Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 166 The Difficulty of Understanding Love
Some say it's due to his family's scholarly tradition, but Qiao Feng's family is extremely poor, and he's currently considered a half-son-in-law.

As Xie Yu and others put it, it's because we all recited the writings of sages and learned from Master Xu's words and deeds, adhering to our own principles.

That's a very official statement and completely meaningless.

"Ji Hanqing, explain what it means for all things to grow together without harming each other, and for different paths to coexist without contradicting each other."

This sentence is not difficult; it comes from Chapter 30 of The Doctrine of the Mean.

It means that all things in the world can develop together without harming each other, and various behavioral norms can be implemented simultaneously without contradicting each other.

Ji has been enrolled for some time now, and his basic level has improved a lot; his answers weren't bad.

"What they have in common is that they all adhere to their own principles, which are the same two words we talk about every day."

"Everyone will follow different principles, but as long as they are the right path, they can coexist."

"So early, classmate, if you had to describe your path in one word, what would it be?"

This question
In Zao's mind, a blurry yet familiar character lit up once again.

"It's the character 'early'. Getting up early to read and practice calligraphy, being a little earlier than others every day, allows you to realize your dreams sooner."

Everyone agreed that this made perfect sense; the earlier you start, the more you gain, and with consistent effort, you will succeed – this is the way of learning.

Instructor Xu then asked.

"Would you be willing to have another thousand characters engraved?"

"The students are willing."

Only those who have experienced the despair and redemption of being alone in Guobei, surrounded by darkness, with only one word in their hearts, can understand the benefits of carving words.

Although Zao has undergone a complete transformation, he has always been grateful for this word.

Everyone else gasped in shock. Ji was also a little flustered. Was this for real?
Xu Xuan then asked another question.

"Xie Yu, what is your Dao?"

"It is the character '仁' (ren, benevolence). A gentleman cherishes benevolence and propriety in his heart. The benevolent love others, and the courteous respect others. Those who love others are always loved by others, and those who respect others are always respected by others."

"Qian Zhongyu, what is your Dao?"

"It is an evil word. In terms of talent, nature, knowledge, and ability, the gentleman and the petty man are the same. They both love honor and hate disgrace, and they both love profit and hate harm. This is what the gentleman and the petty man have in common."

"Qiao Feng, what is your Dao?"

"It is the character '善' (shàn), which represents the goodness of human nature, just as water flows downwards. There is no person who is not good, just as there is no water that does not flow downwards."

Master Xu asked, and even Ning Caichen, who was in a daze, raised his head.

It turns out that the four people who carved the words in Chongqi were all people who had found their own path. The other students discussed among themselves, wondering if they had misunderstood Instructor Xu's good intentions.
But what words to carve is all specified by Instructor Xu. Does that mean the other party has the insight to see through everything?

The value of Professor Xu in the eyes of the students is still soaring.

Next, Xu Xuan asked a student who hadn't been very active lately, or rather, whose performance was declining.

"Ning Caichen, what is your Dao?"

"Student. Does not know."

"Then let's carve a thousand characters for 'love'. The character for 'love' is difficult to understand, so let's decipher it slowly."

Looking at the worried classmates Zao and Ji beside me, and the teacher Xu who went to great lengths...
Ning Caichen suddenly felt like crying; he suddenly realized that this lesson was actually designed for him.

Professor Shi spoke of the profound meaning of "emotion," and I suddenly gained a new understanding.

"Thank you, Professor Xu."

Just when everyone thought it was over, Xu revealed an indescribable smile and turned to look at another student.

"Ji Hanqing, what is the Dao in your heart?"

Ji was speechless. Why did they suddenly approach him?

What is the reason behind that?
"Zao has been found. Ning, start the search."

"I'm worried that I might not see you in the future of Chongqi Sanqi."

"get out of class dismissed." Without any warning, these words pierced Ji Rui's heart like a flying knife.

The usually lively and cheerful young master, who was the first to rush out of the classroom, suddenly seemed a little dazed.

A sense of panic crept into his heart for some reason. He had always thought that everyone was similar, but only today did he realize that they might be different.

The EMO aura was transferred from Ning Caichen to this guy.

Outside the classroom, Xu Xuan sneered, "This is just the beginning."

All those notes in the notebook must eventually be returned.

Forced engraving?

Ha, that kind of operation with no difficulty is really too low-level.

"Jie Jie Jie Jie"

After class, Ning Caichen and Zao took their carving knives and went to the Stele Forest.

Ji followed along helplessly, complaining on the way why Zao really wanted to carve words, when Teacher Xu was just asking.

"Because engraving really does have benefits."

"As I said before, when I was in Guo Bei, there was only one person in my heart."

Ji, who usually doesn't pay any attention to little stories, listened attentively to them outside of class today.

When Ning Caichen arrived at the Stele Forest, he chose a stone that looked good to him and started working. At first, his wrists ached and his mind was in disarray, so the characters he carved were somewhat distorted, just like his state of mind at that moment.

However, after carving several more, the physical pain slightly overshadowed the inner anguish, and he poured all his heart and soul into the word "love."

The sorrow of the past few days has been transformed into brushstrokes, and my inner emotions have begun to be re-examined.

Ding ding dang dang ding ding dang dang
Zao also began to carve words with ease.

Ding ding dang dang ding ding dang dang
Ji Rui, you guys seem to be having so much fun carving, is it for real?
Watching my friends read, carve characters, and study every day, I find myself feeling somewhat out of place amidst all these activities, and this feeling is quite unpleasant.

Xu Xuan appeared out of nowhere, seemingly talking to thin air.

"Carving words is never a punishment; it is a path to success reserved for those with great perseverance."

"Why would even geniuses like the Three Heroes have their names engraved? What's even better than genius? It's the genius who works hard."

Xu Xuan left as soon as he finished speaking, leaving Ji feeling somewhat annoyed.

Someone reappeared in the afternoon.

"Being able to study with geniuses like Chongqi doesn't mean you're in the same social class; it just means that some people happen to pass through their world."

The second day's morning class.

"Today I'm going to tell you a true story."

"Master Li, the headmaster of Jintian Academy at the foot of the mountain, is a good man. He was my classmate back then..."

"I hope everyone cherishes the friendships around them and doesn't drift apart."

This is just a short story about encouragement, which is very suitable for use in the morning class.

Xu glanced at Ji, who was looking rather serious, seemingly unintentionally.

in the afternoon.

"We studied hard together as classmates in the past, but now we are scattered in different places."

"Classmates, in another ten years or so, Xie Yu, Qian Zhongyu, Qiao Feng, Zao Tongxue, and Ning Caichen will all be capable ministers who govern the country and work hard for the common people, while you will still be lingering on pleasure boats in Jiangnan or struggling to make a living."

"Given their character, they certainly wouldn't forget their former classmates, but are you really willing to get back to them?"

After saying that, Xu Xuan left again.

The students started discussing why Instructor Xu had been posting so many short stories and poems encouraging them to advance their careers, wondering if he was about to make a big move.

(End of this chapter)