The Prince Can Do Divination-Chapter 82 - 78: Meeting Qi Xingyan, the Test of Questions

Chapter 82: Chapter 78: Meeting Qi Xingyan, the Test of Questions

In the academy’s bamboo forest.

A cool breeze swept through, causing the wind-chime bamboo to rustle.

An old man in a Confucian Shirt sat in quiet contemplation, studying a game record. The Chessboard before him held no ancient, famous match, nor was it a legendary record left by a Chess Saint. It was simply the old man playing a casual game by himself.

He was about to place a white stone on the Chessboard when he sighed. All his original plans had been thrown into disarray.

The next moment, he found himself hesitating, uncertain of which move to make.

When he pulled his hand back, the white stone remained suspended, unmoving in mid-air.

Qi Xingyan sat upright and proper, his expression serene. Even as an Eleventh Realm Great Scholar of the Confucian Temple, just one step away from the Twelfth Realm, and even as the former Prime Minister of Great Yan and the Mountain Master of the Confucian Family’s Shengjing Academy, his heart still held many injustices and unfulfilled wishes.

The direct lineage of Li Sheng had been passed down to him, but aside from the descendants of the seven great disciples, most had faded into obscurity. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

An ordinary person in his position would surely have focused only on restoring the glory of Li Sheng. However, his youthful experiences as a wandering, poor scholar had made him understand one thing.

The rise or fall of a lineage could not be achieved by one person alone.

Therefore, bringing peace to the world, aiding scholars, and promoting education through teaching were things he had always dedicated himself to.

He raised his head slightly, his gaze piercing through layers of vermilion palace walls to see a remarkably handsome young man in a Python Robe walking toward him.

He had tested this young man before. He had initially thought his daughter’s words were something of an exaggeration, but the young man had indeed displayed an extraordinary air.

It proved that the old saying his former teacher had taught him was truly correct.

You can’t judge a book by its cover.

He had seen far too many people. There were plain-looking, diligent scholars who, despite achieving wealth and status, never forgot the smallest kindness shown to them. There were also wicked people from poor families who, despite being illiterate, treated learning with contempt. Prestigious houses had their own futile struggles, and humble households had their own vicious evils.

After all, he was not one of those Saint’s Stone Statues enshrined in the Confucian Temple, which could simply exist like a clay Bodhisattva and enjoy the incense offerings of all the world’s scholars. He held far, far too much concern for the common people.

At that moment, Lu Mingyuan stood in the small courtyard with a straight and proud posture. His features were handsome, his gait was elegant, and his physique was excellent from his frequent martial practice. Compared to a long time ago, his aura had gained a sharp edge.

"Not bad."

Qi Xingyan’s gaze was tranquil as he thought to himself.

’I’ve met this Sixth Prince once before, but it was far too brief. I am no pedantic scholar who judges a person by their appearance; I must look into their heart.’

But now, meeting him formally, he had a different feeling.

Although the other man wore a wanton smile, his bright, spirited eyes could not lie. There was an elegance between his brows—it was not the laziness of an illiterate Martial Artist, nor the arrogance of undisciplined ignorance. Rather, it was the languid ease of one who had read countless books and grown weary of conflict.

As a first-time visitor, Lu Mingyuan was reasonably formal. The man before him was, after all, a renowned Great Scholar and Qi Muxue’s father. So, he bowed slightly. "Lu Mingyuan greets Elder Mr. Qi."

Qi Xingyan waved a casual hand. "Your Highness, there is no need for such empty formalities. Please, have a seat."

After Lu Mingyuan sat, he saw the suspended white stone and asked with great curiosity, "Sir, why has this piece not yet been placed?"

Qi Xingyan smiled in reply. "I cannot do it with my strength alone."

"You are an Eleventh Realm Great Scholar, Sir, among the most learned people in the world today. Is there still something you cannot do?" Lu Mingyuan asked, puzzled.

Qi Xingyan laughed heartily and looked at him with a smile. "Even Saints have many things they cannot do, let alone someone like me."

"Has Your Highness ever seen the world outside?"

"I have not."

Lu Mingyuan shook his head honestly. Even the original owner of his body had grown up in the Imperial Capital and had never witnessed the magnificence of Great Yan’s lands.

"In this world, good and evil are distinct. There are Immortal Gods, Spirits, and Charmers, as well as Demons and Ghosts. There are good people and wicked people, grievances and karmic bonds. Even a Saint cannot manage it all," Qi Xingyan said slowly.

