Chapter 413: Refining
The young man arrived at the lakeside. It was clear that the Geyang Gao clan had invested much effort and wealth into this academy, and the old site of the Great Li Cliff Academy would soon become the location of the new Confucian Temple in the Great Li capital.
The young man turned his head and saw a figure both familiar and unfamiliar. The unfamiliarity came from the person's appearance, height, and attire, which had all changed greatly. What made it feel familiar were that person's eyes. So many years had passed since they were next-door neighbors—one the buzzing illegitimate son of a kiln supervisor, the other a poor muddy-legged pauper. Now each had become what they were: a Great Li prince named Song Mu, and a scholar who had traveled across the mountains and rivers of two continents? A wanderer? A swordsman?
Chen Ping'an came straight to the point. "I heard from Academy Master Mao that you had arrived at the academy, so I came to see you."
Song Jixin looked Chen Ping'an up and down. It was said that the sword on his back, a semi-immortal weapon, was a gift of apology from the Fu family of Old Dragon City. As for the wine gourd at his waist, it was a bonus from purchasing several mountains—a sword-nurturing gourd carefully selected for Chen Ping'an by the Northern Peak True God Wei Bo. Song Jixin chuckled. "Back when we were neighbors, I always felt that the people from Fulu Street and Taoye Alley were the rich and powerful. Now it seems that it's the people from our Clay Vase Alley and Apricot Flower Alley who have become more successful. Apricot Flower Alley relies solely on Ma Kuxuan of Zhenwu Mountain, but look at our Clay Vase Alley—you, me, Zhigui, and Little Snot. I wonder if decades from now, outsiders will look at that alley where even dogs didn't want to piss and see it as a place full of legends?"
Chen Ping'an was about to speak.
Song Jixin waved his hand. "At least let me finish. Otherwise, with your tendency to not know how to talk, I'm afraid this rare reunion in a foreign land will end unhappily."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Then let's talk while we walk."
The two strolled side by side along a quiet path by the lake, willow branches drooping gracefully.
Song Jixin smiled. "This trip of yours really took you far and long. You probably don't know what the town is like now, do you? Ever since the common people learned about the general origins of the Pear Blossor Cave Heaven and the gates were opened to the outside, whether it's the wealthy families of Fulu Street and Taoye Alley or the poor places like Qilong Alley and Apricot Flower Alley covered in chicken shit and dog dung, every household has been turning over their belongings—family heirlooms, anything old. They carefully dig out things like porcelain bowls for eating, stone troughs for feeding pigs, big vats for pickling vegetables, bronze mirrors pried off walls—they take everything seriously. That's not even the worst; many people started going up the mountains and into the rivers, especially the Dragon Beard River. For about half a year, it has been packed with people picking up stones. They didn't spare the Immortal's Grave or Porcelain Mountain either. They're all treasure seekers. Then they go to the Baofu Studio on Ox Horn Mountain to have things appraised. Quite a few people have become rich overnight. Silver and gold used to be so rare, but now when comparing family wealth, they count by how many immortal coins they have in their pockets."
Chen Ping'an asked, "The farmlands have been abandoned, haven't they? And many of the Dragon Kiln firing mouths have stopped?"
Song Jixin nodded. "Exactly. Who cares about that little bit of harvest?"
Chen Ping'an sighed. This was only human nature. If he, Chen Ping'an, without those experiences, had stayed in Clay Vase Alley in the Pear Blossor Cave Heaven as an ordinary kiln worker, he would have been even more eager to go up the mountains and into the rivers. The only difference would have been that he wouldn't forget his proper duties. If he had farmland, he wouldn't bear to abandon it. If he were a real kiln worker, he wouldn't let his craft go to waste.
Back then, after a reminder from Lu Chen that he might be able to exchange things for money, he went to the Dragon Beard River that very night, carrying a large basket, searching for snake-bile stones that hadn't lost their spiritual energy. He ran like crazy, forgetting to eat and sleep.
But that time, Chen Ping'an rummaged through everything, wishing he could strip the entire Dragon Beard River bare. Of course, he made a good haul. The truth was, Ma Kuxuan only went into the water once and found the most valuable snake-bile stone. When it came out of the water, that stone rose like a bright moon.
Song Jixin stopped in his tracks. "Do you hate me?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "I wouldn't say hate. I just want to keep my distance from you."
Song Jixin asked doubtfully, "That lady sent people to kill you, and you still don't hate me?"
