The smiles on the faces of the scholars who had come to watch the spectacle vanished.
That smile shifted to the face of the old master of the Xue family, and it grew even more unrestrained.
Xue Daoyong's smile was almost radiant, to the point where he seemed unable to contain it, the corners of his mouth appearing harder to pull down than the trigger of a divine crossbow.
However, the other scholars and noble families completely understood the joy on the old man's face. If it were them, they would be even more exhilarated, more reckless, and more satisfied than this old master of the Xue family—
To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to inherit the teachings of the ancients, to open peace for all generations.
Just these four lines.
Civility and martial prowess.
Sufficient.
What moved them the most was the intense emotion contained in that last line.
They were all individuals who had seen the world, who had encountered a thousand faces. They could discern the essence and spirit within; this was the most precious thing, like brushing away dust to reveal jade. The mindset that could resonate with this phrase was the true uncut gem!
This was the fourth disciple of Master Wang Tong, as well as the fourth senior brother of many noble youths.
Today, he was about to step into the world.
But then they saw Master Wang Tong deeply gazing at the young man over there, not disturbing him, turning back to his original place, his back seeming a bit straighter, his steps more tranquil and powerful.
The wind rustled through the leaves.
In the ballads of a thousand years hence, people would rank this still relatively young master, the first to advocate the unity of the Three Teachings, among the most outstanding figures beneath the two saints of Confucianism, and his name would be sung throughout the world.
"The Five Sons include Xun and Yang. Among the literati are Confucius and Laozi."
Yet under the sunlight a thousand years ago, no one knew what he was thinking.
Wei Xuancheng quietly watched the young man, sighed, and said, "What’s wrong? Thinking about the two trials that follow, so you have a headache?"
Wei Xuancheng replied, "No, I was just thinking that I need to strengthen my wrist strength."
The young man spoke in a flat tone:
"There may be many more occasions for serving tea in the future."
"Prepare for rain before it falls; one must be cautious."
………………
Xue Shuangtao vaguely understood the weight of that last sentence. She held the gold-inlaid jade bracelet in her palm, and the young man placed his hand over it but did not take it away. He lifted his hand, and an everlasting cold plum blossom fell into the girl's palm, left behind when Simi had demonstrated the principles of yin and yang to him.
Li Guanyi smiled and said, "It's a gift for you."
Xue Shuangtao asked, "Don't you want this jade ring?"
Li Guanyi replied, "Am I that greedy for wealth?"
The girl looked him up and down, a slight smile appearing:
"No, just a little bit."
Li Guanyi sighed and said, "I know you believe I haven't read any books, but I really haven't read much of the classics. Also, thank you for speaking up for me in front of those noble youths just now."
Xue Shuangtao raised her eyes to look at him.
Suddenly, she clasped her fists in a gesture of respect, imitating the way of the martial world, smiling with a picturesque expression, her youthful charm evident:
"Guest, you are too polite."
When Li Guanyi and Xue Shuangtao returned, everything was as it had been.
Only the laughter of the old master Xue grew even more hearty.
Fresh fruit platters, cold meats, and hot tea to accompany the dishes were served again.
Women with graceful waists danced and sang leisurely.
Li Guanyi lowered his gaze, inexplicably thinking of Qian Zheng's sister.
Changsun Wuchou sat beside Li Guanyi, and compared to when he had just introduced Li Guanyi to the noble youths, the smile on his face seemed warmer and more genial. He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, enjoying it with Longjing tea, and exclaimed, "The flavor is indeed excellent."
"The ingredients are good, and the utensils and tableware are even better."
Xue Shuangtao asked, "Does the Western Regions not have such tableware?"
Changsun Wuchou smiled and replied, "Of course, every place has its own food culture."
"In the Western Regions and on the grasslands, there are no tables. Sometimes, a sheep is killed and buried in the ashes of grass and wood to be cooked, resulting in a rich and juicy flavor. Everyone uses small curved knives and daggers to cut and eat the meat, and the strong-armed women sing and dance, expressing their emotions directly and passionately."
"It has indeed been a long time since I experienced a banquet in Jiangnan. Haha, thanks to you, little brother Li Guanyi, I can sit here. Compared to the strong winds of the Western Regions, Jiangnan is truly a wonderful place."
Li Guanyi asked, "What is the Western Regions like?"
Is it the same as the Western Regions of my past life?
Changsun Wuchou looked at Li Guanyi and smiled, "The Western Regions have fine horses, beautiful women, and Hu Xuan dance, as well as many fruits, but they also have vast deserts, boundless expanses, and ever-changing weather. Jiangnan has its own graceful beauty, but in the great desert, the stars fill the sky, and the horizon stretches endlessly. Riding a horse across it is also a display of a man's boldness!"
