Chapter 157: Lonely the Sages All Will Be


    In the eyes of the carefree Li Baoping, this prosperous prefectural city in the north of Yellow Court Nation was extremely lively and bustling. In fact, it was even livelier and more bustling than several of her hometowns put together.


    In the eyes of the old schr who had seen countless mountains and rivers, however, he would naturally see further and deeper. Perhaps he could already see the iron hooves of an enemy empire marching south and the tragic scene of dust and smoke rising into the air. Those jolly smiles and delightful conversations would soon be the source of anguished wails and heart wrenching screams.


    In fact, it was surprisingly those haggard beggars sitting on the sides of the streets who would experience less pain and suffering in the future. As for those hooligans and rogues, they would further find great opportunities in that chaotic world. Perhaps they would even soar in status to be the new officials and generals of Yellow Court Nation.


    However, the old schr had already experienced many vicissitudes, so he naturally wouldn''t allow these emotions to show on his face, lest he ruin the good mood of the little girl and young boy.


    Weaving left and right through the streets, the old schr eventually led them to an old bookshop where he bought them a few books each. The owner of the bookshop was an old man who had failed to achieve sess in the imperial examination, and he was someone who would often feel a sense of superiority and not pay much heed to others. However, he felt a sense of familiarity and respect toward the eloquent old schr, and he was eventually captivated by the knowledge and moral principles of the old schr.


    The books were meant to cost around 20 taels of silver, yet the old man insisted that he would only ept 10 taels of silver. After leaving the bookshop, the old schr looked at the expressions of admiration on Li Baoping and Chen Ping''an''s faces and chuckled, "How about that? Studying and reading books is quite useful, isn''t it? It helped us save eight taels of silver today. And that''s why people say books hold houses of gold within them[1]..."


    After saying this, the old schr lowered his voice and said in a mysterious manner, "In fact, in some ce to the south — not the southern regions of Eastern Treasured Vial Continent, of course — there''s a Pure Confucian Chen n. There''s a stubborn old man in this n who always disagrees with me, and when he was young, he would read books and study day after day, night after night. After a few decades, his sincerity and devoutness likely moved the heavens. One day, he genuinely read a house of gold and a wife of beauty into existence."


    Chen Ping''an''s eyes widened in astonishment. He gulped and asked, "How big was the house of gold?"


    Meanwhile, Li Baoping had an expression of curiosity as she asked, "How beautiful was that woman?"


    The old schrughed heartily as he pointed at the two children and replied, "If you get the opportunity, you should go and check it out yourself in the future. I''m not going to reveal the answer here. After all, seeing is believing. One can indeed describe magnificent mountains, beautiful waters, and stunning sceneries. However, this naturally can''tpare to witnessing it for yourself."


    "Mr. Schrly Sage, why did you buy those books for Junior Uncle? They''re truly so simple! Even Lin Shouyi and I could teach the contents of those books. Isn''t buying them a waste of money?" Li Baoping suddenly asked.


    The old schr''s smile was reced by a serious expression, and he replied, "It''s not the same. It''s not the same at all. The most profound books in the world definitely use the simplest and most easily understandable exnations. These kinds of books are the most suited to educating the masses. Do you know why these books are the cheapest? For example, just how cheap is the Dao Ancestor''s <em>Book of Dao and Its Virtue</em>[2]? If one wants to read it, then one can easily purchase it. If one wants to learn from it, then one can easily derive knowledge from it."


    "It''s because many copies have been printed and many people purchase it, right? That''s why it''s so cheap," Li Baoping added with a slightly confused expression.


    The old schr nodded and exined with a smile, "That''s half correct. After all, if a book is too expensive, how many people would be willing to buy it? Wouldn''t it be better to buy food to fill up their bellies instead? However, we also have to consider the perspective of the paramount sages. If they want to spread their teachings and be the official teaching of a state, empire, continent, or even world, how many direct disciples can they possibly take?


    "Thus, a better option is to cast a wide and print their teachings and principles onto books. By lowering the barrier to entry, many more people will be exposed to these teachings and principles. If the barrier to entry is too high, on the other hand, preventing people from being exposed, how many brilliant disciples and students can be produced?"


