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"Sir, you wish to open up a new path and realize the ideal of 'the world belongs to all people.' Your ambition is grand, and Feixuan admires you greatly."

Shi Feixuan spoke at a measured pace: "However, governing the world cannot be achieved through ideals alone. You mentioned equal land distribution, tax reduction, promoting commerce and industry, and enlightening the people—these are all good policies. However, good policies need people to implement them, and good laws need people to uphold them. How can you ensure that the countless officials and generals under the Heavenly Alliance will uphold your ideals, rather than paying lip service while secretly opposing them, or even taking the opportunity to profit, ultimately turning good policies into harsh policies and good laws into bad laws? This is the first point."

She paused slightly, observing Yi Huawei's reaction. Seeing that he remained calm, she continued:

"Secondly, you reject the idea of ​​'choosing a ruler on behalf of Heaven,' and speak of guiding the people's wisdom so that they can learn to speak for themselves. However, among the masses, there are varying degrees of understanding and interests, and people are often focused on immediate gains, making it difficult to see the long-term picture. If everyone wants to speak out, there will be many conflicting opinions, and no consensus will be reached, wouldn't we fall into chaos and disorder? You forcefully promote order through the Heavenly Alliance. Where exactly is the line between this and the 'ruling the world on behalf of Heaven' that you oppose? Isn't it still you using your power and wisdom to make what you consider to be the better choice for the people of the world?"

"Thirdly, and this is what puzzles Feixuan the most. Your way is grand and ethereal, almost like... an ideal realm. However, human nature is inherently selfish, as it has always been. What power do you rely on to be so sure that you can overcome this age-old human selfishness and build the new order you speak of? Is it your supreme martial prowess and prestige? Or is it some kind of institutional design that Feixuan has not yet seen? If it is the former, who will succeed you after you? If it is the latter, the system still needs people to operate it, so how can we ensure that the person operating the system can transcend selfishness?"

She leaned forward slightly, her blue robe fluttering, her tone solemn and sincere: "These three questions from Feixuan are not meant to be challenging, but rather because what you have said and done, sir, has far exceeded Feixuan's previous understanding. The Way of Jingzhai also emphasizes helping the world and guiding people, choosing a master to assist, which is also based on a certain understanding and compromise with reality and human nature. Your Way, sir, seems to be more grand and idealistic, but the difficulty of its implementation and the enormous potential risks make Feixuan deeply doubtful. Therefore, I humbly ask for your guidance, hoping you can dispel my doubts."

These three questions, progressing step by step, directly address the core contradictions and potential risks between Yi Huwei's ideas and practices, demonstrating that Shi Feixuan is by no means just a beautiful but empty talker. Her depth of thought, breadth of knowledge, and clear understanding of realpolitik are all contained in these three questions.

Dan Wanjing listened intently, her mind on edge. Shi Feixuan's questions were all incisive, some even addressing issues that she had vaguely worried about in her subconscious but had never clearly articulated before. She couldn't help but look at her master, wondering how he would handle the sharp questions from the successor of Cihang Jingzhai.

Yi Huawei smiled, picked up the teacup again, and found that the tea had gone cold, so he gently put it down. His gaze swept over Shi Feixuan's beautiful face, then looked at Shan Wanjing, who seemed a little nervous beside him, and finally looked back at the ever-flowing Luo River outside the cabin.

The river flows on and on, eternally unchanged, witnessing countless dynasties rise and fall, and ideals flourish and perish.

After a moment of silence, Yi Huawei spoke slowly, his voice still steady, but seemingly carrying an added weight:
"The Immortal Master's three questions were excellent, hitting the nail on the head. ... However, the Immortal Master's questions were mostly from the perspective of 'how to manage people' and 'how to control people.' My thoughts are slightly different."

"Firstly, human selfishness certainly exists and has been difficult to eradicate since ancient times. Therefore, I have never hoped to eradicate selfishness, nor do I believe that it is necessary to eradicate it. Water that is too clear has no fish. What I seek is not a country of sages, but a world of 'vitality and order'. The key is how to design an order so that the pursuit of self-interest by individuals can be generally in line with, or at least not contradict, the public good of the group."

Yi Huawei's gaze sharpened slightly: "For example, in promoting industry and commerce, merchants seek profit, but their exchange of goods and the resulting market prosperity are themselves a form of public good. What I need to do is not to force all merchants to become saints, but to establish rules to prevent them from profiting through deception, market manipulation, and selling inferior goods, and to encourage them to profit through improving quality and innovation. This is guiding private desires, not suppressing them. The same applies to governance. High salaries to encourage integrity, coupled with strict supervision and public opinion oversight, will ensure that the honest benefit and the corrupt pay the price. While this cannot eliminate corruption, it can certainly curb it."

"Secondly, there are many conflicting opinions regarding the voices of all beings."

