Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 165 - 157: Hufa of Neo-Confucianism_2

Chapter 165: Chapter 157: Hufa of Neo-Confucianism_2

Just now, the two of them had already ventured deep into this branch of the Guozi Bureau. Possibly due to Jiang Yunqi’s influence, they were not challenged by anyone on their way.

"It’s the Wenxin House!" Jiang Yunqi pointed to a building in front of them: "The place where Confucianism’s theory of law selects the ’Hufa of Neo-Confucianism’."

"Wenxin House? Hufa of Neo-Confucianism?"

Li Xuan followed the direction of Jiang Yunqi’s finger and saw that the plaque hanging under the eaves of the building indeed read "Wenxin".

Strangely, all the buildings around were spotlessly clean and neat. However, only this building’s doorstep and window lattices were covered with dust, and some parts even showed signs of decay.

"Uncle, I am familiar with the theory of law, but I am uninformed about the Hufa of Neo-Confucianism."

According to the memory of Li Xuan’s original body, the ’theory of law’ in this world originated from a scholar surnamed Yu. However, their core ideologies were the same, both advocating to ’foster righteousness and eliminate desire’.

This scholar surnamed Yu, held a position in the Jin Dynasty equivalent to that of Zhuzi, hence he was revered as ’Master Yu’ by contemporary students.

In contrast to the world from which Li Xuan came, where Zhuzi’s theory quickly declined and even fell to the point where everyone condemned it.

In the Jin Dynasty, the theory of law was in its heyday and was an official school of the Jin Dynasty.

Interestingly, Li Xuan was once among those who blindly followed the crowd, harshly criticizing the theory of law and Zhuzi, but now, although he doesn’t particularly like the theory of law, he doesn’t have any aversion towards it either.

This is because after he studied the classics, he discovered that Zhuzi’s philosophy had indeed been misunderstood by modern people.

When Zhuzi advocates ’foster righteousness, eliminate desire’, he doesn’t mean that people should have no desires at all. He believes ’eating and drinking are natural rights; exotic food and drink are human desire. Husband and wife relationships are natural rights; having multiple concubines is human desire.’ —— Basic necessities like eating, wearing, housing, and transportation are natural rights, all beyond these are human desires.

Certainly, it was excessive to prevent others from enjoying food and drink, but one must also consider the social context of the time, many people might not even have enough to eat!

This statement was primarily targeted at the upper class officials and landlords. This was because ordinary people had trouble maintaining even their ’natural rights’, let alone ’human desires’.

If the ’meateaters’ of the world are insatiable, and reckless in their ’desire’, then what path of survival will remain for the lower class citizens?

Zhuzi believed that only when the upper class officials control their private desires can they maintain the normal social order and laws and create more living space for the common people.

Regrettably, it was misinterpreted by later generations, turning into feudal dregs that repress people’s hearts.

The reason why Emperor Tai of Jin in this world admired the theory of law, favored Master Yu, and made the theory of law the state’s official school was not just because Master Yu had the same surname as him.

—His love for the people was unrivaled among all emperors of his time!

"The so-called Hufa of Neo-Confucianism was established by Master Yu on his deathbed, to ’uphold the principles of the theory of law, defend Master Yu’s learning.’ It holds great authority in all branches of the theory of law, and even in all of Confucianism. The reason why you haven’t heard of it is that the Hufa of Neo-Confucianism has been discontinued for more than twenty years. However, all this has nothing to do with you —"

At this point, Jiang Yunqi flicked his sleeve slightly, causing the door of Wenxin House to open with a loud bang: "Follow me upstairs!"

He walked into the building with his hands behind his back, while Li Xuan behind him hesitated before following him.

"But uncle, is this really a good idea? Since this is the place where the theory of law selects the Hufa, I’m afraid we can’t freely enter and exit? And why have we come to this kind of place?"

"We are here, naturally, for a reason."

When Jiang Yunqi said these words, he had already stepped onto the stairs of the building.

Li Xuan followed suit, but the moment his foot stepped onto the first step, he suddenly stopped.

His mind went dizzy, and then he found out that the world right before his eyes had completely transformed.

