Chapter 540: This Heart Is Bright, Lu Hua Arrives, One Sword, One Spirit!

Sima Ting paused in thought, then said carefully: "The laborers conscripted to manage the Yellow River are mostly common folk from the Thirteen Provinces."

"Though the court claims to pay with labor instead of silver, the funds dispatched from the capital pass through countless hands—how much of it truly reaches the people?"

He sighed softly, a trace of worry in his brow: "I fear most of these laborers are the bonded servants of the Nine Clans, forced into unpaid toil, while the clans themselves openly collect the court's silver. These bonded servants, enslaved for generations, have long accumulated boundless hatred toward the Nine Clans."

The bonded servant system is not slavery.

It is worse: their indentures bear red seals, binding them and their descendants forever as slaves.

Sima Ting also sighed with emotion: "So many gathered together—among them are foreigners and those who harbor resentment against Da Qi. If someone were to rise up and call out, the risk is real."

"Are kings and generals born of noble blood? Once, the Tang King was merely a lowly salt trader. Yet when he raised his banner, the whole realm rallied to him."

Chen Lu was stunned: Sima Ting, a man of the Nine Clans, had spoken such words.

He did not sound like one of the Nine Clans.

Tang Ziang lowered his eyelids: "Yiju, you need not be so anxious. Da Qi has stood for a thousand years; Confucian scholars have nurtured generations of talent. The people's hearts still lean toward Qi."

The old man said calmly: "As long as the Master lives, Da Qi endures."

Da Qi has endured for over a thousand years—a dynasty unprecedented in the history of heaven and earth.

Sima Ting fell silent.

Da Qi has lasted so long that even mighty Da Yan, which rose to power, lasted only a few centuries.

Aside from the two Masters of the Academy steering the chariot of 'Da Qi,' the true foundation lies in the fact that the world's martial and primordial spirit cultivators are controlled by the great clans, who hold their scriptures and the paths to advancement.

A martial cultivator of the Ninth Realm is already a 'ten-thousand-man foe'—were it not for the fact that martial cultivators live no more than ninety years.

As for primordial spirit cultivators, the entry requirements are extraordinarily strict.

Historical records say that before the Warring States, it was not impossible for the ancient 'Immortal Masters' who once enslaved the world to reappear.

Chen Lu suddenly recalled something: "General Sima, haven't you departed for Jiannan Province yet? Minister Su has issued his order—it's likely tomorrow they'll summon Lord Dingyuan, Xie Ling, back to court."

Jiannan Province is currently in turmoil: demons run rampant within, the Dragon Palace of Zehu Lake invades from without, and rebellions flare continuously.

As long as this Military Governor remains and can hold the situation together, the chaos may be contained. If he leaves, the situation will grow far more dire.

Tang Ziang had already ordered tea brought.

"Yiju is currently lost in the arms of beauty—he's forgotten all about being Military Governor. Seeing that little miss of the Xie family, he probably can't even lift his feet."

Sima Ting wore an expression of helplessness.

"Master, please stop teasing me."

Sima Ting turned to Chen Lu and revealed a secret: "Commander Chen, although Minister Su has assigned me troops, the three demons of Jiannan have declared themselves Great Saints—they've become true spirits, beyond the reach of ordinary men."

"Therefore, I must wait for a Master from the Academy."

Chen Lu had already guessed who Sima Ting meant, so he asked no further.

Sima Ting changed the subject: "Still, yesterday I had a brief encounter with that Mr. Xie."

Chen Lu sighed deeply: "That Mr. Xie—I admired his writings when I was in Longnan Province. I've been in Bianjing for years, yet never had the chance to meet him. He spends his days cultivating at Qingliang Temple—what a pity."

Tang Ziang nodded: "When Xie Hong returned home yesterday, who in Bianjing's Nine Clans didn't hear of it?"

"You underestimate this Third Young Master Xie. His fame once reached such heights that no one since has matched it. He was Da Qi's youngest cultivator to ignite the Divine Flame—Second Master nearly broke protocol to take him as a disciple."

"The Xie family's fortune had nearly faded to the bottom of the Nine Clans, yet it was revived by the three Xie brothers. Even though the eldest went astray, the second and third are heroes of this age."

"There are even rumors that an ancestress of the Xie family once became a female immortal—her tomb is buried in the heavens."

Chen Lu smiled upon hearing this.

Sima Ting, hearing his master's words, nodded slightly, and Xie Guan's figure surfaced in his mind.

"Master, yesterday, besides that Mr. Xie, I met a rather intriguing young man."

