The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 242 A Gentleman Should Wear a Sword! (3k)

The Confucian natal character has always been considered a great supernatural power, even if it is not a high-ranking one.

Even though most people's interpretation of their natal character is often not considered high-level, it is still a supernatural ability that many great masters praise highly.

After all, this thing can be obtained as long as one comprehends it, regardless of one's cultivation level or bloodline.

Once one obtains this one word, one can often unleash earth-shattering abilities.

Take the word "move" for example: moving people is moving, moving things is moving, and even the majestic mountains that stretch across the sky and earth are all within the scope of the word "move".

Let's talk about the word "break": breaking the wind is breaking, breaking the formation is breaking, and even the protective supernatural powers and treasures of great supernatural beings can be reduced to the word "break".

What level one can ultimately reach depends entirely on the individual's own thorough understanding and affinity with the word.

Thus, among the Confucian sages who were worshipped alongside him, there was one who devoted his entire life to cultivating only one character and established himself as a sage through this! The extraordinary nature of this supernatural power and the preciousness of one's natal character can be seen from this.

This is why, when the Sage Confucius set this precedent, he tacitly allowed the high-ranking deities to each keep a single character hidden away.

After all, among the many characters in the world, there are several that are so profound that one can understand their significance simply by hearing them.

At this moment, all Du Yuan had to do was nod, and he would get that word for no reason.

He could even go back to the small temple in the desolate mountains of the southwest, and as long as he flattered that little cat and said a few nice words, he could get another one out of thin air!

Such a wonderful thing has probably only happened once in all of history!
Faced with such good news, Du Yuan's answer remained the same as before.

"I cannot and will not accept this character."

The voice wasn't surprised, as it already knew the answer, but even so, it couldn't help but reiterate:
"Even just listening to what the words are first is enough, isn't it?"

Du Yuan laughed:

"no need."

But this nonchalant response caused the voice to suddenly become serious, adding a touch of solemnity:

“If you say ‘no need,’ I would actually hope you will accept it. It’s just that this statement sounds like you are still wavering in your resolve.”

In that voice's eyes, Du Yuan's demands were extremely high, and since that was the case, his will could not be flawed in the slightest.

Otherwise, one will certainly not be able to climb up, and if one cannot climb up, one must naturally have a powerful reliance to ensure safety.

After all, this is about seeking the unity of the three religions!

Others say that it doesn't matter whether you succeed or fail on this path, because they never had a chance to succeed from the beginning, let alone reach the top.

But Du Yuan is different; he really has a chance of succeeding.

Therefore, if it fails, the backlash will inevitably be beyond imagination!

Therefore, when Du Yuan said no, she actually hoped he would take it to give her more confidence.

Conversely, if it is not the case, it means that Du Yuan's Dao heart remains steadfast and there is no need to worry.

Similarly, this is the fundamental reason why the meaning of the character has never been revealed.

The purpose was to determine whether Du Yuan could continue on this path.

These words startled Du Yuan, a hint of surprise flashing across her eyes, followed by a touch of helplessness, as she softly explained:

"I don't want to know because I want to preserve some curiosity for myself. It's not because I'm worried that knowing will make me lose my composure."

After all, having some unknown blanks in one's mind adds more enjoyment and exploration to the journey of discovering one's destined character. This is the real reason why Du Yuan was unwilling to know the character beforehand.

The voice didn't speak, but instead carefully examined Du Yuan.

After a long while, he finally smiled and said:
"It seems I underestimated you. Ah, I'm always trying to elevate my feelings for you, but you always manage to surprise me."

Upon hearing this, Du Yuan returned the greeting with a cupped hand and said loudly:

"To receive such praise is a great honor for Du Yuan!"

As the laughter subsided, the voice rang in Du Yuan's ears again, the previous solemnity gone, replaced by casual conversation:

"Have you thought about what kind of natal character you might seek in the future?"

Du Yuan gently shook her head and said frankly:

"I haven't decided yet. After all, this is just the beginning; how can I know the outcome as soon as I take my first step?"

"That's true, there's no such logic in the world."

The response carried a hint of melancholy, likely a reflection on the past.

Du Yuan sensed the melancholy in the voice, but didn't press the matter—he knew that some things, even with deep affection, couldn't be easily spoken of, and that rashly probing into someone's hidden past would seem presumptuous.

After a brief silence, the voice sighed softly before speaking again, its tone becoming increasingly gentle:

"You must have met a lot of people and seen a lot of things during your trip to the Southwest, right? It's still early, tell me about it."

Du Yuan smiled and nodded, saying:
"my pleasure."

And so, the man and the god slowly recounted Du Yuan's experiences during her trip to the southwest within this small temple.

Most of the time, it was Du Yuan who was talking, from the misty rain over the rivers to the severe drought in the southwest, from the mundane life by the roadside to the major repairs in the mountains, she described everything in detail; her voice would only occasionally interrupt with a word or two, or ask "And then what happened?" or gently respond with "I see", she never interrupted.

