Gao Wu Da Qin: You don't want your secret to be known, do you?

Chapter 59 You brat, how dare you corrupt my Dao heart?

"The written exam is over, the candidates have left the examination hall, Qin Feng remains. ✩ 🎀 60mcg.🎀 ✩"

On the high platform, the ink-painted curtain fluttered, and Master Meng's melodious voice rang out.

On the jade platform number nine, Shen Buhai and Dongfang Laoying bowed in unison, performing the grand salute of disciples of the Spring and Autumn Period, saying, "This student takes his leave!"

The two then bowed to Qin Feng, who had returned to normal.

Ripples spread across the surface of the warm pool. Jade Platform No. 9 sank underwater, leaving only Qin Feng and Master Meng in the vast arena.

Qin Feng, dressed in his Confucian robes, sat upright in the audience, waiting for Mencius to ask him a question.

"Ding!"

"A secret has been discovered!"

Qin Feng was overjoyed; the diary was finally getting some work done!

"Hint: You have discovered that the person before you possesses great fortune and harbors a great secret. He has the heart of a wandering knight, yearning to travel the world and emulate Confucius's journeys throughout the states, yet he lacks the courage to take that first step. If you can ignite his fighting spirit, you will surely form a bond with him, leading to lasting blessings and continuous good fortune!"

Following the prompt, Qin Feng looked ahead and saw a high platform standing there, with curtains fluttering in the wind.

The one who gave the tip was Mencius!

This diary is truly amazing; it even reveals the secrets of a world-renowned figure like Mencius!

So the question is, should I use this secret to blackmail Master Mencius?

Qin Feng thought about it and realized that using coercion was a bit too low-level in front of Master Meng.

Moreover, this secret is not something shameful, so there is no basis for blackmail.

But I must use this secret to create some connection and interaction with Master Mencius!

Otherwise, how could one enjoy the long-lasting blessings and continuous good fortune that come from associating with Mencius?

Or should I do something mischievous?

But if I do something bad, will Master Meng beat me to death on the spot?

Probably not!

Who is Mencius? There are very few people in the world who can compare to him! Even if he really wanted to kill me, he wouldn't do it himself, as that would be beneath his dignity!

Moreover, I have a marriage certificate. Only nine people in this world can kill me. Someone like Master Fu obviously wouldn't have a marriage certificate. Those who have marriage certificates are all young people. I should be safe.

As Qin Feng pondered the situation, Master Meng on the platform said, "Come up to the platform!"

Qin Feng sat on the Golden Lotus of Fortune, without stepping onto the stage. Instead, he smiled and said, "Master Meng, I dare not be presumptuous. I will stand here below. I think this distance is just right."

Master Meng said leisurely, "Your student is quite interesting! Every word and sentence in your dossier is a technique to disrupt the heavens, and your blood and energy can make even the disciples of the sages give way. Such talent and such power are rare in the world. You deserve to travel far to the mortal world for a spectacular feast and witness the magnificent beauty of the world!"

Qin Feng laughed, "The humanities papers are nothing but empty talk and petty confidants; the strength of blood and energy is nothing but the bravery of a brute, all that's needed. Teacher, please don't flatter me to the point of ruining me. I know myself well. I have plenty of theory but little practice. I'm good at talking but lack hands-on experience. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I'm all talk and no action, and that I'm shallow in knowledge!"

Mencius said, "Excessive humility leads to self-deprecation. If you are not even worthy of these two lines of poetry, then who among the world's talents can be?"

"What a coincidence!" Qin Feng exclaimed. "I have an old friend who is even more fitting for these two lines of poetry than I am!"

Mencius asked curiously, "Who is this old friend of yours?"

Qin Feng said, "He's not much of a figure. His name is A Liang, and Liang means 'heartless.' He's a swordsman."

Mencius asked, "A wandering knight-errant?"

"I suppose so!" Qin Feng said. "My old friend made a grand vow since childhood: if one day the Heavenly Dao collapses, he, A Liang, with only one sword, can move mountains, sever rivers, overturn seas, subdue demons, suppress monsters, command gods, pluck stars, destroy cities, and open the heavens!"

Mencius said, "The words and courage of a common man, how can a single sword accomplish so much?"

Qin Feng laughed, "Yes, I often say that about him too, but he doesn't take it seriously. He likes to wear a straw hat and straw sandals every day, with a sword in a bamboo scabbard at his waist, wandering around the martial world, telling everyone he meets, 'My name is A Liang, and I am a swordsman!'"

"I met him in a small tavern. I was only six years old then, and he was already over thirty. He was down on his luck, not only in his appearance but also in his reputation. In the local circles at the time, he was generally not considered a swordsman. People preferred to call him 'useless Ah Liang.' He spent his whole life sitting there reciting stories of Confucius, the revered teacher, traveling the states and performing heroic deeds. But when someone asked him why he didn't follow Confucius' example and travel the world, he was like someone who had been hit over the head, unable to utter a word for a long time! Ah Liang kept muttering something like, 'My three-foot sword is used to settle matters of the world. I disdain competing with ordinary people for fame and fortune.' Then, everyone laughed at him!"

