Chapter 439

The great sayings of the Central Plain mostly emerged during the chaotic Spring and Autumn and Warring States period.

This was a time when the few hundred years of history were filled with the harshest realities, a world brimming with evil.

Ironically, it is precisely because of this that the desperate cries echoing “please, if we are human, let us live like humans” are none other than the teachings of the Hundreds of Schools and Thousands of Teachers.

During this era, there was a bandit named Dochek.

Absolutely the best! Dochek, the ultimate king of thieves.

Even with a band of nine thousand rogues under his command, he merely resorted to petty thieving, which gives quite the insight into his character.

After all, nine thousand strong during the Spring and Autumn period could easily capture a region, or aim for the ranks of dukes, marquesses, or even kings.

But what did Dochek do, leading nine thousand rogues?

He simply swept through the land, robbing at will.

Bored, he’d kill people and laugh while pitting brothers against sisters, parents against spouses, reveling in the chaos.

His peculiar taste even included eating human organs at every meal, which means no other bandit could compare to Dochek’s wickedness.

And thus, Sima Qian cried out in rage in his “Records of the Grand Historian.”

(How painfully he must have felt, wrongfully accused and executed.)

How did Dochek meet his end?

Having taken pleasure in killing all his life and devouring fresh organs, he aged and peacefully passed away amidst the mourning cries of his subordinates, as if it were a lullaby.

If the heavens truly despise evil and demand appropriate retribution for wrongdoing, how was it that this Dochek spent his life finding joy in killing without ever facing monotony in his life, only to die peacefully!

What exactly is the will of the heavens? Does it even exist?

If it does, then where is it to be found!

“Hmm, that sly devil.”

If you think about it, the heavens do nothing at all.

The numbers visible to Qing are merely that—numbers. They do not compel you to score high or demand a swift delivery of wrongdoers to the fires of hell.

They merely display the numbers.

Why?

Hmm. I have no idea.

“Seomun Sojeo?”

“Huh?”

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

“Just wondering. What, is the lecture over? Then what?”

Qing pretends to raise a cup.

Well, if the lecture is over, it’s time to chill.

It was mid-May when we arrived in Taiyuan, and now, without any warning, it’s late July, where a moment’s complacency leads to beads of sweat pouring down.

Of course, Qing wasn’t feeling hot.

Thanks to the Lamentable Skill, he had complete freedom from the heat.

Even in summer, he tightly fastened his collar and sleeves, making others think it was too hot for him, while actually creating his own personal sauna inside.

With sleeves tightened and neck snug, a refreshing chill filled his loose clothing, allowing him to enjoy a secret vacation all by himself.

The scholars at the Hall of Literature used to say that a breathtaking beauty could send chills down your spine just by being in the same room, and if you managed to sit next to them (not an easy feat given the competition), you would genuinely feel a cool breeze.

Indeed, it was a chilling experience.

Surprisingly, Qing blended well into the Hall of Literature.

First of all, the character of Qing was quite amicable—he had no hesitation in starting a conversation with anyone.

Put positively, he’s sociable; put negatively, he’s the annoying one who never leaves you alone if he’s bored.

And despite being radiantly beautiful, he seems the type to ignore an arrogant man and is quite shameless about it.

His love for eating and playing is harmonious with how easily he gets absorbed and enthusiastic when doing something.

In summary, this is how it goes.

“Cheers! We survived another day!”

“We survived!”

The scholars at the Hall of Literature raised their cups emphatically.

When a scholar, squeezing out his flimsy courage, asks if they can share a meal… surprisingly, the answer is often “let’s do it.”

With a pounding heart and a face that seems set to explode, he finds himself surrounded by scholars with identical expressions when lunchtime arrives.

Unfortunately, they never actually agreed to share a meal.

“Oh, sitting still for half a day is deadly. Don’t you think? We need to stand up and move around sometimes. Come on, it’s unbearable.”

Then Qing nudges Scholar Yang’s arm with his elbow.

