Seeking True Knowledge from Within is Difficult

"No, this bow is now called 'At the Zenith of the Sun's Power'."

His tone, coupled with these words, gave the gathered women a good idea. They understood clearly that Su Cheng had grasped his innate talent, but the specifics and process remained unknown to them at this moment.

Where had Su Cheng's spirit wandered these dozen or so hours?

What had he seen, heard, or touched? They had no clue, and could only wait for Su Cheng to voluntarily explain the reason, or for him to reveal some telltale signs.

Su Cheng held up the bow and arrow towards the group, then spoke: "I'm going to shoot."

"More than that, I'm more curious about your experience."

Liu Qingyue looked at him with a smile. "Don't tell me you dreamed of something again?"

Hearing this, Su Cheng didn't respond. Instead, he directly nocked an arrow, drew the bow, and released the string without even looking. A flash of silver-white cut through the air, flying out at a speed surpassing the eye's limit. Just as it seemed about to miss the target entirely, the arrow actually began to curve, reducing its speed and force before hitting the target.

"Did the arrow just curve?"

"You spent dozens of hours just to learn this little trick?" Ji Qingyi was somewhat disappointed. She had thought Su Cheng would achieve perfect control over his talent, but it turned out he was just resorting to a clever gimmick.

Using such a clumsy method to muddle through was truly disappointing to her.

After all, this bit of skill wasn't difficult for a proficient archer. One could achieve a precise curving shot simply by adjusting the nocking point or applying pressure to the arrow shaft.

"I suppose you're not planning to fool us with this common, run-of-the-mill trick, are you?" Liu Qingyue asked suspiciously.

"Of course not."

Su Cheng shook his head, denying the guess.

"Then why?"

Liu Qingyue asked curiously.

Su Cheng glanced around at everyone. Under the gaze of the women, he put on an air of profundity and said solemnly, "I have let go of my ego's projections and am now experiencing my genuine heart in the present moment."

"If I may ask, what do you mean by 'genuine heart'?"

Gu Ruoxue inquired with interest.

"I originally wanted to show off my skill to gain your amazement and praise, thereby obtaining a sense of satisfaction and pleasant feelings for my soul."

Su Cheng sighed. "But alas, I chose the wrong method and ended up just playing to the gallery."

"Wait, so your 'genuine heart in the present moment' is just to show off?" Upon hearing this, Liu Qingyue couldn't help but quip. The other three women felt similarly, all thinking that this Su Cheng's train of thought was becoming more and more unconventional.

It seemed his mental state was indeed not optimistic, to the point where his personality had also undergone some distortion.

However.

It did somewhat resemble the flavor of the Su Cheng who had a system.

"In that case, junior, give it another try. Later, we'll act like your little fangirls and scream 'ahhh.' How about it?" Liu Qingyue, quite intrigued, suggested and looked at Su Cheng expectantly.

"Okay, okay."

Su Cheng nodded in enthusiastic agreement, but Ji Qingyi and Gu Ruoxue beside him cast cold glances at her, seeming utterly disdainful of participating in such a childish game.

"Enough with the fooling around."

Ji Qingyi spoke up in time to stop it.

"You still haven't answered our question."

At this moment, Li Guanqi had already retrieved her book from the table and was holding it in her arms. She asked lightly.

Though her tone was plain, it carried curiosity and inquiry, expecting an answer from him.

With her words, everyone looked at him, awaiting his answer. Moreover, each person held their breath, afraid of missing any detail or a single word.

"Well... it's complicated to explain." Su Cheng put down the bow and arrow in his hands, turned to look at Li Guanqi, and then, his tone also regained its usual seriousness and earnestness as he said slowly, "I had another dream. I went to the future."

Hearing this, the women weren't surprised. Due to past precedents, they didn't show astonishment. Instead, they continued waiting for his explanation.

Su Cheng paused, then continued, "And precisely because of this dream, I caught a glimpse of the distant horizon, allowing me to clearly, definitively, and firmly know what I want."

These words undoubtedly gave them a general idea.

However, Li Guanqi still wasn't quite clear. Seeing that Su Cheng showed no desire to continue and that the others didn't press further,

she lowered her head in thought for a moment.

As if having made a decision, she suddenly looked up, her gaze serious as she stared at his face, her tone expectant and solemn as she asked, "When you have time, could you tell me about it?"

"Sure." Su Cheng agreed without hesitation.

"Was the talent awakened by a sense of mission?"

Liu Qingyue, thoughtful, offered her own inference.

"Anyway, it's very troublesome to explain." Su Cheng raised the bow in his hands again. This time, he wasn't in a hurry to draw and shoot. Instead, he said to everyone, "In short, I can now perfectly control my innate talent."

"All talk and no action?"

