Chapter 472: Chapter 427, Xu Fu Goes to Sea
Bai Jin took a deep breath, looking disappointed, and said, "Are you really still disciples of the Hundred Schools? I am truly ashamed of you all~"
The Hundred Schools’ Sect Leaders immediately knelt down, bowing their heads in silence, their faces looking dreadful.
Only the beautiful young woman Yu Tan remained standing, standing out like a crane amongst chickens, drawing attention. Alarmed, Yu Tan also hurriedly knelt down, her heart pounding furiously.
Bai Jin sternly demanded, "What is the reason for this dispute? Explain everything to me one by one!"
The Master immediately recounted the matter of Left Minister Wei Lin, speaking with a hint of anger, "Reporting to the Family Head: Chancellor Kui Lin has saved countless lives, yet, afterward, he was targeted by the Legalist, stripped of his official position, imprisoned, and even sentenced to death. The disciples do not accept this, the Confucian does not accept this. Please, Family Head, stand up for our Confucian School."
Bai Jin coughed and emphasized, "Vice, it’s Vice Family Master!"
Legalist Fa Zi snorted coldly, "There are state laws, regardless of the reasons, legality must be enforced, otherwise, the state would cease to be a state, and justice does not allow for sentiment."
The Master looked at Fa Zi, shouting angrily, "A heartless law, what benefit does it bring to the Human Clan?"
"Heartless enforcement of law sustains the sentiment of all beings. How can it be abolished just for one person?"
The two glared at each other, the tense atmosphere spreading between them.
Bai Jin said seriously, "The existence of law is meant to better benefit the Human Clan; harsh punishment has never been the goal."
Fa Zi was startled, looking at Bai Jin incredulously, then hastily called out anxiously, "Vice Family Master, if the law is not enforced strictly, it will lose its dignity."
Bai Jin earnestly said, "Law should not be devoid of humanity; the Legalist practices law based on facts, using the law as a standard, while appropriately considering human sentiments.
Here, ’human sentiments’ do not refer to relationships or accidents, but rather the voice of the common people. The Legalist should not be high and mighty, arrogantly deciding life and death, blindly extinguishing conscience, but should instead step down and mingle among the people to hear the voice of the citizenry.
If the law contradicts the will of the people, it only shows that the Legalist is wrong, not the people. The existence of the Legalist is to serve the people."
Bai Jin slightly disappointedly said, "I spoke these words in the Legalist over thirteen thousand years ago, but more than ten thousand years have passed and still, they have not been implemented; I really don’t know what to tell you?
You are not those who are high above, but servants. If you can’t understand this, the Legalist will ultimately meet its end."
Fa Zi stood there stunned, going against the will of the people meant the Legalist was wrong?!
The Master joyfully said, "Thank you, Family Head, for upholding justice for our Confucian."
...
Outside Xiangyang City, a disciple of Zen School stood on a hilltop, looking at the bustling, vast Xianyang City, and ultimately, unwillingly turned away, leaving now for the glory that awaited in the future.
After the Zen School disciple left, only Golden Cicada remained on the hilltop, looking at Xianyang City with a smile that was not quite a smile, only now realizing something was amiss, too late! He turned and drifted toward the east.
...
Following that, members of various other families also spoke out about the origins of their disputes; Agricultural Family’s carefully nurtured rice seedlings were eaten by the Mu Family’s cattle, a promising newcomer from the Military School died riding a Mo School Mechanical Bird that crashed, and a sophist lawyer from the Named School cunningly sent the head of the Mo School Mechanical Institute to prison, among others.
...
While the Hundred Schools’ Sect Leaders were explaining the origins of the disputes, Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s eastern tour had reached the east, standing by Jieshi Mountain to gaze upon the vast sea. The water vast and tranquil, islands and mountains standing tall.
Waves surged one after another, crashing against Jieshi Mountain, spraying plumes of snow-like foam.
Emperor Qin stood atop the mountain, his hand on the Longsword at his waist, looking towards the Eastern, and majestically said: "Xu Fu, you claim that there is an Immortal Mountain in the East Sea, where exactly is it?"
