"Demon …"
Looking at the group of white foxes sitting around the bonfire reading books like humans in the valley, the only reaction that came to Hong Yi's mind was, "We've really met a demon!"
Although he had read Li Yan's Cottage Notebook, which was filled with stories of fox ghosts, amorous fox girls, and talented scholars, he had also fantasized about meeting them one day. However, who knew that he would really meet one today. His heart suddenly surged with a bone-chilling coldness.
"Aren't I Ye Gong's good dragon? Calm down, calm down. If the fox ghosts are really like what was recorded in the Cottage Notebook, there's nothing to be afraid of. Don't tell me that these foxes want to study and invited me to be their teacher? Foxes also want to study like humans, that's a fantasy … "
Thinking about some of the fox ghost novels that he usually read, Hong Yi's mind calmed down a little.
"Chirp chirp, chirp chirp …"
At this moment, the group of foxes reading around the bonfire had already seen someone. Three young foxes cried out and dropped their books with their front paws. They stretched out their limbs and scurried over like a wisp of smoke. They jumped up and down around the woman in red, cheering and jumping in joy. It was obvious that they were very familiar with this woman in red.
"Xiaosang, Xiaofei, Xiaoshu, stop fooling around. We have guests today. Don't lose your manners. Why are you crawling on the ground with your hands? Can't you change your beastly habits? You're a joke to the guests. "
Another voice came from beside the bonfire.
This voice was stiff, and the accent was very strange, as if there was a fishbone stuck in his throat. However, at least the words were spoken in an orderly manner and could be understood.
Hong Yi was shocked again, because he saw an old fox standing like a human. Its hind legs were on the ground, and its front legs were cupped in a gesture of cupping its hands. It was walking in a crooked manner.
This old fox walking upright gave Hong Yi an illusion. "This fox looks like an old scholar from the village."
"Elder Tu. Xiaosang, Xiaosang, Xiaoshu, and the others are still immature. The young master is a clever person, he shouldn't blame them for being rude. "
The woman in red smiled and turned to look at Hong Yi. "These are your students. What do you think? "
Hong Yi looked at this group of furry little white foxes rolling around on the ground like snowballs. He thought about teaching them to read and write, and a feeling of absurdity welled up in his heart.
"Are you a human or a demon?" Hong Yi looked at the woman in red and asked.
"Don't worry so much. I'm your employer, and I'm hiring you to be my teacher. Ten taels of pure gold per month will do." The red-clothed woman smiled mysteriously.
"Mister's presence in the Secluded Valley today really brings light to our humble dwelling. Mister is a scholar, you should know that even animals have a reasonable heart. In the past, there were fierce tigers and lions who listened to the sages preaching. Consort Yuan didn't have the slightest evil intention in inviting Mister over today. Moreover, our Pure Fox Clan isn't an ordinary beast with undeveloped intelligence. We understand reason and the ways of the world. Scholars were knowledgeable, and they knew that in ancient times, there was no difference between humans and beasts. They ate raw meat and drank blood, and had fur all over their bodies. The people of ancient times were no different from apes and monkeys. Later on, they gradually walked upright, ate cooked food, created words, and became human beings. We, the Pure Fox Clan, have lived in the deep mountains for a long time, but we are just like the people of the ancient times. Mister's surprise has made us rude. "
"Eh?"
Hong Yi widened his eyes and looked at this old fox. The other party's speech was elegant, and his words were filled with facts and reason. He was more scholarly than a scholar. He was really a refined fox.
"How can you speak human language?" Hong Yi asked.
"Humans have human language, and beasts have beast language. Myna, parrots can also speak human language. Humans can also learn bird language, so why can't foxes learn human language? Foxes learn human language, just like how the people of the Da Qian Dynasty learn the language of Yun Meng, Huoluo, and Yuantu. It's just the pronunciation of the language, what's there to be surprised about? "The old fox called Tu Lao answered, and he was still methodical.
"As long as it makes sense, there's nothing to be afraid of. What are the people of the Da Qian Dynasty? This fox seemed to have really entered a reading state, and treated himself as a citizen under the jurisdiction of the Da Qian Dynasty. But his speech is elegant, and his reason is clear, which is worthy of respect. "Hong Yi thought in his heart, and he calmed down.
