As soon as Li Shimin left, the atmosphere in Furong Garden immediately became relaxed, just like after the dark clouds had dissipated, the air felt much fresher.
Qin Qiong was busy entertaining his congratulatory colleagues, but they only offered a few words of praise before leaving. Apart from the Yuchi and Cheng families, few others greeted Qin Mu. This struck Qin Mu as odd. As for the younger generation, perhaps because Qin Mu had been in the limelight for so long, no one spoke to him, and they all dispersed.
"Lord Yu!" Qin Mu was summoned by someone sent by Yu Shinan.
The Ziyun Tower was empty. Yu Shinan was sitting behind a table. Although he was old, he was upright and his kneeling posture was meticulous. He looked elegant and upright.
"Sit down!" Yu Shinan gestured with one hand while pulling up his long sleeve with the other.
"I wonder what brings you here, Lord Yu?" Qin Mu knelt down as well, served Yu Shinan tea, and asked respectfully.
"I just find you pleasing to the eye and want to chat with you casually," Yu Shinan said with a smile.
"Hehe! I was just about to ask Master Yu for some advice, but I didn't know how to bring it up," Qin Mu said with a simple and honest smile.
"Ask me any questions you may have. If I know the answer, I will definitely tell you," Yu Shinan said with a slight nod. He had a good impression of this polite and talented young man. Moreover, he had a feeling that Qin Mu would achieve great things, and today he could consider it a good opportunity to make connections.
"Lord Yu, the vital energy circulates through the blood vessels. If all the blood vessels in the body are opened up, would the circulation be faster? Besides poetry and literature, and becoming famous throughout the world, are there any other ways to cultivate?" Qin Mu asked, sitting upright.
"What you said is certainly feasible. In fact, this is the cultivation method of a Grand Scholar. The whole body becomes clear and pure, without any flaws or impurities, and the whole person is filled with righteous energy. This righteous energy overflows from the body and is one of the conditions for advancing to the Great Confucian Scholar level. Only after advancing to the Great Confucian Scholar level can one return to simplicity and authenticity, and the righteous energy will be hidden and not manifest."
"I didn't expect you to have already figured out this cultivation method on your own. Generally speaking, for those below the Grand Scholar level, it's not easy to condense one's righteous energy, and opening up all the blood vessels in the body is too slow and too difficult. That's why teachers don't teach or advocate this cultivation method." Yu Shinan explained, stroking his beard.
As Yu Shinan spoke, he smiled slightly. Qin Mu immediately felt that the person sitting opposite him was not a person, but a huge aura of righteousness. In Qin Mu's eyes, Yu Shinan was like a high-wattage light bulb that suddenly turned on in front of him.
Fortunately, Yu Shinan only slightly revealed his power, and his aura of righteousness did not erupt. However, it made Qin Mu feel a tremendous pressure. In that instant, he realized the difference between the light of a firefly and the bright moon.
Realizing the gap between himself and a great Confucian scholar, Qin Mu, still shocked, took a deep breath to calm himself and continued to ask, "Lord Yu, do you mean for me to temporarily give up this kind of cultivation?"
"No! If it were anyone else, I would definitely advise them to give up, but you are different. You have already experienced three divine baptisms, haven't you?"
"Yes!"
"The divine baptism is a cleansing of the physical body. Your body is highly compatible with the righteous energy, so this method is very suitable for you."
The Confucian spirit of righteousness is inherently more difficult to cultivate than simply absorbing spiritual energy. Once your entire body is fully awakened, cultivation will be much faster.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Yu!"
"Yes, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea—any one of these can lead to enlightenment. Among them, reading is the fastest way to cultivate one's noble spirit, and there's no need to pursue anything else."
"The spirit of righteousness is immense and unyielding, and it is inherently difficult to evoke. Do you know why reading is the most effective way to cultivate it?" Yu Shinan asked.
"The student does not know."
