Martial Cultivator

The scholar thought for a moment and said with some difficulty, “To be honest, my understanding of Master Dong’s writings is also only superficial. It is really hard for me to judge whether this scholar’s works are good or bad.”

Chen Chao asked curiously, “When you were at Master Dong Shrine that day, sir, it didn’t seem like you held this attitude?”

Even the old man laughed and tried to persuade him, saying, “Exactly. No matter how great the predecessors were, there were always good points and bad points. How could they be beyond discussion? In my view, today we should just speak freely. Say whatever you think. After all, among those present, there aren’t any of Master Dong’s disciples or descendants. Even if we say something wrong, no one will go spreading it around, right?”

The scholar still shook his head and said, “What I said that day was somewhat reckless. Thinking about it now, it really wasn’t appropriate. If we truly start talking about Master Dong’s writings, I really can’t bring myself to speak.”

The old man said unhappily, “That makes things boring.”

He seemed intent on fanning the flames, determined to stir this topic up no matter what.

Chen Chao suddenly smiled and said, “If that’s the case, then forget it. I’ll think it over myself. I won’t trouble you, sir.”

The scholar nodded and didn’t say anything more. Judging from his expression, he seemed to be deep in thought as well, while the old man was clearly a bit disappointed, as if he had already prepared many words to say.

With the topic dropped, the three of them suddenly didn’t know what to talk about, and the atmosphere became somewhat stifling.

The old man poked at the charcoal fire and said regretfully, “Just staring at each other isn’t interesting either. We should talk about something.”

Clearly, this old shopkeeper hadn’t given up, likely wanting to bring the topic back again and watch a good show.

The scholar glanced at the old man, didn’t expose the old fellow’s little scheme, and instead smiled and said, “Indeed, just sitting around is quite boring. Then let me start by talking about something interesting?”

Chen Chao nodded and put on an attentive listening expression.

The scholar thought for a moment and asked with a smile, “Do you know the Primordial Saint?”

Chen Chao nodded his head.

That ancestor of scholars, the scholar with the highest status in the Confucian lineage, the scholar revered by later generations throughout the world as the Primordial Sage, held a status that was, in fact, equivalent to that Dao Ancestor.

If one also added the Lord Buddha of Buddhism, then these were the three people in this world that cultivators simply could not avoid.

“When the Primordial Saint was young, before he had systematically integrated the learning in his heart, his temperament was actually rather lively, and he often debated with others, but almost always the Primordial Saint himself emerged victorious.”

The scholar said with a smile, “To outsiders, it sounds as though once they hear of the Primordial Saint, he had already long since possessed learning that reached the heavens.”

Chen Chao interjected, “It is said that the Primordial Saint indeed had learning that reached the heavens, and was skilled at using virtue to subdue others.”

“Right, the problem lies precisely in those words, ‘using virtue to subdue others.’”

The scholar asked with a smile, “Does Your Excellency know what ‘using virtue to subdue others’ means?”

Chen Chao was somewhat at a loss. Do these words have some other explanation?

“The Primordial Saint wore a sword at his waist, named Virtue.”

The scholar smiled and said, “How about that?”

Chen Chao smiled bitterly and asked, “From which book did sir read this?”

In Chen Chao’s view, this had to be wild history of the wildest sort. How could a scholar like the Primordial Saint possibly be like this?

The scholar smiled and said, “Where it was read is not important. What matters is that the matter is genuine, though it is also destined that no matter whom sir asks, there will be no way to verify it.”

These words were actually more like a joke, yet there was no drinking, and no question of drunken talk.

Chen Chao thought for a moment, then said, “If the Primordial Saint were such a scholar, then he would be very interesting, unlike those pedantic Confucians.”

In the world today, there are many scholars, but truly pure scholars are not many.

The scholar smiled and said, “It is said that in those years, the Primordial Saint originally intended to practice the sword, to become the kind of great sword immortal who carries a sword at his waist and can go anywhere under heaven. It was only because his aptitude was limited that he finally decided to abandon the sword and turn to letters. But even saying ‘abandon’ is not quite accurate, because at that time, although the Primordial Saint’s Sword Dao cultivation was not among the very few at the pinnacle of the world, it was absolutely not weak. Even so, in all these years since, there has not been a second scholar who dares claim that their Sword Dao cultivation surpasses that of the Primordial Saint.”

