Chapter 421: Chapter 378, Legalist Guan Zhong
Kong Qiu said nonchalantly, "Go then! If you leave, don’t come back, sigh~ Jie Sect is ruined, and the people’s hearts are scattered too!"
Bai Jin immediately halted his steps, turned around helplessly and said, "Master, I am going to pay respects to Second Master right away!"
Kong Qiu said satisfiedly, "That’s more like it, go quickly and return quickly."
Bai Jin transformed into a white rainbow that soared into the sky.
...
A vast city sat upon the land, the city filled with layered pavilions, countless pagodas and towers, bustling with people coming and going, extraordinarily vibrant.
A towering structure stood within the city, close to the Royal Palace, entirely black in color exuding a solemn and majestic aura, with people in long robes moving briskly inside.
The white rainbow shot from the sky, landed in the courtyard and transformed into the figure of Bai Jin. The people around continued their business as if they had seen nothing.
Bai Jin adjusted his robe and walked towards a great hall, bowed respectfully before it and said, "Disciple requests to see Master."
"Come in~" a voice responded from inside.
Bai Jin stood up and walked into the hall where shelves lined the room, an middle-aged man moved between them, occasionally picking up a book to browse.
Approaching, Bai Jin said with a coy smile, "Second Master, you are busy!"
Guan Zhong smiled and asked, "Your sudden visit, is there something you need?"
"Master, this time I am here under Master’s orders."
"Oh~" Guan Zhong’s eyebrows raised, he said suspiciously, "Did Kong Qiu send you to see if I was in a rage or losing my grace?"
Gosh~ Guessed it right away, it’s as if I’ve just heard it myself; Second Master really knows my Master well!
Bai Jin was also startled, and then hurriedly said, "Second Master, you misunderstand, in this incarnation my Master intends to teach the common people and become a Saint. How could he harbor such malicious intent?!
My Master sent me here to explain that the rumors in the world are concocted by ignorant people, and are certainly not his intention.
When my Master heard this rumor, he was so angry he smoked, wanting to clarify but not knowing where to start. Even if he clarified, no one would believe him!"
Guan Zhong dubiously said, "Misunderstanding? Truly just a misunderstanding?"
Bai Jin nodded repeatedly, sincerely saying, "Second Master, it’s absolutely true!
Though my Master did unintentionally take a disciple, it was only later that he learned his name was also Guan Zhong, originally it didn’t matter much. But afterwards, it was blown out of proportion by those with agendas, now clarifying is almost impossible.
My Master feared that you would be angered, thus specifically had me come to explain, please don’t blame him."
"Hehe~" Guan Zhong chuckled.
Bai Jin, with sincere wide eyes, looked at Guan Zhong and said, "Second Master, do you believe me?"
Guan Zhong laughed, "Naturally, I believe. Kong Qiu and I are like brothers, why would he tarnish his reputation?"
Bai Jin felt relieved, Second Master is really easy to convince! Second Master is the best.
Guan Zhong smilingly said, "Bai Jin, your visit is timely. I will have someone guide you to learn about the states under Legalist governance."
All sorted, feeling relieved, Bai Jin happily said, "Then, as a disciple, I shall respectfully comply."
"Zizhong~" A young man hurried in from outside, bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Teacher~"
Bai Jin silently nodded in approval, noting how magnanimous and broad-minded Second Master was, even when manipulated by Master, he didn’t seek revenge but instead accepted a disciple named Kong Qiu. This truly was the epitome of a Saint.
"Zizhong, take Bai Jin to tour our Qi State."
Zizhong respectfully responded, "Yes!" and left with Bai Jin.
Guan Zhong stood in the great hall, chuckling coldly, "Kong Qiu~"
As Bai Jin followed Zizhong along the bustling streets, he observed that even amidst the hustle and bustle, there was no chaos; everything was orderly, disputes were quickly settled, creating an overall harmonious and friendly atmosphere.
Bai Jin commented contentedly, "Indeed, under the rule of the Legalist, everyone truly lives in peace and everything is well-organized."
Zizhong proudly claimed, "Of course, our Legalist school has established laws, and the entire state abides by these laws, everyone has their own role, naturally resulting in order and prosperity."
Stretching out his hand, he said, "Brother Bai, it’s now time for a meal, I invite you to dine."
"Thank you."
Zizhong led Bai Jin into a restaurant and they sat on the second floor, observing the bustling scene below. Although it was still the Spring and Autumn Period, the Primordial World’s Spring and Autumn Period was much more prosperous than the historical Spring and Autumn Period!
During the meal, a few extravagantly dressed nobles came and sat at the neighboring table.
Bai Jin only glanced at them briefly without much concern, when suddenly a conversation caught his ear and he became serious.
"Did you hear? Today, over a hundred Confucian scholars were arrested in Weng City!"
"Wow~ How could there be so many?"
"It’s said they were hiding with the help of local magnates, but after being reported, they were all caught, the Confucian scholars got buried, and their books were all burned."
"If you ask me, those Confucian Disciples deserved it. They always talk about following the ancient kings, and doing things like the past dynasties. If the past was so good, why would it be destroyed?"
"Our Qi State is better, based on the law and structure. Those rotten Confucians even tried to promote Confucian thoughts in our state, weren’t they asking for death?"
"Some aspects of the Confucian School are commendable though, their ideas of benevolence, wisdom, propriety, and faithfulness are good!"
"Shh~ do you want to die?"
The noblemen hurriedly got up and rushed outside, not even finishing their meal.
Bai Jin was stunned for a moment, he turned stiffly to Zizhong, disbelievingly asking, "Burning books and burying Confucian scholars?"
Zizhong smiled and said, "This was instructed by the teacher, thoughts conflict is shown no mercy."
Bai Jin lifted his head forty-five degrees towards the sky, his gaze filled with deep resentments; what magnanimity, what broad-mindedness, what belief in my words, all were lies, all these deceived my feelings, even you, Second Master, have turned bad!
Zizhong continued smiling and said, "Brother Bai, after dinner how about I take you to appreciate the ’Hundred Springs Fireflies’? It’s a renowned scenic spot in our Qi State."
Bai Jin waved his hand, listlessly saying, "Forget it, maybe another time! I must return and report now, hereby we part." He got up and walked outside.
Zizhong also quickly got up, calling out, "Brother Bai~"
"Until we meet again!"
Bai Jin walked out of the restaurant, his figure promptly disappearing without a trace.
Zizhong leaned over the window looking down and muttered, "Huh~ he disappeared out of thin air, could Brother Bai be a Cultivator? That’s not right! The entire city is enveloped by teacher’s legal doctrines, even a Cultivator should be bound."
In the evening, at Kong’s School, Kong Qiu was teaching his disciples ’Poetry,’ when suddenly a ripple appeared outside, and Bai Jin stepped out from the ripple.