Looking at the words on the table, a thought emerged in Zhang Chen’s mind that there was a traitor beside Zhou Qiucheng, and the traitor was someone very close to Zhou Qiucheng.
It’s known that just being able to interact with Zhou Qiucheng daily isn’t enough to do such a thing; there must also be time to transcribe the words seen.
Moreover, Zhang Chen had seen the words in that collection before, so he already knew who betrayed Zhou Qiucheng.
Seeing Zhang Chen notice the collection on the table, Chen Sanliang didn’t hide it but instead smiled and said, "This was sent by someone from within your Chongzheng Academy, and it records Zhou Qiucheng’s latest understandings of the Great Dao."
"As Confucian cultivators, we cultivate ourselves, manage our families, govern our states, and bring peace to the world. Zhou Qiucheng couldn’t even handle the people around him, which disappoints me," said Chen Sanliang.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen didn’t know how to argue back; it seemed that Chen Sanliang’s words made a lot of sense. If Zhou Qiucheng couldn’t even manage matters at home, wouldn’t he be put to shame?
However, Zhang Chen also knew that Jiang Nan was skilled at enduring patiently. Not even Zhou Qiucheng, or even if Chen Sanliang kept Jiang Nan by his side, she would still cause trouble.
"Who was the person who sent the book?" Zhang Chen asked while pouring Chen Sanliang a full cup of tea.
Chen Sanliang didn’t hide it and said, "A young man who has mastered the Law of Speed."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen already knew the other person’s identity: Shen Qiu.
Shen Qiu admired Jiang Nan, and with Zhou Zhen fleeing from marriage, making Jiang Nan the laughingstock of the world, Zhang Chen felt Jiang Nan had ample reason to seek revenge on Zhou Qiucheng.
Shen Qiu was Jiang Nan’s sycophant; if Jiang Nan instructed Shen Qiu to do this, Shen Qiu had no reason to refuse.
"Zhou Qiucheng is not a simple character; these materials cannot be fully trusted. What if he deliberately uses a scheme to mislead you into his trap?" Zhang Chen reminded Chen Sanliang.
The reason he reminded Chen Sanliang was also out of fear of him falling into a trap.
"Ha ha, you’re underestimating me. It’s just Zhou Qiucheng; how could I take him seriously? Is he worth me pre-studying his knowledge to target him?" Chen Sanliang’s eyes showed a trace of disdain as he casually covered the booklet. "I’m just watching the joke."
Chen Sanliang’s voice was filled with absolute confidence, the confidence built from his journey from the Northern Land to Jiangnan, debating the world.
After pouring the tea, Zhang Chen chatted with Chen Sanliang for quite a while. Later, Chen Sanliang arranged a banquet, leaving Zhang Chen with no choice but to eat with him. After three rounds of wine, sudden rapid footsteps sounded from outside: "Sir, someone has submitted a challenge post at the door and wants to come in and debate with you."
"Who submitted the challenge post?" Chen Sanliang looked puzzled.
How could anyone dare come looking to debate with himself knowing his name was feared worldwide? It’s like lighting a lantern in a toilet—looking for death, isn’t it?
"Here is the challenge post." The guard handed over the post.
"Chen Zilu from Yunlu Academy, I have heard of his name. He is considered a Great Scholar in the Confucian Forest. Yet he chooses now to debate with me?" Chen Sanliang took the challenge post, looked at it for a long while, then slowly closed it before saying, "This person is a famous figure; since he has come to challenge, I must respond. Otherwise, people might think I fear him. Lead him into the courtyard; I will go debate with him."
Chen Sanliang, after speaking, looked at Zhang Chen: "Eat by yourself, after eating, go home on your own, but don’t show your face here, to avoid being ostracized by the Human Race."
Chen Sanliang put down his chopsticks, finished washing up, and headed to the front yard.
Zhang Chen, hearing this, put down his chopsticks, pondered briefly, then quietly followed behind Zhou Qiucheng.
The front yard had torches lit, illuminating the entire courtyard brightly. But when Zhang Chen arrived at the front yard and hid in the shadow behind a rockery, he was stunned to see hundreds of scholars gathered.
Zhou Qiucheng walked with dragon form strides to the front, looked at the hundreds of scholars, and shouted, "Who is Chen Zilu from Yunlu Academy?"
"It is I. Are you the Human Race traitor Zhou Qiucheng?" A sixty-year-old elder slowly walked out from the crowd to confront Chen Sanliang.
"Being called a Human Race traitor is unfounded. The Hundred Races of Heaven and Earth are one family; the Human Race and Human-Demon Race originally shared the same source. I’m merely returning to my roots. If I start an education in the Human-Demon Race now, what difference will there be between the Human-Demon Race and the Human Race in a few hundred years?" Chen Sanliang argued.
Upon this remark, Zhang Chen, hiding in the corner, had his pupil contract in shock at Chen Sanliang’s grand vision. He finally understood Chen Sanliang’s current actions: joining the Demon Race and aiding in their conquest of the Human Race was not the end goal; the main aim was to reshape the Human Race.
