Achieving the Dao from the Hundred Schools of Thought

Zhuang Weiyang walked forward without making a sound. At this moment, the little beggar who was begging with the words "Wenfa" was holding a broken bowl and stretching it out towards the crowd.

"Wow, you're quite knowledgeable about music! Just for this one line from the Book of Songs, I'll give you a piece of my mind!"

Ahead, a young man who looked like a playboy threw a "knife coin" into the bowl. The sound of the coin hitting the broken bowl reached the beggar's ears like heavenly music, leaving the little beggar stunned for a long time.

"Thank you, sir!"

Without saying a word, the little beggar grabbed the coins and ran into the crowd, disappearing without a trace a few moments later.

"Damn it, Zhong Bai! What are you doing everywhere?!"

The young master was none other than Zhong Bai. Zhuang Weiyang was a little troubled for a moment, thinking to herself: Only Zhong Bai would do something like giving money to a beggar!

In ordinary times, ordinary people mostly use metals such as copper and iron for transactions, while gold and silver are used for valuable transactions.

Knife coins are different; they contain the essence of human fortune and are often the stipends of practitioners.

One knife coin can be exchanged for a bag of rice that people can transport.

If it were regular rice, there would be even more!

This knife-shaped coin is probably enough for a little beggar to buy himself a wife.

The premise is that he can keep it.

The little beggar was aware of the implications, but after a few moments of hesitation, he disappeared into the crowd.

Meanwhile, Zhong Bai, the one who bestowed the opportunity upon ordinary people, was quite indignant at the little beggar's escape and complained to Zhuang Weiyang.

"Brother-in-law, don't you think this little beggar is going too far! He's so ungrateful, he didn't even offer to sing me another song!"

"Give me a break! Do you think he can keep this coin even if he sings again? And you, haven't you had enough of being beaten? How dare you call me that!"

Zhong Bai patted Zhuang Weiyang's shoulder, then casually put his arm around her back, giving her a knowing look:

"Brother-in-law, my sister went to hand over military affairs with Zhao Xiuwen today. She's not in Suzhou, so how could she have overheard our conversation?"

Zhuang Weiyang was both amused and annoyed. She slapped his hand away and scolded him with a laugh, "Is this something you can't hear? That's your own sister! How can you ruin her reputation like this!"

Zhong Bai, with an air of self-righteousness that he was the only one sober in a world of drunks, shook his head and sighed repeatedly.

"Alas, people love slender waists. My sister is a soldier cultivator, and she is known for her hard bones, which makes her unattractive to men."

Therefore, I have thoroughly studied military strategy and infiltrated the academy, all to choose a husband for my sister! And you, Brother Weiyang, are the one I, Zhong Bai, have chosen!

"Zhong Bai, what did you see in me? I'll change, okay?"

Zhong Bai shook his head repeatedly, feigning regret: "It's too late. Among the students of the academy, only you have not lost your virginity. You look like someone who is afraid of his wife."

My sister is at the Bright Radiance Realm and is about to advance to the Second Realm of Military Strategists using lunar magic. If she can obtain the remaining inheritance in the Great Zhou, she will soar to the heavens and become unstoppable!

When the time comes, my sister will be worthy of being called one of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

Therefore, my sister's husband must be henpecked, otherwise... my sister will have to become a widow.

Faced with Zhong Bai's words, Zhuang Weiyang blushed and pointed a trembling finger at him:

"You scoundrel! You're slandering my innocence for no reason! My vital essence hasn't been lost... How can a scholar's affairs be described as 'my vital essence hasn't been lost'?"

"Disgrace, disgrace!"

With that, Zhuang Weiyang turned and left, moving away from Zhong Bai.

The appearance of this kid is definitely not a good thing. The most important thing right now is to find the path of cultivation.

Zhong Bai seemed to be bored and stuck to him again.

"Brother-in-law, would you like to take a look at these plums? I'm the local tyrant! The bandit leader! I know everything!"

Zhuang Weiyang remained silent, only quickening her pace.

However, Zhuang Weiyang underestimated how difficult Zhong Bai was to deal with.

Fifteen minutes later, Zhong Bai still acted as if nothing had happened, sticking close to Zhuang Weiyang.

