Unsheathed

The tall building belonging to the Fan Clan in Pond Water City was completely deserted already.

This was the most majestic pagoda in Pond Water City, and it had initially been an observation pagoda that the Fan Clan had felt extremely proud of. When guests of the Fan Clan visited, visiting this pagoda would definitely be a top priority.

However, not only had the Fan Clan blocked off this pagoda now, prohibiting anyone from entering, but they were even showing signs of turning away all guests. Their buildings were deserted, and the streets outside were no longer lively and bustling like before.

Fan Yan was standing outside the pagoda today, and as the true master of the Fan Clan, he could naturally break the rules that he had established if it were any time in the past. It wouldn’t be a big deal for him to ascend his clan’s pagoda to enjoy the scenery of the lake.

However, Fan Yan didn’t dare to anymore.

As the “stupid Young City Lord” who had tricked almost everyone in Bamboo Scroll Lake, he was still yet to regain his composure after his meeting with that person. It was as if someone had taken a knife to his mind and left some incomprehensible scribbles. Every time Fan Yan recalled that knife, and especially the person who had wielded the knife, he would feel stabbing pain in his heart. Just thinking about them would give him a splitting headache.

On the day that Cui Dongshan left Pond Water City…

Bamboo Scroll Lake was still yet to welcome its first fall of snow, yet Fan Yan had suffered a violent blizzard that had almost frozen him to death. Even until now, Fan Yan could still feel the biting cold seeping through to his bones.

That day, Cui Dongshan called Fan Yan over.

Before that, Fan Yan had stood at the top level of the pagoda and been slapped dozens of times by his parents. After leaving, they had gone to a secret room of the Fan Clan, where Fan Yan had ordered his parents to slap each other in front of him, leaving their faces bruised and bloodied. Even so, his parents hadn’t dared to complain at all.

Several days later, Fan Yan had gone to seek an audience with that young boy in white.

The two of them stood in front of the railings and enjoyed the scenery.

With a hop, Cui Dongshan jumped up and sat down on the railing, after which he “spoke from his heart” and caused Fan Yan to feel extremely astonished and apprehensive. However, Fan Yan didn’t dare to shut him up, so he could only stand there and listen.

Cui Dongshan said, “Being ignorant is to be in a very comfortable and enjoyable state. When someone takes a step further and becomes conceited and self-righteous, then they’ll enter an even more blissful state. This is because they fail to understand the reasons behind fortune and misfortune, and all they do is accept whatever comes their way. If they manage to overcome things, then they’ll continue on their merry way. If they fail to overcome things, then they’ll look up and curse the heavens. I’m not saying that this is incorrect, and I sometimes even feel a strong sense of envy toward these two states.

“I once traveled around the world with my first master, and there was one time when we came across three young scholars in a bookshop on the side of the street. One was from a noble family, one was from an impoverished family, and one appeared relatively dignified and refined even though he was dressed in a simple manner. All three of them were attending the local examinations of the provincial city, and there had also been a young woman searching for books to read at the time.

“The wealthy scholar wanted to catch the attention of the beautiful young woman, so he randomly grabbed a book and started to talk in a boastful and grandiloquent manner. The impoverished scholar appeared timid and genuinely impressed, and this was understandable since his impoverished background meant that he wouldn’t be able to read many books until he prospered in the future.

“The shopkeeper was a dejected scholar, and after putting up with things for half a day, he was finally unable to hold back, eventually saying a few words that were relatively reasonable and fair.

“However, the wealthy scholar pointed at the shopkeeper and said that he was from a large clan with a rich history, allowing him to have famous and knowledgeable teachers from a young age. He claimed to have read all of the scriptures of the Hundred Schools of Thought since a young age, so would he still need other people to teach him how to become a proper person? Just who did the shopkeeper think he was?

