Chapter 220: The Rash One

Ma Piqun had always been composed, with the sort of half‑smile unique to a great noble on their face.

But when they saw Zhang Gui raise his hand and project, the natural response proceeded smoothly, summoning mist and calling wind.

The expression suddenly grew solemn.

At that moment, a gentle female voice suddenly rang out,

"You bold rogue, what do you think Xianhezhai is, that you dare act so rashly?"

"Who knows how many imperial nobles have come here to study the Dao."

"The place is already a formation as inescapable as heaven‑and‑earth net; those without great Divine Ability who enter see their Body, Heart, and Spirit all collapse."

"Divine thickets and cultivation techniques cannot be employed."

"You'd better not embarrass yourself."

As the words fell, Zhang Gui, looking embarrassed, slowly sauntered out of the thick mist.

Ma Piqun turned his head to glance at the tranquil Zhen Ciyun not far away, then at Zhang Gui.

A strange smile flickered at the corner of his mouth,

"Indeed, sharp‑tongued young master, you'd better not make a fool of yourself."

"Apologies, apologies, I've made the naive, inexperienced youths laugh."

"I am the Lord of the Deep Winter from the Civilization Pioneer City on Longshou Island in the Outer Wild Ocean."

"A scholar from Xihe Continent and a far‑sea merchant who firmly believes in the Eastern maxim 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.'"

"This time I have come to do business in Dongzhou's most powerful, prosperous empire, the capital Great Wolf Capital of the Yuanshan Imperial Dynasty."

"By chance I heard that His Majesty Chang Sheng Tie Mu, who rules this great nation, recently took in a great scholar from the enemy Mingsong."

"He even built an academy for him and personally sent students, which piqued my curiosity greatly."

"Now I would like to invite a newly acquainted friend,"

At this point, he subconsciously glanced at the spot where Zheng Changgong Baoyin had been standing and found that he had long since slipped away.

"It seems my new friend has already left.

It was merely a plain journey funded by money to satisfy curiosity, yet an accident made it complicated.

He should have gone.

However, when you were drinking and reveling in the Sealed Space earlier, you must have heard the name he himself uttered, right?

"Please forget it, okay…"

Listening to Zhang Gui's unabashed nonsense, Ma Piqun fished a quail‑egg‑sized bead from his waist, flung a cup of clear sake backward,

which instantly vaporized into a sheet of water curtain.

"Whether you call your offense small or large, to me it's not truly great.

I have no time to verify how much of your nonsense is true or false.

I'll ask you one question: who do you think is superior, our Chang Sheng Tian of Yuanshan or the Mingsong Emperor?"

Zhang Gui blinked at the words and earnestly retorted:

"Personally, I think that if we say His Majesty Chang Sheng Tie Mu of the Yuan Mountain Empire is an immensely strong male lion,

then the Hezheng Emperor of the Mingsong Empire is a self‑proclaimed lion that has now been reduced back to a lion‑dog."

"Do you think the two are comparable?"

Ma Piqun was momentarily stunned, then examined Zhang Gui closely several times,

"You're not really a scholar from the West, are you?"

"Of course it's true."

"No matter who you are.

The 'male lion versus lion‑dog' assessment already suffices to erase the offense against me.

But later you must beware the anger of these Mingsong classmates around me; their expressions are not pleasant at all now."

"It's not their fault.

After all, the weak in this world must band together to survive, so each of them has a preset collective stance.

And such a 'collective stance' has inertia.

Even if their rationality discovers that the leader of their 'collective' is a fool,

from an emotional standpoint they still cannot immediately accept it.

But that's fine, because assuming they aren't stupid, they will eventually understand.

After all, reality is stronger than people."

Ma Piqun froze for a moment, a look of admiration appearing on his face,

"For many days I've tried to explain to these Mingsong people, but the reasoning always feels like scratching the outside of a boot—unable to make them understand. You, however, grasped it instantly."

"Truly a youth of great wisdom."

"If you stay in our Yuanshan, you might become a strategic advisor, a national sage for the Chang Sheng Tian in the future."

Zhang Gui himself is the top‑tier illusionist of All Under Heaven, the champion of Feeding Chicken Soup, and instantly flashed a faint smile of wisdom,

"In the ancient, timeless history of Xihe Continent, there once was a great empire called Macedon‑Berde."

Its founding emperor Alexander was an enlightened and talent‑cherishing great ruler.

One time he heard of a wise scholar named Diogenes, originally from a wealthy merchant family, who later abandoned billions of assets.

He took residence in a large wooden barrel, living by begging.

Each day he merely basked in the sun, caught lice, and pondered the survival of humankind.

Thus one day Emperor Alexander found Diogenes and said:

"Diogenes sage, I know you are a very wise scholar, I hope to recruit you to serve me."

Since you don't need Wealth, then please tell me what you want.

Whether it's vast lands, stunning beauties, or great power, as long as you tell me what you need.

I will grant it to you at once.

Di Ogenni, after hearing, lifted his eyelids while lying in a wooden barrel and told Alexander,

'Then please stand aside, don't block my sunlight.'

At this point, he placed his hand on his chest toward Ma Piqun and performed a Western ancient courtesy,

'Honored Noble Lady of Yuanshan, when I was a merchant, your mere ten thousand taels of Dog Head Gold would be enough to have me serve once.

But when I am a scholar, please forgive my bluntness.

Even if as great as His Majesty Chang Sheng Tie Mu, do you think he can be compared with the Sun that nurtures all things in the world?'

Ma Piqun was left speechless.

He suddenly slammed the jade cup in his hand hard onto the ground,

'You damn wise men and philosophers from the Western Continent, you only "tell ancient tales" to irritate people.

It's a lineage that's been passed down, right!'

'No, no, no.

In fact, the ancient sages of the East also liked to use simple, easy‑to‑understand stories to enlighten the wisdom of ordinary people.

For example, the Great Sage Kong Qiu Dasheng, whose saying goes 'Heaven does not give birth to this child; ten thousand ages are like perpetual night,' and the sage Zhuangzi, who said 'Free as a butterfly, the butterfly is like life'…

'Alright, no wonder that generous Uncle still occasionally flips tables and stamps his foot because of those national teachers' reckless words.

You kind of people are truly infuriating.

Sneaking insults in a roundabout way, yet you stubbornly cling to logic; it's hard to strike, truly unreasonable!

Enough, enough.

So that when Mr. Huaihe returns later, he won't be fuming and have to be scolded!

Ma Piqun, with a gloomy face, put the wine‑stained precious pearl back away.

Then, glaring at Zhang Gui, he tossed a one‑and‑a‑half‑inch square domino over.

'Lord of the Deep Winter, listen up,

I am the daughter of the Long Princess Bo Zhi Jin Tiemulundun, sister of the supreme Chang Sheng Tian of the Yuan Mountain Empire, and of the Heshuo Commandery Princess Bo Zhi Jin Baoshan Angyue.

Although your mouth is spiteful and vicious, and your mind cunning and arrogant, you do possess some learning.

Your Western philosophy and logic do indeed have some merit.

If in the future you develop the ambition of 'mastering both civil and martial arts, trading with the imperial family', feel free to bring this domino to me.

It's not that only the Ming Song has gentle, graceful women of the Eastern Continent; good girls on the Great Prairie understand this vibe as well.

(End of Chapter)