Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 243 Debating Scriptures: I am no match for her!
Faced with his junior sister's aggressive questioning, Master Yan felt utterly overwhelmed.

He rubbed his temples and let out a long sigh.

"Junior sister, please sit down first. This matter... is indeed a bit complicated."

"I won't sit." Jing Zhaoning's answer was firm. "I just want to know why, in just three years of seclusion, Yunzhou City has become such a chaotic and disorderly place?"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a chilling, murderous aura.

"The demonic sect members from the boundless sands dare to openly commit violence in the capital, kidnapping the families of imperial officials! They have no respect for the academy at all!"

"So why isn't anyone stepping forward to do something about this? Is the righteous spirit of our academy only fit to be a decoration in this study?!"

Every word and phrase struck Yan Hui's heart like a heavy hammer.

He knew that his junior sister was truly enraged and even had murderous intent.

The Gongyang School of the Spring and Autumn Annals is known for its fierce and unyielding spirit, and naturally it would not tolerate such provocation.

Master Yan's face was full of bitter smiles. He knew that if he didn't give a reasonable explanation today, his junior sister would probably pick up her sword and storm out of the academy, turning the entire Yunzhou City upside down.

"Junior sister, calm down and let me explain slowly."

He patiently explained, "It's not that the academy doesn't care, but times have changed, and the situation is very different now than it was three years ago."

"What's the difference?" Jing Zhaoning looked at him coldly.

"Her Majesty today is not like the late Empress." Master Yan carefully chose his words, his voice low. "The Empress has been on the throne for five years. She is diligent in her duties and has a strong hand. Now the government is becoming more and more stable, her authority is growing stronger, and her control over the people has been greatly strengthened."

"At times like these, our academy can no longer interfere as much in the affairs of the court and the local governments as it has in the past."

At this point, Master Yan looked at Jing Zhaoning and his expression became serious.

"Junior sister, you must not forget that the purpose of our academy is to pass on the great way of the sages and educate the world, not to use our cultivation to get involved in the disputes between the country and the court. This is the rule set by our teacher and the foundation of our Confucian school."

This is the truth.

Although the academy held a superior position, it was ultimately within the territory of the Great Chen Dynasty.

If a conflict arises with the imperial power, it will not be a good thing for the country or its people.

During the reign of the late emperor, he was obsessed with alchemy and neglected state affairs. In order to maintain the stability of the country, the academy had to step in to deal with some thorny issues.

But this empress is now shrewd, capable, and ambitious, and is most wary of others encroaching on her power.

If the academy continues to act as before, it will only create conflict with the royal family, which will be bad for everyone.

However, upon hearing Master Yan's explanation, Jing Zhaoning was not convinced; instead, the sarcasm on her face intensified.

"Not too much interference?"

She repeated those words, then let out a cold laugh, a laugh filled with disappointment and resolute determination.

"What a fine 'don't interfere too much' statement!"

"So you just let those demons from the Sand Domain Demon Sect run rampant right under our noses, harming the innocent?"

"So you just stand by and watch as these evil spirits turn this bright and clear world into chaos, and choose to turn a blind eye?"

"Senior brother, tell me, is this your understanding of the Great Way of the Sage? Is this the foundation of Confucianism that you uphold?"

Her gaze sharpened like a knife, piercing straight into Master Yan's heart.

"To see injustice and not do it—how are we any different from beasts?!"

"We scholars cultivate a righteous spirit. If we cannot sweep away all injustices in the world and restore order to the world, then we might as well give up this cultivation!"

Master Yan was speechless after hearing her words, his face turning pale and then red.

He knew that his junior sister's path was different from his.

What he seeks is harmony, balance, and moderation.

What she sought was a word of righteousness: fierceness, decisiveness, clear distinction between right and wrong, and no room for the slightest flaw.

Neither of these two ideas is inherently right or wrong.

only…….

"Senior brother, I cannot follow your path."

Jing Zhaoning gave him a deep look, the last trace of warmth in her eyes turning into icy coldness.

"Since you have this or that concern, then I will do what you cannot do."

"Those you dare not kill, I will kill!"

After saying that, she didn't look at Master Yan again, abruptly flicked her sleeve, turned around and strode away.

The purple figure exuded a resolute killing intent, showing no trace of lingering affection.

"Ugh……."

