How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

The chief judge of the Ministry of Justice sighed softly: "Mr. Bai means... he knows his secret has been exposed, but he has made a decision: even if it means being crippled or dying, he will conceal his cultivation and not bring trouble to Zhou Liang Sheng. Only with this kind of mindset could he... have such a resolute look in his eyes!"

"Exactly!" Bai Luoshui said, "Therefore, the fact that he did not reveal his cultivation level today, and that no evidence of his crimes was found on Cangshan Mountain, does not mean that he has cleared his name, nor does it mean that Miss Lin's information is inaccurate!"

"Thank you, young master!" Lin Shuiyao said, weeping.

Her face lifted, brimming with tears, a sight that evoked pity in me. Bai Luoshui's gaze fell upon this scene, and she seemed to pause for a moment, momentarily stunned...

Huo Qiuhe paid no attention to this. He slowly raised his gaze, looking towards the sky: "Mr. Bai's ability to read people is unparalleled. If you say there's a problem, then there must truly be a problem. However... however... what is the best course of action?"

Jin Wuwei enforced the law, although he was in control of it.

However, the laws and regulations of the imperial court are still in place.

Without evidence, you can't act recklessly.

The best way to obtain evidence would have been to thoroughly punish Qi Chao and force him to reveal the cultivation level of Lingyan Pavilion.

But with the woman in dark purple standing there, she blocked the test itself.

This led to the case coming to a standstill.

There are indications that as long as Mo Ziyi is still in Qishan, they will be unable to definitively convict the Zhou family father and son of their crimes.

Bai Luoshui slowly raised her gaze, looking at the overlapping peaks of the Southern Ridge: "In the game of life, there are hidden games and overt games. In today's game, I am playing an overt game with him, but what then?"

"Ming Yi?" asked the chief judge of the Ministry of Justice.

Bai Luoshui said, "We've already set our sights on Old Qi. If the Zhou family isn't stupid, they'll probably know by now. Our concern is Mo Ziyi. If she's here and we don't show up, the moment she leaves, we'll see the same scenario played out again! I really want to know if Mo Ziyi will stay in Qishan because of a cripple!"

The chief official of the Ministry of Justice laughed: "Today is already halfway through the winter month, and the New Year is just around the corner. Although Mo Ziyi is a highly skilled scholar, she is still an unmarried daughter of the Mo family. Is she really going to spend the New Year at the Zhou family's house?"

"Even if she really is extraordinary, defying all worldly laws, and willing to let go of everything to spend the New Year at the Zhou family's house..." Bai Luoshui smiled faintly, "That would be exactly what I wish for."

"What is the meaning of your wish, sir?" The chief of the Ministry of Justice was puzzled.

Bai Luoshui smiled slightly: "Does Your Excellency know that Zhou Wenju will be traveling to the capital next year?"

The chief official of the Ministry of Justice felt a sudden jolt in his heart...

"When Zhou Lang goes to the capital, the purple-robed man will be filled with sorrow..." Bai Luoshui laughed, "If he doesn't go to the capital with him, this Zhou Lang will probably face a perilous journey. If he does go with him, Zhou Liangsheng, who stayed in Qishan, will be exposed and face dire consequences! Such a dilemma is clearly laid out before him. What should he choose? This is the 'clear strategy,' haha..."

The chief official of the Ministry of Justice understood.

Huo Qiuhe understood.

Mr. Bai's focus wasn't on Lao Qi.

Old Qi was, from beginning to end, just a pawn, or rather, a trigger...

What he wants is Zhou Wenju, and what he wants is the Zhou family!

In addition, Zhou Wenju will go to Beijing.

Because he had received inside information that Zhou Wenju had been internally selected by His Majesty as a participant in the Qingshan Literary Gathering and would have to go to the capital as soon as the New Year was over.

Once he entered the capital, neither the Crown Prince nor the Prince of Rulan wanted to get rid of him.