"Nonsense! The Human Race is the Human Race; the Human-Demon Race is the Human-Demon Race. Though the skin may be similar, the insides are entirely different. You, a Human Race traitor, constantly find excuses for yourself. I cannot tolerate your hypocritical existence. Today, I will debate with you to dispel your arrogance," Chen Zilu pointed at Chen Sanliang’s nose, cursing, "Miscreant, dare you debate with me?"
"What’s there to fear? Go ahead!" Chen Sanliang gestured for Chen Zilu to continue.
Chen Zilu let out a cold smile upon hearing this, "Chen Sanliang, you claim your Universal Education is the only true path to teaching all beings under Heaven. I have a question for you: does your Universal Education distinguish between good and evil in its chosen targets?"
Within the shadow of the fake mountain, Zhang Chen was taken aback by Chen Zilu’s words, "This Chen Zilu comes with malicious intent! This question is fraught with traps."
If Chen Sanliang said Universal Education differentiates between good and evil, could it still be considered true Universal Education? If he said it doesn’t differentiate, then evildoers going unpunished, bringing boundless karmic force, wouldn’t they harm all beings?
"I wonder how Chen Sanliang will answer. This question is a trap; if he follows Chen Zilu’s line of thought to answer, no matter an ’affirmative’ or ’negative,’ he’ll step into the carefully laid trap." Zhang Chen pondered silently.
Yet who is Chen Sanliang? He has debated hundreds of times, from the Northern Land all the way to Jiangnan, truly a veteran of countless battles, facing numerous dangers. The crises Zhang Chen might perceive are surely not beyond Chen Sanliang’s grasp.
Faced with Chen Zilu’s questioning, Chen Sanliang merely smiled faintly in response, "My Dao is just a tool, humans can learn it, demons can learn it. As for good and evil, that’s one’s nature, with its own repercussions, what’s that got to do with me? I merely provide them a tool, like a vendor selling cleavers. Be it used for murder or cooking, once the transaction is done, what’s that to me?"
Chen Sanliang’s voice was filled with a light breeze, entirely at peace with himself. He simply spreads and sells his ’tool.’ How others utilize it is not his concern.
Then Chen Sanliang shifted the topic, "On the contrary, I heard your doctrine revolves around Dao of ’Ren Ai’ or benevolence. I have a doubt I’d like to consult you on..."
Zhang Chen stood in the shadow of the fake mountain, observing the fierce intellectual exchange between Chen Sanliang and Chen Zilu, and couldn’t help but take a deep breath, "Chen Sanliang’s prowess in the Dao is indeed unmatched."
In merely half a moment, Chen Zilu’s face flushed, his body trembled, sweat streamed down, soaking his garments. Sweat trickled down from his hairstyle to his ears, suddenly at one point he bled from his orifices, his body softening directly onto the ground.
Zhang Chen observed clearly, Chen Zilu’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit dispersed, the entire person was rendered useless, his life cultivation within Confucianism washed away.
"Chen Sanliang has dissected the opponent’s Dao to shreds, his Dao heart has collapsed." Zhang Chen was secretly taken aback.
"Mr. Chen!"
Chen Zilu’s disciples rushed forward and embraced the collapsing Chen Zilu, their voices saturated with grief, calling out softly.
"Everyone, the debate is over, please return whence you came." Chen Sanliang showed no concern for the fainted Chen Zilu, his voice filled with indifference, as if nothing transpired.
"Hold!"
Just as Chen Sanliang was about to turn and leave, a white-haired elder stepped out from the crowd.
"You are?" Chen Sanliang looked at the newcomer, confused, asking.
The elder stroked his beard, his voice cold, "Yueyang Academy, Zhao Shun!"
"Why did you stop me?" Chen Sanliang inquired.
"I want to debate the Dao with you!" Zhao Shun’s voice was resolute.
Upon hearing, Chen Sanliang sized Zhao Shun up for a moment, then sighed softly, "You’ve lived to this point, why bother making a spectacle of yourself? If you fail the debate, your lifelong reputation will be ruined, wouldn’t that be regretful?"
Zhao Shun coldly chuckled upon hearing this, "Who wins and who loses is yet to be determined. I’ve studied your teachings for three years, and I’ve already identified the flaws in your doctrine; with determined calculation against unpreparedness, I don’t believe I’m lesser than you."
Chen Sanliang ceased further talk, merely said, "Since you’re adamant about seeking ruin, I’ll oblige. Many have tried to step above me, but all have fallen before me."
Chen Sanliang then engaged in debate with Zhao Shun, a half-hour later, Zhao Shun’s body shook, drenched in sweat, blood seeped from his orifices, Essence, Qi, and Spirit collapsed, leaving his lifetime of study worthless under Chen Sanliang’s critique. Zhao Shun suffered a significant blow, his Dao heart completely shattered.
"Chen Sanliang, I’m also dissatisfied with you; I demand a Dao debate!" Another person emerged, with a look of resolve and glared at Chen Sanliang.
"Who are you?" Chen Sanliang asked about the other’s background.
"Teacher of Ruyi Academy — Zou Liu!" The newcomer spoke with an unruffled demeanor, donned in black, appearing to be in his forties, hair meticulously groomed.
"I’ve heard of your name; you too wish to challenge me?" Chen Sanliang looked at the newcomer, a hint of regret in his eyes, "I see potential in you and do not wish to ruin you, consider your decision carefully."
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