"I have heard of some of these things and read about them in books, but I have never truly seen them. What do you mean when you say good and evil are distinct, Sir? Do you mean that good is rewarded with good, and evil is met with evil?" Lu Mingyuan replied.

Qi Xingyan explained, "The meaning of ’good and evil are distinct’ is simple. If a Sword Cultivator from the Military Family, while slaying a Demon Fiend, unintentionally kills a commoner who was possessed by it, that act is seen as good in the eyes of his fellow Cultivators. But to that commoner’s family, it has become an act of evil."

He continued with a serious expression, "In this world, everyone’s definition of good and evil is different. The people of Great Yan, the Emperors, Generals, and Ministers, the Taoist Sect’s Immortal Families, and Buddhism’s Bodhi—they all differ. Therefore, the conclusions they each draw are also different. This is the principle of ’good and evil are distinct’."

Lu Mingyuan nodded, only half-understanding.

Suddenly, he realized he had almost forgotten why he was here and asked:

"After all this talk, Elder Mr. Qi, why did you summon me here?"

Qi Xingyan chuckled softly. "I want to know how Your Highness views this world."

"This world?"

Qi Xingyan returned to his previous point, adding, "The good and evil of this world."

Lu Mingyuan pondered for a moment before looking up. "I don’t know, myself. I only know that I will be grateful to those who are genuinely good to me, regardless of whether they are good or evil. As for those who move against me, I will repay them in full, even if they are an upright Gentleman."

Qi Xingyan nodded, his attitude unclear. "Focusing on the outcome, as you say, is certainly one way of thinking."

"Then let me ask you, Your Highness: if one day you possessed extraordinary power and could accomplish many things, but doing so would cause many people to die, would you do it, regardless of the outcome?"

Lu Mingyuan was a little stumped by the question.

Qi Xingyan smiled gently and pointed at the floating white stone. "It is like this chess piece. It carries significant weight. The entire Chessboard is watching it. Though it has not been placed, the overall situation is already set. Placing it will not change the reality of the game. Will you still place this piece, or not?"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lu Mingyuan’s gaze sharpened. "I will."

"Heaven never bars one’s path. As long as you want to walk, the road is at your feet. Believe in yourself, rely on yourself. How can there be a hopeless situation in this world? There are only people whose hearts have despaired. The game is dead, but people are alive. The answer to solving a problem should be in one’s own hands. Miraculous power lies within me."

"Good. Very good."

Hearing this, a gratified smile appeared on Qi Xingyan’s aged face.

He seemed very satisfied with this answer.

"Your Highness may leave now."

Lu Mingyuan was a bit bewildered when he heard this.

He hadn’t used a single one of the lines he had prepared for this visit.

It seemed Qi Xingyan had only asked him a few complicated questions. What was this all about?

Was it a test?

If so, had he passed or failed?

Filled with confusion, he still complied with the instruction. After a slight bow, he took his leave.

After Lu Mingyuan left, Qi Muxue, dressed in a green ruqun, entered the courtyard gate. She had clearly been eavesdropping for a long time.

She looked at the floating white stone, took it down, and rubbed it for a moment. Unable to make sense of it, she asked:

"Father, what was the meaning of all that you said?"

Qi Xingyan smiled faintly. "This young man is not confused about his attitude toward the world. He has his own code of conduct. That is enough."

"What did the white stone mean?"

"This white stone is like the Emperor’s Throne. Beneath the throne lie nothing but bones; it is a path destined to be filled with hardship and thorns. Without great perseverance, one will never see that day. Without a steadfast heart, one will never take that final step."

"But sitting on the Emperor’s Throne is no easy life, either. The struggle between the Three Religions is like a game of chess, where every person is a piece. Even an Emperor has difficulty controlling them. Breaking the balance is something the Holy Emperor has spent his entire life trying to do, and he has already failed. Yet this young man has the determination to flip the entire board. He cannot be underestimated."

"Does that mean you’ve agreed to join the Sixth Prince’s faction?"

Qi Muxue’s eyes lit up.

Qi Xingyan nodded. "Yes. However, I can see that this young man intends to lie low for now, biding his time and hiding his strength. There is no rush."

The old man stroked his white beard and chuckled. "Aren’t you the one who fancies him most? He is getting married soon. Why don’t you fight for him?"

Qi Muxue was still bothered by something he had said before. Her eyes dimmed as she replied, "I do not yet understand his intentions. I cannot make a decision."

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