If Zhuang Weiyang loses her temper, Zhong Bai will put on a surprised expression.

"Brother-in-law! What are you doing? This is such a big plum orchard, can't I even take a walk around it?!"

"Then why are you following me?"

"It's nothing, I'm just taking a stroll."

Zhuang Weiyang felt a throbbing sensation in her temples. She took a deep breath to suppress her agitation.

The overall situation is paramount! The overall situation is paramount!

The immediate need is to quickly find one's own path of cultivation! Zhuli is not far from the East China Sea, and although Taihu Lake is guarded, it is not absolutely safe.

Not to mention, Zhao Xiuwen has already gone to the experience-farming spot.

Zhuang Weiyang hadn't forgotten that there had to be a resolution between her and Zhao Xiuwen.

At this point, it's no longer a matter of suppression or disapproval. Given the chance, both of them would try to kill the other.

Thinking of this, Zhuang Weiyang forced a smile and looked at the local bully, Zhong Bai.

"Silly... Zhong Bai, do you even know where there are beggars who are doing poorly?"

Zhong Bai immediately nodded: "I know, brother-in-law!"

"Is that really true, Brother Bai?"

"Indeed! Right outside the city, groups of savages live far worse lives than those inside the city!"

Zhuang Weiyang's eyes lit up. She slapped her forehead, suddenly realizing something, and cursed inwardly: How come my brain isn't as fast as a weirdo's?

Could the people inside the city be worse off than the savages outside?

The term "wild man" was a characteristic of the Spring and Autumn Period. It did not refer to people who ate raw meat and drank blood, but rather to people who lived in the countryside and engaged in farming.

The public fields of the Wu Kingdom were cultivated by the wild people!

As for why the wild people are said to be miserable, the reason is simple - no one would think that if they farmed, they would get a share of the produce from the fields, right?

To sustain themselves, the savages could only cultivate private fields next to the public fields in their spare time. The produce from these half of the fields was their own.

"Uneducated, with no upward mobility (not allowed to join the army or study), and living in poverty..."

Zhuang Weiyang became more and more excited as she thought about it.

Savages, your savior, the founder of the Yi Dao—Zhuang Weiyang! He's here!

"Come on, take me outside the city to see these savages!"

With that, Zhuang Weiyang grabbed Zhong Bai and hurriedly headed out of the city!

"Wait, brother-in-law!"

Zhuang Weiyang turned her head and looked at Zhong Bai with dissatisfaction.

Why does this kid always dawdle at crucial moments?

I'm in excellent condition right now, about to make my heroic entrance, and I can't afford to waste my time...

"Brother-in-law, you're going the wrong way. You're going to the East Gate. The nearest settlement of savages is near the West Gate."

"Ahem! Lead the way!"

"Yes, sir!"

……

Zhong Bai led the way, and the two headed straight for a village outside the city.

Throughout the journey, Zhong Bai chattered on and on.

"Brother-in-law, why are you looking for a savage?"

"Brother-in-law, are you trying to steal rice from someone? That's not allowed! There are political guerrillas stationed there year-round! If they get involved, we're finished!"

"Brother-in-law, say something!"

Zhuang Weiyang ignored him, secretly planning how to approach the savage village once they arrived.

What should we do? Should we just distribute food directly? Or something else...?

For a moment, Zhuang Weiyang's mind raced.

"Sigh! Let's go and investigate first! We have no right to speak without investigation."

Before long, fields of public land came into view.

In the Wu and Yue regions, rice is harvested twice a year. This is the time when the summer harvest is over and planting begins!

On the barren public fields, groups of two or three savages dressed in coarse cloth were scattered about.

As the villagers scattered rice seeds, a faint, shimmering light appeared in the communal fields, echoing the winged sun in the sky.

Zhuang Weiyang paid no attention to these things, focusing her attention solely on the wild people.

There are so many mysterious things in this world, what does a piece of farmland matter? One's own path is more important.

The savages had dark skin and blank expressions. The golden light from the public fields shone on their faces, but it could not dispel the gloom on their faces.

Zhuang Weiyang thought to herself: Why does this expression look even worse than when I was working as a courier in my previous life?

"Weiyang, Weiyang! What brings you here?"

Zhuang Weiyang heard someone calling her and turned to look.

"Brother Zezhong!"