Jiangdong's scenery and customs truly were different. Luo Chu had felt it distinctly after only a few days there.
The greatest difference was Jiangdong's air of untrammeled elegance. People here cared more about looks and bearing, and enjoyed appraising scholars even more than those in the Central Plains did. Nor did they appraise only Confucian scholar-officials; Buddhists and Daoists were expected to be graceful and free-spirited too.
Daoism had always pursued freedom and ascension to immortality, while Buddhism had extensively revised its scriptures. In short, after those revisions, Buddhism had become something entirely different from Western Regions Buddhism. Calling it the "Mind School" or the "Natural School" would have been quite appropriate.
Jiangdong's scholars liked to mix Buddhist and Daoist theories into their interpretations of Classical Studies. A typical Central Plains scholar arriving here would probably have found it quite extraordinary.
Dawn broke on another day. Having finished bathing, Luo Chu dressed in a loose blue-green robe with broad sleeves. It did not quite resemble a Confucian scholar's attire, looking instead like an improved combination of scholarly dress and a Daoist robe. It lent the wearer considerable elegance and was very popular among Jiangdong's scholars.
Qiao Wei sat in the main hall. His wife, a noble lady of the Chu Clan, sat there as well. Luo Chu entered through a side door. With his naturally fair complexion, youth, and graceful bearing, he had a distinctly refined charm.
Before Qiao Wei could speak, Lady Chu's eyes filled with smiles, and she praised him aloud. "You truly deserve to be called the Head House's Qilin Child!
"Search through our entire Qiao Clan-where could we find such a handsome figure?"
Luo Chu blushed a little at that. He truly did not dare accept the title of Qilin Child. An outstanding man like his