Qin Shi: I went astray in the Heavenly Sect

Chapter 154 The Future Trends, Qingxu Qingxuan

"Who is that person?"

At the foot of Mount Taiyi,
Watching the two figures walk further and further away, Ni Chang looked somewhat surprised; she was seeing that little girl for the first time!
Mo Ya crossed his arms, lost in thought. In fact, he had never met the little girl, but during his time at Tianzong, he had heard that Master Beimingzi had taken on two disciples.

One of them was Xiu Yuan, whose Daoist name was Qing Xu, and the second was a little girl whose Daoist name was Xiao Meng.

If he wasn't mistaken, that little girl was the second disciple accepted by Master Beimingzi.

Standing to the side was a young woman. Hearing Ni Chang's words, she spoke softly, "She is the young master's junior sister, Master Xiaomeng."

Upon hearing this, Ni Chang raised an eyebrow.

Grandmaster?

However, she seemed to remember something afterward, and a strange look appeared in her eyes.

Since Xiaomeng is Beimingzi's disciple, her status is naturally different from that of ordinary people. It is estimated that most people on Mount Taiyi would have to call her "Shishu" (a term of respect for a senior disciple). Therefore, calling her "Master" would not be an exaggeration.

"Sister Nongyu has met this Master Xiaomeng before?"

The person who spoke was none other than Nongyu.

Nongyu gently clasped her hands together in front of her lower abdomen and nodded.

"I have had the pleasure of meeting her twice. Her personality is very similar to yours; she hardly speaks, but she is very intelligent, and there is almost nothing that can be hidden from her."

Thinking of the young girl she had interacted with a few times before, Nongyu sighed softly.

Within the Heavenly Sect, there are very few foolish people; most of them are extremely intelligent, grasping things almost instantly, whether in cultivation or in daily life.

Xiaomeng was accepted as a disciple by Beimingzi, which speaks volumes about her talent.

Upon hearing this, Ni Chang's eyes narrowed slightly. Unlike Nong Yu's quiet demeanor, this girl was much bolder and more open. She crossed her arms lightly over her chest and said with a hint of amusement, "Isn't that just a copy of Xiu Yuan?"

Upon hearing this, Nongyu was both amused and exasperated. However, to put it another way, Ni Chang's assessment was not entirely wrong. In this Master Xiaomeng, she did indeed see the shadow of that young man.

"Forget it, let's not worry about those things."

"Before leaving, he told us to distribute the items as soon as possible, because the Heavenly Sect Leader Chisongzi and the Human Sect Leader Xiaoyaozi would be coming soon, and we would have to deal with them."

Upon hearing this, Mo Ya and Nong Yu nodded.

Although Xiu Yuan didn't care about those things, there were some things they still had to fight for. They weren't from the Heavenly Sect, and they couldn't rely on the sect for food, clothing, and daily necessities forever, could they? With such a gold mine, it would be a waste to do nothing about it.

"I heard from Senior Brother Chishongzi that he had been to South Korea before."

On the border between Qin and Han, a young girl looked at the empty battlefield ahead, her eyes flickering, and asked softly.

"kindness."

The boy was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Are there any particularly interesting people in South Korea?

The girl asked as she walked.

These two were none other than Xiuyuan and Xiaomeng from the Li Sect.

Hearing Xiaomeng's words, Xiuyuan's eyes showed a hint of reminiscence. He had been away from South Korea for several months and wondered how the people in Xinzheng City were doing now.

As the sands gather and disperse, have they already resolved the darkness and begun their reforms?

"There are a few, though."

Compared to her previous departure from the mountain, Xiaomeng's cultivation level had greatly improved, and her stamina was also far superior to before. The two moved very fast, and on the wide road, their steps never stopped, leaving passersby in awe.

Upon hearing Xiu Yuan's answer, Xiao Meng let out a soft "hmm".

Based on her understanding of her senior, anyone he called interesting must be extraordinary.

"who is it?"

