How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

"This move, besides provoking the city's literati, seems to have put you in the eye of the storm. I reckon the first piece of gossip for the new year will be about me, Zhou, spending the night at Tianjing Nunnery."

"You just realized that?" Su Xin rolled her eyes at him.

"What should we do then?"

"Go down the mountain now and go from house to house to explain."

"An explanation? My God, isn't that just asking for trouble? It'll only make things worse!"

"Exactly! Since it's inexplicable, why bother?" Su Xin raised her teacup. "Drink tea!"

Alright, let's have some tea...

Zhou Wenju became increasingly calm as he drank.

However, when Su Xin drinks tea, she keeps her eyes focused on her nose and her nose focused on her heart, seemingly becoming more and more thoughtful the more she drinks...

Finally, she finished her cup of tea and looked up: "Young Master Zhou, your thinking is meticulous and your actions are always methodical, but I wonder if you ever have any impulsive moments in your life?"

"Impulsive?" Zhou Wenju looked up.

At this moment, her eyes changed; it seemed as if some kind of impulse was truly swirling within them: "Yes, an impulse!"

Zhou Wenju's heart skipped a beat: "There are many kinds of impulses. What kind of things do you consider impulsive?"

Su Xin said, "I suddenly felt a urge, and I had the desire to act on it immediately. It was hard to suppress, and I didn't want to suppress it..."

Zhou Wenju's heart skipped a beat and then jumped...

My God, the impulse you're talking about, the impulse you're explaining, sounds to me like... that kind of "impulse"?

Surely not, we're not that close.

You still have that shiny head that makes it "difficult to approach with evil thoughts"...

"Of course everyone has impulses; it's a matter of human instinct..." Zhou Wenju carefully chose his words.

Su Xin asked, "How did you deal with your impulsive actions, young master?"

"When faced with impulses, a hundred people will have a hundred different ways of coping. Personally, I prefer to go with the flow and not forcibly suppress it. After all, life is short, and we should act spontaneously and relax. Of course, this only represents my personal opinion."

"Go with the flow?" Su Xin's beautiful eyes held a hint of mystery at this moment.

"Miss seems to be implying something, but please forgive my ignorance at this moment... I am quite dull and do not know what you are referring to."

Su Xin slowly stood up, as if making a silent decision as she did so.

Finally, she took a deep breath: "Young master, please come into the room!"

He turned and went into the room behind.

Zhou Wenju's heart suddenly raced...

What's going on?

What you're drinking is tea, not aphrodisiac...

Did I suddenly act impulsively?

Could it be that something is wrong with your body? For example, what kind of side effects might your crazy Buddhist practices have? Is it that the more you try to be detached and have few desires in daily life, the harder it is to suppress them when they arise?

The door is open!

The stance is clear!

Zhou Wenju stepped into the room, driven by primal urges.

Suddenly, he froze.

Su Xin stood before the table. On the table, a golden bowl gleamed with a faint golden light. Within the bowl, a mysterious, ever-moving black water rippled endlessly...

"Young master, you once tested the Mountain and River Cauldron left by the previous dynasty. I know you also have a great interest in it. Today, I am impulsively desiring to share this 'Guiding Altar' with you!"

Holy crap!

You're so impulsive! I was getting all fired up, and you're giving me this to do?

Zhou Wenju's mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts, yet he was still firmly attracted to the golden bowl before him.

In her eyes, this bowl was a treasure she was always ready to steal and exchange for money.

In Lao Qi's... today Lao Zeng's eyes, it is the "Dragon Bowl," an everyday item of the former royal family.

However, they were both wrong.

This bowl is not an everyday item; it is a true treasure.

It's called the Guiding Altar...

"What is the purpose of this guiding altar?"

"This altar is closely related to the Mountain and River Cauldron. Through this altar, we can find the whereabouts of the Mountain and River Cauldron." Su Xin said, "A month ago, your new ci poem caused a change in the heavenly secrets, which allowed this altar to be opened. However, what we see in the altar is just a pool of black water, and we still cannot accurately know the whereabouts of the Mountain and River Cauldron. I am sharing this with you today in the hope that you will pay more attention when you travel the world. If you can really find the Mountain and River Cauldron, we can also share the secrets within it."

Zhou Wenju let out a soft sigh: "Why did you choose me?"

"Three reasons!" Su Xin said, "First, this altar was opened because of you, and there may be a divine will in the world. Second, I am well aware of what Young Master Qishan has done. Only those who have the world in their hearts are worthy to touch the Mountain and River Cauldron, and Young Master meets the prerequisite for touching it. Third, Young Master is quick-witted and has reached the peak of his career. No one can predict his future path. You may be able to see places that others cannot see."

"So, you acted impulsively?"

"Yes, it was impulsive!" Su Xin met his gaze: "I wonder if Young Master is willing to accept this impulse?"

Would you be willing to accept this?

If this broken bowl weren't in front of you.

If you hadn't laid this groundwork beforehand, how would I have understood your statement? I guarantee I would have interpreted it with such passion that it was completely distorted from its original meaning...

