Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 125

“A gentleman seeks the Way, not food. Master Lu Wei’s simple lifestyle is in line with the rites of a sage.”

Today, Fu Nian has changed into light and simple clothes, with his ceremonial sword hanging at his waist. Compared to his imposing presence at the Lesser Sage Manor, he appears much more approachable.

"There are many empty guest rooms in Xiaoshengxianzhuang. Master Feng Huzi's room next door is not yet occupied. If Master Lu is interested, he can stay at Xiaoshengxianzhuang for a few days."

"I have always longed for the elegant Confucian land. However, I prefer to visit the night market in Sanghai City at night. Living on the mountain makes it inconvenient to travel there, so living in the bustling city is more in line with my interests."

Their casual conversation wasn't really casual, and their stroll couldn't possibly be genuine. Lu Wei could sense that Fu Nian's words were laying the groundwork for something, and that she was intentionally leading him toward a certain location.

In front of us is the Silver Water Bridge.

Stepping onto the solid bridge surface, they slowed their pace.

"The bustling sounds of music and dance in Sanghai are indeed endless. Every ten days at the end of the month and at night, there are performances of silk and bamboo music and dance from Qi. If you are interested, Master Lu, you can go and have a look."

Fu Nian didn't find anything amiss when Lu Wei politely declined to stay at Xiaoshengxianzhuang. Instead, she went along with his words and recommended several places to visit in Sanghai City, all of which were bustling at night.

As a proper Confucian sect leader, he actually knows quite a few places for entertainment.

The hall master noted them down one by one, indicating that he would definitely visit them in turn.

The Silver Water Bridge is very wide, and the river flows through the entire city beneath it, eventually emptying directly into the sea. The flow becomes very gentle here.

Besides this river, there is another river to the north of Sanghai City, where the terrain is high and the cliffs are broken, thus forming a waterfall at its mouth, which is magnificent.

However, due to the extremely strange terrain, it is very difficult to see the sights there, and even martial arts experts rarely go there.

After crossing the Silver Water Bridge and walking another hundred meters or so, Fu Nian stopped in front of a grand vermilion building in the bustling city.

The large plaque above the building's entrance bears the two ancient characters "瞻青" (Zhan Qing) in bright gold.

"Green means life. It represents the color of things when they are born."

"This place is a school set up by Confucian scholars in the city."

“I’ve heard Li Shiqi mention this place.” Lu Wei nodded and followed Fu Nian inside. Avoiding the classroom hall where students were loudly reciting classical Chinese phrases, the two arrived at a spacious, empty hall on the left.

"Confucian predecessors had a broad mind of teaching, so any passerby who could write their name neatly could attend classes for free at Zhanqing Hall, regardless of their status."

"Those with outstanding academic performance may also enter Xiaoshengxianzhuang for further study."

The headmaster's tone was full of praise as he said this: "It was along this path that Li Shiqi was able to enter the Confucian school."

Opposite to them in the hall were about a dozen archery targets, with a line drawn in the center of the field. This place was undoubtedly the archery hall among the Six Arts, but it should also have served as a place for learning swordsmanship.

"Confucianism believes in 'benefiting all under heaven.' Providing any student with a fair chance to pursue education within one's capabilities is an essential requirement for Xiaoshengxianzhuang to serve as a model for scholars throughout the world."

Fu Nian readily accepted the praise, but then changed the subject, focusing on their location: "Confucian disciples study both literature and martial arts, and this place is a martial arts hall."

"Master Lu's sword is so coveted by Master Feng Hu Zi, his swordsmanship must be extraordinary. Now that you're here, would you be willing to spar with Fu Nian?"

"I dare not refuse your request."

This Confucian aspiring leader wielded the Tai'a sword and created the Saint King Sword Technique, but he was not a martial arts enthusiast.

The real purpose of suddenly requesting a sword fight is definitely not the sword fight itself, but the next topic to be discussed after the fight.

"In this contest, we will not compete in sword techniques, but only in the spirit of the sword."