Saying this, he took out a silk scroll.

Originally over two feet long, it had been trimmed to just one foot and carefully rolled.

He slowly placed it on the table and unrolled it gently.

Chen Lu glanced once and immediately rose to examine it closely.

Tang Ziang's half-closed eyes snapped open, and he murmured involuntarily:

"No good, no evil—that is the nature of the heart. Good and evil arise from the movement of intention. To know good and evil is innate knowing. To do good and eliminate evil is to investigate things."

"Investigate things. Attain innate knowing."

After reading it thoroughly, Tang Ziang's eyes gleamed—no longer the same calm demeanor as before.

"Who wrote this?"

Sima Ting, as if anticipating his master's reaction, did not play coy.

"This was written by Xie Guan, the illegitimate son of the Xie family."

Tang Ziang frowned: "Truly? Though old and my eyesight failing, these characters are exceptional—and these words lack the depth and experience of a youth."

"How would I dare deceive my master?"

Tang Ziang glanced at Sima Ting and chuckled: "I know you wouldn't dare."

The ink on the silk was still fresh—clearly written not long ago.

Tang Ziang cleared his throat, smiled, rolled the scroll, and held it in his hand.

"Yiju, you've finally shown some sense—you remembered to bring your master a gift."

Sima Ting could only smile bitterly—his master's nature was just like this, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Chen Lu, standing beside him, praised:

"It's easier to break bandits in the mountains than to break the bandits within the heart!"

"If this interpretation truly came from a youth, then in a few years, he may truly achieve something remarkable."

"Perhaps a new Ancestor will arise within Confucianism because of him."

Chen Lu, too, came from Confucianism, though he had never studied deeply in the Academy.

This evaluation was exceedingly high.

"General Sima, who exactly is this young man? Could he be the Xie family's prodigy?"

The Xie family's hundred-day banquet, celebrating Xie Yu's birth, had shaken Bianjing.

Tang Ziang continued to savor the meaning of the word "heart" on the scroll—each reflection brought him greater clarity.

Sima Ting shook his head and smiled: "Funny thing."

He then recounted everything that had happened at the Xie residence.

Tang Ziang unrolled the scroll again and murmured to himself:

"The heart is principle. When the heart is free of selfish desires, it is heavenly principle. Nothing need be added from outside."

"All my life, have I not lived with this heart illuminated?"

The old man softly repeated the name.

"Xie Guan!"

【At night, the bright moon hung high, nearing the zenith, yet you still trained in the courtyard.】

【Wutong had already been persuaded to sleep.】

【The image of the 'Demon-Slaying Sword' in your mind grew ever clearer.】

【After only one day of cultivation, you felt subtle progress in your sinews and bones—this change filled you with both surprise and exhilaration.】

【You weren't sure whether this progress came from the formidable power of Sima Ting's 'Grand Ancestor Sacred Monkey Stance,' or from the sword intent passed down by Second Master.】

【To better comprehend the sword intent, you began sketching with ink on paper, attempting to depict the moment Second Master slew the demon in the temple.】

【With the blessing of your talent 'Ink Holds Spirit,' your brush captured a fraction of the sword's vitality.】

【"I advise you not to be so brazen—this sword of Second Master may be unrecognizable to servants, but anyone with even a shred of primordial spirit cultivation will instantly sense its uniqueness."】

【A voice sounded softly behind you—you hadn't noticed, and your heart leapt, yet your brush did not falter, nor did your ink smudge.】

【You turned your face without expression.】

【There stood the woman from yesterday's Hongjing Courtyard—the one wearing a white gauze hat, leading a donkey, strikingly unconventional—Lu Hua.】

【She had her hands tucked into her wide sleeves, leaning slightly, watching your painting with keen interest.】

【"Don't look at me like that—I'm not a thief in the rafters."】

【"I just arrived, took a sip of tea, and brewed you a cup too."】

【Following her gaze, you turned to the inner room and saw the door had been quietly opened. On your left lay a steaming cup of tea—you hadn't noticed a thing.】

【You couldn't help but marvel inwardly: her cultivation was truly unfathomable—far beyond your current reach.】

【Lu Hua seemed to read your thoughts and smiled lightly: "Don't worry—the little girl's under my calming charm. She'll sleep until dawn."】

【Her gaze returned to the painting on the stone table. "If I didn't know you'd only received the characters from the lake one day ago, I'd swear you'd studied them for years."】

【"No wonder Second Master's legacy chose you—you're a true talent in the Dao, just like me."】

