Chapter 383: Speaking

The center of the world, Chang'an.

It was as prosperous as ever.

It was already morning. Ripples spread across the great canal in the middle of Chang'an. Boats came and went, the sound of rudders hitting the water was incessant, and paddles churned the reflection of the rising sun on the Bian River.

On the various tributaries of the river, passenger, cargo, grain, and ferry boats crisscrossed.

Looking at the streets, the noisy market sounds, people bustling, vehicles flowing, a thousand-foot rainbow flying above tall buildings, willow branches caressing the water, majestic pavilions, trees surrounding, colorful tents filled with people, ten thousand carriages fleeting like wind, a thousand drums passing like thunder.

The Tang Nation's commerce had formed a vast network, and it was fully supervised by The Axis of All Realms. Countless households buzzed with activity, as people had already risen to begin their day's work, entertainment, and life.

Various markets had also opened, hundreds of industries, especially the vegetable market, opened their doors simultaneously with the rush of early morning shoppers, welcoming the daily morning crowds.

The Liu family was naturally the same, and generally speaking, they woke up exceptionally early.

By the time Li Qi and Liu Canzhi woke up, Liu Junyi had already prepared breakfast and even knocked on their doors to call them to eat.

Li Qi and Liu Canzhi were accustomed to this, as Li Qi had rested here more than once or twice.

Li Qi was very clear that the Liu family had no servants. Liu Donghe disliked ordering others around, and only three people lived in this residence: the Liu father and son, and Liu Junyi, who was staying there.

Anyway, with Magic, cleaning didn't require self-action; a few Dust-Cleansing Talismans would suffice. The only regular housework was actually just laundry and cooking.

As for laundry, none of the three were particularly good at it, so it was outsourced to laundresses who would regularly come to collect clothes and deliver them back after washing.

As for cooking...

Liu Donghe was clearly someone who couldn't cook, and Liu Canzhi was lazy, so naturally, it could only be Liu Junyi.

Fortunately, Liu Junyi's cooking was good.

This refined and humble gentleman was not someone who couldn't lift a finger. In fact, there was no such person in the Liu family at all. Liu Donghe's family style was very good; even Liu Donghe himself often did tasks like repairing furniture and tending to the courtyard.

It's just that this famous scholar's cooking skills... were hard to describe.

Li Qi, accustomed to the routine, sat down at the Liu family's dining table.

The breakfast placed on the table was fermented bean curd mixed with vegetables, a dish the Liu family enjoyed.

After the tofu was fermented, it was preserved in red oil. When eaten, it was scooped out and steamed several times until it was crispy inside, then its skin was peeled off and flavor was added.

Then, vegetables like lotus root, bamboo shoots, bracken, and taro were prepared, steamed until soft, and then the red fermented bean curd was dotted on top.

The staple food was flatbread, just ordinary white flour cooked.

However, there was also a dish of meat paste for the meal. Pork was stewed until tender, then peeled walnuts were put in a pot and mashed. Once the walnut oil permeated, spices, aged wine, soy sauce, a little brown sugar, and other ingredients were added to the original liquid and stored. When eaten, it was heated and then spooned onto the flatbread; its taste was exceptionally delicious.

The ingredients were common foodstuffs, and no Spirit Beasts, Dragon liver, or Phoenix gall were used, which would not align with the Liu family's consistent simple style, but the taste was absolutely not bad.

Sitting at the dining table, Li Qi praised Liu Junyi: “Brother Liu’s cooking is truly amazing. The taste is comparable to the Imperial Academy cafeteria.”

Comparable to the cafeteria, this was the highest praise.

One should know that the chef at the Imperial Academy's cafeteria was Guo Peng Hai, a chef who Cultivated culinary arts and had reached the Fourth Rank.

Liu Junyi smiled: “The Sage said, 'Food should be refined, and finely cut meat should be eaten.' Although there are no rare delicacies, everyday meals, like studying, require dedication.”

“If one doesn’t even care about daily life and eating, how can one care about studying?”

Liu Junyi said this, glancing at Liu Canzhi, who was eating.

Liu Canzhi rolled his eyes.

Li Qi found it amusing, but he controlled his expression well; he couldn't openly mock him.

Liu Canzhi was accustomed to being lazy, just like most people who don't do housework. His family always wanted to find an opportunity to educate him, as Liu Canzhi sometimes couldn't even be bothered to clean his own room.

Even though it only required a Dust-Cleansing Talisman, he felt it was unnecessary, so he often forgot and just left things where they were, making his father and elder brother feel he was very inadequate.

At this moment, he heard Liu Donghe, who was sitting at the head of the table, say: “Your elder brother is right. If one cannot sweep a single room, how can one sweep the world? If one doesn't care about the things around him, then what else is worth caring about?”

