Achieving the Dao from the Hundred Schools of Thought

"Master, what's wrong with you?"

Zhuang Weiyang was a little confused.

Logically speaking, after leaving the State of Lu, Confucius should have been free to roam the world.

Why is it that after more than a month, the Master's face shows no sign of relief, but rather a look of distress?

Seeing this, it's even more frustrating than not being able to break through.

Upon hearing Zhuang Weiyang's voice, the Master forced a smile.

"No problem, no problem, I am fine and arrived in Wei yesterday."

Duke Ling of Wei has treated me with great courtesy, regarding me as an honored guest. I am doing well!

The more Zhuang Weiyang listened, the stranger her expression became.

oh, the country...

"Master, is it Nanzi who is pestering you?"

The Master's hand trembled slightly as he stroked his beard, and the gentle smile on his face was about to crumble as he asked a question with a forced, insincere grin.

"Wei Yang, why are you bringing up this woman?! Do you also believe that I would be tempted by Nanzi?"

As the wife of Duke Ling of Wei, Nanzi wielded immense power in the state of Wei, with many of her people throughout the court.

However, this Nanzi was not simply a powerful minister.

If I had to describe it in four words, it would be...

She's famous for her beauty!

Nanzi, who was born in the State of Song, used her status as the wife of the ruler of the State of Wei to navigate the various states during the Spring and Autumn Period with great skill and shrewdness.

It can be said that half the credit for the stability of the State of Wei goes to Nanzi.

Confucius, renowned for his virtue, had also attained the third level of self-cultivation. Nanzi, a shrewd and calculating politician, would surely pay him a visit.

"Master, Nanzi is a very cunning person, please be careful."

Confucius sighed deeply, his smile faded, and his expression turned sorrowful again.

"I am aware of Nanzi's great name. I heard about her when I was in the State of Lu."

Ke Nanzi presented her visiting card, stating directly: "Any cultivator from any direction who wishes to establish friendly relations with the State of Wei must meet with me, Nanzi."

Zhuang Weiyang then realized the reason for Confucius's headache.

Nanzi was a person whose behavior was often improper.

Nanzi's visiting card was perfectly in accordance with etiquette.

Confucius, who valued the Zhou rites most, received the visiting card. If he met Nanzi, he feared he would be misunderstood; if he did not meet her, it would be disrespectful to the royal family of Wei and would be against etiquette.

The Master is so pitiful~

Zhuang Weiyang forced a smile and made a decision in her heart.

When I get back later, I must talk to Senior Brother Zilu about it!

"Weiyang, how have you been lately? Has the blood curse been resolved?"

The Master did not perceive Zhuang Weiyang's "malice," but instead inquired about her recent situation with concern.

Zhuang Weiyang sighed and replied:

"Master, the matter of the Blood Curse remains hidden, and the Blood Sea has also disappeared without a trace."

Now, Wei Yang can only be cautious in everything she does and focus on improving her strength.

The opportunity to break through to "see one's true nature" was something Wei Yang couldn't find no matter how hard she tried.

All dangers stem from insufficient strength.

If Zhuang Weiyang were at the second level of cultivation, she would have already taken the initiative to plow through the Wu-Yue region, find the remnants of the Green Snake clan, and eliminate any future troubles.

"Seeing one's true nature is impossible if one's original mind is unclear. Weiyang, your inner fire has only been shining brightly for two months. Breakthroughs cannot be rushed."

The Master offered two words of comfort, then pondered for a moment and said:

"My breakthrough to the second realm was due to Lao Tzu's guidance."

When I was young, I always felt that Confucianism and Taoism were lacking, so I went to Luoyang to consult the Keeper of the Archives of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Lao Tzu's three sayings enabled me to understand my true nature. Now I pass these three sayings on to you. Study them carefully, and they will surely be of help!

Confucius's breakthrough in his youth was actually guided by Lao Tzu?!

In this world today, only I know Lao Tzu's identity as the founder of Taoism.

