Zhao Rong pulled Qingjun behind him and faced Tao Yuanran.

The familiar old man wearing a Nanhua scarf in the pavilion, what he just said to Qingjun, was not meant for him.

Qingjun and the others just turned their backs to Zhao Rong and listened carefully.

He was not found for a while.

But Tao Yuanran was facing the direction of Zhao Rong.

Although Zhao Rong stood a little far away.

But as he gradually heard Tao Yuanran say some deliberately harsh words similar to "A person of courtesy is the leader of chaos".

Zhao Rong was already convinced that Tao Yuanran had seen him.

However, Zhao Rong still listened silently for a while.

Because he wanted to know to what stage Taoism in this world had developed.

The center of the contention of a hundred schools of thought, Jixia Academy, what is the current mainstream theory of Taoism?

Regarding this point, because Wangquezhou is far away, the information is not sensitive.

However, Zhao Rong soon gradually figured out the situation, especially when Tao Yuanran's remarks about "saints and thieves" came out.

As for the criticism of Confucian scholars that the old man in the pavilion said before, if it was said to him, then it seems that there is another purpose...

In the open space outside the pavilion, Zhao Rong suddenly saluted and said with a smile: "I'm Zhao Ziyu."

Tao Yuanran also smiled and stood up. Just like that day half a year ago, he performed the solemn ancient ceremony of Jixia Academy towards the young Confucian scholar in front of him.

"I'm Tao Yuanran."

Just the next second, Zhao Rong seemed to be smiling but not smiling, "Fellow Taoist Tao just said that 'rituals' are the source of trouble, why are you now practicing such simple etiquette in a strict manner? Aren't you also being restrained?"

Tao Yuanran's expression was calm.

"Young Daoist Zhao, you really don't know? This ritual is a dispensable ancient ritual when meeting recognized Taoist friends in Jixia Academy."

"When I perform rituals, I do it as I please, without any restraint, and follow nature. But your Confucianism forces everyone in the world to perform rituals according to the rules no matter when and where they are. This is imposed on everyone in the world. Of course I don't

agree."

Zhao Rong nodded, "Fellow Tao Tao is still as charming and eloquent as ever, with sharp words."

Tao Yuanran: "It's the same with my little fellow Taoist, he's still so energetic."

Zhao Rong waved his hand and said instead:

"I don't dare to take it seriously. It's just that there is something inappropriate in what Tao Tao Tao and my wife just said."

"In that debate about 'action and non-action', because I held the view of inaction, I did say what fellow Taoist just recited about inaction and non-action."

He paused, closed his eyes slightly and said:

"But Zhao didn't say a word about the so-called relationship between saints and thieves later. The subsequent remarks were all made by fellow Taoist Taoist Taoist. Well, it's better to make this point clear so as not to cause misunderstanding."

Zhao Rong looked at the students in the surrounding open space and emphasized.

He is now a Confucian scholar at Linlu Academy. Regarding the matter of "Dao Zheng", regardless of his specific views, he must at least have a clear attitude and not crooked hips.

Zhao Rong didn't know whether Tao Yuanran was doing this intentionally or not, but he was currently offending a certain old-fashioned woman who had gone through menopause and was still unmarried.

You need to be cautious in your words and deeds to avoid rumors. Three people can make a tiger.

Tao Yuanran looked calm and nodded.

"Fellow Tao Tao, I said goodbye to Zhongnan. I didn't expect to see each other so soon."

Tao Yuanran nodded and said: "My little Taoist friend is currently studying at Linlu Academy? Who is he studying under?"

Zhao Rong replied casually: "I am still studying in Mochi Academy and have not yet entered the school of the gentlemen of the academy."

Tao Yuanran smiled and stroked his beard without saying a word.

Zhao Rong didn't think much about it, and handed over his hand, "Your Excellency is still teaching, so I have taken the liberty to interrupt you and take my leave."

He turned to Qingjun and Qian'er and said, "Sit down first. If you have any questions, we can discuss them in private later. I'll wait for you outside."

Zhao Rong patted his sleeves, smiled at the surrounding students, and was about to leave.

When Tao Yuanran saw this, he raised his eyebrows and raised his hand to persuade him.

"Fellow Taoist, please stay. I'm not in a hurry for this class in Xiaoyao Mansion. I can just take it another day. You...you just said, 'Pu Nan has returned'? But what's your advice?"

Zhao Rong waved his hand, "I don't have any high opinions. I just said it casually. Don't take it to heart. Master, you are here to teach and resolve doubts. You continue, all the students are still waiting."

Tao Yuanran did not look at the students in the open space.