Ji Qingyi, however, shook her head dismissively from the side.

It wasn't that she distrusted Su Cheng, but because from the moment Su Cheng woke up until now, his emotions had been in a suppressed state, ready to erupt at any moment.

Therefore, how could he calm his mind to shoot an arrow in such a state?

Liu Qingyue also chimed in from the side: "Words alone prove nothing. Why doesn't junior go up and demonstrate himself?"

"I'd like to see it too."

Gu Ruoxue followed suit.

Although Li Guanqi didn't speak, she also seemed to be considering whether he could achieve the so-called perfect control.

Because everyone could vaguely sense the restless flame within his heart, and...

this flame was about to erupt. If not suppressed soon, it might burn out completely.

"Just... if I succeed,"

Su Cheng simply said with a smile, "I hope everyone can go about their own business, not waste time because of me, and even more so, not let me affect everyone's mood. That would be the best way to take care of me."

"Well, that request isn't unreasonable."

Liu Qingyue was the first to nod in agreement. Immediately after, the other women also nodded one after another, indicating no problem.

"In that case, please remain calm and take a seat to rest, and enjoy my performance."

As he spoke, Su Cheng gestured for everyone to sit down first.

"I think you're clearly the most restless one!"

Liu Qingyue glared at Su Cheng with annoyance, but still followed his instruction and sat down. Afterwards, the other women also found seats and sat down, awaiting Su Cheng's archery performance.

However, just as everyone was eagerly anticipating it...

"Oh, right, I need to go freshen up first."

Su Cheng suddenly put down the bow and arrow, offered a rather particular explanation to the group, and then hurried off towards the bathroom.

The four women looked at each other, all frowning. They seemed to find it rather inexplicable, vaguely sensing something odd.

But, considering he hadn't attended to personal hygiene for over a dozen hours, they reluctantly gave up on delving deeper.

Until a few minutes later—

The sound of footsteps came from the entrance of the practice hall, followed swiftly by several stewards rushing into the practice area in a great hurry.

"The young master ran out of the hospital, we couldn't stop him." The head steward, his forehead beaded with sweat, reported anxiously, looking at Ji Qingyi with a pleading gaze as he awaited instructions.

The women all stood up in unison. Liu Qingyue walked to the bathroom, kicked the door open, and found it empty inside, the window open—clearly his escape route.

"Miss, shall we go personally to bring him back?"

Liu Qingyue eagerly suggested.

"First, have someone follow him. Don't let him notice." Ji Qingyi waved her hand slightly, looking somewhat weary, her tone also carrying a hint of helplessness. "I want to see what on earth has gotten into him."

"Judging by his state, he's probably just venting his emotions." Liu Qingyue put her hands on her hips, let out two dissatisfied humphs, then began instructing the steward: "Gather some personnel. We need a detailed report of his actions, down to the specifics of his moods and expressions."

"Yes, ma'am!"

The steward accepted the order and left.

During these instructions, Gu Ruoxue had already stood up, preparing to leave.

Seeing this, Li Guanqi also rose to her feet, ready to depart.

The Ji family master and servant did not try to stop them further.

Li Guanqi and Gu Ruoxue walked side by side, not exchanging a word, the atmosphere rather heavy, broken only by the soft sound of their footsteps.

Arriving at the hospital's main entrance, a car was waiting for them.

It was a dedicated driver Gu Ruoxue had arranged in advance.

The two got into the car together, and it slowly drove away from the hospital.

During the journey, Li Guanqi gazed out the window, trying to catch any trace of that person. However, she failed. Apart from the occasional scenery flashing by the roadside, there was only more scenery.

Still, she wasn't worried about finding him.

Whenever she wished, she could locate him at any time.

Because her crow was still following Su Cheng.

Over ten minutes later, Li Guanqi got out of the car.

As she was leaving, Gu Ruoxue spoke up:

"Please keep a close eye on his situation."

"Mhm."

………………

Evening

The Ji Family Estate.

Ji Qingyi sat in the tea room, holding a cup of hot tea she was sipping, her head slightly lowered as if pondering something.

Just then, light footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a gentle knock. Liu Qingyue entered the tea room: "Miss, his current behavior and logic are completely opposite; in fact, he seems to have reverted somewhat to his former impulsive and erratic temperament."

"What did he do?"

Ji Qingyi looked up and inquired.

"He hasn't stopped since leaving the hospital. However, he showed no desire to cause destruction or attack anyone along the way. It's just..."

Liu Qingyue paused here, noticing her mistress's displeased expression, and hurriedly continued her report, "According to our undercover informants, he currently seems, well, a little bit..."

As she spoke, she gestured with her fingers to indicate a small amount.

"Out with it, what exactly?" Ji Qingyi frowned, her tone carrying a sense of impatience.