Chen Chao asked, “That female sword cultivator surnamed Xie?”

”The chances are slim. That female sword cultivator’s mind is not on the sword, but instead she is rather interested in matters like marching and warfare. It is not that her talent is low, only that her aspirations lie elsewhere. If one wishes to achieve great accomplishment, it is not so easy.” “In this world, being able to do one thing well is already difficult. If one is lucky, perhaps one can accomplish one more thing, but even that is uncertain.”

The scholar raised his brows, glanced at the old man beside them, and said, “Just like this old shopkeeper here. He has only boiled tea his entire life, so this skill of his... is just passable.”

The old man could not be bothered to pay attention to the scholar’s remarks, and merely turned over the coals beside the stove.

Before he knew it, the scholar had told another anecdote. He glanced at Chen Chao, seemingly aware that this young martial artist would not necessarily speak up at this moment, and so took the initiative to ask, “There is a matter. I wonder if sir might be able to resolve a doubt for me?”

Chen Chao said, “Sir, please speak.”

The scholar asked, “His Majesty has been on the throne for more than ten years now, and has made many moves in the Northern Frontier. Anyone with clear eyes can see that this is not merely to resist the demon race’s southward advance, but rather to prepare, on some future day, to march north and reclaim the thirty thousand miles of the desolate north, and even to annihilate the demon race. These two matters aside, I only wish to know this: if the demon race were truly determined to head south, would the imperial court, as it stands now, be able to stop them?”

After hesitating for a moment, without waiting for Chen Chao to speak, the scholar said, “I also know that your Lord Warden Commander has made some efforts over these years, but even adding all of that together, can it truly be said that it can be held?”

Over these years, the demon race had never truly committed all their strength to breaking through the Northern Frontier Great Wall. On the one hand, it was because the lands where the demon race resided had not yet reached the point where survival was impossible; on the other hand, whether those so-called great demons or the other members of the demon race, all cherished their lives.

What the scholar was speaking of now referred to some future day when the demon race no longer had such considerations, when they were determined to pour all their strength southward, determined to wipe out the human race or force the human race into submission.

As for Chen Chao’s earlier efforts in gathering the scattered cultivators of the northern lands, gradually taking control of the southern qi refiner lineage, or even developing the Infatuation Daoist Temple into one of his allies, all of it was in fact preparation for what would come later.

The demon race had not yet twisted itself into a single rope, so it had not become that terrifying for the time being, but that did not mean the demon race would never twist itself into a single rope. To put it another way, if one day the demon race truly did become unified, while the human race remained scattered and disunited, then what?

As one waxed and the other waned, how should this be dealt with?

One’s vision needed to be long-term.

Chen Chao thought for a moment, then said, “This is not a question of whether it can be held, but that it must be held. If the Northern Frontier Great Wall is breached, then starting from Xinliu Prefecture, the human race’s territory would become open ground. What comes after for the human race would either be ceding five or six prefectures and barely clinging to life, or... complete annihilation, enslaved by the demon race. Neither is something we are willing to accept.”

The scholar said, “The Primordial Saint once said: when the heart is willing but strength is insufficient, it makes no difference to the outcome.”

His meaning was very clear: even if you have such intentions, in the end this matter only looks at results. If one day it truly cannot be held, then what use is it to weep bitterly?

Chen Chao fell silent, seemingly giving serious thought to whether this matter could succeed in the end. After thinking for a long time, he softly said, “Roughly a forty percent chance, for now, for now... but I will not let go of even the slightest part of that forty percent.”

The scholar suddenly laughed and said, “This is only a discussion. Why is Sir taking it so seriously, as if you are truly carrying the fate of the world and the survival of the human race on your shoulders?”

Chen Chao turned his head and smiled, saying, “When the realm prospers or falls, every common man bears responsibility.”

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