Mo Ziyi was his biggest backer.

If we can use Lao Qi as a hidden danger to keep Mo Ziyi tied to Qishan, then Zhou Wenju will lose his most powerful backer, and the "danger along the way" that Bai Luoshui mentioned can be transformed into a real killing move.

His long journey to Beijing will be a dead end!

If Mo Ziyi goes with him, well, the Zhou family's backyard in Qishan County is definitely going to catch fire...

Once Zhou Liangsheng is apprehended, and Zhou Wenju is legally implicated, Zhou Wenju will be imprisoned in Beijing. How can he possibly participate in the Qingshan Literary Society?

This is Bai Luoshui's trump card.

What's truly terrifying in a game of chess is never the hidden strategies within the pieces, but rather the exposed moves.

I clearly tell you every move I'm about to make, but you just can't handle it. That's what despair is!

Today's defeat should theoretically discourage those on the Dharma Boat.

However, when Bai Luoshui presented his "Mingyi Theory," everyone on the boat seemed to be injected with adrenaline.

Bai Luoshui got up and went back to her room, satisfied.

Just as I sat down on the edge of the bed, a fragrant breeze wafted into my nose.

His gaze fell upon a beautiful woman kneeling on the floor.

Lin Shuiyao.

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

"Miss Lin, you..."

"Yao'er thanks you, young master, for saving my life today..." Lin Shuiyao slowly raised her face, her eyes brimming with tears.

"There's no need for that. I'm pointing out the crucial facts not just to save you."

Lin Shuiyao wept and said, "In this chaotic world, my life is like a drifting duckweed, and my future is uncertain. If I were to return to the Rulan Prince's Mansion, I would surely be left with no place to be buried. I would shamelessly beg for your favor, young master, to serve you as my servant, and I would have no regrets for the rest of my life."

Bai Luoshui looked at her quietly.

Although Lin Shuiyao did not look him directly in the eye, she could still feel his attention, and her heart pounded with extreme nervousness.

She's not stupid.

She was aware of her situation.

When he was sent to the Rulan Prince's Mansion, it was because the master of Huding Mountain sent him there to appease the Rulan Prince's anger.

She's not stupid.

She was aware of her situation.

When he was sent to the Rulan Prince's Mansion, it was because the master of Huding Mountain sent him there to appease the Rulan Prince's anger.

She's just a tool for venting...

She escaped the Rulan Prince's Mansion alive because she acted decisively, revealing the top-secret information Zhou Wenju had told her that day, betraying the Zhou family, and becoming a tool for hunting down the Zhou clan, thus demonstrating her value.

Now, the first wave of hunting has ended.

Her value was not fully realized, and it even had a negative impact: she suffered heavy losses and her efforts were in vain.

She could already sense the Crown Prince's impending rage.

If no other forces intervene, she will become the new "firework" for this round of failures.

The only savior was Bai Luoshui.

Her fate was entirely dependent on the high-ranking advisor from the capital standing before her.

She couldn't miss this opportunity...

Bai Luoshui let out a soft sigh: "Miss Lin is a natural beauty, shrewd and quick-witted, and knows how to seize opportunities. She is truly a promising talent!"

Lin Shuiyao trembled slightly all over.

She wasn't sure whether what the person in front of her was praising or criticizing her.

A natural beauty, cunning and adaptable, adept at seizing opportunities and situations.

It may seem like a positive term, but in the minds of educated people, it is actually a negative one.

Bai Luoshui smiled gently: "Do you know that there is a wondrous tower in the world called 'Drunken Flower Shade'?"

Drunken Flower Shade?

Lin Shuiyao gently shook her head: "This humble woman does not know..."

"They say the spring breeze sweeps away all splendor, leaving only the drunken shadows of fallen flowers!" Bai Luoshui bent down to help her up: "If you are willing, your life will find a new home..."

Overnight, the river flowed past Pingfeng Ridge.

A chilly winter night swept across the East River.

