Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 539 - 299 Choice_2
"I don't know either, but this is how our ancestors demanded it, and they even made it a village rule that has been passed down. If you're interested, you can go to the shrine hall at the east end of the village. Inside, there are some books that the ancestors brought in, but they are all quite old now, and nobody in the village likes to read them anymore,"
Having heard Wang Ling's words, Lu Xun had already made up his mind to visit the shrine hall. After asking for and receiving Wang Ling's permission, he headed there alone while the others scattered to explore other parts of the village.
The shrine hall wasn't far from where they were staying, and in no more than a moment's work, he saw the towering shrine hall, and an old man was sleeping on a recliner, his face covered with a book—the same elder we had seen the day before.
Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at ƒrēenovelkiss.com Only.
"Eh! Stranger, what brings you to the Peach Blossom Spring's shrine hall?" The elder was very surprised to see Lu Xun.
"I heard from Wang Ling that there are some ancient books here. Curiosity got the better of me, and I wanted to come take a look," Lu Xun said respectfully as he greeted the elder.
"Haha, finally someone who knows what's valuable. These books are the world's greatest treasure. It's just a pity that the kids these days are so restless, always saying such things are useless. It's like leaving a mountain of treasure untouched," the elder lamented, seemingly displeased with the current villagers' mindset.
Lu Xun quietly waited for him to finish complaining, hoping to glean some useful information from the elder's occasional remarks. Unfortunately, the elder's speech was a bit disjointed, and after speaking for a while, he meandered off onto a completely different subject.
Only then did Lu Xun smile and utter a few perfunctory words before entering the shrine hall. The spacious and lofty hall was filled with spiritual tablets, and incense candles were lit everywhere, making the space very bright. On both sides of the hall were tall bookshelves, densely packed with books.
Walking over and pulling out a book, he saw the bold characters "Analects" on the cover. Opening the book, Lu Xun's eyes involuntarily lit up.
As a Crown Prince, he had received the finest education from childhood, but upon reading the Analects, he realized that what he had learned was but a drop in the ocean; in the presence of this book, his previous learning seemed to pale in comparison.
The profound wisdom and philosophy of life contained in those brief dialogues intoxicated him. He didn't know who the Master referred to in the book was, but he was definitely a Sage with extensive knowledge of the past and present.
Immersed in the ocean of knowledge, neglecting sleep and food, Lu Xun had forgotten the purpose of his visit until Chen Li came to call him for dinner, and only then did he awaken, realizing it was already evening. He reluctantly placed the book down and followed Chen Li back.
This time he decided to eat the meal prepared by the villagers, for he had no other choice. If this was a rule, then he must follow the rules to slowly find their loopholes.
That night, Lu Xun slept exceptionally well, dreamless until the morning sun shone into the room. He got out of bed, woke up the rest who were still fast asleep, and discussed the information they had gathered the day before.
"The village is surrounded by white fog, and only on the far west side, there's a Peach Blossom Forest. I don't know what's inside, but the villagers say there's a man-eating monster in the grove and dare not enter," Chen Li recounted her observations from the day before.
The image of that vast Peach Blossom Forest appeared in her mind, with its resplendent blossoms stretching endlessly, making her fall in love with the place at first sight. However, due to the villagers' intervention, she couldn't venture deep into the forest and didn't encounter the man-eating monster the villagers spoke of.
"Let's not go in for now. We should follow the arrangements of the villagers, or else we'll see strange phenomena. I'll spend some time reading in the shrine hall and see if I can find any clues," Lu Xun said, setting a tone for their stay.
So, everyone went their separate ways again, with Lu Xun consistently making his way to the shrine hall—he hadn't finished the "Analects" from the day before.
As time went by, Lu Xun's hands flipped through book after book, and to his surprise, he discovered that these books seemed to represent different philosophies, each of which appeared to be capable of governing a state. He felt as if he had seen a whole new world.
At the same time, he also learned what the Qin Dynasty, as mentioned by the old man, really was: a force that swept across all under heaven, unifying the wastelands, propelled by the vigor of six generations. The experiences of the First Emperor exhilarated him, and he wished he could see this great Emperor with his own eyes. Likewise, the deception and intrigue between the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States periods also greatly broadened his horizons.
Compared to the world depicted in these books, the conflicts within Great Chu suddenly seemed trivial, like insignificant quarrels beneath notice. This knowledge was a treasure he could utilize for a lifetime.
Taking advantage of this precious time, Lu Xun eagerly absorbed the knowledge from the books, examined the various philosophical schools, and then through reading historical records, he developed an understanding of the rise and fall of dynasties. Gradually, he formed his own ideals and thoughts on governance and could hardly wait to put them into practice.
When he gently set down the last book, Lu Xun let out a sigh, looked back at the vast collection of books, and suddenly realized that the ancestors of this village must have been extraordinary people. Otherwise, they wouldn't have left so many books here. Just as the old man had said, these were indeed the greatest wealth.
And by reading some of the books in the ancestral hall, he seemed to understand the true nature of this place, which seemed to be contained entirely within a book known as "Peach Blossom Spring Story."
"This is a world within a book!" Lu Xun softly told himself.
Thus, he began to carefully observe the place and talked with every villager, gradually grasping the essence of life here. One morning, he suddenly proposed to Wang Ling, "We have been here for a long time, and it's not good to inconvenience everyone. We are thinking of leaving."
Wang Ling was puzzled and asked, "Is there anything in our hospitality that has made you want to leave?"
Lu Xun shook his head gently and said, "Everyone here has been extremely considerate, and we have not been treated with the slightest disrespect. But as beautiful as Liangyuan is, it is not my home. I, Lu Xun, shoulder significant responsibilities and cannot stay here any longer."
"Ah! I have heard that your world is currently in chaos, plagued by war. Why not stay here with us and live a peaceful life?" Wang Ling sincerely urged Lu Xun and the others.
Chen Xiong and his sister, Chen Li, were momentarily tempted. Life in Peach Blossom Spring had brought them a long-lost happiness. Everything was so peaceful, and it seemed that all one needed to do was what they wished each day without the pressures of life, no cut-throat competition, and certainly no war and strife.
A voice inside Lu Xun seemed to be constantly advising him, enticing him to stay and enjoy the serene and peaceful life, to forget about those responsibilities or missions.
But images kept flashing in his mind: the eager face of his father the Emperor, the Royal City of Chu Kingdom engulfed in great flames, and the countless bodies he had seen strewn along his journey.
He wanted to change this situation. Having read so many books, a new ambition had grown within him. He wished to realize the world that the great sages longed for, to change this cold world. And all this required him to leave Peach Blossom Spring and seize that supreme position.
If at the outset he had chosen the immensely challenging path of restoring his country only because of his parents' expectations and his responsibility as Crown Prince of Great Chu, then now he was able to see clearly into his heart. He wanted to do something for the innocent people of this world, to bring an end to this troubled era and usher in peace.
He yearned to change the world, to make the world the sages longed for a reality. His resolve had never been as firm as it was at that moment.
Gazing at a regretful Wang Ling, Lu Xun remained resolute and shook his head, saying, "Everyone has their own aspirations, Wang Ling, do not try to persuade me any further. I am determined to leave."
