Chapter 52: When Scholars and Warriors Gather, Dragon and Tiger Knock at the Gate!

The smiles vanished from the faces of those renowned scholars who had come to watch a joke.

That smile migrated to the face of the Xue family's old patriarch, and grew ever more unrestrained.

The smile on Xue Daoyong's face simply bloomed, almost too much to contain; the corners of his mouth seemed harder to pull down than the trigger of a divine-arm crossbow.

But the other renowned scholars and great aristocratic clans understood the old man's grin perfectly—were they in his place, they would only be more exhilarated, more wild, and more delighted—

"To establish the heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish the destiny for the people, to continue the lost teachings for the past sages, to open a great peace for all generations."

Just these four lines.

The literary is achieved, and the martial is accomplished.

That is enough.

What stirred them most was the intense emotion contained within that final line.

They had all seen the world, had seen its thousand faces; they could hear the essence and spirit within it, and that was the most precious thing—like brushing away the dust to discover jade. Words and phrases are merely outward ornament; the state of mind that can resonate with such a sentence—that is the uncut jade!

This is the fourth direct disciple of Master Wang Tong, and the fourth senior brother to those many sons of noble houses.

Today, he is to emerge into the world.

But then they saw that Master Wang Tong gaze deeply at the youth over there, did not disturb him, turned and walked back toward where he had come from; his spine seemed straighter, his steps quieter and more forceful.

The wind blew through the leaves.

In the ballads of a thousand years hence, people would rank this still-young scholar—the first to advocate the unity of the three teachings—as the most outstanding figure beneath the Two Sages of the Confucian school, and sing of him throughout all the world.

【The Five Masters are Xun and Yang; the Master of Writing, and Lao and Zhuang.】

And in the sunlight of a thousand years ago—

No one knew what he was thinking.

Wei Xuancheng watched the youth quietly, then sighed and said, "What is it? Thinking about the two trials still to come, so your head aches?"

Wei Xuancheng said, "No, I was just thinking that I need to train my wrist strength."

The youth's tone was flat:

"There will likely be many more occasions to pour tea from now on."

"Prepare for rain before it comes; one cannot fail to guard against it."

………………

Xue Shuangtao also dimly understood the weight of that final sentence. Her palm cradled the gold-inlaid jade bracelet; the youth laid his hand over it but did not take it away. He raised his hand, and an unfading winter plum blossom fell into the maiden's palm—it was one Master Siming had left behind when demonstrating the great Dao of yin and yang's flow to him.

Li Guanyi smiled and said, "It's for you."

Xue Shuangtao said, "Don't you want this jade ring?"

Li Guanyi said, "Do I seem that greedy for wealth?"

The maiden looked him up and down, then smiled slightly:

"No, just a tiny little bit."

Li Guanyi sighed and said, "I know you believe I am not unread, but I truly have not read many of the classics and histories. Also—thank you for speaking up for me before those sons of noble houses just now."

Xue Shuangtao looked up at him.

Suddenly she cupped her fist in a jianghu-style salute, smiling with brows and eyes like a painting, girlish and charming:

"The Guest Minister is too courteous."

By the time Li Guanyi and Xue Shuangtao returned, everything was as before.

Only Xue Laoyezi Daoyong's laughter grew ever more hearty and unrestrained.

Fresh plates of fruit were brought out, cold meat appetizers, and hot tea to accompany the meat.

Slender-waisted women danced and sang with poise.

Li Guanyi lowered his eyes, and for some reason thought of Qian Zheng's younger sister.

Changsun Wuchou sat beside Li Guanyi. Compared to when he had just been introducing the sons of noble houses to Li Guanyi, the faint smile on his face now seemed warmer, more genial. He picked up a piece of braised meat with chopsticks, ate it alongside the Chi Long Jing tea, and sighed in admiration: "The flavor is truly excellent."

"The ingredients are fine, but the tableware and serving vessels are even finer."

Xue Shuangtao asked, "Are there no such serving vessels in the Western Regions?"

Changsun Wuchou smiled and said, "Naturally—each land has its own customs and its own food."

"In the Western Regions and the grasslands, there are no tables. Sometimes a sheep is slaughtered, buried in wood ash and slow-roasted; the flavor is rich and juicy. Everyone uses small curved knives and daggers to cut the meat. Strong-armed women link arms to sing and dance, expressing their emotions directly and passionately."

"It's been a long time since I've experienced a banquet in Jiangnan Dao. Ha ha, it's all thanks to you, young brother Li Guanyi, that I can sit here. Compared to the great winds of the Western Regions, Jiangnan Dao is truly a fine place."

Li Guanyi said, "What is the Western Regions like?"

Is it the same as the Western Regions from my past life?

Changsun Wuchou looked at Li Guanyi and smiled: "The Western Regions have fine horses, beautiful women, the Hu spinning dance, abundant melons and fruits—but also much desert, vast beyond measure, magnificent in every aspect. Jiangnan Dao has its own graceful beauty, but in the great desert, the stars fill the sky, stretching to the horizon; galloping freely on horseback—that too is a man's bold spirit!"