“My impoverished master started to act as a peacemaker, and this was something that couldn’t be helped. His favorite thing to do was to contemplate these small matters, always feeling like people weren’t overly wrong. Even if someone did wrong, it was something that could be changed. Thus, he persuaded the shopkeeper to not get angry, since everyone had their own principles deriving from the myriad of principles. He then gently pushed down the wealthy scholar’s finger, saying that it was inappropriate to point at someone like that while speaking. Otherwise, he would appear unreasonable even if his words were actually reasonable.

“The wealthy scholar was a short-tempered person, so he immediately swatted my master’s hand away and shouted for the old geezer to piss off.

“My master naturally didn’t become angry, and the young scholar who appeared most dignified and refined smiled with squinted eyes and eloquently spoke three seemingly fair sentences. This first sentence was, ‘This is a bookshop, and we’re scholars here to buy books, so be careful of being kicked out and not being able to buy the books you want.’ Fan Yan, do you know what’s so clever about this sentence? You definitely know. It’s clever because the young scholar obfuscated the order of events.

“He ignored their need to follow the rules, and he directly started with the hypothesis of the shopkeeper kicking them out being so-called reasonable. However, is this truly reasonable? No onlooker would find this reasonable. So, on the premise of ignoring right and wrong, carefully examining this sequence of events will immediately make the shopkeeper appear like the unreasonable person. Isn’t this quite interesting?

“If the onlookers were unaware of the events that had taken place beforehand and only heard the young scholar’s words, or if they only saw the shopkeeper kicking them out, would these onlookers still be willing to determine who was right and who was wrong? Most likely not, right? Everyone is busy with their own life, so the onlookers would merely be watching on for some entertainment. Who would be willing to go out of their way to make heads or tails of the situation? As such, I found the young scholar’s words quite clever and funny.

“His second sentence was, ‘Old Mister, you’ve most likely come across a book that you want to buy, right? However, don’t become biased toward the shopkeeper because of this. Otherwise, it will be an insult to decorum. Old Mister also looks like a scholar, so why are you acting in such an improper manner? Why are you so obsequious toward the owner of a bookshop?’

“Isn’t this sentence even more worthy of rumination? As long as someone is an outsider, they’ll be acting obsequiously if they speak up for the shopkeeper in the bookshop. Some onlookers are unwilling to cause trouble for themselves, so even if they disagree with this statement, won’t they become more uneasy and tense?

“His third sentence was, ‘Mister Shopkeeper, if you’re truly so knowledgeable, then would you need to sell books to make money? Shouldn’t you already be a high-ranking official or have some widely renowned works?’ What do you say? This is quite direct criticism, isn’t it? In reality, this is presuming two facts again. Firstly, it’s presuming that the principles of this world must be propped up by status and fame. As such, the shopkeeper didn’t have any right to discuss the principles of the sages.

“Secondly, only those who are successful can speak reason. Reason only exists in sagely scriptures and in the imperial court and other important areas. On the other hand, not a single reason exists in the noisy marketplaces, bookshops that are filled with the fragrance of ink, and so on.

“And guess what happened in the end? My master directly slapped the young and smart scholar, letting loose a torrent of abuse at him. After following my master around for so long, that was the first time I saw him not only becoming angry, but even cursing and hitting someone. The old scholar cursed that pitiful young scholar by scolding, ‘From your parents to your teachers, and then to the many sagely scriptures, there should have been at least one or two good principles taught to you. Yet, what the fuck did you do instead? You insisted on smearing chicken shit into your eyes and stuffing dog shit down your throat?!’

“After my master shouted this, the young scholar was completely stupefied. And guess what happened next? The young scholar completely lost his courage after being hit and scolded, and there was only deep hatred left in his eyes. He was clearly coming up with sinister plots in his mind. As for the wealthy scholar and the impoverished scholar, they both rolled up their sleeves and prepared to beat up my master. What could my master do? Run, of course. And what could I do? Run after him, of course.

