Chapter 156: Debating the Tao (Part 2)

  Laozi? This Taoist name, Li Er currently does not possess. Under Jiang Xiaoyu's guidance, he has yet to comprehend it.

  Jiang Xiaoyu smiled and said: "The ancient sages, all of them are your sons. You created the Tao Te Ching yourself, so you should be their son. Laozi, this 'son' is not bad."

  Beside him, Zhuangzi's eyes lit up. His real name was not Zhuangzi, but as Jiang Xiaoyu said, he imitated the ancient sages, so he added a "zi" character to his name! If the true scripture of Nanhua could be created intact, then he would have no shame in bearing this "zi" character!

  "Rubbish, how can we possibly stand shoulder to shoulder with the ancient sages?" Lǐ ěr retorted. In his view, the ancient sages taught and transformed the world, taking benevolence and righteousness as their foundation, saving all living things. At least, Lǐ ěr thought that he himself did not have the ability to stand alongside them.

  "A cultivator who doesn't want to become a god is not a good cultivator. If you don't even have such a heart, how can you do things like the ancient sages?" Jiang Xiaoyu smiled lightly.

  He seems to have figured it out, this Li Er no matter what you say, he will always argue back and forth with you, unless you can thoroughly refute him, otherwise he will continue to sing a counterpoint.

  For someone like this, Jiang Xiaoyu has a way to deal with it.

  "I walk my own way, why must I be like the ancients?" Laozi had calmed down and both sides began to debate.

  Zhuangzi couldn't help it, his good friend's old habit had flared up again! Didn't they take the ancient sages as their model and start creating those two classics? Now they're slapping themselves in the face! However, he didn't say much, just quietly listened to the two arguing. No matter how wrong Laozi was, he was still his friend.

  "No matter how the road is, the truth is that truth! The way is right there, and the ultimate destination of any path will eventually be it!" Jiang Xiaoyu responded.

  "The way can be told, but it's not the usual way!" Li Er took out his own article from the Tao Te Ching and began to refute Jiang Xiaoyu.

  "Hehe." Jiang Xiaoyu smiled faintly.

  "You lost!" Li Er said hastily as he saw his opponent hadn't caught on.

  "Since Your Excellency is so wise, may I ask a question to see if you can answer it?" Jiang Xiaoyu changed the subject.

  Li turned his eyes and didn't know what the other person was thinking. On the issue they just debated, it was the other person who lost! At least, that's what he thought. Now they were going to switch topics, and he wanted to thoroughly defeat the other person from a different angle. Then, he made a please gesture.

  "There was once a traveler who had been to many places. One day, he came across two children arguing about something. He curiously went up to ask them what it was all about. It turned out that the two kids were arguing over whether the sun in the morning or at noon was closer to people." Up to this point, Jiang Xiaoyu smiled slightly.

  "Need I say more? Of course it's the midday sun that is closer to people! Is this even a question?" Li Er said without hesitation.

  Jiang Xiaoyu was slightly surprised and then curiously asked: "Why is it that the people who leave are always closest at noon?"

  Li Er laughed and said, "This is such a simple question, do you still need to be puzzled? He straightened up and said, "At noon, the sun is the hottest. The closer it is, the greater the heat will be! Don't you even understand this?"

  Ignoring Li Er's ridicule, Jiang Xiaoyu asked again, "But the sun in the morning is bigger than the one at noon! Far small near big, can this principle be wrong too?"

  Lǐ ěr was suddenly speechless.

  Yes, the sun in the morning is indeed smaller than at noon. Far and near are relative, and for a time he didn't know how to respond. Is it that the sun in the morning is bigger or the sun at noon is bigger? Li Er was momentarily perplexed. Both statements could be argued, each having its own logic, but there can only be one answer. Could it be that both are closer?

  Zhuangzi beside him also fell into deep thought, he felt that Jiang Xiaoyu's question was very profound. Just one question had stumped the two brothers, it was indeed impressive!

  "This old man has two young sons who will soon make you all go crazy!" Jiang Xiaoyu thought to himself with a sly smile.

  As a piece of classical Chinese prose from his language textbook, Jiang Xiaoyu took it out decisively. According to the theories of this world, it's estimated that it would be difficult to crack this question because it involves science. The two words "science" do not exist in this world. Both are wise and want to deceive without using normal methods.

  What is the preparatory work before deceiving others? It's just convincing the other party and making them believe you. After completing this step, you can do whatever you want!

  Li Er had a contemplative look, and in fact he was indeed contemplating! This problem, on the surface, seemed to have no issues, but as you continued to delve deeper, you would find that it was all problematic! Fundamentally, it was difficult to unravel, such a problem gave him a desire to conquer!

  Jiang Xiaoyu picked up the Dao De Jing, and then a brush appeared in his hand. With the brush, he began to write the Dao De Jing. There shouldn't be any problem with that, right? He came here mainly to help the other person complete the scripture. However, this kind of thing requires gradual progress, so he only completed the opening paragraph of the first chapter.

