Li Junzi withdrew her gaze and slowly rose to her feet under the watchful eyes of everyone present.
Cui Hao's remarkably smooth opening performance signaled that Li Junzi's side had come fully prepared for this academic debate, and they likely intended to settle the matter decisively in this round.
Outside the Debate Hall, many students fixed their eyes on Li Junzi. The outcome of this debate mattered to them, yet it was not what mattered most. The opportunity to hear the deeper insights of these Great Scholars, to resolve the doubts and questions in their own hearts — that was what truly mattered to those still on the path of learning.
The students listened attentively not only to Chen Wenqian, the Great Scholar of the orthodox school, but also to the views of Li Junzi, who was a Great Scholar in her own right.
There was a curious phenomenon in this world — people with entirely different temperaments could nevertheless agree upon the same fundamental truth. Truth possessed a universality that transcended personality and gender. Moreover, Li Junzi's unorthodox ideas served as a valuable challenge and validation of their own studies.
Had these students faced Li Junzi's arguments alone, they would undoubtedly have been defeated. But they held genuine respect for senior scholars from Gentlemen Mountain, even when their philosophies differed.
Chen Wenqian's expression was equally grave. If the "White Horse is Not Horse" argument had been merely an appetizing opening move, then what kind of devastating strike would Li Junzi deliver as the lead debater?
Li Junzi rose to her feet, her gaze passing over Chen Wenqian before turning toward the many students gathered beyond the windows.
She spoke softly: "In the way of the Confucian cultivator, wielding the brush requires study, copying texts requires study, understanding principles requires study, and to become a Great Scholar, one must study with all one's heart and utmost effort."
"To become a Great Scholar, one must study diligently, but also strive with complete devotion to comprehend the truths of the Sub-Sage..."
"Yet this so-called comprehension... can only come from books, for the Sub-Sage has long since passed, and the thoughts he left behind exist only within those pages."
"Confucian cultivators are not like ordinary martial cultivators — our lifespans are not so generous. Some spend their entire lives without ever attaining even the rank of Scholar, let alone anything beyond."
"Books contain principles, and books contain truth. The Sub-Sage's arguments that cleaved the heavens are true, and the fire of civilization he kindled is true."
"But if all of these truths are obtained from books, then how can you be certain they are genuine?"
Li Junzi did not look at Chen Wenqian. Instead, her eyes rested upon the eager students outside the doors as she continued:
"Is it because these principles are written in books? Or because these principles were spoken by the Sub-Sage?"
"Have you ever wondered in your hearts — is this really how things should be?"
"Naturally, there is nothing wrong with reading, and there is nothing wrong with the world that exists within books."
"But beyond looking at the world inside books, have you truly looked at the world outside?"
"Those principles you have never put into practice — how can you be certain they are useful? Will you once again say, 'because the book says so'?"
"I once stayed in a small mountain village, a tiny, remote place where most of the people would not recognize a single character in their entire lives."
"Naturally, they knew nothing of the Sub-Sage's teachings. I am not speaking of the adults here — I refer only to the children. Some of them were naturally aggressive and prone to fighting, while others turned to petty theft."
"When I pressed them for reasons, the most common answer I received was that some people were simply born wicked."
"But when I looked more closely, I found that those who fought had been bullied relentlessly since childhood, and those who stole did so because they were hungry."
"Whatever the reason, these were not causes for becoming wicked."
"Most people's lives are inherently difficult, but in my eyes, the Sub-Sage's principles set the bar too high."
"My teacher once said I wasted over ten years of my life in that village, but I do not entirely agree."
"There, I learned the most important lesson — there are things you must do yourself before you can truly understand why."
"I read books about raising chickens, yet I still managed to kill several of them. I read books about growing vegetables, yet I killed off one crop after another."
"Perhaps you will say I had not studied deeply enough, but I was already a Scholar by then — I would not have treated books carelessly."
"Only after many chickens died and many crops withered did I finally learn how to do these things properly. Most of those books were correct, and once I succeeded, I agreed with them wholeheartedly. But books always contain omissions and errors, and a single mistake can undo all of your efforts in an instant."
"Thus I came to understand a truth."
"In this world, there are countless things that can only be understood through doing, not through reading."
"These words concern scholarship, and they also concern matters beyond scholarship. I do not say these things to Dean Chen — I say them only to you, the students of today. Whether you accept them is for your own hearts to decide."
"Books can only serve as reference — and that includes the books of the Sub-Sage."
Li Junzi's words faded, and she bowed respectfully toward the students gathered outside the window.
The students outside hastily rose as one and called out in unison: "Thank you for your teachings, Master Li."
Li Junzi straightened and turned her gaze to Chen Wenqian.
Chen Wenqian's expression was difficult to read. His clouded eyes revealed a mixture of admiration, regret, and acknowledgment — a complex emotion that he could not quite put into words.
He bowed lightly.
Li Junzi returned the bow, then said in a calm voice:
"I concede the fourth debate."
Li Junzi's words were utterly unexpected.
The hall fell into absolute silence.
Cui Hao and Lin Luoyu both stared in shock and disbelief.
Even Yuyang Daozi, who had maintained a placid expression throughout, frowned slightly as he turned his gaze toward Li Junzi.
He did not understand — there had been a chance to win. Why concede?
Only Chu Xingchen's expression remained unchanged.
Chen Wenqian was equally stunned. He reached out as if to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Countless questions rose and fell, none finding their voice.
A faint smile appeared on Li Junzi's face:
"I am still insufficient. Some truths I seem to understand, yet do not fully understand. Even if I won this debate, it would only leave me with a shallow, half-formed grasp of the matter."
"A white horse is not a horse — if you simply go and look at one, touch one with your own hands, is it not immediately clear?"
"For the fifth debate, I still wish to continue. But I must trouble the Dean to push the date far into the future."
"Perhaps five years. Perhaps ten. Perhaps twenty."
"I wish to go out into the world and ask whether my principles are true or false, right or wrong. When I have found my answers and gained true understanding, I will return for the fifth debate."
Chen Wenqian lowered his hand and suddenly burst into hearty laughter. The look in his eyes as he regarded Li Junzi had transformed into the purest form of admiration.
He accepted the challenge readily and declared in a clear voice:
"This old man may not live to see twenty years from now, but twenty years hence, a new Dean will be waiting for your debate."
Li Junzi smiled and agreed. She then turned to leave.
Chen Wenqian hastily spoke up: "There is one thing I would like to ask of Master Li."
Li Junzi paused. "What is it?"
Chen Wenqian said solemnly: "I would like you to leave a piece of calligraphy for the Debate Hall of Gentlemen Mountain."
Li Junzi was slightly surprised: "But I am no longer a Great Scholar..."
Never before had anyone below the rank of Great Scholar been asked to leave calligraphy in the Debate Hall.
Chen Wenqian declared loudly:
"Who says you are not a Great Scholar?"
Before his words had fully faded, voices rose from beyond the windows:
"Who says you are not a Great Scholar!"
Li Junzi did not decline further upon hearing this: "Then I shall humbly offer what I can."
Just as she reached for the brush resting on the table before her, a pen suddenly shot through the air, arriving in a flash of pristine white light that pulsed gently before her.
Righteous Energy and Literary Energy resonated in harmony.
The hall fell silent once more — a deep, total stillness.
Ever since the era of the Sub-Sage, the Broken Pen had never written another word.
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