Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 452 It's Time to Shake It Up (Part 2)

On the back mountain, Chen Xu entertained Feng Yuanbo and Wu Zhengze in the small hall in the middle of the wooden house.

Old friends reunited, as if they had not seen each other for a long time.

In reality, Chen Xu was only separated from Wu Zhengze for a slightly longer period of time.

However, he was separated from Feng Yuanbai for only twenty-odd days.

Less than a month later, when they met again, they both felt as if they had been separated by a lifetime.

After taking his seat, Feng Yuanbo's first words were:

"Xuzhi, it is wonderful that you have returned now, but I wonder where you went during the days you were gone?"

This frankness stems from both the close relationship between the two parties, which has reached a point where beating around the bush is unnecessary, and the urgent nature of the situation, leaving Feng Yuanbo with no time for tact.

When Feng Yuanbo asked a question, Wu Zhengze also showed concern.

Chen Xu was perceptive and noticed that both Feng Yuanbo and Wu Zhengze looked somewhat strange.

He considered it for a moment and replied, "The place I am going to is related to the completion of the Grand Canal at that time."

I cannot go into details, but you two can understand it as the accumulation of merit when the Grand Canal was built, which led me to a certain secret place.

At that time, I was struck by a strange force from heaven and earth, and naturally stepped into that secret realm.

I lingered in this hidden realm for over ten days before finally finding my way home, and today I return to my hometown.

Upon hearing this explanation, both Feng and Wu showed expressions of sudden realization.

Feng Yuanbai's expression was even stranger. He let out a long breath and said:
"So you disappeared because you were trapped in the secret realm?"

Trapped in a secret realm?

This statement is not entirely accurate. Chen Xu was staying in the Xuan Tian Star Realm at the time, so it can't be said that he was truly trapped.

However, because there are many secrets between the two realms, when Chen Xu tried to explain the truth to Wei Yuan and A Shi, he was affected by a strange power and was unable to speak.

Therefore, when Feng Yuanbo mentioned the phrase "trapped in a secret realm," Chen Xu did not explicitly deny it.

"I see, I misunderstood." Feng Yuanbo sighed, a hesitant expression on his face.

Chen Xu said, "Brother Feng, please speak frankly. There is really no need for such formalities between us."

He could tell that Feng Yuanbo was indeed facing a great problem.

So after much hesitation, he finally uttered a startling statement: "Xu Zhi, I heard that the great scholar... has been missing for more than ten days."

As the voice faded, a deathly silence fell over the small hall of the wooden house.

After a moment, Chen Xu digested the meaning of Feng Yuanbai's words.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked carefully, "Brother Feng, regarding the disappearance of the great scholar Wen, have you already made any inferences?"

Feng Yuanbo stared at Chen Xu, then his gaze swept over Wu Zhengze, who also had a complex expression. He didn't answer Chen Xu's question directly, but instead suddenly asked Wu Zhengze:
"Instructor Wu, you also have a lineage of teachers in the capital. Do you have anything to say about the disappearance of the great scholar Wen?"

Wu Zhengze had been very quiet today, but when questioned about it, he finally gave a wry smile and said:
"What I want to say is probably exactly what Magistrate Feng wants to say."

Xu Zhi, I even thought before that you and Wen Daru disappeared for the same reason, vanished in the same place.

Seeing that you are well now fills me with joy, but also brings a new layer of worry.

If even a great scholar like Wen cannot escape this matter, how will you... possibly escape it in the future?

Your return to your hometown is not exactly common knowledge, but since the news has not been concealed, it's only a matter of time before it spreads widely.

I fear that in a few days you too will... encounter a crisis.

Yes, compared to Feng Yuanbai's concerns about the country and the people, Wu Zhengze was more worried about Chen Xu's own safety.

Wen Daoyuan has already disappeared. If the other party dares to target even a great Confucian scholar, how could they possibly let Chen Xu go?
The biggest connection between Chen Xu and Wen Daoyuan lies in their joint leadership of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project!
The profound connection between them didn't need to be explained too clearly; the three people present already knew it perfectly well.

No one is a fool.

What kind of power, what kind of madness, would dare to target a great Confucian scholar?
Since even a great Confucian scholar has been targeted, Chen Xu, despite his widespread fame, is unlikely to escape unscathed.

After all, no matter how famous he is, can he be greater than a great Confucian scholar?

Wu Zhengze said with a low, bitter smile, "Xu Zhi, when I was a teacher, I read and taught the Four Books. I spoke with absolute certainty that I would go even if there were thousands of people against me."

What they sought was to sacrifice one's life for righteousness, and to die for a noble cause.

Scholars may lose their heads and shed their blood, but they must never abandon their integrity.

But now, I actually want to advise you... to avoid confrontation.

