Besides recovering the Buddhist treasure, the Divine Constable Bureau's mission this time was to capture Duan Qianze of the Kongkong Sect, who had stolen imperial treasures, and lock him in Changping Prison as a warning to others.
At the very least, bringing Duan Qianze's corpse back would have been enough to report completion.
This situation, where they had accomplished nothing at all, was the worst possible outcome.
After hearing this, Ning Xueyan's expression turned extremely grim.
Duan Qianze had deliberately scattered the Vajra Bodhi Bracelet. Once he no longer carried it, she could no longer use Daoist arts to trace him, because the tracking art had been cast upon the Vajra Bodhi Bracelet.
As for the tracking art cast upon Duan Qianze's clothes, he had discarded them outright after discovering it.
"My lady, an urgent letter has arrived from the Divine Capital."
At that moment, a member of the Divine Constable Bureau hurried over from afar and swiftly presented the letter.
Ning Xueyan took it and quickly broke the seal.
After reading its contents, her expression changed drastically.
"All Divine Constable Bureau personnel, cease the search immediately. Return to the Divine Capital with me."
Ning Xueyan issued the order at once, then set off directly.
For the moment, she could no longer spare any attention for recovering the Buddhist treasure or apprehending Duan Qianze.
"Yes, my lady."
Seeing this, the others from the Divine Constable Bureau knew that something major must have happened in the Divine Capital. Otherwise, Ning Xueyan would not have been in such a hurry. After sending the signal to return, they followed closely in her footsteps.
A small courtyard beside Yuanhe Street in Anyuan Town.
"Mr. Xuanming, I have read many books, yet I still do not understand why 'reading is also cultivation.' I beg you to enlighten me."
Shi Yi came to Lou Xuanming's residence and asked directly.
"How are you progressing through the Four Books and Five Classics?"
Rather than answering him directly, Lou Xuanming responded with a question.
"I have committed their contents to memory, but I am still pondering their true meaning."
Shi Yi answered after hearing this.
Over the past few days, he had already gone through the Four Books and Five Classics. He had memorized their contents, but he was still slowly trying to understand and comprehend the true meanings contained within.
Unlike vernacular writing, the Four Books and Five Classics leaned toward classical Chinese in style. Their words could seem easy enough to translate, yet they contained principles that made one ponder deeply.
Shi Yi was good at language arts, but he still needed time to understand them and thoroughly turn them into knowledge of his own.
He had been drinking Hundred-Year Stone Milk every day recently, which had put him in an excellent state for studying and allowed him to progress at a tremendous pace.
"The process of comprehending the true meaning within books is itself cultivation."
"You may not see it now, but you will understand in the future."
Lou Xuanming inwardly marveled at Shi Yi's progress in learning.
With such learning ability, if Shi Yi settled down and studied carefully for several years, he would surely achieve success in the imperial examinations and attain genuine scholarship.
Yet seeing the confusion still in Shi Yi's eyes, he pondered briefly before continuing.
"The sages of old were not born sages. Some became Saints through bitter cultivation, some through providence, some through battle, and some through study."
"The true meanings within books are myriad. Yet if one is willing to spend time and effort, gathering fur into a cloak and letting a hundred rivers flow toward the sea, one may one day suddenly comprehend the Dao and become a Saint through study."
"There was once a great scholar who studied for sixty years. One day, he comprehended the Dao and, in an instant, transcended tribulation to become a Saint, becoming an immortal master."
"His name remains within Jixia Academy to this day."
Lou Xuanming explained in greater detail, with the intention of guiding Shi Yi toward reading.
Perhaps Shi Yi possessed considerable Martial Path Talent, but that did not prevent him from studying as well. To attain both was not impossible.
At least, after coming into contact with Shi Yi, Lou Xuanming felt that Shi Yi had such capability.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir."
After listening to Lou Xuanming, Shi Yi understood.
It was not that this world had a Confucian Dao. Rather, once cultivation reached a certain level, all paths led to the same destination.
Just as with reading: after reading to a certain extent, one would comprehend the Daoist arts hidden between Heaven and Earth, thereby becoming an expert in Daoist arts.
That was also what Lou Xuanming had meant when he previously said that reading was also cultivation.
"It is good that you understand."
"In a few days, I plan to travel and study for a time before taking this year's Autumn Provincial Examination."
"The elementary schooling here will be suspended beginning tomorrow. I will not return until at least after the Autumn Provincial Examination."
"If you wish to borrow books, you may come by during the next two days."
"After I depart, if you encounter questions you do not understand, you may go to Ninghe County and seek guidance from a friend of mine."
"This friend of mine is learned enough to fill five carts. He had originally agreed to take this year's provincial examination with me, but unfortunately, his beloved mother passed away, and he can only miss this year's examination."
"If you encounter anything you do not understand, you may ask him about it. For my sake, I imagine he will answer some of your questions."
As Lou Xuanming spoke, he took out a letter he had already written and handed it to Shi Yi.
Clearly, Lou Xuanming had prepared it in advance.
He had long since made arrangements in his heart for traveling and studying.
"Anyuan Town is not large. If you wish to walk farther down the path of cultivation, then go out and see more of the world."
"My friend also enjoys befriending intelligent people."
Lou Xuanming knew Shi Yi's abilities.
Whether in the Martial Path or in reading, he far surpassed ordinary people.
As Zhao Cheng had said when asking him to teach Shi Yi elementary schooling, Shi Yi's Martial Path bone structure was exceptionally outstanding, and he would surely enter Ninghe County's Anhe Martial Arts School.
And having witnessed Shi Yi's ability in reading, Lou Xuanming felt that as long as Shi Yi did not confine himself to one place, leaving the county would be no problem at all.
As for how far he could go, that would depend on Shi Yi himself!
Throughout this process, Lou Xuanming was merely serving as a guide. More than anything, it would depend on Shi Yi's own choices.
"Thank you, Mr. Xuanming. This student is deeply grateful."
Shi Yi accepted the letter and bowed in thanks.
He could sense the goodwill within Lou Xuanming. It was pure, and it was rare.
Especially in this world, it was all the more precious.
"Reading is good. Read more books."
Lou Xuanming patted Shi Yi's shoulder and said with a smile.
When Shi Yi left the small courtyard, he carried a great many books with him, all from Lou Xuanming's collection.
Shi Yi was taking them home to copy.
He had originally intended to take things slowly, but Lou Xuanming was now leaving Anyuan Town and would not return until after the Autumn Provincial Examination, so he could only move faster now.
He planned to directly use the electronic copying method to copy every book in Lou Xuanming's residence.
Otherwise, once Lou Xuanming left, it would be difficult for him to come and borrow books.
Books in this era were not easy to borrow. Without a relationship close enough, one simply could not borrow them.
Even if one wanted to buy them, they were not something one could obtain so easily.
It was unlike Blue Star, where most knowledge could be found online.
"For the next few days, I should first devote most of my energy to copying books."
"Once the books have been copied, I can slowly read and study them."
"Since I already know that success in reading can also aid Daoist cultivation, I should devote more effort to it!"
Shi Yi silently reflected on what Lou Xuanming had just said.
That line—"one day comprehend the Dao, transcend tribulation and become a Saint"—had shaken Shi Yi to his very core.
At the same time, it had opened a new door for him. His path of cultivation now had another option.
This path required reading more books.
Before you continue