Xun's College in Yingchuan County, Xu Fu once believed that he would never take the initiative to return here again.

Yes, Xu Fu actually returned here at the end of the year last year, and lived here for a few days, but that was out of the wishes of the Black Feather Crow brothers, and he himself did not approve of it in his heart.

But now, he had to come back because he finally realized his powerlessness.

"Senior Brother Xu, Teacher Ciming allows you to meet him in his study."

A very eye-catching middle school student conveyed a message from the great Confucian Xun Shuang to Xu Fu, which made Xu Fu feel a little relieved, but still a little uneasy.

[He...... Will you say yes? ]

With a lot of things on his mind, Xu Fu followed the student who led the way to Xun Shuang's other courtyard in the academy.

"Now I know the way, let me go on my own."

When passing through the round gate of the courtyard, Xu Fu stopped and shouted to the student who was leading the way in front of him.

The student was stunned for a moment, then turned around and glanced at Xu Fu in astonishment, and then he didn't know what he thought, and said with a smile, "Since this is the case, the junior brother will retire." ”

"There is labor." Xu Fu also returned the salute in accordance with the etiquette of Confucianism.

"Don't dare." The student strode away after receiving the gift, but after walking dozens of steps, he couldn't help but glance back at Xu Fu, who was still standing near the garden gate.

Although Xu Fu has now been expelled from the school by the great Confucian Xun Shuang, the students in the academy know that it is only because of the stubborn relationship between the teachers and students who are not willing to take the lead in admitting defeat and apologizing.

[When Senior Brother Xu came back this time, did he plan to give in to Master Xun? ] ]

A strange look flashed in the student's eyes, and he was gossiping and guessing in his heart.

And when this student was secretly watching Xu Fu from a distance, Xu Fu had already mustered up his courage after a few deep breaths, and walked to the once familiar study in the courtyard with his head held high.

"Ahh

Gently pushing open the half-closed study door, Xu Fu stepped in. He subconsciously glanced to the right, and saw that behind a row of hollowed-out wooden frames, his former mentor, the famous Xun "Six Dragons", was standing behind the desk, holding a thick pen, hanging his elbow on a blank piece of paper and writing in a white paper.

Xu Fu didn't bother, walked over lightly, and glanced at the book.

[Green, taken from blue. And the blue is blue; Ice, water for it, and cold for water......]

With just a glance, Xu Fu already knew that this was from the Confucian "Later Sage" Xunzi's "Persuasion of Learning", and then glanced at the contemporary Confucian Xun Shuang, who didn't seem to be aware, Xu Fu frowned slightly, and had roughly guessed something.

Xu Fu guessed correctly, in fact, Xun Shuang had already noticed him, but he just ignored him. But the words he wrote were written for Xu Fu to read.

Finally, Xun Shuang's writing came to the end, and the thick pen in his hand was suspended. Turning his head and glancing at Xu Fu, who had been standing next to him for a long time, he smiled slightly, and opened his mouth to speak.

And just when Xun Yu was about to speak but didn't speak, I saw Xu Fu take the lead in opening his mouth. said lightly, "It's really strange, didn't Xun Gong respect 'Yasheng' in the past." How can we write the famous article of 'post-saint' today? Could it be that Xun Gong has changed his mind? ”

The smile on Xun Shuang's face suddenly froze.

In fact, whether it is the "Later Sage" Xunzi or the "Sub-Sage" Mencius, these two are among the most famous sages of Confucianism after Confucius. The most important difference is that the former advocates the "theory of sexual evil", which believes that human nature is inherently evil, denies the innate moral concept, and emphasizes the influence of acquired environment and education on people; Mencius, the "sub-sage", advocated the "theory of goodness", believing that all people have four ends of the heart (benevolence, righteousness, benefit and wisdom), advocating to keep the heart and persuade learning to be good. Therefore, although Xunzi and Mencius are both Confucian scholars, their speculation on human nature is in a dialectical and opposing perspective, and most of the Confucian students in the world focus on Mencius's thought because they want to promote the relationship between Confucianism's benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom. This is not difficult to understand, after all, if Confucianism focuses on advocating Xunzi's thoughts, doesn't that mean that even they are 'evil', so how can they be qualified to teach others?

