Chapter 238: The Real Show Has Only Just Begun

As the abilities of the Grotto Mystic Dao gradually reached a bottleneck and began to solidify, the Dao-Rhythm Stone had become of little benefit to Li Shun.

Thus, he simply took the initiative to seek out Kong Changqing and return the priceless treasure intact.

Kong Changqing was naturally astonished when he saw this.

After examining Li Shun briefly, he could not help stroking his beard and praising him.

“Among the cultivators of the world, if anyone obtained such a divine stone capable of pointing directly toward the Great Dao, who would not regard it as an unparalleled treasure? I fear most would wish nothing more than to claim it for themselves, and even playing with it day and night would not be enough.”

“And yet, in a mere dozen or so days, you have already seen through your greed and voluntarily returned it without the slightest hesitation…”

“You truly possess the bearing of a Sage!”

Kong Changqing had spoken without thinking, allowing the truth in his heart to slip out.

Li Shun's eyes flickered. He immediately bowed deeply, an appropriately apprehensive expression appearing on his face.

“Senior's praise truly embarrasses this junior! A rare treasure of extraordinary value, why must it necessarily be kept for oneself? To keep one's heart at peace, neither envying nor seeking what belongs to others, that is what is truly precious.”

Seeing that Li Shun remained neither arrogant nor servile, Kong Changqing burst into hearty laughter and applauded.

“Young man, don't try to decline the praise. These words of mine are by no means empty flattery.”

“In ancient times, before the Sage had attained the Dao and established his place within heaven and earth, a villager once wished to offer him a priceless jade. The Sage firmly refused and said, ‘I regard freedom from greed as my treasure, while you regard jade as your treasure. If you give it to me, then we would both lose our treasures. It is better that each man keep his own treasure.’”

“Today, your open-hearted act of returning the Dao-Rhythm Stone is it not precisely the same conduct as the Sage's, proven word for word across several hundred years?”

“There are countless Confucian cultivators in this world who proclaim themselves followers of the Way. Which among them has not memorized the Sage's writings and classics by heart? Yet when confronted with such heaven-defying fortune, how many throughout the world can truly act like the Sage himself? You need not belittle yourself!”

Li Shun continued lowering his head, wearing a helpless, bitter smile.

He naturally understood that the reason he could remain unmoved before such a priceless treasure had nothing to do with possessing the bearing of a Sage.

It was because he himself possessed something even more precious: [Fangcun].

To him, the Dao-Rhythm Stone was merely a tasteless piece of meat that was a pity to discard. Naturally, he could cast it aside as though it were worthless.

He simply had not expected Kong Changqing to seize upon this point and shower him with such grandiose praise.

'This really is a case of having a great Confucian scholar come forward to defend my virtue for me,' Li Shun silently grumbled inwardly.

After joking around for a while, Kong Changqing changed the subject and brought up another matter.

“Speaking of which, an interesting matter has recently arisen in the imperial court. Do you still remember the heir of the Jun School who participated in the Hundred Schools Grand Assembly?”

“Sun Lang?”

“Precisely that fellow. He is outrageously bold. After the grand gathering ended, instead of fleeing, he went straight to the Sacred Capital and openly demanded an official position at court. You should know that an unorthodox faction as lawless as the Jun School is still explicitly prohibited under Great Qian's laws. Yet this young man not only appeared openly without the slightest fear, he even dared to make such an outrageous demand in broad daylight.”

Kong Changqing narrowed his eyes, a rather intriguing hint of mockery in his smile.

“There was actually such a thing? Then how did those distinguished officials of the imperial court decide the matter?” Li Shun's heart stirred, and he could not help becoming curious.

“Such a rebellious act naturally enraged the civil and military officials alike. One official immediately stepped forward and angrily condemned him. He cited Shentu Xin, who once set fire to the Imperial Mausoleum in Dongshan Town, as an example, passionately denouncing the Jun School's lawlessness and the endless harm caused by its lingering influence.”

“Who would have expected that Sun Lang's tongue would be so sharp? With nothing more than one seemingly casual sentence, he actually argued that Confucian official into silence.”