Xiu Yuan smiled and said leisurely, "The ninth prince of Han is named Han Fei. He is a disciple of the Confucian scholar Xunzi and follows the Legalist school. He is the greatest synthesizer of the Legalist lineage. Even King Ying Zheng of Qin risked his life to find him."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng frowned. She had never heard of Han Fei, but she did know Xunzi and King Ying Zheng of Qin.

"Master Xun?? Senior brother is talking about Xun Kuang, right? Isn't he our contemporary? That old fellow can't possibly deserve to be called Master Xun by senior brother!"

Listening to the girl's sharp criticism beside him, Xiu Yuan couldn't help but smile.

"What are you laughing at, Senior Brother? Confucianism values ​​propriety. Calling him 'Senior Brother' will probably make that old man even happier!"

Xiu Yuan smiled and shook his head without replying. He called him Master Xun because the old man was old and his knowledge and understanding were extremely profound, not because of seniority. Of course, he didn't take such a small matter to heart at first, and he guessed that even Master Xun wouldn't take it to heart.

"And that King of Qin, I think he's lost his mind. Qin is far from stable right now, yet he dares to risk his life to meet with princes from other countries. Is he afraid he won't die?"

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan smiled again. Perhaps this King of Qin would never have imagined that the future Master Xiaomeng would evaluate him in such a way.

After a while, Xiu Yuan said in a deep voice, "There are things that can be done and things that cannot be done. To do something knowing it is impossible is a great courage."

Xiaomeng, unusually, did not refute it. Perhaps this girl also knew that for some people, what they pursued was no longer the result, but a different kind of sublimation.

"Does Senior Brother think it's right to pursue a vague and unattainable dream?"

After a moment of silence, Xiaomeng spoke again.

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan's gaze became extremely distant.

He had considered this question before, back when he was in Xinzheng. Faced with the changing world, Han Fei and Wei Zhuang still chose the most difficult path. Frankly, he didn't believe Han Fei and Wei Zhuang were unaware of the current situation. Among the seven states, Han was the weakest. While there were historical examples of the weak defeating the strong and the few defeating the many, they required certain foundations. But Han…
But he felt that there was nothing wrong with the choices these two made.

Not all persistence is meaningful, but every kind of persistence has its reason.

Ordinary people change the world through their perseverance, but how can we say that every act of perseverance is right?

"This is actually the Dao that the Heavenly Sect pursues."

This is Xiuyuan's answer. Tianzong's persistence is the relief after experiencing the world. Its transcendence is to let go, to follow the will of Heaven, and to go with the flow.

Xiaomeng looked up at the boy beside her, hesitant to speak, for the Heavenly Sect's way was not like that in her eyes.

Then she heard the boy's words again.

"The way of Tianzong is to face that illusory dream with equanimity, without being troubled by not being able to let go, nor depressed by not being able to get what one wants. The core of Confucianism's advocacy of doing what is impossible is not to pursue inevitable success, but to take responsibility for doing what should be done."

"When a person faces difficulties, they need to have their own perseverance. Such perseverance will transform into a powerful force that drives the progress and development of the whole society."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng's eyes became thoughtful.

The Tao is always present, right beside us. All things are Tao, but some people are unaware of it, or even if they know it, they won't delve deeper. They only know what it is, but don't want to know why it is.

Will these two change the course of the world?

Xiaomeng asked another question, still unsure.

Upon hearing this question, Xiu Yuan's eyes showed a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected his junior sister to ask such a question.

In another timeline, in the face of that unknowable future, both Ying Zheng and Han Fei indeed had a significant impact on the overall situation of the world.

Ying Zheng would lead the Qin state to unify the world, ending more than 500 years of chaos during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and establishing a unified empire.

This can be considered a milestone in the course of history.

As for the other person, Han Fei, the ninth prince of the state of Han, who was later revered as Han Feizi, his ideas on the rule of law still shine brightly more than two thousand years later.