After he managed to utter those words with difficulty, his subsequent speech flowed smoothly.

So he asked Chen Xu another question: "Xu Zhi, can you go back to that secret realm again?"

This was a genuine plea for Chen Xu to hide and escape!
His words of advice were just as impactful as Feng Yuanbai's earlier statement about "hearing about Daoyuan's disappearance."

The cabin was brightly lit, yet the atmosphere among the three people sitting inside was so silent that it sent chills down one's spine.

woohoo-

A mountain breeze seemed to be blowing outside the window.

Though the mountains and forests are shallow, the wind and waves are swift.

Chen Xu remained silent for a moment, as did Feng Yuanbai, and Wu Zhengze.

No one knows what Chen Xu was thinking at that moment.

He is so young, and he has just accomplished something that no one in history, for hundreds or thousands of years, has been able to do.

He presided over the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and gained immense merit; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he changed the world.

Yet, despite such achievements, what awaited him afterward was not the cheers of the masses, the fame and fortune bestowed upon him, the meteoric rise to power, or the smooth path to success—

On the contrary, he was told today that he might face an unprecedented crisis of destruction because of his achievements.

The two people present here today are his friend and his mentor.

Yet no one dared to openly state what force or figure would bring him this crisis.

Even when everyone was discussing the issue in depth, there was still a lot of taboo in their words.

At least, from the perspective of Xiaoshu and Wei Yuan, who were listening in at that moment, the conversation between the three was completely incomprehensible and nonsensical.

Chen Xu entertained Feng Yuanbo and Wu Zhengze in the small hall, while Wei Yuan and A Shize huddled together in the west room.

Both little demons craned their necks, listening intently to the conversation between the three.

The more they listened, the more confused the two little demons became.

The mouse couldn't help but squeak softly, as if discussing something with Wei Yuan:
"Hedgehog, what are they talking about? Why are they speaking in riddles? It's driving me crazy!"

Alas, they say scholars are in danger.

"The scholar is so capable, what danger could possibly harm him?"

Yes, after witnessing Chen Xu's many battles, Ashi's confidence in Chen Xu had swelled to an unprecedented level.

The mouse craned its neck, its fluffy little face slightly wrinkled, but its chin was held high, and it said with great pride:

"Even such powerful spirits were killed by the scholar in no time."

The scholar is now unfathomable!

"Hmph, even if more villains come, they certainly won't be a match for this scholar."

The mouse was so pleased with itself, but Wei Yuan, who was sitting next to it, was inherently somewhat pessimistic.

Wei Yuan also craned its neck, listening intently to the conversation between the three people in the hall. At first, it was confused and couldn't understand what they meant.

But later it gradually analyzed and began to speculate.

Like some demons with the ability to ruminate, Wei Yuan carefully chewed over every word the three had said.

Until one moment, it suddenly said to the mouse:
"Ah Shi, do you know who in this world can make these officials keep their mouths shut and remain silent in every situation?" Ah Shi didn't understand and asked stupidly, "Who is it? Hedgehog, tell me, don't make me guess."

Wei Yuan sighed helplessly, his voice soft and seemingly carried on the wind.

"It's that person, the one sitting in the Imperial Palace, in the Zichen Hall."

Given the status of the great scholar Wen, who else could have trapped him without leaving a trace?

Brother Chen is indeed formidable, but if he were to oppose the entire dynasty, he... he..."

Wei Yuan's voice trembled slightly at the end; he couldn't say what he was going to say next, and dared not speculate on the consequences.

But the mouse, oblivious and fearless, squeaked a few times:

"It was that scoundrel! How infuriating... Squeak squeak squeak! He betrayed his own meritorious servant, what did he gain from that?"

I'm so angry! The mouse is going to die of anger!

Wei Yuan said, "Can't you guess? What the demon dreamer wants is what that person wants too..."

Scholars are now a treasure trove, but possessing such a treasure is a crime.

Yes, possessing a treasure is a crime.

The unspoken silence in the small hall lasted only a few breaths.

Wu Zhengze advised Chen Xu to protect himself and take a step back first.

Feng Yuanbo remained silent, simply gazing at Chen Xu.

Both Wu and Feng looked at him with a similar tone of pity and sorrow.

Suddenly, Chen Xu spoke up.

He asked Feng Yuanbai, "Brother Feng, your original purpose in coming here today was not to make me give way and run away, was it?"

Feng Yuanbo was taken aback and remained silent.

Chen Xu laughed instead, and said, "I guess that Brother Feng's original intention is probably to ask me to help save Master Wen."

Or perhaps, to shatter this illusion!

What a scathing statement!

Chen Xu uttered these earth-shattering words, and his originally calm eyebrows suddenly lifted slightly at that moment.

Those eyes shone like cold stars.

