Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 122 The Emperor's Banner Stirs, the Dao Heart is First Established

[Daily Divination, Today's Hexagram: Moderately Auspicious. A hidden dragon is beginning to sing, already showing signs of soaring; a newfound Daoist heart, even beneath a precarious wall, a path leads to success… Fortune is above average; Suitable for: Passing on knowledge and teaching.]

Just as Meng Xihong was pondering, a voice interrupted him.

"Father! Master!"

Meng Xihong turned around and saw nine-year-old Meng Yanwei carrying a scroll of bamboo slips, walking over in a hurry.

He didn't run and jump like a normal child; every step he took was steady and powerful. However, his brows were furrowed on his tender little face, as if he had encountered some unsolvable problem.

"Wei'er, what's wrong?" Meng Xihong asked with a smile as he pulled him to his side.

"Master, Father," Meng Yanwei held up the bamboo slip in his hand, his childish voice carrying a seriousness and meticulousness beyond his years.
"Today I read the saying 'A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall,' and I have some doubts."

He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

The "principle" in the book lies in seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune, and protecting oneself.

Uncle Ji and Uncle Zhang went to Tonghe County, knowing full well that there were tigers in the mountains, but they still went there anyway.

This action seems to contradict the principles in the book. I, your humble disciple, am not sure how to resolve this contradiction.

These words were no longer a simple question, but rather a primary school student seeking guidance from his teacher on a conflict of ideas.

Upon hearing this, Yun Songzi and Meng Xihong exchanged a glance, both seeing barely suppressed amazement and amusement in each other's eyes.

This child has already begun to use the "reasoning" he has learned to analyze and measure real-world problems!
"Good question!" Yun Songzi patted Meng Yanwei's head with approval. "Wei'er, tell your master, what do you think?"

Meng Yanwei lowered his head, his brows furrowing tightly as he fell into deeper thought.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling of the wind through the bamboo grove.

After a long while, he finally raised his head and tentatively asked in an uncertain tone, "Is it because... there are more important things than the 'crisp wall' that they need to do?"

"for example?"

“For example…guarding.” Meng Yanwei’s voice became clearer.

"Just like Father said, they did it for the Tianyan Sect, for my younger brother, and to give more people like me who have no spiritual roots a path to follow."

So, they had to erect that 'dangerous wall.' It wasn't a dangerous wall, but... a monument?

He spoke the last two words very softly, yet they struck Meng Xihong and Yun Songzi's hearts like a heavy hammer blow.

Children speak without restraint, yet their words hit the nail on the head.

Meng Xihong was shocked. He never expected that his son, at such a young age, could see things so clearly and even grasp the essence of the matter!

Yun Songzi stood up abruptly from the rocking chair, his face filled with shock and ecstasy, his beard trembling with excitement.

"A piece of unpolished jade! A piece of unpolished jade born of nature!" He looked at Meng Yanwei as if he were looking at a rare treasure, muttering to himself.

"Wei'er, remember this!" Yun Songzi grabbed Meng Yanwei's shoulder, her expression extremely solemn.

"The saying 'A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall' means that one should know how to avoid misfortune and protect oneself. That's correct."

But there's another saying: "To do something even when you know it's impossible!"
When something concerns morality, the common people, or what you must protect in your heart, then even if it involves mountains of knives, seas of fire, or bottomless abyss, you must forge ahead without hesitation!

"This is the true 'spirit' of us literary cultivators!"

His words were spoken with a resounding force.

Meng Xihong looked at his son, who was deep in thought, and felt a mix of emotions.

Looking at the small one in front of him, and then recalling the even smaller Yan An in the secluded chamber, an indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.

Protecting, creating, passing on... isn't this the path I'm walking?
Meng Yanwei nodded as if he understood, but there seemed to be stars twinkling in his big, dark eyes.

Yun Songzi's words were like a seed, taking root and sprouting anew in his pure "righteous spirit".

Seeing Meng Yanwei's thoughtful expression, Yun Songzi felt greatly relieved.

He waved his hand, his face beaming with an undisguised smile, yet he said mysteriously, "Come on, Wei'er, all talk and no action is useless."

Today, I'll give you another little lesson, so you can see how to apply the 'principles' we scholars have learned!

After saying that, he pulled Meng Yanwei along and walked towards the newly built, simple study in Haoran Hall.

Meng Xihong followed behind with a smile. He was also very curious about how Yun Songzi would teach her son.