Scholar Yang’s face immediately turns crimson.

Elbow touch! Elbow touch!

“Scholar Yang, Scholar Yang, so what’s the deal today? What’s that? Be careful with your pronunciation. Anyway, what’s the difference between sudden love and casual love?”

“Ahem. Sudden love means impartial affection, while casual love refers to affection prioritized by closeness.”

“And? Why sudden love?”

Qing leans in closely, asking.

A sweet fragrance fills the air…

Scholar Yang’s head starts spinning!

“Which king would be the virtuous one: a king who loves closest associates or a king who loves everyone equally?”

“Wouldn’t one need to recognize if their king is close to them first?”

Before he can finish, another scholar jumps in.

“Hm. Seomun Sojeo. A loyal subject is like a thorn stuck in the mouth that doesn’t allow for easy swallowing, while a treacherous subject wears a fabricated smile and entices with sweet-nothing whispers. Thus, even though every monarch preaches in their mind to cherish the loyal and distance themselves from the treacherous, their hearts often do the opposite, leading to favorites falling into the hands of the incompetent treacherous.”

“Is that so?”

“This scholar, however, using the king as an example for sudden love is inappropriate. Sudden love means loving another’s child as if it were your own, without loving your child more than others. In the end, a family with sudden love consists of several couples sharing children, leading to a large family.”

Thus, the birth of a family that shares children.

And the large family is formed through unions with other large families, merging two families into one community.

When such a community of sudden love pervades the world, then the entire population can truly attain peace and prosperity together.

And a peculiar aspect of this community:

Wealth is utilized as needed through distribution, and remaining surplus resources are not claimed as private property; all wealth belongs to the community, with surplus collected and redistributed…

“What is this? Seems a bit extreme?”

“The interesting point is that the disciples of the school of Mohism were all experts in defense. Hence, despite facing the ire of many rulers of the time, they managed to preserve their peculiar community.”

The thinkers of Hundreds of Schools and Thousands of Teachers aren’t mere scholars spouting words.

Each one was an outstanding general or leader of a powerful military force.

Especially those from the school of Mohism claimed that the ultimate means to prevent war was through defensive strategies, and theories abound that the art of fortifying communal housing originated from Mohism.

Prohibition of private property, favoritism, small communities beginning from the collective.

And this little community, forming into a larger whole.

And defending the universe…

Isn’t that a pretty ominous vibe?

In fact, Qing is more educated than the average young man of his time.

Studying Central Plain thoughts?

I shall challenge them as a flat-nosed person!

I once thought that way.

However, the combined collection of thinkers from the Warring States period—there are over two hundred of them.

So when Qing decides to strike back, saying, “Oh, someone over in the western regions said something like this,” they’ll simply reply, “Ah, that was said by some saints, such and such.” And thus, Qing’s one statement will return as multiple from everyone.

When you add their statements together, it’s hundreds!

Hmm, I don’t know.

Indeed, the population is a bully.

They say people’s thoughts usually overlap, and someone on the other side of the globe has already pondered the same thoughts we think here.

Take the Daoist case, for instance.

Pure Dao excludes everything artificial, which comes dangerously close to the ideal of the flat-nosed person.

Hence, the Dao of non-action and nature, the idea that it’s perfectly natural, even if nobody knows, which leads to virtuous rule—it’s so natural that one wouldn’t recognize even the fact that someone governs…

Anyway, ever since I awkwardly mentioned the flat-nosed people, Qing hasn’t recklessly brought them up again.

What does that guy from the western regions mean by “superman”?

Live like a pure, innocent child?

Ah, he must be talking about virtue. Since Laozi said that a person of great virtue is like a child, that guy from the west must have studied the Dao De Jing, huh?

But the fulfillment of the individual…?

Then, what does it mean for that superman to be an individual? What was it he said? The Will to Power?

Even if one claims to have transcended to the superman, what does it matter?

If a person doesn’t enlighten the Dao and better the world, what is the purpose of the superman to the world?

