A gentleman can be deceived through his principles

A gentleman could be deceived through his principles.

Fang Zelin had been able to tell just now that the water ghost before him had something of a scholar about him.

Considering the question the other party had just asked, Fang Zelin felt that perhaps he could try this approach and see whether he could persuade him to spare him.

As for the kappa beside them, whether these words could fool him would depend on whether he still had a shred of conscience.

Hearing Fang Zelin's words, Zhang Weichu froze, while waves churned endlessly in his heart.

"Indeed, without virtue or good conduct, how can one exist between heaven and earth?"

Zhang Weichu could not help murmuring to himself. He thought of the books he had read in life, all of which taught the way of the sages.

Though he had now become a ghost, how could he abandon the way of the sages and commit the deeds of a petty man?

How laughable that he had just thought he could have a clear conscience merely by asking the other party first. Laughable, laughable!

As a gentleman, he should naturally act openly and honorably, never wallowing in the same mire as that little ghost.

With that thought, Zhang Weichu felt his heart become open and unburdened in an instant.

At that moment, the kappa's expression also changed.

Unlike Zhang Weichu, as a ghostly deity, what he heard in Fang Zelin's words was the way of heaven and earth.

Only through people's reverence could one hold a divine seat.

If he failed to cultivate his character and truly became intolerable to heaven and earth, then even if he found a way to drag out his existence now, he would presumably be forsaken by heaven and earth before long.

At this thought, the kappa's heart shuddered.

In an instant, he woke from his earlier greed.

His heart was instantly drenched in a cold sweat of fear.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir. Without it, I would nearly have committed a petty man's deed just now."

Coming to his senses, Zhang Weichu immediately bowed to Fang Zelin with clasped hands, his face full of gratitude.

After speaking, he glanced at the river beside them. "The time has come, too. I have nothing with which to repay your kindness, sir, so let me send you on your way."

With that, Zhang Weichu sank straight into the river.

The next moment, the raft overturned, and Fang Zelin tumbled into the water.

Fang Zelin was about to speak, but river water instantly flooded his mouth, and he gulped it down with a series of gurgles.

This is bad. When he said he'd send me on my way, did he mean to the underworld?

Fang Zelin inwardly cried out in dismay, but scarcely had the thought surfaced when he felt a force beneath him lifting him from the riverbed.

Then a voice sounded beside his ear. "My sincerest apologies. This calamity was part of your fate, sir, and your fall into the water was destined. This is the only way I can help you."

As he spoke, he slowly supported Fang Zelin and carried him toward the bank.

The kappa beside them had also fallen into the water, but moved through the river as though walking on level ground. For now, he merely watched the scene before him calmly, without interfering.

After a little time, Zhang Weichu successfully delivered Fang Zelin to the bank.

Much of Fang Zelin's clothing was already soaked through. Looking back, he saw that Zhang Weichu had also come to the bank and was bowing to him with clasped hands.

"Sir, Anzi County lies ten li farther along this way. Here is a little money for your journey. It all belonged to people who fell into the water recently. Today, I give it to you."

As Zhang Weichu spoke, he placed the silver in his hands into Fang Zelin's.

Fang Zelin took a look. There were fully ten taels of silver!

Given the prices in this world, ten taels was already a considerable sum.

Most players were still struggling to feed and clothe themselves after entering, finding it difficult even to earn a few copper coins.

Yet Fang Zelin had only just entered and had already earned ten taels of silver outright.

At that thought, even Fang Zelin found it rather unbelievable.

He raised his head again and looked at the earnest-faced Zhang Weichu before him. After hesitating for a moment, Fang Zelin said, "In that case, accepting would be more respectful than declining."

"As it should be."

Seeing Fang Zelin accept the silver, Zhang Weichu immediately smiled.

Fang Zelin put the silver away and headed off into the distance under Zhang Weichu's gaze.

Once Fang Zelin had disappeared from sight, Zhang Weichu turned around. At some point, the kappa had come to stand beside him.

"With this, you will no longer be able to reincarnate. You will suffer the torment of drowning for lifetime after lifetime."

Looking at Zhang Weichu beside him, the kappa slowly shook his head and spoke with a rueful expression.

Zhang Weichu smiled at his words. "Back when I passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi, this student held the whole world in his heart. I thought that if I could become an official, I would surely serve the country and its people, never wallowing in the same mire as those corrupt officials."

"Though I am now a little ghost, how could I commit such acts of murdering the common people? We scholars read the books of the sages and follow the way of the gentleman."

As Zhang Weichu spoke, radiant, cloudlike Qi seemed to surge around him, with an indescribable nobility.

Seeing this, the kappa's pupils abruptly contracted, and a trace of horror rose in his heart.

Did I see wrong, or could it be...

After pondering for a moment, the kappa set the matter aside. "Then you won't seek a substitute in the future, either?"

"Naturally not. Just consider me a minor official of this river. Though a minor official, I can still fulfill some duties."

Hearing this, the kappa looked at Zhang Weichu, then nodded.

He had just perceived a slight change in Zhang Weichu, but could not be certain what exactly that change was.

After a moment's hesitation, he decided to keep observing Zhang Weichu and see what other changes would occur in him.

Meanwhile, carrying the silver, Fang Zelin followed the direction Zhang Weichu had indicated and walked onward.

By the time the sun stood three poles high, he finally saw figures moving in the distance ahead.

At the sight, Fang Zelin immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

I've finally reached the county town. Now I can find some martial arts to learn.

No, wait. I just saw a water ghost and a kappa. This world has ghosts and monsters.

If that's the case, could there also be immortal cultivators?

At this thought, Fang Zelin's heart instantly leaped.

If there really are methods of immortal cultivation, why practice martial arts? I should find a cultivation method!

Besides, if this really is a real world, would immortal arts learned here work in the real world too?

Then could my legs be healed?

The more Fang Zelin thought about it, the more excited he became.

Gurgle.

Just as Fang Zelin was thinking about methods of immortal cultivation, his stomach rumbled.

Fang Zelin rubbed his stomach and glanced around, immediately spotting a steamed bun shop nearby.

He promptly strode over to the shop and ordered three buns.

The buns were all especially large. With one bite, fragrance filled his mouth, and Fang Zelin immediately felt immensely satisfied.

First, I'll find somewhere to stay here, then try to see where there are immortal cultivators and find a way to become a disciple.

At this thought, Fang Zelin settled on his plan.