Chapter 56: Chapter 48 Your Majesty, Do as You Wish_3
“The struggle between Confucianism and Daoism is the best outcome that Zhao Rong and I could have strived for!”
Zhao Rong rubbed his eyes. Although he was only at the Golden Stone Stage of the Ascending Realm, his constitution was slightly stronger than that of ordinary people. Furthermore, his recent speech had sobered him up quite a bit. Therefore, he slowly recovered and no longer spoke drunkenly. “It’s too risky.”
Zhao Rong exhaled lightly, then inquisitively asked, “How did you persuade His Majesty? I’ve heard that His Majesty is fond of Alchemy and is extremely close to Chongxu Temple, and he is even an enregistered Daoist of Chongxu Temple.”
“First and foremost, before he is a Daoist, he is a king. Although I practice the Dragon Slaying Skill, reforming the nation to strengthen and enrich the people is of even greater benefit to him as a king. Even if his royal power is limited by me, what about a hundred years later? When I, Lin Wenruo, am no longer here, the nation that has been revitalized by the new laws will still be passed down to his descendants, it will still belong to the Zhu Family. Hence, regarding Zhongnan Country, our interests align.”
“Secondly, his pursuit of Alchemy and Cultivation is merely for the quest for longevity. Ah, it is just Cultivation. What Daoist Chingjiu can offer him, I, Lin Qingchi, can also provide.”
Zhao Rong frowned and said, “You know well that the kings below the mountains cannot enter the Vast Realm, not only because it has been written into the Xuan Emperor’s Law but also because kings are subject to the backlash of Dragon Energy. They are naturally in conflict with Spiritual Energy and cannot Attract Spiritual Energy into their bodies. How can you help him seek longevity by defying the great taboo of the world?”
Lin Wenruo smiled slightly. “I simply made him the same promise as Daoist Chingjiu. He knows himself that this is impossible, but which mortal can resist the temptation of immortality? Sometimes, to live, all one needs is an excuse and a wish. These, I can easily give him. Besides, don’t Confucian Scholars understand the Vast Realm better than Daoists? Do you think the hope I give him is greater or the hope given by the Daoists is greater?”
“Lastly, even if we lose in the struggle between Confucianism and Daoism, it won’t have much impact on him. He will still be the king of Zhongnan Country, at worst, he will no longer be able to lift his head in front of Chongxu Temple from now on. But compared to a future where the mountain that is Chongxu Temple has been moved away, which one to choose, surely he doesn’t need me to teach him.”
Zhao Rong fell silent, staring into his eyes and said word for word, “You haven’t said what will happen if you lose, what’s at stake for you on the gambling table?”
Lin Wenruo slightly avoided the gaze of the Confucian Scholar in front of him. “Nothing much, just the Lin family of Lanxi relocating out of Zhongnan Country, Ziyu need not bear too much burden.”
Lin Wenruo’s gaze returned to Zhao Rong. “Zhao Ziyu, you don’t need to feel any guilt. If you can stay and help me, Qingchi will be deeply grateful; but if you choose to leave, Qingchi will hold no grievances.”
Lin Wenruo raised his wine cup, suddenly confident with a smile. “Besides, who am I, Lin Qingchi, after all? I still have some moves up my sleeve, even without Ziyu, I believe my chances of winning are very high.”
Zhao Rong did not speak, but gazed down, quietly observing the Confucian Scholar in front of him, whose smile was bright yet whose eyes carried a solitary look. He posed the last question of the night, and perhaps the last question of their lives to each other.
Lin Wenruo was taken aback at the question, then burst out laughing. “If there’s a way in Zhongnan, Wenruo wouldn’t exchange it for anything!”
The hearty man toasted his cup in invitation.
“Regardless of this matter, true to the moonlight, I pour my cup— you may do as you wish.”
In the presence of a kindred spirit, amidst the mist of pavilions and water, under the luminous new moon, the scene was sufficient for all eternity.