【Lu Hua sat down on a chair as if planning to chat.】

【"Still, I advise you: after sketching, destroy the drawings. Second Master's sword is infinitely more precious than your common martial foundation technique. If someone with discernment sees it, it's like a child walking through the market with gold—innocent, but doomed."】

【"They're worlds apart—like heaven and earth. Of course, if you could obtain the upper three realms of the Grand Ancestor Monkey Fist, it'd be passable."】

【The woman clearly held the 'Grand Ancestor Sacred Monkey Stance' in contempt, her tone laced with disdain.】

【You lifted your head slightly—she seemed to sense your thoughts.】

【"A few years ago, I might have been curious to look. Now, I've forged my own path. Looking at others' paths only disturbs my inner peace."】

【You silently speculated about her identity. Though Wutong had told you she was the child of an old friend of Second Master, you now believed not a word of it.】

【"Why do you think Second Master left those three characters in the Xie residence? Why not in the Academy? Why here, in this very household?"】

【"I don't fully understand the details, but I suspect it has something to do with a wager between Second Master and Xie Hong—this is what caused Second Master's illness and left Xie Hong utterly despondent."】

【"These three characters represent three choices, yet this Mr. Xie chose none of them—you've made the decision for him."】

【The woman seemed to find relief in saying this, lifting her teacup and draining it in one gulp.】

【As you spoke, you cleanly and decisively burned the painted paper with a candle flame.】

【Lu Hua looked around your humble courtyard, its sparse furnishings and weathered walls plainly evident.】

【She turned to you and said, "Once you fully comprehend this sword intent, go to the lake in Daguan Garden and retrieve the other two sword intents. For anyone, these two are great opportunities."】

【"This Sword of Ghost-Slaying is a soul-blade. Try integrating it into your brush and ink—it will have the power to subdue ghosts and ward off evil."】

【You were startled, wondering how she knew these things—and why she had come specifically tonight to tell you.】

【Lu Hua continued, "Second Master possessed nine swords—each with its own spirit. His sword techniques and intents were unmatched in this world. Just remember: when the nine swords unite..."】

【Here, she let out a soft laugh. Though you could not see her face, you felt the light in her eyes.】

【"When the nine swords unite, they can wound the Master—and even slay immortals."】

【Lu Hua's words struck you with an indescribable shock.】

【Without thinking, you whispered her words again: "Can wound the Master..."】

【According to Sima Ting, this Master had long been invincible in the mortal world—his lifespan transcended the bounds of mortal years, and the strongest warriors were no different from common folk before him.】

【He had surpassed all worldly logic—yet somehow, a sword could wound him.】

【You turned inward and saw within your mind, the Sword of Ghost-Slaying shimmering with golden light—it was truly a great opportunity.】

【"You needn't be so astonished. There are so many cultivators in this world—if we all surge forward together, even the Master cannot kill us all in one breath."】

【Lu Hua held up two fingers: "At least two breaths."】

【You heard her and found no reply.】

【Lu Hua continued: "I came tonight for two reasons: first, to meet you; second, to give you a secret scripture on the primordial spirit."】

【"Sima Ting is merely a martial cultivator—he doesn't understand your talent for primordial spirit cultivation. Martial cultivation is good, but you must cultivate the primordial spirit too. For someone like you or me, this is the true path—otherwise, you'll end up on a dead end."】

【Martial and primordial spirit cultivation together? You felt puzzled.】

【"Just know this: all four Masters of the Academy follow this dual path."】

【Lu Hua pulled a booklet from her sleeve. On its cover was written: "Yin Fu Jing."】

【"I copied it myself. Read it once tonight and memorize it."】

【"Of course, since this is our first meeting, the choice to learn or not is yours."】

【Faced with this, you decided...】

1. Cultivate the Yin Fu Jing. (Hint: May miss an opportunity, detrimental to the future.)

2. Refuse to cultivate the Yin Fu Jing. (Hint: May miss an opportunity, detrimental to the future.)

3. Participate personally. (0/3)

The great bronze bell rang, its inscriptions slowly solidifying.

Yu Ke stared at the three options, puzzled.

Excluding "Participate personally," this was the first time two options carried identical hints.

So how should one choose?

Since the outcomes were the same, learning must be better.

Yu Ke made his choice immediately.

1. Cultivate the Yin Fu Jing. (Hint: May miss an opportunity, detrimental to the future.)

【Moonlight flooded the small courtyard. You looked at Lu Hua and said, "I'll learn it!"】

【The woman smiled brightly.】

(End of Chapter)