Next to the solitary pavilion in the open space in the bamboo forest, it seems that a spontaneous class is taking place.

Inside the pavilion, on the floor tiles that were still covered with withered yellow bamboo leaves, an old man wearing a Nanhua scarf and plain white cloth was sitting cross-legged.

Sitting casually among the dust and fallen leaves, holding a string of wooden beads in his hand, rolling them with his right thumb.

Zhao Rong watched from afar.

Tao Yuanran had a calm expression and spoke slowly and calmly.

On the open space around the pavilion, among the scattered tables, Concubine Zhao Lingfei and Qian'er were sitting cross-legged side by side on a mat.

They had their backs to Zhao Rong, their waists straight, just like the tall green bamboos in the surrounding woods, or like two sheathed swords, listening attentively to the words of the Taoist gentleman in the pavilion.

The two girls are one tall and one short.

A person with delicate hair tied up, dignified and cold.

One of them had her hair in a bun, looking pretty and cute.

This eye-catching combination seems to exude an aura that is hard to ignore.

From Zhao Rong's perspective in the woods behind, most of the students in the surrounding prefecture tacitly avoided approaching them and kept a certain distance.

The positions of Qingjun and Qianer are highlighted.

This is also one of the reasons why Zhao Rong discovered them at a glance just now.

Right now.

Zhao Rong stood in the shade at the edge of the bamboo forest, looking through the gaps between the leaves at this quiet and interesting Taoist class.

He was dressed in a student's robe, which made his figure somewhat inconspicuous.

Zhao Rong took a few steps forward and listened with great interest.

"The highest virtue is not virtuous, so it is virtuous; the lowest virtue is not without virtue, so it is without virtue."

Tao Yuanran continued in a leisurely tone:

"The highest virtue is to do nothing and yet have nothing to do; the highest benevolence is to do something and yet have nothing to do; the highest righteousness is to do something and yet have something to do. The highest propriety is to do something and yet no one responds, then throw it away with your arms..."

Zhao Rong listened for a while.

What he didn't expect was that Tao Yuanran was actually elaborating on "action and inaction".

Well, although on the surface it is talking about "morality, benevolence, righteousness and propriety", the root of it still lies in the difference in the concepts of "Taoism's inaction and Confucianism's action".

This is a topic on which there are huge differences between Confucianism and Taoism.

This topic happened to be the one discussed by the two during the third Qingtan debate between Confucianism and Taoism in Zhongnan Kingdom.

However, at that time, Zhao Rong, as a Confucian scholar, insisted on the viewpoint of "non-action" in the debate topic.

Tao Yuanran, as a Taoist gentleman, held the view of "action".

And at that time, because it was a casual debate, the only thing to do was to win the debate and leave the other party speechless, not to convince the other party.

Therefore, there is not much discussion of the doctrine in detail.

It emphasizes quick wit, eloquence and profound knowledge.

And now.

This old man wearing a Nanhua crown, in front of the solitary pavilion in the bamboo forest, returned to the true views he held in his heart. With the honorable status of a Taoist scholar in Taiqing Mansion, he taught the Taoist way of inaction to dozens of students in the mansion, including Qingjun, around him.

Well, let me give Confucianism another kick, no, two kicks...

“…When morality is lost, virtue is lost; when virtue is lost, benevolence is lost; when benevolence is lost, righteousness is lost; when righteousness is lost, propriety is lost…”

At this moment, as he gradually understood Tao Yuanran's words.

Zhao Rong pursed his lips slightly.

What Tao Yuanran just said is easy to understand.

Because the people in the world have lost the original pure goodness of the Tao, the saints teach people virtue.

People's hearts have changed, and people have lost their kindness and virtues, so sages teach people to be kind.

Later, because people in the world had lost even their benevolence, the sages began to teach people righteousness.

Nowadays, people’s hearts are no longer as they used to be, and righteousness is gone among the people of the world.

Therefore, the sages teach etiquette in order to restore the ancient ways.

Here, in Tao Yuanran's mouth, who is the saint who established the rituals, or what type of saint he is.

Well, the answer is obvious, the only thing missing is pointing fingers and scolding...

Are you scolding again?

