Chapter 21: Patriarch, Let Us Establish a New Confucianism

"Stop, stop, stop!" Lu Ge hastily interjected.

The Confucian scholars were surprisingly obedient. Upon hearing Lu Ge speak, they immediately shut their little mouths. However, their gazes remained intensely fervent, staring unblinkingly at him.

Folks, who can understand this? We are clearly the true successors of the Analects, yet we have been suppressed for over two hundred years. Today, our founding master has descended, and he must surely be here to rectify the source and restore the truth. Our hope has finally appeared!

But Lu Ge had no intention of fulfilling their expectations.

"Three things," Lu Ge said, holding up three fingers.

"The first. I am not a member of the Confucian school. I have only met Confucius twice. In fact, I am currently at odds with the Confucian school, as I just gave your Master Xun a beating not long ago."

"The second. The Analects you study were merely things I blurted out while debating with Yanzi back in the day. I have no idea why you all took them so seriously. You may recognize me as your founding master, but I do not recognize you. I advise you to turn back from this misguided path and stop wallowing in it."

"The third. Get out of the way now. If you continue to block my path, I won’t be so polite. If I dare to beat your Master Xun, I certainly won't hesitate to deal with you."

After finishing, Lu Ge glared fiercely at the group of scholars. Although each of them was well-versed in the Six Arts, they were ultimately mere mortals who had not grasped any supernatural powers. To Lu Ge, dealing with them was no different from crushing chicks. In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, while the cultivation of supernatural powers was mainstream, it was not something one could achieve just by reading a few books. In this era, those who could comprehend supernatural powers were honored with the title of "Master"—they were individuals of profound learning who had carved out their own paths.

Despite Lu Ge’s threats and attempts to drive them away, the scholars remained unmoved. Their leader spoke up loudly: "The Founding Master debated with Yanzi before the Sage and presented his own insights. The fact that the Founding Master remains safe here proves that the Sage did not find his words erroneous. When the Founding Master says he was 'blabbering,' it is surely just a display of humility. I know the Founding Master hails from the Taoist school and wishes to avoid this entanglement to prevent misunderstandings by the Confucians. But it does not matter. We have long been suppressed and feel unfulfilled. If the Founding Master is willing, we are prepared to break away from the Confucian school and follow you."

"We shall establish a New Confucianism!"

Every word was impassioned and stirring. The hundreds of scholars behind him were flushed with excitement.

Lu Ge was left dumbfounded. What kind of "New Triad Society" is this? I don't want to go fishing and have to wear a helmet! Establishing a New Confucianism? If you want me dead, just say so.

"Shut up, shut up!" Lu Ge retreated three steps, staring at the scholars. He finally understood: this group had been suppressed by the Confucian mainstream for so long that they had all become somewhat mentally unstable. They were all fanatics.

Lu Ge turned to Shen Dao. "What kind of power did you awaken? Can you make them disperse without hurting or killing them?"

There was no help for it; every move Lu Ge made was lethal. The "Northern Dipper Death-Inducing Sword Qi" would claim lives at the slightest provocation. Even with his deep mastery of it, he could only control it to drain lifespan. Once released, death or injury was inevitable.

Shen Dao bowed and said, "Then this disciple shall act." He turned toward the hundreds of scholars. "The affairs of the world should be governed by law. You are gathered here today, disrupting order. You shall disperse."

It was as if he held the constitution of heaven in his mouth, his words carrying the weight of law. The hundreds of scholars, stunned by the sound of Shen Dao’s voice, involuntarily began to scatter, disappearing into the crowd.

Lu Ge’s eyes lit up. Yin Wenzi had always claimed he couldn't beat Master Xun, and Lu Ge had assumed they were all incompetent. Now it seemed they had some skill after all—it was just that Master Xun was too powerful, making them appear weak.

Lu Ge climbed back into the carriage and urged, "Let’s go quickly and shake them off."

Shen Dao nodded and resumed driving. The carriage sped away, galloping into the distance. Not until they were well out of Linzi did Lu Ge lift the rear curtain to check. There was only rolling dust behind them; no one had caught up. Lu Ge finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Kidney, your power is actually quite good," Lu Ge praised.

*Kidney?* Shen Dao was slightly stunned. "Founding Master, my name is Shen Dao, and in your presence, how could I dare to call myself a 'Master'?"

Lu Ge clicked his tongue; the little old man didn't understand his slang. He didn't bother to explain, instead asking, "I saw your power earlier; it seemed to be based on the supremacy of law?"

Shen Dao nodded. "In my youth, I studied the arts of Huang-Lao, and later, along with Wu Qi and Duan Gan, I studied the Five Classics of Confucianism under the tutelage of Bu Zixia. Over several decades, I gradually carved out my own path. Worldly affairs are complex and chaotic; human hearts are selfish, and morality is difficult to govern. Thus, only by using law as a cord can it be restrained. My power stems from this: Law is supreme, governing the world. Its name is 'The Way of Law is Utterly Just.'"

Lu Ge nodded in realization. "Not bad. Whether a country is in chaos or not depends on the rule of law. I admire you."

Shen Dao grinned. "To receive the Founding Master's approval, this disciple's life of cultivation has not been in vain."

In the current era of the Hundred Schools of Thought, there was no tendency to hoard knowledge; instead, there was much mutual exchange. Take Shen Dao, for example: he studied both Taoism and Confucianism before comprehending the Way of Law. He was not alone; many others also studied multiple schools. By combining the strengths of the hundred schools to realize one's own path—that was the true way.

Lu Ge pondered. This was no longer two hundred years ago. In the age of Laozi and Confucius, there were few classic texts. Back then, cultivation relied mostly on oral teachings and personal enlightenment of heaven and earth. Two hundred years later, countless geniuses had carved their paths onto bamboo slips, passing them down to posterity. Lu Ge wondered if he could find some classics to read. By looking directly at the finished products of enlightenment, it might be easier to draw inferences and comprehend new powers. He really needed to put the heaven-defying enlightenment granted by the Tao Te Ching to good use.

"Shen Dao, you are from the State of Zhao. Do you have any classics of the Hundred Schools in your home?" Lu Ge stopped calling him "Kidney." After all, the man didn't get it.

Shen Dao smiled. "I have a few, though mostly Taoist and Confucian classics. If the Founding Master wishes to read them, you are welcome to stay at my home upon our return to Zhao. I only fear the Founding Master might find them beneath your notice."

Lu Ge waved his hand. "Eh, what could I possibly find beneath my notice? Knowledge is knowledge; it has no status. Besides, I didn't have the conditions back then to read so many classics. This is like having all the great paths displayed right before my eyes."

Seeing that Lu Ge was genuinely interested, Shen Dao was even more excited, whipping the horses into an even faster gallop.

The horses: ???

They traveled for months, finally leaving the State of Qi and entering the borders of the State of Zhao. But no sooner had they arrived than the carriage was stopped again. And the ones blocking the way were, once more, a group of Confucian scholars.