Chapter 94 You Are Better Than Me!
Chapter 94 You Are Better Than Me!
The news that the latest Qi conduction method was provided by Gao Ge has been widespread in the Cultivation Academy.
It causes a sensation in the whole Academy.
The people with higher cultivation level are more able to realize what the new Qi conduction method means to the Huaxia cultivation world.
Originally, the cultivators were wondering who invented the new Qi conduction method. They guessed that the one who developed such method must be an ancient martial arts master, who was familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of the training methods of various schools and families. Nevertheless, when they learn that the Qi conduction method is offered by a young man of 17 or 18 years old, they are tremendously shocked.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the new Qi conduction method is absolutely a good deed, for which many cultivators will be thankful to the inventor.
Of course, the only one who feels nothing about that is Gao Ge.
Never has he felt that he did anything marvelous. On the contrary, he believes that it is actually good for him to disclose the Qi conduction method.
Because even without him, the Qi conduction method would put forward anyway. He just brought something in the future to the current world. That’s all.
After class, Gao Ge catches up with Liu Zhongyi.
“Mr. Liu, I want to ask you for a favor.” Gao Ge says.
Liu Zhongyi feels a bit surprised but he still nods his head, saying, “What’s it?”
“I would like to go to the library.” Gao Ge says.
Liu Zhongyi takes a tumble, asking, “What book do you want to find?”
“Some books on martial arts skills.”
“No problem. I can lend you my library card.” Liu Zhongyi says.
Gao Ge feels shocked and asks, “Is it not appropriate?” After all, one can have only one library card. If Gao Ge makes any trouble in the library, Liu Zhongyi must take the responsibility.
“It’s okay.” While saying that, Liu Zhongyi has already passed a card taken out from his pocket, “Do you know where the library is?”
“I actually don’t know where it is.” Gao Ge shakes his head.
“Let me lead you over there.”
They walk side by side on the way to the library.
The scenery of the Cultivation Academy is quite beautiful. Especially on a road towards the library, there are Chinese parasol trees along both sides. The road looks a bit like the streets in Jinling.
“Gao Ge, I am quite curious. I feel that you seem to have met me before.” Liu Zhongyi says smilingly.
Gao Ge rubs his nose, “There are some people who have known each other for long but look like new acquaintances while some people feel like old friends at the first meeting.”
“Feel like old friends at the first meeting?” Liu Zhongyi becomes a bit stunned and then he just bursts into laughter, “You are right. Yet, do you really never regret?”
“What for?” Gao Ge asks.
“In light of your talent, I am not the teacher good enough for you.” Liu Zhongyi walks slowly with his hands on the back.
Gao Ge shakes his head, “I’ve never felt that way. There’s nothing to feel grieved about. Mr. Liu is my teacher, who doesn’t merely teach me martial arts skills or training methods. I must travel alone on the road of cultivation. As a saying goes, the master teaches the trade, but the apprentice’s skill is self-made. It makes perfect sense. Now I have learned the trade. It’s enough that you just beat me on the palm with a ferule when I make any mistake.”
Liu Zhongyi asks smilingly, “Since you don’t regret, I will say nothing more. Do you still remember what I’ve told you before? I’ll handle any problem for you if I can. Even if I can’t, I will think of other solutions. Actually, what I like most about you is not your cultivation or capability. Instead, I like your personality–being calm and peaceful all the time. It’s good that you have such a personality but inevitably, you will be incompatible with the Academy for that. After all, you are a student, not a teacher. The real peace features calmness. To that calmness there will succeed a tranquil repose; in that repose, the object of pursuit is then determined; and that being determined, wisdom may be attained; with the wisdom, comprehension may be achieved; and the comprehension will be followed by the attainment of the desired end.”
