Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 134: Chapter 119: A Book as a Betrothal Gift

After leaving Bailu Academy, Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue traveled the world.

They planned to visit every corner, from the ten great nations of the Human Race and the smaller Dynasties to the far reaches of the Beimang Territory.

Everywhere they went, Xiao Mo would visit the local academy to engage in scholarly debate.

And since Xiao Mo had become an “Academy Headmaster,” many things had indeed become much more convenient.

Not only would all the Mortal Dynasties offer them some accommodation, but some smaller Dynasties would even send a personal welcome upon hearing that an Academy Headmaster of the Confucian School had arrived.

The main reason was that no matter which academy Xiao Mo visited, he was guaranteed to be received with importance and hospitality.

The Confucian Academies were divided into three grades.

There were only four First Grade academies—the Four Great Academies, which included Bailu Academy.

A hundred Second Grade academies.

And an unlimited number of Third Grade academies.

To some of the small Third Grade academies, Xiao Mo’s status as an “Academy Headmaster” was already enough for him to be their Academy Director.

Therefore, most academies were extremely welcoming when they heard Xiao Mo wished to engage in debate.

After all, such academic exchanges were elegant affairs in their own right. Plus, having an “Academy Headmaster” take the initiative to visit was a rare opportunity indeed.

However, most people initially wore looks of anticipation, hoping to learn a great deal from Xiao Mo, this Academy Headmaster.

On the day of the debate, these Academy Directors would even specifically ask their students to come and listen.

But soon, the teachers of these academies discovered that something was amiss…

The learning proposed by this Mountain Master Xiao was a bit… off.

To put it nicely, it was too novel, even a bit ahead of its time.

To put it bluntly, it was heretical, a complete departure from the mainstream Confucianism of the day.

Many academy teachers felt that the “Heart Learning” proposed by Xiao Mo, with “the heart is the principle” and “the unity of knowledge and action” as its core, was extremely dangerous.

This was vastly different from the current principles of “investigating things to exhaust principle” and “seeking heavenly principle externally.”

So they all vied to defeat Xiao Mo in debate.

But in the end, they couldn’t even come close to refuting Xiao Mo’s “Heart Learning.”

Every single one of them was rendered speechless by Xiao Mo. Some teachers even ended up with their Dao Hearts destabilized, spitting up a mouthful of blood on the spot as their Realms teetered on the verge of collapse.

Many of the students observing initially thought whatever their teachers said was correct. But after listening to Xiao Mo’s arguments, they began to feel that their teachers might be wrong, and they fell into confusion.

Gradually, Xiao Mo’s reputation spread far and wide. It reached a point where some Confucian Academies, upon hearing he was coming, were willing to let him stay for a few days but refused to debate with him.

Most Confucian Scholars believed Xiao Mo’s “Heart Learning” was wrong.

They believed that Heart Learning, to a certain extent, weakened the importance of studying the classics and accumulating empirical knowledge.

They argued that while “nothing exists outside the heart” and “no principle exists outside the heart” were meant to break free from dogmatic constraints, their overemphasis on the heart’s ontological status could dissolve the reality of objective laws and the external world.

It might even lead future generations to detach from concrete knowledge and social practice, engaging in empty talk about “innate knowing.”

Many Confucian Scholars, hearing of his reputation, came to debate him, intending to fundamentally attack Xiao Mo’s “Heart Learning.”

But in the end, Xiao Mo still won.

Xiao Mo emphasized “tempering through practical affairs” and “advancing both knowledge and action,” opposing empty talk detached from reality. He argued that knowledge and action needed to advance in unison, like walking on two feet.

Furthermore, Xiao Mo believed that Heart Learning was, to a certain degree, a supplement to Neo-Confucianism—the final, complete manifestation of Neo-Confucianism.

In the blink of an eye, ten years passed.

Xiao Mo couldn’t remember how many academies he had visited or how many debates he had participated in.

But with each debate and his continued travels through the Mortal World, Xiao Mo’s theory of “Heart Learning” became more and more refined. He was even preparing to write a book to establish his doctrine.