    Chen Ping''an sighed softly.


    "What''s wrong? You find this too boring?" the old schr asked in concern. "That''s not very good. It''s very important to study and read books."


    Chen Ping''an shook his head and replied, "No, I just feel like this is quite simr to ordinary people opening stores and fighting for business. In Dragon Riding Alley in my hometown, I have two stores that my friend is helping me look after. I wonder if they''re making a profit or loss right now."


    As if recalling something from the past, the old schr sighed in emotion. He waved a hand and said, "Let''s go. I''ll take you guys to a restaurant to drink some wine. Chen Ping''an, if you''re feeling a strong craving, you can have a little bit to drink. However, Baoping is still too young, so you''re not allowed to drink yet."


    It was still early in the morning, so many restaurants and taverns were still yet to open for business. Fortunately, the old schr found a small tavern that was located on the corner of the street. The ce was sloppy and filled with oil stains, but the three people fortunately didn''t care too much about these things. If Cui Chan, Yu Lu, and Xie Xie were present, they would most likely furrow their brows in distaste. One had high standards, one was a germaphobe, and one had been pampered since a young age. It was very likely that they would never sit down to drink wine in this kind of ce.


    The old schr ordered a pint of loose wine and a te of salted peanuts. Chen Ping''an continued to adhere to the rule of martial artists not being allowed to drink. Beside him, Li Baoping actually wanted to try some wine. However, with her junior uncle by her side, how would she dare to make such a request? Thus, she could only watch the old schr drinking with a slightly envious expression.


    After traveling together with Chen Ping''an for so long, and after being subtly influenced by him this entire time, the three children were roughly aware of what they could do and what they couldn''t do. Sometimes, Li Baoping would also feel like her junior uncle was too strict with things. However, after taking a nce at her beautiful bamboo bookcase and her soft straw sandals, she would immediately push these thoughts out of her mind.


    Because Lin Shouyi had already be a Qi refiner, an immortal, he naturally possessed lofty ambitions. He did indeed have his own opinions about Chen Ping''an, but standing at a great height and able to gaze far into the distance, he felt like these trivial matters weren''t worth his time or attention. Thus, he never said anything either.


    As for Li Huai, this was a mischievous little boy who was most willing to spit out whatever was on his mind. However, it was a shame that most of his remarks and actions werepletely unreasonable. Thus, he would often be suppressed and punished by Li Baoping before Chen Ping''an could even say or do anything.


    Because of these factors, they had yet to encounter any irreconcble differences during their journey to seek knowledge. They were able to maintain a delicate bnce. After Zhu He and Zhu Lu''s departure, the uninvited arrival of Cui Chan, Yu Lu, and Xie Xie outside Yefu Pass allowed the four children to find amon enemy. As a result, the four children ended up growing even closer to each other.


    The old schr continued to enjoy his wine, and his face became slightly red after only a single pint. He didn''t channel his mystical powers to dissipate the effects of the alcohol, and this was perhaps because he had recalled something sad. This was also a rare opportunity for him to rx. Thus, the old schr allowed himself to drink wine and extinguish the sorrows in his mind.


    After looking around, he said in a soft voice, "I had a childhood friend who grew up in a poor family and who had to leave school before he could even graduate. Afterward, he opened a small tavern that was about the same size as the one we''re in right now. He married and had kids when he was 18, and he eventually passed away when he was 65. He ran his small tavern and sold wine for almost 40 years."


    The old schr lightly swirled his wine bowl and continued, "Whenever I had some spare change in my pockets, I liked to visit his tavern if I wanted to drink wine. I would visit his tavern no matter how far away I was."


    There was a hint of sadness on the old schr''s face as he smiled and continued, "On that final visit, however, I saw that the tavern was closed. After asking around, I discovered that my friend had already died. Since his tavern had shut down, I had no option but to buy wine from other ces. Only then did I realize that he had always charged me more than the other taverns for the type of wine that I ordered."


    "Schrly Sage, you treated him as a friend, but it seems like he didn''t treat you as a friend!" Li Baoping huffed in anger.


