Take it openly?

Gui was silent for a while, then asked tentatively: "Zhao Rong, are you going to sell out Lin Wenruo?"

After saying this, Gui immediately became excited, "I agree with this idea. I have disliked him for a long time."

Zhao Rong asked curiously, "How did he offend you?"

Gui sneered, "How can he be qualified to offend me? I just don't like his attitude of 'taking the responsibility', as if Zhongnan Kingdom can't survive without him. He, or you sour Confucian scholars, huh, and those stubborn Mo Xia, always hold some savior narcissism, self-righteously regard saving the world as your responsibility, please, don't you look at your own position."

"Don't you Confucians have a saying that if you are not in a position to do so, you should not interfere in other people's affairs. If you have no ability and only have the heart of an ordinary person, you will always point fingers and tell the people in higher positions to do things, as if others are inferior to you in every way. If you were in the position, you would definitely do better. Ha, I would kill every person like this when I met him."

Zhao Rong remained silent, opened the curtains and looked out the window.

Gui continued, "Lin Wenruo is now the head of the Lanxi Lin family, but he is not cautious at all. He does not put the prosperity and survival of the family first, but puts the entire family on the gambling table as his own bet, to gamble on an unknown future. It's okay if he wins, but what if he loses?"

"The foundation of our ancestors was built over hundreds of years. To destroy it in one day is a great act of treason!"

Zhao Rong did not refute or argue with it. He knew that what Gui said was actually his Tao, and what Lin Wenruo did was also his Tao. Everyone's Tao is different, and except for the truly great villains, there is no such thing as black or white.

And in this Xuanhuang world, what the various schools of thought and the monks on the mountains are fighting for, isn't it to make their own way the great way recognized by the world?

As for what his Tao is, perhaps he already has it, but he doesn’t know it yet and is still asking himself…

The more Gui thought about it, the angrier he became. "If my family has such an unfilial descendant, I will definitely go back and break his legs!"

Zhao Rong said helplessly, "Okay, okay, break his legs, break his legs, don't be angry anymore, if it's inconvenient for you to fight, I'll help you break his legs."

Gui snorted coldly, "You still have some conscience."

Zhao Rong said seriously, "What are you talking about? Who are we? We are good brothers who share the same bathtub and slept under the same blanket every night. If I don't help you, who else can I help?"

Zhao Rong coughed lightly, "By the way, tell me which family you are from first, so I can get ready. Otherwise, what if I run over and get my legs broken?"

Gui Bu did not respond, and dragged the topic back to where it usually went off topic, "So you are not betraying Lin Wenruo? Then how did you take it openly?"

It thought for a moment and said seriously, "You are not going to buy from them, or exchange something for them, are you? I advise you not to do this. Don't treat them as fools. Once you make such a request, they will immediately be alert. A treasure of the seventh level, such as the Thunder Purple Gold Furnace, has been covered in dust until now, giving you the opportunity to pick it up. It is a miracle in itself. Do you still expect others to not discover its magic after checking it?"

After saying that, it said in a puzzled tone, "I don't know why it was left here, and has been covered in dust. Well, first of all, we can rule out the possibility that it is a bait. It is impossible for someone in this small place or even in Wangquezhou to use a treasure of this level to set up a trap, so there is no need to worry that it is a fishing trap. Let's wait until you get it and see the details."

Zhao Rong thought for a moment and said slowly, "I'm not that stupid to remind them that the furnace is extraordinary. I have some ideas at the moment, but they are not perfect yet. We need to observe for a few more days. But if there are no accidents, we can just go in during the day and take out the Thundering Purple Gold Furnace in front of them openly."

Gui wanted to ask again, but Zhao Rong just smiled and said nothing.

Soon, the carriage had bumped into the south gate of Luojing. Zhao Rong jumped off the carriage, paid the fare, and walked back to the inn with ease. He talked to the shopkeeper for a few words, took out some silver and put it on the counter, and extended the room to ten days. After that, Zhao Rong returned to the guest room, changed his clothes, sorted out his things, and left.

Zhao Rong bought some snacks for Su Xiaoxiao on the street. Seeing that it was getting late, he returned to the Lin family's manor in Lanxi while thinking about things.

About an hour later, Zhao Rong stepped into the quiet courtyard where he lived, following the last rays of sunset, ending his thoughts along the way. But as soon as he raised his head, he found Lin Wenruo standing in the courtyard holding a jade disk in his hand.

"Wenruo, how long have you been waiting?" Zhao Rong asked with a smile, and went to the well to fetch some water, and washed his face and hands.