"If young brother Li Xiao has any interest in traveling to the Western Regions for fun, this old brother will host you."

Changsun Wuchou poured tea for Li Guanyi and continued naturally: "I can give you a fine horse whose footsteps the wind itself cannot catch, and a curved knife inlaid with gems. Wherever you wish to go and play, this old brother will take you. The great desert is vast, with customs and landscapes unlike those of Jiangnan."

Changsun Wuchou's invitation was natural, and such an invitation did not displease.

In his heart, he raised the youth's standing by another notch.

He sighed inwardly.

"It seems that after today, I must write this matter of Li Guanyi into another secret letter."

"And send it to the Second Young Lady."

He traveled the world, and also recorded the world's heroes and outstanding talents.

That phoenix of the Duke of Longxi's manor had personally asked him to do these things, while her elder brother and third brother cared nothing for the matter. Even the current Duke himself felt his daughter's doings held no significance, and merely laughed, saying:

"This daughter of mine is my beloved; if she likes to dress as a man, so be it—let her be."

But matters such as those of Fang Ziqiao and Du Keming were known to Changsun Wuchou.

He had never yet seen a youth who required him to write twice in succession messages to be carried by the Golden-Wing Eagle.

Raise a three-foot sword to pacify the four seas, establish merit unmatched across the ages.

That Second Young Lady would probably like this line very much—

No, perhaps it is this one.

To open a peaceful age for ten thousand generations!

Changsun Wuchou raised his cup and drank, and before his eyes seemed to float the clashes of the Western Regions, the wild winds, and the life-and-death crises of these past years; a trace of drunkenness suddenly came over him.

A great white must be floated for this!

At today's literary gathering there were many scholars and famous gentlemen, raising cups and exchanging goblets, chatting idly and listening to music.

Xue Shuangtao had always liked the sound of qin and music; at this moment she listened lightly, feeling that indeed it lived up to such a grand gathering—the players were all masters, far better than her own qin skill—and beside her Li Guanyi turned his head to chat idly in low tones with Changsun Wuchou.

Suddenly the young man's movement paused; he turned back to look at the qin-playing woman and said naturally:

"Played a wrong note…"

Xue Shuangtao was stunned, saw that the young man was once again casually discussing the scenery of the great desert with Changsun Wuchou—Li Guanyi was very curious about places outside of Chen State—the various scholars could also chat idly—the old master of the Xue family sat there thoroughly enjoying himself, while the other scholars did not know what their elders had witnessed earlier.

They did not know why their own elders had suddenly become listless and dispirited.

In their eyes, that young man wearing a blade was nothing more than a coarse, vulgar martial fellow!

Today, the disciple of Master Wenzhong must certainly be themselves.

Du Keming rose second, his gaze swept over Li Guanyi, and thinking of the question that had just appeared, he did not hesitate to crumple the original Juan Sect scroll, and directly stated the topic concisely, saying:

"Today we shall discuss benevolence and righteousness."

"Additionally, compose a poem—that is all."

A young man in a blue robe was surprised: "How strange, is today not meant to select the closed-door disciple of Master Wang Tong? It should have been an extremely solemn matter; why is this second trial so crude? It looks more like a casual, perfunctory affair."

Benevolence and righteousness are the foundation of the Confucian school.

The sons of many noble houses had long prepared; one after another they rose, expounding their own insights, citing widely, their literary flourishes splendid, drawing praise from those around them—Li Guanyi listened until drowsy; the bronze tripod, ever since entering this literary gathering today, had continuously emitted streams of warm current, keeping Li Guanyi's body taut.

He observed his inner qi internally, but the bronze tripod showed no change.

It only gave him a feeling that it seemed to be waiting for something; at this moment, Du Keming saw the young man sitting cross-legged with closed eyes over there—after hearing those two lines, no one else could enter his eyes—and said directly and cleanly: "Li Guanyi, what do you think?"

Li Guanyi opened his eyes.

He saw that young man with sharp, piercing features.

He felt the gazes of the people around him; he felt that he had clearly already handed in a blank paper, plainly unable to make the list, unable to obtain that great literary fame even more useful than a travel pass, so he did not know why Du Keming wanted to ask him.

Since he had already lost, he need not care at all.

Perhaps it was Xue Shen's torment.

Li Guanyi's heart was like dead water.

Even at this moment, with these people—each of whom one could tell at a glance held high positions and came from wealth and nobility—looking at him, his state of mind did not ripple in the slightest; he raised his eyes calmly and said: "Benevolence?"

Li Guanyi sat there; he could originally have answered using the answers he had heard before.

But at this moment he had his own understanding of this character, and said:

"Martial force is benevolence!"

A great uproar; even the sound of the qin playing was interrupted.

