The light of the sword is like the moon reflecting on Kyushu

Seeing Chili's big, innocent eyes, Xiong Mengyan thought she was a little silly, but also quite cute. Connecting this to their earlier conversation, she immediately guessed what Chili was thinking!
A thought struck her, and wanting to test her guess, she smiled alluringly and said, "And mandarin ducks, the males are even more beautiful," she deliberately raised the syllable "also," "The male mandarin ducks have brightly colored plumage, with purple and green head feathers, orange-red breast feathers, and fan-shaped side feathers, while the female mandarin ducks have grayish-brown feathers, which can be described as plain or, to put it bluntly, shabby. It seems that male animals are all... more attractive than female animals!"

Why did she use the word "also"?

Chili looked at Xiong Mengyan with a puzzled expression!
With just one glance, Xiong Mengyan instantly knew that she had guessed correctly!

Wang Sheng, with his keen observation skills, noticed the changes in their expressions. A thought struck him, and he immediately laughed, "And the chickens! In terms of appearance, the rooster is superior! The rooster has vibrant feathers, a large, red comb, and long tail feathers; the hen has dull feathers and a smaller comb. As for looks, the rooster is majestic and imposing, exuding an aura of dominance. It's said that when the rooster crows, the world turns white! The hen's appearance, however, is rather ordinary."

Why did he bring up "appearance"?
Chili finally couldn't help but ask, "Are all male animals prettier than female animals?"

Yuan Zishan said calmly, "How could that be?"

Chili was taken aback. "Is there an exception?"

Yuan Zishan said, "Of course! Aren't we humans animals too?"

Chili's brain was practically mush: "We humans are animals? How can humans be animals? Humans have thoughts, can speak, and can write. Can animals do that?"

Yuan Zishan laughed, "So, according to you, babies under one year old aren't human?"

Chili was taken aback!
Children under one year old are still infants; they don't have any thoughts, can't speak, and certainly can't write. By this standard, infants certainly cannot be considered people!

Chili immediately pouted and said, "Oh, Miss, my example was wrong, I take it back!"

Yuan Zishan deliberately put on a stern face: "Really take it back?"

Chili pepper declared righteously, "Really take it back!" Then she forced a smile, "Miss, why are male animals generally more attractive? Uh, except for humans, haha!"

Yuan Zishan said calmly, "For male animals to continue their lineage, they need a sufficient harem, or rather, a sufficient number of females, to mate and create new life! But the simplest and most direct way to attract females is to display their presence! To let the opposite sex see their outstanding qualities!" Her gaze swept over several men, clearly showing some disdain. "But humans are the opposite. Men are lustful, and women admire strength! In the human world, because men are lustful, they pay attention to women's appearance, and over time, this led to the saying that women adorn themselves for those they admire!"

Chili suddenly glanced at Xiong Mengyan and wholeheartedly agreed: "Yeah, those stinky men are just lecherous!"

Xiong Mengyan smiled and said, "Chili Girl, men are lustful, why are you looking at me like that? Does that mean that in your heart, I am the one who could topple kingdoms..."

Chili retorted stubbornly, "You're just being presumptuous!"

Xiong Mengyan laughed and said, "How am I being presumptuous? You were just saying that on purpose, weren't you? Do you dare to tell me what you really think?"

Chili immediately bristled: "What's there to be afraid to say? What I was thinking just now was that no man is any good; they're all fickle and greedy!"

Xiong Mengyan couldn't help but let out a silvery giggle: "What kind of man isn't lustful?" She deliberately winked at Chili, "A real man is one who is lustful." Chili instinctively retorted, "If not a man, then what is?" She immediately regretted the question! She suddenly thought of...

Xiong Mengyan chuckled, her damned smile utterly captivating. "A eunuch, of course! What else could he be, my silly little sister? Hehe!"

Chili was so angry that her eyebrows stood on end and her almond-shaped eyes widened: "You...you all..." She was too angry to speak.

Yuan Zishan said calmly, "Those who rely on their looks to please others will find their favor waning as their beauty fades! What good is a woman's good looks? A woman's destiny lies in virtue, not talent!" Her sarcasm was palpable! Naturally, she wanted to "uphold justice" for Chili!
Xiong Mengyan's expression froze for a moment, but she immediately smiled and said, "What a fine example of upholding justice! Everyone says that Miss Yuan is the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world. Is this a warning you're giving to yourself?"

The implication is that you should think about yourself first! Are you close to the day when you're old and faded?
Yuan Zishan said calmly, "What kind of warning is this? I was born a mountain, not a stream; I wish to stand atop the peaks and look down upon the mediocre ravines. I was born a hero, not a blade of grass; I stand on the shoulders of sages and despise the lowly cowards!"

Xiong Mengyan was taken aback, then her face darkened, her eyes filled with complex emotions: surprise at the sharpness and profound meaning of the other person's words; anger at the contempt that washed over her; resentment at being slapped in the face by Yuan Zishan in front of Feng Jiuxiao; and fear that the other person's words pierced her soul—old age and fading beauty, where would her heart belong? "Your words are so profound!" Xiong Mengyan said softly, her expression somewhat dejected.

Yuan Zishan said expressionlessly, "These aren't my words. The person who said them is an extraordinary woman! I just think that a woman who lives like her is the most beautiful!"

Xiong Mengyan was taken aback. "Who is she?"

Yuan Zishan said, "Her name is Zhang Guimei!"

Xiong Mengyan frowned slightly. "Never heard of it." She looked at Wang Sheng and Duanmu Yan, both of whom shook their heads, indicating that they had never heard of it.

Yuan Zishan said, "Never heard of him? That's right! Mr. Zhang has always been low-key!"

Chili asked, somewhat puzzled, "Mr. Zhang? You mean this Mr. Zhang is a man?"

Yuan Zishan waved her hand, "What kind of look is that? Of course it's a man!"

The chili pepper was a little indignant!

Why can a woman call someone "sir"?

The term "先生" (xiānsheng, meaning "teacher") first appeared in the *Classic of Poetry*: "生弥厥月，先生如达" (shēng mí jué yuè, xiānsheng rú dá), where "先生" refers to "first born," emphasizing chronological order rather than gender. From the pre-Qin period to the Han dynasty, "先生" generally referred to an older, learned, and virtuous person, as in *Mencius* ("先生何为出此言也") and *The Book of Rites* ("从于先生，不越礼而与人言"). Both used learning and virtue as standards, without specifying gender. For example, the Tang dynasty scholar Song Ruozhao, due to her mastery of classics and history, was addressed as "先生" by three emperors—Xianzong, Muzong, and Jingzong—and was treated with the respect due to a teacher by empresses and princes.

A wave of sighs ensued!
"Oh, I see! A woman who is outstanding enough and knowledgeable enough can be called a gentleman!"

Is addressing outstanding women as "Mr." truly a sign of respect?
Everyone fell silent, seemingly tacitly accepting the answer. (End of Chapter)