the events as they happened, which left Wu Meiniang’s face alight with excitement. "So, you are the legendary immortal!" she asked with wide-eyed wonder.

After saying this, she knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times, exclaiming, "From now on, you are my master!"

Lu Yu was stunned by the future Empress’s swift action—what an abrupt bowing and pledging of discipleship, before he had even finished speaking.

However, for Wu Meiniang, this was a daring gamble—if she could cling to the coattails of the immortal Lu Yu, she would never be bullied again. So, she chose to confirm their mentor-disciple relationship with the speed of lightning to prevent any chance of him changing his mind.

Gently touching his forehead, Lu Yu said to Wu Meiniang, who was still kneeling on the ground, "Rise first, let’s have a clear talk, and then it won’t be too late."

Only then did Wu Meiniang stand up, looking innocently at Lu Yu, her eyes brimming with a pitiful appeal.

"Don’t pretend with me; I know what you’re like. Let me tell you plainly, if you’re seeking to become an immortal, it’s going to be extremely difficult."

"Why?"

"Not everyone can become an immortal. Otherwise, this world would already be filled with immortal gods. Some people are born to be figures of wealth and status; the path to immortality is hard to tread." Lu Yu looked at Wu Meiniang with a profound gaze.

As if he were joking, if he were to lead this future Empress astray to pursue immortality, the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas of the west would surely not spare him.

Moreover, Wu Meiniang, destined for the throne, was born with Dragon Qi accompanying her—if she couldn’t unravel this tie of cause and effect, the Human Path’s Dragon Qi would repel all things, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth simply couldn’t enter her body.

"Ah!" There was no hiding the disappointment on Wu Meiniang’s face. She had just fantasized about how, as an immortal, she would deal with those who had bullied her, and how she would demonstrate her might to the whole world.

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"However, since we’ve met, it must be the ’fate’ spoken of by the Buddha. If you don’t mind, you can come and study with me every day," Lu Yu said gently.

"Study? What can I learn?" Wu Meiniang looked at Lu Yu with some doubt.

"To underestimate me? I’m not just versed in cultivation; I was also once well-read in poetry and books, knowledgeable in astronomy above and geography below," Lu Yu proudly stated.

From that day on, Wu Meiniang found her own little corner within the deep courtyards of the palace. Under Lu Yu’s deceptive technique, no one could discover that in an unremarkable corner of the Imperial Garden, there lay a small thatched cottage where the future Empress, who would rule over these lands, grew continuously and learned ceaselessly.

At this moment, fate stirred ripples that, with time, grew into a tremendous wave sweeping across the world.