Chapter 60: The Future of Confucian Orthodoxy

"...Xu Xian learned of Bai Suzhen's true identity, yet his affection remained unchanged. He was willing to defy the laws of heaven, to live among humans as a demon's consort, and to hold her hand for a lifetime. Unexpectedly, the Daoist Qingjian, fueled by resentment and jealous of the harmony between Xu and Bai, acted under the instigation of the prefect Mu Mao. Using his supernatural powers, he erected the White Deer Pavilion by West Lake, imprisoning Bai Suzhen beneath it for twenty years, hidden from the light of day. He left a prophecy: 'Only when the waters of West Lake run dry and the White Deer Pavilion collapses, shall Bai Suzhen reappear in the world...'"

"Huh?"

Exclamations erupted throughout the hall. Zhou Qiqiao and the others, having followed Bai Suzhen's journey from the beginning, were completely immersed in the lives of her and Xu Xian. They had expected that after enduring all hardships, the couple would finally be together, never imagining that the Daoist Qingjian would be so cruel and heartless. Filled with righteous indignation, they wished they could tear the Daoist limb from limb.

Xu You watched them, a faint smile on his lips. The Celestial Master Dao held immense power in the Three Wus, and the common folk were, to varying degrees, believers. Even those who were not dared not show the slightest disrespect to these "immortals" who could seemingly command the wind and rain. Yet, at this very moment, the eighteen people in the room had cast all fear of Daoist authority to the wind.

Subtle influence is the most terrifying form of brainwashing in this world. Though Xu You had never worked in pyramid schemes, he knew how instantaneously effective such methods could be on the masses.

*Creak.*

The door pushed open, and Wan Qi slipped in. It was a cold day, yet beads of sweat were visible on her forehead—she must have traveled in great haste. With his keen eyes, Xu You immediately spotted a few specks of blood on the hem of her skirt. Recalling that he hadn't seen her since Zhan Wenjun returned the previous night, she had clearly been sent on an important mission and had only just returned to Mingyu Mountain.

Wan Qi stood silently in the shadows behind the same pillar as before. Not wanting to keep the others in suspense—and perhaps to let the newly arrived Wan Qi satisfy her curiosity—Xu You continued, "After twenty years of wasted time, Xu Xian, unable to bear the torture of his inner demons, succumbed to Qingjian's coercion and became a Daoist monk. Day and night, he sat in meditation and chanted sutras, praying for the safety of his wife, who suffered in the underground palace of the White Cloud Pavilion..."

Having finished this passage, Xu You took a breath and announced a break. He asked Zhou Qiqiao to help him check the others' notes, then walked over to Wan Qi, smiling. "There are several parts of the story you missed by arriving late. You can ask Qiao for them later to fill in the gaps; otherwise, the narrative won't flow, and you might miss its deeper meaning."

"Thank you, sir!"

Xu You nodded. As he turned to leave, he glanced back and added, "When you go out on errands, take care of yourself."

Wan Qi paused. Following Xu You's gaze, she noticed the blood on her hem. Her usually calm face flushed crimson, like a maple leaf dyed by the sunset, revealing a rare, infinite charm and shyness.

"Th-thank you, sir!"

Her voice was as faint as the chirping of an insect. Xu You, not expecting such a strong reaction, dared not say more. "There is one thing I must trouble you with. It seems Bai Hua got into some trouble because of me, and I don't know where Mistress Guo has locked her away. I know you two are as close as sisters; if you have a moment, I hope you might put in a good word for her with the Mistress..."

"Bai Hua?"

Discussing business eased her embarrassment. Wan Qi frowned slightly. That young girl was innocent and pure, the Mistress's favorite—how could she have been locked away? Had she done something unforgivable? Still, she wouldn't voice her doubts in front of Xu You. "I will keep it in mind. I thank you on behalf of Bai Hua for your concern."

Xu You laughed. "In the span of a tea break, you've thanked me three times. While one can never be too polite, this much formality makes me, a man from Yixing, seem like a boor."

