Chapter 152: Tao Sheng Visits!

Song Mu was stunned by this sudden turn of events, looking with some surprise at the dignified man before him. The few people standing nearby remained silent, their gazes shifting back and forth between the man and Tao Fengming.

After standing in place for a moment, the man suddenly reached out his hand toward Tao Fengming.

Song Mu hurriedly took a step forward and spoke involuntarily.

"My Lord..."

By this time, the other man had already grabbed Tao Fengming's wrist with one hand, half-crouching by the window with his eyes closed, as if sensing something carefully.

A moment later, he opened his eyes. A flicker of astonishment and an indescribable emotion danced within his gaze. He let out a long breath and spoke to the military physician Cao beside him.

"What medicine are you currently giving him?"

Military Physician Cao replied truthfully and with utmost respect. The man nodded, stood up, and stood with his hands at his sides, gazing down at the sleeping Tao Fengming before speaking once again.

"I still have two fine stalks of mountain ginseng here. I will have them sent to you as well. Grind them into his medicine every day for him to take."

Military Physician Cao nodded repeatedly, but the man's expression still seemed somewhat hesitant as he muttered to himself.

"If it weren't for the fact that this place is so far from the north, I would have had someone send over some of that Dengfeng venison jerky."

Standing nearby, Song Mu did not quite understand at first, but suddenly he thought of the bundle he had been carrying on his back all along. He stepped over, retrieved the bundle, and said to the man.

"My Lord, is this the kind of venison jerky you were talking about?"

Hearing Song Mu's words, the man immediately looked over. Seeing the bundle in Song Mu's hands and the bundles of amber-colored jerky inside, he picked up a piece, smelled it carefully, and wore a look of utter surprise.

"This is precisely Dengfeng venison! Where did you get this?"

The man asked Song Mu with a hint of pleasant surprise. Song Mu turned his head to look at Tao Fengming and said to the man.

"My Lord, this belongs to my Master. He eats it almost constantly, though it seems to have run low these past few days."

Hearing this, a complex mix of emotions crossed the man's face. He looked at Tao Fengming, his expression filled with deep emotion.

"This fellow, he figured out how to counter this long ago."

With that, the man returned the jerky to Song Mu and gave further instructions to Military Physician Cao, telling him to grind more of the jerky into powder and add it to the medicine every day.

Listening from the side, Song Mu became even more curious about the man's identity. Why did everyone obey his orders with such cautious reverence? He gazed at the man, his eyes full of curiosity.

The man gave instructions for a long time, discussing many matters with Military Physician Cao as if he still had much more to say. Eventually, however, he simply turned around and gazed once again at Tao Fengming.

A short while later, he suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze locking directly with Song Mu, who had been watching him.

Song Mu did not appear overly constrained; instead, seizing the opportunity, he asked a question.

"May I be so bold as to ask, My Lord, are you a friend of my teacher?"

The man smiled, his expression carrying a trace of lingering emotion, and slowly replied.

"Perhaps. Or perhaps not."

Saying this, the man took a few steps closer to Song Mu and asked.

"You must be Song Mu. The Song Mu of the Shiyang Song family?"

Facing the man's sudden question, Song Mu, still somewhat bewildered, gave a dazed nod. By now, the man had already stepped closer to inspect Song Mu carefully, a touched and reminiscent smile appearing on his face.

"Truly a talent of striking appearance, and you still bear the demeanor of your ancestors from back in the day."

Song Mu cupped his fists and bowed repeatedly. At this moment, the man continued.

"I have read your policy essay as well. Connecting trade routes and replacing indigenous chieftains with imperial officials—a fine conception."

The man's words came as a shock. Song Mu suddenly straightened up, swallowed hard, and looked at the man with a gaze mixed with disbelief.

"You... have read my essay?"

The man nodded and said with a smile, "Indeed. Though your essay cannot be considered top-tier, it aligns very well with my own thoughts."

"Those old pedants in the imperial court spend their entire days preaching benevolence and magnanimity, completely unaware that in this world, some people only understand human speech after they have tasted the whip."

The man's words were somewhat crude, but the underlying principle was sound. Song Mu lowered his gaze slightly, and the man addressed him again.

"You have vision. At least, I can see that your insights are exceptional. A scholar should harbor ambitions for the world, but he must also be decisive in killing when necessary."

With that, the man glanced at Tao Fengming once more before looking back at Song Mu.

"Since he was willing to look upon you favorably, it means you possess some genuine ability. What are your plans for the future?"

The man asked, his gaze burning with intensity. For a moment, Song Mu was taken aback and did not quite know what to say.

"Your student intends to steadily climb through the imperial examinations and revive the glory of my ancestors."

Hearing Song Mu's reply, the man let out a hearty laugh, his expression entirely carefree and pleased.

"Very well! Ambition is a good thing. I was thinking that if you were willing, you could join my military camp."

As he said this, the man swept his gaze over Song Mu one last time and added.

"The imperial examinations are the righteous path. If you can pass the metropolitan examination as a presented scholar, that would naturally be for the best."

With those words, the man turned around and strode away. Left bewildered by the man's unpredictable and wandering train of thought, Song Mu could only cup his fists and watch him depart.

Downstairs, a troop of soldiers stood in silent formation. Every single one of them was dressed in black, wrapped tightly from head to toe, standing motionless in the pitch-black night.

There was not the slightest ripple of scholarly energy emanating from their bodies; Song Mu had no idea when or how they had even arrived here.

The man vaulted gracefully onto his horse, cast one last glance at the pavilion, pulled on the reins, and turned to leave.

Watching the man ride out of the village, Song Mu slowly withdrew his gaze. Shang Zuliang, who was standing nearby, also prepared to leave, but Song Mu stopped him with a question.

"Master, was that distinguished visitor the Military Governor of the Southern Frontier, Tao Sheng?"

Shang Zuliang's expression froze instantly, turning stern. Instead of answering Song Mu's question, he looked around their surroundings.

A moment later, he spoke to Song Mu.

"Do not inquire into such matters. Just take good care of Master Fengming."

Having already obtained the answer he sought, Song Mu nodded silently, though monumental waves were crashing inside his heart.

The person who had just stood before him was none other than Tao Sheng, the Military Governor of the Southern Frontier, the current heir of the Tao family's scholarly lineage, and a great literatus of the Hanlin realm!

Song Mu felt a sense of surrealism, but what truly struck him as incredible was the man's presence here tonight.

He had come simply to check on Tao Fengming.

In that instant, everything clicked in Song Mu's mind. Tao Sheng and Tao Fengming had perhaps both once been members of the Tao family's scholarly clan. Upon learning that Tao Fengming had fallen gravely ill, the other had rushed over to visit him in person and left explicit instructions.

Yet, between the two of them, there clearly existed some kind of insurmountable barrier.

At the very beginning, Song Mu could sense the disdain in the man's eyes, followed immediately by helplessness and a mixture of sorrow and pity...

Song Mu shook his head, feeling that these complex affairs were truly obscure and unfathomable.

However, this realization only served to strengthen his resolve to persevere.

Regardless of Tao Fengming's past, since he was now his disciple, he had to shoulder the responsibilities expected of a student.