"But I don't think so. In my eyes, he's an unparalleled master, a sword prodigy, and he doesn't have the slightest airs of a master. He does everything himself, which is much better than those guys who just spout off classical phrases all day long!"

"He was naturally free-spirited and disliked constraints, but he was often burdened by interpersonal relationships and always found himself trapped in a cage from which he could not escape."

"He came from a poor background, had a lot of wicked tastes, and liked to use phrases like 'your grandpa' and 'son of a bitch' all the time!"

"Later, Ah Liang disappeared."

"Disappeared for a full ten years!"

"When I saw him again, he was still the same carefree guy, still carrying that weapon that was clearly a knife but was called a sword."

I asked him, "Where have you been all these years?"

"Ah Liang told me that he went on a journey through the martial world. He first went to a place called Haoran Tianxia, ​​where mountains, rivers, plants, and trees can all become gods. The scholars there cultivate righteous energy, and the dynasties there have a destiny. When that destiny dissipates, the dynasty perishes! In his first year there, he single-handedly challenged the king of that world's dynasty, killed half of the thirteen righteous gods of that dynasty, and even destroyed their national ancestral temple!"

"Later, Ah Liang left the Vast World and went to a place called the Sword Qi Great Wall. That place was a very long wall formed by the convergence of sword qi. There were sword immortals on the Great Wall who looked up at the heavens and the earth, guarding the mountains and rivers, and defending against the invasion of another barbaric world!"

"Ah Liang guarded the Sword Qi Great Wall for several years, repelling countless powerful demons. In the end, he left the word 'fierce' on the wall! From then on, he became a true master of both realms!"

"Even so, he is still Ah Liang. He is a man of true feelings. When he makes friends with others, he never cares about their background, status, or wealth. He only cares whether you can uphold morality. If you can, he will be your most beloved friend and family member. He would not hesitate to kill into the dynasty or destroy the throne for his friends!"

"One of his favorite sayings is that people always have to live, and as long as you live, there will be a tomorrow. People always need to do something so that the people or things they care about won't die before tomorrow comes. 🐝👤 ❻❾Şн𝓊χ.匚σ𝓂 🎉🐟"

At this point, Qin Feng stopped abruptly, his gaze drifting towards the high platform.

The same story can be interpreted differently by different people: some listen to it, while others see it as a mirror.

Qin Feng's wickedness was executed quite well.

Mencius's predicament was that he came from a humble background and did not have the background or status of Confucius. However, because of his high level of scholarship, people entrusted him with the same ideals as Confucius. He had always demanded of himself the standards of Confucius, but in the end, he could not become Confucius.

And Mencius certainly knew this!

But he couldn't take that step!

In Qin Feng's past, this would be a typical example of someone who was confined by his own glory and couldn't step out of his comfort zone.

Qin Feng is now using A Liang's story to subtly mock this near-sage, telling him to go out and explore, because he can't achieve the Great Dao by staying cooped up at home!

Several breaths passed before Master Meng on the platform spoke in a furious voice, like thunder, "You brat! How dare you corrupt my Daoist heart!"

Master Meng's voice was filled with anger, and the magnificent golden lotuses released ripples of golden flames, instantly enveloping Qin Feng in a blazing golden fire.

Qin Feng was shocked. "Holy crap, did I really break through his defenses?!"

Boss, you are a sage, you are Mencius, how could you be so easily defeated?

I'm just trying it out!

I really didn't expect to succeed!

What should we do now?

Master Meng looks genuinely angry; if they stay, he'll probably beat them to death!

Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, positioning is the best! We need to get out of here quickly!

Qin Feng, however, said calmly, "Master Meng, you are mistaken. The mind is the essence of heaven and earth, yearning for freedom and unfetteredness. But you, Master Meng, have imprisoned your mind and rejected freedom. On the surface, it seems that I am corrupting your Dao heart, but in reality, it is you who are corrupting your own Dao heart."

"The Master's current state is like a peerless sword, sealed away in its homeland. Now I want to pull out this peerless sword, but it angrily curses me, saying it's ruining my plans!"

"If everyone in the world were like the Master, hiding their talents and abilities, what brilliance would there be in this world? How could we ever see the prosperous era of the Spring and Autumn Period, where everyone was like a dragon and a hundred schools of thought contended?"

"The students are simply stating the facts and have absolutely no intention of undermining the Master's moral principles."

"Even if the student just made up a story on the spot, the teacher could simply treat it as a joke and let it go without a second thought. Why make such a big deal out of it and elevate it to such a high level?"

Qin Feng knew he had already damaged the other party's Dao heart, and the most urgent thing now was to gracefully withdraw. As for what Master Meng thought or did, that was none of his business!

But Master Mencius was unwilling to let go of this wicked student who had corrupted his moral compass.

Master Meng said, "It is said that the disciples of the School of Diplomacy are all unfathomable in their cunning, and today's encounter has shown me that! You have achieved your goal today, and whether you admit it or not, my Dao heart has been shattered by you!"

"But if you think you can just walk away now, you're underestimating me!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng said with a bitter face, "Master Meng, you are a magnanimous person. I was just talking nonsense. Why do you have to argue with a junior like me?"