Chen Ping'an asked, "Did you persuade her to kill me?"
Song Jixin laughed self-deprecatingly. "I don't have that ability. As for mother-son affection, after I changed my name to Song Mu in the imperial genealogy, of course there is some, but there's a difference in intimacy. No surprise there. Now I understand that although imperial family affairs are bigger, they are essentially the same as with our old neighbors. In a household with several children, parents always have their favorites."
Chen Ping'an said, "That's that. If I get a chance in the future, I'll settle things with her. There's no need to hate you, Song Jixin."
Song Jixin was breaking willow twigs to weave a circlet. Chen Ping'an said softly, "She, like Grandmaster Cui Chan, is one of the most powerful people in Great Li. But I don't think that's all there is to Great Li. Great Li has the earliest Cliff Academy, the bustling Red Candle Town, the border scouts who voluntarily asked me to take shelter in the beacon tower during a snowstorm, the innkeeper in Qingluan Kingdom who smiled at me because of my travel permit, and even the Green Wave Pavilion spies that she created, who risked their lives for Great Li to send me a message. I think these are also part of the Great Li dynasty."
Chen Ping'an turned to Song Jixin and continued, "I know all this. If in the future I decide to face her and beat her to death with one punch, I can do it cleanly. The enmity between two people will be settled between them. I will try not to involve other Great Li citizens."
Song Jixin smiled. "She won't think that way."
Chen Ping'an retorted with a smile, "I already have the reasoning. Even Confucian rules can't find fault with it. Why should I care what she thinks?"
Song Jixin looked at Chen Ping'an again. "Have you been reading Legalist texts?"
Chen Ping'an asked back, "The books Mr. Qi left for you—some you left in the town house, some you took away. Did you read the ones you took?"
Song Jixin had woven a small willow circlet and slipped it onto his arm, shaking it gently. "Mind your own business?"
Chen Ping'an didn't want to dwell on these matters and asked a question unrelated to enmity or public affairs. "How did you end up in Great Sui?"
Song Jixin put his hands behind his head. "Back then, when Gao Xuan came to our place seeking opportunities, someone said I wasn't as good as him, so I came here to take a look."
Chen Ping'an laughed. "Is that the same? You came to Great Sui to show off your power. Back then, Gao Xuan truly penetrated deep into the heart of enemy territory. Besides, now Gao Xuan has gone to the Linlu Academy at Piyun Mountain as a hostage. Why don't you imitate him?"
Song Jixin chuckled. "Chen Ping'an, you've gotten much better at talking now. You even say strange things. Did you learn that from me?"
Chen Ping'an said, "Don't flatter yourself."
Song Jixin squatted down, picked up a pebble, and threw it into the lake. "I want to ask you a favor, how about it?"
Chen Ping'an did not hesitate. "I don't agree."
Song Jixin looked up, his face full of grievance. "Why? Chen Ping'an, ask yourself honestly—other than tricking you into becoming an apprentice at the Dragon Kiln, have I ever done anything wrong to you?"
Chen Ping'an said, "You don't like me, and I don't like you either. Why pretend to be friends?"
Song Jixin hadn't expected this answer. He doubled over with laughter. "Chen Ping'an, now you, compared to the rigid wooden figure you were before, are much more pleasant to the eye. If you had been like this back then, I would definitely have sincerely wanted to be friends with you."
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "Song Jixin, you know very well that the two of us can never be friends. As long as we don't become enemies, we should both be content."
Song Jixin took off the willow circlet and threw it into the lake. Then he picked up another stone and tried to throw it into the center of the circlet. "The Mountain God Temple of Luopo Mountain is in a bad state now. Wei Bo has ... resentments against this mountain god on your home mountain. I was hoping you could put in a good word with Wei Bo. I don't expect Wei Bo to promote that temple; I just hope he won't suddenly replace the statue inside."
Chen Ping'an wanted to speak but hesitated.
The current mountain god of Luopo Mountain was none other than the former kiln supervisor Song Yuzhang.
Song Jixin watched the circlet drifting away. "You want to say something, and I know it exactly. The reason he was killed, beheaded by the surrendered general Wang Yifu of Lu, was not only to cover up the scandal of the royal family at that covered bridge but also because of the emperor's selfishness. After all, who wants their own son to have a 'cheap father'? Wang Yifu privately told me that before he died, he begged Wang Yifu to pass a message to me—that over the years, he had always wanted me to write a spring couplet for him. Tell me, if such a rebellious minister doesn't die, who should?"
