47. Master (Nine Updates!)

47 · Master (Nine Updates!)

Overstepping one's station was a grave crime in any feudal autocracy.

But likewise, in any feudal autocracy, the nobility and royal family held power that placed them above the law.

For ordinary people, overstepping one's station was indeed a grave crime. For the nobility and royal family, however, it could be a serious matter or a trivial one.

In serious cases, they could seize the opportunity to accuse someone of secretly stockpiling armor, then ransack their home and wipe out their entire family. In minor cases, they might simply scold them a couple of times and let the matter drop.

If that was how things worked in a feudal autocracy without supernatural powers, then it was easy to imagine what things were like in one where supernatural powers existed.

In a world without supernatural powers, the powerful oppressed ordinary people. In a world with supernatural powers, the powerful and the supernatural oppressed ordinary people.

As in this situation, Sane had attacked Yuan Chen not to target him personally, but to seize the opportunity to target, attack, and slander Qiyana.

"If wearing a Vydalian Robe means I'm overstepping my station, then allow me to ask: what does the Vydalian Robe represent?"

Looking around, Yuan Chen spread his hands. If Nedeli or Mordas had been there, they would have immediately realized he was about to get started again.

But Yuan Chen didn't raise his voice or launch into a speech. This wasn't a village, and the people he faced weren't the ignorant villagers of the past.

Facing a group of masters of the elements and philosophy, Yuan Chen didn't think his understanding of the world surpassed theirs. Instead, he chose a more prudent approach:

"In my view, the Vydalian Robe doesn't merely symbolize power and status. It also represents wisdom and philosophical inquiry."

Hearing this, some of the neutral Yuentar scholars nodded in agreement.

Ixialia's privileged class was unusual. Apart from King Yuen, it consisted of traditional nobles, Yuentar nobles, and Yuentar scholars.

The reason was that many Yuentar scholars also belonged to the traditional nobility. But compared with ordinary scholars, these nobles wielded greater power and were more conservative...

"I've heard that every master who wears a Vydalian Robe is a wise person who has endured countless trials, put their ideas into practice, tested them, and debated them." Yuan Chen spoke steadily and calmly, each word clear and emphatic.

"A friend once told me that the truth of this world can't be explained or described simply."

"You must see it with your own eyes and hear it with your own ears. You must think, practice, and seek proof... Countless threads make up every decision, and unravelling them requires sufficient wisdom. You must not let your emotions sway you; you must set aside your initial reaction and, with calm and reason, arrive at the Final Enlightenment."

"I think the Vydalian Robe represents more than just wisdom. But what kind of wisdom is it?"

Yuan Chen posed the question, but before anyone could think it over or answer, he offered his own thoughts:

"I think it's because the Yuentar protect the people of Ixialia from harm by the outside world. It's because their constant exploration of the mysteries of the Yuan Chu Axiom makes Ixialia stronger. And it's because they continually refine the limits of the axioms, keeping people safe from their harms."

Yuan Chen remained neither arrogant nor submissive. The Yuentar nodded in agreement at his words.

As Ixialia's noble class, the Yuentar were far more exalted than most people could imagine. Even a newly promoted Yuentar was qualified to go to a district and take charge.

Under those circumstances, everyone who successfully became a Yuentar, whether noble or common-born, had one thing in common: they were all outstanding. The Vydalian trials treated everyone equally.

Before being promoted to Yuentar, even nobles knew nothing about the outside world—except for the Royal Family.

More than praise for their identity, bloodline, or status, they valued—and preferred people to recognize—their wisdom.

"Honorable First Alai, let me reiterate that I am Princess Qiyana's vassal."

Yuan Chen spoke calmly, entirely unbothered by Sane's increasingly ugly expression.

"Princess Qiyana allowing me to wear this robe is absolutely not an act of overstepping. It's a sign of her trust in me and her recognition of my wisdom."

"Besides, as far as I know, Ixialia's laws have never forbidden those who aren't Yuentar from wearing a Vydalian Robe."

Ixialia's laws indeed had no rules about whether ordinary people could wear a Vydalian Robe, because ordinary people weren't qualified to undergo the Vydalian trials in the first place.

Behind every ridiculous rule, there was often an even more ridiculous incident. For example, rules against playing with feces, keeping pets in dorms, or drinking alcohol on the sports field...

Those rules might have seemed ridiculous, but each had its own story behind it: university students had held a feces fight that went viral online; someone had kept a pig in their dorm and raised it to three hundred pounds; and someone had gotten drunk on the sports field and beaten up an older student who was out for a walk.

Ixialia had no explicit rule on whether ordinary people could wear Vydalian Robes. People simply assumed that ordinary folk weren't qualified to wear clothing that symbolized wisdom and status.