Watching Jing Zhaoning's departing figure, Master Yan hesitated, then could only let out a long sigh, his face filled with helplessness and worry.

He knew he couldn't stop her at all.

After all, once this junior sister has made up her mind about something, not even ten oxen could pull her back.

Now, Yunzhou City is likely to be engulfed in a bloodbath.

Right now, he just hopes that his junior sister won't make things too big, otherwise... it will be really hard to handle.

Thinking of this, Master Yan felt a heavy weight in his heart. He picked up the teacup on the table, wanting to drink some tea to calm his mind, but found that the tea was already ice cold.

Just then, a gentle and refined figure slowly emerged from the shadows behind the bookshelf, a bitter smile on his face even more pronounced than that of Master Yan.

"Senior brother, it seems that even after three years of seclusion on Cloud Mist Peak, Junior Sister's fiery temper has not changed at all."

The visitor was Lu Huaizhou, another teacher at the academy.

He had been there the whole time, but Jing Zhaoning's aura was too strong, so he, as her senior brother, didn't even dare to show his face.

Master Yan glanced at him upon hearing this, then slammed his teacup down with a thud.

“Who says otherwise?” Master Yan’s voice was full of exhaustion. “Once she comes out of seclusion, Yunzhou City will be in turmoil again.”

After saying that, he seemed to remember something, and his gaze swept over Lu Huaizhou with a hint of teasing.

"But you, after all these years, are you still so afraid to see your junior sister?"

Hearing this, Lu Huaizhou's smile became even more bitter. He helplessly spread his hands and said, "There's nothing I can do. As her senior brother, I can't win against her in debates or fights."

As he spoke, he walked to the tea table, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of hot tea for Master Yan and himself, and then continued, "In front of her, I, as her senior brother, have long lost all face, so naturally I avoid her whenever possible."

Master Yan found his appearance somewhat amusing, but he was mostly filled with emotion.

The debate about the classics that Lu Huaizhou mentioned was an old story from the academy.

Back then, Lu Huaizhou and Jing Zhaoning were both outstanding young talents in the academy.

Lu Huaizhou specialized in Confucianism, believing that the essence of self-cultivation lies in seeking within oneself, and through investigating things, extending knowledge, making one's will sincere, and rectifying one's mind, one can ultimately reach the state of harmony between heaven and man.

Jing Zhaoning's version of the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals is quite the opposite. She believes that Confucian scholars should take the world as their responsibility, wield a three-foot-long sword, and sweep away all injustices in the world in order to attain the Great Way.

With two completely different ideas, neither can convince the other.

So one moonlit night, the two engaged in a fierce debate on the central question of whether a Confucian scholar should be an inner sage or an outer king.

The debate lasted for a full day and night.

Countless disciples and teachers of the academy watched from below the stage.

At first, the two were able to calmly cite classical texts and expound their respective viewpoints.

But as the debate progressed, the atmosphere became increasingly tense.

Lu Huaizhou still vividly remembers Jing Zhaoning's frighteningly bright eyes and her sharp, razor-sharp words.

"Senior Brother Lu, you always speak of righteousness and sincerity, so let me ask you, if a villain commits violence in the street and bullies the weak, what would you do?"

“Of course I should step forward and stop them,” Lu Huaizhou replied without hesitation.

"If the villains don't listen and instead draw their swords, what will you do then?"

"He should be subdued with righteous indignation and handed over to the authorities for punishment."

"Well said!" Jing Zhaoning's voice suddenly rose. "But what if that villain is a demonic cultivator from the Demonic Sect, whose cultivation far surpasses yours? If you step forward to stop him, you'll only be throwing your life away. What will you do then? Retreat or advance?"

This question stumped Lu Huaizhou.

To go in is to send oneself to one's death.

To retreat would be to go against one's true nature.

But it was this moment of hesitation that Jing Zhaoning seized upon.

"Look, you're hesitating!" Jing Zhaoning pressed closer.

"Your so-called righteous heart is nothing but this in the face of life and death! How can a Confucian scholar who cannot even protect his own safety talk about managing his family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world? What use is a noble spirit that cannot even sweep away the injustices before his eyes?!"

"We Confucian scholars should have the spirit to go against the tide, even if it means facing thousands of enemies! The sword in our hands is both a sword to protect the Way and a sword to kill! Only by slaying all the wicked and evil in the world can we achieve supreme merit and attain the Great Way of Outer Kingship! This is the true spirit of our Confucian school!"