Lin Wenruo smiled warmly, and did not ask what Zhao Rong did during the day. "I just came in a while ago. Has Ziyu eaten? I happen to have a dinner party, so I would like to introduce a friend to you."

Zhao Rong paused for a moment, wiped his face with a silk scarf, and looked back at Lin Wenruo.

Since Zhao Rong entered the Lin Manor, he had not seen many people except for a few servants. Logically speaking, as a family of poetry, etiquette, and nobility, the Lanxi Lin family is the leader of Confucianism and Taoism in Zhongnan Kingdom. There should be a constant stream of great Confucian scholars, celebrities, and dignitaries visiting. However, the mansion was very quiet, with no banquets, literary gatherings, or musical instruments. The area around his residence was even quieter and more deserted.

This is probably to prevent the candidates for this Confucian-Taoist debate from being leaked again like last time.

As for going out twice today, he didn't have to worry too much, because the Lanxi Lin family usually provided accommodation for some passing scholars and Confucian scholars, allowing them to stay in a special homestay outside the manor.

Therefore, there were many people coming in and out, so Zhao Rong was not noticeable among them.

And this time, Lin Wenruo came to him specifically to attend the dinner and introduce a friend, which could only be related to the debate between Confucianism and Taoism, and the identity of that friend was obvious.

"I haven't eaten yet. Let's go." Zhao Rong put down the silk scarf, carried the cakes and went out with Lin Wenruo.

When passing by Su Xiaoxiao's yard, the two stopped. Zhao Rong knocked on the door and waited for a while. He found that the girl was not there and didn't know where she had gone. He hung the pastries on her door and left.

The dinner was held on the open-air top floor of a three-story building in the southern corner of the manor.

The moon is crescent like a hook, and the evening breeze is gentle.

When Zhao Rong and Lin Wenruo went up to the tower, a scholar was already waiting for them at the table.

This man was wearing a long cloak, a hat on his head, and holding a feather fan in his hand. He had a handsome face, a mustache, and a serious expression. He was estimated to be around thirty years old.

Lin Wenruo explained it to Zhao Rong.

This man's name was Chen Mu, with the courtesy name Muzhi. He was from Zhongshan, thousands of miles away from Zhongnan.

Chen Muzhi was a well-known Confucian scholar in Zhongshan State. He had been a child prodigy since childhood and had won top three places in the imperial examinations, but he refused to become an official. Instead, he indulged himself in mountains and rivers and swam in the ocean of literature.

Chen Muzhi was good at seven-character ancient poetry and elegant conversation and debate. He had heard that elegant conversation was popular in Zhongnan Kingdom, so he came here specially for a visit. Because his family had an old relationship with the Lanxi Lin family, he settled in the Lanxi Lin family's manor.

After the dispute between Confucianism and Taoism was settled, Lin Wenruo remembered that he had this master of literary conversation at home, so he invited him to help the Lanxi Lin family, and the latter readily agreed.

Moreover, Chen Muzhi had just arrived in Zhongnan Kingdom not long ago and had not had much contact with the famous scholars in Zhongnan Kingdom. Therefore, almost no one in Zhongnan Kingdom knew him. This was also the reason why Lin Wenruo chose him. Chongxu Temple did not know of Chen Muzhi's existence.

The three of them met.

Lin Wenruo introduced the two of them to each other with a smile, but Chen Muzhi frowned slightly when he found out that Zhao Rong was just a young scholar going to Linlu Academy to study.

Zhao Rong greeted him and Chen Muzhi nodded with a rather reserved expression.

Zhao Rong smiled and didn't care.

During the dinner, the three of them toasted each other and had a pleasant conversation, but it was mainly Lin Wenruo who livened up the atmosphere. Zhao Rong and Chen Muzhi sat on his left and right, and they spoke very little.

Although Chen Muzhi was an arrogant person, he did have some real skills. For example, he could play the flying flower game while drinking with ease. Zhao Rong couldn't help but look at him a few more times, but Zhao Rong didn't participate much. It was mainly him and Lin Wenruo who were playing.

However, with Lin Wenruo present at the table, the atmosphere was not awkward and everyone felt like they were at home.

Soon, the dinner was coming to an end. Lin Wenruo looked up at the bright moon in the sky. Zhao Rong and Chen Muzhi put down their chopsticks and wine glasses upon seeing this.

After all, it was getting late and the three of them had important things to discuss.

The three of them stood up and walked to the railing.

Zhao Rong reached out and tapped the railing, looking into the distance.

Chen Muzhi slowly waved his feather fan with a calm expression.

Lin Wenruo glanced at the two of them, let out a breath, and with a serious look on his face, he slowly began to talk about the specific arrangements for the Confucian-Taoist debate nine days later.