Ming Fei's unexpected move caught Li Ming off guard.
But was the offer unreasonable? No actually.
Li Ming had the awareness that he had copied the homework of the best masters throughout the history of China in the world. So Scholars who wouldn't be impressed by these works are few.
There should already be a line of scholars who would want to be the apprentice of Li Ming. But then why didn't Li Ming accept apprentices and spread his prestige?
Because Li Ming had the awareness that he was copying the homework, he also had the awareness to know that he was just copying homework.
He didn't have their talents, knowledge, or world experience.
He is an actor imitating the special.
A fake wearing the mask of the real.
But that mask couldn't cover up his nature.
He is ordinary.
He could never be the talented scholar the world wanted.
He never was.
So Li Ming decided that instead of being something he is not, he would rather go into hiding from the world.
Even though Li Ming reflexively said no, Li Ming didn't regret it.
Because that was going to be his answer at the end of the day.
After that conversation, Li Ming sent Ming Fei off with the expectation of never seeing him again.
But the next day Ming Fei and insisted calling Li Ming "master". And no matter how Li Ming persuaded Ming Fei, even directly stating that he wouldn't teach Ming Fei anything, it didn't work.
In the end, Li Ming gave up.
4 months later, Beijing
Li Ming awkwardly looked at Ming Fei.
Li Ming thought that he would never see Ming Fei again in his life. Especially since Li Ming knew that Ming Fei was the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Fei would probably not have any time to visit Li Ming.
"Master, may I come in?"
"Sure, Your Highness."
Li Ming said those words with more decisiveness than he would like to. Li Ming would preferably never want to meet Ming Fei in his life. But Ming Fei was among the few people that Li Ming was acquainted with, who also had access to information about immortals. So Li Ming had to rely on Ming Fei to confirm information.
After inviting Ming Fei inside his humble residence, Li Ming went straight to the topic of discussion.
"Your Highness, can you give me some advice on...."
"Master, you don't need to use honorifics between us." Ming Fei interrupted.
"No, I insist, Your Highness." Li Ming said with a smile
At those words, Ming Fei showed a helpless expression.
So Karma does strike back in the most unexpected ways.
Li Ming wasn't a fool. In this world, where royalty reigned supreme, Li Ming could very well be chopped off his head for the slightest disrespect. Sure, Immortals might be an exception, but Li Ming isn't an immortal.
So, in short, Li Ming showed Ming Fei proper respect as if his life depended on it, since the day he found out that Ming Fei was the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.
"So, Master, I was wondering what I could be of help with?"
Ming Fei's question broke Li Ming's Gaze.
"I was wondering if the information provided by the Yan Pavilion on Immortal sects is reliable."
To Li Ming's question, Ming Fei's eyes widened.
"Master, are you planning to pursue the Immortality?"
"Yes, Your Highness, I was planning to cultivate if I had the qualifications to"
Li Ming answered truthfully since it wasn't a secret.
"Well, Master, I hope you have a high spiritual root qualification."
At this moment, Li Ming was suddenly curious if Ming Fei was also a Cultivator.
Everything from his temperament and appearance, Ming Fei doesn't lose out to those immortal cultivators. Though he is the crown prince of a Dynasty, Li Ming has consumed enough cultivation novels to know that the mortal world isn't always separate from the immortal world. Therefore, Ming Fei does have a higher possibility of being a cultivator.
"Your highness, are you perhaps an immortal cultivator yourself?"