Zhou Wenju was awakened by the sound of gunfire.

Yes, gunshots.

He sprang out of bed, stepped out of his room, and saw something in his small courtyard that made him both laugh and cry...

Mo Ziyi sat in the red pavilion, holding a long spear (on the Hexi Valley side, all the spears had been handed over, but Zhou Wenju's own spear was still there).

thumping!

A shot was fired at... Rou'er.

Rou'er screamed and leaped like a rabbit, perfectly dodging the bullets.

However, how could Mo Ziyi allow her to be so carefree?

He fired again, another bullet heading towards the spot where Rou'er had fallen.

Rou'er's body is truly flexible; she twisted her waist to dodge again and began to counterattack...

Her retaliation consisted of two parts: a scream and an accusation: "Miss, are you really going to kill me...?"

She was met with bullets again...

what……

Rou'er shrieked, "Miss, look at yourself! Don't you look like a master of literature...?"

"I didn't say anything else, I just wanted to share my mother's wisdom accumulated over the years with you..."

"Don't hit me on the head..."

"Brother Zhou, help me... Miss has gone mad, she's really going to kill me..."

With a whoosh, Zhou Wenju stepped onto the red pavilion. Just as Mo Ziyi was about to pull the trigger again, he urgently called out, "Alright, alright, that's enough..."

Mo Ziyi stopped pointing and glanced at him sideways: "Are you really worried this crazy girl will get beaten to death?"

"I believe you know what you're doing, but what if you accidentally hurt yourself? She's jumping around like that, she doesn't even know her own limits, what if she bumps into something?"

"You crashed into me? I'll show you what happens when you crash into someone!" Mo Ziyi flicked her finger lightly, and Rou'er's body, which had just sprang up, suddenly settled in mid-air.

They directly cast a "binding spell" on Rou'er.

thumping!

A shot was fired, hitting Rou'er's buttocks precisely.

Zhou Wenju's eyes widened suddenly.

After breaking into Wenshan, his eyesight became truly unparalleled; he could accurately capture the trajectory of bullets.

He clearly saw the bullet hit Rou'er's buttocks.

The clothes were torn, but there was no blood.

The bullet was deflected...

OMG……

What kind of constitution does this girl have?

Thrown off a cliff like a ball.

The bullet hit and bounced off.

Playing with guns in the courtyard is inherently a dangerous activity, but what these two—master and servant—were actually playing... was actually a game...

Rou'er screamed, "Ah! My crotch is so cold! Miss, you tore my pants... Oh my god, I'm not wearing underwear..."

This call is the only one that is truly effective.

Mo Ziyi quickly flicked her finger, and Rou'er's restriction was lifted. She sent Rou'er into the room with a single finger.

Tell her to go change her pants right away...

Mo Ziyi also looked embarrassed. She put down her gun and went to find some cold tea on the table...

After taking a sip of cold tea to calm herself down, Mo Ziyi looked up and met Zhou Wenju's gaze.

That look in your eyes is quite intriguing...

Mo Ziyi said, "Speaking of which, this gun is really quite amazing. I have studied it carefully. The materials that make up the gun are very ordinary, just common refined iron, but when combined in this way, its power far exceeds expectations."

God is my witness, this was a hard turn she made to dispel the awkwardness she had just experienced.

Zhou Wenju said, "Don't you think this goes against the traditional Mohist philosophy of craftsmanship?"

"Indeed!" Mo Ziyi nodded slightly: "The Mo family's art of weaponry emphasizes materials and the five elements and six harmonies, but this spear completely disregards materials and the five elements and six harmonies, and has a kind of magical transformation of the rotten."

She is a master of the Mohist school.

She also possessed profound knowledge of the Mohist art of craftsmanship.

The Mohist philosophy of craftsmanship is based on materials and follows the principles of the Five Elements and Six Harmonies.

Therefore, the Mohists have been collecting all kinds of rare and precious materials to create extraordinary artifacts.

