Preparations for Departure / The Si Clan's Funeral

The Captain smiled with satisfaction and asked, "What's your name?"

"My past self has died with my wife; what stands here is merely a lingering shadow of hatred, and my name has lost all meaning."

"But it has meaning for me, at least it's convenient to call you. Life is fleeting, death is like rest. Fleeting Life Is Like a Dream, how much joy can it hold? From today onwards, your name will be He Huan."

"Whatever, I'm going to pack my things now."

After speaking, the man walked down the hillside without waiting for the Captain's response.

Xia Guanxue turned to ask, "Is it meaningful for you to keep gathering people who are burdened with hatred?"

"At least it prolonged their lives."

"Living is not necessarily a happy thing."

"At least while you're alive, you have the chance to pursue happiness; once you're dead, you have nothing left."

Xia Guanxue was silent for a moment, then asked, puzzled, "Are you a good person or a bad person?"

The Captain sneered, "Only children judge a person by good or bad; mature adults only care about interests."

Chapter 272 Preparations Before Departure

"Official orders have been issued. You may depart for this training mission as a Grandmaster Candidate."

In the research lab at the Mohist Knight Guard base, the doctor handed a letter to Si Ming, then took out a newly upgraded psionic dual pistol.

"I've added a slashing mode this time, you can try it out."

In sniper mode, the muzzles of two psionic guns are inserted together, facing each other. In slash mode, the White Eagle is the main body, and the barrel of the Spirit Sparrow Gun is inserted into the White Eagle's loading port. After activating the psionic circuit, the two become one, and a wide, sharp blade extends from the muzzle, gleaming with a cold light. The gun body changes, becoming more slender and easier to grip.

Looking at the modified psionic gun, Si Ming searched his memory for a similarly shaped weapon and asked doubtfully, "Is this... a horse-slaying sword?"

"It can be used as a horse-slaying sword. Since you're strong, this kind of weapon is perfect for you. Also, after pressing this button and injecting your inner True Qi, the blade will generate a high-voltage current."

The doctor personally demonstrated the function, and several strands of electricity, as thick as hemp ropes, surged out, wrapped around the blade, and flickered continuously, emitting a "buzzing" sound.

"I originally heard you knew the 'Eighteen Heaven-Splitting Earth-Shattering Hammers,' so I planned to make it into a heavy hammer weapon. Unfortunately, even I can't defy the law of conservation of mass. If it were a hammer weapon, it would mean adding the weight of two psionic guns, which would be detrimental to the use of the psionic guns themselves."

Si Ming took the halberd, brandished it, and said, "It's quite useful, but unfortunately I don't know how to use a horse-slaying sword; that's battlefield martial arts."

Although he had learned the True Yang Vermilion Blaze Saber, saber techniques are different. The True Yang Vermilion Blaze Saber releases saber energy with an empty palm, which is a kind of virtual saber technique that does not require a saber. On the other hand, the horse-slaying saber is a heavy weapon. Almost no martial artist in the Jianghu would use this weapon. It is long, heavy and cumbersome, and can only be seen on the battlefield.

"I've heard that you learn martial arts very quickly. What others take a year to learn, you learn in a day. I just happened to find you a book called 'Spring and Autumn Saber Art,' which is Military School martial art, and it's perfect for using this kind of horse-slaying sword."

The professor rummaged through the drawer and pulled out a martial arts manual with a cover corroded by strong acid; it was clearly not well protected.

With such thoughtful arrangements, Si Ming had nothing to say. After thanking them and accepting the gifts, he asked, "Hongdou, who lives in the same orphanage as me, also wants to go to Nation of Beauty, but she's not Grandmaster Candidate. Can she come with me?"

"That won't do. It has nothing to do with her Grandmaster Candidate. Hongdou is a talented young Painting School on whom our country's art world places great hopes. We can't just let her go abroad, especially to the Nation of Beauty. What if she never returns, or is kidnapped by those Painting School? That would be a huge loss to our country's art world. Besides, we have to consider her safety as well."

Because the Su State prioritized state affairs over culture and entertainment, it achieved almost nothing in the arts and was jokingly referred to as an "artistic desert" by other countries.

For example, Mozi said, "In the past, Duke Huan of Duke Huan of Qi wore a tall hat and a wide belt, carried a golden sword and a wooden shield, and his country was well-governed. In the past, King Zhuang of Chu Duke Wen of Jin wore a simple cloth robe, a sheepskin coat, and a leather belt with a sword, and his country was well-governed. In the past, King Zhuang of Chu wore a bright hat with silk tassels, a long robe, and a wide garment, and his country was well-governed. In the past, King Goujian of Yue cut his hair and tattooed his body, and his country was well-governed. These four rulers dressed differently, but their conduct was the same. From this, I know that conduct is not determined by clothing."