"What can I say now that I've already seen it?" Zhou Wenju said. "Of course, I can only strive to live up to the young lady's high expectations."

"In that case, we are now on the same path!" Su Xin smiled gently. "Young Master, your knowledge is vast, and your thinking and vision are different from others. What is your initial judgment of this Black Pool?"

"And you? What are you thinking?" Zhou Wenju's eyes, filled with literary wisdom, were firmly fixed on the turbulent black water.

"A pool of completely black water—as far as I know, there aren't many like this in the human world. Combining this with the rumors circulating in the martial arts world, I have reason to believe that this strange black lake must be in the Demon Ruins, or some unknown forbidden zone," Su Xin said.

Zhou Wenju nodded slightly.

That's all...

Suddenly, it froze...

A strange expression appeared on his face...

Su Xin's heart skipped a beat: "Young Master, have you discovered something?"

"How can you be sure that the water flowing in this black lake is water?" Zhou Wenju asked.

"Isn't it water?"

"You're not a scholar, you're probably not familiar with the Four Treasures of the Study..." Zhou Wenju said, "If common sense isn't deceiving me, I think... this isn't a lake! It's an inkstone! And what's in this isn't water, it's ink!"

"Ink! Inkstone!" Su Xin slowly raised her gaze: "Is the sea seen in the guiding altar truly an inkstone in the hands of a scholar?"

"Isn't that surprising?" Zhou Wenju said, "High-ranking literati can turn ink into sea and paper into mountains. It is only reasonable for them to use the Four Treasures of the Study to house the ancient artifact, the Mountain and River Cauldron."

Su Xin said, "The pinnacle of literary skill, capable of containing the vastness of Mount Sumeru within a mustard seed, is not inherently unusual. But, young master, don't you find... it somewhat terrifying?"

horrible?

Yes, it's terrifying!

Back then, the previous dynasty acted perversely, valuing military power over literature, burning books and burying scholars alive. The Holy Temple intervened, beheading the previous emperor on the pillar of the state, and the divine artifact of the human race, the Mountain and River Cauldron, which was held by the previous royal family, disappeared without a trace.

It is said that this cauldron fell into the hands of a demon.

If it truly fell into the hands of demons, that would be reasonable, because in the past twenty years, this human artifact has never served the human race.

However, if this cauldron did not actually fall into the hands of the demons, but was still in the hands of a certain literary master of the human race, then what were this master's intentions?

Sealing away human artifacts is the attitude that humanity should have.

Isn't this clearly aiding and abetting evil?

Zhou Wenju understood perfectly and smiled gently: "Didn't you already conclude a long time ago that there are heroic and tragic human warriors among scholars, but there are also human traitors who bring chaos to the country and harm to the people? There's nothing to be surprised about."

"Indeed, the literati are the most unpredictable!" Su Xin sighed softly. "Today, your insightful eyes have opened my 'barrier of perception,' but this gain is still of no practical value. We still cannot know the true whereabouts of the Mountain and River Cauldron."

The Mountain and River Cauldron is kept in someone's inkstone.

In this world, almost every scholar has an inkstone.

Do you know who the inkstone hidden inside the Mountain and River Cauldron belongs to?

Therefore, this clue has no practical value...

"Not entirely!" Zhou Wenju said, "At least we've initially ruled out one possibility: the Mountain and River Cauldron shouldn't be in the Demon Ruins."

The Demonic Ruins are illogical and illiterate.

Apart from sacred treasures, any literary treasures will become ineffective in the Demon Ruins.

This inkstone, however, clearly has not lost the support of the great power of literature.

Therefore, it is still in the human world and has not ended up in the demonic ruins as rumored.

Su Xin nodded: "Theoretically, it is still in the human world, but having too many targets is the same as having no target at all."

"There are two paths...or perhaps we can find them," Zhou Wenju said.

Su Xin's eyes lit up: "Please speak plainly, young master."

"Firstly, let's examine the roles played by the various schools of thought during the change of dynasties, and which school was most likely to obtain the Mountain and River Cauldron."

Su Xin's eyes held a complex expression: "And the second one?"

"Secondly, even a single drop of ink can sometimes convey profound secrets," Zhou Wenju said. "The ink used by each sect is actually different."

"Are the inks of different styles different?" Su Xin was very surprised.

This touched upon a blind spot in her knowledge.

Zhou Wenju said, "Different paths lead to different inks. For example, the Mohist school, where I once worked, used extremely thick and heavy ink, adhering to the principle that thick ink produces great works. Poets, on the other hand, use extremely light ink, adhering to the principle that light ink on blue paper can paint the azure sky with poetic sentiment. Painters use ink with unpredictable variations in thickness. And the ink of the Yin-Yang school inherently carries Yin and Yang..."

Su Xin's horizons broadened: "Is the ink on this guiding altar thick or thin?"

"Extremely concentrated!" Zhou Wenju's eyes held a complex expression.

Su Xin stared into his eyes: "Regarding your first chain just now, I can tell you the answer definitively: if we're talking about which path is most likely to obtain the Mountain and River Cauldron, it's undoubtedly the Mohist school!"