However, Zhou Wenju took a different path. He did not pursue high-end materials. He used local materials, smelting ordinary pyrite into refined iron, and then used this refined iron to make guns.

Zhou Wenju picked up the teapot from the stove next to him, took some more tea leaves, brewed a new pot of tea, and handed a cup of tea to Mo Ziyi: "This has raised a question about the path of cultivation. Perhaps we can discuss it while we wait for breakfast to be served today."

"Discussing the Dao? What Dao?" Mo Ziyi had completely recovered from the awkward interlude just now.

They embarked on the exploration of the Tao.

This is the most basic quality of a high-level intellectual.

That is, whenever the topic of philosophy is mentioned, one must gather all one's thoughts and energy.

"Naturally, it's the way of the vessel!" Zhou Wenju picked up his teacup. "In your opinion, where should the way of the vessel lead?"

"Gather the finest materials from all directions to create extraordinary artifacts, embodying the true meaning of the Heavenly Dao and seizing the wonders of creation!" Mo Ziyi said, "These are the words recorded on the title page of the Mo Dao sacred text, 'On Artifacts,' which you should have read as well."

"Of course I've seen it!" Zhou Wenju said, "Don't you think... the current tools of the Mohists are actually more like tools tailor-made for cultivators? In fact, it's not just the Mohists, all eighteen sage schools of literature and Taoism are like this. Their focus is always on cultivators, and their feet have never set foot on the yellow earth beneath their feet."

The way of tools is to create extraordinary tools.

The art of medicine focuses on how to resolve the various ailments encountered by practitioners on their spiritual journey.

Confucianism and Taoism, their fundamental principles, both emphasize how scholars should be self-disciplined and how to govern the world—scholars are also practitioners of self-cultivation, literary cultivators.

The Daoist lineage of the Dao Saint also emphasizes the fundamental principles of cultivation according to the Heavenly Dao, and it is also aimed at cultivators...

Mo Ziyi gently shook her head: "Your argument is not objective. Even the saints of all paths were born into the mortal world, and they comprehended the Great Dao and all living beings in the mortal realm before finally breaking through tribulations to become saints. How can you say that the path of sainthood is cultivated without ever setting foot on the yellow earth beneath your feet?"

"Perhaps they did indeed rise to prominence on this very land at the beginning of their enlightenment, but as their path deepened and their realms improved, many forgot the way they came!" Zhou Wenju said. "For example, regarding the Dao of implements, in the eyes of the Mohists, implements from the Mohist school must be extraordinary! If they are not extraordinary, they cannot reflect the prestige of the Mohists. However, what help do these extraordinary implements provide to the people's livelihood? What connection do they have with the vast majority of ordinary people? If the Dao is unrelated to the people, then the Dao is like water without roots, a branch without a stem!"

Mo Ziyi smiled gently: "So, you're using a gun to tell the world that your art of weaponry, derived from the mundane world and made from ordinary materials, happens to correspond to the fundamental principles of people's livelihood and is more in line with the true essence of 'the way of weaponry'?"

"Isn't that right?"

Mo Ziyi raised her eyes: "Although it's a bit far-fetched, looking at the smoke rising from every household in Qishan County this morning, and feeling the happiness of the 300,000 people in Qishan County, I seem to have to admit that your gun did indeed correspond to the way of people's livelihood that you mentioned at a certain special historical moment."

Guns are weapons of mass destruction and are fundamentally incompatible with people's livelihoods.

However, everyone has to admit that the existence of guns has changed the face of Qishan.

The current situation in Qishan was not decided by debate, but by gunfire...

Zhou Wenju laughed: "Gun corresponds to people's livelihood. Although you generously accept this, you've set a premise—'a specific historical stage.' This shows that you can't truly accept the kind of weaponry hidden in the turbid world, rooted in the loess soil. How about I transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, the rotten into the magical, so you can see it more clearly?"