Liu Canzhi silently sighed and began to play dead, not arguing.

Normally, he would remain silent, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water; let them talk, I'll do what I want.

However, he suddenly thought of what he was going to say next, so he straightened his back, picked up his bowl, and respectfully said, “Father is right. I also intend to correct myself. After we clear the table today, I will do the dishes.”

At these words, Li Qi, Liu Junyi, and Liu Donghe were all stunned. They all stopped what they were doing and looked at Liu Canzhi, their faces full of surprise.

Liu Canzhi's expression remained unchanged as he said, “Li Qi advised me yesterday, and coupled with Father’s and Elder Brother’s daily admonitions, I felt deeply ashamed. So, I decided to change my lazy habits starting today.”

Liu Donghe heard this and was immediately comforted. Even the most strict father would be so relieved when his son suddenly had an epiphany.

He looked Liu Canzhi up and down: “This is very good, very good.”

Saying that, he looked at Li Qi again.

Then, Liu Donghe said to Li Qi: “Though a person may possess inherent beauty and discerning wisdom, they must seek out a virtuous teacher and serve him, and choose good friends to befriend. Then, what they observe will be acts of loyalty, trustworthiness, reverence, and humility. Their body will daily advance in benevolence and righteousness, and their mind will daily advance in self-discipline.”

“The ability of a good friend is to urge one to broad study, to show one success and failure, to make one observe the past to understand the future, to observe others to know oneself, to guide one onto the straight Dao, to restrain one within proper bounds, to make one cautious as if hanging from a cliff, and fearful as if riding a swift horse on thin ice. Thus, one can avoid much regret and bring about good fortune.”

“Canzhi having such a good friend is truly a great fortune.”

Speaking in such a classical and literary manner, Li Qi honestly found it a bit difficult to follow.

Moreover, these words were full of allusions, with an ancient story behind each phrase, which even Li Qi's extensive reading couldn't entirely keep up with.

However, he could generally understand it. It was probably praising him as a good friend who had led the formerly lazy Liu Canzhi astray, and it also hinted that Liu Canzhi was also a 'good friend,' hoping Li Qi would continue to maintain a good relationship with him.

After listening, Li Qi immediately said, “That is natural. This junior has heard that a true gentleman, after reading ten thousand scrolls, must also ascend to the court, survey mountains and rivers, and befriend famous people from all corners of the land. Only then will his character and insights naturally broaden, and through the refinement of good friends, he will naturally progress. Otherwise, like birds chirping and insects buzzing, content in their own small world, even if there are merits, their scope will remain narrow.”

“Now, Brother Liu and I are like butterflies flitting among flowers, refining and discussing daily, both gaining much.”

Li Qi also said so.

Although the two hadn't communicated privately, having worked together for so long, they had this much tacit understanding. He understood Liu Canzhi's meaning.

Clearly, Liu Canzhi planned to be a good boy and make old man Liu Donghe happy, so it would be easier to ask him to compose poems and essays, and to boast about the lingxiao flower.

And Liu Donghe glanced at the two of them.

To be honest, although Liu Donghe praised Li Qi, in terms of actual impact, rationally speaking, Liu Donghe didn't believe a single word of it.

What about “reading ten thousand scrolls, ascending to the court, surveying mountains and rivers, befriending famous people from all corners of the land, character and insights naturally broadening, and through the refinement of good friends, naturally progressing”—these words sounded good, but Liu Donghe knew that Li Qi was typically not fond of socializing.

Although he appeared polite and refined, in the more than half a year he had been in Chang'an, he had not made a single friend apart from Liu Canzhi, nor had he gone out to sightsee. The only things he did daily were study and Cultivate.

What about sightseeing? Had he ever gone out to play?

But...

Liu Donghe scanned the two of them again.

Indeed, Liu Canzhi’s Cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds recently. In the past half year, he no longer visited those pleasure quarters in the Upper Garden, but focused on research at home.

Although he was researching minor techniques like Gu and insects, it was still a skill, and it wasn't impossible for him to pursue the grand Dao.

There had been changes.

So, Liu Donghe nodded: “That’s true. So, do you two have something to say?”

Li Qi showed an awkward smile.

Liu Canzhi trembled, looked at Li Qi, and showed a helpless expression.

As expected, Liu Donghe understood everything; the two of them could never hide anything from him.

But Liu Canzhi seemed to want to struggle a bit. He put down his rice bowl, stood up, and said, “There are some things I wish to report to Father. Father, after dinner, would you be willing to come with us to my courtyard to see our results?”

