Bu Tongxun asked worriedly, "Don't you eat, sir?"
Without turning his head, Duanmu Ci said, "Sorrow is enough to fill my stomach."
After entering, Duanmu Ci closed the door behind him, locked it, and then knelt and kowtowed three times and nine times before the altar. After that, he knelt on the bamboo mat for a long time without getting up.
He kept his eyes closed, thinking about many things.
He remembered that when he was eighteen years old, carrying a letter of recommendation written for him by his uncle Qu Boyu, he traveled from the State of Wei to the State of Lu to become a disciple, thus beginning his teacher-student relationship with Confucius that would last for thousands of years. In the first year of his apprenticeship, he actually felt that his teacher was not as good as himself; then, after the second year of study, he realized how profound and extensive Confucius's knowledge was; and it was not until the third year that he was completely convinced of Confucius's teachings.
For the next few decades, he followed Confucius and even spent all his wealth to help Confucius travel to various states. When Confucius was besieged in Chen and Cai, he traveled thousands of miles to the State of Chu and persuaded King Zhao of Chu to send troops to rescue Confucius and his disciples Yan Hui, Zilu, and others.
Having gone through such a life-or-death ordeal, the bond between master and disciple needs no further explanation. When the Master fell seriously ill, he traveled a long distance to visit him in the State of Lu. The Master, leaning on his cane, trembling as he held onto the doorframe, cried out, "Ci, why are you so late!" Master and disciple embraced and wept bitterly.
Later, when Confucius passed away, he was far away in the south and was unable to see Confucius one last time. This was not only Confucius's final regret, but also his lifelong guilt.
"Master! I miss you so much!" Duanmu Ci cried, prostrating himself on the ground. (To be continued)
P.S.: I dare not write too much in this chapter, otherwise it will become too sentimental. A long time ago, a reader from Taiwan told me that it doesn't make sense that the protagonist hasn't paid homage to Confucius after returning to China for so long, and I wholeheartedly agree...
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