Chapter 26: Just Some Worldly Reasoning

“How can I see it, then?”

Chen Changsheng closed the book and said to Chang Shan, “Some people see it by nature, while others cannot see the words in this book even if they struggle all their lives. If you had to pick, would you fight for those words until the end of your life?”

Chang Shan thought for a moment and said, “That depends on what the book holds.”

“What if it holds the Jade Capital?” Chen Changsheng asked with a smile.

Chang Shan paused. “Sir, do you mean the Path of Immortality?”

“You could see it that way.”

Chang Shan didn’t go deeper. He just thought his teacher was using an example. After careful thought, he said, “Then Chang Shan would rather not read it.”

“Why?” Chen Changsheng asked.

“Time once gone never returns. Betting a whole life on an unknown outcome is clearly not worth it.”

“Not even for a chance at immortality?”

“Not worth it.”

Chang Shan said, “It’s better to live free and at ease.”

Chen Changsheng laughed after hearing this.

Chang Shan was puzzled. “Why are you laughing, sir?”

Chen Changsheng said, “You’re much smarter than your Master.”

Chang Shan spoke bluntly. “Actually, I sometimes think Master isn’t too clever. Some things are hard to explain to him.”

Chen Changsheng said, “Your Master is very stubborn, like when he chose to stay on the mountain.”

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Chang Shan blinked. “But… if I were Master, I might have done the same. Great Master, would you think I’m foolish too?”

“Tell me your reason.”

Chang Shan said, “Chang Shan feels some things must be done by someone. Instead of thinking ‘why me?’ you should think ‘why not me?’ That should be the right path.”

Chen Changsheng’s hand paused as he held the book. He was a bit startled when Chang Shan said this.

Chang Shan saw Chen Changsheng stay silent for a while and called out.

“Sir?”

“Huh.”

Chen Changsheng came back to himself and asked, “Did your Master ever teach you to read and write?”

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Chang Shan said, “He did, but only Taoist Scriptures.”

“Beyond that, how many books have you read?”

Chang Shan shook his head. “None. Besides the Taoist Scriptures, there are no other books in the temple.”

Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but sigh. In this world, books rest in the hands of powerful clans. Ordinary people truly struggle to find any.

To put it plainly, those at the top block the path for others. It’s sad.

Chen Changsheng took a deep breath and asked, “After studying the Taoist Scriptures, you recognize characters. But can you write them?”

Chang Shan said, “I remember some simple ones.”

In truth, he couldn’t. Knowing characters isn’t the same as writing them well. It’s like someone who seldom writes forgets how to form a word. For him, who rarely wrote from the start, it’s tougher.

“Call your siblings over. Today and tomorrow, I will teach you all something.”

Chang Shan asked, “Are you teaching us to write, sir?”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “No, just some worldly reasoning.”

Chang Shan quickly brought the other three over.

Chen Changsheng stood on the steps of the pavilion and looked over his four pupils.

“Your learning began with the Taoist Scriptures. Though they hold lofty ideals, they speak to the Heavenly Dao, not the Human Dao. As humans, you must know worldly truths. Just fending for yourselves is a shame.”

“Today, I will guide you in reason. Understand if you can, or remember it for later thought.”

Chen Changsheng thought a moment, then asked, “Any who don’t wish to listen? You may leave freely, without blame.”

The four shook their heads.

Chen Changsheng nodded. “My rules first: During this session, no chattering, no interrupting.”

The courtyard fell quiet.

Chen Changsheng began. “Reason starts in books but ends outside. Book wisdom is deep, yet not always fits people. Know this world is cruel and hearts are complex. Today’s words flow from my own mind—do not share them.”

“Living here, know good and evil. Both stem from the heart, hard to judge. Some see the ‘right path’ as good. But good, evil, right, wrong—none are clear. Loud words can twist true good into evil, true evil toward good. Don’t just follow the crowd—think clearly.”

Chang Shan looked at Great Master. The teacher’s words felt sharp, yet rang true.

“But if unsure of good and evil, hold doubts. Find the root. Think deeply first. A wise one doesn’t judge others, tending their own path only. That’s guarding yourself. But if put in a spot to choose, still think thrice.”

Chang Shan listened rapt. His siblings looked confused.

They three hadn’t pondered books much, while Chang Shan always thought deeply. When reading Taoist Scriptures, he weighed their meaning. Now, though hard, he grasped the core.

Chen Changsheng just kept speaking.

Shang Lu felt doubts. Parts seemed wrong to him, clashing with Taoist Scriptures ideals he knew.

Great Master showed the world’s dark side—ugly yet real.

In Shang Lu’s mind, good and evil came from fists. For Xuan Shen, it was the word “right.” Zi Su drew her beliefs from her brothers—whatever they called true.

Chen Changsheng poured out all he knew.

He didn’t hope they’d fully grasp it now. Just wish that if trouble came, they’d recall his words.

The sun slid west. The noon glare faded. Wind from the woods cooled the air.

Creek insects chirped with the teacher’s voice. The temple felt deeply calm.

By dusk.

Xuan Huang returned to the mountain with a small bag of beans and a peach.

Entering the temple, he heard sounds from the back.

He placed the beans and peach down first, then walked slowly to the courtyard.

Xuan Huang saw the teacher explaining truths. Not wanting to disturb, he stayed to listen with the four.

“Some rule with book wisdom, blind to people’s pain. Talking is easy—but doing is hard. Act and practice first. Remember: No person is higher than another by knowledge alone.”

“For example: Say a drought leaves a land barren. As an official, you must aid the starving. The court sends grain, but it falls short since many suffer. Now, there’s another choice: Chaff feeds animals, but one grain buys three chaff pounds. Using chaff would draw scorn, yet chaff fills stomachs. You—would you pick grain or chaff?”

“If on that post, focus on duty. Forget others’ noise. Chaff saves more lives. Lives matter most—so choose chaff.”