    Chen Ping''an didn''t say anything.


    The old schr took a sip of wine before continuing, "However, after many years, I learned that the wine he sold me was actually fermented using ingredients that he personally collected from the mountains. He didn''t worry about the cost, and he only used the best ingredients he could find. He was selling the wine to me at a loss."


    Li Baoping''s jaw fell open. The little girl was instantly filled with a sense of shame and remorse.


    The old schr pinched a peanut and popped it into his mouth. Chewing slowly, he reminisced, "In 40 years, I went from being an impoverished schr to someone who passed the imperial examination after much difficulty. Afterward... I also gained some abilities and became a little famous. Each time he saw me, my friend would only encourage me to drink wine and nothing else. He never mentioned the studies of his children, nor did he ever mention the turmoil in his wife''s n. No, he simply encouraged me to drink wine. Back then, he would always sit opposite me, where Little Baoping is sitting now. That was the seat furthest away from me. However, each time he looked up, he would be able to see me. He always had a dumb smile when he looked at me."


    Li Baoping thought for a moment before silently standing up and moving to the seat opposite Chen Ping''an. She grinned widely at him.


    Chen Ping''an made a face at her.


    "Only afterward did I find out that his children had either be extremely powerful officials who were wanton and domineering, bringing cmity upon both the empire and its citizens, or be young wives of officials who ruthlessly killed their maidservants for the most trivial reasons. His wife''s n suddenly shot up in status and gained immense wealth as well, bing one of thergest ns in their prefecture. This was a sinister n from top to bottom, and they were willing to do anything for the sake of wealth and fame. They brought pain and suffering to countlessmon people."


    The old schr dazedly stared at the empty seat opposite him as he continued, "However, you insisted on guarding that rundown tavern and selling wine. You fermented wine year after year, all the way until you died of old age."


    Li Baoping''s jaw fell open again. There was a look of incredulity on her face.


    The old schr retracted his gaze. As he drank the low-quality wine and enjoyed the side of salted peanuts, he said to Chen Ping''an, "You need to apply yourself and earnestly practice martial arts and swordsmanship in the future. You shouldn''t try to speak reason all the time, and you especially shouldn''t be stubborn and do exactly as the books say. You need to understand how to be flexible. Otherwise, you''ll be very tired very quickly. In the end, you might look around and discover that you''re all alone, with not a single friend beside you. Because they need to lead by example, have the sages past and present not done many unreasonable things as well?"


    The old schr extended a finger and drew a line on the table. His arm eventually became straight, and it looked as if he wanted to extend the line out of the table as well. "Just think about it. There are some paths that you can walk alone for one year. But what about 10 years? What about 100 years? 1000 years? Yet, some people are extremely stubborn and insist on continuing down these paths by themselves. So, what should be done? If that''s the case, then one must do the appropriate things at the appropriate times. One can''t be too stubborn or conceited because of their experience or old age. After experiencing everything, one will no longer feel regret when one journeys alone down their path of the Great Dao in the future. Instead, they''ll feel..."


    The old schr was genuinely drunk at this moment, and he pointed at himself with his thumb and eximed, "I''m so fucking impressive!"


    After proiming this in a proud voice, the old schr''s head tilted forward and banged into the table with a loud thud.


    After footing the bill, Chen Ping''an slung the old schr onto his back and left the tavern.


    Li Baoping secretly giggled when she saw this.


    As it turned out, even the Schrly Sage could be drunk! Moreover, he would also ramble on about things after bing drunk.


    "Chen Ping''an! Failing to be unrestrained is failing to make the most of your youth. You definitely have to drink, you hear me? Drinking is amazing!


    "And Little Baoping, you definitely have to remember this. You have to cherish Chen Ping''an, this stupidly kind person. Don''t feel like he''s being unreasonable simply because he''s too kind and too correct. Don''t grow distant from him because of this. Otherwise, there''ll eventuallye a day when you''ll feel deep regret. Chen Ping''an might be the second Little Qi, and when something eventually happens to him, either no one will know, or no one will dare to help him even if they do know. How tragic would that be...?


