From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 211 Advancement
The capital is just around the corner.

This is the hometown that countless people in Qing Kingdom yearn for, and it is the place where countless people pursue their dreams.

There are adventures and extraordinary people here. There are dreams of never turning over a new leaf, and there are also deeds of becoming a dragon overnight.

Apart from the imperial capital, all the feudal princes and nobles since the founding of the country have built their palaces here. There are all kinds of rare things that cannot be found elsewhere. There are masters that cannot be found elsewhere, but they can be found here at your fingertips.

Dozens of miles outside the city, there are soldiers and armors protecting the capital, and inside the city there is the prestigious Demon-Suppression Division.

Of course, the National Master's Mansion has been headed by masters from the three Taoist sects for thousands of years.

This generation of national master did not come from the three sects. It was rumored that he was of royal family origin, had traveled and learned skills in the three sects, and had experienced three dynasties, so his prestige was extremely high.

The Kingdom of Qing respects Confucianism and Taoism and despises Buddhism. Confucians are officials and Taoists are backbones. The national teacher has always needed the recognition of the three Taoist sects before he can sit firmly.

Therefore, the national master has a very high prestige among the three Taoist sects and must convince the public.

In this way, with all the officials of the country as the representatives, the Demon Suppression Division and the National Master's Office, the former holding swords and the latter holding classics, a country can be established.

Meng Yuan was riding his horse in front. When he saw the city wall of Shenjing, he felt that it was many times taller and more majestic than that of Songhe Prefecture.

There were countless merchants and travelers coming in and out of the city, and no matter they were rich or poor, they all behaved politely and properly.

"If you don't follow the rules, you will be fined." Lin Yan explained, and pointed to a luxurious car at the door, "Look at them, there is no need to check, this is because they are so shameless!"

As he spoke, Lin Yan was very proud, holding the horse whip in his hand, and said, "Learn from my senior brother! Go!"

When they arrived at the city gate, someone blocked the way. Lin Yan flicked his whip and revealed the token on his waist.

They entered the city smoothly and without any hindrance, and Lin Yan did not see them off.

“No one in the Divine Capital dares to cause trouble. Anyone who dares to cause trouble must be at least at the fifth level, but the Demon Suppression Division and the Imperial Master’s Mansion will immediately send people to intervene.”

Lin Yan held Meng Yuan's hand with great emotion, "I lost my father when I was young, and it was Master Nie and others who raised me and taught me martial arts. Since you are Master Nie's son-in-law and Master Nie's apprentice, we are not outsiders!"

He was very serious. "Master Nie knows where I live. You can go to the Demon Suppression Division to look for me. Your sister-in-law is suffering in the Demon Suppression Division dungeon. I have to go and see her! When the time comes, you can bring your adopted bride and Qingqing to see your sister-in-law together!"

Lin Yan talked about his wife every other sentence, and it was obvious that he missed her very much.

But Meng Yuan had already found out on the way that this so-called "sister-in-law" was just a rabbit monster that Lin Yan captured during the demon rebellion in the south, and that the monster was reluctant to marry him, but Lin Yan was wishful thinking.

"Your sister-in-law has sisters. I will introduce them to you later. By then, we will not only be brothers and sisters, but also brothers-in-law." Lin Yan thought far into the future.

Let's not talk about this anymore? Meng Yuan didn't know what to say.

"You don't think I'm a heretic like everyone else, do you?" Lin Yan asked carefully.

"No." Meng Yuan said.

Lin Yan then nodded happily, "Wait for good news from your sister-in-law and me!"

After saying this, Lin Yan didn't say much. He went to talk to Nie Yannian and Jiang Tang and invited them to his home.

But only Jiang Tang happily agreed, while Nie Yannian cursed in a low voice.

Meng Yuan ignored him and led his team towards the west of the city.

The Ying family was a large clan, but old Mr. Ying later separated from the clan and had no connection with it anymore.

Later, when Old Ying Gong and Young Ying Gong rose to power, they no longer had any contact with the original clan. Only a few branches of the Ying clan followed Old Ying Gong and divided their family. Therefore, Old Ying Gong's family was confiscated and exterminated, which had little to do with the original Ying clan.

However, Old Yinggong was so famous that he was the hope of all scholars in the world. Therefore, whenever someone referred to the "Ying family", they were referring to Old Yinggong's lineage.

Of course, nowadays, "Ying" only refers to one person, the daughter of the old Ying Gong, the sister of the young Ying Gong, and the third lady of the Ying family, Ying Rushi.