Therefore, even if there is no prejudice against the two ideas, Confucian scholars throughout the ages have focused on advocating Mencius's ideas and gradually elevating them to the level of "Confucius and Mencius" on a par with Confucian sages, including contemporary famous Confucians such as Xun Shuang.

Of course, the ideological conflict between the two is not critical, the key lies in the second half of Xu Fu's sentence, if Xun Shuang "acquiesces" to his change of mind, and is still in front of Xu Fu, isn't this equivalent to admitting his mistakes to Xu Fu and concluding that what he did in the past was wrong?

As a result, Xun Shuang's face suddenly became gloomy, and he threw the thick pen in his hand on the table with a heavy snort. His original intention was to use the "Persuasion of Learning" to inspire Xu Fu, and wanted him to change his mind and return to the academy to continue to study knowledge, of course, this Xun Confucian's preaching to Xu Fu, a former disciple, was indispensable. But he didn't want to, Xu Fu was quick to think, and he saw through the intentions of the former teacher at a glance, and a small ridicule that was even beaten with a small sneer not only disintegrated Xun Shuang's purpose of persuasion, but also happily fell into the former's face, which is not too cool for Xu Fu, who can rarely take advantage of Xun Shuang.

"It's just a clever little trick!"

Xun Shuang, who had lost his face, snorted coldly, blew his beard and glared at Xu Fu, picked up the tea cup on the desk and took a sip. Later, the anger in his heart slowly dissipated, after all, he had been with Xu Fu for so many years, if Xun Shuang couldn't adapt to it, I am afraid that he would have been angry with this student. What's more, is Xu Fu the only one in the academy who makes Xun Shuang worry? Like Guo Jia and Xi Zhicai, which one is the master who can make him worry?

"Tell me, what?"

Sitting down on the chair, Xun Shuang calmed down and asked slowly. He knew Xu Fu too well about the disciple who had been expelled from his school, and if there was no serious accident, the latter would never return here, because Xu Fu's temper was very stubborn, just like him when he was young. Perhaps, this is also the reason why Xun Shuang prefers this disciple.

Seeing that Xun Shuang said something, Xu Fu didn't hide it, and after hesitating for a moment, he bowed deeply to Xun Shuang. pleaded in a low voice, "Student...... After learning to ...... Xun Gong School......"

Xun Shuang was stunned when he heard this, and then his face showed joy that could not be concealed.

[Could it be that this little stubborn cow has suffered setbacks outside, and is finally willing to work hard to study knowledge?] …… Is he begging the old man to take him in again? ]

"Learn? What are you studying? Xun Shuang was so excited that even his hands trembled a little, and he put the teacup in his hand back in place tremblingly, and deliberately put on the shelf with the joy in his heart.

"Learn ...... Book Festival! Gritting his teeth, Xu Fu continued in a deep voice.

"......" The excitement and joy on Xun Shuang's face froze instantly, his face seemed to be a little pale, and after a little stunned, a thick anger welled up in his eyes. With the endless disappointment against Xu Fu.

"Book—Sacrifice—"

Gritting his teeth and repeating Xu Fu's words, Xun Shuang's expression was no longer joyful, only indifference and disappointment.

What is a book festival?

As we all know, sacrifice is the focus of the "ritual art" in the "six arts" of Confucianism, and Confucian students have served as assistants to the Son of Heaven and princes to worship the gods, earth, ghosts, mountains and rivers, ancestors, and stove gods since ancient times. The second is to hope that the gods of the heavens will bless you.

It is undeniable that most of the Confucian students who learn "etiquette" will get a good home in the future, however, although etiquette is one of the six arts. But in the end, calligraphy is not as important as calligraphy, even in the eyes of contemporary celebrities like Xun Shuang, calligraphy is like a compulsory course for future generations, which must be mastered. And things like etiquette and archery are just elective courses, as long as you have a general understanding and don't make mistakes when you really encounter them.