Tao Yuanran is actually emphasizing the Taoist concept of "doing nothing and achieving everything" in disguise.

Denying the positive and "active" behavior of Confucian scholars.

As we all know, Confucianism advocates "morality, benevolence, righteousness and propriety".

But it is different with Taoists, they only worship "Tao".

Tao Yuanran believed that the reason why Confucianism now advocates "ritual" is due to the lack of Tao, virtue, benevolence and righteousness.

Confucian scholars have always been actively "active", but as a result, only "ritual" remains today.

At this moment, the voice of the old man in Nanhuajin came again.

"If the world is governed by the Way, why should we ask about propriety? Propriety is the thinning of loyalty and righteousness and the beginning of chaos!"

When we have to talk about "ritual" every day, loyalty and trustworthiness will be rare, and chaos will soon come.

Zhao Rong stood quietly, silent.

Tao Yuanran's meaning is very clear.

What this means is that etiquette and laws themselves are the source of evil that breeds violence.

It was failure after failure caused by the Confucian scholars' active "action".

In short, the Taoists who advocate "non-action" believe that the Confucianists, and yes, the Mohists and other schools of thought, believe that the Confucianists advocate "action".

With their positive and effective efforts.

This world... is going downhill.

Well, it's very stable. There isn't even a hint of the world's morale moving in an upward direction.

Until now, we are in a period of decline where rituals and music have collapsed and earthen pots and pans are roaring.

Looking around, you can see the entire Xuanhuang world.

There is unrest both on and off the mountain, and undercurrents are surging.

There is a tendency to become more and more chaotic...

Well, to put it nicely, it is the eve of a great era of contention.

To put it bluntly, a time of great chaos is coming, and who knows how many lives will be destroyed.

Moreover, it was not only the various schools of thought that saw this.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this is a consensus that has been widely accepted in the Xuanhuang cultivation world.

After all...it has been ten thousand years since the last time.

It seems that there is an urgent need for someone who is both a sage and a king to appear in the world.

However, no matter what, Zhao Rong felt that Wangquezhou was doing well at the moment and felt quite safe.

Maybe it was because he 'awoke' too late?

Failed to catch up with a more stable and peaceful era?

No, Zhao Rong felt that he woke up at the right time. He had the honor to become Qingjun's childhood sweetheart, and had the honor to meet a stupid fox demon who was not kidnapped by the bad guys in time.

Therefore, Zhao Rong felt that the main reason might be...

He already has a home.

Qingjun and Xiaoxiao are both in Duyou City, by Zhao Rong's side.

They say a wife, children and a warm bed are the best...

He was now only one item short of achieving perfection. No, he was two items short, and that was the kang.

It’s just that Qingjun hid the jade in her son’s canteen, and Zhao Rong couldn’t enter the canteen without getting the jade. Without entering the canteen, he couldn’t check the food for his son. How could he sleep well at night if he didn’t check the safety of the food in his son’s canteen?

Well, thinking about it this way, Zhao Rong became quite anxious and suddenly felt uneasy again.

Hiss, the tense atmosphere of the chaotic world came all of a sudden.

At this moment, Zhao Rong was in the midst of a chaotic world with a serious expression.

I was thinking to myself that after Qingjun and Qian'er finished class, I would have a serious heart-to-heart talk with my wife. There was no time to lose.

Maybe she would also get anxious after hearing this? And then... then... then Zhao Rong would no longer be anxious.

Zhao Rong nodded slightly.

Even though he was thinking this, he was still paying attention to what was happening on the field.

At this moment, Zhao Rong's ears were filled with the teasing and mocking tone of the old man sitting cross-legged in the pavilion.

The bamboo forest was also silent, with only the sound of falling leaves and Tao Yuanran's clear and gentle voice.

"When one talks about etiquette, that is the day when the Way is lost. Since the Confucian scholars are asking about etiquette, the world must be in chaos."

From a distance, the old man in the Nanhua scarf in the pavilion lowered his head, his thumb rolling like a bead, and seemed to be shaking his head slowly.

Tao Yuanran suddenly looked around and said:

"Then what will they use next to save this world where rituals and music are collapsing?"

"Everyone, did the headmaster of Linlu Academy teach you this when he was teaching you?"