owlsbooks Chapter 21: The Way of Literature Can Also Be Cultivated.
Chapter 21: The Way of Literature Can Also Be Cultivated.
Lu Yuan looked up at the end of the long street.
That place was brightly lit and crowded with people; it was where Qingzhou Academy held its annual Mid-Autumn Festival poetry gathering.
He didn't want to go at first. But now...
He changed his mind.
At the end of the long street, a high platform is built over the water.
Below the stage, layers upon layers of gauze lanterns reflected the entire water surface, making it shimmer and glow.
There were more than twenty low tables on the stage, each with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and quite a few people were already seated there.
Qin Lie sat in the main seat, dressed in a black casual outfit today, with Tie Heng, the Iron Bone Sect's steward, sitting beside him.
Zhao Tianxiong sat on the west side, with Zhao Li standing behind him.
Zhao Li wasn't wearing his usual athletic outfit today either; instead, he was dressed in a dark blue long robe, a rare sight for him.
He displayed a certain refined and handsome air about him, like a young scholar.
The low tables on both sides were filled with prominent scholars from Qingzhou City, the most eye-catching being the one in the center.
He was in his early twenties, with a face as handsome as jade.
At this moment, he gently waved a folding fan in his hand, and several students from the academy were surrounding him, asking him for advice on poetry.
"Why is Gu Tingzhi here too?"
Lu Yuan noticed him as soon as he entered the venue.
With each sentence of Gu Tingzhi's explanation,
Lu Yuan felt as if there was an invisible fluctuation in the air affecting him.
This is a unique intuition of martial artists.
"This Gu Tingzhi is a bit special," Lu Yuan sighed.
"Indeed, he is the only one in Qingzhou City who has taken a half-step into the Knowing Destiny Realm."
"The Knowing Destiny Realm?" Lu Yuan asked in confusion.
He has been living in the Lu family since he transmigrated, and has been practicing martial arts.
They only understand the martial arts classifications of this world.
Does the world's literary and Taoist traditions also have cultivation levels?
Seeing his puzzled expression, Qin Zhao explained, "Martial artists cultivate their qi and blood by tempering the body, congealing the blood, and opening the meridians, progressing step by step."
The same applies to scholars.
The realm of a scholar is divided into enlightenment, literary courage, and understanding destiny; beyond that, it is not easily attained.
Martial artists temper their bodies with qi and blood, while scholars cultivate their minds with talent and wisdom.
She casually took out a copper coin.
For example, this copper coin, in the hands of a martial artist, could have the power to shatter stones; but in the hands of a scholar…”
She placed the copper coin under the lamp.
"If a scholar who has cultivated himself to the level of 'literary courage' uses his talent to envelop this copper coin, he can suspend it in mid-air without it falling."
It wasn't internal force, but pure talent.
The spirit and energy cultivated through reading.
They have no inner strength, only literary talent.
Once one develops literary courage, a righteous spirit naturally arises.
The suppression of a scholar's aura is different from the suppression of a martial artist's qi and blood pressure... Qi and blood pressure affect your body, while aura suppresses your mind.
Lu Yuan recalled the scene at the teahouse.
"So that day in the teahouse, those literati dared to point fingers at me, not because they weren't afraid I'd beat them up..."
They think their literary talent can overpower me.
The noble spirit of a scholar can inspire awe in ordinary people.
If a martial artist's will is not strong enough, being suppressed by that energy can cause minor issues like poor blood circulation or, in severe cases, immediate loss of mental composure.
They are used to pointing fingers at people without facing consequences, because the people being pointed at are often speechless.
"But I can speak."
"You can speak, yet you dare to dissect the Analects you've read and throw it back at people like that... In the eyes of scholars, you're a rebellious outcast." She paused.
"That's why Sun Zhongwen and his men were so furious."
It's not because what you said is wrong, it's because you've created a hole in their moral compass.
"Literary courage is the foundation of a scholar's standing; you, a martial artist, have publicly shattered their confidence."
Lu Yuan finally understood why the insights of scholars would produce such a feedback effect on him.
"In today's world, those who practice martial arts also need to practice some literary arts to some extent."
Otherwise, it is very easy for some literati to suppress one's mind.
"But very few people achieve great mastery in both literature and martial arts," Qin Zhao added.
"And what about you? What level of cultivation are you at?"
"I've barely scratched the surface of being a literary talent," Qin Zhao said somewhat embarrassedly.
Lu Yuan quickly deduced in his mind: if literary courage corresponds to blood clotting, and knowing destiny corresponds to meridian opening...
That explains why those intellectuals were so confident when facing themselves.
At this moment, someone in the crowd recognized Lu Yuan at a glance and then sneered.
"Young Master Lu is also attending the poetry gathering? If you don't have real talent, you'll embarrass yourself by standing on this stage."
The speaker was a scholar in a gray robe, sitting in a row of scattered seats below the stage.
His tone was even more slick than that of the scholars at the riddle stalls.
There were several other people beside him, all glancing at Lu Yuan out of the corner of their eyes.
Lu Yuan had never seen these people before, but their seats were right next to those of several members of the Blood Wolf Gang.
Qin Zhao's hand instinctively reached for the sword hilt, only to remember that she hadn't brought her sword tonight because she was wearing a skirt.
The scholar in gray stood up, his voice rising even louder:
"Nonsense! With your talent, Young Master Lu, composing poetry is naturally a piece of cake!"
That day, Young Master Lu's explanation of the Analects in the teahouse had already made him famous throughout Qingzhou.
Now, among all the scholars in Qingzhou, who doesn't know of Young Master Lu's talent and learning!
A murmur of suppressed laughter rose from the surrounding area.
Qin Zhao's face was so cold it could freeze.
But Lu Yuan held down the back of her hand and patted it gently.
"It's alright, they're all talk, they'll teach them a lesson in a minute."
Originally, Lu Yuan only knew about martial arts, so he naturally focused all his attention on martial arts-related terms.
Now that he knows that there is also a path to cultivation in literature and Taoism...
After that, he naturally wouldn't miss any opportunity to refresh the literary and artistic entries.
Low level of education.
That was the original form.
As a good citizen who has received compulsory education.
Copying poems that don't exist in this world is naturally a piece of cake.
After a long while, the poetry gathering officially began.
The poetry gathering was more like a tea party among literary figures.
Some important figures set the questions.
Talented men began to compose poems and lyrics.
Then they were judged one by one.
Through mutual evaluation and learning, the talents of the scholars are enhanced.
"Lord City Lord, it's almost time. Let's begin."
An elderly man with white hair and beard respectfully approached Qin Lie and asked for instructions.
"good!"
"Yes! ...I hereby declare the Mid-Autumn Poetry Recital officially open."
At a command, several elegantly dressed maids walked to the center of the platform and quickly lowered a large square curtain.
Yes, the theme of this year's poetry festival was clearly written on the backdrop.
"moon!"
As soon as the topic was announced, the audience immediately began to discuss it.
"Why is it still about the moon?"
"I remember the theme was the same two years ago. Last time, Gu Caizi's poem about the moon outshone everyone else."
"That poem about the moon was highly praised even by people in the capital. How could there be a better poem this year compared to Gu Caizi's?"
……
For a moment, none of the talented men present responded.
"Is there any talented person who has created a masterpiece?"
The scene was a little awkward for a while.
As the host of the poetry gathering, the white-haired old man began to urge them on.
"Li'er, it's your turn to perform."
Zhao Tianxiong whispered to Zhao Li beside him.
"Just do as you prepared beforehand. In this kind of situation, as long as you can produce a poem, you will stand out from the crowd."
"Yes, Father."