Chen Ping'an thought for a moment. "I was already planning to return to Longquan County. I will talk to Wei Bo about this matter, but I will not demand that he do anything. I don't have the ability to order a Northern Peak True God around. I can be clear about this now. I can even tell you now that Song Yuzhang will most likely side with your mother in the future. As a mountain god of Luopo Mountain, he will come against me. When that happens, if I can do it, I will smash his golden body to pieces, making it impossible to reassemble a statue. I won't hold back."
Song Jixin laughed. "So one favor here, one debt there—I guess I don't need to thank you?"
Chen Ping'an sneered. "I never expected you, Song Jixin, to thank me in your life."
Song Jixin let out a long "aiyo" and made a series of clicking sounds. He stood up, clapped his hands, and said, "Chen Ping'an, your words and actions now really resemble a Daoist cultivator on the mountain, with the mind of an immortal."
Chen Ping'an was unmoved.
Song Jixin asked with a smile, "I've seen you and asked my favor. Now I can go back satisfied. By the way, Zhigui is waiting for me at the academy gate at the foot of the mountain. Do you want to come with me to see her?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head. "No need."
Song Jixin then said, "Ma Kuxuan of Zhenwu Mountain has been breaking through realms as easily as commoners eat something bad and get diarrhea. He's now hailed as the second Wei Jin of Wind Snow Temple. Apricot Flower Alley relies on just him to compete with our entire Clay Vase Alley in reputation. Isn't that infuriating?"
Chen Ping'an said nothing.
Song Jixin bent one finger, leaving one. "I was going to tell you two things as a reward for the matter about Luopo Mountain's mountain god temple. But now I find I still don't like you, so I'll only tell you one thing. In the western mountains of Longquan County, as the situation changes, it seems that our Great Li Song clan is on the verge of capsizing. Many forces from other countries that bought mountain peaks and built mansions are not very optimistic about us. Especially some sects near the center of Bao Ping Continent have begun to sell off their mountain peaks cheaply, to avoid being held hostage in the future. A few secret transactions have already succeeded. Among them, Ruan Qiong bought three mountain peaks in one go, including Niu Jiao Shan sold by Bao Fu Zhai. If you hurry back, you might still grab one or two. Now, all you need is Guyu coins."
Chen Ping'an asked, "When did this happen?"
Song Jixin rolled his eyes. "On the way here, I just heard from Xu Ruo. About ten days ago. Before that, who would be willing to sell their mountain peaks? They all seemed eager to move their entire sects to Longquan County. It's said that Piyun Mountain, where Wei Bo is based, has been so lively these past few years, full of sycophants. Wei Bo accepts everyone and smiles at each one. If it were me, I'd be disgusted."
Chen Ping'an nodded. "I'll try."
Song Jixin smiled. "You don't need to see me off."
Chen Ping'an said, "Then I won't."
Song Jixin laughed heartily. "That hasn't changed. Still boring."
Song Jixin left the lake and walked toward the foot of the mountain.
Chen Ping'an stood still, watching him go.
At the academy gate, Song Jixin said to Zhigui, "Let's go."
Zhigui asked, "Is the young master in a good mood?"
Song Jixin grinned. "I saw Chen Ping'an. He's doing well. The young master is especially happy."
Zhigui said, "Oh."
Song Jixin looked back at Cliff Academy and asked curiously, "Don't you want to look around? If you want, the young master can take you again."
Zhigui shook her head. "Not interested."
Song Jixin sighed dramatically. "Do you think both grandmasters will side with my little brother?"
Zhigui covered her mouth and laughed. "Young master, you've asked that many times."
Song Jixin said helplessly, "The young master is just not confident. My uncle won't give me a straight answer, and the two grandmasters are so profound. I have no foundation in the capital—even less than Chen Ping'an had in Clay Vase Alley back then. At least he had an ancestral home. I have nothing. Among civil and military officials, on the mountains and below, except for a few who believe in gambling big for big wins, who would truly bet on me?"
Zhigui comforted him. "You still have this servant by your side, young master."
Song Jixin laughed, raised his arm high, and spread his palm with the back facing the sky and the palm facing himself. "The young master is just a puppet anyway. They can arrange me however they like. If Chen Ping'an could end up like this, why can't I have a tomorrow?"
