Chapter 1
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“Destiny is called ‘nature’, and following nature is called ‘Dao’, and the cultivation of the Dao is called ‘teaching.’ The Dao cannot be separated from it for even a moment, anything that can be separated, it is not the Dao.”
“Therefore, a gentleman should be cautious of what is not seen and fearful of what he does not hear. There is nothing more hidden than what is unseen, nothing more evident than what is subtle. Thus, a gentleman is particularly careful when alone.”
On the edge of the Central Plains, surrounded by mountains and rivers, faintly one can hear the sound of children reading aloud. Following the sound of the reading for several dozen steps, one finds a bamboo grove and winding corridors, where a bamboo pavilion stands. Looking inside, dozens of young students are reciting the classics of the sages with great focus and enthusiasm.
A man in green Confucian attire, about forty years old, sits above, listening to the children’s youthful voices. After several recitations, he dissects the meaning of the text and carefully explains it to the young students.
As the sun reaches its zenith, the sound of a guqin starts to be heard from the bamboo grove’s backyard. The Confucian teacher stops his lecture with a smile, finishing today’s session and leaving some homework for the students.
The children dispersed with excitement.
Some have already begun to play or discuss their holiday plans.
There are also many well-dressed youths from affluent families. The teacher, who wears a wooden hairpin to tie his hair, glances towards the bamboo grove and indeed sees a thick bamboo slightly swaying. He smiles, stands up, and walks away.
There was no one by the window, but there was a plump rabbit hanging from the green bamboo six feet from the ground. The teacher reaches out and feels its weight; the rabbit is plumb and heavy, which is common as winter approaches. To survive the winter, rabbits fatten up, and when cooked with winter bamboo shoots, the flavor is excellent.
As the guqin music fades and footsteps approach, he hears his wife’s voice from behind:
“Is it that child again?”
“His name… Qi Wuhuo?”
The teacher in the green robe made a sound of acknowledgment, lifting his head. He could still faintly see a young figure from the small bamboo pavilion on the hillside heading towards the small town below. The boy wore ordinary short clothes and light brown attire. From the back, he looked ordinary, but his posture was upright and straight.
The wind and snow were beginning to stir, and the boy gradually moved farther away in the cold mountain wind and snow.
The lady, originally from a prominent family but who had become somewhat stern and fierce due to her experiences, slightly pursed her lips and, showing a rare sign of weakness, said: “Why is it so? My husband, you have already allowed him to listen to the classes, but he refuses to accept the good intentions. Although his life is modest, he still insists on bringing these things.”
Her voice paused, then she added with some regret; “Could it be that he still holds a grudge against me for the way I treated him back then?”
The teacher in the green robe smiled and comforted her, saying: “He doesn’t have that kind of personality.”
“I even asked him why he was unwilling to come in. Originally, I thought it was just that he was embarrassed. I am confident in my own talents and have served as a county official, handling hundreds of cases. I should be able to persuade a small child. But in the end, I was unable to do so and was instead subdued by him.”
His voice paused slightly.
The wife looked at him with suspicion and asked: “What did the child say?”
The teacher in the green robe stroked his beard and said:
“He said that in all things, one should not worry about scarcity but inequality and that fairness should be emphasized.”
“I have received many children from wealthy families as well as some from less affluent families who have made sacrifices to send their children to study. If I were to let him in out of pity, it would lead to complaints from the other families.”
“And also harm my reputation.”
“He said that he learned to read and write from me but should not do so at my expense to benefit himself. That cannot be.”
“And these things are considered his tuition fees.”
His wife looked astonished. “’Not worry about scarcity but inequality’… Such words, can they really come from a small-town child?”
The teacher in the green robe replied: “Indeed, but he is quite stubborn.”
“I asked the townspeople, and he is not a native of this area.”
“He came here five years ago after the disaster in Jinzhou. Life was hard, and many people did whatever they could to survive. To find someone so upright, straightforward, and eager to learn is rare.”
