The Strong Female Lead Versus The Most Miserable Male Lead
Chapter 327 - 325: Dog Protects the Home

Chapter 327: Chapter 325: Dog Protects the Home

On the Star Network, the Star Reading’s Star Blog account.

Star Reading Official: The Text Mover’s two new books, with gifts being the complete versions of the Three Character Classic, Thousand Character Classic, and Tao Te Ching.

Upon the release of this news, many well-known scholars from the interstellar community, those versed in traditional culture, went mad.

They had previously only seen some sentences, some of which they indeed encountered in some preserved documents, but they had never seen the complete versions.

But what does this mean now?

There are complete versions?

Real or fake?

Underneath Star Reading’s account, countless people left comments.

Shu Zhuo was even the first to receive communication from his dad, Principal Shu.

"Shu Zhuo, is what’s said on Star Reading’s account serious?" asked Principal Shu.

"Yes, it is," replied Shu Zhuo.

"You—you—" Principal Shu hemmed and hawed for quite a while before finally steadying his emotions and asking, "Why didn’t you tell me anything?"

"You know how long I’ve treasured the Tao Te Ching, Dad." Principal Shu was both angry and anxious, but his moral upbringing did not allow him to speak too harshly.

Shu Zhuo naturally knew about his father’s obsession; he spoke up and said, "Dad, do you want the complete version of the Tao Te Ching?"

"What?"

Principal Shu stood up excitedly in his office, asking in disbelief, "You have the complete version?"

"Hehe..."

Shu Zhuo chuckled softly, somewhat boastfully saying, "I don’t have it."

"You playing jokes on your dad, you—"

"Dad! Listen to me," interrupted Shu Zhuo, explaining, "I contacted the Text Mover, and he said he could transcribe a complete copy of the Tao Te Ching for you."

Transcribe a copy, the complete, Tao Te Ching.

These words, Principal Shu listened attentively and repeated them in his mind.

"Does he have ancient books?" asked Principal Shu.

"He probably does, I’m not sure, but Dad, even if there are ancient books, they can’t be taken out," Shu Zhuo responded.

Principal Shu didn’t feel at all put off; getting the complete Tao Te Ching was already an enormous favor.

"Okay, I understand. I wouldn’t dare to read the ancient book even if I had it. So when will I get this transcribed copy?" he asked.

Shu Zhuo glanced at the time, then answered, "It should be arriving home soon."

"What?"

"Beep beep beep—"

The communication was cut off, and Principal Shu grabbed his coat, hurriedly left his office, his anxious demeanor making many in the school think something serious had happened.

You see, their Principal Shu was the type who, even in the event of a fire at the school, would leisurely stroll with his hands behind his back and a relaxed gait.

But Mr. Shu couldn’t care about that now—this was the Tao Te Ching!

It was what many longed for in their dreams.

It would be odd if he weren’t in a hurry.

When Principal Shu got home, it wasn’t long before the express delivery arrived.

He washed his hands, burned incense, and sat down on a meditation cushion to open the package.

Inside was a book, bound into a volume, with fresh-looking characters seemingly written in calligraphy.

"Who would have thought the Text Mover was also a calligrapher?" Principal Shu murmured to himself.

He took out the book, opening to the first page.

"The way that can be named is not the eternal Way. The name that can be spoken is not the eternal Name..."

He was instantly captivated.

Even his usual favorite activity of calligraphy was set aside for now; the content was what mattered most.

It looked like it had been quite some time.

Elsewhere, activities on the Star Network continued unabated, with everyone piecing together their findings. Shu Zhuo naturally did not release the complete content.

He let all the netizens slowly piece it together—a free surge of popularity that he couldn’t bring himself to spoil.

In fact, he even planned to deliberately post his piece later, striving to extend everyone’s engagement for a bit longer.

.......

Meanwhile, in the small wooden house, Nian Shutong, after having copied the Tao Te Ching for Principal Shu, did not stop but copied it once again.

With each transcription, she experienced different insights. Although they did not culminate in a sudden realization, an arcane and profound feeling lingered in her heart.

So, she kept copying.

With each iteration, the feelings that circled in her mind became clearer, and she tried her best to grasp them, confident that perhaps one day, at some moment, she would understand.

After writing the Tao Te Ching ten times, Nian Shutong put her brush down on the eleventh round.

"Continuing to write will yield no further benefit."

Having put away her brush, Nian Shutong glanced outside; dawn had not yet broken, the time belonged to the first light.

She decisively left the small wooden house, took to the skies with Wind Manipulation, and roamed aimlessly until she reached a mountaintop.

As she landed, the sun was just starting to rise. Nian Shutong began reciting the Tao Te Ching without realizing when she had started.

"The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name."

"The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of ten thousand things. Always be without desire to behold its wonder."

...

She slowly closed her eyes, the little dog sculpture appeared in her embrace, took a seated position, and began its cultivation.

This time, it was fast.

The appearance of the Nascent Soul became clearer, nearly a miniaturized version of Nian Shutong herself.

Her cultivation rose continuously, from the Nascent Soul Middle Stage to the Nascent Soul Late Stage, and paused at the Peak of Nascent Soul.

Amid her continuous meditation, the little dog sculpture in Nian Shutong’s arms suddenly became lively, leaping down from her knees and sitting down by her side.

The little dog was not very large, but significantly bigger than the Little Pink Pig, likely reaching Nian Shutong’s knees.

It looked like a China pastoral dog, with good features, golden-yellow fur, and a white band around its neck serving as a delicate collar.

Its eyes were dark and shiny, full of spirit.

At that moment, it sat like a loyal guardian by Nian Shutong’s side.

When Nian Shutong opened her eyes, she instantly sensed something different about herself.

"Hey, I guess I really should read more when I have the time!"

Nian Shutong laughed at her own joke and looked down.

"You’ve finally unlocked yourself."

She petted the dog’s head as if this were not new to her, and the little dog nestled its head into Nian Shutong’s palm.

"Let’s have a good look at you," Nian Shutong lifted the little dog to meet her gaze.

"Do you have a name?"

"Jing Bai."

The little dog spoke.

Hearing these two words, Nian Shutong was somewhat taken aback—the little dog really had a name, and it seemed more reliable than the Little Pink Pig or the Little Silver Snake.

Moreover, the name was quite straightforward.

"All right, Jing Bai. My name is Nian Shutong. From now on, my small wooden house will be protected by you."

"Jing Bai will protect our home with his life."

The sincere Jing Bai made Nian Shutong take a liking to him at a glance.

She still preferred these furry animals, just like when she wanted to raise that bear—their touch was more comfortable.

"Alright, Jing Bai, I’ll take you home."

With this trip, Nian Shutong increased her cultivation, and a reliable guardian for the home had appeared. She could finally set out with peace of mind.