Chapter 592: Building Reputation

In the State of Chen, Shangying City.

It was just dawning when a middle-aged man of unremarkable appearance hurried toward the western gate. He had always been servile and obsequious by nature, but as he walked, he gradually straightened his posture, held his head high, and fixed his gaze forward, as if he had suddenly become someone of great importance.

He was Tian Jian, a servant of Sikou Tian Heng, who had been ordered by his master to investigate a matter in the bamboo grove west of the city.

Though Shangying was not a renowned city, it had a population of several ten-thousands, divided into districts for the palace, nobles, markets, and commoners. Each district was further divided into neighborhoods, forming tight-knit communities where events in one quarter often remained unheard in the next street over, revealing the vastness of the city. Although Tian Heng was the chief justice responsible for law enforcement, he could not possibly know every trivial incident unless it caused significant disturbances or received complaints. Thus, he was content to remain idle unless necessary.

Over a month ago, a few people from the State of Chu arrived and began holding lectures in the western bamboo grove. Tian Heng had never heard of them until recently, when his servants mentioned it, and only then did he realize their influence was growing.

Initially, he neither supported nor opposed such lectures, as they were a popular trend among the warring states in recent years. It was not worth making an issue of, lest he be seen as stubborn and outdated. However, as the lectures gained more attention and reports of their content reached him, he became deeply alarmed and dispatched a trusted servant to investigate.

Tian Jian walked briskly. Those who recognized him on the streets paused to bow respectfully, giving him great satisfaction. But as he approached the bamboo grove west of the city, such greetings diminished. More people walked past him without acknowledging, and most hurried along, clearly anxious not to miss something important.

“Are they all going to listen to the bamboo grove lectures?” Tian Jian murmured in surprise, regaining his composure before quickening his pace to follow.

Though called a bamboo grove, the area was sparsely planted with bamboo, hardly a forest. At its center stood a raised earthen platform about half a person high. Sitting atop it was a woman dressed in white, her demeanor aloof and refined, her beauty exquisite and otherworldly, like a celestial maiden descended from the Moon Palace.

Her expression carried a hint of youthfulness, as if she were barely twenty, yet she captivated Tian Jian so deeply that he nearly lost control of himself. He couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly, “Even Baosi of old could not have been more beautiful…”

As a servant of the chief justice, he was literate and well-read.

Surveying the crowd, he noticed many wore expressions of admiration and reverence, but none were frivolous or disrespectful.

Before the woman sat a seven-stringed qin. Suddenly, she gently strummed it. The sound was clear and refreshing, invigorating the crowd. Tian Jian observed how everyone immediately sat up straighter, silenced their whispers, and focused intently.

“Today, we discuss Chapter Two of the *Mo Shu*…” Her voice was as melodious as the qin.

Tian Jian frowned. Chapter Two? Or perhaps this was the umpteenth time she had taught Chapter Two?

He maintained his usual air of arrogance, but as he listened, his expression gradually changed involuntarily, as if shedding a mask of rigidity to reveal a more vibrant and animated self.

The *Mo Shu* was actually a martial arts manual!

Was she really teaching this secret manual to the entire audience in public?

And she was even teaching them to read as she went along!

Tian Jian found this utterly absurd, as if he had fallen into a ridiculous dream. As a trusted servant who had long received martial instruction from his master, he possessed considerable skill. He did not particularly value the martial techniques described in the *Mo Shu*, but how could she do this?

The difficulty of acquiring martial techniques and literacy was what distinguished nobles from the lowly. How could she teach them freely, without any payment or examination?

It was an outrage!

He had toiled hard, serving like an ox or horse, before finally learning to read and practice martial arts. How could these lowly people be worthy of such knowledge?

Looking around in confusion, he noticed some scholars and impoverished nobles among the crowd.

What followed only deepened his fury. Not only did she teach, but she also guided and even demonstrated techniques personally. The audience listened with rapt attention, comparing what they heard with their prior knowledge, some so engrossed they seemed to wish for extra ears and hearts. Others brought bark or wooden tablets, carving down symbols only they could understand at key moments, to aid their memory later.

As time passed and the lecture moved into a Q&A session on cultivation, Tian Jian was caught between shock and anger when the woman finally concluded Chapter Two of the *Mo Shu* and began discussing “Mo Yi.”

“Mo Yi?” Tian Jian forced himself to focus.

But just as he calmed his earlier turmoil, another wave of shock hit him. He nearly jumped up in rage, almost shouting curses.

“Universal love? That Heaven and Earth show no distinction in affection, and so should humans? Despite differences in closeness, we must always harbor compassion and mercy? That the noble should not despise the lowly, nor the rich mock the poor?” His face twisted with fury as he barely restrained himself from cursing aloud. “Absurd! The nobility are born superior. How can they be placed on equal footing with the lowly and shown universal love?”

“No unjust wars? There are no just wars in this world today!”

“No predestined fate? That merit aligns with Heaven’s will, that there are deities who reward or punish, and that fate is not fixed?” This time, Tian Jian’s expression wavered. “Hmm… that actually makes some sense…”

Tian Jian alternated between glaring and raising his eyebrows, sometimes wishing to tear the woman on the stage apart, other times feeling an urge to worship her, as if she had spoken directly to his heart. Perhaps this was the true path—effort could still elevate him further!