And now, Xun Shuang seems to be planning to focus on the book sacrifice part of the ritual art when he listens to Xu Fu's words. And without mentioning the classics left by the sages, in Xun Shuang's view, this is simply abandoning the big and taking care of the small, putting the cart before the horse!

"Foolish...... Unreachable! ”

Glaring at Xu Fu, Xun Shuang gritted his teeth and scolded. He had never directly reprimanded Xu Fu in such a tone, and it was obvious that Xu Fu's decision had angered the bottom line in the heart of this contemporary Confucian.

"......" Xu Fu withstood Xun Shuang's scolding without changing his face, and looked at Xun Shuang with straightforward and clear eyes, this openness made Xun Shuang slightly surprised.

After a long time, Xun Shuang let out a long breath and asked with a sigh, "What happened to make you feel like this...... Stupid thoughts? ”

Seeing that Xun Shuang's tone softened, Xu Fu was also relieved in his heart, he was really a little afraid that Xun Shuang would expel him from the academy in anger, so that he would not be able to learn the Confucian secret art that could make him powerful.

Without hesitation, Xu Fu told everything that happened to his Black Feather Crows and his party in Julu County, but he skipped about the Fifth Gong Yuan, after all, the Yingchuan Xun clan was a supporter of imperial power who supported the Han royal family, and Xu Fu didn't want to make trouble. Therefore, he only vaguely referred to the Fifth Gong Yuan, Huihui, Yi'er, and Tang Zhou as "extremely powerful martial artists".

"Extremely powerful warrior...... Is it? After listening to Xu Fu's explanation, Xun Shuang's expression on his face eased a lot, because he heard from Xu Fu's explanation that those extremely powerful warriors had killed Zhang Huang's father-in-law, so Xu Fu was eager to gain strong strength and help Zhang Huang go to revenge.

Don't think that Confucianism is the Confucian mean thought after being "castrated" in later generations, before the idea of calligraphy has not been "castrated", although Confucianism cannot be called extreme, it is also about "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth", even the Confucian sage said, "repay grievances with virtue, how to repay virtue? Therefore, repay virtue with virtue and repay grievances with straightforwardness! 】

Therefore, Xu Fu's explanation was not reprimanded by Xun Shuang, on the contrary, Xun Shuang felt that this was Xu Fu's expression of affection and righteousness, which was the righteousness advocated in Confucianism.

But even so, the solemnity on Xun Shuang's face still did not ease, he glanced at Xu Fu deeply, and said in a deep voice, "When a student is humiliated by force, it is understandable to desperately want to gain strength......

Hearing this, Xu Fu was slightly stunned and then his face showed a little joy and surprise that he couldn't hide, because he never thought that Xun Shuang would actually open his mouth to support him, you must know that he was still racking his brains and thinking hard about how to convince this stubborn and pedantic former teacher.

“…… However, it is only extenuating! Glancing at Xu Fu, Xun Shuang shook his head, shook his head categorically and said, "I, I won't teach you!" ”

"What?" The huge contrast of falling from the height to the bottom of the valley made Xu Fu's face full of astonishment, and he looked at Xun Shuang in disbelief and asked, "Why...... Why? ”

"Because I don't want to!" Xun Shuang's eyes flashed with a trace of indescribable regret. However, the tone is very tough and cannot be refuted.

"Don't want to? Oh, don't want to? Looking at Xun Shuang blankly for a while, Xu Fu laughed angrily, and shouted loudly without caring about anything else, "Why?" Why not?! ”

Unexpectedly, Xun Shuang's voice was louder than him.

"There is no reason, just unwillingness!"

"You ......" Xu Fu suddenly became angry, glared at Xun Shuang angrily, and was speechless.

And Xun Shuang also stared at Xu Fu with his eyes, and the majesty of being a teacher for many years forced Xu Fu to blurt out the angry reprimand.

