007. An Interesting Han Chinese He Met
The people of the Han Empire were known for their boldness, and there was never a shortage of those who would stir up trouble at a banquet.
“Who is that fellow?”
“Heh, the one beside Young Master Murong should be Mister Mo Dao. That youth is rather ignorant!”
“Is that really Mo Dao, ‘whose strategies never miss their mark’? Truly him?”
“Yes, it’s him. I’ve heard he’s about to become an instructor at the Grand Profound Academy! That young man is bound to lose!”
Mo Dao, the man everyone spoke of, carried himself with calm confidence as he strode toward Zheng Fanren, his long robe flowing and his demeanor refined. Zheng Fanren thought to himself, “What a grand entrance for an expert!”
Mo Dao drew near, speaking with scholarly elegance and a weighty tone, “Young man, the greatest challenge lies in breaking the seal within the door. I have studied it for some time before discerning its secret. Why not admit defeat? It is better to resolve than to create enmity.”
His words elicited a chorus of approval from the hall: “As expected of an instructor from the Grand Profound Academy—look at his bearing!”
Many even urged earnestly, “Young man, there’s no shame in conceding. Your future matters more; what prospects are there for those who linger below?”
Zheng Fanren only smiled in silence, marveling at the expert’s finesse. If he were to retreat now, Mo Dao would surely be seen as the epitome of grace.
Qiuxiang smiled at him, seeing the helplessness on his face, then heard him reply respectfully, “Thank you, Mister Mo Dao, for your guidance.”
Those who had tried to persuade him felt disappointed: “We thought he’d have some backbone, but he’s just spineless!”
There were even boos; the people of Han truly were an amusing lot!
Mo Dao gave a faint smile and replied calmly, “You’re a good young man. One should know their own limits.”
Zheng Fanren’s smile grew, his demeanor even more respectful. “Sir, perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding. With someone as learned as you, of course I wish to learn a thing or two.”
The hall fell silent, eyes wide with astonishment.
After a moment, laughter erupted. “Ha! I like this fellow—he’s got real character!”
“Heh, not bad! Whether he wins or loses, he’s an entertaining one!”
From Wanlixing to Zheng Fanren, the crowd’s opinions shifted time and again, but that was the precious trait of Han’s people. If something amused them, they laughed; if it angered them, they raged; if it pleased them, they rejoiced. Perhaps they had no fixed stance, but they were certainly fascinating!
It was precisely this interesting spirit that Zheng Fanren cherished deeply.
Mo Dao’s eyes flashed with anger for a moment, then his expression grew solemn. “I hope you conduct yourself well.”
Zheng Fanren remained respectfully courteous. “Then, Mister Mo Dao and Young Master Murong, please go ahead.”
Mo Dao thought to himself that this youth was shameless, but replied with composure, “You first. We do not need your courtesy.”
Zheng Fanren smiled. “Thank you!”
Dongmei was beside herself with excitement, as though proud of her own ‘achievement,’ following Zheng Fanren with lively steps.
Qiuxiang shook her head, speechless, though curiosity lingered.
The three approached the middle-aged woman. Zheng Fanren smiled in greeting, and the Profound Cloth unfurled before his eyes.
The crowd refrained from disturbing him, the hall falling into utter silence—even breaths and heartbeats seemed stilled.
The riddle consisted of just over a dozen characters. In barely a moment, he said calmly, “Thank you,” nodded to the two women, and walked straight toward the door behind the woman.
A round of applause broke out, loud cheers following.
Mo Dao, however, wore an expression of deep regret. “What a pity. I sense no profound energy from him; he surely cannot break the seal. Yet, a Grand Sealing Profound Master is possible.”
Someone exclaimed, “What? A Grand Sealing Profound Master? Impossible! That requires mastering eight streams of profound energy, and unlocking at least eight of the ten profound nodes within the body!”
None believed Zheng Fanren to be such a master; they waited to see how he would stumble.
Zheng Fanren appeared deeply solemn, bringing his hands together as if praying to the gods, muttering, “Please, gods, don’t let me fall. Even if I must fall, let it at least look graceful!”
“Ha! He’s actually praying for divine protection!”
“Ha! He’s got real character! So amusing—look at his respectful manner!”
Suddenly, someone asked in confusion, “What’s happening?”
Zheng Fanren began to move his hands, his body shifting in harmony, every motion flowing naturally.
The practice of Taiji was indeed the perfect way to feign expertise; the crowd genuinely thought he possessed some secret skill, some even eager to see what he would do next—only for him to turn and smile at the middle-aged woman, saying, “Just joking, just joking. I’ll go in now!”
Thud! Someone suddenly fell off their chair.
The middle-aged woman was caught between laughter and tears; she knew better than anyone that there was no seal within the door. She suppressed her amusement, nodded, and let him in.
Just as she raised her head, the youth swaggered in, with the two women close behind. Dongmei laughed heartily, turning to wink at Mo Dao several times, utterly pleased with herself.
The crowd turned in unison to Mo Dao. “He’s a Grand Sealing Profound Master! How is that possible?”
Mo Dao’s face was filled with disbelief. “Impossible! That seal was crafted to conceal the very essence—how could he possibly break it?”
At that moment, Murong Shushan collapsed to the floor; the dignified second son of the Murong family was about to imitate a dog!
Mister Mo Dao reacted swiftly, calling out, “There must be some hidden scheme! This is unfair!”
Murong Shushan was no fool either, shouting, “Yes! There must be something behind this. I hear the Flower Pavilion belongs to the Nangong family—this is unfair, unfair!”
The guests were bewildered, and the hall erupted once more.
“Bark like a dog! Bark like a dog! Bark like a dog!”
“No, we need an explanation! We’re all victims here!”
“Yes, Miss Luoxue, come out and explain!”
The scene was utter chaos. The middle-aged woman summoned her profound energy and called out, “Silence!”
Mo Dao took the opportunity, “Everyone, quiet down and listen to her explanation!”
“Very well. I had hoped to leave some dignity for certain people, but since you insist, I’ll give you an explanation.”
She displayed the Profound Cloth for all to see. The calligraphy was elegant and noble.
Even Mo Dao silently praised, “Excellent script!”
The riddle was simple, just twelve characters, in the form of a couplet. The first line read: “Timeless words, the one in the mirror.”
The literal meaning: the immortal one is the person in the mirror.
The second line: “The enlightened enter, the doubtful depart.”
Its meaning was clear—those who understand may enter; those who are uncertain should leave.
Many remained puzzled, staring at her in confusion. The middle-aged woman said, “If you’re wearing that perplexed expression, you should leave. ‘Timeless words’ means invitation; ‘the one in the mirror’ means entrance. If you still hesitate over such a simple riddle, naturally you are ‘the doubtful who depart.’ As for the seal within the door, unless the solver shows signs of pondering or confusion, we never activate it.”
With that, she ignored the crowd and turned to leave.
A cold breeze swept through the hall. “So those leisurely movements weren’t some method of breaking the seal after all?”
With sighs and the gentle summer wind, three barking sounds echoed from Luoxue Hall.