Zhigui was still dressed as a maidservant, a bit more opulent than in Clay Vase Alley, her figure increasingly attractive. She smiled. "Young master comparing himself to him seems a bit ... embarrassing?"
Song Jixin put down his hand, made a fist and hit his palm, turning to praise her. "That comforting words, that's music to my ears."
—
In the Great Sui capital, with the Thousand Elderly Feast approaching, the atmosphere had been turbulent.
Cai Feng had already taken leave from the Astronomical Bureau, but he was nowhere to be found in the Cai family mansion.
The new top scholar Zhang Dai, for some reason, had not appeared in the prestigious Hanlin Academy, where future prime ministers were nurtured, for a long time.
It was said that Deputy Commander Song Shan of the Infantry Bureau had visited the Ministry of Justice.
Rumors were rife in the capital's officialdom and among the common people.
The nominal academy head of Cliff Academy, the Great Sui Minister of Rites, visited the academy late one night and met alone with Vice-Academy Head Mao Xiaodong. The meeting was not in the study but in the Hall of the Master, where three Confucian sages were enshrined and worshipped.
Later that night, Mao Xiaodong did not discuss the matter in detail with Chen Ping'an. He just called Chen Ping'an to leave the academy and go to the Great Sui capital's Confucian Temple. Compared to the first time when he made exorbitant demands, Mao Xiaodong took more ritual vessels and ceremonial artifacts that carried literary destiny from the temple.
After returning to Donghua Mountain, Mao Xiaodong took Chen Ping'an to the summit. Using the jade token, he sat in the academy as a sage.
Chen Ping'an took out over thirty heavenly materials and earthly treasures that Mao Xiaodong had helped prepare. The last two items arrived late: one was a thousand-year-old buffalo horn; the other was a martial sage's personal saber from the martial temple of a certain country in the center of Bao Ping Continent, filled with a rich aura of metal and killing. Regarding the collection of refining materials, Mao Xiaodong did not put on airs. From the beginning, he explained to Chen Ping'an the origins, prices, and unique features of these treasures.
Since the first time Chen Ping'an refined the Water Seal in Old Dragon City, the preparation was done by Fan Junmao, so only then did Chen Ping'an truly understand why refining a natal object was so costly and time-consuming for qi refiners. For an ordinary qi refiner, besides relying on a deep pocket, one had to gamble on luck. If luck was bad and a key item was missing, the refining would stall. On the path of cultivation, a single step slow means every step slow. The intangible losses would drive any qi refiner crazy.
With a little better luck, one would still suffer a lot. For example, if one got a suitable refining material, roughly knowing the price of auxiliary materials, originally planning to spend one Guyu coin—that was the real price of needed treasures. But even if all materials could be found, how to turn them into one's own possession? Mountain and wilderness wild cultivators mostly relied on robbery, advocating murder and plunder for wealth, giving it the fancy name "if heaven gives it, take it or suffer the consequences." Registered immortal masters mostly bought, relying on connections and using immortal coins to buy or trade. Without connections, they could go to immortal shops like Daoshan Mountain's Lingzhi Studio, Longquan County's Niu Jiao Shan Baofu Studio, Qingfu Square, etc., and spend immortal coins. That was not the worst. The most expensive situation was for those heavenly treasures in short supply. The immortal shops had special sleeve-and-pavement trading rooms, calling several interested buyers to bid. They had their own methods to make people bleed money. Once it reached that point, the final transaction price could easily double the earliest estimate. There were even people who liked to sabotage and raise the price out of spite. If they saw someone determined to get an item, they would deliberately cause trouble, driving up the price of an item worth one Xiaoshu coin to three or four Xiaoshu coins. Would the buyer still buy? If not, many good things would be lost; if they missed the chance to refine their natal object, what then?
Moreover, among various immortal mountain factions, generally the closer they were, the more they schemed against each other. Who would willingly watch another faction produce a Middle Five Realm cultivator, especially a powerful Earth Immortal? Bloody battles might not happen, but behind-the-scenes sabotage was endless.
So when Mao Xiaodong had gathered all the treasures, Chen Ping'an felt relieved but also anxious.
How would he refine the third natal object?
According to plan, by then he should already be in Beiju Continent.
Should he change his mind, gather the remaining compensation from the Old Dragon City battle, sell everything, refine the third item on Luopo Mountain, and then go travel to Beiju Continent, which was full of swordsmen?