    "Little Ping''an, we adhere to reason and principles not because we want to make ourselves suffer, but because we want to slowly umte knowledge and righteousness. If one day you suddenly feel like the entire world is being unreasonable, you''ll then have the confidence and legitimacy to loudly proim that everyone is wrong!"


    The drunk old schr forcefully pped the young boy''s head as he spoke.


    Carrying the old schr on his back, Chen Ping''an could only nod earnestly with a pitiful expression.


    The old schr burped and straightened his neck, and it was as if he were looking for the little girl with the small bamboo bookcase. Li Baoping hurriedly jumped and said, "I''m over here!"


    The old schr forcefully pped Chen Ping''an''s head again before saying, "Oh, okay. Little Ping''an, let me ask you this. When you read more books in the future, and when you agree with the principles and reasonings in these books more and more, what would you do if one day all... or half of the schrs in the Majestic World start to criticize Little Baoping and condemn her as being shameless? What would you do if they condemn her for liking her own junior uncle?"


    Li Baoping didn''t understand how her actions would be wrong, and she huffed, "What''s wrong with me liking Junior Uncle? Just what kind of crap are these people studying?!"


    Chen Ping''an had endured many difficulties and toiled on the bottom rung of society ever since a young age. Because of this, he was able to consider more and think further. He was also aware of just how vile people could be. "If such a day trulyes, and if people truly want to condemn Baoping, then they’ll need to speak to my fists first," Chen Ping''an replied without hesitation.


    He then turned to the little girl and said with a smile, "In addition to my fists, I''ll also be able to wield a sword in the future. So if such a day trulyes, then you definitely need to tell your junior uncle. I''ll definitely rush over to protect you no matter how far away I am!"


    "Then what if Little Baoping feels like you can''t defeat those people no matter what? What if she purposely doesn''t tell you because she''s afraid of you getting hurt? And in the end, you, Chen Ping''an, only learn of the tragic oue after the fact. What will you do then? When thingse to that, will you perhaps hunt those schrs down and wantonly massacre them?"


    Chen Ping''an stopped walking and looked at the little girl, asking, "Baoping, do you want your junior uncle to be abused and killed after massacring the culprits to exact revenge for you? Or do you want to confidently stand up and face off against them before thingse to that? Do you want to face those bad people together? Even if we die, we''ll die a dignified death and not have any regrets."


    Li Baoping was slightly flustered, and she replied, "Junior Uncle, it sounds like the second option is slightly better?"


    The old schrughed heartily and added, "It won''t be as miserable as you two think. Schrs still care about their face, after all, so things won''t be so grave that it ends up as a life-and-death situation. However, it will be a bumpy path."


    In the end, the old schr clicked his tongue in wonder and said, "Ping''an, you''re already able to utilize the sequential order ideology to exin things after such a short time. Impressive, very impressive."


    Chen Ping''an smiled and replied, "Old mister, so be it if you''re trying to frighten us. But are you perhaps taking things a little too far by pretending to be drunk so you don''t have to foot the bill?"


    The old schr''s head instantly tilted to the side, with his snores bing as loud as thunder.


    There was lingering apprehension in Li Baoping''s mind, and she shuffled over to grab Chen Ping''an''s sleeve.


    "What are you afraid of? You should study hard in the future and aim to defeat them using reason. If this still isn''t enough, then your junior uncle will also practice his fist techniques and swordsmanship even more earnestly starting from today. At that time, I''ll stand on my sword and fly over with a whoosh, covering thousands of kilometers and arriving by your side in a sh. Just think about it, everyone will be wide-eyed with shock as they crane their heads to look up at your junior uncle. The situation will be the same as when we saw Wind Snow Temple''s Wei Jin back then. When that timees, you can tell everyone that this is my junior uncle! Is he impressive? Is he powerful?"


    The little girl nodded in earnest. Sheughed happily as she jumped up and down, and she eximed, "Wow! That''s super impressive!"


    1. "A book holds a house of gold" is a line from Song Dynasty Emperor Zhenzong''s poem, ''Exhortation to Learning Poem''. This literally means study hard be rich. ?


    2. Laozi''s Dao De Jing, the foundational work of Daoism. ?