Xun Shuang's eyelids twitched wildly as he stared at Lu Li.
"The truth will come to light one day!" Lu Li said without backing down.
"Hahaha..." Xun Shuang laughed loudly, his laughter tinged with sorrow and helplessness.
"What good is it if the truth comes out to the world?" Xun Shuang retorted.
Lu Li remained silent.
Xun Shuang looked out the window with a deep and distant gaze, and slowly said, "That extraordinary man once said that the world, after a long period of division, will unite, and after a long period of unity, will divide again. Whoever holds power will rule this land."
Xun Shuang sighed softly, seemingly mocking himself, and said, "It's only the common people who suffer..."
Lu Li saw a different kind of Confucianism in Xun Shuang. They seemed to be the ones who truly inherited the will to control, or perhaps, after four hundred years, the former Hundred Schools of Thought had long since merged into one.
However, all of these are manifested in the Confucianism.
Xun Shuang turned around, stared at Lu Li, and said in a deep voice, "I hope you understand that the truth cannot change the world. The predecessors are gone. What we can do now is to truly use our ideals and beliefs to benefit the people!"
Lu Li sneered and asked, "If that's the case, why does Dean Xun avoid the imperial court's summons and not serve as an official to benefit the people?"
Xun Shuang shook his head and said, "You're wrong!"
"What?" Lu Li frowned.
“It’s not that I’m afraid of becoming an official, but even if I did, I couldn’t change anything; it’s fate. I just want to spread my ideas and beliefs and educate people, that’s all.”
The Han Dynasty was now riddled with problems. Eunuchs ran rampant, and even official positions could be bought and sold. It was a corrupt and decadent dynasty. And the officials were greedy and profit-driven.
They only care about seizing power and profit, disregarding the lives and deaths of ordinary people.
Xun Shuang was unwilling to get involved in such a quagmire, so he chose to live in seclusion.
Lu Li did not agree with Xun Shuang's ideas.
"Since you have a compassionate heart, then you should do it, even if it means fighting against fate, so what?"
"How will you know something won't work if you don't try it?"
Lu Li's words were so powerful and resounding that they left Xun Shuang feeling deeply shaken and unable to calm down for a long time.
He raised his head, looking at Lu Li with a strange glint in his eyes, and murmured, "But that extraordinary person has already done it, yet what was the final outcome? The Qin Dynasty still perished. What did he change? And what could he possibly change?"
yes.
Lu Li defied fate back then, yet he couldn't change the Qin Dynasty's demise. What was the point of his so-called change?
His gaze gradually became unfocused, as if he had lost his way.
Memories from the past echoed in Lu Li's mind. Yes, what was the point of doing this?
Xiao Lu'er, Fusheng, Cangwu, Chu Jiu, Ying Zheng, Su Qin, Meng Tian, Wang Jian, and so on.
They are all gone!
"Someone has to bear the weight of those wills..."
"And the meaning of living is for those who have passed away! To protect the beliefs they left behind," Lu Li said, his head bowed and his eyes dim.
Upon hearing this, Xun Shuang was taken aback, then fell into thought, his expression shifting between light and dark.
After a long while, Xun Shuang finally spoke softly.
"Perhaps you are right..." Xun Shuang smiled bitterly.
A hint of determination suddenly appeared in his eyes, as if he had been influenced by Lu Li's words, or as if he had figured something out for himself.
“General! Dean Xun, you have lost.” Lu Li smiled slightly.
Xun Shuang suddenly raised his head and stared intently at Lu Li, unsure whether Lu Li was referring to the chess game or his philosophy.
Xun Shuang was taken aback, then smiled with relief. Lu Li was right; he had lost.
Confucius once said, "When three people walk together, one of them will be my teacher." Today, I have learned a lot from him.
After saying that, Xun Shuang stood up and bowed to Lu Li.
"The Master is right. Life cannot remain stagnant; we must take steps forward."
"Our journey should also be completed by ourselves."
Xun Shuang seemed to be sighing, or perhaps speaking to himself. He took a deep breath, and his gaze became even more resolute.
"Thank you very much for your guidance today, Dean Xun. I shall take my leave now." Lu Li cupped his hands in farewell and turned to walk towards the door.
"Wait a minute!" Xun Shuang called out to Lu Li.
“Sir, you have great ambitions. I have a request that you would be grateful for,” Xun Shuang said.
Lu Li stopped and looked at Xun Shuang with a puzzled expression.
Xun Shuang pondered for a moment and said, "I hope that one day in the future, you can help the Han Dynasty restore order and allow the people to live and work in peace!"
Lu Li frowned and slowly said, "Dean Xun, my grand vision is for peace and prosperity throughout the world!"
Xun Shuang was taken aback at first, then seemed to understand Lu Li's words, nodding repeatedly and saying, "That's good...that's good, sir, take care."
Lu Li didn't say anything more and went straight out of the room.
inside the house.
Xun Shuang stood by the window, watching Lu Li's departing figure with a complex expression. After a long while, he sighed, "The world... is at peace!"
After leaving Xun Shuang's room, Xun Yu hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Sir, are you going back to Yingchuan Academy?"
Lu Li smiled and said, "I won't go back to the academy for now."
Xun Yu was startled, "Sir, where...are you going?"
"I'm going to Luoyang!" Lu Li said calmly.
In fact, after talking with Xun Shuang, his beliefs were strengthened.
Although the Qin Dynasty has become dust of history, the Black Ice Platform is a thing of the past, and those people have long since passed away.
But he is still alive.
He lives on for those who have passed away.
He lives to carry on the beliefs of those people: family, friends, brothers, and even enemies.
He lives to prove that those glorious years truly existed.
He lives to protect this belief, to move forward steadfastly, without regret, and never give up.
"Luoyang!" Xun Yu's expression changed drastically.
"Could it be that Mr. Lu intends to enter the imperial court as an official?"
Lu Li glanced at Xun Yu indifferently, a smile playing on his lips, and said, "I have no intention of becoming an official."
"Then sir..." Xun Yu was completely confused. Why was Lu Li not going to take up an official post, but instead running off to Luoyang?
Lu Li reached out and patted Xun Yu on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Go find the truth and uncover a past event."
Xun Yu was increasingly confused, unable to fathom what Lu Li was planning, but Lu Li insisted on going to Luoyang, and he couldn't stop him. He could only say, "Then please be careful, sir! If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask!"
Lu Li nodded slightly.
Soon, a carriage drove out of Yingyin, with a sturdy and honest man driving it, heading towards Luoyang.
Lu Li sat in the carriage, closed his eyes to rest, and his mind became clear and tranquil.
He thought of many things from the past, and of those people, those who had passed away.
"Perhaps, this is my destiny..."
Lu Li opened his eyes, gazing at the rushing scenery outside the window, and murmured to himself.
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