At this moment, inside the Wenxin House, Jiang Yunqi turned his head and looked at Li Xuan, who appeared disoriented and confused, then raised his hand: "Protect him for me!"

A black tiger, two teals in length, suddenly appeared out of thin air beside him, bowing its head towards Jiang Yunqi’s direction.

After that, Jiang Yunqi climbed up the steps, heading directly to the top floor of the Wenxin House.

Unlike the lower floors that were covered in cobwebs and dust, this place was tidied up meticulously. A scholarly man in his forties, holding a scroll and wearing casual Confucian attire, was frowning at him from the window on the left.

"What are you doing here? You even brought somebody in with you."

"I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for a valid reason."

Jiang Yunqi’s tone was equally blunt. Half irritated, half helpless, he walked up and sat in front of the scholarly man, "Quan, do me a favor, adjust the Heart Asking Bell’s difficulty to the lowest."

The scholarly man glanced downstairs after hearing this: "That’s Li Xuan, isn’t it? I remember he is your daughter Jiang Hanyun’s subordinate?"

Jiang Yunqi was taken aback: "How did you know?"

The scholarly man scoffed: "Of course I know! The direct descendent of Zhonglie Duke Wen, the youngster with the most orthodox and purest Great Rectitude in the world. As early as ten days ago, the Guozi Bureau had already investigated his background thoroughly."

He then pondered: "My old friend, you brought him here. Is it to try his moral integrity? For the matter of finding a husband for your daughter? If you’re worried about his past wrongdoings, you could just let him down gently. Why play this card?"

"I wished I could just do that." Jiang Yunqi, gazing out the window, displayed a helpless expression: "Do you know? Hanyun has told me for the first time since she was born that she doesn’t dislike a man around her age. What’s more, my wife somehow took a liking to this man too."

"Ah, I see! Your daughter’s situation is indeed tricky. To find someone who meets her eye is even more difficult."

At this moment, the scholarly man revealed an unusual expression: "So my old friend, do you know the reason for the 20-year long vacancy of the Hufa of Neo-Confucianism position?"

Jiang Yunqi was stunned: "Isn’t it because the younger generations are incompetent and unable to endure the questioning of the Heart Asking Bell?"

"The younger generations are incompetent? So what do you think of me? I was also defeated by the Heart Asking Bell 22 years ago."

The scholarly man then explained: "My friend, do you know the origin of the Heart Asking Bell? It is the clan artifact of the Lianxin Clan from twelve hundred years ago. After the Lianxin Clan was destroyed by Master Yu, he remodeled this artifact into a tool for selecting the ’Hufa of Neo-Confucianism’. But twenty years ago, due to the incident with the Knife Demon Li Zhetian, the Artifact Spirit of the Heart Asking Bell has lost control."

"Lost control?" Jiang Yunqi’s complexion changed slightly: "What does lost control mean?"

"It simply means its completely uncontrollable. Every contender must face the highest level of difficulty."

The scholarly man sighed sadly: "Over the last two decades, while there is an abundance of talents among the Confucianists throughout the Yangtze River, no one has been able to walk out of this Wenxin House. Every challenger either suffers mental illness, damage to their Shenpo, or is unable to leave unscathed. Take my senior disciple Luo Yun for example. The other day, although he was physically intact, he walked out from the house completely naked in front of the crowd. My friend, wait a moment——"

He stopped Jiang Yunqi who was about to rush downstairs: "If you intend to forcibly wake him up, it will only cause irreparable damage to his spirit."

Jiang Yunqi’s face turned pale: "What can we do then? Is there no solution?"

"The only solution is to destroy the Heart Asking Bell directly, but I certainly won’t let you do that."

The scholarly man sighed: "So now, he either gets discouraged in the Heart Asking Bell, paying a hefty price to his Shenpo; or he walks out from the Wenxin House completely intact, becoming the new Hufa of Neo-Confucianism."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunqi’s face turned pale instantly, Hufa of Neo-Confucianism? Even his good friend couldn’t do it, let alone Li Xuan?

All he wanted to do was to see if Li Xuan had indeed turned over a new leaf. But if Li Xuan suffers any consequences due to his rashness today, how could he explain this to his daughter?