Chapter Sixty-Six: The Hermit of Falling Pond
al body is powerful, there's a white jade staircase that tests him.If one were a physically weak individual, who primarily relied on Shintoism for strength, they might not necessarily face the test of...Light cavalry hastened their journey.
Shen Changqing sat firmly on horseback, allowing the jolts and bumps to pass over him without disturbing his posture much.
>
When the hero first came to Lin'an City from the Demon Suppression Division, he was riding a horse. However, because he had traveled nonstop for a long time, his horse became exhausted before they reached Lin'an City.
This time.
Shen Changqing bought another horse.
Having money, he naturally wouldn't be stingy for a few taels of silver.
Even in a place like Lin'an, it would be hard to find any good horses.
That's it.
Shen Changqing finally casually chose a horse as his mount.
The horse galloped swiftly.
Having learned his lesson from last time, he didn't dare rush so recklessly this time. Every time he reached a place, he would rest for a day before continuing on to the Demon Suppression Office.
Boom!
Suddenly, a clap of thunder boomed, startling the horses. They reared up, and Shen Changqing grabbed the reins tightly with one hand and clamped his legs together with the other, preventing himself from being thrown from his mount.
This is the time.
The originally bright sky, for some unknown reason, had already become dim.
"Is it going to rain"
Shen Changqing looked up at the sky and his brows furrowed involuntarily.
There's no village ahead, and no shop behind. If it rains, it would be hard to find a place to take shelter.
Although rain didn't really affect him, getting soaked through wasn't what he wanted.
"Giddy up!"
With a sudden squeeze of his legs, the horse beneath him instantly sprang into a gallop.
While the rain hadn't fully come down, Shen Changqing needed to find a place to take shelter.
About fifteen minutes.
The sky began to drizzle, and the visibility was already poor. Now, with the fine rain in the way, it was even more affected.
It's raining.
The horse galloped wildly.
Another moment passed, and the horse finally came to a halt.
Within Shen Changqing's line of sight, faint lights flickered in the distance, like a dwelling.
But there was only one narrow path ahead, and it was overgrown with thorns. It wouldn't be a good idea to ride a horse along it.
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I thought about it.
He dismounted and led the horse to a large tree, tying it there. The surrounding area was also a lush green meadow, where it could graze.
“Come on, horse, try your best, don't run away from others.”
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He patted the horse's back, gave a final instruction, and then walked toward the direction of the lights.
Not long after.
An old and somewhat dilapidated courtyard came into his sight.
That seemingly faint light became distinctly visible as we approached the courtyard.
In a remote wilderness, suddenly there appeared a courtyard, which looked unusual in every way.
Shen Changqing's face was grave.
After feeling around the courtyard, I found no trace of sinister energy. Only then did I let my heart relax slightly.
Where demons and evil spirits exist, there will be more or less a leak of sinister qi.
Although the courtyard before them seemed out of place, it lacked any sinister aura. Therefore, the possibility of demonic presences was slim.
Moreover, it wasn't unusual for people to settle in remote areas within the Qin empire. \
Take two steps forward.
Shen Changqing knocked on the courtyard door.
Here you go!
Tap tap!
"Is anyone there"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the courtyard fell silent. However, Shen Changqing could still hear some faint footsteps, as if someone had been startled by the sudden noise.
That's it.
He patiently repeated himself again.
>
"I am a traveler, and as it is raining now, I would like to seek shelter in your kind abode for the night!"
After Shen Changqing finished speaking, he patiently waited.
After about a few breaths' time.
The tightly shut courtyard gate creaked open, and a young man resembling a scholar peeked out. When he saw only Shen Changqing, the tension on his face eased slightly. But when he saw the sword at Shen Changqing's waist, the relaxed expression returned to anxiety.
Here is the translated content:
Though he was nervous, he didn't close the door again.
Carefully opening the door, the scholar slightly bowed and asked, "As it's raining now, lodging for the night is naturally not a problem. May I ask your name"
Here is the translation:
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"Shen Changqing!"
Shen Changqing bowed, while at the same time he was sizing up the scholar in front of him.
In his perception, the other party's qi and blood were calm, not at all like someone with martial arts. Judging from their words and actions, they were indeed indistinguishable from a scholar.
“Oh, it’s Brother Shen. My name is Mo Zijin. Please come in, Brother Shen.”
The scholar, or Mo Zijin as he was known, nodded and stepped aside. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!
Thank you!
Shen Changqing nodded and strode inside.
The courtyard was not large, and in front of the gate there was a large shade tree planted. There was also a corridor that could effectively serve as shelter from rain.
At the end of the corridor is the hall.
The firelight he saw was also reflected from the hall.
"Shen, brother, come with me."
Mo Zijin walked in the front, leading Shen Changqing into the hall.
Suddenly, a rich scent of ink filled the air.
Besides the scent of ink, there was also a pungent smell of herbs.
Looking around.
There were quite a few calligraphy scrolls and paintings hanging in the hall. On one table, there was a sheet of white paper and ink along with brushes. On top of the white paper, half a calligraphy scroll had been written, and the ink hadn't completely dried yet.
It is obvious.
The other person was just writing.
And at the far right of the hall, there were many herbs displayed, along with a stone mortar and pestle.