Those scholars chatted softly in idle talk; no one knows who said "coarse, vulgar martial fellow"—after all they were sons of noble houses, long used to being unruly and lawless—so they all burst into laughter, impossible to suppress; someone laughed and rebuked: "The benevolent love others; those with propriety respect others."

"Self-cultivation is the abode of wisdom; loving to give is the beginning of benevolence—loving others and being generous, that is benevolence."

"Killing people with martial force—what kind of benevolence is that? In the end, just a coarse, vulgar martial fellow!"

"Hahaha, that's right, Xue Lao, have you been deceived?"

That young man, on the contrary, was unhurried, sitting there calmly and at ease.

A crisp sound!

It pressed down all the voices.

The jade bracelet in Xue Shuangtao's hand smashed onto the great tripod; the sound of shattering instantly made the surroundings fall silent—after seeing that jade bracelet shatter, following the deathly stillness came awkwardness; the young lady stood there, the corners of her almond eyes slightly raised, her apricot pupils swept over the surroundings, she smiled slightly, gave a gentle bow, and said:

"My apologies, the jade bracelet slipped."

"For disturbing everyone, Shuangtao will play the qin for you all as atonement."

As she walked over holding the qin, her black hair fell down; across the qin she winked at the young man and said softly: "It's yours."

Giving you the chance to make your name.

The surroundings fell quiet once more.

Du Keming looked at Li Guanyi: "How do you explain it?"

The young man with the blade resting on his knee answered:

"Restraining oneself and being generous is merely the self-satisfaction of satisfying one's own display of 'benevolence'… but the gentleman who gives things away and gains inner satisfaction goes back to flaunt his benevolence and virtue, yet the suffering people only grow more and more numerous—why is that?"

Slowly, no one could say anything.

The young man rested his hand on the blade.

His brows rose sharply; he felt he was only a person playing a role, yet at this moment he spoke his thoughts frankly from the heart:

"Sweep the world level, the four seas united as one."

"So that the common people need not suffer the misery of war."

"That is the great benevolence!"

Du Keming fell silent; Wei Xuancheng said: "What is righteousness?"

"Righteousness?"

Li Guanyi said: "His words must be trustworthy, his deeds must be resolute."

"Favor for favor, revenge for revenge; repay virtue with virtue, repay grievance with uprightness."

"Even a feud spanning nine generations may still be avenged—that is righteousness."

The benevolent sweep the world clean; the righteous repay every debt of blood.

Wei Xuancheng's eyes were sharp; his lips parted slightly as he said to the two senior brothers beside him:

"It's over. Grand airs, but a petty heart."

"That boy holds grudges."

The crowd fell silent, feeling the man's words absurd, yet there was a certain dignified bearing about them. The young woman plucked clear, bright notes on her qin. Li Guanyi sat down, bowed slightly toward Xue Lao's direction, and said: "That was merely my own family's view; please laugh it off, everyone."

The atmosphere had only just settled when Wang Tong looked at the youth and said gently:

"Then, compose a poem."

Li Guanyi said: "May I ask what the subject is?"

Wang Tong laughed.

"Whatever you like."

Even if you were to write a doggerel verse here, it would do.

Li Guanyi slightly raised his brow. He did not know why, but though Wang Tong bore no Dharma Aspect, an aura of upright, austere dignity surrounded him. Li Guanyi sensed the bronze cauldron at his chest growing hotter and hotter, with a crimson dragon and Bai Hu coiling around it.

The crimson dragon seemed about to be stained by the literary fortune.

And this literary qi and fortune reached its peak after Master Wang Tong said 'whatever you like.'

Gathering like a sea of clouds, the crimson dragon coiled within it.

Li Guanyi lifted his brush.

At the greatest literary gathering in thirty years, as the gazes of one famed scholar after another fell upon him, the literary fortune transformed into a azure dragon that danced with the Dharma Aspect. Li Guanyi dimly sensed some indescribable aura appearing; as he set his brush down, the qi within him seemed capable of breaking through that barrier—but for some reason, he felt—

Still one step short.

One notch short.

Just at that moment, a sudden rumble of thunder rolled across the sky.

The distant mountain ranges trembled; the firmament's clouds blazed crimson!

As if the currents of yin and yang were in flux.

When the literary fortune was driven to its utmost—

The qi of martial dao arrived, magnificent and grand.

Vast and overwhelming, it surged skyward, crashing into Li Guanyi's bronze cauldron. The aura of weapons and war became a second Bai Hu that roared. Thus the Dragon-Tiger Dharma Aspect rose; the qi of wen and wu clashed within, the dragon and tiger merging into wind and cloud, coiling back together. Li Guanyi's motion froze as a great laughter rang from afar—

A voice like galloping thunder.

"A mere vanguard of Marshal Yue—Yue Qianfeng!!!"

"I have come to challenge you!!!"

Falling into Li Guanyi's ears—

Was—

A dragon's cry, a tiger's roar.

The heavens changed.