There were no confrontational probing questions, no impatient, results-oriented inquiries, only this slow, deliberate speaking and listening. An excellent persuader, an excellent listener.

It was extremely quiet and peaceful, with a serene and pleasant atmosphere.

After a long time, when Du Yuan finished recounting everything she remembered, he was surprised to realize that it was already the next morning.

"You actually talked for so long." He sighed softly, a hint of surprise and relief in his voice.

"Yes, it's been so long, and it's happened so fast."

The voice remained serene, but now carried a hint of regret.

Because both of them knew that it was time to say goodbye.

"You've always been someone who can't stop moving forward," the voice said slowly, its words full of understanding. "After all, what you're looking for doesn't allow for any pause. I won't keep you any longer, but there's something I want you to remember."

The solemnity that had already dissipated yesterday was brought up again:
"I want you to remember, if one day you really can't go on anymore, don't force yourself. There will always be a place for you in my little temple!"

If the kitten wanted to stand behind Du Yuan at all times to give him more confidence, then she wanted to always leave Du Yuan some leeway.

"Thank you so much for your kindness!"

Du Yuan bowed deeply.

That gentle and serene voice still lingered in Du Yuan's ears as she smiled:

"Since you're going to visit the Confucian school, you must become a gentleman. And a gentleman must carry a sword!"

Since ancient times, a gentleman has always needed a suitable sword to be considered worthy.

In the past, when the Sage Master traveled to various countries, what he was most famous for, or rather, what first became famous for, was not his learning, nor his three thousand disciples, but his sword.

Since then, it has become common knowledge that gentlemen carry swords.

“If you are unwilling to accept the natal character in my hand, then you must listen carefully to this matter—it’s not that I’m going to give you anything, after all, I really don’t have anything of value that is worthy of you.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “I just want to point you to a place where you might find a sword that is truly worthy of you.”

A sword?

Du Yuan's eyes lit up immediately, her interest completely piqued.

Yes, which young person hasn't dreamed of "traveling the world with a sword"?
How wonderful it would be to have a gleaming sword by your side, clearing paths through mountains and eliminating evil!

"I am all ears!"

“Since you are going to the capital of this imperial court, you might as well take a detour and go to the place where the rivers converge.” The voice was somewhat apologetic and indistinct. “As for the more specific location, I can’t say for sure. When I was trapped here, I only vaguely remembered that the sword was left in that area.”

The world is facing a great calamity, and all families and factions are racking their brains to avoid it, hoping to survive the chaos and wait for the great era to arrive.

But not everyone thinks this way—there are actually quite a few like them who want to settle the score and sever past ties before the great calamity.

It was precisely because of this chaotic world that many treasures that once dominated a region quietly fell from the heavens to the earth, becoming unclaimed objects waiting for a destined person to find them.

Du Yuan was not disappointed, but simply lowered her hands earnestly and said:

Even so, thank you so much!

Seeing Du Yuan so happy, the gentle voice chuckled along, adding a touch of curiosity:
"You really want a sword?"

Du Yuan nodded repeatedly:

"I've been thinking about it since I was little! It's just a pity that I've never had the chance."

When we're young, we have to study hard; when we grow up, we have to work hard. There's really no chance to pay for our childhood hobbies.

As she spoke, Du Yuan added another sentence:
"As the saying goes, 'A hall full of flowers intoxicates three thousand guests, a single sword's frost chills fourteen provinces!'"

This is a poem by Guan Xiu, and it also reflects the longing many people have for swordsmen.

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise appeared in the voice: "This poem is quite unique; did you write it yourself?"

Du Yuan shook her head repeatedly and said:
"Although I consider myself a scholar, I am really bad at writing poetry, so this is something left by my predecessors. It just so happens that I felt it was appropriate to say it out loud."

"No wonder, I was wondering why it seemed a bit stingy."

There's no intention to belittle anyone, just a sense of sudden realization. Because this shouldn't be something someone with the perspective of a master craftsman on a mountaintop could write.

Du Yuan was taken aback at first, and secretly wondered – could such a widely circulated famous line be considered “petty”?
But then he smiled helplessly and felt completely relieved.

Indeed, Mr. Guanxiu's literary talent was unparalleled in his time, capable of writing about the grandeur of "fourteen states," but the man before them was someone whose cultivation was unfathomable and who had seen countless sights of the heavens.

In His eyes, the layout of the "Fourteen Provinces" may indeed lack the grandeur of traversing mountains and seas and encompassing heaven and earth.

It's not that anyone is wrong; it's simply a matter of different versions and different numerical values.
"In short, you must remember to pay close attention at the confluence of rivers. If anyone else can find that sword, you are the most likely candidate!"

Du Yuan became increasingly concerned, and couldn't help but ask:

"Could you describe the sword in detail?"

But to this, the usually gentle voice held a hint of mischief:

"Didn't you want to leave some room for your curiosity? So I won't say anything!"

(End of this chapter)