National Division

Chapter 7 You are in me, and I am in you

Shen Residence, Hall of Six Horses

Shen Bin stared intently at Shen Xian's resolute and decisive face, and finally sighed softly, saying, "You've really grown wings, daring to make your own decisions about marriage!"

Shen Xian said with a grin, "Father, she has nowhere else to turn and came here with a marriage contract. How can you bear to abandon her?"

Actually, my father wasn't the kind of person to break his promise; he just felt he couldn't gamble away his entire life's marriage.

Shen Bin quickly said, "I didn't say I wouldn't take them in. It's just that we need to find out how deep the Yu family's involvement in the treason case really is."

Shen Xian picked up a pastry and stuffed it into her mouth, mumbling, "Just now Uncle Lin said that the Yu family bribed Prime Minister Cai in the capital? Such a big case must involve countless families. A young woman of marriageable age shouldn't attract any attention."

"He hasn't eaten yet, he looks like a starving ghost reincarnated!" Shen Bin felt both angry and heartbroken when he saw his son.

Xian'er cultivates martial arts and refines her essence into qi, so she should get hungry faster.

"After class, I rushed home, and when I got back, all I could do was talk about breaking off the engagement. I didn't even get a sip of hot water." Shen Xian picked up the teacup next to her and gulped it down.

“You have no idea what the Yu family in the capital is involved in. The Censorate is probably watching the Prince Qing’s treason case. They might accuse them of harboring the family members of a criminal official. The cruel officials will come running when they smell it. These people are a bunch of eagles and vultures. They hate our noble families the most,” Shen Bin said worriedly.

As he spoke, Shen Bin wondered to himself that he never used to talk to his son about such matters of state, and he didn't know why he had brought them up today.

Or perhaps it was Shen Bin's determination and seriousness that made him feel uncomfortable treating Shen Xian like a child.

Shen Xian said, "Just now, Uncle Lin said that the Great Jing Law states that female relatives married outside the marriage of officials who have committed crimes are not prosecuted."

"The Great Jing Law?" Shen Bin sneered and said, "After the Empress Dowager took over the court, the Great Jing Law has long become a dead letter. How many powerful families have been wiped out in the past few years?"

Shen Bin's rugged face was full of sighs as he said, "Having a lot of enthusiasm but acting impulsively may seem enjoyable, but it will only sow the seeds of your own downfall."

He is no longer the fearless Shen Sanlang of twenty years ago; he now has a wife and children.

It was even because of his willfulness back then that Qingjun...

Shen Xian said, “But Father, the Shen and Yu families have been on good terms for generations. If we kick someone when they’re down and break off the engagement, how will others view you? The reputation of our Lanxi clan will also be damaged. I’m afraid that people will always bring this up to talk about my father and me. As for the case of the traitor, it has far-reaching implications. Why would a cruel official pursue a blind girl so relentlessly?”

Of course, it's hard to say for sure, but he felt that abandoning the Yu family would not only go against his conscience, but also damage the reputation of the Shen family.

Shen Bin sighed: "The possibility of this is slim, but it's better to be safe than sorry."

Shen Xian said, "As the sage said, fortune is the foundation of misfortune, and misfortune is the harbinger of fortune."

Upon hearing this, Shen Bin was taken aback at first, then looked at Shen Xian and said sarcastically, "It seems you've really improved, now you even know how to quote the words of a sage."

Shen Xian was somewhat sullen.

Shen Bin said, "Of course, I can disregard these things for myself, but the Yu family girl is blind after all. How will the two of you live together after she marries you?"

Shen Xian said, "Isn't it because my father is an official?"

Shen Bin retorted angrily, "Bullshit! How high is my official rank? Raising you alone has already taken a lot of effort. Do you expect me to support you, your wife, and your entire family of three? I'd rather be exhausted!"

Shen Xian smiled and said, "So Father, you should be promoted. The higher the rank, the higher the salary."

“This dynasty values ​​Taoism and suppresses martial arts. How can a martial artist like me get promoted?” Shen Bin said indignantly. Suddenly, he frowned, stared intently at Shen Xian, and said, “Your father always tells you to read more Taoist scriptures, but you don’t listen at all. If you were to enter the state school, study under a famous teacher, and participate in the imperial examinations in the capital, you could become a Vermilion Bird Envoy, which would make you a Taoist official. Even if you don’t become a Vermilion Bird Envoy, you could still become a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) and serve as a people’s official.”

Shen Xian asked, "Why didn't Father serve as the Vermilion Bird Envoy back then?"

What was this Vermilion Bird Envoy? He didn't actually know either.

It might be something like Tsinghua or Peking University?

The saying goes, "It's better to become a dragon yourself than to hope your son becomes a dragon."

Shen Bin seemed to have been hit where it hurt, and he cursed, "You little brat, you've gone too far! I told you to study hard and not to get involved with knives and guns, but you wouldn't listen! All you do is show off and be competitive. The day your father stops protecting you, I'll see you performing on the streets and begging for food!"

As he spoke, Shen Bin's face flushed with anger, clearly forgetting Shen Xian's "integrity" just now. He grabbed the ruler from the side and was about to hit Shen Xian on the back.

