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

Chapter 337 Liking Someone (4k)

After listening attentively, Zou Zi pointed at Du Yuan, a knowing smile playing on his lips, and said:
"If he hadn't insisted on sending you to another realm back then, he probably wouldn't have had to compete with you later, after you had come to understand these four lines of poetry!"

As one of the former celestial beings, Zou Zi knew all too well what a magnificent glory it would be if these four sentences were truly understood.

Moreover, at this moment, he couldn't help but recall the divination he had performed for Du Yuan earlier.

The phrase "the younger generation will still be sages" coupled with these four true words almost clearly indicates that the person before him is the younger generation of sages who has come to take over the great responsibility of Confucianism.

In this situation, let alone the current state of imbalance between good and evil, yin and yang, even if his true self were still intact, he would probably be helpless.

Zou Zi even more boldly asserted that, just like when Li Shiyi went south to deliver the sword and encountered a great calamity, he faced the calamity head-on and turned his back on the common people, displaying an invincible posture that even the three founders of the religion could not stop.

Now that Du Yuan has comprehended these four sentences and has shattered the void to arrive, those who are facing him now will also know the meaning of the four words "invincible under heaven"!

In the path of cultivation, while cultivation level is important, one's character is even more crucial; and when one can comprehend the principles of heaven, clearly see one's true self, and truly achieve unity of knowledge and action, then one is truly invincible among men!

He even had such moments, when he comprehended Yin and Yang and saw through the principles of Heaven!

At that time, unlike Li Shiyi, he did not face an invincible enemy, nor did he have a truly formidable adversary like Du Yuan, with whom he could fight for life and death and discuss the Great Dao.

At that time, he had no rivals blocking his way, because he suddenly had an epiphany while looking at the fish on the leaves of a lotus field.

At first, he found it amusing, but then his expression changed drastically because he realized that it was himself!
As a human being, he knew that the fish was trapped in a place where it was doomed, and that it would not escape death once the sun was high in the sky.

The fish knew this, and continued to try to escape, but they could not find the river. They could only lie on the lotus leaves in vain, and then flee back in a sorry state.

As a human being, he knew that if the fish moved forward one or two steps, it could escape from the lotus leaf and fall into the pond, where the sky and sea would be vast!

But the fish trapped on the lotus leaves cannot see it.

In this light, aren't these people who stand between heaven and earth, yet are trapped in the mortal world?

At that moment, he sat alone before the lotus leaf, lost in thought, while the fish in the lotus withered and flourished along with him.

Even when the mountains and rivers changed color and the world transformed, he still could not find a way out.

Just as it was about to pass away, trapped in the cycle of life and death, a child suddenly raised his hand and knocked down a lotus leaf, releasing the fish back into the water.

He suddenly awoke, and then had an epiphany about the Great Dao, thus founding the Yin-Yang School!
The Way of Heaven is hidden in chance, and one can see the vitality of life by transcending oneself. Therefore, one must understand the changes of Yin and Yang, observe the mechanism of variables, and comprehend the principles of Heaven and Man!
The moment the child knocked down the lotus leaf and saved the fish, he was invincible!
Although it only lasted for a moment.
Thinking of this, Zou Zi couldn't help but sigh softly.

Recalling those glorious years, my heart is filled with turmoil.

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to Du Yuan and said:
"It's a pity that my life experiences are far inferior to yours. In the end, I was unable to live a life of unparalleled brilliance like you."

Du Yuan was taken aback upon hearing this, and looked puzzled: "Senior, I don't understand what you mean."

Zou Zi waved his hand, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes, yet still retaining a smile:

"It doesn't mean anything by it. It's just that I was thinking about the old days and couldn't help but feel a little envious of you. Back then, I also had the youthful spirit of 'indulging in youthful exuberance,' but now that I'm old, that youthful spirit has truly dissipated."

After a brief pause, he repeated the words that Du Yuan had heard several times before:

“Young man, you are different from us old men who are halfway to the grave. You are still young and should not be burdened by responsibilities and burdens every day. You should find a time to put all of these down and truly be a young man for once.”

"Don't wait until you're this old to regret like I did, regretting that you didn't live a glorious life or retain your spirit during the years when you should have been most ambitious and spirited."

Du Yuan nodded silently, indicating that she had listened, but then gently shook her head:

“I understand your intentions, senior. But I feel that life is actually quite good right now. I can understand the principles you've mentioned, but I can't truly empathize with them.”

Zou Zi smiled upon hearing this, first pointing to the old, still rusty sword at Du Yuan's waist, then raising his hand to the vast landscape outside the window:

"If you really can't figure it out, I can point you in the right direction. You have a sword at your waist, skills in your hands, and spirit in your heart, why not learn from the chivalrous heroes that young people yearn for day and night?"