"Many scholars are unfaithful. But there are still differences. Some scholars with conscience, ambition and thoughts will not forget the achievements of their predecessors. Confucianism likes to talk about establishing words and achievements!" Nie Yannian drove Lin Yan away and came to teach Meng Yuan by example, "Old Ying Gong and Little Ying Gong were both the people of the world. They should have been the crown prince of the previous dynasty, but they all died. The remaining reputation is still borne by our third lady alone."

Nie Yannian was very reasonable. "Don't think that Miss Third has many connections. They are all false. Reputation is the real thing! When the two Ying Gongs passed away, the three sects of Taoism and the Western Buddhist Kingdom all came to pay their respects in person! When Miss Third has a word at that time, they will all give her face!"

"Is it real or fake?" Meng Yuan asked in a low voice.

"Why don't you believe it?" Nie Yannian was unusually serious, less rogue, "The higher the level of cultivation of the three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, the broader their minds become, and the deeper their obsessions become."

Nie Yannian pointed to the front and said, "This dynasty does not allow monks to play around, but in fact, the three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism have been intertwined for so many years. The fundamental wish of the real people is not to ascend to heaven or to live forever, but to ensure the stability of the world and eternal peace. Therefore, those who seek immortality and longevity are on the small path, not the big path."

"But these are only a minority," Meng Yuan said.

"Yes." Nie Yannian sighed helplessly, "Besides, the biggest enemy is right here, in this city."

Nie Yannian glanced at Meng Yuan and said, "This is what Young Ying Gong told me."

Meng Yuan looked at Master Nie and felt that Master Nie was not like the vulgar man who only cared about making money to support his son-in-law. Instead, he had some youthful loyalty.

Go forward all the way and arrive at Ying Mansion.

This was the mansion that was returned to Old Ying Gong after his property was confiscated. It was not very large and was not luxurious at all.

There is only the old lady in the mansion, and I heard that there are also a few members of the Ying family's own clan accompanying her. There is really no sign of the aura of the Confucian leaders that existed when the two Ying Gongs were alive.

"Master Nie," Meng Yuan got off his horse when he arrived at Ying Mansion and asked curiously, "What level of Confucianism are Old Master Ying and Young Master Ying at?"

Nie Yannian pondered for a while and said, "Old Ying Gong is at the third level of Confucianism, and young Ying Gong is at the fourth level of Confucianism."

He was quite sentimental, and said: "People outside say that Confucianism is a waste of one's passion, but this is not true. True Confucians are full of passion and believe in repaying kindness and avenging enemies; false Confucians only know how to be mean and corrupt, and they are the ones who ruin things. This cannot be forced, there are worms in all three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism!"

"I heard that when a person enters the fourth rank from the fifth rank, Buddhists call it Nirvana, warriors call it the transformation of heaven, and Confucians call it establishing one's mind. When a person enters the third rank from the fourth rank, warriors need to cross levels to kill enemies, Buddhists need to make great aspirations, what about Confucians?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

Nie Yannian pondered for a moment and said, "For Confucian scholars, the fifth rank enters the fourth rank, which is the beginning of education. The fourth rank enters the third rank..."

He looked at Meng Yuan and said seriously, "I don't know about other schools, but the third level of Confucianism is called elementary learning. It is to respond to the heavens above and the earth below, to use the heavens to establish laws and the earth to establish power. One's words become laws, to convince people with reason and virtue. I heard that it is to teach and learn, and to establish real knowledge!"

Meng Yuan thought for a while after hearing this, and then asked, "Will it be the same as the Buddhists, where if the concepts and doctrines are misunderstood, the path they take will also be misguided?"

Nie Yannian thought for a moment and said, "It is impossible. They want to spread knowledge and educate the people. If it is heresy, it can only deceive people for a while, but it is impossible to cover it up for hundreds or thousands of years. This is related to the foundation of cultivation and the foundation of Confucianism. In fact, whether knowledge is good or bad, countless people have their own judgment."

Meng Yuan was confused by what he heard.

"When you go back, have a good talk with the Third Miss. You are a scholar named Meng, and the Third Miss is well-read and proficient in Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. As long as you ask, she will definitely be willing to teach you." Nie Yannian never forgets to support his good son-in-law, "But you must remember not to have any other thoughts! Otherwise, I will clean up the mess for the Third Miss!"

"Master Nie, you are really looking down on me!" Meng Yuan was not convinced.

"Don't I know what kind of person you are?" Nie Yannian was very annoyed. "You are born with a rebellious nature! When I take care of you, you are more obedient than a weasel, but you are actually evil in your heart! When I ignore you, you can violate the dignity of the master in the blink of an eye, and you can ignore the principles of superiors and subordinates!"

Meng Yuan did not dare to refute.

(End of this chapter)