Confucianism under Heaven

Chapter 52 Rabbit

Chapter Fifty-Two: The Rabbit

The fierce war gradually came to an end after Su Wenmo's arrival.

After the war ended, Ye Ru and other survivors spent six days and six nights collecting all the corpses of the human martyrs, burning them to ashes, and placing them in individual brocade boxes. They then built a martyrs' room and placed all their memorial tablets there.

After comforting the soldiers of Yun Pass, Su Wenmo left again, and the entire Yun Pass was once again put into construction.

But Ye Ru vaguely felt that something was wrong.

Everything happened so fast that he didn't have time to think.

After that, spring turned to autumn, and Yun Pass experienced dozens of battles, large and small, and Ye Ru's official rank gradually rose.

In the first year, Ye Ru was promoted to captain... Su Tongyao also sent a letter.

"Young Master Ye Ru, when you retire from the military, will you marry me?"

"it is good."

In the third year, Ye Ru was promoted to captain...

"Young Master Ye Ru, it's been three years, why haven't you come back yet? I've learned so many dishes, I'll cook them for you when I get back, okay?"

"it is good."

In the fourth year, Chen Yuanxue died in battle, and Ye Ru became the general guarding Yun Pass.

……

In the tenth year, everything was rebuilt, the Yun Pass was as solid as a rock, Ye Ru returned home in glory, resigned from his official post and returned to his hometown, but everything had changed and all was over.

"Young Master Ye Ru..."

"Ok?"

Su Tongyao was dressed in fiery red, as beautiful as a peach blossom.

"I'm getting married."

For some unknown reason, Ye Ru's heart suddenly trembled. At the moment of parting, he uttered only three words:

"I wish you well."

Ye Ru then began taking the imperial examinations...

A year later, Ye Ru participated in the imperial examination and ranked first in the provincial examination, becoming the second-highest scorer.

Two years later, Ye Ru participated in the county examination and became the top scholar, passing the provincial examination and becoming the top scholar in the provincial examination.

After Ye Ru passed the imperial examination, he returned to Qingyun County to find Su Tongyao.

However, things have changed, and Su Tongyao is nowhere to be found.

After making inquiries from various sources, Ye Ru finally found Su Tongyao's location.

“Please leave, benefactor. I am the only one here. The person you are looking for is long dead.”

For some unknown reason, Ye Ru dropped his calligraphy brush, as if he had realized something. The surrounding scenery suddenly trembled, and the old man in the radiant light reappeared:

"Do you understand?"

"I don't understand why it's so hard to have both love and loyalty."

"One cannot have both fish and bear's paw; this is the principle of Mencius. Your sacred path is to study for the rise of the human race; this is the trajectory of your destiny."

"The way of Mencius is the way of Mencius, and I have my own way of being a saint."

Ye Ru raised his head and said softly.

"You are quite bold to defy the sacred teachings of Mencius, the second sage."

"Mencius is Mencius, and talents emerge in every generation. If no one is willing to be the first to reform, then I will be the one to advocate for it!"

Ye Ru said in a deep voice, Su Tongyao's words coming to mind, and his heart ached faintly.

"Young Master Ye Ru, please come back and marry me."

"I'm sorry, Young Master Ye Ru, it's been ten years. I can't stay with you any longer. I'm getting married..."

The old man of light and shadow remained silent for a moment, his eyes flickering slightly, as if he had been touched, before he said:

What did you gain from this war?

This reminded Ye Ru of the deceased Song Weimin, and he murmured:

"The battlefield is ruthless, and swords have no eyes. Only a royal decree can console the countless white bones scattered on the ground. Many soldiers have made great achievements, but out of hundreds of thousands of people in a war, only a handful of names will be remembered by history."

"The success of one general is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers. Throughout the history of the Chinese nation, countless generals have contributed to the tragic song that resounds throughout the Confucian continent, representing the countless innocent and young lives lost."

The old man of light and shadow nodded, a hint of appreciation in his eyes, and said again:

"Throughout the millennia of Chinese history, countless emperors have reigned. In the vast historical records, only Xiang Yu can be called a hegemon. Your words resonate with his sentiments, and we should remember them."

"You've passed this fourth test."

As soon as the words fell, the world suddenly shattered, space itself broke apart, fragments of space cracked open, and the entire world collapsed with a deafening roar.

The memories suddenly shifted, and finally Ye Ru's tightly closed eyes snapped open, his dark eyes becoming even more profound.

At this moment, Ye Ru was still on the fourth floor of the Book Tower.

The silver book core is still there.

"I never imagined it was just an illusion."

Ye Ru gave a bitter smile, but the experience in that illusion was still vivid in his mind.

"This is the fourth level, a dream of wealth and glory."

"Can I now comprehend the essence of this book?"

"The heart of a scholar is not given to mediocre people, and you are no mediocre person."

After speaking, the old man of light and shadow disappeared from the spot.

"Phew, it's finally over."

Ye Ru nodded, took a step forward, and a beam of light appeared, directly drawing Ye Ru inside.

The gray space, with only countless floating characters, evokes a sense of desolation and vastness.

"Is this the inside of the book?"

Ye Ru looked around, then sat down cross-legged, extending the inner core of the book outwards in an attempt to resonate with its essence.

However, after a long time, there was no change whatsoever. Just as he was about to put the book back, a wave of talent quietly spread out in all directions.

Although the fluctuation of his talent was slight, it did not escape Ye Ru's notice.

"There's something else here?"

A chill ran down Ye Ru's spine. He turned his head and shouted sharply:

"who!"

boom!

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark figure suddenly burst out from the distant forest of words. However, before it could escape far, Ye Ru suddenly felt a gust of wind beneath his feet and grabbed it.

"rabbit?"

When he saw the rabbit, his face twitched slightly.

"You're the rabbit, your whole family are rabbits, let me go!"

The next moment, the white rabbit's two ears suddenly stood up, and it cursed.

"If you keep acting so arrogantly, do you believe I'll roast you and eat you?"

Ye Ru narrowed his eyes and suddenly laughed.

"You...you mustn't do anything reckless, I am the Divine Rabbit."

The rabbit seemed startled and quickly said...

"Could it be that you're the Jade Rabbit or something?"

Ye Ru said dismissively.

"As long as you don't roast me, everything is negotiable. I can even tell you Shuxin's secret, how about it?"

The white rabbit seemed to ponder for a moment, then its big eyes darted around before it spoke.

"The secret of the book's heart? You have to tell me first. If you don't satisfy me, I'll still have to roast you."

Ye Ru patted the white rabbit's ears, showing no sign of being fooled.

"Alright, you win. They say humans are cunning by nature, and it seems that's true."

The white rabbit seemed to pout, muttering in dissatisfaction, and then said:

"Let me go first, I promise I won't run away."

Ye Ru released him.

'Although this book tower contains a low-grade book core, it has been here for many years, and even the power of the Holy Temple cannot prevent its disappearance. If the book core is not removed this year, it will vanish into nothingness.'

The white rabbit's words surprised Ye Ru greatly. Did that mean he had to take it away?