The gentleman sighed softly and said, "Hu Wei was smart all his life, but he wasted his whole life------"
Hearing the gentleman's evaluation of his grandfather, Fang Yan felt unhappy and asked, "What do you mean by wasting a lifetime?"
"Fang's Tai Chi originally followed the path of extreme yin and softness. Because of your grandfather's personality, the concept of hard Tai Chi came into being. If you can achieve results on this path and carry forward hard Tai Chi, it would be a great thing to establish a school. Since you have chosen the right path, you should practice hard and work hard on it. As a result, your grandfather went astray and wanted to replace diligence with cleverness. In the end, it was the underestimation of the enemy who was devoted to the Tao that stood out and became a rare master of the Heavenly Dao in Yanziwu. Hu Wei was able to create hard Tai Chi by himself. Could his aptitude be worse than that of the underestimation of the enemy? Why did he work hard all his life but ultimately failed to become one of the top masters? It's because he thought too much. Some things can't be done in a shortcut."
"Also, he was originally a well-known expert in the inner martial arts world, but in order to revive the Fang family, he chose to be the bodyguard of those old people within the red walls. This is a good thing, but also a bad thing. The good thing is that it has expanded the Fang family's channels and connections, but the bad thing is that it has delayed his main business and lost his spirit. When he is with those old people, no matter how bad Hu Wei's temper is, he can't speak rudely. Can a warrior without temper still be considered a good warrior?"
"Aspirations are high as the sky, but life is fragile as paper. Hu Wei is ambitious and capable, so why did the Fang family finally rise from the hands of Mo Qingdi who succeeded by accident? It is because Hu Wei is smart, and he relies on this intelligence and thinks more than other people. In this world, most successful people are actually stubborn. They are all a bit paranoid and don't know how to adapt. Once they set their minds on something, they grit their teeth and hold on to it. Sometimes, being smart can lead to mistakes."
The gentleman did not want to explain too much, so he rolled up the white banner in his hand and said to Ye Fengsheng: "Since Fengsheng took it out, why not give it to me? I think it was originally brought out for me to see, right?"
Ye Fengsheng did not dare to disobey and said, "Since you like it, take it---"
The gentleman nodded and said, "I'll take the things. If you don't want to fight me with force, just go away. You have nothing to do here.
Then he looked at Ye Wenrou and said, "Girl, I told you to go back and rest, why did you come out again?"
"I'm worried about him." Ye Wenrou looked at her husband and said, neither humble nor arrogant, neither shy nor hiding anything. This was exactly what she was thinking, so she said it out loud.
The gentleman liked Ye Wenrou like this and comforted her, saying, "Go back. He will be fine."
"Thank you, sir." Ye Wenrou said gratefully.
He gently shook Fang Yan's hand and turned to leave first.
Ye Fengsheng and others looked at each other, and followed Ye Wenrou away.
Soon, Fang Yan was the only one standing alone in the gentleman's courtyard.
The gentleman looked at Fang Yan and said, "Come in."
After saying that, he made way for the threshold.
Fang Yanhao stepped into the door without hesitation.
Bang----
The gentleman closed the wooden door, and the room fell into complete semi-darkness.
The gentleman walked to his old recliner and sat down, looking at Fang Yan and said, "If you want to sit, sit down. If you don't want to sit, stand up."
Fang Yan thought about it and decided to stand - if the master suddenly attacked him, it would be easier for him to defend himself or escape.
The master took a big sip of the big leaf tea from the enamel pot, looked at Fang Yan standing in front of him and said: "Fang Yan, you have your position, and I have mine ----- my apprentice personally admitted to killing your father, you will be wary of me as a master, and have resentment, this is a natural thing. Because no one can guarantee that the next disaster will not happen to them----"
"But, from my perspective, I feel that this is a misunderstanding and insult to me. Is the reputation of Yanziwu so worthless? Is the gentleman's character so unworthy of your trust? Times have changed, and the interests that everyone is praying for are also different. However, no matter how many bastards have come out of Yanziwu, there are always some people fighting for the reputation of Yanziwu, fighting for the name on the stone tablet at the entrance of Yanziwu, fighting for the new or old tombs on the green hills - there are always some people who regard the existence of Yanziwu as more important than their own lives, and the glory of Yanziwu as more important than their own honor. You humiliate me like this, what kind of trick are you playing?"
"Just for an answer." Fang Yan said again. After being accused by his master, Fang Yan suddenly felt that what he had been determined for seemed to become a little illusory.
Soon, he rejected this bad idea. He was seeking justice for his father and for the Fang family. He did nothing wrong. He did nothing wrong.
