Asked About The World Of Mortals

Chapter 29: Debating in Court

"I am Donghua Zi," Donghua Zi said calmly without getting angry. "The Great Dao is boundless. Although I have studied Dao for a hundred years, it is not wrong to say that I am still a beginner. I wonder how many years you have studied, young friend?"

"So, you are the national teacher... I have heard of you for a long time," Qin Yi tilted his head and said with a "I have heard of you" expression on his face.

This expression was more piercing than any words. Donghua Zi finally felt some anger and asked, "What do you have to teach me?"

Qin Yi sneered and said, "Ranking by teeth is a lowly practice. Among the countless martial artists in the world, how many are capable of being a match for the Prince Qinglin despite their age? It shows that studying for a long time does not necessarily mean one will gain more knowledge. My master also follows the Dao. Do you know when he was born?"

These words stunned many people, even Liu Su, who was prepared to debate with Qin Yi, was silent after hearing the last sentence.

"Young people are full of arrogance. They think they are knowledgeable after reading a few books," Donghua Zi said slowly. "In our country, the superior is above, and the superior above and the inferior below form the hexagram 'Kui.' The young man is ignorant and says 'inferior above and superior below'... Fortunately, the king is magnanimous and does not take offense. Please refrain from being so impulsive in the future."

Qin Yi secretly thought that this guy was a seasoned player in the political arena. How is this a debate on Dao? Liu Su was also speechless. He was not good at debating such things, but Qin Yi could come up with a few remarks himself. He pretended to be surprised and said, "Isn't marriage a matter between a man and a woman? So, the preferred position for the Daoist is the woman on top. I was young and ignorant. Thank you for enlightening me..."

Li Qinglin couldn't help but burst into laughter. Seeing everyone's gaze on him, he coughed twice and said, "Qin Yi, you are young and inexperienced. It's not uncommon for someone to have preferences. This is a state banquet, so let's not discuss the national teacher's personal matters."

It's still a state banquet, are you doing this on purpose? The solemn atmosphere of the debate became strange. Many people struggled to hold back their laughter and stole glances at Donghua Zi's expression.

Donghua Zi didn't show much expression and calmly said, "How can we discuss matters of the alliance between two countries in terms of personal relationships? The young man is ignorant, so please choose your words carefully. Please have a seat."

Qin Yi secretly admired him.

In fact, the interpretations of hexagrams like this are often ambiguous, and there can be different valid explanations. This gives charlatans in the martial world a lot of room to deceive. Just like the current "Kui" and "Ge," it doesn't matter if it is classified as "Kui," Liu Su has plenty of reasons to teach Qin Yi to interpret it as an ominous hexagram. Similarly, Donghua Zi can interpret "Ge" as an auspicious hexagram. But this would go on endlessly. Donghua Zi chose not to argue about this and directly brought up politics, using his seniority to end the discussion, leaving the king to think for himself.

The so-called debate is often not about defeating the opponent, but about speaking to the onlookers. Which side would the king prefer to listen to? It's obvious.

Qin Yi was desperately looking for a countermeasure, but Li Qingjun couldn't hold back anymore and angrily said, "If I were to marry that savage, I would chop off his dog head that very night. That would be the alliance between our two countries!"

The king's expression darkened. "Zhao Yang, be careful with your words."

Li Qingjun straightened her neck, about to say something, but Qin Yi pulled her sleeve and smiled slightly, "I have learned my lesson. I used to think that cultivating the Dao meant detachment from the world and achieving immortality. I didn't expect that one should also consider the alliance between nations. The national teacher has taught me a lesson, and I am unworthy of the title of national teacher."

The king's expression twitched slightly.

Donghua Zi's eyes also narrowed.

Those who understood couldn't help but think that this young man was impressive.

What does the king want? Immortality through the Immortal Transformation!

This young man directly pointed to the most important thing in the king's heart. What should a cultivator be thinking about? What is more important than the alliance between two countries? Coupled with Li Qingjun's desperate appearance, it was obvious that even the alliance between the two countries was unreliable. It was difficult to say how the king would consider their interpretations now.

