Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Fu Nian, on the other hand, is someone who cares a lot about winning and losing.

Having spent a long time playing chess and exchanging skills with Yan Lu, Fu Nian found himself unable to surpass his junior brother in many aspects, often ending up in a draw. He was incredibly frustrated.

He knew, of course, that his junior brother harbored a secret.

The fact that his father took him in and accepted him as a disciple when he first came to the Confucian school speaks volumes.

You should know that although there are many disciples in Xiaoshengxianzhuang, only he and the newly joined Yan Lu can be considered his father's personal disciples.

However, the inability to derive the joy of victory from Yan Lu is ultimately disheartening.

If Yan Lu were the same age as me, that would be fine, but she's much younger than me.

Although I didn't lose, I ultimately didn't win either.

This is why, after discovering that Xu Qing was watching the game, he couldn't wait to invite Xu Qing to play a game.

The so-called "eagerness at the sight of prey" is pretty much what this means.

Playing chess with Yan Lu had already made it difficult for Fu Nian to feel any excitement.

What Fu Nian didn't expect was that Xu Qing didn't agree to play chess with him. After much back and forth, they ended up having a match in the kendo dojo.

Put aside your complicated thoughts.

Fu Nian held his sword, waiting for Xu Qing's attack.

Just as there is a first and second move in Go, this is the Confucian Sage Village, and as a person here, it is naturally not appropriate for him to make the first move.

Xu Qing understood Fu Nian's meaning, but said nothing more, only brandishing the sword in his hand.

It was clearly a wooden sword, but in Xu Qing's hands, it possessed a chilling aura.

"So fast!"

Fu Nian's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily raised his sword to block, but he was a fraction too slow. With a "rip," his collar was torn open, revealing his plain undergarment.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly, spun around to avoid the subsequent attacks, and managed to regain his footing.

This sword strike completely dispelled Fu Nian's contempt.

He took a deep breath, flicked his wrist, and the wooden sword drew an arc in front of him. The surrounding breeze seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, gathering around the sword. The originally chaotic airflow gradually became orderly, like combed silk threads, flowing towards Xu Qing along the sword's momentum.

"What a brilliant move, the Sword of Wind!" A hint of admiration flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. He did not take the attack head-on, but instead touched the ground with his toes and floated backward like a willow catkin.

The wind whipped at his clothes, making a rustling sound, but it never managed to touch the hem of his garment.

"Is this a move from Confucian swordsmanship?"

"It's a sword move I created myself," Fu Nian said frankly, swinging his wooden sword again. The air currents seemed to come alive, condensing into an invisible barrier in front of him. "I haven't thought of a name yet."

"A self-created sword technique, that's rare." Xu Qing smiled. "I'm not good at creating my own moves, but I like to modify other people's sword techniques. You use the wind as your momentum, then I will respond with thunder."

Before he finished speaking, he lightly tapped the wooden sword in his hand, and the surrounding wind suddenly became violent, with faint sounds of thunder exploding in the void.

boom!

A dull sound echoed through the kendo hall, and the air currents manipulated by Fu Nian dissipated instantly upon encountering this raging wind.

Immediately afterwards, a tiny arc of electricity sprouted from Xu Qing's wooden sword, darting towards Fu Nian like a serpent.

Fu Nian hurriedly swung his sword to block, but he was still a step too slow.

An electric arc grazed his collar and added a tear to his sleeve.

He didn't care about his torn clothes; instead, he became even more focused.

His sword moves were faster and faster than the last, and the air currents in front of him were unpredictable, sometimes condensing into a shield, sometimes turning into a sharp blade.

Xu Qing's response became increasingly composed, each sword strike precisely countering Fu Nian's moves while always maintaining a sense of restraint.

The wooden sword at most only tore Fu Nian's clothes, never harming his skin.

Fu Nian was increasingly shocked. Xu Qing's control over power had reached an inconceivable level. He had thought that he could control the wind with "propriety," which was already quite remarkable, but in front of Xu Qing, his skill seemed so immature.