“We only stopped after running very far away, and when my master turned around and saw no one chasing after us anymore, he immediately burst into loud laughter. However, his laughter gradually faded away, and that was the first time I saw my master show such a disappointed expression because of a certain matter.

“When we left the area together, my master remained silent for a long time. In the end, we stopped at a wine shop on the side of the street and my master asked for half a liter of wine, speaking in a gloomy manner as he happily drank wine. He said that when it came to intellectual debates between scholars, ordinary arguments between people in the marketplace, and discourses about principles between individuals, it was naturally best for people to maintain a good attitude. However, it wouldn’t matter too much even if someone displayed a bad attitude and refused to listen to other opinions. After all, things would gradually become clearer the more they were debated. Because of this, it wouldn’t be a bad thing even if people became flushed with anger when arguing.

“With this in mind, it didn’t matter much that the young scholar displayed a bad attitude in the bookshop. Even if he engaged in a pointless and mutually unintelligible argument with the shopkeeper, that would ultimately be a case of each person speaking their mind. My master said that as a teacher, he would still feel happy listening to them speak their own reasons regardless of what their initial motive was and no matter what their temperament was like. However, the third sentence spoken by that young scholar was the most despicable and sinister!

“My master seldom offered any conclusions on a person’s character, but he slammed the table and concluded that there was something wrong with that young scholar’s character! He was wearing the azure robe of Confucian scholars, yet he was only using his knowledge to further his personal gains. The more knowledgeable he became, the more dangerous he would become.

“If he came across any obstacles, he would like to hide in the darkness and speak the most repulsive words in a quiet and taunting manner. He would come up with all kinds of schemes and weigh up the pros and cons, and he would either be too cowardly, or if he wasn’t, he would most likely be confident of succeeding. Thus, he would gain more than anyone when he truly performed evil deeds.

“If someone like him was allowed to continually rise in status, his subtle influence would mean that people would be detrimentally affected even if he didn’t explicitly say anything. From his family to his clan, and then to his acquaintances, the atmosphere of the imperial court, the customs of a jurisdiction, and the scholarly fortune of a nation, everything might fall victim.

“If someone is willing to speak reason and listen to reason, no matter the magnitude and correctness of the reasons, then they can at least be taught and potentially saved. If this isn’t possible, then those who have become virtuous scholars and noble scholars, especially those of us who have lucked out, should work harder because we’re more able. We should help mend and patch up this world.

“If everyone in the world was like the young scholar who spoke in a sinister manner, then the Dao Ancestor would have been correct to severely scold the old scholar back then. The old scholar wouldn’t have been able to complain. The old scholar shouldn’t have spoken those principles, and he shouldn’t have written them down and taught them to the world!

“If there’s anyone to blame, then it’s the Confucian Sect itself for having far too many principles. It’s as if we’re arguing with ourselves, with a principle in one book repudiated by a principle in another book, then the principle in that other book being described as completely worthless by yet another book. This causes the common people to feel confused, not knowing where to begin.

“So, I’ve always promoted the idea that one shouldn’t feel like one is completely right when arguing with other people. If the opposition makes a good argument, even if this is during a debate between the Three Teachings, then we should carefully listen to the reasonings of the Buddhist monks and Daoist priests. If their arguments resonate with us, then we should smile. After all, shouldn’t we be happy if we’ve been able to hear such a good principle? Is this embarrassing? No, not at all!

“If the principles are too profound, then the common people will mistakenly think that only scholars can speak reason and expound principles. In reality, principles aren’t confined to books, and even a little child can speak very sound principles. Even someone from a village who has never gone to school or read a book before can also be acting upon the best principles in the world. Similarly, the principles spoken by the bookshop owner who failed to pass the examinations might be incorrect right now, but perhaps at some other time in the future, he’ll speak a principle that will cause the old scholar and the Etiquette Sage to smile knowingly when they unintentionally hear it.”

Cui Dongshan remained calm and nonchalant as he spoke.

