Because Su Ming helped him solve the problem, Zheng Xian generously treated him to a good meal.
Even the lamb they ate during this meal was the best in the Imperial Capital.
Zheng Xian didn't bring anyone else, and the two of them sat like ordinary folks at a small table on the third floor overlooking the street, chatting and eating and drinking.
In a public setting, Su Ming's appearance attracted quite a few curious glances, so naturally, the two of them didn't discuss anything serious and just talked about trivial matters like romance, poetry, and songs.
Zheng Xian, as a Ming Dynasty person, calling himself an "old brother" is quite a downgrade in seniority. People in ancient times generally had a keen interest in poetry.
It's just that he had to work in the afternoon and couldn't drink, so he ate the small lamb quite elegantly.
"What are your plans for the afternoon, brother? Shall I arrange a place for you to stay for a few days?" Zheng Xian dipped the slice of lamb in sauce, flipped it over, and chewed it as he spoke.
"This afternoon? I plan to visit Kunlun to see some old friends, and then return to Honolulu in the evening. You know I've been over there for the past two years, and Kama Taiji is a bit too quiet."
Su Ming waved the lamb around in the pot; eating lamb hot pot really needs a copper pot.
"At least the air there is good, unlike the Imperial Capital. In a few more years, I'm thinking of moving headquarters to the South Sea." Zheng Xian was a bit helpless; cars have been increasing over the years, and now the air quality is truly frustrating.
"Oh, speaking of which, how have the little devils been doing these past few years?" Su Ming recalled the first time he met Zheng Xian, back then in the Northeast, not on the Songhua River.
Zheng Xian clearly also remembered, at that time Deathstroke wasn't the Supreme Mage yet. He showed a nostalgic expression, but his face quickly turned cunning.
"First, they were chased into the sea by us, then got a thorough beating from the Allies. Without Xiaohuzi backing them, that's how they are." Zheng Xian said with a smile, "Oh, by the way, like Americans like yourself, you're practically the Supreme Emperor in Japan right now. Walking down the street, those little devils might see you and immediately gather around to bow down."
"Oh? Then I should enjoy the life of a Supreme Emperor someday, haha...."
..............
After eating and drinking, Su Ming dropped Zheng Xian off at the Celestial Ring Base before parting ways. He planned to visit Kunlun to see how Baki was doing.
Due to identity reasons, they couldn't meet directly; when arranging for him to enter Kunlun back then, it was via a series of coincidences.
The ticket Baki got from Su Ming 'just happened' to be to the Celestial Dynasty, and not long after the plane landed, 'just happened' there was a reclusive master on the street looking to recruit disciples.
'Just happened' this master saw Baki who was studying and traveling, and 'just happened' to take a shine to him, insisted on taking him to Kunlun, where 'just happened' he learned martial arts that were groundbreaking.
It has nothing to do with Mr. Wilson; it was all just coincidences.
Kunlun is actually a rather unique place.
Shortly after Earth formed, a surge of extraordinary life energy was bestowed upon this unique world, named the Power of Creation, Creator (Demiurge), it's the embodiment of the power to create everything.
The Creator sowed his energy in this New World, thus giving birth to Earth's earliest life forms, extraordinary creatures known as Old Gods.
Among them, the ones who would play important roles later included Snake God Set, Great Demon Shadow Sithorn, Earth Goddess Gaia, and East Star Goddess Oshtur.
But throughout history, aside from a few at the top of the Magic Realm, many people are unaware of this secret history.
Even those who know more at most only know about the Celestial Gods Group coming to Earth for experiments, that part of history actually being billions of years after the time of the Ancient Gods.
The Creator sculpted many ancient gods on Earth, but perhaps he didn't anticipate how one planet could accommodate these super-potent beings.
Energy supply quickly became a problem, and all of them were facing starvation.
Set came up with a good idea; one night, he secretly killed another ancient god and ate it.
Not only did it relieve the planet's pressure, but it also made him stronger, resulting in evolution, killing two birds with one stone.
He quickly became addicted to the act, rampaging and hunting other ancient gods, devouring them to evolve, gradually increasingly resembling a giant snake.
Set shared the benefits of eating kindred with others; whoever guessed correctly got the deal.
Perhaps to protect themselves from the ever-growing Set, or perhaps simply not to starve, more and more ancient gods chose this 'path of transcendence.'
They fell into the earliest form of Ancient Demons, Earth became filled with chaos and corruption, everything was doomed.
Gaia couldn't bear to see Earth in such a condition, so she merged again with the Power of Creation, giving birth to a child, Atom, nearly possessing the same powers as the Creator.
He began to hunt those ancient gods who had been corrupted, delivering a deathblow and devouring, growing stronger each time, remembering only the task given by his mother.
The madness gradually corrupted him, transforming him into a God Eater.
Crazy he might have been, but he won. Even Sithorn and Set together were no match for him, and they had to flee deep into the Multiverse to escape his relentless pursuit, where they remain to this day.