"If little brother Li is interested in traveling to the Western Regions, I, your older brother, will host you."
Changsun Wuchou poured tea for Li Guanyi and naturally continued, "I can gift you a fine horse, whose speed cannot be matched by the wind, and a curved dagger adorned with jewels. Wherever you wish to go, your older brother will take you. The vast desert is different from the customs of Jiangnan."
Changsun Wuchou's invitation was natural and not at all off-putting.
He elevated the young man's status in his heart.
He sighed inwardly.
"It seems that after today, I must write a secret letter regarding this Li Guanyi."
"To be sent to the Second Miss."
He traveled the world, recording the heroes and talents of the realm.
That phoenix from the Longxi Duke's mansion personally asked him to do these things, while her elder brother and third brother did not care about it at all. Even the current duke felt that his daughter's actions were meaningless, merely laughing and saying:
"This daughter of mine, whom I dote on, can dress as a man if she likes; let her be."
But he knew of the matters concerning Fang Zhiqiao, Du Keming, and others.
He had yet to see a young man who required him to write twice for the Golden Feather Eagle to deliver messages.
With a three-foot sword, he could pacify the world and establish unparalleled merit.
That Second Miss would likely appreciate this phrase—
No, perhaps it was this one.
To open peace for all generations!
Changsun Wuchou raised his cup to drink, and before him, the scenes of competition in the Western Regions, the fierce winds, and the life-and-death crises of the past years seemed to float before his eyes, suddenly bringing a hint of drunkenness.
When the truth emerges!
Today’s literary gathering was filled with literati and scholars, exchanging cups and chatting while listening to music.
Xue Shuangtao, who loved music, listened lightly at this moment, feeling that it was indeed worthy of such a grand event. The players were all masters, far surpassing her own skills, while beside her, Li Guanyi turned to Changsun Wuchou for a quiet conversation.
Suddenly, the young man's movements paused, and he turned to look at the woman playing the guqin, naturally saying:
"You played it wrong..."
Xue Shuangtao was stunned, seeing the young man casually discussing the scenery of the desert with Changsun Wuchou. Li Guanyi was curious about places outside of the Chen Kingdom, and the other scholars could chat idly. The old master Xue sat there, enjoying himself, while the other scholars were unaware of the matters their elders had encountered.
They did not know why their elders had suddenly become dispirited.
In their eyes, the young man wearing a sword was merely a crude warrior!
Today, this disciple of the Confucian master would surely be himself.
Du Keming was the second to rise, glancing at Li Guanyi, recalling the earlier issue, and without hesitation, he crumpled the original document, stating concisely the topic:
"Today we discuss benevolence and righteousness."
"Additionally, write a poem."
A young man in a blue robe was surprised: "How strange! Isn’t today supposed to be about selecting Master Wang Tong’s closed-door disciple? This should be a very serious matter. Why is this second trial so rough? It feels like a casual affair."
Benevolence and righteousness are the foundations of Confucianism.
The noble youths had long been prepared, rising one after another to expound on their insights, citing examples, their eloquence dazzling, earning praise from others. Li Guanyi felt drowsy as the bronze cauldron he had brought to this literary gathering continuously emitted waves of heat, causing his body to tense.
He focused on his internal qi, but the bronze cauldron showed no change.
It only gave him a feeling of waiting for something, just at that moment, Du Keming saw the young man sitting cross-legged with closed eyes. After hearing those two sentences, the others could not catch his gaze, and he directly said, "Li Guanyi, what do you think?"
Li Guanyi opened his eyes.
He saw the sharp-eyed young man.
He felt the gazes of those around him; he thought he had clearly submitted a blank paper, obviously unable to make the list, unable to gain that grand literary fame more useful than a passage of approval, so he did not understand why Du Keming would ask him.
Since he had already lost, there was no need to care.
Perhaps it was the oppression from General Xue.
Li Guanyi's heart was like still water.
Even at this moment, with those who clearly held high positions and came from wealth looking at him, his state of mind showed no ripples. He raised his gaze calmly and said, "Benevolence?"
Li Guanyi sat there; he could have answered with the previous answer he had heard.
But at this moment, he had his own understanding of this word, saying:
"Martial prowess is benevolence!"
An uproar ensued, even the sound of the guqin stopped.
The scholars whispered among themselves, not knowing who said something about a crude warrior, finally laughing uproariously, unable to suppress it. Someone laughed and scolded, "The benevolent loves others; the respectful honors others."
