Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 20 The Way of University
In the mountains and fields, on the flat and wide official road, a group of peddlers carrying loads walked together.

Although each of them was carrying heavy cargo, their steps were steady and light, and the shoulder poles and the cargo they were carrying swayed up and down rhythmically with their steps.

These peddlers bought goods in the county town early in the morning and prepared to sell them in the nearest Baishi Town, earning some hard-earned money.

Lu Zheng followed behind the crowd, walking at a leisurely pace.

Having just left the county town, he was not in a hurry to go anywhere, just to enjoy the scenery along the way.

The peddlers walked for several miles before they stopped to rest in a pavilion on the side of the road.

Lu Zheng also leaned against a tree beside the pavilion to cool off.

A dark-skinned man wiped the sweat from his face with a towel draped over his shoulder. Seeing Lu Zheng standing beside him, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Young man, I take it you're a scholar, right?"

Lu Zheng smiled back at the words, "I went to school for a few years before, so I can recognize some words."

The man asked, "Why are you going out alone? Where are you going?"

Lu Zhengdao: "I'm tired of studying, so I'll go out and walk around to broaden my horizons."

The man didn't quite understand, but he still said with concern: "Then you must be careful when you are alone outside. Don't go to the wilderness. If you encounter wild animals or monsters, it will be dangerous."

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Brother, you usually go this way to do business, but have you ever encountered any wild beasts or monsters?"

The man chuckled and said, "I've seen some wild animals, but no monsters. This is an official road, so many people usually use it. If we travel together, there won't be any danger... Those mountain bandits and road thieves have to choose remote places to rob, right? I heard that monsters also have their own territories. As long as you don't wander around in the mountains, how can you easily encounter those creatures?"

"That's true." Lu Zheng couldn't help but agree with it.

If no one dares to walk on the official road, I don’t know how chaotic Kaiyang County will be.

At this moment, a thin and strong old man approached and bowed to Lu Zheng and said, "Scholar, can you help me with something?"

Lu Zheng quickly returned the greeting, "Old man, please speak!"

The old man said embarrassedly: "I want to write a letter to my daughter who married in another county. I wonder if you can write it for me. It's not easy for me to run a small business. Can you give me a cheaper price..."

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "What are you talking about, old man? It's not a big deal to write a few words, how can you charge me for it?"

The old man said hurriedly: "How can we not charge money? The words of scholars are very valuable."

Seeing the old man's simple attitude, Lu Zheng had no choice but to say, "How about this, I see there are still some melon seeds in your basket. Grab me a couple of handfuls to satisfy my craving, and that'll be my payment."

In order to reassure the old man, Lu Zheng couldn't insist on not wanting anything.

Upon hearing this, the old man grinned and bowed repeatedly, "Okay, okay, thank you very much, scholar!"

Lu Zheng put down the bookcase and took out a wooden board with a piece of white paper on it. He also took out a fine-bristle brush and a bottle of ink. "Old man, you tell me, and I'll write..."

He was not good at writing poetry or articles, but he was more than capable of writing letters for others.

Soon, Lu Zheng filled a whole sheet of paper with tiny calligraphy.

The old man received the letter with great satisfaction, thanked him again, and carefully held the letter in his hand to dry it.

When the peddlers nearby saw this, they also asked Lu Zheng to write some letters for them.

Lu Zheng agreed to all of them and helped those in need.

The few people were overjoyed with the letter, and they packed some goods to give to Lu Zheng as a fee for his ghostwriting.

Seeing these people coming over with large and small bags, Lu Zheng smiled and refused, "It's too much. I don't have your strong body. I'm afraid I can't walk far carrying so many things."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh when they heard this, but it was not easy to force the things on Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng only took a small portion, which again drew a wave of gratitude from everyone. [Mencius said: The people are the most important, the country is second, and the ruler is the least important. You sympathize with the people's suffering and treat them with kindness. Literary Qi +10!]

Lu Zheng's heart moved. He was a little surprised to get ten points of literary energy, but it seemed reasonable.

Then, the peddlers picked up their loads and hurried on their journey.

Lu Zheng followed the group for a while, and then separated from them at a fork in the road.

Since he couldn't encounter any monsters on the crowded main road, he decided to try some of the secluded paths.

In his previous life, Lu Zheng definitely would not have been so courageous.

But now he has become a scholar of heaven and earth, full of righteousness, and his temperament has also changed a lot.

He even dared to go to a mass grave with ghosts before. When it came to demons, perhaps the powerful existence would make him retreat, but Lu Zheng was fearless.

Lu Zheng was walking alone on a small mountain path, listening to the chirping of birds and insects in the forest, feeling happy and comfortable.

Inspired by his feelings, he spoke leisurely, "The way of the university is to manifest the bright virtue, to be close to the people, and to strive for the highest good..."

The sound of reading aloud echoed in the mountains for a long time.

There are unpredictable changes in the weather. Dark clouds have gathered in the sky without anyone noticing.

Seeing the sky getting darker, Lu Zheng quickly quickened his pace, trying to find a place to shelter from the rain.

Soon, light rain began to fall.

As Lu Zheng was walking, he suddenly saw a mountain temple not far away.

The mountain temple is not big, only the size of a house, and looks very dilapidated. It should be a place built by nearby people to worship gods.

It is said that one person does not enter a temple, and two people do not look into a well.

Lu Zheng didn't care about these and walked over quickly.

When he arrived at the temple entrance, he glanced at the environment inside.

The small temple was dim and covered with dust. It looked like no one had been here for a long time.

There was no trace of incense or offerings left on the altar, the statues were in tatters, and there were holes in the roof. It was obvious that the temple had been abandoned for many years.

Lu Zheng wrinkled his nose, but didn't smell any demonic scent.

Demons have a smell, especially those that are not good at concealing their breath, which will emit a unique smell of their own.

Just like fish has a fishy smell, different types of livestock have different smells.

The smell of demons is so strong that even ordinary people can distinguish demons from wild beasts.

If it is a demon that is good at concealing its energy and can change its shape, then observe its appearance, words and deeds to make a judgment.

All demons and monsters cannot hide their true appearance and nature, and they will be subtly different from real people.

Lu Zheng went out to study, not without preparation, but he had done enough homework.

Seeing that there was nothing unusual about the small temple, he went in and used a branch he had picked up to clean a corner of the temple so that he would have a place to rest.

Outside, the drizzle continued and fog filled the mountains, making the sky even darker.

Lu Zheng picked up some firewood in the temple and built a small fire to illuminate the temple.

(End of this chapter)