There was only a single thought in Fan Yan’s mind when he heard all this: I’m dead for sure.

After confirming that Cui Dongshan was already finished with his story, Fan Yan fell to his knees with a thud, not saying a single word.

Cui Dongshan turned around, and the young boy in white who had a birthmark on his glabella truly appeared carefree and dashing.

He smiled and asked, “Doesn’t everyone in Bamboo Scroll Lake think the same way? As long as it satisfies me, I can persuade myself and keep a clear conscience, and as long as I’m strong enough, then I can kill anyone I want. Is there anything difficult about this? It’s hard to be a good person in this world, but is it hard to become a bad person? Even a little kid with open crotch pants can become a bad person. Of course, it’s slightly harder to become a bad person who has enough brains. So let me ask you this: you’re soon going to be squashed to death like an ant by me, someone who wants to feel as satisfied as those in Bamboo Scroll Lake, so do you also feel satisfied right now?”

Fan Yan prostrated himself on the floor and replied in a quivering voice, “I beg you, Esteemed Imperial Preceptor, please use your secret immortal powers to erase this portion of my memory. If Esteemed Imperial Preceptor is willing to waste his energy to do this, then I’m willing to hand over half of the Fan Clan’s wealth.”

Cui Dongshan jumped off the railing and replied, “You’re truly quite smart, so much so that I almost can’t bear to kill you. Indeed, having you, Fan Yan, watch over Bamboo Scroll Lake seems like a good thing no matter how I look at it. Ah, Fan Yan, don’t be a human in the future, and become a dog of the Great Li Empire instead. That will allow you to live on.”

Fan Yan immediately started to kowtow, so fervently that there were loud banging sounds whenever his forehead hit the floor. He looked up, with tears of gratitude in his eyes as he gazed at the extremely lofty imperial preceptor. This gratitude came from the bottom of Fan Yan’s heart, and it was so sincere that he was almost about to move the heavens.

Cui Dongshan squatted down, clicking his tongue in wonder before shaking his head and saying, “You’re such a smart person, yet you’ve fallen to the state of becoming a dog. How pitiful.”

Cui Dongshan slapped Fan Yan’s cheeks, again and again with quite a bit of force. “Are you thinking that your luck is truly terrible, what with you coming across a person like me who’s coincidentally stronger than you?”

Fan Yan furiously shook his head.

Cui Dongshan hunched down and retracted his hand, looking at the petrified expression on Fan Yan’s face as he continued, “I suddenly feel like a dog is a slight eyesore, even if it’s very obedient. What should I do?”

Fan Yan felt slightly baffled.

Cui Dongshan had already put his index finger and forefinger together, stabbing them toward Fan Yan’s glabella.

Fan Yan would definitely be killed if he were struck by this attack.

However, it was at this critical moment that someone suddenly appeared behind Cui Dongshan, leaning down and grabbing him by the collar before sliding back and yanking him backward. Cui Dongshan flew backward, saving the life of Fan Yan who already had a shallow hole in his glabella.

Even though Cui Dongshan was being held up in the air, he still glared at Fan Yan and exclaimed, “Do you people know how many old scholars and Chen Ping’ans in this world you owe?! Who’s going to repay this debt in the future? The demon tribe that breaches the Sword Qi Great Wall?! Come, come, come, hurry up and charge over to teach these idiots of the Majestic World a lesson! Teach them that there doesn’t exist any petty advantage for them to righteously obtain! You bastards will eventually have to pay off these debts! You need to pay for them, you hear me?!”

The uninvited guest who prevented Cui Dongshan from killing Fan Yan was none other than Cui Chan who had returned to Bamboo Scroll Lake.

The old scholar in azure robes said in a calm and indifferent voice, “It will be very difficult for you to advance to the Upper Five Tiers in the future if you kill Fan Yan today. Also, you’re not a kid anymore, so don’t scream and complain like a child. I don’t care if you act like a kid to disgust me all the time, but I won’t allow you to do something stupid. There are still many things for you to do in the future.”