No matter if it was a fox or a ghost, as long as it made sense, there was nothing to be afraid of.
"Mister is really a magnanimous person." Hong Yi cupped his hands and returned the etiquette of a scholar. The other party used the etiquette of a scholar, but he couldn't lose his etiquette.
"Hahahaha." Hearing Hong Yi said that he was a magnanimous person, this old fox called Tu Lao was so happy that his beard curled up, as if he was so excited that he forgot his manners.
"This lady is called Consort Yuan?" Hong Yi turned to look at the lady in red, and bowed.
He heard Tu Lao's fox call the lady in red as Consort Yuan.
"Consort Yuan Lady must be a fox deity with high cultivation, and can transform into human form."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare." Consort Yuan said with a smile, "Transmogrification is just an illusion, which uses thoughts to confuse the souls of ordinary people. For example, 'Ghost Hits the Wall', it can only confuse the fishermen who are afraid of ghosts and gods. A scholar like Mister Little Mister can't use transmogrification to confuse. I'm not a fox, but a human. "
"Yes, understanding, and one's mind will be clear, and one won't be affected by ghosts and demons. Knowing the ins and outs isn't scary, and if one's mind isn't scary, then one's mind will be stable, and demons won't be able to cause trouble. "Hong Yi nodded.
"Mister Little Mister, do you agree to be their teacher?" Consort Yuan asked.
"Letting animals understand reason is something that only sages do. Even though I don't have the qualifications, but I can reluctantly be a sage. "Hong Yi nodded.
"If that's the case, then it's fine. But I still have to test you. Ten taels of gold a month, that's enough to open a school. I can't pay for nothing. "Consort Yuan stared at Hong Yi.
In that instant, Hong Yi felt that Consort Yuan had a bossy aura.
"Consort Yuan, what do you want to test me on? Poems and songs? Scripture? Or policy? If it's martial arts, then I can't do it, "Hong Yi said seriously.
"Of course I won't test your martial arts. I only have one question for you. "Consort Yuan asked without hesitation," What's the greatest thing in the world? "
Consort Yuan blurted out. Clearly, this question had been bothering her for a long time.
"What's the greatest thing in the world?" Hong Yi thought. "Of course, it's the greatest reason."
"The greatest reason?" Consort Yuan's face revealed a hint of delight, "What a great 'the greatest reason'. Fortunately, I stopped by the Autumn Moon Temple today and heard Mister composing a poem. I knew that Mister isn't an ordinary person. Mister has solved one of my biggest doubts. "
"Mister knows how to compose poems?" Tu Lao was astonished again. His pair of dark green fox eyes were pleasantly surprised, as though he saw a treasure.
"I only compose one or two sentences occasionally." Hong Yi replied modestly. A gust of cold wind blew past, and he suddenly felt a little cold.
"Mister, come sit beside the bonfire." Tu Lao could also see that Hong Yi's body was slightly frail. The night breeze in the secluded valley was very cold, so he immediately invited Hong Yi to the bonfire.
Beside the bonfire, there were many exquisite wooden stools. A group of foxes were sitting and reading books like humans.
Under the firelight, Hong Yi could see that the books in the hands of these foxes weren't the cultivation classics that he imagined. Instead, they were the popular 'Thousand Character Classic', 'Hundred Family Surnames', 'Three Character Classic' and other simple books for children.
"I've read quite a number of notes. The foxes inside are all remarkable powers, proficient in the path of cultivation, and have endless transformations. I wonder if Tu Lao has these remarkable powers? " Hong Yi looked at everything and felt that this group of foxes was very different from the foxes in the notes. Hence, he couldn't help but ask.