“‘There are hypocrites within Confucianism. Does that mean all hypocrites are Confucians?’”

Li Shun had thoroughly studied the classics, so he knew that this “hypocrite” referred specifically to a prominent minister named Sun Hong from the early years of Great Qian's founding.

Sun Hong had been a thoroughly orthodox Confucian. He had risen steadily through the ranks until he attained one of the Nine Ministers' positions.

In his daily life, he wore plain clothes and ate simple meals, living an extremely frugal existence. In the eyes of outsiders, he was practically a flawless paragon of Confucian virtue.

Yet although he constantly spoke of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, behind closed doors he was vicious to the extreme. He was skilled in employing the most brutal punishments and unfathomably deep political schemes, quietly using others as blades to eliminate his political enemies or forcing them into desperate circumstances that ended with their families destroyed.

But one cannot walk beside the river forever without getting one's shoes wet.

In the end, Sun Hong made too many enemies through his persecution of rival factions. His enemies eventually united against him, and when his crimes were exposed, he met a miserable death in prison.

After his death, his enemies dug up all manner of appalling deeds from his lifetime and relentlessly denounced him. Later generations would nail his name to the pillar of shame, calling him the greatest “hypocrite” under heaven.

He had always been regarded by the entire Confucian tradition as a shameful stain upon its history.

At court, his name had become an unspoken taboo. Few dared to tear open that layer of pretense so bluntly to someone's face.

“It seems this Sun Lang is quite eloquent. He doesn't seem much like someone from the Jun School,” Li Shun remarked.

Kong Changqing laughed and applauded.

“More than that! Whenever officials from the Hundred Schools refused to accept his arguments and stepped forward to oppose him, he would actually go alone to their residences and debate them. He quoted the classics, cited precedents, and argued with both reason and evidence. More often than not, he would leave those officials red-faced and speechless.”

“In the end, His Excellency the Right Chancellor actually made the final decision and arranged an official position for the boy.”

“Oh? What kind of position?” Li Shun became increasingly convinced that something about the matter was strange.

“Gate Attendant.”

“It was originally responsible for standing beside the palace gates when the officials attended court each day, correcting their conduct and maintaining proper decorum. The current Emperor has secluded himself within the imperial palace for several centuries and no longer concerns himself with court affairs. Naturally, this position has long since become nothing more than a title in name.”

“But after receiving his official appointment, Sun Lang went to the main hall at the exact same time every day without fail. Even when there was not a single person inside the hall, he still stood there like a clay statue or wooden carving, steadfastly fulfilling his duty.”

“If he had merely put on an act for one day, that would have been nothing. But he has continued standing there motionless for several consecutive days. Judging from his stubborn determination, it seems he intends to see this through to the bitter end and has no intention of giving up halfway.”

“Now the entire court and public are discussing the matter, marveling at it. Some curse him for seeking attention and treat him as a laughingstock. Others, who do not understand the situation, foolishly praise him for being so devoted to his duties.”

“What do you make of it?”

Kong Changqing fixed Li Shun with a piercing gaze, clearly intending to test him.

Li Shun pondered for a moment.

Rather than immediately offering an assessment, he spoke with absolute certainty.

“Wolf-like ambition conceals an ulterior motive. We must be on guard!”

The answer clearly exceeded Kong Changqing's expectations. He raised his eyebrows.

“How so?”

Li Shun calmly explained.

“When something deviates from all reason, there must be something strange behind it. Whenever someone's actions are extraordinarily conspicuous and run completely counter to common sense, whatever they seek must either be fame or profit.”

“The Jun School regards empty fame as nothing more than dung. Therefore, he can only be seeking profit.”

“For the Jun School, the Jun Dao spreading its influence throughout all things and transforming all beings into one harmonious whole is the ultimate destination of creation. That is the greatest profit of all.”

“The fundamental doctrine of the Jun School is diametrically opposed to the rule of the Great Qian imperial court. I wonder why the Right Chancellor would make such an arrangement.”

A trace of puzzlement appeared in Li Shun's eyes.