IDWBE -Chapter 486 Official Business Trip

After giving up the idea of becoming a martial artist who flew around everywhere, he chose instead to become a little wellness expert.

He wouldn’t be able to grasp the lofty concepts like “Heaven and Man in Harmony” or “The Dao Follows Nature,” but ideas like “Yin and Yang in Unity,” “Yin-Yang Interaction,” or “Move Qi to Nourish the Body”—he understood them intuitively, without a teacher!

“The union of Heaven and Earth gives birth to all things; the interconnection of Yin and Yang brings about transformation,” Lin Yi shook his head, grinning, “Without Yin and Yang interacting, nothing can thrive.”

“You teach wisely, my lord. Yin and Yang are the grand forces of qi; even plants and trees have their Yin and Yang balanced. If one is missing, there will be no flourishing,” Hong Ying sighed inwardly. If not for Lin Yi’s guidance, how could he ever have reached mastery in his lifetime?

Like a fish thrown into water finally understanding, or a bird realizing the cage it’s been trapped in.

So many side paths, misguided minor methods—they misled countless people!

Only now did he understand what Wen Zhaoyi meant by saying, “Those who understand this way will regain the face of youth.”

Seeing Hong Ying so reflective, Lin Yi worried he had spoken too bluntly, hitting a sore spot.

After all, Xiao Yingzi was a eunuch—no matter how hard he tried, he could never fully achieve Yin-Yang unity!

Feeling a pang of guilt, Lin Yi quickly corrected himself: “Mastery over Heaven and Earth, the balance of Yin and Yang, is impressive, but the most important thing is cultivating one’s own spirit. Annoyances are but pests; essence makes the man. Nurture righteous energy, so that you are unyielding in courage, uncorrupted by wealth, unmoved by poverty—this is the mark of a true man.”

Indeed, it was the truth. Everything in excess is harmful.

If one dies under Zixia or Mingyue’s legs, wouldn’t that be a pointless death?

A purse filled with money, a granary stocked with grain, a mind full of poetry and books—that is the life of a hermit in the mountains.

Body free of illness, mind free of worry, no creditors at the door—truly carefree.

One must not overdo it.

“Your disciple will remember the lord’s teachings.”

Hong Ying was moved. Their lord was constantly guiding him!

He had to strive harder or he would truly fail to meet Lin Yi’s expectations.

Lin Yi smiled and looked at the pitiful Xiao Xizi again: “Get up, stop acting so miserable.”

“Thank you, Lord!”

Xiao Xizi kowtowed repeatedly, loudly expressing his gratitude.

He didn’t dare show any hesitation.

The world was vast, but Lin Yi was the greatest—there was no need to ask his master’s opinion.

If he hesitated, worrying about his master’s thoughts, that would have been far worse.

Even if the sky fell, he could not go against Lin Yi’s orders!

“You little rascal,” Lin Yi, with Hong Ying’s help, sat back down, taking his tea cup, smiling: “You see, a few good hits will teach you. From now on, you need to be a bit more alert in everything you do.”

“I dare not again,” Xiao Xizi said bitterly to himself.

Was it because he did something wrong that he got beaten by Hong Ying?

He knew his master’s temper well.

With him, there was never right or wrong.

No matter how many people he killed, how much evil he did, even if he punched a hole in the sky, his master wouldn’t even blink.

Dead fish and rotten shrimp—so what if they died?

His biggest mistake was making Lin Yi angry.

When Lin Yi was angry, the consequences were severe.

Everyone knew this!

Hong Ying’s blows hurt, but he killed without blinking!

Otherwise, with Lin Yi’s temperament, it would have been a gentle raising and lowering, a mere scolding—and if a big opportunity arose, it might have been worth it.

He was unlucky. No matter how much he calculated, he didn’t expect his master to return today.

Now everyone at court knew he had been beaten by Hong Ying!
His pride was completely shattered!

To recover it? He’d probably die trying.

He had a vague feeling—even a monk at master level trying to show off in front of Hong Ying would struggle.

“Lord is merciful,” Hong Ying massaged Lin Yi’s shoulders while smiling: “If we don’t thrash this little rascal a few more times, he might think he’s invincible.”

Lin Yi nodded, looking at Xiao Xizi: “Seeing you all bruised and battered, it must hurt. Go heal quickly, don’t leave scars—they’ll ruin your image.”

“Yes, I’ll withdraw immediately.”

Xiao Xizi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Their lord wasn’t particularly skilled in martial arts.

He had reached Ninth-Rank; with the Nine Transformations skill, he could reverse aging and return to youth. A few bruises were nothing.

After Xiao Xizi left, Lin Yi waved him off: “Sit. Since this is your first return, you should rest. No need to serve me for now.”

Hong Ying smiled alongside him: “Lord, not a day went by that I didn’t think of you. Now that I finally see you, how could I leave easily? Let me accompany you a while, to talk.”

“All right. You’re back—no need to cry,” If it were anyone else, Lin Yi would have kicked them away. As the Regent of Daliang, he could have anything he wanted. Yet he didn’t need to play favorites with a eunuch!

But Hong Ying was different—he had grown up alongside him.

Lin Yi trusted every word Hong Ying said.

If anyone in the world would die for him without regret, it was Hong Ying.

And wholeheartedly.

This world still had people worth trusting.

It felt really good.

“Yes,” Hong Ying wiped his eyes again.

Lin Yi yawned: “You really went to the Western Wasteland?”

Hong Ying nodded: “Yes, Lord. I went straight west, through endless yellow sands, and finally reached the so-called Western Wasteland.”

“The desert?”

Lin Yi frowned: “Endless sand, no end in sight. You’re an outsider—knowing nothing. Even if you don’t die of exhaustion, you might die of thirst. You really dared to go in?”

“Lord, didn’t I return safely?”

Hong Ying was deeply touched.

He had traveled a thousand miles to the Western Wasteland, and Lin Yi’s concern was not about intelligence or secrets, but his safety!

“What if you hadn’t returned?”

Lin Yi scolded: “You know nothing of the desert’s dangers! So wide, so long—even if your martial skills are godlike, running hundreds of miles a day—can you really escape?”

“Though I am slow to understand worldly matters,” Hong Ying smiled: “Am I not afraid of the endless yellow sands? I went with camels and hired a guide at great expense.”

This was true.

Having already reached Grandmaster level, he could endure days without food or drink, but the desert’s extreme heat drained internal fluids. No matter how skilled, it would take a toll.

“Spent money on a guide?”

Lin Yi laughed: “Smart boy. You understand it’s an official trip.”

Hong Ying, as the chief steward of the mansion, had always had money at hand for purchases or tips—so spending a lot was believable.

But alas—that was his own money!

This little rascal!