Donghua Zi responded slowly, "The Great Dao encompasses three thousand paths. This mortal world is full of various human conditions, and there is Dao in every aspect. Young friend, you are biased."

"Um... I am without manners. I have learned from you." Qin Yi did not argue further, as there was no need to. He bowed and gestured for Li Qingjun to take a seat.

Donghua Zi also returned the gesture gracefully, indicating that the matter was concluded.

But anyone could tell that this young man would have a difficult time in the future... Looking at Qin Yi, they saw him smiling faintly, completely unconcerned.

The king nodded secretly, thinking that this young man indeed had an extraordinary air about him. He wondered where his daughter had found him.

Li Qingjun also understood the meaning behind the few words exchanged. She sat down in her seat, happily patting Qin Yi's shoulder, indicating that he had some skills.

This intimate attitude was seen differently by everyone.

Mang Zhan, who had been silent all along, finally spoke: "I have come here with the hope of peace between our countries, to turn a hundred years of conflict into friendship. We were once enemies, and to form an alliance, we naturally need a bond to open the way. Unfortunately, I have no sisters. Otherwise, marrying Brother Qinglin would also be a good story."

His words subtly mocked Nanli for not understanding the bigger picture, and there was a hint of a threat.

Li Qinglin sneered, "Even if you had sisters to offer me, it wouldn't affect my perception of the Western Wilderness. To rely on women to maintain the alliance between our countries, when did Mang Zhan become so naive?"

Mang Zhan sighed, "Seeing Princess Zhaoyang today feels like a spear piercing my heart. No matter what Brother Li thinks, if I can have Princess Zhaoyang, I will never enter Nanli in this lifetime."

Li Qingjun became furious and jumped up, brandishing her spear, "I will kill you! Even if I do, you will never enter Nanli!"

"Zhaoyang, what's the matter?" The king waved his hand, signaling them to stop.

In fact, from a national perspective, a marriage alliance between the two countries would indeed be a good thing. Although Nanli was martial, compared to the relatively barbaric Western Wilderness, the people of Nanli had been engaged in agriculture and civilization for a long time, and they were not aggressive. Most of the hundred years of warfare between the two countries was Nanli defending itself. If they could truly form a marriage alliance, it was likely that both the court and the people would think it was a good idea for Li Qingjun to marry over.

The problem was Li Qingjun herself, who was extremely resistant. According to her, if she were to marry over, it would only lead to her husband's head being chopped off, triggering a full-scale war between the two countries. Unless Nanli willingly degraded itself and abandoned its princess, sending her to the enemy country, as Li Qinglin said, Nanli's face would be completely lost. However, this kind of degradation might not necessarily bring about peace; it might even further provoke the other side's aggression.

The king himself was inclined to marry his daughter to Mang Zhan, but the prerequisite was that his daughter had to agree. The key point was...

His gaze fell on Qin Yi, who was gently pulling Li Qingjun's sleeve, gesturing for her to sit down. Li Qingjun obediently sat down, as if she listened to him.

Perhaps the key point lay here—his daughter already had someone she loved.

Originally, it didn't matter if a commoner was molded and shaped, but this young man seemed to be a cultivator, and he seemed to have some knowledge... The king, who was fascinated by this path, decided to get to know him a bit more before making a decision. He did not respond to Mang Zhan's topic, only saying, "Today is just a welcoming banquet. We can discuss state affairs later."

With the king's decision, Mang Zhan had no choice but to stop pursuing the matter at this occasion. The conversation in the hall quickly turned to more trivial matters.

Li Qinglin let out a sigh of relief.

It was good that no decision was made on the spot. It was indeed the right decision to call Qin Yi over.

As for the next step... he stared at Mang Zhan, then glanced at Donghua Zi, catching the eye contact between the two.

Li Qinglin thought for a moment, sipped his wine, and without turning his head, whispered, "Brother Qin, let's have a good talk after the banquet, back at the residence."

(End of this chapter)