He hesitated for a moment, taking his wife’s hand, he said gently: “Madam, I plan to have all the students compete in a test after the New Year. If he truly has talent, I will take him as a disciple and recommend him for the imperial examinations in the future. Such talent should not be left to wander in the mountains. What do you think?”
The woman gave her husband a disdainful look and said: “Recommending talent is indeed your duty as a scholar. If he truly has talent, not recommending him would be neglectful. I am also willing to contact my relatives to find him a good match.”
The teacher in the green robe was overjoyed, embracing his wife, and did not discuss it further.
The boy left the classroom and silently recited the content of the day’s lesson in his heart. He also quietly reviewed the meanings and writings of these words. Before he knew it, he had walked into the mountains. The current wind and snow were light; it seemed that the snow from other mountains was carried here by the wind and had gradually stopped.
When he was young, his hometown was devastated by a great disaster, with no harvest, epidemics, and monsters rampant. His parents gave him the last of their food, barely allowing him to survive. Among the fleeing refugees, he came here, and fortunately, this place took him in, providing him with a place to stay.
Without the care of his parents or elders, he could have easily become one of those destitute scoundrels. However, from a young age, he would dream of strange things every night. In his dreams, there were iron birds soaring into the sky, people coming and going, tall buildings densely packed in the cities, and many square characters.
He forgot many things from his dreams but also remembered many.
Especially those square characters.
Learning cannot cease.
A scholar must be broad-minded and resolute, for the task is heavy and the way is long.
It seemed as though some voices were reciting these lines. He felt that these words from his dreams were extremely important to him, and thus he believed deeply in the principles and teachings they conveyed.
Today was cold, and there was fear of heavy snow closing off the mountains later. He needed to collect more firewood to get through the coming winter. Qi Wuhuo carried a basket on his back, climbing the mountain step by step. Occasionally, he found fallen pine cones. His luck was quite good; by an hour and a quarter earlier than usual, he had already filled his basket. It seemed that he could get through the upcoming heavy snow, so he started to head back slowly.
However, he did not know when, but the mountain had suddenly become enveloped in night fog.
As an ordinary mortal, Qi Wuhuo could not perceive it, but his soul was different from others, allowing him to sense some abnormalities. He furrowed his brows slightly, holding a long and straight branch, and began to walk slowly down the mountain. While an ordinary person would not have noticed, his soul was much stronger, and he accidentally wandered into another area.
Looking back, he could no longer see the way forward.
After walking a hundred steps or so, he suddenly heard a desolate voice, a rhythmic song with a voice that was old and clear, like the clash of gold and iron but with the quality of jade, not unpleasant to the ear.
There were many strange things in the Central Plains. In winter, some insects shine bright like candlelight.
The light flickered and disappeared as he approached.
Qi Wuhuo’s footsteps slowed unconsciously as he found himself in a deep valley. He was unaware that insects and birds accompanied him, and in the night fog, a tiger’s eyes gleamed. All the beasts and spirits were present, but only the sound of the verses became increasingly clear, with a rhythmic handclap and a long, high song.
“Unmarked by a speck of dust from the world, the hall is full of scholars who are like immortals.”
“Clothing always bears the color of mist and clouds, with a staff and shoes accompanying a life of wandering through clouds and water.”
“The iron flute plays across the vast sea’s moon, while sleeves embrace the spring of the celestial realms.”
“Now gathering guests from all directions, let’s see who among them is the celestial guest.”
“Eh?”
“A guest has arrived!”
“Young guest, please come forward and have a word.”
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Orluros’s Vault of Secrets: Hi everyone, I hope you enjoy this new novel I’m translating. This week I’ll post one chapter per day(5 chapters) then I’ll be 3 chapters per week. If you liked the chapter feel free to donate 🙂 and if you find any errors in the translation please mention them in the comments here or in discord