Wan Qi understood he was joking. Though her face remained serious, she felt no resentment toward him—a first for her. She hesitated, then asked, "Sir, is today's story finished?"

"There is only a little left to conclude. If you are not in a hurry, why not stay and hear it?"

Xu You returned to the front to finish *The Legend of the White Snake*. "The way of heaven is fickle, but there is love in the human world. Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen's son, Xu Shilin, finally ranked first in the imperial examinations..."

Zhou Qiqiao timidly raised his hand. This was something Xu You had taught them: raise your hand to ask questions. The *Legend of the White Snake* involved too many elements—it had to be logical, dramatic, and tightly woven, with one plot twist after another. He also had to consider the literacy levels of the common people; the language and allusions couldn't be too refined, yet not too vulgar. Managing all this in just two or three days was a immense task. Thus, Zhou Qiqiao and the others became his most reliable assistants. They could read and write, and though not highly learned, they were mostly from humble backgrounds and understood the habits and tastes of their peers, filling in the gaps for Xu You, who only possessed the memories of an aristocrat.

However, getting them to dare to raise their hands or offer suggestions had taken great effort. If not for the deal he made with Zhou Qiqiao in private and the reward of a thousand copper coins, the others might never have gathered the courage.

"Speak!"

Zhou Qiqiao asked, puzzled, "Sir, what is a 'top scholar'?"

Before the Sui and Tang dynasties, there was no imperial examination system, and thus no such thing as a top scholar (*zhuangyuan*). Xu You knew history well and could have easily changed it, but he had his reasons for insisting on the term.

He couldn't explain these reasons to Zhou Qiqiao, so he said gently, "A top scholar is the finest scholar in the world. Regardless of family status or origin, they are selected through layers of rigorous testing for their literary talent. They enter the imperial court to hold high office, assisting the sovereign above and bringing peace to the people below. With Buddhism and Daoism now flourishing while traditional Confucian education declines, remember this: when the talent of a top scholar emerges, it will be the moment our traditional teachings regain their former glory."

Having read the classics, Zhou Qiqiao often prided himself on being a man of these teachings. Hearing this, he felt his blood boil with excitement and shouted, "Yes!"

The others echoed in unison, "Yes!"

Wan Qi stood to the side. She had the skill to take down these twenty weak scholars in an instant, but for some reason, when they shouted "Yes" in unison, the authority and power behind it made her shiver.

"...After Xu Shilin placed first, he submitted a memorial, describing his parents' plight with such blood-tears that he moved the Emperor. He was granted three thousand troops to return home. Because the prophecy hindered him, he could not save his mother, so in his fury, he ordered his troops to dig up West Lake. After three months of labor, the water was finally drained. That day, a bolt of lightning struck from a clear sky, snow fell in the sixth lunar month, and the White Deer Pavilion collapsed with a roar. Bai Suzhen and Xu Xian were reunited after twenty years. The demon Daoist Qingjian, seeing the situation was dire and having nowhere to hide, dove into the belly of a crab to escape death, and the prefect Mu Mao was imprisoned for his crimes..."

The ending had to be a happy one. Tragedies leave deep impressions, but they do not please the masses. To capture the largest market of the people, one must remember: a happy ending is what they love most!

In two days, Xu You had revised *The Legend of the White Snake* into a lethal weapon aimed directly at the Celestial Master Dao. His next task was to have these eighteen storytellers memorize it perfectly, ensuring they could deliver it with such emotion that it would stir the appetites of the audience. Only then could he ensure this grand performance would spread throughout the Three Wus in the shortest time possible.

Time was running out.

Xu You and Wan Qi walked outside together. Looking at the bleak landscape below the mountain, he said softly, "I wonder how things are with the Mistress. If she cannot withstand the pressure from the Celestial Master Dao..."

"Do not worry," Wan Qi interrupted.

Xu You turned to look at her. Seeing she had no intention of elaborating, he smiled. "Indeed. Zhan Ting is still far from being able to deal with the Mistress. Besides, there is still Zhu Rui of the Zhu clan..."