Chapter 780: Abnormal Astronomical Phenomena

Though only a few months old, Li Feng possessed astonishing understanding and keenness, making him far more intelligent than typical two- or three-year-olds. A mere month after his birth, he had already sensed the excessive reverence the entire Li family held for him as their distinguished young master.

Despite his unique nature, Li Feng was still just a child. Although he seemed to have everything he desired, there were some things he longed for but could never obtain. He even felt a twinge of jealousy towards children from ordinary families.

Today, as Li Feng dashed out of Nichen Temple, a rare excitement gleamed on his face, even more intense than when he had previously seen the little paper crane. He wasn't entirely sure what he was so excited about, but he was eager to return to the mansion and tell his father right away.

The moment he rushed out of the temple, Li Feng spotted a servant nearby, resting with a basket of incense and candles. It was clear the servant had no intention of entering the temple.

"Oh, Young Master, are you leaving already? What about the incense and candles..."

"You, stay here with the items. I will return."

Li Feng quickly finished speaking and ran back the way he came. Immediately, several other servants at the temple gate rushed out to follow him.

However, the moment he arrived back at the Li family mansion, the excitement on Li Feng's face instantly faded. He found the very sight of his own front gate somewhat oppressive. Inside the residence, every servant and maid addressed him cautiously and deferentially as "young master," yet their steps invariably quickened once they moved away from him.

Nevertheless, Li Feng didn't feel particularly bothered today. For one, he was mostly accustomed to it, and for another, he was in a good mood. As he walked down the corridor towards his father's study, he looked up and saw a small crane flying in the sky, a sight that instantly brought a smile to his lips.

Before he reached the study, he happened to encounter Lady Li. The maid accompanying her carried a tray with a porcelain cup and a spoon.

"Mother."

Li Feng called out from a distance, and Lady Li instinctively flinched. She looked to see Li Feng jogging towards her, two slightly breathless servants trailing closely behind.

"Feng'er..."

Lady Li tried her best to conceal her discomfort, forcing a smile as she called out. Little Li Feng slowed his pace, scratching his head as he approached his mother, and stood on tiptoe to peek at what the maid was carrying.

"Mother, what is this?"

"Oh, this is ginseng tea I prepared for your father. He's been diligently studying political histories from various regions lately, and I'm concerned he might overexert himself."

"Oh..."

Li Feng fidgeted slightly, pretending not to notice Lady Li's unease, and slowly walked with her towards Li Ping's study.

"Mother, aren't you going to ask why I came here?"

Lady Li then prompted, following Li Feng's lead.

"Oh yes, I was just wondering, Feng'er, why have you come to see your father today?"

Li Feng's face instantly lit up with excitement.

"Mother, I found a tutor myself, at Nichen Temple. He's a very knowledgeable scholar, and I came to tell Father about it."

"Oh, that's wonderful..."

Li Feng had expected his mother to perhaps question the scholar's knowledge from Nichen Temple, or express some doubt, but her simple reaction left him somewhat disappointed.

"Mother, you're walking too slowly. I'm going to find Father now..."

"Mm-hmm..."

With that, Li Feng trotted off. The two servants behind him bowed to Lady Li and hurried to follow. Only then did Lady Li and her maid let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Li Ping's study door was open. Inside, Li Ping was writing with a flourish. Li Feng rushed to the doorway, stopped abruptly, and knocked three times on the door.

"Oh, Feng'er. What brings you here?"

Li Ping looked up, a faint smile appearing on his face when he saw his son.

"Father, I found a new tutor myself, at Nichen Temple. He's a very knowledgeable scholar. Father, may I often go to him for my studies?"

Li Ping held his brush, signed the document on the table, and then placed the brush on its stand before looking at Li Feng again.

"Nichen Temple? There's a temple by that name?"

"Yes! It's in the south corner of the city, a bit secluded, but very quiet. I think it's better than the larger temples."

"Oh, the tutor you're talking about, is he a monk?"

Li Feng shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum.

"No, no, he's a grand scholar wearing white robes, with long hair. Father, let me tell you a secret, but don't tell anyone else..."

Li Feng moved closer to his father, stood on tiptoe, and whispered, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"That grand scholar, Mr. Ji, has a small white crane the size of a palm; it's so interesting! I actually found that dilapidated temple today because I was chasing that little white crane."

Li Ping, who had been frowning, was suddenly surprised by Li Feng's words and quickly asked.

"You said that gentleman's surname is Ji?"

Ji is a rather rare surname. Among everyone Li Ping had encountered in his life, only one person bore the surname Ji, and that individual was an extraordinary figure. Seeing Li Feng nod, he pressed further.

"Does that Mr. Ji have a black jade hairpin pinned in the bun on top of his head?"