Fu Nian and Lu Wei stood facing each other. After both of them drew their swords, the Confucian sect leader added a rule at the last minute.

The sect leader responded by holding his sword horizontally in front of him, with the power of the Devouring Sea Sword floating behind him.

Fu Nian deliberately slowed down his sword raising, and the bright pressure on the broadsword Tai'a remained solid but did not expand.

Both sides initially took the initiative to back down, humbly conserving their energy in their own half of the court, and not rushing into immediate contact.

In swordplay duels, the distinction between winners and losers often takes precedence. In pure swordplay exchanges, the focus is on understanding each other's swordsmanship.

Going a step further, it involves observing each other's personalities.

In this world that begins with the sword, swordsmen and swords are one.

Back in Jicheng, Tian Guang had said that Fu Nian and Lu Wei were representatives of the next generation of disciples from the Confucian and Agricultural schools, respectively, but there was a significant difference between them:

Fu Nianzhen studied Confucianism from a young age, while Lu Wei did not have a deep understanding of the agricultural school of thought.

The fact that the sect leader's martial arts academy has developed to its current state is entirely for the purpose of realizing his treacherous ambitions.

This clash of swords could not be considered a test between Confucian scholars and farmers, but Fu Nian was unaware of this.

The Holy King Sword Technique is characterized by its discipline, and its swordplay is a perfect embodiment of discipline.

The Whale Drinking Sword Technique and the Sea Devouring Sword Technique share the same nature; their commonality with Lu Wei's ambition lies in inclusiveness.

The two are indeed quite similar at first glance, because they both point in the same direction: ruling the court.

The pressure in the hall was constantly increasing. Lu Wei and Fu Nian no longer paid attention to their swords, but instead focused their gazes intensely on each other.

The ink mark left on the floor disappeared bit by bit as the two sword energies expanded and eroded it.

After the two swordsmen had gathered their strength in the first phase, the next step was for them to clash...

The immense pressure was suffocating.

Not far from where they were sparring, the teacher and students suddenly felt as if their hearts had been gripped tightly. An eerie silence fell over the classroom, broken only by the pounding of their own hearts...

When the last trace of ink on the center line of the floor completely disappeared, Lu Wei and Fu Nian simultaneously pointed the tips of their swords at each other from afar.

The two suppressed sword energies collided fiercely!

But right at the edge of that vanished midline, they tacitly and deliberately dispersed...

Ordinary people placed within it would encounter the overwhelming sword force that would cut them to pieces, leaving only two gusts of wind that would blow on the tips of the swords that were pointing at each other, then split in two and brush past their faces.

With a clang, the two famous swords were sheathed simultaneously.

------

"Brother Lu, when you came down the mountain from Xiaoshengxianzhuang the other evening, did you encounter any members of the Quicksand Gang?"

After their sword fight, the two smiled at each other, then walked out of the Zhanqing Pavilion together and continued strolling through the streets. Having gotten to know each other's swordsmanship better, their conversation became much more open and friendly.

“When I met Wei Zhuang from the Quicksand Gang, I sparred with him.”

Having answered Fu Nian's question honestly, the Hall Master knew that since Fu Nian had asked such a question, he must have already found out something.

"The disciples of Guiguzi ended up becoming a notorious assassin organization."

Fu Nian shook his head: "In the past, his reputation as a strategist was known for hundreds of years. He was appointed as a general and prime minister, and was so famous that 'when he was angry, the princes were afraid, and when he was at peace, the world was at ease.'"

"This generation is about to come to an end."

In the novel "The Art of War," Gai Nie is currently the personal bodyguard of the King of Qin. Wei Zhuang was originally a great general of the state, but now he has become a mountain assassin.

Although their swordsmanship remains top-notch in the martial arts world, in Fu Nian's eyes, if Guigu deviates from the foundation of its own sect, it will inevitably perish.