Han Fei once said something that is true: "The laws of the world, if implemented without fail, will ensure that tangible life is fragile, but intangible thought is indestructible."

After a moment of silence, Xiu Yuan spoke again, "Why would you ask that?"

Xiaomeng turned her head away and said in a leisurely tone, "Because when Senior Brother talked about those two people, his tone was a little different."

Xiu Yuan narrowed his eyes and sighed softly.

"If nothing unexpected happens, the Qin state will be the final winner among the seven states, and the King Ying Zheng you mentioned will end this chaotic era."

Xiaomeng was taken aback. Listening to her senior brother's words, he seemed very certain that Qin would win.

But the future holds infinite possibilities, so why is he so certain?
"As for the Ninth Prince of Korea, he may not be able to turn the tide and save Korea, but his Legalist teachings will not perish. If I am not mistaken, Legalist rule will continue for a thousand years."

Xiaomeng was puzzled upon hearing this.

Now that all the schools of thought have gathered together, a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend, why would my senior brother come to such a conclusion?

This time, before Xiaomeng could speak, Xiuyuan explained, "Lao Tzu once mentioned in the Tao Te Ching that the highest virtue is not virtue, therefore it is virtue; the lowest virtue does not lose virtue, therefore it is not virtue. The highest virtue does nothing and yet does nothing; the lowest virtue does nothing and yet does something. The highest benevolence acts without acting, therefore it is after losing the Tao that virtue is lost, after losing virtue that benevolence is lost, after losing benevolence that righteousness is lost, after losing righteousness that propriety is lost. Propriety is the thinnest form of loyalty and trustworthiness, and the beginning of chaos."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng frowned.

She had seen these words in the Tao Te Ching; they were Lao Tzu's understanding of the changes in the world.

In Taoism, Tao is the root of all things, while virtue, benevolence, righteousness, and propriety mentioned later are all secondary concepts.

"The founder of Confucianism, Confucius, after witnessing the chaos of the world, proposed a path completely opposite to that of Taoism. This path begins with propriety, then seeks righteousness, then benevolence, then virtue, and finally the Way—going against the current." "Therefore, the Confucian Way is extremely difficult for scholars, because seeking the Way is the final step. During this process, one must use various means to improve one's character and cultivate one's inner self. These aspects of human nature are completely different in that one can either restrain or release them. Releasing them is easy, but restraining them is as difficult as climbing to heaven."

"When later Confucian disciples compiled the words and deeds of Confucius, there was a saying: 'If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening.' Perhaps this is what the Way refers to."

After a moment of silence, Xiaomeng spoke again.

"Then what is the connection between these things and Han Fei's laws?"

Xiu Yuan gently shook his head.

"In a world where etiquette has collapsed and music has decayed, when etiquette is no longer sufficient to restrain people's behavior, then the law becomes a bottom line. This is the will of Heaven and the nature of humanity, which is why the law continues to exist."

Upon hearing this, a scroll spanning a thousand years slowly unfolded before Xiaomeng. In a daze, she seemed to have arrived on a long river of time, and saw the young man beside her standing on the bank, looking down at the eternal years.

"The intangible spirit is invincible."

Xiu Yuan's voice slowly entered Xiao Meng's heart, and at this moment, Xiao Meng seemed to understand something.

"Does Senior Brother mean that the Ninth Prince of Han has achieved something in a certain area that even surpasses that of King Ying Zheng of Qin?"

Xiu Yuan nodded.

"Of course!"

"But similarly, in the future, seeking the Way will become even more difficult; it will be a path of seeking the Way that begins with the Law."

Remembering what she had said earlier, Xiaomeng suddenly shook her head.

"Aren't the different paths sought by each school of thought different?"

Xiu Yuan remained silent for a while, then gently shook his head.

"The principles are the same, but everyone's understanding is different, which gives rise to various schools of thought. It's like when we look at a mountain at the same time, some people see how high the mountain is at first glance, while others see how beautiful the mountain is at first glance. Different perspectives will lead to different perceptions, but the mountain is still the same mountain, just one mountain, the same mountain."

