Divided World

The capital of the Cangwu Kingdom.

Li Junzi's journey to the capital ultimately received considerable courtesy. Perhaps it was due to the accompaniment of Lin Luoyu, a Nascent Soul cultivator, or perhaps Li Junzi's proposed solution to smooth over the current crisis had moved the Emperor of Cangwu.

The noble families already knew that Li Junzi had entered the capital. Those who had once vehemently resisted him now took no action whatsoever.

The saying that everything fears comparison is sometimes truly a golden rule.

Compared to Hinayana Buddhism, the so-called Great Learning New Policy that Li Junzi was promoting was so adorable that one would want to give it a couple of kisses and earnestly urge him to keep up the good work.

Right now, the messy affairs of the Great Learning were no longer considered a problem.

After entering the capital and receiving such a courteous reception, Li Junzi did not directly implement the new policy. Instead, just as he had done in the Xuanwu Kingdom, he continued compiling the primer that he claimed was nearing completion, yet remained unfinished.

The Emperor of Cangwu was quite puzzled, but he did not express any additional opinions—as long as Li Junzi wasn't causing trouble right now, it was a good thing for him.

However, compared to the still-calm Li Junzi...

Lin Luoyu's state of mind was rather average. Although she had been assisting Li Junzi, she was also constantly receiving news from her eldest senior sister and the outside world.

She already understood that the situation outside had reached a highly critical point.

At the very least, when Lin Luoyu was helping to compile the book, most of her mind was no longer on the text.

Inside the study.

Li Junzi lifted his brush, let out a soft breath, and looked at Lin Luoyu beside him. He then smiled and said,

Are the things I write really so uninteresting that they make people space out while reading them?

Lin Luoyu snapped back to reality and gently shook her head.

No... I was just thinking about the affairs outside, and wondering when Eldest Senior Sister will send news.

There's no need to wait for your senior sister's news, Li Junzi put away his frayed brush and chuckled softly. Today is a good day. Let it be today.

Lin Luoyu was taken aback. But... Eldest Senior Sister hasn't reached an agreement with Wu Wang yet, and we haven't notified her.

What we are promoting is a new policy, not a wave. We don't have to wait until everything is perfect, and we will never catch the most perfect timing. Li Junzi tidied up the books in front of him, his tone both firm and gentle. Regardless of whether Wu Wang will agree, and regardless of whether the current timing is the most appropriate...

Right now is definitely the most fitting time in my heart.

Holding the books, Li Junzi walked over to Lin Luoyu's desk and smiled lightly.

Luoyu, let's go. Ultimately, it still requires us Confucian scholars to personally write the first stroke of our ideals.

Forget everything from before; none of that matters anymore. Now, it is only for the ideal.

And an ideal must be an answer that one grasps and realizes with their own hands.

Hearing this, Lin Luoyu subconsciously stood up and followed behind Li Junzi.

After walking for a while.

Lin Luoyu finally felt as if she had awakened from a dream. She looked at Li Junzi's steady footsteps and asked slowly,

Why today? Is it because Mister's book is finished?

Li Junzi smiled lightly and replied, A book can always be better. Besides, I think this book will ultimately not be finished by me. There will always be someone to continue writing it for us.

As for why today, it is naturally because I feel I can do it now. Before today, although I had confidence in my heart, I couldn't be certain.

Lin Luoyu realized something and asked, Then what has Mister figured out?

Li Junzi slightly raised his head, thought for a moment, and replied,

I was thinking that when the Second Sage forced the immortals to step back back then, in essence, he was also using the lives of countless people as bargaining chips to force their retreat.

But when the Second Sage exhausted all his means and thoughts to do so, it naturally couldn't be because he didn't care about those people's lives. It was precisely because he cared so much that he did it.

So when he did all that back then, was the Second Sage even more conflicted than I am today? Did he doubt whether he shouldn't have done it, whether he should have refused you all, whether he should have felt that things were fine as they were?

Did he feel... that he shouldn't do this, shouldn't let others pay the price for his ideals? Was he being selfish?

When I was writing with the frayed brush, I also wondered what kind of conviction he held to wield his brush, and what conviction he used to resist the questioning from his own heart.

Perhaps the thought was just a fleeting moment.

I suddenly thought that the Second Sage back then would have been just like me. Especially when he was ostracized, criticized in children's nursery rhymes, and accused of making unreasonable trouble, he must have wanted to give up and felt deeply saddened.

But he persevered, and it must have been because he firmly believed he wanted to bring something better to everyone.

Nothing is guaranteed to succeed, but I also believe that the beauty in one's heart can always be passed on.

Li Junzi looked toward the political discussion hall ahead and smiled lightly.

Luoyu, I no longer care whether I become the Second Sage or not. I don't even care whether this matter succeeds or fails anymore. Now, I just want to hand out this beautiful answer in my heart.

Perhaps I will fail, but in the future, when someone shares my thoughts,

They will always be able to find my inconspicuous failure among the clues.

Even if my methods are wrong, it will be enough to serve as a warning to latecomers while also telling them—do not be confused; there was someone just like them.

Therefore, I am willing to bear all the right and wrong, and I am willing to bear the future praise or infamy.

Only to share the answer and beauty in my heart.

With everyone.

With firm steps, Li Junzi strode into the political discussion hall.

The monarch handling affairs raised his head, his eyes filled with surprise, but he quickly stood up to welcome the great Confucian scholar, whose hair was already white but whose posture remained as straight as bamboo.

Lin Luoyu stood outside the door, her gaze fixed tightly on Li Junzi's figure.

Li Junzi had always been soft-hearted; he would stop for a starving girl in a village.

Li Junzi had always been dedicated; he would choose to sacrifice himself to nurture a village girl because she possessed a talent he lacked.

Li Junzi had always been decisive; he would never hesitate over gains and losses when it came to what he wanted to do.

But just like his strengths, Li Junzi also had many weaknesses.

He could be sluggish due to his soft heart, damaged due to his dedication, and reckless due to his decisiveness.

Before today.

Before these words.

Lin Luoyu's worries about Li Junzi becoming the Second Sage had actually always outweighed her hopes.

The Second Sage. Anyone who had studied Confucianism understood what kind of path that was.

The Second Sage. What a glorious and immortal figure that would be.

But stripping away the world's endless praise and beautification.

Lin Luoyu sincerely felt.

That a true Second Sage might just be like Li Junzi.

Hesitant but ultimately firm, fearful but ultimately brave.

Carrying flaws and imperfections, bearing the trepidation of not having reached the end.

Willing to share the beauty in his heart, along with the sweat and blood of his own efforts.

With the world.