"Brother Shen, please sit down."
Mo Zijin took the calligraphy and painting scrolls from the stool.
Shen Changqing sat down, his gaze lingering on the mortar once more.
Noticing the change in his eyes, Mo Zijin smiled and said, "Brother Shen, you may not know this, but living alone can lead to some ailments. It's best to prepare some herbs beforehand just in case."
"I see."
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Shen Changqing nodded in understanding.
What the other party said makes sense. Just looking at how remote this place is, you can tell that if someone gets sick, they might not have time to get to the hospital.
Just said it.
He also smiled faintly: "Living alone in this place, Mo brother, aren't you afraid"
"To be honest, at the very beginning, there was some fear, but as time passed, it faded. I'm just a poor scholar with nothing to my name. Even bandits wouldn't bother with this place."
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This place is peaceful, and I can just focus on my studies. If I pass the exams next year and become a scholar, nothing could be better.
>Mo Zi-jin smiled serenely.
"If I really can't pass the exam, it's not bad to just be a doctor and heal people."
"Mo-xiong, you're quite open-minded, aren't you"
Shen Changqing smiled, the other party's nonchalance surprised him.
You know.
In ancient China, for ordinary people, passing the imperial examinations was one of the few paths to success.
An ordinary doctor is no match for a scholar with an illustrious reputation.
I didn't hit the mark for the top two places.
Even if one is only a scholar, they are still superior to others outside.
Just like Shi Qingxing, the other party was merely a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. Yet, he managed to secure the position of chief clerk in the yamen.
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"All things are inferior, only reading is superior. If one can pass the imperial examinations and achieve an official position, it would be much better than being a doctor."
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Shen Changqing felt something, and sighed with emotion.
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On hearing this.
Mo Zhin's eyes lit up, and his attitude suddenly became enthusiastic: he muttered to himself involuntarily.
“Among all the pursuits in life, only reading is the most noble.”
His expression was somewhat excited.
"Brother Shen is right, studying is the only way out. We scholars shouldn't abandon literature for martial arts, alas!"
At last, Mo Zijin let out a long sigh.
His appearance also aroused Shen Changqing's curiosity.
"Looking at Brother Mo's appearance, it seems like you have something on your mind"
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"This matter isn't something I would normally bring up, but Brother Shen's words just now made me feel like I've found a kindred spirit. Since Brother Shen asked, I might as well speak my mind!"
Mo Zijin hesitated for a moment, then moved a book from the other stool aside with his hand and sat down himself.
"I have always been diligent in studying the classics of sages, only to aim for a prestigious official position. Alas, my natural aptitude is mediocre, and year after year I fail the examinations. For five years running, I have not even passed the preliminary examination for scholar status, draining a considerable amount of family silver."
Therefore, my father opposed my continued studies and found me a martial arts academy to train in.
>
Alas, despite three years of studying martial arts, my gains were meager. During a trip outside for training, I accidentally blinded my master's eyes in the martial arts hall and had to pay a hefty sum to compensate. As a result, I was also expelled from the hall.
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Since then, I have neglected my studies and martial arts, spending my days in idleness.
My father, seeing this, once again sought another means of livelihood. He wanted me to study medicine with the local doctor for a few years, hoping that I could also make a living in the future.
Mo Zijin spoke in fragments about some of his past experiences.
>
I have to say.
The other person's experiences have been quite bumpy.
He studied literature for years but failed to succeed, so he abandoned his studies and took up arms. Unfortunately, he still had no achievements in this field, and later he gave up martial arts and turned to medicine.
“It’s a pity that I wasn’t born to be a doctor. I still want to consider seeking fame and honor, if not to glorify my ancestors, at least to fulfill my own wish.”
Mo Zijin sighed deeply, then looked at Shen Changqing.
“Speaking of which, my experiences should probably amuse Brother Shen, wouldn't you say”
"Brother Mo, don't be so serious. The fact that you can remember your original aspirations is a good thing. You are now studying hard, who knows, maybe next year you will pass the exam and become a scholar."
Shen Changqing smiled faintly and offered a word of comfort.
Mo Zijin also had a smile on his face.
"Brother Shen's opinion is indeed the same as mine. I haven't met someone who can talk like this for a long time."
"I see Brother Shen is also hungry, I'll go and cook something for you right now, it will also warm you up."
Immediately, he rose to his feet and walked toward the hall outside.
When Shen Changqing wanted to speak and stop him, it was already too late.
>
Only after Mo Zijin left did he turn his gaze back to the main hall.
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Get up.
Coming before the hanging scroll paintings.
Shen Changqing didn't have much knowledge about these things. He just instinctively felt that the calligraphy and paintings on them were very good.
"Indeed, it's not just people from one world. Everyone who writes likes to express themselves freely. It's beautiful to look at, but I just can't understand what it means."
After looking for a long time, he smiled helplessly.
The characters are good-looking, giving one a feeling of joy. However, it is unclear what they say.
Only the final signature allowed Shen Changqing to faintly recognize it.
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In the 136th year of the Qin Dynasty, Luotan Ju Shi wrote this.eath.In the era of the ancient imperial court, while it is true that some individuals could comprehend three thousand principles within a hundred years, it is impossible for them to solely rely on the...