Gao Ge ponders for a while and pauses to salute to Liu Zhongyi while cupping his hands in front of his chest, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Liu Zhongyi stops too, looking at the building in front of them and then staring at Gao Ge. He says, “Here we are. Go inside first. In fact, all the truths lie in the books. What I told you is what I have learnt from books. There are some truths that I haven’t understood. If I do, I won’t tell you the exact words of them anyway. Instead, I will tell you the version in my understanding with my own words. What the book says may not always be right. Yet, when you find the book incorrect, you should tell the world why it is wrong. Otherwise, you should follow what it says.”
“Yes, sir.”
Liu Zhongyi waves his hand and then turns around to leave.
Watching Liu Zhongyi’s back, Gao Ge smiles.
He turns around, walking towards the library.
The library of the Cultivation Academy is not as grand as imagined. On the contrary, it is quite simple and crude with only two floors.
An old man in Confucian clothes is sitting by the gate of the library in the sun with a book, “The Analects of Confucius” in his hand. When reading the book, he keeps shaking his head once in a while so as to recite it.
“Boy, freeze.” He suddenly speaks when Gao Ge comes to his front.
Just when he says that, a power stops Gao Ge forcefully as if an invisible wall appears in front of him.
“The order, once given, will be strictly enforced.” Gao Ge is taken aback and turns around to look at the ordinary old man lying on the chair, with his eyes full of respect.
“Um?” The old man opens his eyes out of surprise to watch Gao Ge, “You are quite learned?”
Gao Ge smiles and salutes to the old man.
“Are you one of the Confucian apprentices?” The old man asks.
“The students in the Academy are all the Confucian apprentices.” Gao Ge says seriously.
The old man sneers, “Nonsense. Do you really think I am ignorant? Nowadays, many young men in Huaxia assert that Confucianism has poisoned Huaxia for thousands of years. Is that only a groundless rumor?”
Gao Ge thinks for a while and rebukes, “You are partially right. Many young people think the beliefs of Confucianism that include concession, kindness, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, trust, loyalty, filial piety and fraternal duty make us relatively weak when confronting strong enemies.”
“So you think it is wrong?” The old man in Confucian clothes stands up suddenly and flies into a rage, with his clothes moving around in the air.
Gao Ge takes a step back, feeling a gust of strong pressure. The power of stars inside his body starts to surge heavily, which apparently senses that Gao Ge may have encountered danger.
“We may talk about truth on the table but I won’t sit with the weak around the same table.” Gao Ge says seriously, “Confucius proposed his thoughts in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, when endless brutal wars broke out. Faced with dead bodies of the starved and soldiers, he put forward enlightening statements. In the era of ‘Common people being hopeless and capable people negligent of the world”, he still didn’t give up his ambition and devoted himself to guiding the common to learn about virtue and morality, which is certainly right. However, the later generations indulged foreign enemies with their unreasonable demand in light of the morality principle, which is wrong. It is even more wrong that the common people use Confucianism to cover their cowardice. What is actually wrong is not the thoughts but that the people gave up the weapon to defend for the country while taking up ‘The Analects of Confucius’!”
The old man’s eyes glitter like knives.
Gao Ge doesn’t hang back.
After a while, the old man bursts out laughing.
“Good. Very good!”
After saying that, he lies back on the chair.
“You can go inside!”
Gao Ge takes a deep breath, wiping the sweat on his forehead and striding into the library.
After Gao Ge goes into the library, Liu Zhongyi returns to the gate of the library.
“Sir, you just let him in without checking his library card. It’s against the rules of the Academy.” Liu Zhongyi stands aside and says smilingly.
“Rarely have I met such a smart kid. What if he doesn’t have a library card? Then can I let him in? Hence, I may as well let him in without checking!” The old man mumbles with his eyes closed.
Liu Zhongyi is greatly delighted.
“Liu Zhongyi.” The old man says suddenly.
“Sir, I am here.”
“You are better than me.”
“I don’t deserve this...” Liu Zhongyi appears afraid and fearful when faced with the old man.
“You are better than me indeed. Look, you have a good student while I don’t.” The old man sighs and glimpses Liu Zhongyi.
Liu Zhongyi is speechless.