Xiaomeng fell silent. In her understanding of the Dao, she realized that there was indeed a huge gap between her and the young man before her.

After a short while, several miles later, Xiaomeng asked again, "Did you encounter any other people, Senior Brother?"

Xiu Yuan turned to look at the girl beside him. Seeing that she remained calm, he thought for a moment and continued, "There are a few more, such as the two disciples of Guigu, Gai Nie who inherited the Vertical Sword Technique and Wei Zhuang who inherited the Horizontal Sword Technique, and a young man named Zhang Liang, the grandson of Zhang Kaidi, the prime minister of Han. He may become a top strategist in the future, and a few girls as well."

Upon hearing the word "girl," Xiaomeng frowned. She seemed unwilling to hear the young man beside her mention other women.

Xiu Yuan didn't notice her reaction and continued talking.

"Princess Honglian of Korea is quick-witted and intelligent. If she were a man, her future achievements might not be any less than Han Fei's. The proprietress of Zilan Pavilion, Miss Zinu, has a mysterious background. I suspect she is a member of the Yin-Yang School."

Upon hearing Xiu Yuan's description, Xiao Meng's eyes suddenly showed a strange expression.

She wasn't sure how her senior brother viewed a girl, but usually, when a man looks at a girl, he starts with her appearance, whether she's beautiful or stunningly beautiful. But what Xiu Yuan had just said had nothing to do with those things.

After a long silence, Xiaomeng suddenly spoke up: "Senior brother, are you not very popular with girls outside?"

Xiu Yuan was taken aback, then turned to look at him again.

He wasn't entirely clear on the matter, but he felt it shouldn't be; at least the girls he'd met shouldn't have any ill feelings towards him, right?

When she was in the State of Zhao, the silver-haired girl even gave her a sweet kiss when they parted.

"No way, right?"

Hearing this answer, Xiaomeng suddenly found it a little funny. Should? Probably not? In her opinion, none of those girls liked this blockhead.

Perhaps this girl never realized that if the young man beside her really wasn't popular with girls, someone as quiet as her wouldn't have said a word to him, and probably wouldn't have asked him to return to Wei with her.

This world is vast, and not all girls like smooth-talking men. More importantly, the young man beside her is very strong, and in this chaotic world, strength is the greatest factor in determining victory or defeat.

Even if a pretty face is handsome, eloquent, and good at charming girls, how long can he hold onto that happiness?
Seeing that Xiaomeng did not respond, Xiuyuan did not care. After all, he was following his own path. Most of the time, he was seeking enlightenment and truth. Whether others liked him or not, he never cared about it at all.
"Of course, there are also many people I don't like, such as the assassins from Luo Wang, Ye Mu, and Bi Ri. Some of these people may have to submit to the darkness for various reasons, but most of them have long lost their true selves and become puppets of humanity. In order to achieve their goals, they will stop at nothing, even just for killing."

Hearing this, Xiaomeng felt a growing displeasure. Although she didn't oppose fighting, she felt a deep-seated disgust for battles that were aimless and merely for the purpose of venting desires.

"It seems that Senior Brother has indeed experienced a lot during his time away from the mountain."

"According to the disciples of the External Affairs Hall, a very beautiful girl once came to the Heavenly Sect with her senior brother's identity token."

Xiu Yuan paused. He naturally knew who Xiao Meng was talking about; it was the girl from Baiyue. However, at the time, he had only asked her to help him send someone away.

"Are you talking about Yan Ling Ji?"

Xiaomeng shook her head.

"I don't know her name, I've only heard that she's very pretty, but I wonder if she's prettier than that girl named Nongyu?"

Upon hearing this, Xiu Yuan felt a strange sensation, so he didn't continue.

Seeing that Xiu Yuan stopped speaking, Xiao Meng narrowed her eyes, seemingly sensing that something was amiss, so she didn't press the matter further.