Beside him, Xu Fu leaned forward obsequiously and said: "I dare not deceive Your Majesty, above the East Sea lies the Immortal Mountain Sacred Realm, within it is the Method of Immortality. According to this humble servant’s deduction, the Immortal Body shall appear soon."
As his words fell, a rainbow stretched across the East Sea Sky, beneath which an Immortal Mountain appeared, with a White Jade Building atop it, where Immortal Gods rode on a cloud.
Emperor Qin’s eyes brightened, and he immediately pointed forward excitedly and said: "Is that the Immortal Mountain you spoke of?"
Xu Fu hurriedly ingratiated himself, joyfully saying: "As Your Majesty arrives at the East Sea, the Immortal Realm immediately appears, this is the manifestation of Your Majesty’s path to immortality, truly the will of Heaven!"
Emperor Qin laughed heartily and said: "Good! What a heavenly will, I seek immortality, even heaven must abide by my will.
Li Si, prepare the Dragon Ship, I want to go to Immortal Island to seek the Method of Immortality, to become the eternal Human Emperor."
Li Si hurriedly advised: "Your Majesty, please think thrice! You are the foundation of the state, how can you lightly tread into dangerous territories?"
He paused for a moment then diplomatically added: "Moreover, since ancient times no Human King has ever been immortal."
Emperor Qin looked into the distance, his spirit commanding, and loudly exclaimed: "I have swept across the Liuhe, my achievements cover the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, I am the first Human Emperor between Heaven and Earth, naturally I must exist eternally. If in ancient times there were no immortal Human Kings, I shall create an unprecedented era."
Clang~ The Longsword unsheathed as he declared: "Prepare the Dragon Boat, I am going to subdue the Immortal Realm!"
"Wind~ Wind~ Big Wind~" All the soldiers raised their weapons and shouted, their voices shaking Heaven and Earth, creating giant waves on the sea, the entire ocean shook.
Emperor Qin laughed heartily and declared: "This is my invincible army! Even the Immortal Gods must bow their heads."
Amid the laughter, the rainbow above the sea faded and disappeared, along with the Immortal Mountain beneath it, the entire sea returned to calm.
Emperor Qin’s smile suddenly disappeared, as he couldn’t help but step forward and hastily called out: "Xu Fu, what is going on? Where is the Immortal Realm?"
Xu Fu respectfully explained: "To inform Your Majesty, the Immortal Realm has always wandered the East Sea, only nearing the coast once every thousand years, every appearance fleeting."
Emperor Qin clenched the Longsword in his hand, angrily saying: "Once every thousand years, how can I wait another thousand years?!"
Xu Fu immediately knelt down halfway, resolutely saying: "Your Majesty, this humble servant is willing to venture far into the East Sea, to seek the Immortal Realm for Your Majesty, and find the Method of Immortality."
Emperor Qin looked down at Xu Fu and said: "Can you find it?"
Xu Fu resolutely said: "This humble servant already has clues, if I cannot find it, I will not return!"
"Good!" Emperor Qin shouted aloud: "What do you request, just say it."
"Your Majesty encompasses the universe, ruling over the world, this humble servant compared to Your Majesty is like an ant to the sky, with my abilities, I fear I cannot reach the Method of Immortality.
Please bestow upon me three thousand Child Boys and Child Girls as sacrifices, and a Holy Artifact that represents Your Majesty’s identity as proof, only then can this humble servant seek the Method of Immortality with Your Majesty’s authority."
Emperor Qin pondered for a moment, and said: "Granted as requested."
Xu Fu joyfully said: "Thank you, Your Majesty!" His eyes subtly showing excitement.
Li Si beside him also scrutinized Xu Fu, opened his mouth wanting to advise, but ultimately gave up, thinking if it doesn’t affect the grand strategy of Qin, let Emperor Qin send him to search for the Immortal Realm.
...
In Xianyang City, within a small courtyard, as the Hundred Schools continued discussing, gradually all the Hundred Schools’ Sect Leaders also discovered something was amiss. If one incident is a coincidence, but now coincidences seemed too numerous and all these coincidences burst together, surely it’s no coincidence.