But with no explicit rule, Yuan Chen had plenty of room to maneuver.

As the First Princess, Sane knew this too. So after hearing Yuan Chen's words, she thought for a moment, then said coldly:

"Ixialia's laws indeed don't forbid it. But as an outsider, your wearing a Vydalian Robe is undoubtedly tarnishing the glory of all Vydalian sages."

"Wearing the robe means bearing a share of the Yuentar's glory. And when someone lacks wisdom, their own foolishness will tarnish the glory of the entire Yuentar class!"

Sane had clearly realized what Yuan Chen was getting at, so she took a more direct approach, trying to shut down whatever he might say next.

But it was obvious that there was a serious gap in what Sane and Yuan Chen knew.

Through Lupe, Yuan Chen had learned about the various classes in Ixialia, the different factions among the Yuentar, the hidden conflicts between the traditional nobles and Yuentar nobles, and the divide between the Royal Family and the younger Yuentar.

And Sane?

She knew all that too, but she only knew that Yuan Chen was Qiyana's vassal.

More than his strength, it was his ability to exploit this information gap that gave Yuan Chen the nerve to pose as a prophet—well, the Scout Skill had helped, too.

Now, hearing Sane's words, a hint of amusement appeared in Yuan Chen's eyes. He'd spent all this time laying the groundwork, waiting for Sane to say exactly that.

So, as Sane challenged him, Yuan Chen turned his gaze to Sem.

Though he didn't know Sem's exact standing, from Sane and Qiyana's attitudes, the respect shown by the other Yuentar, his age, and the things he let slip in conversation, Yuan Chen could guess that the old man named Sem held a position of great influence, even among the Yuentar.

And he hadn't been affected by Ixialia's traditional views—at least, when he spoke of his long-deceased Ionian friend, his voice held more fondness than disgust or hostility.

Yuan Chen looked at Sem. After a brief moment of eye contact, he turned his gaze to the other Yuentar. The scholars watched him with a hint of curiosity and interest. Yuan Chen wasn't nervous. He simply said:

"I believe truth knows no borders."

It was a simple sentence, but the Ixialian scholars—who had only been gossiping about the struggle over the heir—quickly perked up.

Even the elderly Yuentar named Sem raised his head and stopped Sane from objecting. He said:

"Young man from Ionia... do you understand what those words mean?"

"I do, Elder." Facing Sem, Yuan Chen wasn't as forceful as he had been with Sane. Instead, he spoke humbly:

"But I believe everyone has the right to interpret the truth."

"And what I've done and said isn't meant to deny the generations of Yuentar who have explored and pursued the truth. I only mean to show that even in places beyond Ixialia, there are people exploring the limits of truth in their own way."

Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Sane clearly realized something was wrong. She didn't look at Yuan Chen, but gave Qiyana a long, intent look, a trace of concern in her eyes—

In the past, Sane had simply hated Qiyana. She hated that Qiyana didn't understand the rules and was always trying to be an attention-seeking show-off. Even so, Sane had never considered Qiyana a true rival in the struggle over the throne.

Qiyana had no political resources and no followers. Whether they were the conservative traditional nobles, the Yuentar who valued debate, or the Yuentar nobles caught between the two, none thought Qiyana had what it took to become the next King of Yuen.

But now, Yuan Chen's words clearly didn't come from Qiyana... at least, not the Qiyana she'd been before.

If she could have come up with ideas like these, she wouldn't have earned the hatred of Father King and Mother Queen!

But now...

Sane wisely said nothing more. Their exchange had already attracted the attention of the other Yuentar.

With the slightest misstep, this simple verbal clash could turn into a clash of ideas between Ixialia's royal heirs!

Sane wisely said nothing more, but things had already gone this far. If she didn't speak, someone else would—Sem, for example.

Hearing Yuan Chen's words, the old man named Sem looked surprised. He turned to Yuan Chen, his bright old eyes thoughtful, and said:

"Do you know that those words aren't something you can say lightly?"

"Respected Elder, I understand that, of course." Yuan Chen raised his head and said:

"This is a place where only Ixialia's wisest people are allowed to stay and study. Here, I can feel the flame of wisdom that burned in the minds of Ixialia's sages as they debated throughout the ages."

"Though I'm young, it's my honor to introduce myself to you all."

"I come from the distant Land of Myriad Spirits, the First Lands of which the Vastaya speak: Ionia."

"I am a young..."

"Master!"

Counting the six chapters I posted at dawn, I put out nine chapters today!

I could have managed one more, but before the book went up for sale, I was under a lot of pressure because I didn't know how it would do. After seeing the initial subscription count, I worked out the conversion rate and finally let out a huge sigh of relief.

I relaxed, had a little to drink, and slept all afternoon...