"Even among scholars of the same realm, without using any other means, there are significant differences in strength when simply using their righteous energy. Do you know why this is?" Yu Shinan then asked.
"This student does not know," Qin Mu replied respectfully. He knew that Yu Shinan was trying to give him some pointers, so he listened attentively.
"Character! Character is the most important thing, and this is the difference. When reading, one's thoughts follow the words in the book, and one's emotions are unconsciously stirred. Therefore, reading cultivates a righteous spirit and quick speech."
As I just mentioned, the righteous spirit is immense and unyielding. If a person's heart is dark, then they cannot unleash the full power of this righteous spirit. Conversely, the more upright a person is, the stronger their righteous spirit will be, and the faster they will cultivate it. Do you understand?" Yu Shinan explained solemnly.
"Lord Yu, do you mean that the more compatible the characteristics of the Righteous Qi are with a person's personality, the faster their cultivation will be? Is this the same principle as spiritual energy cultivation, which emphasizes the Five Elements and Yin-Yang?" Qin Mu asked.
"That's right! So, cultivating righteousness is actually the best way to cultivate it, as long as your heart is upright. It's a pity that there are too few people who can be truly upright and pure-hearted," Yu Shinan sighed.
"Lord Yu, does that mean Confucian scholars are all of good character?" Qin Mu asked curiously.
“Generally speaking, yes, but that’s only relatively speaking. If it conflicts with one’s own interests, it’s hard to say. Moreover, human nature is fickle, and it’s normal for Confucian scholars to use underhanded tactics. So we can’t generalize. As the saying goes, you shouldn’t have the heart to harm others, but you can’t be without the heart to guard against others,” Yu Shinan reminded.
"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Yu!" Knowing that this was the advice of an old man with experience, Qin Mu quickly expressed his gratitude.
"Although people's hearts are unpredictable, as long as one is upright, all conspiracies and tricks will be difficult to thwart."
"This student will remember Master Yu's teachings!"
"Set your goals, discipline yourself, practice diligently, maintain moderation, reflect on yourself, and correct your mistakes. Setting your goals is the first step into Confucian cultivation, and only after that can you truly cultivate yourself. This is the best and safest way for Confucian self-cultivation summarized by the ancient sages. I hope you will remember it."
"I will remember this!" Qin Mu replied, bowing once more.
"Now that you are full of righteous spirit, you should begin to refine your heart. Only with a pure heart can you advance to the rank of scholar. Only after becoming a scholar will your Confucian cultivation begin to show."
"Lord Yu, what are the key points to pay attention to when refining the heart?" Qin Mu asked quickly. He had always been clueless about what to do next as a Confucian cultivator, and since someone was finally offering guidance, he naturally wanted to ask for clarification.
"This is difficult for others, but you don't need to go through so much trouble. Blood flows from the heart. To refine the heart, you need to let the righteous energy open up the entire heart, not just the channels for blood to enter and exit. It's like a divine baptism for the physical body. Do you understand?" Yu Shinan explained without any reservations.
"I understand!" Qin Mu nodded. He understood immediately after Yu Shinan explained; it meant using righteous energy to thoroughly cleanse the heart, making it clear and unobstructed. It seemed that righteous energy circulated through the blood vessels; if the heart was filled with righteous energy, then the blood would naturally carry a high concentration of righteous energy, thus circulating faster.
"Yes! The only thing to be careful about is to go slowly and not rush things. When things are done naturally, you will become a scholar." Yu Shinan nodded and gave instructions.
"It was the students who remembered it."
“We Confucian cultivators possess supernatural powers of our own. Other secret scrolls and scriptures are merely auxiliary means. Even without them, the same applies to the cultivation of the Eight Arts. Mastering one can place one at the pinnacle of all beings. Just follow your heart,” Yu Shinan continued, stroking his beard.
Qin Mu understood that Yu Shinan was reminding him that he shouldn't try to do too much at once and that it would be better to specialize in one area. He guessed that Yu Shinan was saying this tactfully because he was young.
