Confucianism under Heaven

Chapter 37 Han Dingsheng

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Han Dingsheng

The moment those two words reached everyone's ears, the entire audience erupted in uproar, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Countless people discussed the matter, and their gazes toward Ye Ru were now tinged with worry.

But at the same time, there was an increased expectation: could this young man wash away the insults inflicted on Qingyun County?

"As expected of a true gentleman, even in a battle of wits, there must be a prize. How about we each contribute something as a prize?"

A sly glint flashed in Xu Ming's eyes as he spoke.

"Very well, may I ask what you wish to request?"

"How about I offer you my celestial chessboard and your calligraphy brush as prizes?"

Xu Ming waved the Tianxing chessboard in his hand and laughed.

"Ye Ru, don't gamble with him. You can't win. If your Book Palace is damaged, it will be impossible to restore it without the help of a half-saint."

Zhang Wenying quickly spoke up.

"Yes, the inchworm bends to stretch; the dragon and snake hibernate to survive. A true man can bend and stretch. Brother, don't gamble with him. If the library is destroyed, your writing brush will be his too."

A scholar also spoke up anxiously.

Seemingly ignoring what those around him were saying, Ye Ru fiddled with the calligraphy brush in his hand and nodded:

"Alright, since we're going to have a battle of wits, my brush and your chessboard are naturally useless. We might as well hand them over to someone else for safekeeping, in case we cheat."

After Ye Ru finished speaking, the two handed the cultural artifacts they had to Zhang Wenying.

"How reckless!"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Wenying's pretty face turned pale with worry. Holding the two precious items, she was filled with anxiety.

"Let the literary contest begin."

The two sides stood far apart. In this battle of wits, they could only use their books to collide with each other and did not need pen, ink, paper, or inkstone to create poems.

boom!

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Ming's book palace appeared behind him, and on the book palace, the character "courage" appeared. Finally, it swelled up against the wind and suppressed Ye Ru.

"Is this the character for 'courage' from a military strategist? Judging from its dimness, it must have reached a point of only having a superficial understanding."

"I don't know how this young man should respond. He's so young; he probably's never read any of the classic texts."

"Having not read the classics of the sages, there are no words to build walls in this young man's book palace. I'm afraid his book palace is going to crumble."

"That's enough..."

Upon seeing the character "勇" (yong, meaning courage/bravery), countless people's expressions changed instantly. They all turned to look at Ye Ru, and sighs rose and fell in waves.

"Hmph, this is the courage of the military strategists. Did you really think my previous arrogance was my true intention? I was merely following the essence of military strategy and pursuing my sacred path. Your library will surely be shattered, and that literary treasure will be mine."

Xu Ming laughed heartily, but before his laughter subsided, Ye Ru's words and the strange changes happening around him caused his expression to suddenly freeze.

"Ignorance breeds fearlessness, which is recklessness. Those who are aware of the difficulties and obstacles ahead yet strive forward are called brave, which is true courage."

As Ye Ru uttered those words, golden light emanated from his mouth, and a book palace appeared, its countless glittering golden characters instantly stunning everyone present...

"Is this... a profound statement in a concise way?"

"Inner sage, outer king..."

"Who said one sentence? It's clearly two sentences, including 'self-improvement'!"

One person exclaimed, but as soon as he finished speaking, the third profound statement appeared in an instant.

"Look, the third sentence is profound in its concise meaning: 'Great virtue carries all things.' There are actually three profound sentences in one concise way!"

"My God, those three sentences are full of profound meaning. Who exactly is he? We have never heard of this person in Qingyun County."

The people of Qingyun County were initially astonished, then gradually turned to shocked, and finally, all their horrified gazes were directed at Ye Ru.

Even the shouts that were stuck in the throats of the many students from Ningfeng County were swallowed back down when they saw those three profound words. Gasps of shock echoed through the silent crowd.

Twelve golden characters lingered beside the book palace before shooting out in a final instant.

Zhang Wenying's pretty face was also filled with horror. She covered her red lips with her jade hand and threw the Tianxing chessboard directly to the ground.

Xu Ming's face also turned deathly pale, then he suddenly gritted his teeth:

"The brave are fearless!"

call out!

The character "勇" (yong, meaning courage/bravery) suddenly swelled up and finally collided with Ye Ru's twelve characters.

boom!

Upon impact, Xu Ming felt a ringing in his ears, as if his mind had been struck by a heavy hammer. In an instant, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.

Dou Shugong defeated Xu Ming in a single move, leaving the entire arena in deathly silence.

"They actually lost..."

Zhang Wenying stared in shock at Ye Ru's slightly thin figure, dressed in a scholar's robe, and murmured.

No wonder the other party dared to easily win this literary contest; it turns out they had their own trump card.

"I'll accept this chessboard as a prize."

Ye Ru chuckled and took the Heavenly Star Chessboard, waving it at Zhang Wenying.

Zhang Wenying then realized what was happening.

"It seems that you Ningfeng County are the real pedants. What a disgrace! You've tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead."

"Yes, hurry up and go back to your Ningfeng County."

Ye Ru's actions completely vented the resentment that had been building up in Qingyun County over the past few days, and a series of mocking laughs rang out towards the people of Ningfeng County.

'Let's go too.'

Surrounded by people, Ye Ru looked around and couldn't help but smile bitterly. He then said to Zhang Wenying...

"As the saying goes, one should be lenient when one can. Brother, this Heavenly Star Chessboard is one of the Xu family's heirlooms. I apologize on behalf of Xu Ming. Please hand over the Heavenly Star Chessboard."

However, at this moment, a clear voice rang out, and a young man dressed in a scholar's robe and holding a folding fan walked over from a distance.

"traitor……"

Zhang Wenying looked at this person, and for some reason, her face immediately turned extremely ugly.

"Oh? So, does that mean you're going to go back on your word and break your promise?"

Ye Ru glanced at him and said.

"Not really. Letting him go is also giving myself a chance. What do you mean by that, brother?"

The young man with the folding fan shook his head.

"Oh, I'm here to wash away the shame of Qingyun County, not to herd horses. I'm sorry, I can't comply."

Ye Ru suddenly raised his head and smiled at the man with a hint of mockery.

"Pfft."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wenying immediately covered her mouth and laughed.

He hadn't expected that Ye Ru, who seemed so serious, would speak so sharply.

"you sure?"

The young man with the folding fan had a somewhat gloomy expression and threatened.

"If you want to take this Celestial Chessboard, then you'll have to offer another prize. I can let you have a match. You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub, but be careful not to lose more than you gain."

Ye Ru smiled slightly and said.

"Alright, once we seize the Book Heart, you will naturally beg us."

The young man with the folding fan suddenly laughed, but there was a sinister glint in his eyes. He then waved his hand, and several people carried Xu Ming away from there.

"Be careful, this person is your opponent this year."

Zhang Wenying clenched her fists and said in a low voice.

"Who is he? Why are you so angry when you see him?"

However, Zhang Wenying's next words made Ye Ru's eyes widen immediately.

"He is Han Dingsheng, the genius student from Wenxing Private School!"