【The Sage of Rituals: “To incite the hearts of men, rules are meant to be followed. If everyone were like Fang Yuan, then what use would the rules of this world have? What order would this world have?”】
【Fang Yuan: “I incite the hearts of men? Since you say that rules are meant to be followed, then who set these rules? Is it you? Then on what grounds do you make these rules? What right do you have to set these rules for the people of the world? Is it because your fists are bigger? Or is it because your principles are deeper? Can principles convince the people of the world?”】
【The Sage of Rituals: “Man’s nature is inherently good. The rules of the world are meant to guide people towards goodness. When everyone has a heart that strives for goodness, then the world will naturally be peaceful. These rules are established by sages, and sages have great love in their hearts, so they naturally have the right to make rules. If someone disagrees, then they can debate. The victor will naturally have deeper principles and be more right. It’s not about fists as you said!”】
【Fang Yuan: “Heh, who says man’s nature is inherently good? Where did you get that idea? I don’t accept that! If everyone were good, then wouldn’t your world have no wars, no injustice, no beggars, no disparity between rich and poor, no famines, and no disasters?”】
When Fang Yuan asked these questions, the people of the Sword Come world fell into silence.
Because what Fang Yuan said was the opposite of their reality. In the Sword Come world, people schemed against each other, those on the mountains saw those below as ants, and each person pursued their own interests, using any means necessary.
War engulfed the entire Vast and Ethereal world, and beggars and famines were a constant occurrence.
It could be said that this world was rotten to the core.
Each person only cared for themselves, being selfish and greedy. Where was this so-called “great love”?
...
The white screen slowly dimmed, and a black screen lit up. The figure of Chen Ping An appeared on the screen again.
【Qi Jing Chun accompanied Chen Ping An for a while longer. When they were about to part ways, he pulled out a jade hairpin from his hair and bent down to give it to the impoverished youth.】
【“Just consider this a parting gift. It’s not a valuable item, nor is it a celestial artifact. Don’t worry about accepting it. The truth is that I, like you, was once a young man from a humble alley, who diligently studied, faced countless difficulties and hardships, and of course, experienced many encounters, before finally entering the Mountain Cliff Academy.”】
【“Those days of apprenticeship and seeking knowledge were the happiest times of my life, Qi Jing Chun. When my teacher left the mountains, he gave me this hairpin. It was a sign of hope and a trust placed upon me.”】
【“Unfortunately, looking back now, I have not done well in all these years. I believe if my teacher were still alive, he would be disappointed.”】
【Chen Ping An hesitated to accept it.】
【This jade hairpin contained the teacher-student bond between Qi Jing Chun and his teacher, and the feelings were profound, not to mention the gift was significant.】
【Qi Jing Chun said softly: “If I keep it, then my teacher’s relic will be buried with me. It’s better to give it to you. Besides, you are truly undeserving of such a reward. I stayed in this town for nearly sixty years, and there’s always been a knot in my heart that I couldn’t untie.”】
【“Unfortunately, my teacher has passed away. I thought I would never find the answer in my lifetime. You, unintentionally, helped me find it. Therefore, I’m giving you this hairpin. It’s appropriate in terms of sentiment, reason, and etiquette.”】
【“Chen Ping An, I can only help you acquire a single leaf of the pagoda tree, I cannot give you any more opportunities.”】
【Chen Ping An took the ordinary jade hairpin with both hands and sincerely looked up at him, saying: “Sir has already done so much.”】
【Qi Jing Chun smiled and dismissed his words. Seeing the youth accepting the hairpin, he felt relieved of a burden. The hairpin was indeed ordinary and simple, but it was his teacher’s relic after all. It was good to be able to give it to a youth who wouldn’t disgrace the inscription on the hairpin.】
【Therefore, Qi Jing Chun finally advised him, “Chen Ping An, remember, no matter what you encounter, never lose hope in this world.”】
【Chen Ping An then said goodbye to Qi Jing Chun and returned home to prepare medicine for Ning Yao. At the same time, he told the young woman about everything that had happened.】
【After listening to everything, the young woman said indifferently: “That Daoist of the River True, Liu Zhi Mao, is clearly the culprit, but Cai Jin Jian and Fu Nan Hua aren’t innocent either.”】
【“If Qi Jing Chun hadn’t intervened, even if you ran to the ends of the earth, you wouldn’t have escaped the pursuit and extermination by these three forces. To be blunt, killing you would have been very easy.”】
【“If you hadn’t been in the town, not even Liu Zhi Mao, but even that woman from Yunxia Mountain, could have crushed you with a single finger.”】
【Chen Ping An nodded, “I know.”】
【The young woman said angrily, “You know nothing!”】
【Chen Ping An did not retort and continued preparing the medicine.】
【She asked, “You’re in this predicament because of that mudfish. Why didn’t you tell that child the truth?”】
【Earlier, Gu Can had bid farewell to Chen Ping An, crying with tears streaming down his face. Gu Can truly relied on Chen Ping An, and he even told Chen Ping An about the mudfish’s great opportunity.】
【Chen Ping An knew of course. He was even targeted by Liu Zhi Mao because of this opportunity, but he didn’t tell Gu Can about it.】
【Hearing Ning Yao’s question, Chen Ping An didn’t stay silent, nor did he turn around. He sat on the small stool, looking down at the red and green flames, and softly said, “Doing that would be wrong.”】
【The young woman wanted to say something, but she eventually looked at the thin figure and sighed, “You know, if your fists aren’t strong, no one will care whether you’re right or wrong.”】
【The young man shook his head, “Whether others listen or not, the truth is the truth.”】
【He seemed a little uncertain, so he turned around and asked with a smile, “Right?”】
【The young woman glared at him, “You’re a fool!”】
【The young man reluctantly turned back and continued boiling the medicine.】
【The black-clothed young woman, the out-of-town girl named Ning Yao, picked up the jade hairpin and stared at it. She noticed a line of small characters inscribed on it.】
【She glanced at the young man named Chen Ping An.】
【There were eight characters on the hairpin. Even though she was only a girl who barely understood literature, she found them deeply moving.】
【When speaking of a noble man, his warmth is like jade.】
......
Beneath the screen, the old scholar was speechless, stunned. A tear quietly rolled down his cheek.
【The old scholar: “Qi Jing Chun, you are a good man, a good man beyond compare. I’ve never been disappointed in you, my disciple!”】
......Divider......
Please show some love! Votes and comments appreciated, thank you to all the bosses!