"The one who cultivates oneself is the abode of wisdom; the one who loves and gives is the essence of benevolence. To love others and to give generously is true benevolence."
"What is it to kill with martial prowess? In the end, he is just a crude warrior!"
"Hahaha, yes, Old Xue, were you deceived?"
The young man, however, remained calm and composed, sitting there.
A crisp sound!
Silenced the noise.
Xue Shuangtao's jade bracelet struck the great cauldron, the sound of shattering instantly quieting the surroundings. Watching the jade bracelet break, after the silence came awkwardness. The girl stood there, the corners of her eyes slightly raised, her apricot pupils sweeping over the surroundings, smiling gently, she bowed softly and said:
"I'm sorry, the jade bracelet accidentally fell."
"To disturb everyone, Shuangtao will play the guqin as an apology."
As she walked over with the guqin, her black hair fell, and she winked at the young man across the instrument, softly saying, "This is a gift for you."
A chance to make your name known.
The surroundings quieted down once more.
Du Keming looked at Li Guanyi: "How do you resolve this?"
The young man with the sword resting on his knee replied:
"Restraining oneself and giving generously is merely self-satisfaction in proclaiming 'benevolence'... However, when a gentleman gives something and returns home to boast of his benevolence, the suffering and hardship of others only increase. Why is that?"
Gradually, no one could say anything.
The young man pressed his hand on the sword.
His brow furrowed sharply, he felt he was merely a vessel, yet at this moment, he spoke his thoughts candidly from his heart:
"To sweep the world clean, to unify the four seas."
"So that the common people need not suffer from war."
"That is true benevolence!"
Du Keming fell silent, and Wei Xuancheng asked, "What is righteousness?"
"Righteousness?"
Li Guanyi replied, "Its words must be trustworthy, its actions must be resolute."
"One should repay kindness with kindness, and enmity with enmity; repay virtue with virtue, and directness with resentment."
"Even a grudge from nine generations can be avenged, for righteousness."
The benevolent sweeps the world clean, and the righteous avenges blood feuds.
Wei Xuancheng, with keen insight, slightly parted his lips, speaking to the two senior brothers beside him:
"Finished, great in demeanor, small in heart."
"This kid holds grudges."
Everyone fell silent, feeling that what this person said was absurd, yet there was an undeniable air of righteousness about him. The girl played the guqin with a clear tone, and Li Guanyi sat down, slightly bowing in the direction of Old Xue, saying, "It is merely my personal opinion; I hope you all do not laugh at me."
The atmosphere quieted down, and Wang Tong looked at the young man, gently saying:
"Then, write a poem."
Li Guanyi asked, "May I ask what the topic is?"
Wang Tong smiled.
"Whatever you like."
You could even write a casual poem here.
Li Guanyi slightly raised his eyebrows, not knowing why, but there was no dharma appearance on Wang Tong, yet a righteous and clear demeanor surrounded him. Li Guanyi sensed the temperature of the bronze cauldron in his chest rising, the red dragon and white tiger entwined above it.
The red dragon seemed to be absorbing literary fortune.
And this literary aura reached its peak after Wang Tong said "whatever you like."
Gathering like a sea of clouds, the red dragon spiraled within.
Li Guanyi picked up his brush.
At the grandest literary gathering in thirty years, as the gazes of the scholars fell upon him, the literary fortune transformed into a blue dragon, dancing with the dharma appearance. Li Guanyi felt an indescribable aura emerging, and as he put pen to paper, the qi within him seemed capable of breaking through that barrier, yet for some reason, he felt—
One step short.
One measure lacking.
At that moment, suddenly, a series of rumbling sounds echoed from the sky.
The distant mountains trembled, and the sky was filled with crimson clouds!
As if the dual energies of yin and yang were flowing.
At the moment when the literary fortune was pushed to its peak.
The aura of martial arts came majestically.
Vast and overwhelming, it surged into the sky, crashing into Li Guanyi's bronze cauldron, the aura of weapons transforming into a second white tiger roaring. Thus, the dragon and tiger dharma appearances soared, the literary and martial auras clashed within, transforming into wind and clouds, intertwining and swirling. Li Guanyi's movements froze, and a great laughter echoed from afar—
Like thunder.
"Under the command of Marshal Yue, the cavalry of Yue Qianfeng!!!"
"Come here, to invite battle!!!"
Falling into Li Guanyi's ears—
Was the sound of dragons roaring and tigers howling.
The heavens changed.
(End of Chapter)