This means that Duke Huan of Qi, wearing a tall hat, a wide belt, and carrying a golden sword and wooden shield, was capable of Li State; Duke Wen of Jin, dressed in coarse cloth, wearing a sheepskin coat, and carrying a sword, was capable of governing the country; King Zhuang of Chu, wearing a bright crown, a ribbon for the crown, and a long red robe, was capable of Li State; King Goujian of Yue, having cut his hair and tattooed patterns on his body, was capable of governing his country. These four rulers dressed differently, yet all successfully governed their countries, demonstrating that a person's achievements have nothing to do with what they wear.

The most direct explanation of the country's name, "Su," is simplicity, and that is where its origin lies.

The Mohist School placed no importance on clothing and naturally did not pursue fashion. This view can be extended to other fields, such as painting, music, and calligraphy. It's not that the Mohist School completely opposed these skills, but they valued practicality more. For example, painting could be used to record people's appearances and draw maps, music could soothe emotions and release stress, and calligraphy could be used to record history. As for higher spiritual pursuits and mysterious artistic values, well, forget about them. After all, the absence of these wouldn't affect the strength of the nation.

The Mohist School focused on the needs of the common people, a starting point that is completely at odds with art. While it cannot be said that all art is mere superstition, art can only achieve high status by detaching itself from the masses and engaging in mutual praise among the elite; otherwise, it can only degenerate into folk entertainment.

For example, Peking Opera in Si Ming's previous life, no matter how much it was touted as a national treasure, still had nothing to do with elegance, because it served the masses. Listening to it didn't cost much money; it was for the Songs of the Rustic Folk, and sometimes it was even free. It could be performed anywhere in the countryside with just a stage set up.

In contrast, Western symphonic music is considered Spring Snow, and those willing to regularly pay for tickets to listen are at least from the middle class, and the tickets are quite expensive. Who has ever seen a symphony orchestra set up an open-air stage in the countryside and start performing?

Take movies, for example. Films that flop at the box office and are only appreciated by experts and professors are considered art films. Films that entertain the masses and are understood by everyone are considered vulgar commercial films.

Su State had finally produced a promising new star in the art world, Hongdou, so naturally they wouldn't let her leave easily. What if she got kidnapped? They'd have to make her sign at least ten or eight contracts of servitude.

"It seems I'll have to go first."

Si Ming did not insist. He thought that if he could get the help of the Water Mirror Si Clan, a local powerful family, it would be much easier to investigate Hongdou's parents.

The professor continued, "Hongdou will probably go there as an exchange student. There's a prestigious art academy in the Nation of Beauty called Emperor Peak Luofu Academy, which is the premier art cradle in the Sea Continent. It has produced many famous artists in various fields, including music, painting, and chess. Coincidentally, the two people you need to protect on this mission are the two young ladies of the Si Clan, who also study at this school. You can protect them along with them."

"Wait a minute! If my academic classes weren't taught by the PE teacher, then the word 'Luofu' comes from 'The Qin family had a beautiful daughter who named herself Luofu,' and it's a general term for women, right? So, the so-called Emperor Peak Luofu Academy is actually an all-girls high school?" Si Ming asked suspiciously.

"That's right."

"This is ridiculous! How am I, a boy, supposed to sneak into an all-girls academy? You're not going to make me dress up as a girl and get in, are you? What kind of bishoujo game is this? Is it some kind of older sister romance game?"

The professor slapped his forehead. "That's not a bad idea!"

"Dream on! I would never do such a thing. A man's word is his bond. Don't even think about making me dress as a woman. Laozi 'm not a sissy!"

Chapter 273 The Si Clan Funeral

Water Mirror Manor is located in the center of Weiyang Lake. There are no bridges connecting it to any of the surrounding areas; it can only be reached by boat.

Weiyang Lake is crystal clear, with fish and shrimp clearly visible in the water. Its surface is as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the white clouds and birds in the sky. The coral reefs on the lake bottom, like emerald carvings, make people marvel at the wonders of nature.

However, while the daytime scenery of Weiyang Lake is beautiful, it still pales in comparison to its nighttime view. As the saying goes, "The lake and the moonlight complement each other, the surface of the pool is calm and the mirror is unpolished. Looking afar at the verdant Weiyang Mountains and waters, it is like a green snail in a silver dish."

Unfortunately, this beautiful scenery is rarely appreciated, because the entire Weiyang Lake, which stretches for eight hundred miles, is under the jurisdiction of the Si Clan's Water Mirror Manor. Outsiders who trespass without permission can be treated as thieves and killed without exception. Because of this, Weiyang Lake is quiet all year round and rarely seen by people, with only the occasional sound of birdsong.

But the tranquility of Weiyang Lake was shattered today.