Volume One: Menial Tasks in Changshui County Chapter Five: The Scholar in the Azure Robe

Unknowingly, Lu Jiuzhang had become completely engrossed. If Master Zhou had not come to remind him after a long while, he might have been lost in it entirely.

“Lu Shiyi lived during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, rising to the rank of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and becoming a great Confucian scholar of his time. This ‘Records of Dialectics’ is a unique copy. Seeing how captivated you are, why not take it home to read?” Master Zhou said. “Just return it on time.”

“Thank you, Master!” Lu Jiuzhang replied excitedly.

This book would surely be useful for the pavilion that existed within his mind. Perhaps it was even the key to unlocking his golden finger.

“The calligraphy is also finished. Find a craftsman who makes memorial tablets and tombstones and have them make rubbings,” Master Zhou continued.

“Thank you, Master!” Lu Jiuzhang thanked him again.

...

When Lu Jiuzhang left the academy, he held two sheets of inscribed paper and a book, but his purse was lighter by a tael of silver. He would still need to pay for the memorial tablet and tombstone, which would likely cost another tael. Even conducting his eldest brother’s funeral simply would not be cheap—there was the cost of a burial plot, digging the grave, hiring people to carry the coffin...

In total, he would probably spend another six or seven taels.

After all this, he would have only about twenty taels of silver left. Trying to live on that for any period would be difficult.

Returning home, Lu Jiuzhang set aside the inscribed papers, lit the kerosene lamp, and began to read ‘Records of Dialectics’ with great care.

The writing was somewhat obscure and difficult to grasp, yet it seemed to possess a strange power, compelling him to read on and on.

Time slipped by; outside, night gradually fell.

The moon rose above the treetops, the kerosene in the lamp was nearly spent, and the light in the room grew dim.

Lu Jiuzhang’s consciousness once again appeared before the Kui Star Tower.

The tower, a hundred feet high with ten stories, stood tall and imposing, exuding a mysterious aura.

Suddenly, a figure appeared before him.

The figure, dressed in a blue robe, stood with his back to Lu Jiuzhang.

Since crossing over six months ago, the Kui Star Tower had shown no signs of change, but today, there had been two unusual occurrences.

Lu Jiuzhang’s attention returned to the figure. The man in the blue robe, standing with his back to him, wore his hair bound and capped, his whole being emanating an inexplicable aura.

Just as Lu Jiuzhang was about to approach and ask a question, the man strode toward the Kui Star Tower, speaking in a clear, ringing voice: “What is right? What is wrong? What is benefit? What is righteousness?”

...

“Man is born of nature; so it is said. There is mind without form. Form arises from mind; there is form without mind. Form passes as mind ends; knowledge sees that this is not so.”

...

“Eyes like the sun and moon must illuminate all things, not be obscured by abundance. It is said: the five colors blind the eyes, and these five colors are my own abundance. Failing to exhaust principle in reading is also my abundance...”

...

The voice grew louder and louder, like a great bell, striking the heart of anyone who heard it.

Lu Jiuzhang trembled slightly. The blue-robed man, still with his back to him, had reached the side of the Kui Star Tower. Raising both hands, he gently pushed—like opening a massive iron-bound wooden door—and at last, the door was open.

The blue-robed figure transformed into a streak of light, entering the Kui Star Tower.

It was open!

So easily?

Lu Jiuzhang followed, approaching the tower.

The moment he stepped through the door, he was stunned.

A shaft of white light shone on him, as if pouring into his head, and an immense flow of scholarly energy surged into his body.

It was as if a shackle had fallen away, his body instantly growing light.

Not only that, but subtle changes occurred throughout his being; even the minutest details visible to his eyes could now be distinguished with perfect clarity.

With the influx of this vast scholarly force, Lu Jiuzhang felt he had reached the threshold.

The Ninth Rank of Confucianism!

Unlike martial or magical cultivation, the first seven ranks of Confucianism below the seventh possess little offensive power.

Yet one who bears this righteous energy is a bane to monsters and demons.

He did not know much about the cultivation systems of this world.

Master Zhou, however, had reached the threshold as well—also at the Ninth Rank of Confucianism. Perhaps he could ask him what differences there might be at this level.

With this in mind, Lu Jiuzhang stepped forward, entering the Kui Star Tower.

Countless times over the past half-year he had wished to enter and see what lay within, but each time he had been repelled by the closed door.

Only now could he glimpse its secrets.

This was the first floor. There was little decoration inside; nine statues stood distributed around the room.

One statue was illuminated, lifelike and vivid.

It was the statue of the blue-robed man who had turned his back to Lu Jiuzhang before, enveloped in the aura of Confucianism, left hand behind his back, right hand holding an ancient scroll.

The title of the scroll could just be made out: the very same ‘Records of Dialectics’ that Lu Jiuzhang had just read.

He deduced this statue must represent the great scholar Lu Shiyi.

But why was he here? And what did the Kui Star Tower itself signify?

Aside from the statue of Lu Shiyi, the other eight statues were lifeless, forming a stark contrast.

Between the nine statues stood a gray, unremarkable pool.

The pool was not large, about nine yards square.

Within, mist swirled and billowed.

It seemed to nourish the entire Kui Star Tower, the mist drifting outward in all directions.

...

When he returned from his sea of consciousness, dawn was already breaking.

Although he had not slept all night, Lu Jiuzhang felt no fatigue; instead, he was full of energy.

This must have been the effect of entering the threshold—even the lowest, Ninth Rank, was a step beyond the ordinary.

On the table, the badge left by Director Chen of the Demon-Slaying Bureau was still there.

Should he go to the Demon-Slaying Bureau?

Lu Jiuzhang had not yet made up his mind.

Perhaps it was best to wait and see. If he did not go, he could observe how the Bureau reacted.

If they invited him again, or tried to force him to join, then something must surely be amiss.

...

After washing up, Lu Jiuzhang left the house.

There were important matters to attend to today.

The snow had stopped. The world was a vast stretch of white.

The footprints left in the courtyard last night had already been covered by the snow.

The morning sun was rising, and the air was even colder than yesterday.

But Lu Jiuzhang felt no chill at all, striding briskly toward the street.

At the same time, at the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

Director Chen sat upright in his grand chair, playing with a piece of jade.

He had waited a long time, but Lu Jiuzhang had yet to arrive for work.

Could something have happened?

According to the records, Lu Jiuzhang, younger brother of Lu Huaigu, was a good-for-nothing who spent most of his time indoors.

He did not go out to work or earn money, nor had he learned any trade.

He was a wooden, dull fellow—a simpleton.

By all rights, with such a good job as this, he should not have refused to join the Demon-Slaying Bureau.

“Send the menial Wang Yunshan to see me.”

After a moment’s thought, Director Chen spoke to his subordinate.