Sithorn has become the legendary Great Demon Shadow, leaving behind only his Dark Magic writings, the "Darkhold," on Earth.
As for Set, he settled in a certain Multiverse, secretly spreading his Magical Artifact, the 'Snake Crown,' across the universe, causing trouble.
Gaia sacrificed herself to repair Earth, splitting into two opposing aspects, the Red Lord and the Green Lord. One representing destruction, the other rebirth, they maintained Earth's operation in a cyclic manner.
Oshtur met another Alien Ancient God, Hoggs, the one with the tiger-headed man's body, and she created another Ancient God for company, her son Agamotto.
The three of them formed a small group, known over billions of years as the Trinity. Today, they are better known as the group - Emperor Vishanti.
On Earth, the Ancient Gods either died or departed, leaving behind only the animals shaped by the Power of Creation.
And then the Celestial Gods Group arrived. Seeing the creatures on this planet lacked intelligence, they decided to use it as a testing ground, leading to the stories of Ancient Humans and Inhumans.
However, not everyone was unaware of this. After the Ancient Gods and the Celestial Gods Group left, the Second Generation Gods gradually appeared, typified by the gathering of Alien Gods in Asgard and the native gods across Earth.
Among them, the area corresponding to the Celestial Dynasty produced the 'Immortal' tribe. They lived in an extra Plane called Daluo Heaven, supported by five Divine Mountains between Daluo Heaven and Earth. These were Mount Tai, Huashan, Mount Heng, Mount Heng, and Mount Song.
Later, a group of humanoid aliens, Kulong, arrived on Earth, seeking refuge.
They also chose another extra Plane as their secluded place, establishing the Seven 'Capital Cities of Heaven,' each city worshipping a Divine Beast as an Energy Source or Guardian.
The entrances to the Capital Cities of Heaven were scattered throughout the Celestial Dynasty, and their longevity, strength, and Magic Power were mistaken by locals as divine, often confused with the native Immortal tribe gods of the Celestial Dynasty.
These aliens, though few in number, were unable to reproduce on Earth despite their long lifespans.
So they decided to live in harmony and seclusion with humans.
They integrated with Earth's culture and mythology, encouraging humans to value Martial Arts, learning 'Qi' from the native Immortal tribe, further empowering certain cities.
Through special rituals, they select their Warriors, 'Immortal Weapons.' The largest city, Dragon City 'Kunlun,' worships the Ancient Dragon 'Elder Shou,' with every generation's Immortal Weapon code-named 'Iron Fist.'
Additionally, there is Turtle City 'Penglai,' whose Divine Beast is the great snake 'Demon Suppression,' with the Immortal Weapon code-named 'Cobra.'
The entrance is on 'Tiger Island' in Manzhouli, with the Immortal Weapon named 'Beauty Tiger's Daughter'; the entrance to Crane City in the South of the Colorful Clouds is served by 'Crane Champion.'
Not all entrances are in the Celestial Dynasty, with one leading to 'Ganbu' in Central Africa, and an entrance to the 'Underground City' lies underground in some part of the Celestial Dynasty, where inhabitants like Kobolds live.
Nepal also hosts one of the Seven Cities, the 'Spider Kingdom' entrance. The Seven Cities of Kunlun share a close connection, which explains how Kunlun and Kama Taiji maintain relations.
These places are all extra Planes, commonly referred to as utopias or paradises.
The Supreme Mage oversees these extra Planes and other dimensional issues, backed by the Ancient God Group like Emperor Vishanti. Although the Seven Cities of Kunlun have Alien backing, only seven remain, with conflicting opinions.
These aliens now live as beloved mascots, enjoying offerings. Expect them to fight?
Now Su Ming is the Supreme Mage, and arranging someone's entry into Kunlun is a breeze. Just have Hamill notify the Spider Kingdom, and Kunlun will accept them.
The Spider Kingdom once wanted Baki to train with them, but Su Ming rejected that idea. The techniques developed by the spiders combining with Nepalese martial arts couldn't compare with the profound Martial Arts of the Central Plains.
Registering Baki for the best training was between Kunlun and Penglai.
Given the reputation of Iron Fist, Su Ming chose Kunlun, as Baki was destined to have an Iron Hand.
Moreover, rumor has it the Spider Kingdom's Immortal Weapon, 'Spider King,' requires wielding eight Nepalese Khukuris simultaneously; what kind of bizarre Kung Fu is that?
Holding four knives in hands and feet, where do the other four go?
The Kunlun Secret Realm opens every ten years to replenish fresh blood, giving masters a chance to recruit disciples.
On the other hand, there's also an entertaining aspect with friendship matches between the seven cities to see whose training is superior.
Ordinarily, the seven cities are completely sealed and hidden within pocket space, but Baki entered through backdoor dealings, not through conventional enrollment, so it doesn't matter.
Not using connections when you have them is foolish.
Su Ming returned to Kama Taiji and directly had Mordo teleport him into the Kunlun Secret Realm. He needed to discuss Baki's education with Kunlun's current City Lord, Master Duan.