Confucius did not know the true identity of Laozi, but he knew the extent of Laozi's knowledge and sought his guidance.

The Master has a keen eye!

Zhuang Weiyang straightened her clothes, bowed respectfully, and waited for the Master to impart his teachings.

"One of them is: the ancients, their bodies and bones have all decayed, only their words remain in our ears."

"The second is: A wise man rides a carriage when the time is right, and travels in rags when the time is not right."

"Thirdly: rid yourself of pride and excessive desires, affected manners and lewd thoughts, all of which are of no benefit to you."

"Although these three words do not involve specific paths, they directly point to the practitioner's true nature."

If one can gain some insight, the breakthrough to "seeing one's true nature" will come naturally.

Zhuang Weiyang couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed after hearing these three sentences.

Isn't this the principle of being a good person?

What does this have to do with spiritual practice?

The first sentence means that we should not blindly believe in the past, for the ancients are gone.

The second sentence says to know when to advance and when to retreat, and the third sentence says to guard against arrogance and impetuosity.

"These principles should be taught to children; they are of no use to my path of enlightenment," Zhuang Weiyang thought to herself, but she did not show it on her face. She respectfully bowed and thanked the teacher.

The Master sighed softly, said nothing more, and exited the dream.

A few days later, Zhuang Weiyang, as usual, first watched her senior brother Zilu and Zhong Yue practice archery, and then went to the Yue people's place to watch them work across the riverbank.

"The opportunity that led me to enlightenment was saving these people. What was I thinking back then?"

Zhuang Weiyang leaned against a tree, recalling the scene of her breakthrough two months ago.

"I don't think I thought that much about it, I just wanted them to live."

"Oh, my heart's fire, how can I make you shine brighter, illuminating my true nature?"

……

Just as Zhuang Weiyang was hesitating, Mo Xie, the female swordsmith who was far away in Kuaiji and Gan Jiang's wife, was also hesitating.

"Doctor Fan, please go back! Now that Gan Jiang is dead, Mo Xie, as Gan Jiang's wife, should obey his last wishes."

Now that the person is dead, what's the point of revenge?

Mo Xie made up her mind to follow Gan Jiang's instructions and keep the whereabouts of the King's Sword—Bu Guang—forever buried in her heart.

Fan Li, seeing that Mo Xie had no more desire for revenge, bowed again and solemnly said:

"Moye! If you reveal the whereabouts of 'Buguang', I will definitely inform the King of Yue so that a golden statue of Gan Jiang can be made, placed in the ancestral temple, and enjoy the incense offerings of the Yue Kingdom!"

I, Fan Li, swear by my very nature!

If a cultivator at the second realm makes a great contribution, the king may allow him to enter the ancestral temple after death and enjoy the nation's fortune.

If a cultivator dies and is worshipped by the entire human race, his true spirit can live on forever.

Being worshipped by a country cannot bring Gan Jiang back to life, but under the protection of the country's fortune, Gan Jiang's soul can be reincarnated early and will not have to suffer the torment of the underworld!

Mo Xie hadn't expected Fan Li to offer such terms; the determination on her face turned to anxiety, and she quickly asked:

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course it's true!" Fan Li nodded in reply. "Fan Li has already reached the peak of the second realm; if he goes against his true nature, he will never be able to break through to the third realm!"

"Okay! I'll tell you!"

Moye finally made up her mind. All her treasures were not worth as much as her husband's early release from the torment of the underworld.

"Not just" is black jade!

"What?! The Jade Sword is indeed sharp, but it's just an ordinary second-tier sword. How can it be worthy of being called a king's sword?!"

Mo Xie smiled bitterly and said:

"Not only is it not yet sharpened, the entire blade is black, and the color of a king is not apparent; the blade is like jade, and its sharpness is hidden within."

Fan Li's composure finally crumbled.

"What should we do? Gan Jiang is dead, who will sharpen the King's Sword?!"

Gan Jiang is a swordsmith at the peak of the second realm. Mo Xie, you've only just entered the second realm. How can you compare to Gan Jiang?