These words were truly thought-provoking.

Lu Huaizhou immediately lost his composure, his face turned deathly pale, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Finally, he bowed deeply to Jing Zhaoning and walked down from the platform in sorrow.

They suffered a crushing defeat.

From then on, he could never hold his head up in front of Jing Zhaoning again.

It's not that he thinks his path is wrong, but rather that he admits that in terms of the unity of knowledge and action, he is indeed far less pure and steadfast than his junior sister.

"Sigh, let bygones be bygones, let bygones be bygones." Lu Huaizhou picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, as if trying to use the tea to dilute that unbearable memory.

Master Yan shook his head and stopped mocking him, but the worry on his face deepened.

"Given Junior Sister's personality, she'll definitely go after that demonic sect member to get revenge after leaving the academy." Lu Huaizhou put down his teacup and became serious.

"Hmm." Master Yan nodded. "I have already used my divine sense to investigate. Although the aura of the Nine Nether Sect is well concealed, it has still left some clues. However, the aura is in a densely populated market, so it may not be easy to find it."

"Hopefully, Junior Sister will find something," Lu Huaizhou sighed, "so that she won't set her sights on that Chen Ye again." Master Yan fell silent upon hearing this.

He actually knew that it was only a matter of time before Jing Zhaoning went to find Chen Ye.

Given her personality, she would definitely go to find Chen Ye after investigating the Demonic Sect.

One acts impulsively and sees things in black and white.

They employ a variety of methods, operating in a gray area.

If these two were to collide...

Master Yan dared not think any further.

……

Meanwhile, in the south of Yunzhou City, at a tofu workshop.

Bai Yingluo was wearing a faded apron and busily working in front of a large pot.

Add brine, press, and shape.

Her movements were skillful and swift, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on her forehead, sliding down her smooth cheeks, but it did not affect her focused expression in the slightest.

If any demonic cultivators from the boundless sands were to witness this scene, they would probably be so shocked that their eyes would pop out.

Who would have thought that the Holy Maiden of the Nine Nether Sect, that ruthless and manipulative demoness, would be doing such mundane and unremarkable work here?

And judging from her expression, she seemed to be enjoying it.

Bai Yingluo was indeed enjoying herself.

She didn't know what was wrong with her lately.

Watching the soybeans transform into blocks of white, fragrant tofu through various processes in her hands fills her with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

This feeling was something she had never experienced in her previous life.

You should know that Bai Yingluo has spent her entire life in endless killing, conspiracy and bloodshed since she can remember.

She had grown accustomed to dancing on the edge of a knife, accustomed to using the most wicked thoughts to speculate about human nature, and accustomed to manipulating everyone at will.

But she had never been so calm.

This tranquility felt unfamiliar to her, yet she inexplicably longed for it.

Moreover, Bai Yingluo discovered something even stranger.

Recently, the image of that man has been appearing in her mind from time to time.

Chen Ye.

His eyes, seemingly calm, were actually as deep as the sea.

He always had a calm and collected demeanor, as if he had everything under control.

Even the fleeting panic she felt when he looked at her with that all-knowing gaze at the market last time.

Moreover, this phenomenon is becoming more and more frequent.

"Damn it, could it be that I'm sick?"

Bai Yingluo cursed herself inwardly and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.

How could she, a holy maiden of the Nine Nether Sect, possibly be unable to forget a man?
ridiculous!

However, just as she was feeling agitated, an extremely strong and chilling sense of crisis descended from the sky without warning, instantly enveloping her entire body!

That aura was awe-inspiring and upright, and carried an undisguised killing intent!
He is a master of Confucianism and Taoism! Moreover, he is a master of Confucianism and Taoism who specializes in the art of killing!

Bai Yingluo's expression changed instantly.

Oh no! We've been discovered!
That chilling, blade-like killing intent seemed to disregard spatial distance, locking directly onto Bai Yingluo's soul, causing every hair on her body to stand on end instantly.

run!
This was the first thought that flashed through her mind.

With her cultivation level and the secret techniques of the Nine Nether Sect, if she wanted to leave, there were few people in the world who could stop her.

But the thought only flashed through her mind before she forcibly suppressed it.

She subconsciously glanced around.

This small tofu shop is simply furnished, even rudimentary.