Chen Ping'an sighed inwardly, telling himself not to worry about tomorrow's troubles. He hadn't even successfully refined the golden literary heart yet, and he was already thinking about the third natal object. That was not good. Finish today's work perfectly first. That was the right path.
Chen Ping'an collected his thoughts, concentrated, and finally took out the refining vessel from Qinghu Palace of Tongye Continent—the Five-Colored Golden Cauldron.
Then he silently recited in his mind the refining formula given by the River Goddess of the buried river.
Mao Xiaodong did not speak the entire time.
More words were useless.
Cultivation is one's own business.
Even a teacher of the Dao would only explain a few puzzles and give some guidance.
Even a guardian of the Dao would not interfere, only at most, if the person failed, try to preserve their Dao foundation, striving for the person to "stay in the green mountain."
Chen Ping'an had all kinds of treasures laid out before him. He suddenly looked up at Mao Xiaodong sitting opposite and asked, "Academy Master Mao, I actually have a doubt that I can't figure out."
Mao Xiaodong nodded. "Ask."
Chen Ping'an said, "In our Haoran Heaven, since there are seventy-two academies stationed across the nine continents, why not seven hundred and twenty? Is it that the Middle Earth Confucian Temple cannot do it, or is it that the Supreme Sage is unwilling?"
Before answering, Mao Xiaodong slowly said, "I will only give my personal opinion. Take it for reference. It may not be correct, but it can serve as a possibility for you to understand this world. Is that okay?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Good!"
Mao Xiaodong then began. "Regarding this matter, I once discussed it with someone. Nowadays, probably few commoners remember that a long time ago—well, before the third-fourth debate—in the northern Aiai Continent, under the proposal of an old patriarch of one of the four great schools of thought, with strong support from the Liu family, and with the nod of the sub-sage, there once appeared a place hailed as the 'Land Without Sorrow,' with a population of about ten million. There were no qi refiners, no hundred schools, not even the three teachings. Everyone had enough food and clothing; everyone studied. The teachers and masters taught knowledge and principles that were the essence of the four great schools and the hundred schools, but they tried not to touch the fundamental tenets of each school, mainly focusing on Confucian classics with the rest as supplements."
At this point, Mao Xiaodong paused.
He spoke extremely slowly, extremely seriously.
So much so that even as an academy sage, Mao Xiaodong seemed a bit strained.
Chen Ping'an asked, "Were the teachers carefully selected academy worthies and gentlemen?"
Mao Xiaodong shook his head. "Of course not. Otherwise it would be meaningless. Because even if successful, the customs of one country could at most evolve into one continent, but it would starve the other eight continents. Supporting the peace of one continent with the literary destiny of eight continents—what would be the point? So under supervision from all sides, the Liu family of Aiai Continent spent nearly forty years preparing secretly. Every aspect had to be approved by many representatives of the hundred schools present. If one person vetoed, it couldn't be implemented. That was the only requirement proposed by Ritual Sage when he appeared once."
Chen Ping'an asked curiously. "The final result was not satisfactory?"
Mao Xiaodong nodded. "Otherwise, there would not have been the third-fourth debate later."
Chen Ping'an fell into thought, pondering why it failed.
A tangled mess.
Mao Xiaodong said softly, "From the Supreme Sage to the Ritual Sage, one elaborated on benevolence and righteousness, the other formulated specific rules and frameworks. Why?"
Mao Xiaodong answered his own question. "Before answering this question, I also asked that person: why, after the Supreme Sage and Ritual Sage established the dominance and orthodoxy of Haoran Heaven, did they still tolerate the hundred schools? Why not simply leave only Confucian learning to educate the people? That person's answer enlightened this blockhead. I realized how vast heaven and earth are. That person said: the Dao Ancestor is looking at that One, so the remnants of that rebellion were allowed to migrate to the Sword Qi Great Wall. And our Haoran Heaven did not exterminate the demons completely. The Buddha only left a prophecy that the Age of Ending Dharma would eventually come: 'From then on, in my teachings, although they shave their heads, wear the robe, break the precepts, and act improperly.'"
Mao Xiaodong asked back, "What do you think these three are seeking?"
Chen Ping'an shook his head, saying he didn't know.
Mao Xiaodong said, "That person told me he didn't know the answer either, but maybe it's to give all sentient beings in the world a kind of freedom that approaches true meaning, a freedom that can be achieved without paying an extra price."
Mao Xiaodong asked, "Do you understand?"
Chen Ping'an answered honestly, "I don't understand."
