Listening to Books at Midnight, Old Enmity Across the Shore

"Qiu Yan has finally decided to go."

Watching Qiu Yan's departing figure, Tong Shou and the others, who were working in the fields, communicated telepathically.

During this period, Qiu Yan devoted himself to studying and working diligently every day, becoming extremely disciplined. Even those around him were influenced, with the brothers Hu Qi and Dai Guo starting to try reading as well.

Chen Yun, who was originally only supposed to stay behind to recuperate, also joined the ranks of students for some unknown reason, and did so very diligently, often seeking guidance from Qiu Yan.

In comparison, Tong Shou and others were forced to be less motivated, but Qiu Yan's daily checks forced them to study diligently.

"Whatever his plans are, they are none of our business. Since he doesn't intend to kill us, we don't need to provoke him. Let's just wait and see what happens."

A voice resonated in everyone's minds.

If it were half a month ago, the person who said this would have been either Tong Shou or Liu Tian, but now, the speaker's identity is somewhat unexpected—

It was none other than Wang Yifu, carrying a wooden bucket, returning from behind the house.

Wang Yifu was dressed in coarse cloth, covered in grime, and looked quite disheveled, but his expression was very peaceful.

The others from the Void-Driving Dao nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Over the past two weeks, everyone has been reading and working. Although they felt some resistance, their State of Mind have gradually become more peaceful, and many of the problems they encountered during their previous spiritual practice have been easily solved.

However, many of those present had lost their cultivation. Although the problem was solved, their realm would not improve. But their understanding became more profound, and they even gained a deeper understanding of some of the sect's classics and Daoist Canon. Even their temperament underwent subtle changes.

A person's temperament originates from within and is manifested outwardly through behavior, actions, personality, and ways of dealing with the world. It cannot be easily changed, and precisely because of this, any change becomes extremely noticeable.

Tong Shou and Liu Tian were both direct disciples of the Dao Master in the Void-Driving Dao. They had high cultivation levels and high status. As the saying goes, one should cultivate one's body and one's Qi Nurturing levels are confident, and their eyes, expressions, and aura naturally surpass others. Moreover, they hold power within the sect and act imperiously, which also creates an aura of superiority.

The Void-Driving Dao sect is often embroiled in conflict and competition. Although it is a branch of the Daoist Sect, it has developed independently over the past hundred years, and a ruthless atmosphere has long been present within the sect. This can be seen from the actions of Tong Shou and others. When they First Meeting Qiu Yan, they left no room for maneuver and tried to intimidate him with their power. After realizing that they could not win, they turned to seeking peace. They were domineering and opportunistic.

Their demeanor, both outwardly and inwardly, exuded a sharp and formidable aura. However, these past few days, they had been working tirelessly from dawn till dusk, toiling like old farmers. Many of them had calluses on their hands from the exertion; how could they possibly maintain that sharp edge?

Even if one is the most noble Supreme Realm in the world, with an extremely high destiny, if one is sent to the common people at birth and works alongside farmers, experiencing poverty in childhood and hardship in adulthood, it is impossible for one to develop a noble air.

In addition, after working, Tong Shou and others would read books, which naturally added a touch of scholarly air to their aura and made their Literary Thought even more profound. Because they no longer had cultivation, when they encountered problems, they did not think of fists first, but rather the principles of dealing with people.

Over time, their demeanor has become like that of metal swords that have been worn down; though they still retain a fierce edge, they have become somewhat dull.

However, the one who has changed the most is undoubtedly Wang Yifu, the only son of the Void-Driving Dao Lord.

Even Tong Shou and the others were surprised by Wang Yifu's changes. Although they were together every day, Wang Yifu's changes were so rapid that even those around him could clearly feel it.

Wang Yifu was of extraordinary birth and was determined to become the successor of the Dao Master. As a result, he often seized credit and power, which displeased his disciples. However, out of consideration for the Dao Master's reputation, no one said much. In this way, Wang Yifu gradually developed an arrogant and ambitious nature.

Half of the conflict with Qiu Yan this time was escalated by Wang Yifu. When he was first captured and brought here, his martial arts skills were crippled, so he was somewhat reckless and sarcastic every day, and was unwilling to cooperate at all.

After Qiu Yan's reprimand, his thinking changed somewhat and he showed signs of softening. However, when Qiu Yan ordered him to raise pigs, the arrogance of this Dao Lord's son resurfaced, and he stubbornly refused to comply.

Even so, while others were reading, he listened attentively and gradually gleaned some wisdom from the text. The book contained the experiences of his predecessors, life lessons summarized from the practical experience of several generations. By studying it carefully and verifying it in his life, he could avoid countless detours.

Wang Yifu, who had no one to discipline him before, acted recklessly and never reflected on what was right or wrong. It meant nothing to him. Now that no one cared about him, he couldn't help but feel forgotten in a corner, especially when it was late at night and everyone was asleep. All was quiet except for the light in Qiu Yan's room and the faint sound of Qiu Yan reading aloud.