  "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Nameless is the origin of heaven and earth. The Named is the mother of all things. Therefore, always desireless, one observes its wonders; always desiring, one sees its manifestations... Mystery upon mystery, the gate to all wonders!"

  After finishing writing, Jiang Xiaoyu smiled lightly and put away his pen. The two were still deep in thought and didn't notice Jiang Xiaoyu's actions. This question really made them feel interesting, and two consciousness emerged in their minds, constantly starting to debate.

  After a while, Li Er let out a sigh, and he still couldn't find the correct answer. He looked at Jiang Xiaoyu, cupped his hands, and his tone was somewhat stiff, but it had eased up a lot, "Please, sir, can you help me figure out why?"

  Jiang Xiaoyu smiled and said, "This question requires you to discover it yourself, to explore it. That's what makes it interesting. If I were to say it all at once, wouldn't that be too boring? Today, I've already sat here for a long time, so I won't disturb you any further. I'll take my leave and return to the mountain gate first. Another day, when I have more time, I'll come back and continue exploring with both of you."

  As soon as Jiang Xiaoyu was about to leave, Zhuangzi came back to his senses and cupped his hands: "Senior's wisdom has convinced me, this question is indeed very interesting. I will definitely think carefully and try to figure out the answer before you come next time."

  "This is goodbye, no need to see me off." Jiang Xiaoyu smiled twice, then left.

  After Xiao Yu Jiang left, after about an incense stick's worth of time, Li Er seemed to have thought of something and suddenly realized: "I almost got cheated by this guy! We came to find him to make up for the missing scripture, but he left us with a question instead, isn't that ridiculous!"

  Zhuangzi was speechless, and could only say: "It's you who are arguing with others, you should know that they have already started to prepare a supplement to your Taoist scriptures. Who let you interrupt? However, leaving behind such a question is also of great value."

  "What's the point of this? It's just a dead-end question with no answer!" Li Er was unconvinced, and his temper flared up again.

  "When can you change your temper? Maybe then I'll be able to cut another path!" Zhuangzi sighed.

  The next morning, Li Er of the Taoist sect gathered his disciples and spread the question down, declaring that if someone could answer this question, he would be accepted as a personal disciple! For a time, the disciples of the Taoist sect became excited, one by one began to think about the problem, constantly putting forward their own views. However, no one's answer was completely satisfactory, and they were all similar but with minor differences.

  On the third day, Lǐ ěr left the Taoist temple and went to the Buddhist sect to find Sakyamuni. The other party was also a wise man, so he told him about this problem. As a result, Sakyamuni furrowed his brow, and for three days and three nights, he didn't relax! In the end, he fell asleep on the ground!

  Five days later, Li Er returned to the Taoist temple with a mix of emotions. He was able to solve the problem that had stumped Shakyamuni - this was indeed the first time something like this had happened! The master of Fangcun Mountain was truly extraordinary!

  Zhuangzi is currently feeding fish in the pond, he likes to do such leisurely things, closer to the Tao and the law, can feel the heaven and earth. The realm of unity between heaven and man is getting deeper and deeper, soon he will be able to enter the realm of cutting the Tao. At that time, there will be two Cutting Tao-level cultivators in the Taoist sect, it's likely to become the fourth great sacred place in the world!

  When he heard that Sakyamuni was overwhelmed by this question, Zhuangzi was overjoyed. He didn't agree with Sakyamuni's theory and the two were rivals. Upon hearing about his rival's defeat, he was naturally overjoyed. At the same time, he looked up to Jiang Xiaoyu even more, regarding him as an idol! It is worth noting that Sakyamuni was best at debating, but in the end, he indirectly lost to Jiang Xiaoyu in his strongest area!

  It has been ten days since Jiang Xiaoyu left the Taoist temple. At least in these ten days, the Taoist temple did not slack off. They have been facing this problem every day and do not know how to solve it.

  In the midst of Fangcun Mountain.

  Everyone burst out laughing, and Murong Yue laughed and said: "Master's question is really formidable! I've heard that those Taoist guys are so obsessed with this problem that they forget to sleep and eat!"

  "I also heard the news, and it's said that Sakyamuni collapsed directly onto the ground because of this problem!" Fang Hen said.

  "But Master, what is the answer to this question after all?" The crowd was puzzled.

  Looking at their eager expressions, Jiang Xiaoyu cleared his throat and said seriously: "This question is easy to answer... hmm, I'll tell you another day."

  "... ※￥！" The crowd was speechless.

  "Hao Tian, Fang Hen, Ling Tong, Murong Yue, Qin Feng, you five get ready. Tomorrow I'll take you to the Dao Gate for a visit." Jiang Xiao Yu said with a smile.

  Then the eyes of the five people lit up at once.

  "Don't make any rash moves at the mountain gate, guard it well, I'll be back soon!" Jiang Xiaoyu's face changed, leaving behind these words before disappearing into Fangcun Mountain.

  I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I keep feeling a familiar aura, as if someone is spying on Fangcun Mountain!

  ——

  Thanks for the reward from book friend "Ling Yu's How Much I Love You"! RS