He was young and full of vigor.

As the saying goes: "With liver and gallbladder exposed, hair stands on end. In the midst of conversation, life and death are considered one!"

Three cups of Turanuo, Wuyue is light.

With such temperament, how could Chen Xu be the kind of person who would hide away at the first sign of danger?

He laughed, just like the mountain wind outside the window, blowing wildly and sweeping away the turbulent clouds in the sky.

Wu Zhengze hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Chen Xu said, "Master, I am now afraid that I am the one who has achieved great things."

Even if you can escape today, how can you escape tomorrow?
Am I supposed to hide forever?
Or perhaps it's not just one lifetime, but another?
No matter how long I can hide, as long as I do hide, my family and friends...

How could people like those in Xiaowan Village, like Master Fu, like Brother Feng, possibly escape that person's wrath?

Wu Zhengze's lips moved slightly; he wanted to say: Actually, it's not necessarily a case of taking anger out on someone else.

After all, Chen Xu's reputation was well-deserved; his achievements were not undeserved.

If that person had any sense of shame, he wouldn't have openly targeted his relatives and friends.

If we were to do that, wouldn't it be like tearing off our mask and telling the world that the current Emperor of Dali is a shameless scoundrel who bullies his meritorious officials?
As you can see, even when the emperor dealt with Wen Daoyuan, Wen Daoyuan simply disappeared under the guise of going into seclusion.

After Wen Daoyuan disappeared, the Ziwei Academy actually flourished even more.

Even an emperor wouldn't dare to directly oppose the entire world.

He also wanted to pull up a fig leaf to maintain his last shred of dignity.

In fact, it was precisely because the emperor still maintained this facade.

Therefore, neither Feng Yuanbai nor Wu Zhengze dared to give a definitive answer regarding Wen Daoyuan's disappearance, despite having countless speculations.

By remaining silent, it seems as if a glimmer of hope remains, and perhaps their assumptions are wrong.

But once the mystery is solved, how many people can bear the consequences?
But Chen Xu dared to.

He said, "Master, do not use normal thinking to speculate about a madman."

Do you know what crazy things a person would do if they had a hope right in front of them, but could never reach or grasp it no matter what they did?

What you think you can't do or can't do is nothing but wishful thinking.

Moreover, Master Wen and I have fought against natural disasters together, sharing life and death.

A great Confucian scholar can die for the sake of the Way, or he can die of old age.

But if one's achievements lead to falling into the hands of villains and ultimately being persecuted to death...

If I do not see it, all will be well; but if I do see it, I will certainly do everything in my power.

Otherwise, my conscience would be uneasy, and I would have wasted ten years of study and lived a wasted life!

Wu Zhengze was speechless for a moment, feeling as if something was stuck in his throat.

There were a thousand words to say, but in the end, they all boiled down to just one sentence:
“Xuzhi, I used to tell you countless times not to be brave and violent…”

Chen Xu laughed and said, "Master, this is chivalrous and righteous, how can it be considered bravery and violence?"

Having said that, he raised the wine pot, filled it with Drunken Spirit Wine, and invited Wu Zhengze and Feng Yuanbai to drink together.

Feng Yuanbo raised his glass and drank three cups in a row.

After drinking, he struck the cup with his chopsticks, burst into laughter, and recited:

"Three cups of wine and I'll utter my vows; the Five Sacred Mountains are nothing to me."

After my eyes were dizzy and my ears were hot, my spirits were high...

What a fine phrase, "acting as a chivalrous hero"! How could it be considered "brave and violent"?

Xu Zhi, I have never misjudged you, and you have never changed.

What has changed is the world. Even though I, Feng Yuanbai, have never dared to call myself a true gentleman, I can see that nowadays, I feel indignant and unable to control myself when faced with certain people and events.

Instructor Wu, you work in a quiet and secluded department, living a comfortable life in a remote corner.

But little did they know about many things happening in the court...

Even if it's not the imperial court, but just my small Yunjiang Prefecture, it seems to you that the administration is efficient and the city is bustling.

But in reality, oh.

Putting aside other matters, just considering the section of the Grand Canal from Yunshui River to Yuancang River, which was completed between the North and South, hundreds of people from various factions died within just a dozen days.

Although I, Feng, am the magistrate of Yunjiang County, what can I do?
At most, I can only catch some insignificant small fish and shrimp; there's nothing else I can do.

The world is rotten to the core.

If the great Confucian scholar were to die from persecution because of his achievements, all his merits would surely backfire.

That would be another catastrophe that destroys a nation!
"The dynasty may perish, but what have the people done wrong?"

Feng Yuanbai poured himself a cup of spirit wine and drank it all.

His voice struck people's hearts, causing a tremor that lingered for a long time.

(End of this chapter)