Mencius said, "It's not about being petty, it's about seeking a true understanding of the Way! You compare me to A Liang and advise me to travel the world, fine! I accept it! I admit you've dragged me into this!"

"But your student wants to watch the play on the dry shore? Absolutely not! I've already gone into the water, and you have to come with me!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng said, "I'm not good at swimming, so why don't you let my master do it?"

Mencius said, "If I were ever to travel the world again, I would certainly make you my coachman! What do you think?"

Qin Feng stiffly replied, "Master Meng, I have no plans to travel the world for the time being. I want to join the Qin army, get married, have children, and live a normal life with a nine-to-five job. This kind of wandering knight-errant lifestyle is really not suitable for me. I am grateful for your invitation, Master, but I really don't want to go!"

Master Meng laughed heartily, "In this world today, there are very few who can refuse me. Today's situation was set up by you, you brat. You have ruined my resolve, and you still want to stand by and watch the show? Do you think all the good things in this world belong to the strategists? This matter is settled! After I have dealt with the old affairs of the academy, I will come to Xianyang. At that time, you will have to come with me!"

Qin Feng said with a bitter face, "Master, forced relationships are never sweet!"

Mencius said, "You don't really think you can establish yourself in Qin and gain the king's favor, do you?"

Qin Feng said, "With my talent, it shouldn't be difficult for me to establish myself in Xianyang."

"Yes, you are indeed exceptionally talented!" said Master Meng. "However, it is precisely because you are too sharp and outspoken that Xianyang cannot tolerate you!"

Qin Feng was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Master, are you trying to corrupt my resolve? You're overthinking it. My loyalty to the Great Qin is as clear as the sun and moon, as borne as the mountains and rivers!"

Mencius said, "I have never doubted your loyalty to Qin, but you must understand that Qin can no longer tolerate strategists!"

Qin Feng said, "Master, you are mistaken. Isn't Gai Nie, the foremost swordsman and bodyguard by the King's side, a disciple of the Strategists?"

Mencius said, "He is a disciple of the School of Diplomacy, but not a strategist!"

"The art of diplomacy is divided into upper and lower classes. The lower class consists of people like Gai Nie and Wei Zhuang! The upper class consists of people like Zhang Yi and Su Qin!"

"Your talent, vision, insight, and strategy surpass those of Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie. You are the next Zhang Yi, Su Qin, and half of Shang Yang!"

"Imagine the time when Shang Yang entered Qin; the Qin royal family suffered heavy casualties!"

"Later, when Zhang Yi entered Qin, the people of Qin were skinned alive by him, one layer called salt, and the other called iron!"

"Now you still want to enter Qin? What will the Qin people think? The royal family and nobles all see you as a thorn in their side, and the common people see you as a monstrous threat!"

Even if the king likes you, even if the king wants to keep you, so what? Don't you see that Shang Yang was torn apart by chariots in the end! Don't you see that Zhang Yi died far from home!

"Qin Feng, you don't actually think you'll get away with this, do you?! Hahaha—"

Qin Feng gritted his teeth, staring intently at the high platform, "Master, you have corrupted my Dao heart!!"

Master Meng laughed heartily, "Likewise, you've ruined me, I've ruined you—people like us are the kind who can come together! Young man, I must go back and attend to some palace affairs. I'll come find you again in three months!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng stamped his foot and said, "Master Meng, there's one more thing you mustn't forget! I ranked first in the humanities, so shouldn't the Confucian school award me an prize?"

Master Meng said, "Haven't I already awarded you? I'm rewarding you and me with ten years of travel throughout the land! So many people long to hear the voice of Huang Lü before me, yet none can. You, young man, have this ten years of good fortune; isn't that the greatest reward?"

Qin Feng scoffed, "I overestimated Master Meng. I figured a master like Master Meng would at least give me a scholarship of several million, or at the very least a few top-grade divine weapons. I never expected him to be a grandmaster who gets something for nothing!"

Master Meng sighed, "To get something for nothing—that's a very apt description! I truly came empty-handed, while you, lad, deserve the title of 'white wolf.' You've quite aptly positioned yourself! It shows you knowingly did something bad but deliberately did it anyway; you're truly wicked to the core!"

"Master, you've already cursed me and shattered my resolve, aren't you going to show any remorse? I'm a big mouth, I'll go around telling everyone I didn't get a single penny, guess what will happen?"

"Boy, your threat comes too late! Before you broke my Dao Heart, I might have had some reservations, but now I have none. A mere empty reputation is nothing. I'm about to travel the world; why would I be afraid of a bad name? Besides, everyone knows that strategists have no bottom line. Do you think anyone will believe what you're saying?"

"Master, this is so unbecoming of a sage! Isn't this just cheating?"

"That depends on who you're messing with! Do you think you're behaving like a student? What student would come up to their teacher and start telling stories to undermine their resolve?"

"You, you!"

"What are you saying? Pack your bags, I'll come pick you up in three months!"

The high platform crumbled, but in the distance, golden lotuses bloomed in profusion, their golden light soaring into the sky. The figure of the Master was nowhere to be seen.

(End of this chapter)