It was too late to proofread. If you spot any typos, please leave a chapter comment, and I'll fix them tomorrow.
As a sage reputed to treat worthy men with courtesy, Lord Bole naturally put on a flawless show, leaving no room for criticism.
The group had discussed it beforehand. To gauge how the upper nobility would react to their Mohist teachings, they could take advantage of Lord Bole's good reputation and observe his response.
At the very least, he should not have been so offended that he would attack them.
Thus, when Lord Bole said,
"Do you gentlemen have anything to teach me?"
Xu Yue immediately laid out the modified Mohist doctrines the group had compiled, ones that better suited the current environment.
Lord Bole lived up to his reputation.
Though none could tell what he truly thought, when doctrines such as Universal Love—ideas quite hostile to rulers—were proposed, Lord Bole still expressed his approval and acceptance.
He truly did treat worthy men with courtesy.
However, once "Moderated Burials," a core principle that should have been easier to promote, was mentioned, Lord Bole's expression immediately changed drastically.
"I am a descendant of King Wen and an heir of Shajin. After death, I can naturally ascend to Heaven. Sir, there is no need to say more!"
After that, Lord Bole's enthusiasm visibly faded at once.
Though he did not directly drive them out, he merely had Xu Yue and the others treated as ordinary retainers.
That talk of Moderated Burials seemed to have touched his reverse scale.
Even so, Lord Bole at least maintained his public image on the surface.
He wanted to personally arrange lodging for them.
Yet it was clear that, after discovering the situation differed from what they had imagined, Xu Yue's group promptly took their