222: There's a new mission.

Before Tang Ku could answer, the eunuchs had already brought over the food and wine—nine exquisite small plates, five exquisite large plates, and a jar of chilled clear rice wine, served iced.

Li Chengqian waved for the eunuchs to leave, then poured wine for both of them into earthenware bowls. With a sigh of helplessness, he said, "Holy Monk, not long ago, I sent several Daoist retainers from the court who were skilled in magic to visit the various Immortal mountains across the Great Tang, hoping they would provide us with some assistance in the coming war. Unfortunately, they were either turned away with various excuses, or they were met with a closed door, and were teleported out by the others' Formation before they could even meet anyone..."

In front of Tang Ku, he dropped the imperial 'We' and completely set aside his airs. To be honest, only in front of Tang Ku could he be this relaxed, without having to keep up a facade.

Tang Ku picked up the wine bowl, not standing on ceremony, and downed it in one gulp. Then he reached out, grabbed a piece of venison, put it in his mouth, and chewed vigorously. Mumbling, he said, "The people you sent were either not qualified enough, or they said something the others didn't like to hear; that is why things turned out this way!"

Li Chengqian said helplessly, "I know they aren't qualified enough, but there are only a few people in the court with magic, and Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng cannot be moved easily. I really can't think of anyone with enough weight to send... Sigh, come to think of it, there are many famous mountains and great rivers under the Great Tang's rule, but those Immortal blessed lands are mostly inhabited by Immortals. Although I am called the Son of Heaven, I cannot command them at all!"

Tang Ku drank the wine happily and laughed, "Just this? Is this worth you looking so miserable?"

"Hmm, it's not just this one thing!" Li Chengqian gulped down a bowl of wine before saying, "Reports from various places say that within the Great Tang, there have been many incidents of demons harming people. In some places, even entire villages or towns have been slaughtered. And in the vicinity of where these things happened, there are Immortal Caves, yet those so-called Immortals turn a blind eye to it. I wanted to find someone to investigate this matter, but unfortunately, the people I sent have vanished without a trace, and not even a single piece of news has been sent back..."

"Needless to say, they must have been killed!"

Tang Ku smacked his lips and suddenly said, "That being said, these two matters can actually be combined and handled together... Hmm, understood. Since I promised to protect you, I will protect you to the end... I will take on this task, but one person must accompany me!"

"Who?" Li Chengqian asked with surprise. "Who else is in this court who has both magic and enough weight? Are you going to borrow Yuan Tiangang? I'm afraid that old man cannot get away!"

"Hehe, to handle this, one person with magic is enough. The other person doesn't necessarily need magic; they just need enough status!" Tang Ku laughed.

Li Chengqian was shocked, "You don't want my father to go, do you?"

"What are you thinking? Your father finally has a chance to rest; don't make him travel over mountains and rivers to work for you, okay!" Tang Ku rolled his eyes while holding the wine bowl.

"Then who else is in the court? You can't mean me!" Li Chengqian couldn't help but curl his lip and say, "Do you think those Immortals would even pay me any heed?"

Tang Ku laughed, "Who said only the True Dragon Son of Heaven has enough weight? There is an old minister who just retired this year; his weight is not light at all!"

"Stop playing riddles, who exactly is it!" After Li Chengqian said this, he was stunned himself!

"Hehe, looks like you thought of it too, right?"

Tang Ku laughed, "Although he is old, he is still vigorous; he is just right to accompany me on a trip!"

Li Chengqian said excitedly, "You... you are talking about my teacher, the former Crown Prince's Mentor, Duke of Zheng, Wei Zheng?"

Tang Ku nodded, "Besides him, no one else can shoulder this heavy responsibility!"

Historically speaking, Wei Zheng died three years earlier than Li Shimin. However, in this world, this Ren Cao official who once dreamed of beheading the Jing River Dragon King is not only alive and well, but is still vigorous and in high spirits.

Wei Zheng is upright and unyielding, eager to help others; he is a loyal minister and, even more so, a good one. Historically, when mentioning the early Tang period, his name must be brought up. Just think, even the Jade Emperor knows of him and sent him to behead the Jing River Dragon King who had violated heavenly laws. Such an honor is unique to him in this world!

Afterwards, the Jing River Dragon King's spirit did not dissipate and came to seek revenge on Li Shimin. To prevent him from causing trouble, Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong were sent to guard the front gate, while Wei Zheng guarded the back. That Jing River Dragon King was already a ghost, yet he did not even dare to face Wei Zheng directly, which shows the strength of his upright spirit. Furthermore, do not forget that the story of the Journey to the West actually begins with him dreaming of beheading the Jing River Dragon King!

"He... is he up to it? Now that he is over seventy years old, I'm afraid his body cannot handle traveling over mountains and rivers!" Li Chengqian said worriedly.

"Hehe, with me protecting him, there will absolutely be no mishaps!" Tang Ku laughed. "This time, I will take two people and one mount. Adding Wei Zheng, we will be four in total, just like the lineup for the pilgrimage to the West..."

"Hmm... have you thought about where to go first?" Li Chengqian asked.

"Actually, among the Daoist Immortal mountains, Kunlun is the leader, but the Kunlun Sacred Realm has long been a name without substance, no longer managing practitioners in the human world, and now it has completely disappeared. Nowadays, the leader of the crowd should be the Sword Immortal School in the Sichuan-Shu area... Hmm, you think they are Immortals only because they have mastered some means that Mortals cannot possess. They are also Mortals, but they are practitioners among Mortals. Their influence is great, their numbers are many, and they do not contact the outside world, but they are the true leaders of the cultivation world!"

Tang Ku squinted and said, "As for Buddhism... there are not many capable ones left in the Great Tang. The Zen Buddhism passed down by Patriarch Bodhi and Bodhidharma does have a few powerful figures, but they are not worth relying on. Poor Monk has his own way to handle them. As for other Schools... hehe, I already have a plan in mind..."

Li Chengqian put down the wine bowl and said with a strange expression, "Why do I feel... like we are plotting some conspiracy?"

"What conspiracy... Since they are within the Great Tang, they are citizens of the Great Tang, even if they are practitioners. Why should they be high and mighty and not share the suffering with the common people? Hehe, wanting to close the mountain gates and protect themselves at a time like this? How could I let them off so easily!" Tang Ku sneered.

"Then besides Wei Zheng, who else do you plan to take? Your Disciples?" Li Chengqian knew Tang Ku was indeed thinking for the Great Tang, so he asked curiously.

"Of course not. The only Buddhist practitioner going this time is me, this monk!" Tang Ku laughed. "For the remaining two, I want to bring people from the Daoist School to find them!"