The Mohist school is the only sacred family within the territory of the Great Yu Dynasty.

No literary or Taoist family could more easily obtain the divine artifact that established the Great Yu Dynasty.

Zhou Wenju seemed to be deep in thought...

Su Xin slowly looked away and gently shook her head: "However, the Mo family is also the least likely holy family."

Why?

"Of the eighteen sage families of literature and Taoism, three are the most resolute in their attitude towards the demon race: the Military School, the Mohist School, and the Historian School. The Military School, after sealing its position in the Outer Heavens, and the Mohist School, shouldering the banner of resistance against the demon race, would surely use this ancient artifact in humanity's war of resistance if they obtained it. Moreover, the greatest secret within the Mountain and River Cauldron is the 'Eight Trigrams Formation.' The Mohist School's array techniques over the past twenty years have remained unchanged, continuing the methods passed down from their ancestral sage. Clearly, they haven't obtained the Mountain and River Cauldron. At least, they haven't deciphered its secrets!"

"The world is full of unpredictable events, let's wait and see!" Zhou Wenju said, "Let's stop here for today."

When will you depart for Beijing?

"It's tentatively scheduled for the sixth day of the first lunar month."

"What is the purpose of this trip to Beijing?"

"It doesn't have any specific purpose; it's just attending a literary gathering."

"Then I will wait for your timeless poems in the distant Lingnan."

"Haha..." Zhou Wenju laughed and stepped out of the room.

"Be careful along the way. If you're not confident, it's best to have Mo Jia Ziyi accompany you," Su Xin said.

"Be careful along the way. If you're not confident, it's best to have Mo Jia Ziyi accompany you," Su Xin said.

"I can't say I'm certain, but young lady, there's no need to alarm you. A man must at least experience the ways of the world. If one doesn't even dare to tread this long road to the capital, how can one discuss the ups and downs of life?" Zhou Wenju bowed and said, "I'll take my leave now!"

"Take care on your journey!" Su Xin bowed deeply.

Zhou Wenju stepped into the air and descended from Gushan.

It landed on the bank of the East River, leaped up, and entered its own courtyard.

Inside the red pavilion, a single lamp flickered dimly, and Zhang San was reading by its light beneath the pavilion.

Upon seeing Zhou Wenju enter, he quickly flipped the book in his hand over and placed it face down on the table.

The four large characters on the cover are clearly visible: "Military Affairs of Ancient and Modern Times".

"Young master, you've gone to Lonely Mountain!" Zhang San exclaimed excitedly. "I just saw you fishing in the sea."

Zhou Wenju sighed deeply: "While everyone else is drinking and having fun during the New Year, or eating melon seeds and candy, I'm the only one who has to climb high mountains in the middle of the night to find inspiration, and then I have to work hard fishing. Sigh... what a miserable life!"

Zhang San, with a sour expression, said, "Young master, could you be any more smug? Let me tell you, I heard all the screams coming from the restaurants in the city. Several scholars were screaming their deaths there... And now this happens during the New Year? Don't you want people to have a good holiday?...

Zhou Wenju couldn't hold back any longer.

lol.

Zhang San smiled and said, "Young master, Hong'er and Lü'er have prepared a midnight snack. Have them bring it over."

"Didn't these two girls go back to reunite with their parents?"

"They didn't go today, but yesterday they took some time to go back and give their parents the wages the young master had given them. Their whole family cried, and when the two girls came back, their eyes were still red. Everyone sighed, saying that these girls are lucky..."

Time marches by in the festive atmosphere.

The New Year passed by leisurely in Qishan for several days.

Aside from visiting his parents at the county government office on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhou Wenju didn't go anywhere else.

There is only one reason: they were actually staying in Qishan County as guests.

My relatives aren't here, and I have nowhere to offer New Year's greetings.

However, many people came to his courtyard to pay New Year's visits, mostly from Hexi Village. Zhang San was responsible for receiving these people.

And so he lay there until the sixth day of the first lunar month.

On the sixth day of the lunar new year, the weather was gloomy and drizzling.

Zhou Wenju packed his belongings, which were actually quite simple, consisting of just a stack of silver notes.

He didn't even need to tidy up his clothes; the outfit he was wearing was perfect for both hot and cold weather, a lazy person's dream that didn't need to be washed year-round.

It doesn't need to be washed because it has a self-cleaning function.

No need to replace it, because it has a transformation function.

If you want to be a scholar, you can wear scholar's robes; if you want to be a spiritual practitioner, you can wear spiritual robes.

Today is the day of parting. Dressed in a purple scholar's robe and a purple headscarf, he drifted out of Qishan County and walked away into the distance.

Zhou Liang saw his son off at the pavilion, and finally did not call him "rebellious son" again. In the wind and rain, he hugged him tightly, and with tears in his eyes, he watched his son depart.

Zhang San stood outside the pavilion with two maids, one in red and one in green.

Whether it was rain or tears, their eyes were wet.

Upon reaching Xiema Slope, Zhou Wenju looked up and saw a lone plum tree atop the mountain. Beneath the plum tree, a nun in white robes, as ethereal as a fairy in the wind, stood gracefully...