Achieving the Dao from the Hundred Schools of Thought

No one stopped Wu Zixu from leaving the banquet.

They did not interrupt Goujian's singing.

"Shame on me—! That foolish thought that should never have arisen!"

"Shame on you—! That servant who should have died!"

Goujian sang as he crawled, his voice sincere and his face showing piety.

It was as if Fuchai was the most revered deity in the world, and he himself was a pilgrim prostrating at the feet of the deity.

Faced with Goujian like this, Fuchai's lips curled up, but he forcibly suppressed it and asked a question while pretending to be puzzled.

"Goujian, why are you dressed like this? Where is your regal bearing?"

Goujian stopped singing, prostrated himself on the ground, and his voice choked with emotion:

"When I heard that an envoy was coming, I was overjoyed."

So he performed a dance for the king to demonstrate the majesty of the Wu Kingdom!

Please, Your Majesty, do not blame Goujian!

Fuchai looked at Tian Chang with a helpless expression.

"Alas, the Yue women's dance was ruined by Goujian. Tian Chang, let's invite you to see the Yue women's dance again next time."

Before Tian Chang could react, Fuchai clapped his hands and summoned a servant standing nearby.

"Guards, drag this troublesome King Yue away!"

"I am weary; you may all leave. It is getting late, and I will not keep the envoy any longer!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Fuchai stood up and left the hall.

The observant official standing nearby walked up to Xi Shi and led her away.

As for where they were taken, everyone in the hall knew perfectly well.

"Ah? I haven't even had a drink yet, and Your Majesty's banquet is already over?"

Bo Jiang murmured to himself, his mind already wandering far away as he admired Xi Shi's dance.

He had barely come to his senses when the banquet ended; things had changed so quickly that he hadn't had time to process it.

Zhuang Weiyang, standing to the side, was completely different from him; a huge weight had been lifted from her heart.

"It's finally over. I was really afraid Fuchai would call on everyone again!"

Zhuang Weiyang didn't care at all whether Xi Shi or Goujian lived or died.

Once you're dead, you're dead.

He just wanted to end this quickly, return to the experience of Zhuli Liver as soon as possible, and find a way to break through to the second realm.

"Weiyang, I can't sleep with an empty stomach... Come on, I'll treat you to a drink tonight!"

"this……"

Zhuang Weiyang looked troubled, even though she had already told Zilu in advance that she would be going back later.

But after the banquet, wouldn't it be inappropriate to go drinking without inviting Zilu?

"Now that you've left Weiyang, don't hesitate! Let's go to Peach Blossom Tavern and drink Green Python Wine!"

"Is it really true?"

Zhuang Weiyang changed her mind in an instant.

I'll also bring a jar for my senior brother Zilu; he probably won't blame me then!

……

Peach Blossom Tavern.

"Ah—! That feels so good!"

Zhuang Weiyang didn't get any food or drink in the Wu King's palace.

Since obtaining the Qi and Blood Furnace, Zhuang Weiyang's appetite has increased dramatically, and her desire for food has gradually grown.

Bojiang looked at the table full of food and wine with a pained expression.

"Drink slowly! Savor it before you swallow!"

Zhuang Weiyang nodded perfunctorily without comment, and then took another big gulp.

Just as they were enjoying their drinks, a strange voice sounded from the side.

"Zhuang Weiyang?"

Zhuang Weiyang subconsciously turned her head and blurted out a name.

"Tian Chang?"

Tian Chang and his two companions appeared at the next table at some point, and were somewhat surprised to see Zhuang Weiyang.

Bo Jiang was also taken aback, and an eerie silence fell over the tavern.

Bojiang was the first to come to his senses, stood up and bowed.

Just as Tian Chang was about to return the greeting, Bo Jiang stepped forward enthusiastically and stopped Tian Chang from bowing.

"Those who drink should not engage in so many formalities!"

The Qi envoy also knows Wei Yang. Come, come, sit down and let's chat!

Bo Jiang didn't know how Zhuang Weiyang knew this member of the Tian clan, but that didn't stop him from warmly greeting the envoy.

As a minor official, the art of currying favor was ingrained in Bo Jiang's very being.

The Tian clan was the largest clan in the State of Qi, and Tian Chang, as the young clan leader, held a very prestigious position.

If this were in the State of Qi, Bo Jiang probably wouldn't even have the right to meet him, let alone drink with him.