The beads on the old man's hand stopped and he shook his head:

"In today's class, everything that needs to be said has been covered. Next, they can go back and think about it themselves."

"By the way, fellow Taoist Zhao seems to have some different views on 'saints and thieves'. I wonder if you can give me some advice? How about we have a chat again. Last time I was concerned about my ancestor's affairs, and the conversation with fellow daoist Zhao was not very enjoyable."

Students: "…………"

Liu Kongyi bit his silver teeth lightly, looking at Zhao Rong who was repeatedly persuaded by Mr. Tao to stay, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

At a certain moment, I seemed to feel the dangerous gaze of a certain little girl.

She turned to Zhao Qian'er and smiled sweetly.

Zhao Qian'er squinted her eyes and suddenly glanced at the young lady next to her. She saw that Zhao Lingfei did not look at Liu Kongyi, but looked at Brother Rong'er's back with gentle eyes.

The little girl's expression suddenly dropped, her eyes calmly moved away, no longer looking at Liu Kongyi.

The latter nodded slightly and looked away as if nothing had happened.

No one saw the momentary confrontation between the two women.

At this moment, Zhao Rong felt that every second of hesitation between his wife and Qingtan was one more proof of his intellectual disability.

He said without thinking:

"Saints and thieves are wise men like you. The great monks think about things that I have little talent and knowledge, and I dare not comment on them."

Zhao Rong immediately frowned and said again:

"On the contrary, when I first met Tao Tao, I thought he was a Taoist hermit who was aloof from the world and wanted to cleanse himself. He practiced the noble sect's purity and inaction."

"But now it seems that as the Taoist master of the four palaces of the Taiqing Dynasty, your Excellency actively promotes your sect's ideas, isn't he also doing something 'promising'?"

The old man in the pavilion was silent for a while, looking thoughtful.

"It made my little Taoist friends laugh. In fact, in the past, except for representing the Louguan Taoist sect and arguing at Jixia Academy, I rarely 'speak' or argue with others."

"Even when I was young and the most glorious moment of becoming a gentleman, I was calm and composed."

"Over the years, in the face of this strife in the world and the ever-changing general situation on the mountain, I have been silent most of the time. When I saw fellow disciples or fellow Taoists around me joining the world, I also laughed at them for spending their time in the wrong way."

"However, as I get older and my hair and beard become grayer, even though I have been living a leisurely life as an outsider, my shoulders feel a little heavier."

"Think about it, and ask yourself, although I have been free and easy for most of my life, but... there are still too many people in the world who are uncomfortable, confused, stupid, or misled, and are trapped in this quagmire of the world."

"It seems that I am not morally qualified enough to be able to distinguish between internal and external matters, argue between honor and disgrace, and achieve the state of being selfless, useless and nameless like the sages and predecessors of my sect."

At this time, Tao Yuanran turned his head and looked around.

The old man's eyes swept over the faces of the students sitting cross-legged in the open space one by one, and finally landed on Zhao Rong's face, which was listening intently.

"After being silent for most of my life, after thinking about it, I still have to say something to the world, especially to you young people, because it is you young people who determine the future trend of Xuanhuang Cultivation World and the good of the world.

bad."

"The seniors in the Taoist sect don't care and hide from the world alone, but I have become concerned and don't want to be silent anymore. I have the responsibility to show the way to you young juniors."

Tao Yuanran lowered his head, patted his sleeves, and said in a calm voice, "This is the burden on my shoulders. You cannot be misled by the erroneous doctrines of other scholars, especially Confucianists who have made many mistakes!"

The old man slowly raised his head and looked at everyone:

"When I come out this time, I don't want to be a tinker like a Confucian scholar, mending the world, setting rules for you, and not doing these futile things. I just don't want to be silent anymore, so I accepted this post.

Regarding the position of Taoist Master of the Qing Dynasty, I will tell you carefully what I have kept in my heart over the years."

Tao Yuanran looked directly at Zhao Rong.

When Zhao Rong heard this, he was in awe.

Although Tao Yuanran has always denounced Confucianism for "doing something", he couldn't help but stand up and "do something" himself.

Although the reason given by the old man was that as a senior, he taught the young people like them the Taoist thoughts so that they would not be "cheated" by other schools of thought.

And the old man himself felt the same way.

However, the final result is that... he still joins the world and deviates from the Taoism of having no desires and desires, and being free and happy.

Tao Yuanran tried his best to give a reasonable explanation for the responsibility on his shoulders without violating his understanding of the truth in his heart.

Even if he is not as promising as a Confucian scholar like Lin Wenruo, he is still another kind of "promising".

One Confucianism, one Taoism.

The avenues are different, even tit for tat.
To be continued...