As his moves were repeatedly countered, he gained new insights into his self-created sword techniques.

Where were the movements too sluggish, where was the strength insufficient, and where could more variations be added... This exchange was more like a unique enlightenment.

Sunlight streamed through the doors and windows, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The soft clinking of wooden swords mingled with the sound of surging air, creating a unique symphony.

Fu Nian became more and more engrossed in the fight, his eyes shining brighter and brighter, as if he had found an opportunity to break through his own limitations in this exchange.

Xu Qing did not stop there; on the contrary, he was happy to give Fu Nian pointers.

Chapter 160 Confucian Master, Xi Mo Kun Feng!

time flies.

Finally, with the wooden sword in Fu Nian's hand breaking, the sword duel came to an end.

At this moment, Fu Nian was utterly disheveled. His moon-white scholar's robe was torn in several places, revealing the light brown lining underneath. A few strands of hair fell across his forehead, and his usually neatly tied hair ornament was askew. Where was the gentlemanly demeanor of the eldest disciple of the Confucian sect? Yet, there was no trace of shame or anger on his face. Instead, he raised his hand to brush the dust off his robe and bowed deeply to Xu Qing, his tone sincere to the point of humility: "Thank you for your guidance, sir!"

"It's not really instruction." Xu Qing held the intact wooden sword, its blade gleaming faintly in the morning light. His expression was calm as he gently stroked the hilt with his fingertips. "It's just a friendly exchange."

He paused slightly, his gaze falling on Fu Nian's broken sword, and added, "Your defeat was not due to poor swordsmanship, but rather to the inferior quality of your sword. Good swordsmanship requires a good sword to complement it; otherwise, even the most exquisite moves will be difficult to unleash their full power."

Fu Nian raised an eyebrow, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. The sword duel had just ended, so why did the master suddenly bring up the quality of the swords?

He was about to press for more information when Xu Qing abruptly changed the subject, clearly not intending to continue the conversation.

Xu Qing originally wanted to take the opportunity to promote his sword, but then he thought that he had only met Fu Nian for the first time today, and it would be too eager to bring up the matter. Since he would not be leaving Xiaoshengxianzhuang in the short term, he might as well take his time.

"You should go back to your residence and change your clothes first. If the other disciples see you like this, they might misunderstand."

Fu Nian glanced at his tattered clothes following his gaze, nodded slightly, and turned to leave. Although his steps were somewhat hurried, he still maintained the demeanor of a Confucian disciple.

Xu Qing stayed in the kendo hall, looking at the scattered wood chips and broken wooden sword fragments on the ground, and then strolled around Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

Along the cobblestone path, groves of green bamboo rustled in the wind. Occasionally, a disciple in a scholar's robe would hurry by carrying bamboo slips, stopping when he saw him, but choosing not to speak with him.

After wandering around for about half an hour, he returned to the visitor hall. The air was filled with a faint scent of ink, but the other envoys who had accompanied him had not yet returned.

"I wonder what they talked about with the Confucian leader that took so long."

He couldn't help but think to himself.

On the other side, Fu Nian had just returned to his residence when he bumped into Yan Lu, who was already waiting there.

Yan Lu was sitting by the window, holding a scroll of the Book of Songs. When he saw Fu Nian push the door open and enter, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he almost dropped the bamboo scroll in his hand: "Senior Brother Fu Nian, you..."

He simply couldn't reconcile the disheveled, tattered man before him with the dignified and composed senior brother he usually knew. After all, he had never seen Fu Nian in such a state since he entered Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

Noticing his surprised gaze, Fu Nian raised his hand to straighten his crooked hair ornament and explained calmly, "I just sparred with Mr. Qing at the kendo dojo. Although I looked disheveled, I was not injured at all. On the contrary, I benefited greatly from Mr. Qing's guidance."

Yan Lu raised an eyebrow slightly and moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something.