Today was supposed to be a test of Shen Xian's studies, and the ruler was prepared right beside him.

Shen Xian quickly dodged to the side, saying, "Don't hit me, don't hit me! Today, the abbot even praised me."

This was his way of getting along with his father, and at first, it obviously didn't arouse suspicion.

Although he was at the third level of the Acquired Realm in martial arts, he couldn't withstand more than a few blows from his father's ruler.

I just don't know my father's specific level of martial arts prowess.

"Is he born with innate talent? Hmm, it's strange, but despite having a father who is suspected to be the number one martial arts master in Guhe County, Shen Xian never dared to ask him for martial arts lessons in the past."

Shen Bin chased after him for two laps, and upon hearing this, he was stunned: "What did they praise you for?"

Clearly, Shen Bin was well aware of his son's performance at Qingyang Temple. While not exactly outstanding, he was certainly a laggard.

Upon hearing this, Shen Bin was undoubtedly quite puzzled.

Following his usual "smug" tone, Shen Xian said, "The abbot tested my interpretation of the two Daoist scriptures, 'Free and Easy Wandering' and 'Zhuangzi's Dream of a Butterfly,' and I received the abbot's praise."

Shen Bin brandished the ruler in his hand and sneered, "If you dare to lie to me, you'll regret it!"

After thinking for a moment, he seemed to feel that his intimidation was not enough, and said fiercely, "If you dare to lie to me, I will stop your monthly allowance next month."

Shen Xian said, "Father, such things can be found out with a simple inquiry. How could I dare to lie?"

My father was very generous. It's said that the salary of a county magistrate wasn't high, but he still gave him five taels of silver every month.

Cultivating martial arts requires resources, such as precious herbs and weapons, which are all of considerable value.

Shen Bin sat down, placed the ruler aside, and said, "Tell me the details."

Shen Bin was also educated back then; he had read and studied works such as "Free and Easy Wandering" and "Zhuangzi's Dream of a Butterfly".

Shen Xian sat down at the tea table, picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, handed it over, and recounted the detailed scenes from Qingyang Temple that day.

A smile appeared on Shen Bin's rugged face as he laughed and said, "Finally! I knew it! How could the children of the Shen family of Lanxi and the Liu family of Taiyuan be... just good-for-nothings who only know how to brandish knives and spears?"

Shen Xian thought to himself, "They're even cursing me now."

Shen Bin was greatly pleased and said, "You should study hard and strive to gain the favor of the abbot. I will find a way to get you a place in the state's Taoist academy."

Shen Xian raised an eyebrow and muttered, "A spot at the state academy?"

It's not Shen Xian's fault at all. He was always focused on martial arts and never paid any attention to these things in the past.

Shen Bin's expression was solemn as he said, "Don't underestimate the abbot of Qingyang Temple. Qingyang Temple is a famous private Taoist temple in Anzhou, and Daoist He Shou is a renowned sage in Anzhou. Even a Taoist official like the county magistrate has to show him some respect."

Shen Xian was surprised and asked, "Taoist official?"

In fact, Shen Bin had said the same thing before, but Shen Xian ignored it completely.

Shen Bin's eyes showed apprehension as he said, "Taoist official, you possess Taoist arts and supernatural powers, which may be even more powerful than martial arts."

Perhaps having learned from past failures in persuading Shen Xian to study, Shen's father began to argue that martial arts skills were inferior to the magical powers of Taoist priests, in order to arouse Shen Xian's longing for Taoist priests.

However, in reality, martial arts and Taoist priests may each have their own strengths and weaknesses in terms of skills.

However, Taoist priests require extremely high talent and must study the Taoist canon in order to be granted Taoist ordination and to cultivate Taoist magic and supernatural powers.

For thousands of years, the Great Jing has long formed a pattern of Daoist officials, powerful clans, and influential local figures.

Alternatively, some members of aristocratic families studied the Taoist canon, mastered magical arts and supernatural powers, and became Taoist officials.

It can be said that you are in me and I am in you.

Shen Xian asked doubtfully, "Although the Master of Qingyang Temple is not exactly frail, he doesn't seem to possess any extraordinary skills."

Taoism and martial arts are inseparable, so he might be right to say that the Qingyang Temple Master is a martial arts expert.

Shen Bin said irritably, "If you can see through it, can you still call yourself a great sage of the Daoist sect? Crane Guardian Daoist, no one has ever seen him take action, not even in the face of some demonic or strange events in the county..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "No, Dad, what did you just say?"

Did he mishear something? Demons and monsters?

Shen Bin realized he had misspoke and said, "I didn't say anything, but you must respect that Crane Guardian Daoist from the bottom of your heart and treat him with the respect due to a disciple."

"Father was just saying... demons and evil spirits?" Shen Xian repeated the four words, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Bin.

Shen Bin, his neck stiff, denied it, saying, "Did I just say those four words?"

Shen Xian repeated the sentence in Shen Bin's tone, but his face was full of solemnity, like frost.

What the hell? Is there some kind of demon or evil spirit here?
Upon hearing this, Shen Bin's face showed an unnatural expression, and he remained silent for a long time.

(End of this chapter)