Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 475 The Scholar Wang Tong

Lu Zheng looked at Wang Tong and said, "How could a hermit like me know that I am here?"

The other party was clearly after him; if they were truly a recluse, why would they come looking for him?

Upon hearing this, Wang Tong leisurely replied, "Although I live in seclusion in the mountains, I still have some friends. I heard that a remarkable Confucian scholar has come to the State of Chu, who even dared to kill the righteous god of Chu, so I came out of curiosity to see for myself."

As he spoke, Wang Tong kept looking Lu Zheng up and down, clicking his tongue and saying, "You really are young. You're not even thirty yet, but you certainly have the energy of a young person."

Wang Tong had seen Lu Zheng's portrait before, but now that he had met him in person, he felt there was a significant difference.

Lu Zheng said calmly, "You flatter me. May I ask what you meant by what you just said?"

Wang Tong tidied his disheveled hair, glanced at the scorching sun in the sky, and walked to a shady spot, where he sat down by a tree.

"In this day and age, morality has declined and the world is in chaos. Aren't you afraid of dying in the State of Chu someday if you act in this way?"

Wang Tong's words carried a subtle, special power, capable of amplifying his speech and influencing the minds of others.

Lu Zheng remained calm upon hearing this, saying, "If you intend to confuse my mind with your words and tarnish my literary talent, you are underestimating me."

Wang Tongji sat there, chuckling, "I've always spoken like this. None of my friends like what I say, and if you don't like it, I won't change it..."

Lu Zhengdao: "So, you are the madman Wang Tong that some people are talking about?"

Wang Tong took out a palm-leaf fan and fanned himself, saying, "There shouldn't be another person like me in the Chu Kingdom. Even if there is, they wouldn't be named Wang Tong."

Wang Tong paused, then continued, "When I was young, I thoroughly studied the Confucian classics, but studying Confucianism can't save the world. You shouldn't study the Four Books and Five Classics either; you can't navigate this turbid world. You'd be better off coming back to the mountains with me, where you can live a carefree and easy life..."

Wang Tong spoke with the air of someone who had been through it all, offering advice as if he were speaking from experience.

Lu Zheng looked at Wang Tong and said slowly, "I have heard that there are many reclusive scholars in the world. In times of chaos, some people choose to live in seclusion, refusing to associate with the corrupt, and are praised and gain a good reputation..."

"In my opinion, those people are nothing but fame-seekers, accomplishing nothing but empty talk about their ambitions. What are they anyway? A true hermit would never have so much fame?"

“In chaotic times, choosing to preserve oneself is understandable, but empty talk and seeking fame are no different from those who curry favor with the powerful.”

Wang Tong raised an eyebrow, not expecting Lu Zheng to say such a thing.

He couldn't help but exclaim, "I'm not that kind of person!"

Lu Zheng said calmly, "I never said you were that kind of person, so why are you so eager to distance yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Tong's lips twitched. In the past, he was the one who would leave others speechless and furious.

Today, instead of making Lu Zheng waver, he made Lu Zheng feel uncomfortable.

Lu Zheng continued, "Because the world is in chaos, you choose to live in seclusion. Only when peace reigns will you emerge to enjoy the prosperity of this golden age?"

"You must understand that a peaceful world is not something that can be waited for; it is something that all people create."

"You despise this corrupt world and yearn for a prosperous one, yet you only wish to reap the benefits without sowing. And you even advise me to be like you—don't you feel ashamed?"

Lu Zheng's tone was very calm, without even using any persuasive power.

Wang Tong heard it as if a thunderbolt had exploded in his ears, and his expression suddenly changed slightly.

Even though he thought he had a thick skin and that no one could verbally attack him.

But upon hearing these words, Wang Tong couldn't help but feel a pang of shame.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but for a moment he couldn't find the words to refute it.

Lu Zheng said leisurely, "You seem to have seen all the ways of the world, so you must know a lot of principles."

"Those who have seen the light and yearn for the light should pursue it, instead of closing their eyes and pretending not to see anything just because the world is dark."

"You are a capable person, surely you can do something about it?"

"Wang Tong, you madman, I really can't see what's so mad about you..."

Lu Zheng was unmoved by Wang Tong's words and instead began to advise him.

Wang Tong looked at Lu Zheng with astonishment. In the past, even the famous debaters of Chu could not out-argue him. This young man was simply an anomaly.

After a long pause, Wang Tong finally managed to utter a sentence, "Do you really think you're a saint? Do you think the world is so easy to change?"

"The world is hard to change, so we do nothing?" Lu Zheng said calmly. "But we do some benevolent and righteous things. These are not things that only saints can do, nor can only be done after becoming a saint."

"If no one is willing to do it, when will peace and prosperity come? Are you saying all this because you feel you lack the ability to do anything and are making excuses?"

“If you’re not capable, then go back to the mountains and hide! I, Lu, still need to go to various places to check on the drought situation. I’ll help as much as I can, but I don’t have time to waste on your banter.”

Lu Zheng cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and left without looking back.

He had no time to argue with this person any further, and said that was all he had to say.

Wang Tongteng stood up abruptly and said that he was incompetent, which he didn't like to hear.

Seeing Lu Zheng ride the wind away, he quickly followed, his feet hovering on the clouds.