Li Feng's eyes widened in surprise.

"Father, you know that grand scholar? He does have a hairpin in his hair, it looks so beautiful! Father, do you know him? Can I ask him to teach me? I only want him; I don't want anyone else!"

Li Ping gently patted his son's head, and after a flicker of thought in his eyes, he looked at his son once more.

"You want Mr. Ji to teach you, but does he agree?"

"Hahaha, he's the one who told me to ask Father!"

"Oh..."

Li Ping nodded knowingly, a smile appearing on his face.

"Excellent, excellent, this couldn't be better..."

"Father, you agree?"

"Of course I agree. By the way, go tell Mr. Ji that another day we will bring formal gifts and all necessary items to his residence to perform the apprenticeship ceremony. How does that sound?"

Li Feng scratched his head at Li Ping's words, as the previous two tutors hadn't required such a formal arrangement. Still, he nodded.

"Understood, Father. Oh, and what salary should we offer the tutor?"

Li Ping paused, surprised. He hadn't considered that a transcendent being would care about such a detail, but after a moment's thought, he replied.

"How about the same as the previous tutor, ten taels of silver per month?"

"Okay, I'll go tell the grand scholar right away!"

As Li Feng excitedly rushed out of the study, he happened to meet Lady Li again. He simply called out "Mother" and ran off with a smile.

Unable to wait until the next day, Li Feng, having received his father's permission, immediately dashed out of the Li family mansion. As if possessing boundless energy, he ran all the way to Nichen Temple, thoroughly exhausting the servants who had struggled to keep up.

Even Li Feng himself wasn't entirely sure if he was more eager to play with the little white crane or to see the grand scholar who had smiled warmly and pinched his cheek.

Rushing all the way to Nichen Temple, Li Feng went directly to Ji Yuan's courtyard. This time, no monks blocked his path, nor did he let the servants follow. When he entered the courtyard, Ji Yuan was still sitting and reading, though now he was on the clean wooden floor at the entrance of the monk's cell. He looked up at Li Feng as if he had just heard a sound.

"Did you ask your father?"

"Yes! I asked, and my father agreed. And regarding the salary, my father said ten taels per month. If you feel that's not enough, I can give you more!"

Ji Yuan chuckled heartily at this. The child was actually quite sensible, likely remembering all the etiquette he had previously learned, merely choosing when to apply it.

"Hahaha, ten taels is perfectly fine. Come here, sit beside me."

Ji Yuan patted the spot beside him, inviting Li Feng to come closer. Li Feng quickly approached Ji Yuan, then hesitated before settling down about half a body's length away.

Noticing the child's slight hesitation and conflicting emotions, Ji Yuan smiled and beckoned again.

"Sit closer."

Hearing Ji Yuan's words, Li Feng scooted half his bottom closer. But then Ji Yuan, with his left arm, gently pulled Li Feng directly to his side.

Li Feng felt a mix of excitement and nervousness, even blushing slightly, but he did not resist Ji Yuan's affectionate gesture.

"Tutor, are we starting lessons today?"

"No need to call me 'tutor'; I'm not accustomed to it. 'Mister' will do. Hmm, there's no rush to teach anything today. Let's just look at some books together; these aren't the kind you can buy in the county city."

The book in Ji Yuan's hand was not a profound celestial text but rather Yin Zhaoxian's *Treatise on Birds*. At that moment, the little paper crane also landed on Ji Yuan's shoulder.

Li Feng completely shed the impression he usually gave the Li household. He sat quietly beside Ji Yuan, listening as Ji Yuan read from the book. When Li Feng occasionally asked a question, Ji Yuan patiently answered, sometimes even discussing matters earnestly with him. This sight left the Li family servants at the courtyard gate somewhat astonished.

"How is the Young Master...?"

"He's just like an ordinary child..."

"Yes, indeed!"

As they were discussing, one servant suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck. He reached back and found some moisture. Looking up again, his expression turned slightly puzzled.

"Is it snowing?"

"Huh?" "It really is!"

"It's still far from winter, isn't it?"

The servants all looked up. Snowflakes were indeed drifting down from the sky; although the fall was light, it was undeniably snowing.

Ji Yuan placed the book on his lap, extended his hand from beneath the eaves, and a glistening snowflake landed in his palm before slowly melting.

"Has winter arrived?"

Meanwhile, tranquility was a luxury not afforded to some regions of Tianyu Continent. On the western side of the continent, the climate along the extensive west coast had already formed a long, ice-bound stretch, despite it still being autumn. In the past, even in winter, the coast rarely froze over extensively. Now, however, vast stretches of the west coast were covered in thousands of miles of ice. Coastal fishermen could not only catch no fish but also endured immense hardship from the bitter cold.