My Master Knows It All

373: Chapter 159: A Discussion of Dao Resulting from a Mix-up_2 373: Chapter 159: A Discussion of Dao Resulting from a Mix-up_2 Yan Kuangren’s face revealed a smug expression.

The character he had written was from a couple of days ago when he and two fellow disciples drank heavily.

At the height of their revelry, feeling inspired, he had written this character.

It also represented the pinnacle of his calligraphy studies to date.

Even now, if he were to write it again, it would be difficult for him to reproduce such unbridled and bold strokes, filled with heroic spirit.

As Chang Tiance spoke, he paused briefly, then took two steps forward and said in a low voice, “However, this character is still somewhat constrained and not wild and free enough!”

If it had been before, he would have only been able to admire such writing, feeling inferior.

But it was precisely because of Peak Master Cao’s character that he gained enlightenment.

Afterwards, he saw Peak Master Cao’s characters several more times.

Although he didn’t experience enlightenment on those later occasions, he did gain many insights, and the text before him now was full of flaws in his eyes.

Yan Kuangren’s expression changed abruptly, he said dissatisfiedly, “Not wild and free enough?

This writing was done after I was drunk.

If even this is not free enough, then I would like to know what kind of writing truly qualifies as wild and free!”

Chang Tiance glanced at Cao Zhen and, seeing that Peak Master Cao had no intention of speaking, continued, “May I ask Elder Brother, does studying the Dao of Calligraphy not begin with copying?”

“Of course it does,” Yan Kuangren glared back at Chang Tiance and retorted, “Could it be that Elder Brother Chang, your study of Calligraphy Knowledge didn’t start with copying?”

“Naturally, I too started with copying,” Chang Tiance replied, extending a finger, “But copying always follows specific routes.

In fact, whatever text we write, when we study, it’s all calligraphy.

The character ‘法’ (fa) for ‘law’ in ‘Calligraphy’ suggests following something.

What is this ‘法’ (law)?

It is the so-called rules.

Everything must follow the rules.

No matter which style of writing, after learning it, we follow the rules of that style.

But what have you written, Elder Brother?

It’s Mad grass!

What is Mad grass?

Mad grass is about breaking!

Breaking everything, shattering all shackles!

If one wishes to write Mad grass, then one must be completely unorthodox, or to put it another way, completely without orthodoxy.

Elder Brother, your writing is too fixated on orthodoxy.

Therefore, I say your characters are not wild and bold enough.

Because, Elder Brother, you are still within that frame, while those who succeed break all shackles.”

While Chang Tiance was speaking, he glanced again at Cao Zhen.

His own previous writing had been too rigid, penned within the framework of cursive script.

It was only after seeing Peak Master Cao’s characters that he began to understand what real cursive script was.

Real cursive should be unrestrained and limitlessly bold!

Cao Zhen looked at Chang Tiance with some surprise.

This youngster was skilled with words, capable of the same bluster and mystification that he himself employed.

It seemed that Yan Kuangren had never considered this problem before.

At his words, Yan found himself at a loss for what to say.

Behind them, another disciple from Mad Grass Cave couldn’t accept this and called out, “Anyone can speak with their mouth.

However, I wonder if Elder Brother’s writing has reached such a degree of breaking free from shackles and shattering everything?”

“My writing naturally hasn’t reached that level,” Chang Tiance said, looking at Cao Zhen again before adding, “However, since everyone wishes to see, then I will embarrass myself this once.”

When he mentioned embarrassing himself, it was not about doing so in front of everyone, but rather in front of Peak Master Cao.

After all, anyone writing characters before Peak Master Cao, displaying calligraphy, would be embarrassing themselves.

Up till now among all the people he had met, including all the calligraphy works he had seen, only Peak Master Cao’s characters, Peak Master Cao’s Mad grass had reached the stage of breaking everything, unlocking all shackles to an extent of following one’s heart.

He was still far from that level; he was merely following the path paved by Peak Master Cao.

Chang Tiance collected his thoughts, raised his hand, and picked up the brush he had prepared earlier to start writing.

In no time, black characters began appearing on the xuan paper.

Yan Kuangren and the crowd of disciples moved forward to take a look.

Instantly, the brows of the Mad Grass Peak’s disciples furrowed tightly.

This writing was indeed much more unrestrained and bold than Yan Kuangren’s.

From behind, Elder Huan Kong stared at the xuan paper in everyone’s hands, and upon taking a closer look, his expression subtly changed.

The fact that he had been chosen to lead the Thousand Caves Door disciples in discourse was because he was one of the rare individuals within the sect who was well-versed in all spheres.

Although he did not follow the Dao of Calligraphy, he understood it, and the text before him, in terms of artistic conception alone, was much stronger than Yan Kuangren’s.

The people of the Hundred Peaks Sect had indeed come prepared.

He had not been wrong in his thinking—the sect masters of the Hundred Peaks Sect were just a distraction.

The real participants in the discourse were these disciples.

Meanwhile, Cao Zhen, seeing the silent crowd from Thousand Caves Door, took the opportunity during this lull to approach Elder Huan Kong quickly, proposing, “Elder Huan Kong, we have many disciples who have come, and your Thousand Caves Door also has many members.

If we discuss doctrines in each cave one by one, who knows how long it will take.

Wouldn’t it be better to gather everyone together and then discuss the doctrines all at once?”

“Discuss the doctrines all at once?” Elder Huan Kong looked deeply at Cao Zhen, a cold sneer in his heart.

Hadn’t he seen Chang Tiance looking several times at Cao Zhen during the discourse?

Did he really think it had gone unnoticed?

Clearly, the two must have communicated secretly just before, with Cao Zhen asking Chang Tiance if he was confident, and Chang Tiance presuming that he could overshadow Thousand Caves Door.