"Forget about Confucian etiquette, the safety of the world, and the dogmas of morality. Go out and explore the world, see the mountains and rivers, and maybe you'll even meet a soulmate."

"Maybe you'll understand everything once you come back from that trip."

But at this point, his gaze fell back to the world outside the window, and a hint of melancholy crept into his voice:

"It seems that this world is not suitable for you to travel around now. Very well, I still have some energy left, and I will accumulate some skills and connections."

"If you ever come to your senses and feel you can't stay here any longer, come find me. I'll find a way to send you to see other worlds."

"By then, you'll have thrown away all those rules and regulations, grand principles, and responsibilities to the world. You can then do things wholeheartedly, things that you should be doing at your age!"

At this point, Zou Zi suddenly stopped speaking, then looked around with extreme seriousness, before beckoning to Du Yuan and saying:

"I have one more thing to tell you, which is the only enlightenment I have ever had on the Great Dao! Come closer, and I will tell you in detail!"

Du Yuan was solemn, then extremely curious. What could be the reason that a patriarch would treat her like this?
For a moment, Du Yuan was filled with excitement and her mind was racing.

But he immediately restrained himself, carefully leaning closer, and heard Zou Zi whisper in his ear:

"One day, while looking out the window, I suddenly realized that you can't hide your feelings for someone!"

Du Yuan was taken aback, but before he could react, he heard Zou Zi lean even closer and say in an even more cautious tone:
"If you like two people, you must keep it a secret!"

At this moment, Du Yuan stared at Zou Zi in utter astonishment.

After a long silence, Du Yuan finally looked at Zou Zi and said:
"what?!"

No, is this all you're telling me?

Zou Zi, however, pointed at Du Yuan with disdain and said:

"What are you 'oh'ing about? You'll see how right I was later! As the saying goes, 'Those who don't listen to the advice of their elders will suffer the consequences,' don't you understand?"

Du Yuan rubbed his temples; he felt like he'd seen those words somewhere before.

But after a moment, he still cupped his hands and said:

"I will remember your instructions, senior."

"Just remembering isn't enough; you have to keep it in your heart and put it into practice. Otherwise, you'll have a lot of trouble!"

Du Yuan rubbed her temples even more, but still said:
"You said you would send me to another world, but in your current condition, isn't that a bit much?"

Zou Zi laughed and said:

"I had no idea what it was, so this is what it is. It used to be quite troublesome, but things are different now. Look at the sky outside!"

When Du Yuan looked up, she saw that the sky was still exactly the same as before.

But in his and Zou Zi's eyes, they could clearly see rings of pure energy cleansing the world.

"Tianxian is becoming more and more flexible. You and those two have essentially brought the Great Era forward completely. So, we will be much more relaxed now than before."

At this point, Zou Zi said something meaningful to Du Yuan:
"If you don't seize this opportunity now, you'll likely miss out on many chances later!"
-
Du Yuan bid farewell to Zou Zi, who said he would wait for him at this tavern.

After leaving the tavern, Du Yuan headed towards the palace.

The broken palace walls still stand there, gleaming brightly. Gao Cheng's sword strike will likely be remembered by this dynasty for a lifetime.

The imperial guards stationed there felt a jolt of fear when they saw yet another man with a sword approaching.

Just as he was about to stop and call for his companions, his superior covered his mouth.

Then I heard a sentence:
"Are you crazy? Can't you tell that's the immortal who saved our entire capital?"

The imperial guard whose mouth was covered was somewhat wronged. The immortal had basically never shown his face from the beginning to the end. It was said that he had only made a brief appearance in the sky when the old monster was dealt with by the immortal.

But how could a lowly soldier like him possibly have the chance to see it?
The imperial guards quickly made way. The garrison commander stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:

"Immortal Master, have you come to see His Majesty?"

Du Yuan nodded and said:

"There's something I need to tell Pharmacist Yuan right away."

They addressed the emperor by his given name, but no one thought it was wrong.

They simply made way, and then said:
"Your Majesty, I will immediately send someone to inform you. You don't need to wait; I will lead you there directly."

Inside the palace, some palace servants were busy moving away tiles, rubble, and all sorts of other odds and ends that had been scattered by the earthquake.

In the center of the cleared main hall, Yakushi Gensei summoned his ministers and gave instructions on various follow-up matters.

"The affairs of the state are of utmost importance; I urge all my ministers to exert their utmost efforts!"

The scene was still quite chaotic, but the emperor's instructions were carried out in an orderly manner.

From the Imperial Palace to the entire city of Kyoto, and even the subsequent responses to local areas, every single matter was handled meticulously and comprehensively.

This gradually calmed down the many ministers who were initially quite panicked.

Just then, a member of the Imperial Guard rushed in and shouted:

"Your Majesty, that immortal has come to see you!"