And throughout the World of Ten Thousand Laws, the vast majority of Confucian Scholars had at least heard of Heart Learning, even if they hadn’t studied it.

Some Confucian Scholars even grew interested in it, wanting to study Heart Learning and understand just what kind of philosophy it was.

But most academies treated “Heart Learning” as taboo, forbidding scholars from discussing it.

Quite a few old pedants reported the matter to the Confucian Academy, demanding that they restrain Xiao Mo, prohibit him from debating, and forbid all students under heaven from discussing Heart Learning.

The Confucian Academy’s attitude, however, was quite open-minded.

The Confucian Academy issued a notice, the gist of which was: if you want to make Heart Learning disappear, then go and debate Xiao Mo and shatter his philosophy.

However, although Xiao Mo’s Heart Learning caused a great stir in the World of Ten Thousand Laws, the matter of greatest concern was still the great war between the Human Race and the Demon Race.

The Human Race and the Demon Race had been in a standoff for so many years, held so many peace talks, and engaged in such a long tug-of-war, that war was finally about to break out.

The North Sea did indeed have many warmongers who wanted to join the Demon Race’s World in attacking the World of Ten Thousand Laws, but Bai Ruxue had suppressed them all.

Furthermore, Bai Ruxue made a public declaration: “The North Sea will not intervene in the war between the Human Race and the Demon Race. We will help neither side.”

If the Human Race’s army wished to pass through the North Sea, the North Sea would make way and cede a battlefield for them.

But many people still didn’t trust the North Sea, believing they were just putting on an act to stab them in the back at a critical moment.

Moreover, someone revealed that the Bai Ruxue by Xiao Mo’s side was none other than the Lord of the North Sea, and that Xiao Mo was a traitor to the Human Race.

The fundamental purpose of Xiao Mo’s Heart Learning, they claimed, was to corrupt the Dao Hearts of the world’s Confucian Scholars and reduce the combat strength of the World of Ten Thousand Laws.

Xiao Mo paid no mind to these claims whatsoever.

Bai Ruxue, on the other hand, would sometimes pace around the courtyard in a huff, cursing, “How can these decrepit old fossils be so shameless? When they can’t win a debate, they resort to slander and malicious rumors!”

At times like this, Xiao Mo always had to properly soothe Ruxue’s temper.

In truth, Xiao Mo had long anticipated these rumors.

First, Ruxue’s identity couldn’t stay hidden forever.

Second, the influence of “Heart Learning” was growing, and he had even gained some followers.

Furthermore, not all scholars are upright and honorable.

There are villains in every walk of life.

“Alright, Ruxue, don’t be angry.”

On this day, after Bai Ruxue had her usual bout of anger, Xiao Mo smiled and gently ruffled Ruxue’s hair.

“After we finish the debate at Duanya Academy, let’s go back to Huanyu Village and stay for a while.”

“Really?” Hearing Xiao Mo’s words, Bai Ruxue’s eyes instantly lit up.

Although her life traveling far and wide with Xiao Mo was wonderful, the situation was now growing tense. The letters Bai Ruxue had received from Xiao Qing these past few days confirmed that war between the two worlds was inevitable, and would break out within half a year at most.

Bai Ruxue felt that she had to take Xiao Mo and find a place to hide.

“Really,” Xiao Mo smiled. “After all these years, it’s about time I gave you a proper commitment.”

“Eh?” Bai Ruxue froze for a moment, then her cheeks flushed red. She lowered her head and fidgeted with her hands. “What… what are you talking about…”

Xiao Mo stepped forward and took her small hand. “I don’t have anything valuable. When I finish writing this book, *Knowledge and Action Combined*, I’ll offer it as a betrothal gift. How does that sound?”

“Who uses a book as a betrothal gift,” Bai Ruxue mumbled softly.

“Er… alright, I’ll think of something else then.”

“Don’t.”

Bai Ruxue looked up, the blush on her cheeks spreading down to her delicate neck.

“You’ve always been a poor scholar…

You don’t have any money.

This time…

I’ll allow you to use a book as your betrothal gift…”