"Yes, Lord Yu's teachings are correct. It's better to be an expert in one subject than a jack of all trades." Qin Mu nodded in agreement.
"You have a great talent for poetry, and I'm sure you know the origin of this secret technique. I've heard that you've already written quite a few poems; perhaps we could consider compiling them into a book." Yu Shinan was very pleased that Qin Mu understood his meaning so quickly, and said with a kind smile.
"Ah! A student is publishing a book? Is that appropriate?" Qin Mu asked in surprise.
"Hehe, I never said you should sell it. Publishing a book is just a way to organize what you've learned and put it into practice, including recording some insightful thoughts that come to mind."
By reviewing the old to learn the new, and constantly summarizing gains and losses, this book will at least become a secret classic when you become a great scholar or Confucian master.
Qin Mu pondered Yu Shinan's words and quickly understood. It was like keeping a diary, compiling his learning experiences, insights, poems, and essays into a book. Not only could he summarize his gains and losses, but as his fame grew, the book's ultimate achievement would also be greater, just like the Analects, which was a compilation of Confucius's words and deeds by his students.
The key is to start writing your own diary early so you can cultivate your inner strength early on, which will always have some benefits.
"It's a few students' notes, I'll tidy it up later."
"Hehe, this is only because of you. Even if others did the same, it would be in vain. At most, they would only cultivate a Confucian artifact." Looking at Qin Mu's grateful smile, Yu Shinan waved his hand.
"A Confucian artifact?" Qin Mu asked curiously.
"Anything used by a Confucian scholar can be called a Confucian artifact. Even an ordinary pen, if used by a Confucian scholar for a long time and baptized by the righteous energy, becomes a Confucian artifact. The simplest function of a Confucian artifact is to reduce the consumption of righteous energy when using it. This is also the most common function of a Confucian artifact."
"If given more time, Confucian artifacts can also serve as carriers of righteous spirit. In times of crisis, when there is no righteous spirit available, the righteous spirit contained within the Confucian artifact can be extracted and used. Of course! This method will damage the Confucian artifact," Yu Shinan explained.
"Oh, I see."
"Yes, your father is still waiting for you. Go quickly," Yu Shinan said, glancing outside.
"I take my leave! Thank you for your guidance, Master Yu." Qin Mu bowed again.
Yu Shinan accepted it calmly, nodding with a smile.
The crowd outside Ziyun Tower had dispersed. Qin Mu went out to meet Qin Qiong, picked up Qin Yuling who had been playing wildly for half a day, and then recounted what had happened.
"Yu Shinan is the leader of the prominent families in Jiangnan. It's quite unexpected that he would give you guidance today." Qin Qiong smiled happily as she watched Qin Mu pick up her younger sister. Then she turned and walked forward, speaking softly to Qin Mu.
"Is there some reason for this?" Qin Mu asked.
"The reason shouldn't be complicated. First, they value your potential, and second, it's somewhat of a gesture of goodwill," Qin Qiong explained.
"oh!"
"Don't you find it strange that so many people are treating your father so coldly today?" Qin Qiong paused for a moment, then continued walking.
"Dad, didn't you say that you didn't stand up for me because of that matter?"
"That's only one of the reasons. My health declined a couple of years ago, and some people thought the Qin family had fallen into decline. Plus, your uncle-in-law was another reason."
"Then why is it like this now? Father, you're better, and Uncle has gone to the capital. Logically, things shouldn't be like this," Qin Mu asked curiously.
"The Emperor's intentions are hard to fathom! They're all old foxes; how could they possibly reveal their true thoughts? So you need to be more careful in the future; not everyone is someone you can confide in," Qin Qiong warned.
"yes!"
"Just remember one thing: the Qin family is in the military and belongs to the military faction. As long as you maintain this stance, even if someone wants to target you, someone will help you."
"I've written it down."
"Are you going home or continuing to shop?" Qin Qiong asked.