A minister asked instinctively:

"That immortal master?"

The imperial guards quickly pointed to several figures outside the Golden Palace and said:

"In response to Your Majesty and all the officials, it was that immortal lord who saved the entire capital!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers hurriedly looked at Yaoshi Yuan, whose expression also turned solemn. He then straightened his clothes and said:

"Quickly follow me to pay homage to the True Immortal!"

The medicine master emphasized the words "true immortal" very much. What is a true immortal?
To protect the world, one must be a true immortal!
The rest of us are nothing but licentious shrines and wild gods; no matter the difficulties and dangers, we must all be wiped out!
This was the national policy that the pharmacist had previously finalized with the high-ranking officials in the court.

The officials hurriedly bowed and made way:

"I will obey your orders!"

Soon, a large group of people followed Yaoshi Yuan and rushed towards the figure holding the long sword.

Upon approaching, the pharmacist bowed deeply with his hands clasped and said:
"Your Majesty, the Medicine Master, along with all your court officials, wishes to pay homage to the Immortal Master!"

After finishing his bow, the emperor rose and bowed again.

"Your Excellency, you have worked tirelessly to vanquish the evil spirits and save the people of the capital. You are truly a model for our time. Please accept my bow once more!"

The courtiers immediately followed suit and bowed.

Faced with the Emperor and his court's two bows, Du Yuan did not flinch, but stood still and solemnly accepted them. After the ceremony was over, she stepped forward to help Yao Shiyuan up, saying, "That is enough."

Only then did Du Yuan take a good look at the emperor she had heard so much about—compared to herself, Yao Shiyuan was certainly not young, but he was in his prime, with a spirited air about him.

After reading it, Du Yuan laughed:
"You are much younger than I expected!"

The pharmacist also looked at Du Yuan and said:
"You too!"

Both of them had imagined what the other would look like. Du Yuan thought Yao Shiyuan would be like Hu Jun's version of Zhu Yuanzhang, but in reality, he looked much younger than Hu Jun's version.

The pharmacist, on the other hand, assumed that Du Yuan should be an old immortal with white hair, a dignified and benevolent appearance.

After all, even the emperor grew up listening to these kinds of stories.

Unexpectedly, Du Yuan turned out to be an immortal who looked much younger than him.

This was even told to him by his older sister every night while she held him.

Thinking of his elder sister's wish to become a pharmacist, his eyes dimmed slightly, but this dimness quickly disappeared, and he returned to normal.

Upon hearing this, Du Yuan smiled and said:
"There's something I'd like to discuss with you privately. Do you have a moment?"

The pharmacist quickly bowed and said:
"You flatter me, Immortal Master!"

Without the apothecary giving any instructions, the officials and imperial guards spontaneously dispersed.

Apart from those who were necessary, everyone else went off to do their own thing.

Kyoto has gone through such a great calamity, and there is an extraordinary amount of work to be done!
When only the two of them remained, the pharmacist asked:
"What does the immortal master wish to say?"

Du Yuan carefully examined Yao Shiyuan's eyes, then looked at the two immortal swords at his waist and said:

"Can you discern anything from these two immortal swords?"

Even if Du Yuan didn't understand politics, she should know that at this moment, for the emperor and even the country...

The two immortal swords held by the emperor had become almost like spiritual pillars.

After all, even if he himself is a kind immortal, he is still an external force. Only when the emperor possesses powerful weapons can they feel at ease.

Therefore, he spoke with great care, afraid that they would think that these two immortal swords, which could change people's hearts, were like evil beings.

Although, in a sense, there is indeed no difference.

Upon hearing this, the pharmacist lowered his head and looked deeply at the two waist and gallbladders.

In the past, his nine imperial guards were his backbone; now they are these two divine weapons.

After staring for a long time, the pharmacist surprised Du Yuan by asking her a question in return:
"Does the immortal know when I am most afraid?"

Before Du Yuan could answer, he asked and answered himself:

"It was the day I personally beat Gao Huan to death!"

Everyone thought that at that moment, Yaoshi Yuan was at his most spirited and like a young emperor.

Even countless young masters from prominent families later praised it highly and privately regarded it as an example.

The puppet emperor's miraculous comeback was truly legendary.

But in reality, that was the time that Yaoshi Yuan feared most.

It wasn't because he killed someone, but because of a surprising discovery he made.

Even Gao Huan, who had become the de facto ruler of the country, controlled all power in the world, and could treat the emperor like a mere ornament, was able to manipulate him.

To die so easily.

If Gao Huan could die so easily, what about him?

Even the one who killed Gao Huan was just a boy with a hammer.

So from the moment he realized that power wouldn't bring him much safety, the pharmacist was plunged into the greatest fear of his life.

(End of this chapter)