Cui Dongshan struggled for a moment, plonking down on his backside when Cui Chan eventually let go of him.

Cui Chan waved his hand at Fan Yan and ordered, “You can get lost now. Think carefully about what you say and do in the future, or else I’ll kill you even if he isn’t able to.”

Cui Dongshan leaned on the railing in a daze.

Cui Chan reached over and lightly placed a hand on Cui Dongshan’s head, saying, “You’ll never feel disappointed if you don’t place any hope in this world. You won’t detest bad people and evil people, nor will you like good people and kind people. And since you’re coincidentally a scholar, something that you don’t deny, you’re also knowledgeable enough to understand the complexities of the world.

“Once you understand the best-case scenario and the worst-case scenario as well as the corresponding costs for each, you can act upon what you think is right. So, don’t let Chen Ping’an become an exception for you. Once things become murky, then what appears to be sincere on the surface will instead become harmful to both you and other people.”

“Take away your dog paw,” Cui Dongshan huffed.

Cui Chan smiled and clasped his hands behind his back, gazing at Bamboo Scroll Lake as he continued, “Categorizing someone as good or evil is a very difficult task. In this regard, the Buddhist Sect does indeed do a slightly better job than us — even the old scholar admitted to this, not in private, but during the debate between the Three Teachings.

“Do you still remember? The expressions of several accompanying Confucian sages immediately became dark. We were yet to scare the Buddhist monks and Daoist priests to death, but we almost scared our own Confucian sages to death first. We personally witnessed these matters with our own eyes, and it’s these matters that make the old scholar who he is. He’s willing to accept the principles and reasons of other teachings if they’re good, and in the same vein, the other teachings will have to accept his good principles and reasons even if they don’t want to!

“In that last debate between the Three Teachings, what did the old scholar do after he won? The impoverished old scholar sat upright and extended his hands, and what did he say afterward? Please take a seat, Dao Ancestor and Buddha.

“And what happened afterward? The two paramount beings who hadn’t met each other for countless years genuinely appeared in front of the old scholar. The Etiquette Sage also came, but the old scholar simply ignored his presence.

“What then?

“The old geezer as the old scholar calls him also arrived, following which he immediately isolated the area from heaven and earth. And what happened in the end? After a short while, the old scholar secretly appeared in front of us, seemingly baring his teeth and rubbing his ears with his head still cocked.”

Cui Chan didn’t say any more regarding this topic. “Let’s go, there’s already no need to watch the conclusion of Bamboo Scroll Lake. There’s something that I’ll tell you later, something relating to a Go board that’s even larger than Bamboo Scroll Lake.”

Cui Dongshan jumped onto the railing again, extending his hands like the old scholar had done back then. However, Cui Dongshan didn’t go as far as to repeat the old scholar’s invitation to the Dao Ancestor and Buddha.

“The heavens are lofty, the earth is vast, and the principles are grand,” he announced loudly.

“Humans are but grains of sand, yet their matters are innumerable like strands of hair!”

Cui Chan smiled faintly and said, “The same mistake shouldn’t be made three times. I don’t want to hear you make any more childlike statements for the third time.”

Cui Dongshan spun on his toes, with his large and snow-white sleeves billowing through the air as he clasped his hands behind his back and clenched them into fists. He then leaned down and extended his fists toward Cui Chan, asking, “Take a guess, which one contains reason, and which one…”

Cui Dongshan was sent plummeting into Bamboo Scroll Lake, causing a huge splash to soar into the air.

After doggy-paddling back to shore, Cui Dongshan walked along the small path surrounding the river, dramatically swinging his large sleeves up and down as he slowly disappeared into the distance and left Bamboo Scroll Lake.

Cui Chan didn’t leave the tall pagoda straight away.

He was thinking back to the people and matters of the past.