The two of them looked at each other for a long time. Finally, Xun Shuang took a sip of the teacup, and said in a cold tone, "Go out!" …… If you want to stay in the academy and continue to study the scriptures, you can also choose if you want to stay in the academy and continue to travel with swords. ”

Although Xun Shuang's tone was still as tough as ever, the meaning he expressed in his words was to allow Xu Fu to continue to stay in the academy, perhaps, he hoped that Xu Fu would continue to stay in the academy.

Xu Fu didn't move. Just lowered his head and silently looked at the adobe bricks under his feet. After a long time, he asked in a low voice, "Why...... Master Xun refuses to teach me? ”

As soon as he heard the long-lost Xun Master, Xun Shuang's hands holding the tea cup couldn't help but tremble. What moved him even more was the tone in which Xu Fu asked this sentence. He had never seen this disciple breathe so lowly.

The low-voiced, weak-voiced inquiry only made Xun Shuang's heart unbearable for a while, and his eyes couldn't help but redden.

Instantly, he turned sideways.

"Poof—"

A strange noise alarmed Xun Shuang. He subconsciously turned his head and was shocked to see Xu Fu kneeling down in front of his desk.

At that moment, Xun Shuang let out a long sigh. He knew that there was no way he could correct this misguided disciple.

He put the teacup in his hand back in its place, stood up and walked to Xu Fu, stretched out his hands to slowly help him up, and said in a serious voice, "Martial arts rely on courage and wisdom with strategy...... As a student of Confucianism, when you are desperate to gain 'strength' and ignore your own 'wisdom', you have already fallen behind. ”

Xu Fu, who was helped up by the "......", was stunned for a moment, and faintly figured out something.

"Black Feather Raven...... That's what you boys are calling it when they gang up? …… Among those people, you are the first with 'strength'? Not necessarily, right? Although Xun doesn't practice martial arts, he can also see that your companions are all geniuses who practice martial arts, talented geniuses. Yuanzhi, do you really think that you and your companions lack 'strength'? ”

“……”

"It doesn't seem to be like a teacher! …… What you and the others lack are not brave warriors, but few are wise men and strategists! …… If you were wise enough, you should have guessed the purpose of those 'extremely powerful warriors', so that you could devise a strategy, even if it was not enough to restrain a strong enemy, it would be enough to turn evil into good fortune...... An extremely powerful martial artist, I believe that this is just a pronoun, and the true identity of the other party is unusual, right? …… That's it, since you deliberately conceal it, you won't ask too much as a teacher, but you have to remember that martial artists rely on courage and wisdom to use strategies, and you ...... Destined to be a strategist, not a martial artist! Don't bury your talent......"

"Master Xun......" Xu Fu opened his mouth, only to feel uncomfortable in his chest.

Looking at Xu Fu, who was full of discomfort, Xun Shuang smiled slightly, patted the back of Xu Fu's hand, and said with an unprecedentedly pleasant face, "Go to Xiangyang." …… Although the book sacrifice is an external technique, it may be suitable for it, but Sima Decao is not only good at external arts, but also has a lot of research on the techniques inherited from Taoism, you are his disciple, I believe there will be some achievements. …… However, no matter what, you have to remember that sentence, martial arts rely on bravery, and wise men use strategy! ”

Xu Fu opened his mouth but couldn't speak, he could only express his actions, and bowed deeply to Xun Shuang.

But just when he was bending over, he heard Xun Shuang sigh faintly, which contained a lot of regrets and concerns.

"I ...... Don't be your teacher anymore! ”

Xu Fu, who had bent down in the "......", was shocked, and tears came out of his eyes. However, when Xun Shuang said those words, it meant that it was difficult to recover, and some things could not go back to the beginning.

Gritting his teeth, Xu Fu bowed to the end, and then turned around and left.

He didn't want Xun Shuang to see the tears on his face.

"Precious!"

Whether it was Xun Shuang, who was standing at the door of the study and silently watching his beloved disciple leave, or Xu Fu, who was walking away with tears on his face, he said silently in his heart.

It was the first and last time, and the pair of teachers and students finally reconciled at this moment.

PS: The next chapter begins with Volume 2, Troubled Times (to be continued......)