Time passed quickly, and the two of them soon crossed the border between Qin and Han and entered Han territory.

Along the way, the two asked some traveling merchants for directions and then set off again.

At first, quite a few people had designs on these two teenagers, but when they realized that the two were almost never at work, they gave up on the idea.

There's an unwritten rule in the martial arts world: those old people, children, Taoist priests, and monks who can travel alone are all extraordinary; otherwise, they would have long since perished in the jaws of wild beasts or under the blades of bandits. Therefore, generally no one wants to provoke these people.

Soon, the day passed by in a flash, and Xiaomeng seemed to gradually regain her former familiarity, and slowly, she became more talkative.

Xiu Yuan was happy to see this change happen, since it's nice to have someone to talk to on a journey.

Xiaomeng was somewhat surprised to see Xiuyuan plant the wooden sword he was carrying on his back into the ground, then make two hand seals before sitting down again.

What is his senior brother up to now?
However, after a short while, Xiaomeng seemed to notice something and exclaimed in surprise, "What is this??"

Xiu Yuan chuckled softly.

"I obtained a piece of fire essence by chance in South Korea. Speaking of which, you should have met the owner of this fire essence, who is Nongyu's father, Li Kai."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng nodded again.

She had indeed seen that man before; he was quite ordinary. But his wife was very beautiful. At first glance, the two seemed completely mismatched.

"Senior brother saved them because of this rare and precious treasure?"

A gentle night breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness. Xiu Yuan, sitting to the side, stared at the wooden sword in front of him, which radiated fiery power, his eyes becoming somewhat dazed.

Regarding Xiaomeng's question, he seemed unsure why he saved Li Kai's family back then. Was it because of the fire spirit, the girl, Li Kai himself, or the world where genuine feelings were rarely seen?

"I do not know!"

Upon hearing this, the little girl's eyes became a bit strange, but she could tell that Xiu Yuan was not lying, or perhaps he disdained to lie.

“I also met a friend in the Heavenly Sect. He seems to be from the Wei Kingdom as well. His Daoist name is the same as yours, Qingxuan, but the characters are different.”

Xiu Yuan nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Xiaomeng's encounter with that disciple of the Human Sect was perhaps destined, and he didn't feel much about it.

"He can play the xun (a type of ancient Chinese wind instrument), which is a very beautiful tune. I heard that the tune comes from the State of Wei."

Xiu Yuan nodded, but when it comes to music, he's no longer a complete novice who knows nothing about it.

"Actually, Nongyu could play the zither. Her skill in the zither was unparalleled. When I was in Xinzheng, I learned a piece from her."

Upon hearing Xiu Yuan's words, Xiao Meng blinked and then showed a very interested expression.

She had never heard anyone around her play the piano before!
"This piece is very special. Nongyu calls it the melody of the heartstrings. Even without a zither, it can be played to create a breathtaking melody that can attract hundreds of birds."

"A melody on the heartstrings??"

This was the first time Xiaomeng had heard these four words. Then she raised her eyes and looked over again.

Xiu Yuan slowly closed his eyes, his hands falling from the air. The wooden sword seemed to sense something and flew to his front, landing under his fingers.

Xiaomeng saw the boy's fingers falling continuously, but she heard nothing. She frowned. She didn't think Xiuyuan would lie to her, but she really didn't hear any sound.

Just as the girl was pondering how she heard the music Xiu Yuan had described, several birdsongs suddenly rang out. She looked up and saw that they were now surrounded by birds. Seeing this, she realized that Xiu Yuan had not lied; the piece he was playing was indeed a melody that could attract hundreds of birds.

"Put your hand on it."

Suddenly a voice entered the girl's heart. Xiaomeng subconsciously looked up and saw that the hilt of the fiery red wooden sword was already in front of her.

She looked at the boy who still had his eyes closed, then gently placed her hand on him and slowly closed her eyes.

The next moment, the scene before her eyes suddenly changed.

"This is."

(End of this chapter)