032, Qu Yuan’s Path

In a moment of desperation, the middle-aged man prepared to act, but the academy’s administrators were not inclined to indulge them. One of them stepped forward and said coldly, “Private fighting within the academy is forbidden. Such transgressions will result in the stripping of cultivation and a lifetime ban from the academy. Yan Zhong, have you thought this through?”

Hearing this, Yan Zhong was forced to halt, his face dark as he glared at the young man from Chu. “Do you dare leave your name?”

The young man laughed heartily. “Why wouldn’t I? I am Xiong Huai of Chu. What now?”

Well, well. These two were far from ordinary.

Yan Zhong, bearing the Yan surname of Qi, was most likely a descendant of Master Yan Ying—the very same Yan Ying of the “Annals of Master Yan.” To be called “Zi” was a sign of his attainments, likely placing him among the ranks of sages. The only uncertainty was which path Master Yan pursued.

As for Xiong Huai, he was undoubtedly of the royal house of Chu. In truth, when Wang Yu heard this name, he could not help but feel a jolt of surprise. Was this not King Huai of Chu himself?

Considering who he was, Wang Yu glanced at Wei Wuji, puzzled as to why these noble princes were so fond of adventuring far and wide. Did they not fear being killed outright? Even if they weren’t slain, if someone kidnapped them and used them to threaten their fathers, that could still reap considerable benefits.

Wei Wuji caught Wang Yu’s look and was momentarily at a loss. “Hongjian, why are you looking at me like that?”

Wang Yu clicked his tongue. “Wuji, do you not know Xiong Huai’s identity?”

Wei Wuji gave him a quizzical glance. “Of course I do—he’s the son of the King of Chu. What of it?”

What of it, indeed? Wang Yu was speechless. “Wuji, don’t you princes ever worry about dying while gallivanting about?”

Wei Wuji immediately understood what Wang Yu was getting at. With a laugh he replied, “Hongjian, have you forgotten the Son of Heaven’s decree?”

Son of Heaven’s decree? What was that?

Seeing Wang Yu’s bewilderment, Wei Wuji explained, “The Son of Heaven once summoned all the lords and issued a law: before a prince of any state succeeds to the throne, no foreigner may harm him. If anyone does, all under heaven will unite in retribution. Do you understand now?”

Good heavens! The Zhou Son of Heaven actually issued such an edict? Was he mad? The feudal states had long since treated him as a puppet, and yet he would use imperial law to protect their sons? Had he taken leave of his senses?

Shouldn’t he encourage them to slaughter each other, bide his time, gather his strength in secret, and then sweep aside the lords in one stroke to restore the Ji family’s dominion? This move was baffling to Wang Yu.

Wei Wuji seemed to follow Wang Yu’s train of thought and smiled calmly. “Are you thinking the Son of Heaven’s move was foolish?”

Wang Yu nodded.

“Then you are mistaken. This move, in a word, is profoundly subtle.”

Profoundly subtle? Was Wei Wuji being sarcastic?

“Hard to understand, isn’t it?”

Wang Yu nodded again, for he truly did not grasp it.

With a look of reminiscence, Wei Wuji said, “At first, I thought as you do. But later, my father told me that even he couldn’t fully fathom the Son of Heaven’s intent, but it was certainly no blunder. Since the law was enacted, respect for the Son of Heaven among the lords has greatly increased, and many minor states have even begun to pay tribute once more. Isn’t that strange?”

Wang Yu pondered this. If Wei Wuji was correct, the Zhou Son of Heaven was indeed a man of some ability. To have induced these minor states to resume their tributes under such circumstances was already no small feat. The majesty of the Son of Heaven had long been eroded by the great powers, so to recover even a fraction of it spoke to the efficacy of his methods. Yet the specifics of his strategy remained unclear. Still, whatever his approach, the lords were obliged to accept this favor, for none wished their sons to be repeatedly targeted by assassins.

Wang Yu could not fully grasp the brilliance of this maneuver, but that was unimportant for now. The real entertainment was unfolding before him.

Xiong Huai’s words were hardly courteous and left Yan Zhong fuming. To be honest, a descendant of Master Yan was no less than a prince of a state.

Yan Zhong, his face dark as storm clouds, stared at Xiong Huai. “So, Xiong Huai, since private fighting is forbidden in the academy, do you have the courage to debate with me? Let me witness the bearing of a prince of Chu.”

Xiong Huai showed no sign of fear and answered at once, “That suits me perfectly. Once my younger brother finishes his turn on the Debating Platform, we shall ascend together.”

Yan Zhong’s face was almost black with wrath. “So you do not shrink from a contest. Good! Let me see what reason these so-called barbarians possess.”

Xiong Huai merely laughed, ignoring Yan Zhong’s mockery.

Fortunately, at that moment, the one on the Debating Platform began his demonstration. The man on stage was none other than Qu Yuan, whose fame would echo through the ages. Xiong Huai called Qu Yuan his younger brother because Qu Yuan, too, was a descendant of the royal house of Chu, being the son of Qu Xia, himself a son of King Wu of Chu, Xiong Tong. Thus, he was called a younger brother, though in truth this was a clan relation, not one of blood. Nevertheless, the two had been close since childhood—closer than brothers by blood.

As for why they had come to the Jixia Academy to use its Debating Platform for enlightenment and cultivation, it was mostly a matter of convenience. Qu Yuan had wished to study at this sacred academy, and on the journey, inspiration struck, setting him firmly on his chosen path. Thus, he took the opportunity to make use of the academy’s Debating Platform to open his mind.

Now, standing on the Debating Platform, Qu Yuan had centered himself and began his demonstration, stirring the very heavens and earth.

He began with the “Questions to Heaven”:

“In the beginning of ancient times, who imparted the Way?
When above and below were not yet formed, how can we examine it?
Dim and obscure, who can reach its limits?
Soaring on wings, how is the image recognized?
Brilliant yet dark, what purpose does time serve?
Yin and yang’s threefold union—what is their origin and transformation?
The ninefold heavens—who measured and planned them?
For what merit were these formed, who first created them?
Where is the axis fixed, where is Heaven’s pole set?
What supports the eight pillars, why do the southeast skies sink?
Where do the nine heavens meet, where are they anchored?
With so many corners and recesses, who knows their number?
Where do the heavens merge, how are the twelve divided?
Where do sun and moon reside, where are the stars arrayed?
Emerge from Tang Valley, pass through Mengfan—
From dawn to dusk, how many miles are traversed?
What virtue has the moonlight, that dying it is reborn?
What benefit is there, and why does the jade hare dwell in its belly?
Lady Qi has no mate—whence her nine sons?
Where is Bo Qiang, where has the beneficent air gone?
What closes to bring night, what opens to bring day?
Before the Horn and Net constellations rise, where does the brilliant sun hide?
Unable to bear the great flood, how is the master to be revered?
All say, ‘Why worry?’—why not act and see?
…”

As Qu Yuan chanted line after line of his “Questions to Heaven,” that spirit of seeking the principles of the universe, the causes of rise and fall, the consequences of virtue and vice, and the mysteries of the supernatural began to radiate outward. The atmosphere he conjured held the rhythm of harmonizing a hundred schools, of rectifying myriad doctrines.

It was the embodiment of the saying, “The road ahead is long and far; I will search above and below.” This was the perfect display of a seeker of the Way.

This was Qu Yuan’s Way!