"A little bit... eccentric. In short... a lunatic!"

After a moment's hesitation, Liu Qingyue offered the description: "That's the unanimous assessment from the passersby he interacted with along the way."

Hearing this, Ji Qingyi fell into brief silence.

"Shall we bring him back directly?"

Liu Qingyue asked hesitantly.

After all, Su Cheng was the young master. Anything he did outside was connected to the Ji family. Moreover, his very existence represented the dignity of the family's reputation.

They couldn't let him carry on like this.

"What exactly did he do, specifically?"

Ji Qingyi placed her teacup on the table and asked again.

"Uh..." Liu Qingyue hemmed and hawed for a moment before finally deciding to tell the truth. "Well, there was this young couple having a conflict by the river, and the reason for the conflict was the bride price."

"Bride price?"

"That is, the betrothal gifts and dowry. The woman's stance was that the bride price represents attitude. She claimed it wasn't really about wanting the money, but about wanting an attitude, a willingness from the man to spend money. The man, however, felt this meant the union was for money."

"A ridiculous attitude." Ji Qingyi commented, seeming to have seen through the woman's flimsy excuse.

"Based on the past, Su Cheng would never have gotten involved. But today's Su Cheng not only got involved, he even..."

Here, she perked up, adding, "He even proposed a solution, saying it could satisfy the woman's demand for an attitude while also proving their union wasn't for money."

Ji Qingyi curiously pressed, "What method?"

To be honest, she was quite interested in this.

Had her foolish fiancé actually had an epiphany?

And thought of a method even she hadn't considered?

But soon, she vaguely felt something was off.

After all, he was being called a lunatic, wasn't he?

Sure enough—

"Su Cheng actually suggested the two donate the bride price money to children in impoverished mountainous areas."

Upon hearing this, Ji Qingyi couldn't help but let out a short laugh.

"Naive!"

She shook her head. "Does he think he's some patriarch, able to split these two up with such a trick? If matters of the heart were so easily interfered with by outsiders, would there be so many messy news stories in society?"

Liu Qingyue chimed in, "You're absolutely right, Miss. Even an honest official finds it hard to judge domestic disputes. How could he, an outsider, manage other people's personal grievances? But he..."

"And then?" Ji Qingyi raised an eyebrow. "It didn't end that simply, did it?"

"Of course not." Liu Qingyue sighed. "The moment the woman heard this, her expression changed instantly. If Su Cheng weren't so handsome, he might have gotten slapped. But precisely because of Su Cheng, the woman ended up forcing the man to make a statement on the spot."

"And the man? Surely he didn't just let her make a scene?"

"That man was also hopeless." Liu Qingyue pursed her lips. "He couldn't come up with the bride price, yet couldn't bear to break up. In a moment of desperation, he actually ran onto a bridge, transferred all the money from his bank card to the woman, and then tried to jump into the river!"

"Preposterous!" Ji Qingyi frowned.

"Su Cheng acted swiftly and managed to stop him." Liu Qingyue spread her hands helplessly. "As for the woman, after cursing him out as a 'lunatic,' she left without looking back."

"Such a person is nothing but trouble to keep around." Ji Qingyi coldly judged. "Su Cheng meddled unnecessarily, but at least he saved that man from a disaster."

"Indeed." Liu Qingyue smiled. "Afterwards, Su Cheng even earnestly advised the man to open his eyes, get his money back, and donate it to impoverished mountainous areas. He said he had a channel, absolutely open and fair, guaranteed to put the money to good use, so that even if he jumped into a river later, he wouldn't go to hell."

"………”

"And then he got called a lunatic again?"

"Yes, that's right."

Ji Qingyi nodded, then changed the subject. "It's just an impractical plan with no follow-through. In the end, we'll have to clean up his mess. Go make the arrangements."

"I understand." Liu Qingyue nodded. "But the urgent matter at hand is to get him back as soon as possible. If he continues making such a public spectacle, the negative impact if word gets out..."

"And also..."

"And also what?"

"Didn't Su Cheng undergo a complete transformation? His looks have improved another level, right?"

"So?"

"Some shameless, brazen hussies, after failing to get his contact information, have been following and clinging to him."

"What did he do?

"He said he would only befriend kind people. Whoever performed a good deed right then would get his contact information. While most found it baffling and left, some, swayed by his looks, became quite obedient. Some made on-the-spot donations, others bought food or water for sanitation workers..."

"Did he give it to them?"

"He did."

Ji Qingyi pondered for a moment before making a decision.

"Go notify Gu Ruoxue and Li Guanqi. We'll apprehend him together. He's had his fun causing a scene; it's time to get down to serious business."

"Yes." Liu Qingyue accepted the order and departed.