“Since we began our work, Father has only said that what we do are mere insect Gu minor techniques, and has never personally seen what we have accomplished. Now that we finally have some achievements, we still hope Father can grace us with his presence and personally witness your son’s… Seventh Rank Dao Foundation.”

Liu Canzhi said solemnly, even bringing up the Seventh Rank Dao Foundation.

In the world, nothing is more important to a person than their Dao path.

And within the Dao path, the Dao Foundation is the lifeline of all lifelines. Damage to the Dao Foundation can lead to a drop in rank at best, and direct death at worst.

A very important part of one's foundation is the Dao Foundation.

Saying this was basically equivalent to laying everything bare for Liu Donghe.

As a father, he couldn't possibly refuse such a request.

So, Liu Donghe nodded: “Alright, then afterwards, I’ll go take a look. Sit down, eat first.”

Liu Canzhi sat down, and Li Qi also breathed a sigh of relief.

After that, no one spoke. Everyone quietly ate their food, and breakfast quickly concluded.

Then, just as he had said, Liu Canzhi voluntarily cleared the table and went to wash the dishes.

Washing dishes was very convenient, achievable with Magic.

However, Liu Canzhi Cultivates the Dao of Reason, so he wasn't very skilled at these things. He still directly pulled out a Spiritual Artifact, manipulated water currents to create a vortex, and then threw the bowls into it for rapid washing.

The vortex speed was at least a hundred kilometers per hour.

After sacrificing a few broken bowls, he finished these tasks, then quickly took Liu Donghe to his small courtyard.

Li Qi naturally followed, but he didn't speak.

Soon, Liu Donghe followed Liu Canzhi into the small courtyard.

But as soon as he arrived, he frowned.

Just as he had thought, a pile of insects gathered together, gnawing on fragments of Spiritual Artifacts.

It was filled with... the aura of Shaman Dao and Gu.

It was truly unpleasant.

In the eyes of traditional Human Dao, Shaman Dao was a typical Evil Path. Many years ago, the Human Emperor, when it was not yet the Tang Nation, already 'detested Shaman Dao and Gu like mortal enemies,' and many 'Shaman Dao and Gu Disasters' had occurred.

Of course, that was in the past. Today's world is much more open, with far fewer prejudices. There are also many popular science explanations about Shaman Dao on the The Axis of All Realms network.

However, the overall image of Shaman Dao still remains insidious and cunning.

To be honest, Li Qi felt that it was not surprising, even Li Qi himself felt that the methods of Shaman Dao were too bizarre, many of its Magic could not even be described as merely strange, but rather grotesque.

Compared to the majestic and splendid Dao Sect next door, the methods of Shaman Dao were truly... not presentable, let alone the historical origins of Human Dao and Shaman Dao.

But Liu Donghe was not some rigid Confucian. Although he disliked Shaman Dao methods, he also understood the Dao path pursuit of Shaman Dao itself.

While he didn't approve, he wouldn't disparage it.

Furthermore, this was his own son's chosen Dao Foundation, so he patiently continued to observe, and he used some Confucian methods.

Confucianism excels at employing rules, but it also has some auxiliary Magic.

He gently clapped his hands and softly chanted: “Open the lapels to dispel miasma, clear the eyes to sweep away clouds and smoke.”

This was a special rhythm, combined with poetry.

A wise man once said: “Poetry, rites, and music. Music can stir a person's Qi, preventing even minor ill intentions from taking root, leaving only natural principles. This is what is meant by 'completion through music.' It is like a person taking medicine; at first, one takes it consistently, and after taking it for a long time, one's ears become keen and eyes bright, each gaining strength. This inspires poetry, establishes rites, and perfects music.”

Through such poetry, one can become 'intelligent,' meaning their ears become sensitive and their eyes bright.

As he spoke, a slight light appeared in his eyes, and he swept his gaze over the Shamanic Silkworm Artifact before him.

Every detail was visible; no secret could be hidden.

So, he didn't even need any 'explanation'; he saw all of Li Qi and the others' designs at a glance.

“This is… your achievement?” Liu Donghe was somewhat surprised, turning to look at Li Qi and Liu Canzhi, who stood beside him.

This thing was truly exquisite, indeed worthy of being Liu Canzhi’s Dao Foundation.

To achieve such results at the Seventh and Eighth Ranks, the two of them… were not slacking off.

“That’s right, this is the result of Li Qi and my work over the past half year. Of course, it was still far from complete, but Li Qi went back to Shaman God Mountain this time and found the solution to our long-standing problem. Just yesterday, we finally made this thing practical.” Liu Canzhi immediately said.

“Good… well done.” Liu Donghe nodded.

Li Qi then seized the opportunity to step forward: “Uncle, we want to sell this item externally. Could you help us… promote it?”