Now that he has the opportunity, Bojiang will naturally try to get close to him.

Faced with Bo Jiang's enthusiasm, Tian Chang neither resisted nor gave him more opportunities to speak. He simply smiled and nodded before taking his two cousins ​​to sit down.

"Zhuang Weiyang, did I address you correctly?"

Zhuang Weiyang was filled with doubt.

How did Tian Chang know about it?

After pondering for a few seconds, Zhuang Weiyang had a guess in mind before replying:

"What does the Tian family want from me, Zhuang Weiyang?"

"you!"

Upon hearing Zhuang Weiyang's impolite reply, Tian Ni immediately wanted to retaliate, but was stopped by Tian Chang's gaze.

"Brother Zhuang, there's no need to be so wary. Our meeting today was purely by chance."

Zhuang Weiyang nodded slightly.

Seeing Zhuang Weiyang's cold attitude, Tian gave a bitter smile:

"Brother Zhuang, as a native of Wu, why are you so concerned about the affairs of Lu?"

Moreover, although the matter of the Qi people sending female musicians was orchestrated by my Tian family behind the scenes... it's not my Tian family's fault that Confucius was disliked by Duke Ding of Lu."

Tian Chang's words confirmed Zhuang Weiyang's guess.

When an envoy from a country travels, he or she may send out countless spies to investigate the situation beforehand.

When Zilu and I entered the city, we didn't try to hide it.

Tian Chang's men recognized Zilu, and Zhuang Weiyang, who was hanging out with Zilu, was naturally assumed to be a Confucian.

"Oh? You, Tian, ​​sowed discord between the Master and Duke Ding of Lu. Why can't you be blamed?"

At this time, being in the state of Wu, no matter how powerful the Tian clan was, they dared not make a move in Gusu.

Zhuang Weiyang was also curious about this Tian Chang, so she took a firm stance and wanted to see what kind of Tian Chang he was.

Tian Chang smiled slightly, tapped the wine bowl lightly with his finger, and drew a map on the table.

"In a time of great contention, a strong nation is strong, and a weak nation perishes! Qi and Lu are neighboring states, and although they have not fought each other in recent years, they have had constant frictions!"

If we allow Confucius, a Confucian scholar at the peak of the third realm, to help the royal family of Lu to restore order to the court, then it will be our Qi state that suffers!

"How can one allow another to sleep soundly beside one's bed? Brother Zhuang, do you agree with this principle?"

Zhuang Weiyang nodded noncommittally.

"The logic is sound, but I'm the kind of person who prioritizes family over reason. All I know is that my teacher was betrayed by your Tian family!"

"Bang!"

Tian Ni slammed his hand on the table, his inner fire ignited, revealing his Bright Radiance Realm cultivation, and he made a move to fight Zhuang Weiyang.

Tian Ni and Tian Bao were nominally cousins ​​of Tian Chang, but in reality, they were retainers of the Tian clan.

A minister toils when his lord is troubled, and dies when his lord is humiliated. Zhuang Weiyang's provocative attitude made it impossible for Tian Ni to remain silent any longer.

Tian Chang laughed heartily and waved for Tian Ni to sit down.

"Brother Zhuang, now that you've said that, I know you don't blame the Tian family! Hahahaha."

Zhuang Weiyang relaxed her composed expression, raised her wine bowl to Tian Chang, and asked:

Why?

Tian Chang picked up the wine bowl and drank it all in one gulp. His face immediately turned red, making his eyes appear even brighter.

"When a Confucian scholar gets angry, he will only discuss the principles of the Way and will never say anything about helping his relatives instead of the truth!"

It seems Brother Zhuang also approves of my abilities, Tian Chang.

Zhuang Weiyang shook her head and sighed:

"I don't approve of your Tian family, but what difference does it make? It's just a matter of the winner taking all!"

My master was defeated, so he left the State of Lu.

Your Tian family won, so the three powerful families of Lu became tyrannical, and the three border states abandoned Lu and left!

"What I, Zhuang Weiyang, acknowledge... is that your Tian family's large measure of water goes out and the small measure of water goes in, saving the lives of countless people in Qi!"

Tian Chang was slightly stunned, as if he hadn't expected Zhuang Weiyang to say such a thing.

"The benevolent love others; Brother Zhuang has truly inherited Confucius's teachings!"

"Enough with the small talk, let's drink!"