A large iron pot that has been used for many years, a stone mill that has been polished smooth, a few low wooden tables, and soybeans piled up in the corner.

Everything seemed so ordinary, so unremarkable.

But for some reason, looking at these things, Bai Yingluo felt a strong sense of reluctance.

She couldn't bear to leave this place.

I can't bear to give up this peaceful life of working at sunrise and resting at sunset.

I can't bear to part with the warm feeling of the first rays of sunlight on my face every morning.

If we escape today, all of this will be for naught.

She was about to return to those days of hiding and scheming in the shadows.

Do not!
She doesn't want to!
In a flash, a crazy determination appeared in Bai Yingluo's eyes.

Take a gamble!
She gritted her teeth and made an extremely bold decision.

Instead of running away, she relinquished control of the body and sank her soul into the deepest state of hibernation.

By completely slumbering one's consciousness, one can suppress all one's aura to the maximum extent, disguising oneself as a completely mortal, thereby evading the detection of powerful enemies.

However, this move also carries enormous risks.

Because once she enters a state of suspended animation, her perception of the outside world will be reduced to the minimum. If the enemy is right in front of her and notices something amiss, she will have no chance to react or escape and will be at their mercy.

This is tantamount to entrusting one's life to luck.

But that's exactly what Bai Yingluo did.

As her consciousness receded like the tide, all the aura belonging to her within this body—whether it was demonic energy, malevolent energy, or the chilling divine thought originating from the Holy Maiden of the Nine Nether Sect—vanished without a trace in an instant.

It's like it never existed.

Immediately afterwards, deep within this body, a faint wisp of consciousness belonging to the original owner of this body slowly awakened.

"Ok?"

Yuan Xiao'e blinked blankly, looked at her hands with some confusion, and then looked at the familiar surroundings.

She felt as if she had a very, very long dream.

In her dream, she seemed to have become another person, a very powerful, beautiful, but also terrifying woman.

That woman has a very alluring look in her eyes, which can make any man fall head over heels for her.

She can also make delicious tofu, a hundred times better than I can make myself.

In my dream, a very handsome young man appeared, dressed in black official robes, looking very imposing. The woman seemed to... really like him.

So what exactly happened?
How long have you slept?

How is Father's illness?

Countless thoughts flashed through Yuan Xiao'e's mind, making her feel dizzy.

She leaned against the stove, shook her head, and tried to clear her mind.

Just then, a dazzling purple light flashed across the sky above the south of the city, silently hovering in mid-air.

Jing Zhaoning's figure appeared.

She stood high in the sky, like a deity looking down upon the mortal world, her gaze sweeping over the crisscrossing streets and bustling crowds below, then her brows furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"Strange," she muttered to herself.

Just now, she had clearly sensed a faint trace of demonic energy in this area.

But just before he arrived, that aura vanished without a trace, as if it had evaporated into thin air.

Jing Zhaoning did not believe in superstition.

She closed her eyes and pushed her divine sense to its limit, like an invisible net sweeping downwards inch by inch.

Every street, every shop, every pedestrian... everything was exposed to her divine sense.

However, after searching around, they still found nothing.

Apart from the normal emotions and desires of mortals, there was no trace of demonic energy.

"Did they escape? Or did they use some special secret method to conceal their whereabouts?"

Jing Zhaoning opened her eyes, a thoughtful look flashing in them.

Judging from the intensity of the aura she sensed earlier, the other party's cultivation level should be quite high. If such a person is determined to hide, it would indeed be very difficult to find them.

"Hmph, you got away fast." Jing Zhaoning snorted coldly. Although she was unwilling, she knew that continuing the search would be futile.

However, she was not in a hurry, because as long as that sorcerer was still in Yunzhou City, he would eventually reveal his true colors.

She will make sure that his soul is annihilated and he is never to be reincarnated!

Withdrawing her divine sense, Jing Zhaoning turned her gaze towards the west of the city.

Tinglanxuan.

Since we can't find the demonic sect members for the time being, let's go and meet Chen Ye, who is valued by Senior Brother Yan.

She wanted to see for herself what kind of person this guy, whom her senior brother praised for having a strong sense of justice, really was.

What qualifications do they have to receive a copy of the "Ode to Righteousness" personally taught by their teacher?

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Jing Zhaoning's figure transformed into a streak of purple light once again, speeding towards Tinglanxuan, leaving a faint afterimage in the air.

(End of this chapter)