The issue of Sage Dao becoming rigid had always been something Zhang Yang and the Sage Master discussed.
Of course, the Sage Master himself had been quite mindful of it, which was why the Sage Dao had the Three Trials of Questioning the Heart.
In fact, without the Three Trials of Questioning the Heart, there would be far more Sage Dao practitioners than there were now.
After all, when studying brought benefits, plenty of people were willing to study.
It was only because of the Three Trials of Questioning the Heart that many scholars could not cross the threshold into the Sage Dao.
The Sage Master asked solemnly, "Do you think the existence of these laws will cause people's hearts to become rigid?"
Zhang Yang considered it, then asked, "Uncle Sage Master, let me ask you something. What is the essence of laws?"
"Order," the Sage Master answered without hesitation.
They had discussed this question long ago.
"Why is there Order? Is it because some people's actions have already gone beyond common sense?" Zhang Yang asked and answered himself. "Then let me ask you this: an eighty-year-old elder is slapped by a twenty-year-old youth. How should it be handled?"
The Sage Master asked in puzzlement, "Why?"
"You are a pioneer of the Sage Dao, Elder. Why are you still asking why?" Zhang Yang said seriously. "But to the vast majority of people, a young person striking an old person would seem wrong.
The elder is weak, while the young person is strong. The strong striking the weak is wrong.
That is the simple understanding held by countless people.
Now, suppose this elder is a beggar. While begging, he dirties the young man's brocade robes, so the young man strikes him... that is one situation.
Now suppose this elder is a