"I heard that Chang'an is very lively tonight. I want to take Yuxin and the others to see it before going back." Qin Mu thought for a moment and replied. Actually, he wanted to go back, but it only happens once a year, and he wanted to see more of the excitement. Besides, it wouldn't be long before it got dark.
"The most bustling areas are outside the Imperial City and on Zhuque Avenue. You can go there to see; it's close to home. There's no curfew tonight, but I need to protect His Majesty, so please take care of yourselves," Qin Qiong instructed.
"OK."
"You should go with your older brother!" Qin Qiong said to Qin Huaiyu, who was looking at him expectantly.
"Yay!" Qin Huaiyu immediately became happy.
"You all play, I'm leaving," Qin Qiong said, glancing back at the scene.
"Father, take care," the four siblings said hurriedly.
"Big brother, you were so cool just now! Everyone was stunned." Qin Huaiyu said excitedly as soon as Qin Qiong left.
"Yes, Second Sister Yuchi and the others were quite surprised just now, and some even came to ask if Big Brother was engaged yet," Qin Yuxin said with a smile.
"Study hard, and you can do it too in the future."
"Brother, will Princess Changning be my sister-in-law?" Qin Huaiyu asked, looking up at Qin Mu.
A slightly chubby smiling face flashed through Qin Mu's mind, and then he gently patted Qin Huaiyu and said, "Don't talk nonsense there, that's a princess."
"I heard it from Yuchi Huan. Princess Changning is very fierce. Brother, you shouldn't marry her," Qin Huaiyu said, shrinking his neck.
"That's all nonsense from outside. Princess Changning has come to our house several times. Do you see how fierce she is?"
"She's fierce! I once saw her punch someone so hard they vomited blood." Qin Huaiyu nodded sharply.
Thinking of the scene of Princess Changning beating someone that day, Qin Mu couldn't help but twitch his lips. The scene was indeed unbearable to watch, and for some reason, he thought of the saying that there is only widowhood, not divorce.
"Stop overthinking. Princess Changning is your brother's friend. She won't hit you."
"Yes! The princess is very kind. She even said she would take me and Yuling out to play," Qin Yuxin said.
"Yuxin, you watched the game today, what are your thoughts?" Qin Mu changed the subject.
"Big brother, I want to be as good as you!" Qin Yuling said, raising her little arm.
"Yes, Ling'er will definitely be as powerful as your older brother in the future, as long as you study hard and practice the kung fu he teaches you," Qin Mu said with a smile.
"Big brother, I want to study Confucianism," Qin Yuxin said, biting her lip.
"Oh! How could you have such a thought? Cultivating Confucianism is not an easy thing. My elder brother was able to activate his divine gift, which is why he progressed so quickly. Ordinary people cannot do that."
"I originally wanted to teach you the Ghost Valley School's techniques. The Ghost Valley School is similar to Taoism; its cultivation is balanced and peaceful, leading to stable success. After all, your elder brother has the complete set of cultivation techniques," Qin Mu asked curiously.
"Xin'er knows, but Xin'er wants to give it a try." Qin Yuxin raised her head and looked at Qin Mu with a stubborn expression.
"Alright! As long as Yuxin wants to learn, I'll teach you!" Qin Mu said with a smile.
"Thank you, big brother!" Seeing that Qin Mu was not angry and was even supportive of her, Qin Yuxin smiled gratefully.
"The first requirement for becoming a Confucian scholar is to be well-read. As the saying goes, 'A person with knowledge of literature naturally exudes elegance.' This is the foundation of a Confucian scholar and a prerequisite for cultivating a noble spirit."
"Xin'er will follow Big Brother's arrangements!" Qin Yuxin nodded.
Qin Mu knew that his younger sister, though seemingly gentle and frail, was actually very stubborn and opinionated, so he didn't try to persuade her. Even if she couldn't become a Confucian scholar, reading more books was a good thing; it could cultivate her knowledge and temperament. Besides, he didn't expect her to achieve anything great.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com