"Follow Your Heart's Desire is an art that follows the natural order and accords with human feeling. Whatever you do, you must retain a basic measure of Goodness and integrity and never stray onto an evil path," Bi Lingkong said. "That's why the art can be summed up in just three words: 'Do not overstep the bounds.'"
Pan Long asked, "Does 'do not overstep the bounds' mean not crossing the line set by Goodness and integrity?"
"Not just that," Bi Lingkong explained. "Once you master this art, you'll have a clear sense of what's in the hearts of the countless people around you. You'll know what ordinary people want, what they like, what they hate, what they fear... all of it. Once you understand those things, you can govern yourself. You won't do what they hate or fear. You'll do more of what they like and give them what they want. The Master said that this is 'the way of a sage.'"
Pan Long nodded. It made a great deal of sense.
After thinking for a moment, he asked, "The disciples of the Confucian School all went on to practice it, didn't they?"
"Not all of them, but most did."
"Then... why did the Confucian School end up opposing Di Jiazi?" Pan Long asked, puzzled. "From what you've said, the Confucian School should never have stood against the people."
Bi Lingkong's beaming expression turned dark at once. After a moment's silence, she said, "We practiced this art. Zhao Sheng didn't."
Pan Long thought for a moment, then asked in surprise, "Are you saying Di Jiazi's destruction of the Confucian School went against the people's wishes?"
Bi Lingkong frowned, looking troubled. A long time passed before she said, "I can't say that, either... Almost everyone under heaven supported him back then.