Yi Huawei continued, “I am not advocating that illiterate farmers should immediately decide matters of state and military affairs. Enlightening the people is a long process that requires education and intellectual stimulation. In the initial stages, there will be guidance. However, ‘guidance’ is not ‘replacement.’ We can gradually establish deliberative bodies at all levels so that the voices of the people can reach the higher levels and different interests can negotiate and compete. The process may be noisy or even circuitous, but only by going through this process can the people truly learn what responsibility, compromise, and long-term interests are. This process itself is the best practice and education of ‘the world belongs to all people.’ The initial strength of the Heavenly Alliance is to sweep away the old forces that hinder this process and to open up space for new things, not to permanently replace the expression of public opinion. The boundary here lies in whether power is used to monopolize decision-making or to ensure a fair environment that allows more people to participate in decision-making.”

"Thirdly, and fundamentally,"

Yi Huawei's voice suddenly became deeper: "I am not relying solely on my own strength or a seemingly perfect blueprint. What I depend on is 'power'."

"Position?"

Shi Feixuan repeated softly, a hint of confusion flashing in her bright eyes.

"Indeed, it's the prevailing trend!"

Yi Huawei nodded: "The world has suffered from war and chaos for too long. The people yearn for stability, fairness, and to no longer be trampled on at will—this is the general trend of the people's will. The old aristocratic order is rigid and corrupt, unable to cope with the changes in the chaotic world. Emerging forces yearn for upward mobility—this is the general trend of social structural change. I am merely going with the flow and guiding it accordingly."

The Heavenly Alliance's system is not an empty shell; it arose in response to these major trends and aims to address these fundamental demands. Only a system that aligns with these trends can gain inexhaustible vitality. My personal strength lies in recognizing these trends and initially guiding them onto the right track. Once these trends are established, they cannot be easily reversed by one person alone. Even if I am no longer here, anyone who attempts to go against these trends will pay an unbearable price.

Yi Huawei looked at Shi Feixuan, his gaze as deep as the starry night: "Therefore, it is not that I am confident that I can overcome human selfishness, but that I am confident that the path I take is in accordance with the general trend of people's hearts. Systems are not omnipotent, but systems that follow the trend can gather the power of goodness of people to the greatest extent and restrain their selfishness. This is my answer."

After Yi Huawei finished speaking, a long silence fell over the cabin.

Shi Feixuan lowered her eyes in thought, her jade-like fingertips unconsciously stroking the cool rim of the teacup.

Yi Huwei's statements, such as "guiding personal desires," "going with the flow," and "the game of public opinion," are all concepts that have never been deeply touched upon in her teachers' teachings or even in the mainstream thought of the world, and are even completely contrary to them. Their logic is self-contained, grand and precise, and it is challenging her inherent cognitive system.

Shan Wanjing was still immersed in that grand vision she had never heard of before, her heart surging with emotion, and her gaze toward her master became increasingly reverent.

The last rays of the setting sun slanted through the gaps in the cabin curtains, casting long shadows on the three people.

The small boat swayed gently with the waves, drifting slowly forward.

Yi Huawei slowly rose, not daring to disturb Shi Feixuan's deep thoughts. He merely nodded slightly to Shan Wanjing before walking out of the cabin. Shan Wanjing immediately understood and quietly followed.

A slightly stronger wind blew at the bow, causing Yi Huwei's clothes to flutter. The Luo River flowed mightily, and after the sun had mostly sunk behind the distant mountains, a large expanse of brilliant but gradually fading sunset glow remained on the horizon, dyeing the river a magnificent yet serene purple-gold.

The lights on both banks lit up one after another, intertwining with their reflections in the water to outline the bustling silhouette of Luoyang. In the distance, the Tianjin Bridge appeared as a dark silhouette, its surface still teeming with pedestrians and vehicles.

Yi Huawei stood with his hands behind his back at the bow of the ship, gazing into the distance at the magnificent landscape and the grandeur of the capital, feeling the pulse of the times and the countless undercurrents surging within.

The world was in chaos, heroes rose up everywhere—truly an era of great talent and magnificent upheaval. After a moment of silence, a sense of vastness and desolation welled up within me, and I couldn't help but recite aloud:

"The Luo River flows mightily, its course vast and boundless. The Milky Way shines brightly, vying to display its brilliance. Observing the state of the world, it is like a thousand sails racing across the great river. The carp leaping over the Dragon Gate is not merely a hope for one corner. The tiger roaring in the deep valley is not only a cause for fear among all beasts. The phoenix singing on Mount Qi also awaits the arrival of the ancient phoenix tree."

Heroes rise in the prefectures and counties, while wise men emerge from all corners of the land. Strategists rain down upon the tents of the feudal lords; fierce generals gather like clouds on the frontiers. Some possess extraordinary talent, harboring the ambitions of Yi Yin and Lü Shang; others possess the courage to stir up the seas and the resolve of Ben Yu. Some strategize within the tent, securing victory a thousand miles away; others contend on the battlefield, carving out their own territory and becoming hegemons. They exhaust all their schemes, striving for hegemony; they employ all their political maneuvering, vying for the throne at the center.

However, destiny is ever-changing, and virtue is its guide; the will of the people determines the direction of power. Like the ebb and flow of the tide, how many can truly grasp its rise?