He knew Fu Nian's swordsmanship; anyone who could make him so disheveled must be incredibly powerful.

But he swallowed his words and simply nodded, "It's good that you're alright, Senior Brother."

Fu Nian didn't say anything more, turned around and went into the inner room to change his clothes.

In less than half an incense stick's time, he came out again. His moon-white scholar's robe had been replaced with a clean navy blue one. His hair was neatly tied up, and his hair crown was properly placed on his head. His previous dishevelment was completely gone. The gentle and refined senior Confucian scholar had returned.

……

Xu Qing waited for a while in the Confucian reception room before Hou Sheng's envoys finally arrived.

He was not a god after all, and did not have the ability to know everything or be omnipotent, so after seeing these people, he immediately asked a question.

"How is the situation?"

"The Confucian sect leader has agreed to step in and is willing to introduce Xun Qing to us!" someone said, answering Xu Qing's question.

"This is good news!"

Xu Qing said with a smile.

"It seems that Confucianism is quite pragmatic."

These words left the envoys at a loss for words.

Xu Qing looked at the people in front of him and didn't care.

It's quite normal for Confucian scholars to be pragmatic and adaptable.

After all, Xiaoshengxianzhuang is different from the Confucian scholars in the common people.

Those Confucian scholars can criticize people at will, since they only need to feed themselves and their families.

Xiaoshengxianzhuang has been rooted in this land of mulberry trees for many years.

When considering things, one should not only consider oneself personally, but also the entire resort.

Offending the officials of Qi will not end well.

Therefore, even if King Qi had any opinions about visiting Qin or about Hou Sheng, Xiaoshengxianzhuang would not express them; on the contrary, they would show their support.

Thus, Xu Qing and the others temporarily settled down at the Confucian Little Sage Village.

The next morning, just as the morning light streamed into the room through the window, there was a knock on the door.

Xu Qing opened the door and saw Fu Nian, whom he had sparred with the day before, standing outside, his expression still dignified.

"Gentlemen, please follow me. I will take you to see Uncle Xun." Xu Qing and the others did not say much and silently followed behind Fu Nian.

As for why Fu Shang didn't personally lead the way, he already knew the answer. As the head of the Confucian school and the owner of Xiaoshengxianzhuang, Fu Shang needed to put on airs. Furthermore, in terms of seniority, Fu Shang was of the same generation as Xunzi. Although Xunzi was a master of Confucianism, he was a guest here, which involved the rule of first come, first served.

Fu Shang had already shown them great respect by agreeing to let them meet Xunzi, so naturally he wouldn't personally act as an intermediary.

Fu Nian led the group through the courtyard of Xiaoshengxianzhuang. The green bamboo along the bluestone path grew even denser, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they arrived at the other side of the hill. There were no pavilions or towers like in the manor, only a few simple wooden houses. Outside the houses were a few trees with rough bark, but their branches and leaves were still lush. Xunzi lived here.

This is not a reclusion. In the original text, Xunzi lived in a hermitage in the bamboo forest behind the mountain, which was a retreat from the world after his heart had died. Now, although he is old, he often appears at Xiaoshengxianzhuang to teach his disciples.

In the land of Qi and Lu, Xunzi was a legendary figure. He served as the chief priest of Jixia Academy three times, went to the State of Chu, was highly valued by Lord Chunshen, and was appointed magistrate of Lanling County. According to official history, he was dismissed from office after Lord Chunshen's death and eventually lived at home in Lanling, writing books until his death.

But the world was different. During his tenure in Lanling, he saw through the darkness of officialdom, so he left the State of Chu and returned to the State of Qi, where he came to Xiaoshengxianzhuang to teach.

Han Fei and Li Si became his disciples during this period.

Fu Nian took the lead and walked towards one of the wooden houses. Inside, there was a rustling sound of bamboo slips being turned.

He knocked gently on the door, his voice respectful: "Uncle Xun."