Chapter 19: Xun Kuang of the Confucian School, I Request Instruction from the Founder of Taoism

"You ask me now why I am going to the State of Zhao."

"Then I might as well tell you."

"The one who will unite the world in the future has already been born, and he is in the State of Zhao."

"That is why I must go find him."

"And I am determined to protect him as he destroys the various states and unifies the world."

"Although we are all followers of Taoism, each of us has our own thoughts and our own paths to walk."

"If the path you choose differs from mine, then we will inevitably find ourselves on opposite sides."

"When that time comes, you need not regard me as your ancestor, and I will not treat you as my junior disciples."

"Victory or defeat will depend entirely on each one's own capability."

Lu Ge spoke with blunt honesty. It was better to get the ugly truths out of the way first, so that if they truly ended up as adversaries later, they would not try to play on his sentiments. The struggle for the world was no children's game; there was no room for personal affection. Furthermore, he had no intention of dragging the entire Taoist school along to assist the First Emperor. After all, followers of Taoism were human beings first and foremost, and as humans, they would have their own stances. Even as their ancestor, he could not simply command all Taoist disciples to forsake their own states to aid the State of Qin. Those willing to come could come; those who were not, he would not force.

Yin Wenzi and the others did not immediately pledge their loyalty or make grand claims about the Taoist school following their ancestor to the death. Ultimately, Taoism was a school of thought. In matters of scholarship, they could offer guidance to their disciples, but they had no right to interfere in their future choices or the paths they walked in life. Moreover, they remained skeptical of Lu Ge's words. You are our ancestor, yes, and you have attained immortality, yes. But who can truly predict the future?

Shen Dao, however, was quite pleased. He was a man of Zhao, and now that his ancestor claimed the future ruler of the world was born in Zhao, did that not mean... Excellent, truly excellent! He never imagined that his State of Zhao would one day have the chance to unify the world. With this thought, Shen Dao’s spirits soared.

"Ancestor, let us hasten our journey." At this moment, Shen Dao was even more impatient than Lu Ge. He could not wait to see who this future sovereign might be.

Lu Ge nodded and followed Shen Dao toward the exit. Yin Wenzi and the others followed silently behind. They walked through the pavilions and halls, and the gate of the Academy came into view in the distance. Suddenly, however, Lu Ge and the Five Elders of Taoism stopped in unison, as if by mutual agreement. They all turned their gazes toward the gate of the Academy.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

The sound of wood striking the ground echoed toward them. An elderly man in white, leaning on a cane, walked slowly through the Academy gate. The faces of the Five Elders of Taoism shifted. Yin Wenzi whispered a warning: "Ancestor, this man is Xunzi of the Confucian school. He is the libationer of the Academy and usually stays in the archives; I did not expect him to appear today. Judging by his demeanor, I fear he comes with ill intent."

Lu Ge raised an eyebrow. He had already refused the Taoists and had no intention of seeking out Xunzi, yet the man had come knocking on his door himself.

"Xun Kuang of the Confucian school pays his respects to the sage of Taoism." Xunzi stopped ten meters in front of Lu Ge and bowed.

Lu Ge carefully observed this "Later Sage" of the Confucians. "You are too polite, Xunzi. May I ask why you have blocked our path?"

A smile appeared on Xunzi’s face. "I have lived for fifty-four years, and there is no one left in this world who can be my teacher. Now that the Taoist ancestor has descended from a painting, I have come specifically to seek instruction."

Listening to Xunzi, Lu Ge could not help but scoff. "My goodness, you are even more arrogant than Confucius. Even in his old age, he still believed that among three people walking together, there must be one who could be his teacher. You are only in your fifties, and you already think you are invincible?"

Xunzi shook his head. "It is not what I think; it is simply the truth. In years past, I traveled to the various states and engaged with the hundred schools of thought. In hundreds of encounters, both large and small, no one has ever been able to break my supernatural ability. I wonder if the sage can break it today."

As the words fell, without waiting for Lu Ge to respond, he slowly raised his right hand. With a light movement of his fingertips, he tapped into the void. Visible ripples in space began to spread out. In a flash of bewilderment, the area within a ten-zhang radius was engulfed by these spatial ripples.

The colors of the world suddenly vanished. Within Lu Ge’s line of sight, the surrounding buildings, stone floors, flowers, and trees all turned into shades of black and white.

"Heaven returns to Heaven, man returns to man. My ability is called 'The Separation of Heaven and Man.' Please, sage, enlighten me." Xunzi’s voice echoed through the void.

Lu Ge looked around and sensed his own state. Nothing seemed to have changed. In his consciousness, the *Tao Te Ching* remained unfurled. The sound of Lao Dan chanting the scriptures was unaffected, still echoing clearly. His talisman for immortality continued to radiate its luster, and even his "Big Dipper Death-Inflicting Sword Qi" circulated as usual.

Lu Ge opened his eyes and looked at Xunzi with a strange expression. "Uh, excuse me, I have a question. Have you started yet?"

Xunzi did not answer; he simply stared at Lu Ge with a solemn expression. Sensing that something was amiss, Lu Ge quickly turned his head. He saw that the Five Elders of Taoism were already drenched in sweat, their bodies swaying as if they would collapse at any moment. They were holding on solely by sheer force of will; otherwise, they would have already fallen to the ground.

"Oh, so you *have* started." Lu Ge scratched his head and looked back at Xunzi. "But why don't I feel anything? Did you go easy on me?"

It was a sincere question, but it was more infuriating than any provocation.

"As expected of the Taoist ancestor, truly formidable." Xunzi sighed and dispelled the "Separation of Heaven and Man." The colors returned to the world. The Five Elders of Taoism gasped for breath as if they could finally breathe again, but the looks they cast at Lu Ge were filled with an unprecedented fervor. As expected of their ancestor, truly formidable.

"In today’s contest, I have lost." Xunzi knew when he was outmatched and was quite forthright. He bowed and stepped aside. "Sage, please." He gestured toward the Academy gate, indicating that Lu Ge could pass.

But Lu Ge did not move. "No, this doesn't feel right." Lu Ge was not the type to let himself be bullied without striking back. "You and I have no grievances, and we are strangers to one another. You approached us, didn't ask for my consent, and demanded instruction. You even used your supernatural power to suppress me before I could agree. Now that you can't win, you want to let it go just like that?"

Xunzi’s eyes darkened slightly. "Then what would the sage have me do?"

Lu Ge waved a hand. "It is simple. You used your power to suppress me, so I shall return the favor with one of my own. Whether you can withstand it or not depends on you."

Xunzi straightened his posture, pulling his spirit inward, prepared for battle. This Taoist ancestor was able to ignore his "Separation of Heaven and Man," which showed the depth of his cultivation. Now that he was attacking, Xunzi was not certain he could withstand it. However, Xunzi had no major objections. He had made the first move, and now the other party was returning it—it was only fair. Xunzi was a good sport.

"Then I ask the sage to enlighten me."

Xunzi made his move again, unfolding the "Separation of Heaven and Man." This time, however, he restricted the field to a three-foot radius around himself. Within his domain, Xunzi transformed into black and white, appearing as though he stood outside the realm of Heaven and Earth, possessing an aura of invulnerability.

To Lu Ge, however, this was all in vain. In the brief moment he had been thinking, he had already realized why he was unaffected by the "Separation of Heaven and Man."