Through trials and tribulations, true gold shines through. Alas, the gathering of heroes, like carp crossing a river, races against the current; alas, their achievements are fleeting, like morning dew, leaving only regret. Only those who adapt to the times and respond to circumstances can weather the storms and survive; those who observe the changing times and wait for change can laugh as the clouds drift and the tides rise and fall!

The poem, with its majestic and powerful style, vividly describes the abundance of talent throughout the land, like countless stars shining brightly, like a thousand sails racing across the river. Literary and martial heroes are scattered across the land, each displaying their abilities and pursuing their ambitions. Then, the tone shifts, revealing the cruelty of competition and the importance of destiny and popular will. In this surging torrent, even with a multitude of brilliant minds, one must adapt to the times and the will of the people to weather the storms and ultimately stand tall amidst the tides of history.

Dan Wanjing gazed intently at her master's tall, pine-like back, the magnificent and profound verses echoing in her ears. At this moment, Yi Huawei seemed to merge with the vast Luo River and the ebb and flow of the world's fortunes in her eyes. He was no longer the unfathomable, peerless master, but rather a sage standing atop the river of history, surveying rise and fall, and wielding his strategic vision. Her emotions rose and fell with the verses, an indescribable pride, admiration, and unwavering faith filling her heart; she was unknowingly captivated.

Inside the cabin, Shi Feixuan had also raised her head at some point, listening intently to the clear sound coming from the bow of the ship.

Every word of the poem was clear and melodious, and its content both conflicted with and seemed to converge on a higher level with the Jingzhai school's philosophy of "choosing a lord to assist, quelling conflicts, and achieving the best." In particular, the emphasis on "following the trend and responding to the people," "where the people's hearts are, that is where the trend goes," and the assertion that "the mandate of heaven is not constant, only virtue is the guide" subtly resonated with the "mandate of heaven" pursued by her school, only the paths to its realization were completely different.

Yi Huwei denied the idea of ​​"choosing a master on behalf of heaven," but seemed to have a stronger belief in a "general trend" that originated from the combination of the collective will of the masses and the torrent of history, and wanted to guide and conform to this trend.

This line of thinking was far too novel for her, and far too... shocking. She sat there on the futon, stunned, her exquisitely beautiful face displaying a complex expression—shock, confusion, deep thought, and a violent fluctuation of her Dao heart after a powerful shock. The path that had seemed clear before suddenly appeared as a huge fork in the road, and that new path, shrouded in mist, exuded an indescribable allure.

At the bow of the ship, Yi Huawei finished reciting his poem, stood quietly with his hands behind his back, letting the evening breeze caress his face, gazing at the last rays of the setting sun sinking into the horizon, and the first glimmer of the Milky Way gradually brightening. His figure appeared even more profound and upright in the deepening twilight.

The small boat continued to drift downstream along the Luo River, unhurried and leisurely, as if it were just a small boat drifting with the current in the long river of history. However, the person in the boat wanted to wield the oars to steer the boat and try to influence the direction of the river.

Night fell silently.

...............

Under the steady hand of the boatman, the small boat quietly glided toward a secluded dock on the south bank of the Luo River. The bottom of the boat gently touched the bluestone on the shore, and the boat shuddered slightly before coming to a stop.

The lights on the shore were sparse, contrasting with the dazzling and bustling area around Tianjin Bridge in the distance. Only a few faint barks of dogs and the sound of the night watchman's clapper could be heard.

Shi Feixuan slowly walked out of the cabin and stood at the bow of the ship, facing Yi Huawei.

The night breeze stirred her pale blue scholar's robe, making her appear like a fairy who might ride the wind and depart at any moment. The intense thoughts that had been swirling on her exquisitely beautiful face had gradually subsided, replaced by a profound tranquility. Yet, beneath that tranquility lay an indescribable complexity and depth.

"Sir's words have greatly benefited Consort Xuan and have given her much to think about."

Shi Feixuan spoke first, her voice exceptionally clear in the silent night: "I need time to carefully contemplate today's discussion. Perhaps... there is more than one path that Jingzhai has seen."

Yi Huawei nodded slightly, his expression calm: "There are countless paths to enlightenment, all of which require practice. If you have any doubts, you are welcome to come to the South at any time."

Shi Feixuan's eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded gently in agreement. Her gaze swept over Yi Huawei, then lingered for a moment on Shan Wanjing behind him, her eyes holding a meaningful look, but she said nothing more. She simply raised her hands slightly, offering a simple farewell gesture: "The night is deep, so Feixuan will take her leave here, sir. Take care."

"Take care of yourself."

Yi Huawei smiled slightly, his tone indifferent.

Shi Feixuan lingered no longer. With a slight movement, she gracefully descended from the bow of the boat like a feather, landing steadily on the bluestone slabs of the shore. She didn't turn back; her figure in green robes quickly blended into the night on the bank, disappearing in a few leaps, leaving only a lingering, cool aura in the air. (End of Chapter)