“In the warring states, a hundred miles may stretch without a soul in sight, bones littering the fields, unburied and forgotten. This is no exception. Many of you here must have experienced it yourselves. Only through mutual love and benefit, and avoiding unjust wars, can such tragedies be avoided…” On the stage, Ruan Yushu quietly exhaled in relief. It was her turn to lecture today, and she wasn’t particularly skilled at it. The relief she felt after finishing was no less than eating ten pieces of dried dragon fish in one go.

She did not hold a grand lamentation session, nor did she preach about gods and saints or question whether kings and nobles were born superior. She merely hinted at these ideas subtly, avoiding premature conflict with the nobility. The ultimate goal—ending the warring states and unifying the world for peace—was not to be spoken aloud. Chen was a small state with no such ambitions, and voicing such thoughts would only backfire. Simply advocating “non-aggression” was sufficient.

For over a month, they had not sought an audience with King Chen directly, as he was not a ruler known for valuing talent or treating scholars with respect. As unknown figures, they would likely be dismissed outright. Thus, they spent time lecturing and building their reputation, hoping to attract the king’s attention on his own.

Surprisingly, their efforts paid off. With the promotion of Zhao Bai and others, the lectures went from being ignored to drawing crowds of commoners, and even many educated scholars and officials came to listen, praising them greatly.

As a result, the reputations of Meng Qi and others spread widely, and even nobles began attending, some traveling from nearby cities. The titles “Five Wise Ones” and “Master Su” became household names.

As Ruan Yushu concluded her lecture, the audience quickly stood, bowing respectfully, their eyes filled with admiration.

Tian Jian’s heart was in turmoil. He left the bamboo grove in a daze, his mind a mix of shock and confusion, unaware of how he had returned to Tian Heng’s mansion.

“Teaching literacy, spreading martial techniques, without charging fees, allowing anyone to attend?” Tian Heng, his black beard bristling with anger, glared as he listened to the beginning of Tian Jian’s report.

Tian Jian kept his head low. “Yes.”

“Reckless! Arrogant! Rebellious scoundrels!” Tian Heng paced furiously, lamenting, “The rites are collapsing! The rites are collapsing! Truly, the rites are collapsing!”

According to the Zhou rites, martial techniques and literacy were privileges reserved for the sons of nobles and rulers. How could they be taught freely to all?

He had often lamented the chaos of the world, where many states abandoned rites for the sake of power. But when such a shocking act occurred right under his nose, it enraged him beyond control, deepening his sense of moral decay and darkness in the world.

After a few steps, he calmed himself. “Continue.”

Tian Jian, observing his master’s expression, first focused on the topics of “non-aggression” and “unjust wars,” then moved on to “universal love,” “valuing the worthy,” “Heaven’s will,” “spirits and ghosts,” and “frugality.”

Tian Heng’s face grew increasingly grim, but he did not erupt again, forcing himself to listen to the end.

“To employ talent without regard for status… Hmph! This is like desecrating our ancestors’ tombs…” he muttered through clenched teeth.

Tian Jian quickly asked, “Master, should we drive them out?”

“Drive them out for holding lectures? Would that give Tang a pretext? Wait—did they come from Chu?” As a vassal of Chu, Chen was often at odds with Tang. Tian Heng dared not act rashly.

“Yes, they are indeed from Chu,” Tian Jian confirmed.

Tian Heng paced thoughtfully. “They’re only lecturing, not lobbying. For now, send someone to Chu to confirm the situation before taking action.”

“Yes.” Tian Jian turned to leave.

At that moment, Tian Heng’s younger son, Tian Kuo, happened to pass by, muttering to himself, “Heaven and Earth are impartial… No distinction in affection… Value the worthy and seek unity… Universal love and non-aggression… Truly great minds…”

“What did you say, you wretched child?” Tian Heng exploded, slapping him across the face.

Tian Kuo was no weakling, nearing the level of an outer realm cultivator, but bound by etiquette, he dared not evade. The slap sent blood trickling from his lip.

“Value the worthy? If the worthy truly ruled, would there be room for a fool like you?” Tian Heng raged.

Tian Kuo glared defiantly. “Father, the world has changed long ago. Those without strength and talent may seize high positions, but they cannot hold them for long! No law of rites can stop others from coveting power!”

“The Way of the world belongs only to the worthy!”

“Master Su said the tide of the world flows like a mighty river—those who follow it thrive, those who resist perish. We cannot stop a chariot with the arm of a mantis! We must abandon distinctions of birth and choose only the talented. That is the path to survival and strength!”

Tian Heng stared at his son, barely recognizing him, lips trembling. “Wretched child… wretched child…”

A few days later, before receiving a reply from Chu, Tian Heng received shocking news—King Chen had summoned the bamboo grove lecturers!

“The King… the King summoned them…” Tian Heng’s legs buckled, and he collapsed onto the mat.

Inside the palace of Chen.

After Meng Qi and others had paid their respects to King Chen and taken their seats at the banquet tables, the king spoke, “I have heard of your great talents, but Chen is peaceful, and the nobles and commoners live in harmony. Your teachings may find no use here.”

He had a distinctive five-beard goatee and exuded the aura of a Grandmaster.

This was precisely the small state Meng Qi and others had carefully chosen—a kingdom ruled by a king stronger than the nobles!

As the king finished speaking, Meng Qi smiled faintly, then grew solemn. “Your Highness, Chen is in grave danger. A great calamity looms just around the corner. Where is the peace?”