Mao Xiaodong laughed. "Chen Ping'an, there's no need for you to seek the answer to that question right now."
Mao Xiaodong stood up, raised one foot an inch off the ground, hovered in the air, then raised it higher twice. "What you learn now—know its roots and true meaning, step by step, rise higher—then no matter how high a position a person stands, their heart is steady. Regardless of those miscellaneous heterodox paths, at least we scholars should be like this."
Chen Ping'an remembered what he had said to Yao Jinzhi on the mountaintop in Daquan Dynasty about circles from the inside out and from small to large. He smiled knowingly. "I understand this."
Mao Xiaodong sat back down and smiled. "Really?"
Chen Ping'an nodded. "Really!"
Mao Xiaodong extended a palm and said with a smile, "With the right time, place, and people, you can begin refining."
Chen Ping'an closed his eyes first and took a light breath.
A golden literary heart hovered quietly in front of him.
Chen Ping'an still did not rush to "start the stove and light the fire" with a mouthful of pure martial artist true qi. Instead, he inadvertently remembered that incident from his youth in the ancestral home in Clay Vase Alley.
Second day of the second month, the dragon raises its head; candles illuminate the beams, peach branches strike the walls, snakes and insects on earth have nowhere to hide...
That was probably the very beginning of Chen Ping'an's journey in the martial world.
At that time, many people had not yet been met.
But step by step, he met them one by one.
Practicing boxing was not difficult. Reading was very worthwhile.
Persisting in reasoning with people turned out to be not always satisfying but never regrettable.
So I, Chen Ping'an, could also have today.
So Miss Ning's eyesight was really good!
Mao Xiaodong roared angrily, "Your mood is too exhilarated! Stop!"
Mao Xiaodong almost hit him with a ruler and scolded angrily, "Even if there's a girl you like, go think about her after you've successfully refined your natal object! Then who cares if you think for a few hours, whether you're overjoyed?! No sense of propriety!"
Chen Ping'an felt embarrassed, quickly wiped his face to suppress his smile, and calmed his mind again.
Mao Xiaodong, seemingly furious, was actually happy inside. He silently muttered, "Teacher, this disciple performed well, didn't he? It's not too much to ask for a word of praise from you, right?"
—
At the summit of Donghua Mountain, while Mao Xiaodong and Chen Ping'an were sitting opposite each other.
Inside the academy, two others were also sitting face to face: the great Confucian scholar Dong Jing, who was proficient in Thunder Method, and his half-disciple Lin Shouyi.
When heaven and earth fell silent and still, and the flowing water of time showed signs of manifesting, Dong Jing frowned. Seeing that a spark of Lin Shouyi's nature was about to stop with it, he waved his sleeve to isolate a small world. However, this great scholar seemed somewhat strained.
Dong Jing said in a deep voice, "Don't be distracted. It's the same as reading. When you see a wonderful article by a sage, if you can immerse your mind in it, that's skill; if you can pull yourself out, that's even greater skill. Otherwise, you'll be a bookworm for life. How can you talk about resonating with the sages?!"
Lin Shouyi nodded.
Dong Jing continued his previous topic. "Don't rush. Try to open two more natal qi mansions. Breaking through can wait. For us Confucian disciples cultivating qi, the aptitude of the physical body is not the most important. Confucianism is already the orthodox path of Haoran Heaven. In the end, Confucian cultivation is about cultivating knowledge. Let me ask you, Lin Shouyi: why do so many people in the world, even though they know many principles from books, still live in a daze and even fail to stand upright?"
Lin Shouyi said solemnly, "If they don't know the root of a certain truth or a certain knowledge, they naturally don't know how to use it in dealing with people. Thus, a golden saying that carries the weight of a thousand jin, once obtained, becomes broken cotton fluff, blown away by the wind, unable to keep warm. In the end, they complain that truth is not truth. That is a great error."
"You only got half right. The wrong half lies in the fact that many sage truths are not meant for people to grasp many solid things, but just a place for the heart to rest."
Dong Jing nodded approvingly. "Then today I will only tell you one saying of the sage. We will focus on this one saying."
Lin Shouyi sat upright. "I am willing to listen to the teacher's teachings."
Dong Jing asked, "The sage said, 'A gentleman is not a vessel.' How do you interpret this? How does the Book of Rites School interpret it? How does the pure Confucian Chen family interpret it? How does the Goose Lake Academy interpret it? How did the former Tongcheng School of the Qingluan Kingdom interpret it? And how do you yourself interpret it?"