Conversely, if the whole world doesn’t also transcend, what’s the point in waiting for a single superman?

Then, what can Qing even say?

“Why are you questioning me?”

That was said by that guy, so you ought to ask him, why bring it up with me?

Seriously, how absurd.

In truth, the musings of flat-nosed people tend to get too fixated on the individual.

What comes to mind is the professor once jokingly said that if someone doesn’t stop at the individual and begins to exert their influence on society, the inquisitors would probably have them tied up and put to the stake.

Wasn’t that the harm of a living god?

Qing finds himself quite lacking in the explanations.

More than that, Qing himself, being of the Han people, cannot emotionally resonate with the notion of individuals becoming the whole.

So he just stammers, “Uh, I just heard it while passing by, and I don’t really know…”

“Lady, professor, you should’ve entered the Martial World; I’ve become quite the delinquent, so I can’t say anything…”

Yet, Qing continues to accumulate knowledge masterfully.

“Eh, whatever, I don’t know. Well, let’s drink!”

Of course, knowledge isn’t being embodied into wisdom; shoving precious items into a store doesn’t do any good.

You’ve got no clue what they are or what they’re for, yet just because you think it’s good, you stuff everything inside.

Although it seems life will be left with endless tasks of tidying up later…

Anyhow, after drinking a plentiful amount and stuffing himself, he returns to find Cheon Yu-hak in the sub-basement, clenching a map and groaning.

“Master, I’m here.”

“You’re here? Dive into the medicinal bath.”

Cheon Yu-hak answers without even turning around.

Two months have passed, and Cheon Yu-hak is still interpreting the Treasure Map.

Interpreting the Treasure Map isn’t anything grandiose.

Initially, it felt somewhat grandiose, decoding symbols and sketching out a map here and there, but the issue came thereafter.

He had to determine where on this vast land of the Central Plain the parts of the map without names indicated.

How?

By comparing each section painstakingly.

Detailed maps of the Central Plain are classified as state secrets, but Shintu are criminals who don’t give a hoot about state laws (plus, there are prospective thieves).

With all sorts of Central Plain maps plastered in the basement, Cheon has become quite the fugitive, escaping the wrath of the authorities.

So, having to match up the riddle-laden Treasure Map with every nook and cranny of the Central Plain to pinpoint the treasure’s actual location.

But whatever.

While soaking in the medicinal bath, Qing checks the now clear water and calls out to his master.

“Master? I think it’s ready!”

“Already? It can’t be that quick!”

Qing was fast not only in eating.

It had hardly been long since arriving at Taiyuan; now, after a fortnight, it’s time for the fifth training session in Yulryu Yeonryeon here in Taiyuan.

Originally, it was an agonizing training method, slowly pushing joints beyond their limits, but Qing cleverly uses a mental parasite instead.

Qing continues to uphold a solid respect for his master.

“Oh dear, I’m going to die, I’m going to die.”

After finishing the stretching torture, Cheon Yu-hak collapses to the ground.

With glazed eyes and drool dripping, Qing suddenly snaps back to focus and quickly scans the area.

Ah, it seems the training is over.

His entire body feels pleasantly warm, not even a single joint aches, so at least he can stay satisfied, thinking he’ll get through this session.

Having been bound in Yulryu Yeonryeon training, Qing starts squirming. To his surprise, he escapes all alone without anyone helping.

This sixth application, once Qing reached skill level six, means he could flow on his own—as long as the device isn’t too tight around his joints.

Now, he gazes anxiously at his exhausted master, relieved that he doesn’t need to yell “I need the restroom!” between the dignity of a person and the limits of a bladder.

“How’s the map?”

“Oh dear, we’re nearly there. Just a few more days of adjustments, and by August, we need to have shortlisted the candidates thoroughly.”

In August, the Taihak Institute will be resting.

The reason Cheon Yu-hak invests his remaining time into mapping is precisely for this reason.

Before August arrives, he needs to have everything marked out; they can’t just leave without seeking the treasures recorded on the Treasure Map.

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