I am the victim and should be the one who is right - not the old man sitting opposite me.
Even if one feels that what he said makes some sense, it cannot cover up the fact that his apprentice killed someone.
"I'm telling you, I don't know." The gentleman looked at Fang Yan and said, "Do you believe it?"
Fang Yan thought for a moment and said, "In my heart I am willing to believe it, and I hope it is true -- but I am not so sure of it."
"So, actually, what I say is not important anymore, right?" The gentleman looked at Fang Yan and said.
"So, sir, you mean that the matter should just end like this?" Fang Yan couldn't accept such a result. If this was the answer he was looking for, then what was the point of his trip home? What was the point of him meeting sir
Sometimes we can compromise. Most of the time.
Yes or no, some things have to have an answer.
"Do you know why Bai Xiu wants to kill you?" the gentleman asked.
"I don't know." Fang Yan shook his head. "I find it strange too. He and I have no conflicts, nor do we have any interests in each other-----"
"How do you know that you have no conflict with him? And no mutual interests?" the gentleman asked back.
"If there was, it was because of the general's order. Because the Jiang family wanted to kill me, so he helped the Jiang family to kill me?"
"What about the interests of Yanziwu?" said the gentleman.
"What are the benefits of Yanziwu?" Fang Yan was stunned for a moment, stared at the gentleman with wide eyes, and said, "What do you mean, sir?"
The master sighed softly and said, "Because I cherish the relationship between master and apprentice, I am willing to give him one more chance. I didn't expect that this opportunity would lead to such a disaster. So, you blame me, but I am not wronged."
"Sir, what exactly do you want to say?" Fang Yan felt vaguely that he had grasped something, but he couldn't be sure.
"What do you think of this profession, sir?" the gentleman asked.
"Sir---very respected." Fang Yan said.
"Yes, sir. He is very respected." said the gentleman. "What else?"
"Sir, you can use the red machine." Fang Yan continued.
"Yes, sir, you can use the red machine. What else?"
"------" Fang Yan couldn't think of anything.
"Sir, besides being respected and being able to use the red machine once in a while - sir, you are just a sir, a poor teacher in Yanziwu. Is that right?" The sir looked at Fang Yan and asked.
Fang Yan looked at the cloth shirt on the gentleman's body, looked at this simple and almost shabby home, nodded and said: "It is a bit poor. But, the gentleman didn't have to live such a life-----"
Will Mr. be short of money? If Mr. wants money, there will be countless people willing to give it to him. If Mr. wants a woman, there will be countless people who will give her to him - I just don't know if he can still use her with his current body.
"Mr. must live this kind of life." Mr. sighed. "Yanziwu is a special place. We have the glory passed down by our ancestors, and we also have responsibilities that need to be fulfilled for thousands of years. What kind of existence is Mr.? Mr. is the teacher of Yanziwu ------- Mr. is the guide of Yanziwu, and Mr. is also the suppressor of Yanziwu."
"The warriors of Yanziwu are the sharp weapons of the country, and also the important weapons of the country. The long sword needs a cassette, and the sword needs a scabbard. The sharp edge of Yanziwu also needs someone to cover it up, to hide it, and it would be bad if they hurt themselves. Sir, you are the cassette and scabbard of Yanziwu. You are the lubricant between Yanziwu and some big shots. Such a person can only be trapped in Yanziwu for his whole life. "
"People with small hearts think Yanziwu is big. People with big hearts think Yanziwu is also small. Some people are willing to wait for it all their lives, but some people think Yanziwu is like a dragon swimming and diving, and it is difficult to show their strength------"
"Bai Xiu is a generous person, so he thinks Yanziwu is very small?" Fang Yan asked.
"That's right." The teacher nodded. "I was optimistic about Bai Xiu before because I thought he was more suitable to stay in Yanziwu than you. That's why I kept him and rejected you when you both applied for the position of teacher in the academy. Bai Xiu is talented, intelligent, and can read books and calm down. At that time, I hoped that he could inherit my mantle and become the next teacher of Yanziwu."
"Later, I found that he was too close to some outside forces, so I wanted to give him a warning. I wanted him to stick to his original intention and let him know that his roots are in Yanziwu. So, I found him a competitor. I wanted to tell him that I could choose him or someone else to replace him."
"That competitor is me?" Fang Yan was surprised. "You never told me this."
The gentleman looked at Fang Yan and said, "Do you remember the sword I gave you?"
"That Qingyun Sword?" Fang Yan asked.
"The Qingyun Sword." The gentleman replied. (To be continued)