“In a great era, appropriate changes are inevitable.” Lu Wei wasn’t explaining for Guiguzi; his target was Confucianism: “The Confucianists are now focusing on scholarship, isn’t that also a change they’ve made?”

In the past, Confucius traveled around with three thousand disciples to learn from others. Today, Xiaoshengxianzhuang certainly cannot follow in the footsteps of the sage.

"The Confucian principle of self-cultivation lies in learning, while the principle of self-cultivation of Guiguzi does not lie in killing."

Fu Nian retorted sternly, "Just as the foundation of a farmer's livelihood lies in the land. Even though Brother Lu has accomplished many great things in various countries over the years, he has not deviated from the fundamental task of farming, has he?"

"Wei is enlightened." Hall Master Lu immediately admitted his mistake, and Fu Nian, being a person who dealt with matters objectively, softened his expression upon seeing this and continued:

"About an hour after Brother Lu fought Wei Zhuang, Gao Ming, a high-ranking official of Qi, came down the mountain after talking with me and was killed on the mountain path behind the mountain."

"Earlier, two other officials in charge of Sanghai also died in their own residences: one died suddenly from poisoning, and the other had his throat severed by a long, sharp weapon."

"At least three people from the quicksand came to Sanghai City."

Lu Wei was not surprised that Fu Nian was able to obtain this information, but he wanted to know why this Confucian leader would tell him this.

The hall master was puzzled, so he decisively asked the question.

Fu Nian led Lu Wei to the mountain path behind the Upper Little Sage Manor and answered the question directly:

"I've received information that Quicksand still has targets that haven't been executed."

"It's not worth Wei Zhuang going to such lengths to come to Sanghai just because there are only two officials and one lower-ranking official."

"The remaining goals are the more important!"

"I originally thought that Brother Lu would be one of the targets."

"But judging from Brother Lu's tone, it seems that's not the case?"

“Wei Zhuang didn’t recognize me at first, so it probably wasn’t him,” Lu Wei nodded. Fu Nian only told the truth, and kept the sources of information he couldn’t say, such as ‘knowing that Quicksand had a target,’ tightly hidden.

"Brother Lu's swordsmanship is extraordinary, but the Quicksand will eventually have three members."

Lu Wei was there to attend his succession ceremony. Fu Nian, out of a sense of duty, kindly said, "Even if Quicksand's initial target wasn't Brother Lu, after you fought with Wei Zhuang, you might still be considered a target."

"If you sense any danger, you may come to Xiaoshengxianzhuang to stay at any time."

"Thank you, Brother Funian. I won't stand on ceremony."

The hall master wasn't too worried about quicksand.

They have now become a group of assassins, but not completely.

Wei Zhuang was still plotting to restore his kingdom by force. His main focus was on the rebellion that would break out in Xinzheng a few years later.

Behind this rebellion, there are traces of Lord Changping and the peasant faction.

My elder brother from the Shennong Hall, Zhu, has some cooperative relationships with Liusha. This Thousand-Faced Man is, besides Tian Guang, the only other high-ranking member of the Farmer's Clan who maintains contact with Lord Changping!

Since the fall of the Korean kingdom, the Zhu family's Shennong Hall has been infiltrating into the former Korean territory, and the purpose behind this is self-evident.

In a conversation with Zhu Jia a few years ago, he said that he did not know who the Chu nobleman who helped him expand in the Chu state was.

This might have been true at the time, but by now, it's impossible that the Zhu family still didn't know the identity of the Prince of Changping.

Besides Tian Guang, Changping Jun needs a second force among the farmers.

Tian Guang didn't want the entire farming family to side with Qin, so Lord Changping deliberately showed kindness to the six halls, trying to make everything a done deal...

Chapter 147 Farewell at the Yi River

Fu Nian led Lu Wei up the mountain via a side path back to Xiaoshengxianzhuang, and then straight to Haiya Pavilion.

After pointing out Feng Hu Zi's residence, the prospective leader of the Confucian school left to attend to other matters.

"Master Feng Hu Zi has something to discuss with you."