Lin Shouyi was confident and was about to answer this series of questions.
But then he noticed that Master Dong had turned his head to look out the window, even more distracted than Lin Shouyi.
Lin Shouyi hesitated. Seeing that Master Dong didn't intend to look back, he also turned to look.
He saw a head hanging outside the window.
Dong Jing shouted angrily, "Cui Dongshan! What are you doing?!"
Cui Dongshan said with an innocent face, "I was just afraid that if Lin Shouyi asked you a question you couldn't answer, it would be too embarrassing. So I came to help you out."
Dong Jing pointed a finger and glared at him. "You'd better leave now!"
Teaching Dao was a solemn matter, but here was this notorious rat dropping of the academy causing trouble.
Cui Dongshan kept both hands on the windowsill, feet off the ground, and blinked. "If I don't go, will you hit me?"
Dong Jing steadied his mind. He was about to reason with him and then threaten him with Academy Master Mao. But before he could, Cui Dongshan had let go of his hands, and the offending head disappeared.
Dong Jing snorted coldly.
Then Cui Dongshan jumped up again, resting his arms on the windowsill, and laughed. "I'm back!"
Dong Jing scolded, "Cui Dongshan, you're an Infant realm cultivator. Doing such a thing—aren't you bored?!"
Cui Dongshan said matter-of-factly, "I'm so bored I'm dying, so I came here to find some fun. Otherwise, why would I come?"
Dong Jing stood up. "Fight me?!"
Cui Dongshan shook his head. "A gentleman uses words, not fists."
Dong Jing angrily strode over.
Those who cultivated Thunder Method, especially earth immortals, rarely had good tempers.
Cui Dongshan pushed off from the wall with his toes, floated backward, and waved goodbye.
Lin Shouyi smiled wryly.
Dong Jing stood by the window, making sure Cui Dongshan was far away, and waited a long time before returning to his seat.
Cui Dongshan did not continue pestering. He swaggered through several classrooms and dormitories. He saw Li Huai dozing off in class. Cui Dongshan rewarded the little brat with a few chestnuts. He saw a young woman from a powerful aristocratic family of Great Sui frozen in the river of time, sat on the desk in front of her, and changed her hairstyle to one he thought suited her better. He saw a pretty girl secretly reading a book about talented scholars and beauties in a dormitory. He took a brush and ink and blacked out the most exciting erotic descriptions in the book...
From this, it was clear that Cui Dongshan was indeed extremely bored.
After wandering around, he glanced at the summit of Donghua Mountain and then returned to his own courtyard, falling asleep on the porch.
Shi Rou was "wearing" a set of immortal remains and could walk freely.
Xie Xie, no longer bound by the last Soul-Trapping Nail, found walking difficult, but sitting on the steps and feeling the wonders of the river of time was still manageable.
Cui Dongshan suddenly sprang up with a carp-like movement, startling Xie Xie and Shi Rou.
Cui Dongshan suddenly remembered the threatening gesture that young girl named Li Liu had made at the academy gate a few years ago.
The girl seemed naive and unaware of the world's heights.
Cui Dongshan fell backward, thud, and while lying on the ground, hummed and threw punches. "Jianghu overlord, no wonder her ambition is higher than the sky."
Cui Dongshan closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Xie Xie and Shi Rou almost simultaneously turned to look at the summit of Donghua Mountain.
The flowing water of time there was, for some reason, tinged with a vast golden hue.
But Shi Rou immediately turned and glanced at Cui Dongshan.
That day, when Chen Ping'an said, "Think again," she had clearly seen Cui Dongshan, with his back to Chen Ping'an, face full of tears.
Cui Dongshan was sound asleep but snapped his fingers.
Shi Rou's stomach immediately rumbled like thunder, a sensation she hadn't had in hundreds of years.
Cui Dongshan turned his head and reminded with a smile, "Don't do it in my yard! Go find a latrine, or either you stink me to death or I beat you to death!"
Shi Rou fled in grief and indignation.
Cui Dongshan rolled on the porch, muttering, "Xie Xie, where would you find a young master who would wipe the porch for you, right?"
Xie Xie had to echo, "Thank you, young master."
Cui Dongshan crawled on the porch, in a swimming motion, from one end to the other, then turned and did it again, humming, "Toads don't eat water, peaceful years oh peaceful years..."