Ling Weifeng asked the person on the high seat directly, and he couldn't speak indirectly, making it seem like he was trying to curry favor!
He put down his teacup and replied with a smile, "Indeed. Because my daughter was harassed on the street, and the second young master happened to pass by and helped her, she was saved from disgrace. It is for this reason that your family's young master was injured. Weifeng has specially brought my daughter to visit the second young master and to apologize to the Grand Emperor and Grand Empress!"
After Ling Weifeng finished speaking, he took out a brocade handkerchief from his wide sleeve and opened it. A ginseng root lay on it, with its tendrils intact and well-preserved.
While it wasn't a ginseng of many years, one of good quality was still rare!
"The second young master has lost a lot of blood due to his injury. Although this ginseng's effect in replenishing blood is not very good, it still has some efficacy in nourishing the body. If you two do not dislike it, please accept it and fulfill my wish!"
Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi exchanged glances. With Ling Weifeng having spoken to this extent, it would seem pretentious and disdainful if they refused to accept it!
Zhao Jiaqi glanced at Su Ya beside her, and she understood. She stepped forward and took the ginseng root with both hands!
Zhao Jiaqi smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Alliance Leader Ling. It was a coincidence that Sen Sen was able to help your esteemed daughter. This child's martial arts are average, but he has a kind heart. It's good enough that he didn't cause you trouble. As for your daughter being insulted... I think even if Sen Sen hadn't intervened, your daughter would have been more than capable of dealing with those people!"
A tiger father has no weak sons, and even less so a useless daughter!
Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and a rat's offspring can dig holes. Who would believe that the child of the martial arts alliance leader would lack martial skills!
Ling Weifeng smiled faintly, neither admitting nor denying Zhao Jiaqi's words.
"Heroes emerge from youth. Alliance Leader Ling believes that the second young master has a pure heart, loves to right wrongs, and is a good child. However, he is still inexperienced. The world is full of wicked people and varied human conditions, which he has likely not witnessed. Therefore, he acts solely on his fervor, and this may lead to him suffering losses in the future!"
Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao nodded simultaneously. These words were a sincere assessment of Sen Sen, and they were completely accurate!
Zhao Jiaqi smiled and said, "We have been too protective of our child. As Alliance Leader Ling has said today, it is time to let them go out and gain some experience. Without weathering the wind and rain, how can one see the rainbow?"
Upon hearing her words, Ling Weifeng's eyes lit up. He had been worried that his words were too harsh, but he didn't expect this couple to agree with him so readily without becoming upset. This confirmed that this couple was truly as rumored!
Ling Weifeng glanced at Sen Sen. He had been nearby when this boy helped his daughter that day and had witnessed the entire process clearly!
His moves were cunning, and his mind was agile. It was evident that most of his martial arts techniques were learned from soldiers. He didn't know how to use subtle strength. If he had learned from a master, his martial arts would be even more impressive than they were now!
With this thought, he stepped forward and felt Sen Sen's muscles and bones. After a thorough examination, he was quite satisfied and said with a smile, "Grand Emperor, Grand Empress, would Alliance Leader Ling have the honor of becoming the second young master's master and passing on all of Alliance Leader Ling's martial arts to him?"
Someone actually wanted to become a master so eagerly?
Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao were both taken aback again. Seeing Sen Sen's lips curve into a smile that nearly distorted his face, they knew their son was willing!
However, this person was a stranger they had just met, and they didn't know him well. How could they entrust their son to him?
As they hesitated, Ling Weifeng saw the couple's concern and said, "Alliance Leader Ling has come to the inner city this time to establish a镖局 (biao ju - escort agency). I will be temporarily residing here. If the second young master does not mind, he can come to my escort agency to learn martial arts. I will be in the inner city for at least two years, and at most one year!"
A quick gleam flashed in Fan Zehao's eyes. He nodded and said, "It is Sen Sen's honor to have a master to teach him martial arts. If you encounter any difficulties in establishing the escort agency in the inner city, please do not hesitate to ask. This King will do his utmost to help you, Alliance Leader Ling, resolve them!"
Mutual benefit. Fan Zehao understood this concept.
Following his words, Fan Sen stood up, walked to Ling Weifeng, knelt down, and kowtowed earnestly, "Master, please accept this disciple's bow!"
The child understood from his parents' words that they agreed to him taking a master to learn martial arts, and he would not let go of such a good opportunity.
Ling Weifeng happily helped the person on the ground up. Although he was twelve or thirteen years old, it was already late to formally learn martial arts. However, teaching him some tactical martial arts was more than sufficient.
Zhao Jiaqi's impression of Ling Weifeng, whom she had met for the first time, was not entirely bad. Since the child wanted to learn martial arts and had taken a master, she would no longer treat him as an ordinary person.
"Today, Sen Sen has taken Alliance Leader Ling as his master, and from now on, Sen Sen is entrusted to Alliance Leader Ling. I hope that in the future, if he makes any mistakes, you, as his master, will discipline him strictly. Do not hold back from beating or scolding him!"
Ling Weifeng, listening to the Grand Empress's words, pondered whether she meant the opposite, as he himself doted on his son.
Zhao Jiaqi, seeing the brief hesitation on his face, guessed his thoughts and smiled, "Alliance Leader Ling, as long as you don't beat him to death, please feel free to discipline him. We, as parents, will absolutely not interfere. However, it is imperative that the child walks the righteous path and does not learn any crooked ways. This is our only request as parents!"
Ling Weifeng nodded repeatedly. It made sense, and he would naturally not let the child learn such underhanded methods!
"Please rest assured, both of you. Although I, Ling Weifeng, am a person of the martial world, I am also of the righteous path. I will absolutely not let the children learn such despicable things. Moreover, I will be in the inner city for these two years. If you discover any wrongdoings by the child, feel free to come to me. Alliance Leader Ling is willing to guarantee with his life that he will guide the child to be an upright person!"
With words spoken to this extent, continuing further might make them feel uncomfortable.
Besides, these two years would allow them to get to know what kind of person the martial arts alliance leader was.
That evening, Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi invited the father and daughter to stay for a simple meal and, by the way, to learn about the matters of the martial world.
Although the government and the martial world were two factions, they both existed within the territory of the Yun Kingdom. They did not interfere with each other but had intricate connections.
At the banquet.
Fan Zehao asked Ling Weifeng about businessmen in the martial world. He laughed heartily and said, "The martial world also needs to eat, and it needs money to maintain the operation of the families. Like in the past, each family had their own banks and iron mines. But since the government took these over, we had to change our line of work!"
Speaking of this, Zhao Jiaqi awkwardly touched her nose.
The establishment of state-owned banks and iron mines was her idea. However, it concerned the nation's stability, and even though it caused these people to lose some money, she did not regret it.
Conversely, Zhao Jiaqi thought that the escort agency business was a good venture.
"To put it simply, an escort agency is for transporting goods or protecting people on long journeys. You provide the service, and they provide the money. If the journey is longer, the money is more. If the journey is shorter, the money is less. Alliance Leader Ling, am I correct?"