"Less than one in ten thousand foxes that can transmogrify. All of them are extremely talented. Us foxes are born no different from ordinary animals. We are muddle-headed. Only a small portion of foxes can understand human nature. They learn to use fire and eat cooked food from humans. Only a small portion of foxes can learn to read and understand the principles. After understanding the principles, they would learn the path of cultivation by chance. Finally, they would cultivate to the point where their Yin spirits are as strong as the ghost immortals of Daoism. Our cultivation is also completely based on the cultivation methods of human cultivators with the Dao. Humans are the favored sons of heaven, and their wisdom is boundless. The mysteries of the body are endless. I used to live near the Daizen Temple in Zhongzhou for a period of time. I saw the monks cultivating and chanting scriptures day and night. Hence, I know a little about the principles of cultivation. Foxes need to understand human nature, understand the principles, and then cultivate. This requires all sorts of opportunities and coincidences. They are far inferior to humans. These little foxes only have simple spirituality now. That's why I asked you to teach them how to read and write. Only when they understand the principles can they cultivate. "
Tu Lao spoke with fervor and composure.
"So what if you don't know the Dao of cultivation? How do you cultivate? "Hong Yi asked.
"The Da Qian Dynasty is good at Dao. The Jade Capital Temple outside the city is the famous Fang Xiandao Sect. The Daoist's cultivation of the spirit and Yin spirit has spread far and wide. The profoundness of it far surpasses our skin, hair, branches, and leaves. Little Mister is a scholar. Why did you settle for the second best? Why didn't you find a Daoist priest to cultivate, but us foxes?" Tu Lao asked curiously.
"Oh? Scholars don't talk about strange powers. I don't know much about these. But since there's a chance today, I'd like to ask. " Hong Yi knew that the Jade Capital Temple outside the city was the biggest Daoist temple. There were many Daoist priests there. Some of them even burned pills in the palace. But these people were disdained by scholars. They thought that they used supernatural things to fool the people.
More importantly, Hong Yi knew that his father, Marquis Wu Wen, was a self-proclaimed Confucian scholar. He hated Buddhism and Daoism. There was once a military war between the imperial court and the Yun Meng Empire. The emperor summoned a Daoist priest to inquire about good or bad luck. But he was immediately persuaded by Marquis Wu Wen. He even reprimanded the Daoist priest in court. "It's ridiculous to pretend to be supernatural and want to control the country and control the divine weapon."
Under such circumstances, Hong Yi couldn't even come into contact with the Daoist priest. Moreover, ordinary Daoist priests would seek connections with the nobles in order to refine pills and burn mercury. With Hong Yi's identity as the son of a concubine, no one would come into contact with him.
"There are many ways to cultivate in the world. But the goal is to transcend life and death. Moreover, there are two main categories. One is to refine the spirit. It's called immortal arts. The other is to refine the body. It's called martial arts. The cultivation of immortal arts is actually to refine one's thoughts. There are many ways, but there are ten realms. Composure, Hatching, Night Wandering, Day Wandering, Driving, Manifestation, Possession, Thunder Tribulation, Yang Spirit. As for the realms of martial arts, I don't know. Consort Yuan is a fist technique master. She can explain it to you. "Tu Lao said.
"Composure is followed by tranquility. Tranquility is followed by tranquility. This is the principle of a scholar. Since it's immortal arts to cultivate the spirit, the first step is to compose one's mind. When reading or writing, the first step is to calm down and retract one's thoughts. Only then can one be fully focused. If one's thoughts are scattered and one's heart is like a monkey. Then one can't do anything well. "
Hong Yi listened to new things. He combined it with the principle of a scholar and tried to figure it out.
"Regarding cultivation, there are as many things as the stars in the sky. It's hard to explain in a short time. There are many books on cultivation in this old man's humble abode. They were all brought out by this old man when the Great Zen Temple was destroyed. Mister can take a look. There are still many things that I don't understand that I need Mister to explain. "
"En? Tu Lao has a collection of books? " Hong Yi was stunned. He looked around and realized that there was a stone cave at the south of the secluded valley. There was a flickering light in the stone cave.
"Of course. The flourishing era emphasizes on the collection of books. Now that our Da Qian Dynasty is in an unprecedented flourishing era, ordinary wealthy families have hundreds and thousands of book collections. Of course we have to learn from them. Actually, half of the reason why I invited you here is to teach these children. The other half is to arrange and organize the books for us. Divide them into categories. When these children grow up, it will be easier for them to read. Otherwise, it will be a mess. What a headache. "
Tu Lao displayed an expression as though he was having a headache.
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