Chapter 1034: Zhuge Yuan Extra 8: Disciple Rules

Chapter 1034: Zhuge Yuan Side Story 8: The Standards for Being a Good Pupil

After hearing the man’s words, Zhuge Yuan was stunned for a long moment before he finally reacted, hurriedly replying, "The elder is too modest. Having followed my master for many years, I have merely gained some superficial experience; it is hardly worth mentioning."

Judging by the elder’s tone, he did not seem overly furious, and perhaps there was still room for negotiation.

He did not care about his own fate, but he must not let Li Jinshu be punished for helping him; after all, he was the one who had asked for the favor.

If the other party helped for free and then suffered punishment because of it, he would truly feel terrible.

"This experience is far from ordinary; common households do not possess such insight." The elder paced around Zhuge Yuan with his hands behind his back. "Tell me, who are you, and where do you come from?"

"Grandmaster, he is the one who—" Before Li Jinshu could finish, the elder waved a large hand, and Li Jinshu’s mouth was instantly wiped onto the elder’s wide sleeve. "Did I ask you? Does this boy not have a mouth of his own?"

Hearing this, Zhuge Yuan quickly summarized the events, explaining the cause and effect of the situation.

"You say it was you who begged Li Jinshu to bring you here? And you knew that coming here was the only way to enter the Minglun Hall?" The elder asked again with a stern face.

Zhuge Yuan glanced at him and nodded repeatedly. "Yes."

The elder nodded, slowly raised his long sleeve, and held Li Jinshu’s mouth—still stuck to the cuff—up to his ear, listening quietly to something.

When the elder lowered his sleeve and revealed a mocking, insincere smile, Zhuge Yuan’s heart sank.

"Boy, do you think you can fool me with such petty tricks? Rest assured, his punishment is inevitable, and yours will be the same."

With furrowed brows, Zhuge Yuan immediately stepped forward and bowed with cupped hands. "Respected elder, this matter began entirely with me. A true man takes responsibility for his own actions; whatever the punishment, I shall bear it alone!"

"Can you bear it? You don't even know what the punishment is, yet you dare to speak so boastfully?"

Zhuge Yuan answered without hesitation. "No matter the punishment, I will bear it!"

"Good!" The elder gave Zhuge Yuan a thumbs-up. "Boy, if you have the guts, follow me!"

Seeing the elder sweep his sleeves and depart, Zhuge Yuan glanced at the mouthless Li Jinshu, who was waving his hands frantically, and hurried to catch up.

Just as Li Jinshu tried to follow, he was pinned to the ground by several hands from behind.

With a heart full of trepidation, Zhuge Yuan followed the elder through the winding paths of the courtyard.

Just as he wondered where he was being taken, a dark, gloomy cellar appeared before him.

A thick, pungent smell of blood and miserable screams drifted from within, causing Zhuge Yuan’s face to turn pale; it was clearly no place of benevolence.

"Boy, where did that boastful courage go? Go on in."

The elder crossed his arms and sneered. "Tell me, who really wanted to come here? As long as you tell the truth, someone else can take your place."

A flicker of struggle and hesitation crossed Zhuge Yuan’s eyes, but thinking that he likely wouldn't die, he steeled himself.

"It was me!" With that, Zhuge Yuan walked toward the cellar without hesitation.

As he drew closer, the screams grew louder, and Zhuge Yuan could even see half a human skin being peeled away.

But just as he was about to step into the cellar, a wrinkled, aged hand reached out from behind and gently flicked the edge of the cellar entrance. The cellar, the screams, and the stench of blood instantly rolled up like a painting and vanished.

"Wait, that torture chamber was just a painting!" Zhuge Yuan realized, turning his head back.

The elder stood where he was, nodded approvingly at Zhuge Yuan, and left without a word.

Just as Zhuge Yuan stood there, bewildered, the elder threw back two cold words: "Keep up."

Zhuge Yuan braced himself for whatever severe punishment awaited him, but when he stood still again, he found himself in a very simple study.

"Kneel there and read." The elder pointed to a low table where an old, yellowed book lay neatly.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If he wasn't afraid of the torture chamber, he certainly wouldn't fear this. Zhuge Yuan walked over, sat cross-legged, and began to read.

"The Standards for Being a Good Pupil: Teachings of the Sages. First, filial piety and fraternal love; second, caution and trustworthiness..."

Seeing the content, Zhuge Yuan was surprised and looked up at the elder.

"Keep reading, and recite it aloud!"

He wasn't afraid of severe punishment, so why should he fear reading the Standards for Being a Good Pupil? He began to recite loudly.

"To speak of others' faults is a wrong; if one knows of them, one should strive to improve. To praise others' virtues is a good; if one is jealous, disaster will follow. Evil and deviant matters must never be inquired into..."

Zhuge Yuan continued to chant. At first, his voice was loud, but as he read, the situation changed.

It was not the man reading the book, but the book reading the man. Every word he recited felt like molten iron being branded deep into his mind.

This was not simple rote memorization; the content of the book was replacing the thoughts in his head.

A sense of terror welled up in Zhuge Yuan. He could feel that if he continued, his future principles of conduct would no longer be guided by his own will, but by the dictates of the book.

"No! I don't want this, I don't want this!!" Zhuge Yuan struggled desperately, squeezing his eyes shut with all his might.

"All people, regardless of status, must be loved. Under the same heaven, upon the same earth... Though all are human, we are not the same; the vulgar are many, the virtuous are few!"

With a loud thud, Zhuge Yuan’s forehead slammed against the wooden table, and the recitation finally ceased.

Blood trickled from his forehead, slowly soaking into the pages of the book.

But gasping for air, he ignored it, looking up at the elder nearby. "Elder, why is this?"

"Why what? Didn't you want to enter the Minglun Hall? I see you have a good foundation, so I am making an exception to let you in."

"But just now... that feeling..." Zhuge Yuan asked, still shaken.

"Everyone who enters the Minglun Hall must recite the Standards for Being a Good Pupil. Let the fine rules left by the sages cleanse your marrow and transform your energy."

"No... no, this is wrong!" Zhuge Yuan stood up, shaking his head.

"Hmm?" The elder’s brows furrowed. "What? Do you think the teachings of the Standards are wrong?"

"No, my teacher taught me the Standards, and what is written is correct, but this is not how one should teach." Zhuge Yuan’s gaze became firm. "My teacher said that to learn something, one must truly want to learn it; forced indoctrination is useless!"

"Hmph! Your teacher? And who is your teacher, to dare question the centuries-old rules of the Minglun Hall?" The elder appeared imposing and stern.

"Respected elder, are all the rules of the Minglun Hall necessarily correct? Is even the slightest questioning forbidden?"

"And if a rule is wrong, how does the Minglun Hall correct it?"

"Audacious!" The elder reached out, grabbed Zhuge Yuan by the collar, and lifted him up.

"I have seen many young pups like you, always thinking you are wiser than your ancestors, daring to question their rules—truly ignorant!"

"When your elders teach you, you listen obediently! When you reach my age, you will naturally understand!"

A hand emerged from the elder’s left sleeve, snatched the book from the low stool, and moved to press it against Zhuge Yuan’s face.

"I don't want to enter this Minglun Hall anymore!" Zhuge Yuan covered his face with both hands.

"Hmph! That is not for you to decide." When Zhuge Yuan regained his senses, he found his own arms stuck to the elder’s cuffs, while the book in the elder’s hand was pressing down toward his face like a mountain.