Chapter 461 (1/2)
Chapter 461: Discussing Taoism on the Streets
In the end, the taoist priest on the stone steps managed to control the crowd and did not allow the questioning to continue . He waved his arm around vigorously and spat a lot, talking about the meanings of the cla.s.sics . His expression was sometimes solemn, pa.s.sionate, benevolent and stern .
The handful of people listened intently . They would lean forward at times, and backwards at times as they listened about miracles performed by Haotian at certain places . They could not help but marvel as they listened to the deeds performed martyrs and felt sympathy and a desire to be like them .
Eldest Brother and Ye Su went unnoticed . Even though they were both extremely impressive figures in the Academy and the Haotian Taoism, they did not look special outwardly .
After a short conversation, the two greeted each other officially . Ye Su held up a hand and placed his fist against it . He said calmly with his head slightly lowered, ”Greetings, Mr . First . ”
Eldest Brother greeted him solemnly . ”Greetings, Mr . Ye . ”
Ye Su said, ”I had thought that Mr . Second would appear first . ”
Eldest Brother said with smile, ”Teacher is worried that if Jun Mo comes, the two of you will fight and turn Chang'an into ruins . Thus, Jun Mo is currently locked up at the back of the mountain . ”
Hearing the word teacher, Ye Su thought of the Headmaster of the Academy who was respected by many people in the cultivation world . After a moment of silence, he said seriously, ”Do you think I could meet the Headmaster?”
Eldest Brother said, ”I will ask my teacher about it . ”
Ye Su said, ”I have troubled you, Mr . First . ”
Eldest Brother looked into his eyes and suddenly asked, ”Have you come to visit Chang'an or Xia Hou?”
Ye Su said, ”Xia Hou is still an Elder of the Divine Hall . Furthermore, my teacher was the one who led him to the Divine Hall . He served the Haotian Taoism well . Even though he behaved improperly in the Wilderness, it doesn't negate his previous accomplishments . The Haotian Taoism expects that he will have a good ending . I believe that the officials of the Tang Empire do not wish to see him being discharged after he has served his purpose . ”
Eldest Brother said warmly, ”The Academy doesn't have such a saying that one's accomplishments can negate any wrongs . Accomplishments are accomplishments, while wrongs are wrongs . People have to shoulder their own responsibilities . However, since General Xia Hou has agreed to retire peacefully, I don't think that anyone would stop him . Furthermore, the General is a powerhouse at the Peak state of Martial Arts . Who can stop him?”
Ye Su said, ”Xia Hou gets old, and he has been injured in the hands of the Tang . I know that very well, and I'm sure that the Headmaster and you know this even better than I do . If he were still the Xia Hou before, would my teacher have to send me to Chang'an? Or do you not welcome me?”
Eldest Brother said, ”The Tang Empire is a liberal nation . Chang'an welcomes everyone . ”
Ye Su glanced at the man who had offered his seat to him earlier . He said, ”The Tang Empire is indeed different from other countries . The atmosphere is different . ”
Eldest Brother smiled, ”I hope that you have an enjoyable stay in Chang'an . ”
Ye Su said, ”It isn't very enjoyable . ”
An ordinary visitor would not have an enjoyable stay if they were cheated by a shopkeeper or had eaten an expensive vegetarian meal at the Wanyan Tower . However, it would not have any impact on the world . Ye Su had just arrived at Chang'an and did not seem to have a reason for his dissatisfaction . However, he was the World Wayfarer of Haotian Taoism and his dissatisfaction might bring unhappiness to Chang'an .
Eldest Brother turned grave when he heard that . He asked seriously, ”Why is it not enjoyable?”
Ye Su looked at the taoist priest on the stone steps of the temple and said, ”This is not enjoyable . ”
Eldest Brother turned to look and listened to the priest preach . He basically understood where Ye Su's dissatisfaction came after hearing the questions that people raised on the streets .
For thousands of years, the Zhishou Abbey had always been dissatisfied with the Haotian Taoism Sect preaching in the Tang Empire . However, the Southern Gate of Haotian Taoism was in charge of such matters . Since the Tang Empire had the backing of the Academy and a strong army, the West-Hill Divine Palace had no way to influence the matter any further . However, a proud son of Haotian like Ye Su would definitely be displeased to hear such controversial discussions on the streets of Chang'an .
Eldest Brother said, ”Believing in Haotian doesn't mean believing in Haotian Taoism . It does not mean that they cannot raise their doubts about the West-Hill Divine Palace's cla.s.sics . ”
Ye Su looked at the scholar before him silently .
They had once met by Hulan Sea . However, they had not had the opportunity to chat peacefully for a long period like today on the streets of Chang'an . That was why he looked at Eldest Brother carefully and seriously . He wanted to find out how he had managed to become so powerful . Ye Su thought that he himself seemed to have understood something .
”What about you guys from the Academy?”
Looking at Eldest Brother, Ye Su said calmly, ”I understand you guys . I know that you all do not even believe in Haotian . So do you all think that Haotian can be questioned?”
Eldest Brother smiled . He did not deny it nor give any explanations .
Ye Su smiled as well, and his smile was cold and bland . He said, ”There are definitely a bunch of scary non-believers in the Academy . All of you should not exist . ”
Eldest Brother asked sincerely, ”Why do you say so?”
Looking into his eyes, Ye Su said coldly, ”If you have no beliefs, you have no fear and respect . Those who do not know fear and respect would not care about consequences . Just like Mr . Ke . Would the next generation of the Academy be like that? Who shall be the next Mr . Ke? Would it be you, Mr . Second, or perhaps that fellow, Ning Que?”
Eldest Brother said calmly, ”The Academy only taught us the reason, not the beliefs . There are few devout believers of Haotian amongst my Junior Brothers and Sisters . However, we just believe more in that no Belief is actually a kind of faith . ”