Wang Tong floated lightly to Lu Zheng's side and said leisurely, "Young man, don't be so impatient..."

Seeing that Lu Zheng ignored him, Wang Tong continued, "I came to see you today because someone specifically told me to. They know my temperament and will definitely come to discuss the Dao with you... You are more resolute than I thought, disappointing them."

"Who?" Lu Zheng asked.

Wang Tong said, "You can't say this, or it would be considered informing on someone. Anyway, there are quite a few people in Chu who don't like you..." Lu Zheng didn't take it seriously; it was as if he hadn't said anything at all.

It would be strange if the gods and officials of Chu, who knew of his deeds, were pleased with him.

Wang Tong smiled and said, "I don't care about status or anything like that. You're a very special person. Shall we become friends?"

"Although I have a bit of an eccentric personality, I don't think I have any bad intentions. A young person like you shouldn't mind these things, right?"

Lu Zheng thought to himself that these words made it sound like he was being petty for not being friends with Wang Tong.

Lu Zheng looked at Wang Tong and couldn't help but ask, "How can your friends not mind?"

Wang Tong chuckled and said, "It's simple, we get along well. They've gotten used to hearing certain things so often."

Lu Zheng thought that it was a case of birds of a feather flocking together.

He looked up at the sky and could clearly feel the heat wave hitting his face.

Seeing this, Wang Tong said, "It's just a drought, I'll go find some people to help."

Lu Zhengdao: "You have such great abilities? Not long ago, the Wind God and Rain Master came to bring rain, but it could only temporarily alleviate the drought."

Wang Tong couldn't help but say, "Are you looking down on me? I may not have much, but I have plenty of friends!"

Lu Zheng looked at Wang Tong with a suspicious expression.

Seeing this, Wang Tong said leisurely, "To be honest, my mother is a princess of the Great Chu, but as for which one, it's really not appropriate to say more."

"Ah, I, Wang, have been living in seclusion for many years and originally didn't want to use any connections, but I can't let you underestimate me..."

Wang Tong shook his head, a complex expression of confusion and helplessness on his face.

He chose to live in seclusion because he couldn't stand the way some people acted.

He was originally ashamed to talk about his background, but he had no other choice at the moment.

Lu Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly. So, to become a reclusive scholar, you need connections, right?

No wonder others tolerated Wang Tong's behavior; there must be other reasons.

Wang Tong looked around at the surroundings, then pointed in one direction and said, "Let's go over there first!"

Lu Zheng thought for a moment, then followed Wang Tong.

Soon, the two arrived at a large river.

Wang Tong casually flipped his hand and took out a jade tablet. He then activated the jade tablet, and a spell was cast into the river.

Before long, a being dressed in fine clothes, with a dragon's head and a human body, appeared.

Wang Tong looked at the newcomer and said with a smile, "Dragon King of Clear Water, it's been a long time!"

When the Clear Water Dragon King saw Wang Tong, his expression changed. When he saw Lu Zheng, he quickly recognized him as well.

The Dragon King hurriedly said, "You two are honored to have graced us with your presence. Please come and have a seat in my divine abode..."

Wang Tong waved his hand and said, "No need to trouble yourself. You think of a way to bring more rain and relieve the drought in all parts of Chu Nan."

"Huh? Me?" The Dragon King was stunned. "I am merely the water god who governs a two-hundred-mile stretch of river. How could I possibly have the ability to bring down such heavy rain? Your Highness... Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for this humble god!"

He's just the river god of a clear river; asking him to eliminate this year's severe drought is just a joke.

Wang Tong couldn't help but say, "You can go to your superior, the Water God, and get help from the other river gods as well."

The Dragon King of Clear Water said quietly, "How could a lowly deity possibly persuade his superior? Why doesn't Young Master Wang go and seek him out himself?"

Wang Tong sighed, "I said some things to her that I shouldn't have three years ago, and I reckon she still holds a grudge."

The Dragon King was speechless upon hearing this. If that were the case, wouldn't he become a punching bag?

The Dragon King clasped his hands in a respectful bow and said in a humble voice, "Young Master Wang, please don't make things difficult for this humble god. Even if we could persuade our superiors, it wouldn't solve the drought... This year, several states in southern Chu are experiencing a severe drought, a once-in-a-century drought, and the local deities are simply unable to alleviate it."

"Is it that serious?" Wang Tong asked, his eyes wide.

Lu Zheng, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but say, "I feel like you're very unreliable."

Wang Tong was speechless for a moment. He hadn't paid much attention to this year's drought, assuming that even if the situation was severe, the intervention of more deities should solve the problem.

Wang Tong blushed slightly, "Let me think..."

He thought to himself that he couldn't very well ask him to go back to Yingdu to ask for help; he simply couldn't bear the embarrassment.

Moreover, after living in seclusion for so many years, it's another matter whether those people in Yingdu will give him face.

However, he had just made a bold promise to Lu Zheng, so he couldn't just let it go like that.

Seeing this, the Dragon King of Clear Water whispered, "Why doesn't Young Master Wang return to Yingdu? Please..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Tong said, "Does Wang have no pride?"

Lu Zheng couldn't help but say, "Those who achieve great things should not be bothered by trifles."

Wang Tong felt a lump in his throat, a sense of unease creeping over him.

(End of this chapter)