Chapter 65

The old man looked at Yang Ji's expression, nodded, and smiled without a word. To receive a qualified disciple and prevent the lineage from being lost, it was worth using some minor tactics.

However, the next moment, an unexpected situation arose.

"Teacher."

Yang Ji hesitated for a moment, then said:

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't agree!"

This simple sentence instantly froze the old man's smile, and the atmosphere in the room became deathly silent. Being rejected twice by Yang Ji, even Wenshi found it hard to let go.

"Why?"

Shishi finally couldn't help but ask, his eyes full of confusion. If it weren't for truly valuing talent, he wouldn't have lowered his face like this.

Initially, when he returned to Pingchuan City, he didn't have much hope. However, the reality surprised him greatly. Whether it was the insight and wisdom of the "Four Hearts of a Scholar" or the youthful aspirations and ambitions of "remaining green even in the coldest winter," he was deeply impressed.

However, "the falling flowers have intentions, but the flowing water has none." After serving as a Wenshi in the capital of the Han Dynasty for over a decade, he never expected to encounter resistance from a mere "student."

Yang Ji sighed inwardly. He could feel the sincere intention of the elder to nurture the next generation, but unfortunately, his aspirations were not in the path of literature. Studying literature was merely a compromise out of necessity.

"Teacher, it's not that the student is arrogant. My aspirations lie elsewhere."

As Yang Ji spoke, a sudden surge of intense blood energy burst forth from his skin, drawing attention in the room.

"Ah, I see."

Shishi, seeing the intense blood energy, couldn't help but sigh deeply, feeling a sense of loss.

Before Yang Ji revealed his martial arts cultivation, Shishi still harbored some hope, thinking that Yang Ji might have some unspoken reasons. However, when Yang Ji displayed the martial blood energy within his body, Shishi understood his aspirations completely.

In today's world, the path of literature is declining, while the path of martial arts is thriving. It's only natural for Yang Ji to be passionate about martial arts and uninterested in literature. No one could blame him for that.

After all, no matter how much one advances in the path of literature, the highest achievement is merely the title of "Scholar." At best, one could become a "Wenshi" like him. But the path of martial arts has no limits. Martial Saints and Martial Gods are far beyond what the path of literature can compare to.

However, Shishi still felt a sense of loss.

"Who would have thought, we are still without a connection."

Shishi sighed inwardly. It was rare to find a qualified "student," and he never expected to miss the opportunity.

"Yang Ji, you must be preparing for the upcoming martial arts examination, right?"

After a moment of contemplation, Shishi said:

"I understand your thoughts. The path of literature is declining, and it's natural for you to want to focus on martial arts. I won't force you to become my disciple. However, I hope you can agree to one request."

Yang Ji was surprised but still agreed: "Teacher, please speak. If I can do it, I will not refuse."

To be fair, the elder had shown him great kindness, and Yang Ji was not an ungrateful person. As long as the elder's request was reasonable, he would not refuse someone who had been kind to him.

"Yang Ji, your insight is excellent, and your talent is good. You can write such a spiritually rich article on your own, which is not something everyone can do. You now believe that the path of martial arts is stronger and has a better future, and I won't argue with you. I only hope that while you practice martial arts, you don't neglect the path of literature."

This request was reasonable, and Yang Ji could not refuse.

"Teacher, rest assured, I will comply."

Yang Ji said.

"Ha ha, good. Your words are enough."

Shishi's brows relaxed, and he smiled. As long as Yang Ji didn't neglect the path of literature, he could pass on his lineage subtly, and the formal relationship of teacher and student was not important.

"Come, come, come!"

Shishi, feeling much better after Yang Ji's words, said:

"It's rare for me to be so happy today. I also have a gift for you."

Shishi took out a palm-sized dark box from his sleeve and gently placed it on the table in front of him. "Open it and take a look!"

"Snap!"

The moment the wooden box opened, a five-inch-tall purple aura rose, changing constantly. The entire room instantly became peaceful and harmonious, and Yang Ji felt a surge of energy, his mind clearer and more refreshed than ever before.

Yang Ji was amazed and leaned in for a closer look. The purple aura, several inches high, was continuous and unscattered, containing boundless spiritual energy. Upon closer inspection, he could see vast mountains and rivers, the sun and the moon within the purple aura.

At the bottom of all these "mountains and rivers," Yang Ji saw a white piece of paper with an "X" on it, resembling part of the character "又" (yòu) and part of the character "文" (wén), lying quietly at the bottom of the box.

"What is this?"

Yang Ji was shocked and asked, his mind filled with doubt. For over a decade, Yang Ji had never seen anything like this.

"Ha, this is a fragment of a Wen Saint's writing that I obtained unintentionally during my years in Yanjing!..."

Shishi's words stirred a thousand waves. Hearing the words "Wen Saint's writing," Yang Ji's eyes widened, and his mind went blank.

He only heard Shishi's voice continue:

"This character looks like the character '又' (yòu) and also like the character '文' (wén). I have studied it for seven or eight years and can only vaguely determine that it is part of a poem or essay written by the Wen Saint, praising the mountains and rivers. The Wen Saint's writing is indestructible by water or fire, shining as brightly as the sun and moon, enduring as long as the heavens and earth. However, this piece of the Wen Saint's writing is broken, leaving only this small fragment. The mysteries of fate are indeed hard to fathom..."

"Wen Saint's writing, it's actually the Wen Saint's writing..."

Yang Ji's shock was indescribable. He had read the classics for eight years and knew what the "Wen Saint" represented.

However, the Wen Saint had long been destroyed, becoming a legend of the previous era. Their stories were all mythical, with no tangible proof of their existence.

But now, he had actually seen the "Wen Saint's writing," the true legacy of those vanished "Wen Saints"!

—It was like a dream.

"Yang Ji, you practice martial arts. Try to cut it and see."

Shishi, sitting above, knew that Yang Ji was not entirely convinced.

Yang Ji took a deep breath and suddenly came to his senses. Indeed, the mysterious nature of the Wen Saint's writing, as described by Shishi, was hard to verify.

Shishi, a Wenshi, did not carry any weapons. Yang Ji was not accustomed to using large knives, but this was not a problem for him. He raised his palm, which immediately transformed into a palm knife.

The paper was light and hard to apply force to, but with Yang Ji's current strength, he could easily shatter a piece of paper.

However, something shocking happened. The moment Yang Ji thought about shattering this piece of "Wen Saint's writing," the thought immediately vanished, as if it had never arisen.

Yang Ji tried again to cut the "Wen Saint's writing," but the thought disappeared once more, and he completely forgot his purpose.

All his anger and killing intent vanished, and his mind became peaceful.

Facing this small piece of paper, Yang Ji was horrified to find that he could not bring himself to cut it.

"Do you now understand why the Wen Saint's writing is indestructible by water or fire and impervious to knives and axes? It's not that you can't damage a piece of paper, but in the presence of the Wen Saint, you simply can't even think of harming it."

Shishi's words echoed in his ears, carrying an indescribable shock...