The words in that voice inherently contained the power of the Soul Dao. As Qiu Yan's cultivation deepened, this time he was studying and cultivating in order to understand and digest the Sage Spirit. Every word he uttered had been refined by the Heart Fire and tempered by the Heart Ape. It was like a true scripture obtained after going through many hardships. It would not be an exaggeration to call it golden words.

If Qiu Yan were to open a school now and take on disciples to explain the meaning of the scriptures, those who listen would not need to read the books at all; they could grasp the profound meaning with just a little thought. It is truly a case of profound meaning in concise words.

The reason why the people of the Void-Driving Dao were able to undergo so many changes in such a short time was because they had unintentionally overheard Qiu Yan reading aloud. Otherwise, given their varying aptitudes and comprehension levels, how could they all have gained some insights?

As for Wang Yifu, in the dead of night, any sound could draw his attention. Compared to Tong Shou and others, he heard more and more of Qiu Yan's words. Moreover, the silence surrounding him made Wang Yifu subconsciously think. After understanding the principles contained in the sound of reading, he reflected on his past actions.

The unique reading voice, the special illusion, and Wang Yifu's own extraordinary talent—although his cultivation level was achieved through the pills and resources accumulated by the sect—it's hard to imagine anyone else achieving such a feat.

Seeing and hearing by day and night, enlightenment arises from within.

Finally, a few days ago, Wang Yifu, who had clearly lost weight, put aside his reserve, took the wooden bucket, and actually went to work in the pigsty behind the house, much to the surprise of Tong Shou and the others.

That's not all. From then on, Wang Yifu became more and more composed. When communicating with others through thought, his arrogant demeanor diminished, and he stopped making outrageous remarks, instead displaying a thoughtful and deliberate attitude.

These changes amazed Tong Shou and the others. They all guessed that Wang Yifu's changes were related to Qiu Yan's studies, and from then on, they tacitly agreed and temporarily abandoned their thoughts of escaping.

However, with Qiu Yan gone today, leaving only Hu Qi, Dai Guo, and others to guard the place, it inevitably stirs up some lingering thoughts.

"If Qiu Yan's trip takes a little longer, perhaps there will be an opportunity..."

"We must not be careless. Qiu Yan is no ordinary person. We should not act rashly when facing someone like him unless we are absolutely certain of success."

During a break from work, Wu Mian and Cang Xin exchanged a glance and whispered among themselves. The others also had their own thoughts, but their words revealed a hint of awe towards Qiu Yan.

These people had already been defeated by Qiu Yan, and being inferior in skill, they were bound to be afraid. However, after getting to know Qiu Yan's knowledge and character over this period of time, they actually developed a sense of respect for him. If they weren't prisoners, they might have already expressed their admiration for him.

Not only Void-Driving Dao and his group were tempted, but even Hu Qi and Dai Guo were wondering why Qiu Yan had left.

Qiu Yan's departure was sudden, and he didn't leave the two of them with any explanation.

At the same time, Qiu Yan, whom everyone was concerned about, had already arrived outside the Eastern Capital Gate of the Capital. After exchanging a few words with the guards, he stepped into the city and walked all the way in. Soon he passed through the bustling city and arrived at the inner city gate.

After another round of negotiations, which were slightly complicated, Qiu Yan resolved the issue with words and then entered the room.

Upon entering the inner city, the scenery changed dramatically, and the clothing of the pedestrians also changed slightly, becoming noticeably more refined than that of the outer city.

The Eastern Capital was a large city that had been expanded several times. Those living in the inner city were either officials and wealthy merchants or descendants of their ancestors. Every inch of land was precious, so people living here were naturally more well-off than those living in the outer city. Even if they were short of money, they would put on a show of wealth to avoid being looked down upon.

"Hmm? That person looks familiar."

Just as Qiu Yan passed through the city gate and walked across the street, someone suddenly let out a soft exclamation from a roadside restaurant.

This person was sitting on the second floor, near the window. He was tense and seemed a little apprehensive, not daring to look directly at the people next to him. So his gaze wandered and he kept looking out the window, which is why he noticed Qiu Yan.

"Zong Heng, what's wrong?"

This person's expression caught the attention of the others at the table.

Four people were sitting around the table. Apart from the man named Zong Heng, the other three all had an extraordinary presence. Although each had a different aura, they all possessed an indescribable charisma.

The one who asked the question was a handsome young man. He was wearing a dark cloak, the fabric of which was luxurious and accentuated his dashing appearance. As he asked the question, he followed Zong Heng's gaze and looked out the window. His eyes swept across the room and he saw Qiu Yan walking slowly forward. His pupils immediately contracted!

"I've finally found it!"

The man's expression changed, his mind raced, and his aura shifted, transforming from an elegant demeanor to a sharp and menacing one.

"Oh? What's wrong, Brother Li?"

The other two immediately noticed, and one of them asked a question out of curiosity.

"Nothing much, just ran into an old friend." The man called Brother Li turned around upon hearing this, his expression unchanged, and replied with a smile, "By the way, since you two are keen to tour the city, how about we set off? I'll show you two a good show."

He smiled calmly. If Qiu Yan were present, she would immediately recognize that this man was none other than Prince Yan!

ps:

Thank you to "Can I leave this blank?" for the monthly vote!