The study was simply furnished, with only a desk, a few chairs, and a newly erected bookshelf, on which were scattered dozens of ancient books that Meng Xihong had "scavenged" from the Yin Sha Sect's treasury—books with relatively respectable contents. Yun Songzi did not let Meng Yanwei continue reading, but instead took something out of his storage bag and placed it on the desk.

It was a file, the paper yellowed, with traces of dried blood on it.

It was a long-standing case that Meng Xihong had handled when he was in the Wufeng County government office.

The case is simple: a local bully, in order to seize a poor tenant's few acres of meager land, fabricated charges against him, tortured him into confessing, and imprisoned him, ultimately leading to the tenant's family being ruined and killed.

“Wei’er, take a look at this,” Yun Songzi said, pointing to the dossier.

Meng Yanwei stepped forward and began to read it carefully.

As the investigation deepened, anger gradually crept onto his young, innocent face.

When he read about the tenant farmer's wife and daughters eventually ending up on the streets, freezing to death on a cold winter night, his fists clenched involuntarily.

"Finished reading?" Yun Songzi asked calmly.

"I've finished reading it." Meng Yanwei's voice was low, carrying a chill that seemed out of place for his age.

"What do you think should be the verdict in this case?"

Meng Xihong listened quietly from the side. He knew that this was not just a question, but also a test from Yun Songzi for Meng Yanwei.

Meng Yanwei raised his head, his eyes showing no hesitation, and said in a firm tone that was beyond his years: "The wicked gentry who seize land and disregard human life should be executed according to the 'Great Li World Law'!"

All of their property should be paid to the tenants' families. If they have no families, the property should be put into the national treasury to provide relief to disaster victims!

The county magistrate who presided over this case neglected his duties and distorted the truth; he should also be dismissed from his post, investigated, and held accountable!

His voice was clear and resonant, every word spoken with conviction.

The moment he finished speaking, something unexpected happened!
The "Human Emperor Banner," which had been quietly floating in his sea of ​​consciousness, suddenly trembled!
Then it slowly appeared
hum!
A visible black halo rippled out from the surface of the banner.

The black light was as deep as night, yet it carried no evil in the slightest. Instead, it exuded a majestic, solemn, and judgmental aura of utter wickedness!

Inside the study, it was as if an invisible law had been created, and the air became heavy.

Meng Yanwei felt as if his words had resonated in some strange way with the Emperor's Banner in his hand.

A cool yet powerful flow of information surged into his mind from within the banner, giving him a deeper understanding of concepts such as "law," "order," and "justice."

The "righteous energy seed" in his sea of ​​consciousness trembled violently under the nourishment of this power, and actually grew stronger!
Originally, he was only at the "Enlightened Mind" stage, but now he was showing signs of breaking through to the "Nourishing Qi" stage!
"Good! Well said!" Yun Songzi clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes full of praise.

“Wei’er, remember this: we scholars study ‘reason’ not only for self-cultivation, but also for practical application.”

Apply the principles you have learned to judge all things in the world, to distinguish right from wrong; this is the cultivation of the Way of Literature.

He pointed to the Human Emperor Banner and explained, "This banner is called 'Human Emperor,' and it is the ancient treasure of our Haoran Academy."

It embodies the principles of 'order' and 'law' established by the sages of humankind.

But do not be deceived by its dark appearance. This black light is not evil, but rather the manifestation of supreme righteous energy, which is specifically designed to subdue all evil spirits in the world.

Yun Songzi's voice suddenly became high-pitched and impassioned.

"When this banner is displayed, it is a majestic display of heavenly might, a punishment on behalf of heaven! All evil spirits, heretics, demons, and ghosts in the world will be suppressed by this banner and transformed into nourishment for the banner itself."

Therefore, every time you make a fair judgment, every time you speak out for justice, you are not only upholding the law, but also refining this banner and increasing its power.

"This banner in your hands is both a treasure for protecting the path and a tool for cultivation!"
In the future, you should use the principles in your heart and the banner in your hand to judge the injustices of this world, and for the sake of the human race, restore the laws and regulations!

Furthermore, with this banner, we shall sweep away all demons and monsters from this world, and cleanse the universe for humanity!

Sweeping away the world and re-establishing laws and regulations were still too far away for him, but Meng Yanwei could feel that the blood-related connection between him and this black banner had become even closer.

He nodded solemnly: "Master, I understand."

Meng Xihong watched from the side, deeply shocked.

He originally thought that cultivating one's literary and moral character was a slow and steady process that required years of accumulation.

Unexpectedly, there is such a method of "understanding the Tao through cases"!

He looked at his son, his eyes filled with pride and anticipation.

　This is the third chapter today, there are two more to go.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)