Chapter 424: When Three Walk Together, There Must Be My Teacher Among Them

The Confucian Sect had always pursued the ideal of creating a Land of Gentlemen where everyone practiced humility. Dong Zhongren had achieved self-cultivation and family harmony, and was currently in the stage of governing a state. 

As for bringing peace to the world, that remained a distant goal.

Jiang Li had long heard that Dong Zhongren wanted to establish a Land of Gentlemen, but it had always been in the experimental stage. He never expected it to have been successfully established without fanfare. 

It seemed Dong Zhongren had kept it quiet until today to celebrate Confucius Sage’s birthday.

The Land of Gentlemen was built near the Confucian Sect, making it easy to find before Confucius Sage’s birthday celebration. 

“Is this the Land of Gentlemen? Quite lively indeed,” Jiang Li remarked.

The Land of Gentlemen was bustling with preparations for Confucius Sage’s upcoming birthday celebration. 

Considering themselves gentlemen, Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu naturally entered to broaden their horizons and learn from others’ strengths.

“Speaking of which, Dong Zhongren once built a prototype Land of Gentlemen,” Bai Hongtu recalled while shrugging. “He claimed everyone in that country practiced humility and mutual respect. Not believing it, I threw a handful of premium Spirit Stones on the road. Sure enough, people scrambled for them. I’d never seen Dong Zhongren’s face turn so dark before.” Bai Hongtu remained skeptical about this so-called Land of Gentlemen.

As they spoke, someone dropped a storage ring which was picked up by another person. 

Though valuable, the finder showed no intention to keep it, calling out instead: “Esteemed sir, you dropped your storage ring.”

The owner gratefully accepted it: “This is a family heirloom of great sentimental value. Please take these Spirit Stones as my thanks.”

The finder waved his hands: “Absolutely not! Returning lost property is basic decency – how could I accept reward? If I took compensation today, wouldn’t that encourage others to demand payment for returning lost items tomorrow?”

The owner looked ashamed: “You’re absolutely right – I hadn’t considered that.”

The two bowed respectfully to each other in mutual admiration. 

Bai Hongtu chuckled – perhaps this Land of Gentlemen had some merit after all.

Further observation revealed equally interesting marketplace behavior:

“Shopkeeper, this agate has excellent quality. I’ll take it – how many Spirit Stones?”

“Ten low-grade Spirit Stones.”

“Here’s fifteen.”

“No no, that’s too much.”

“Please accept – I love this agate and believe it’s worth fifteen.”

“Then please accept this additional agate of similar quality, also worth ten.”

“That won’t be necessary. A gentleman shouldn’t accept unearned gifts – I’d feel ashamed.”

“Please, it’s proper to reward gentlemen. Between fellow gentlemen, gift-giving is natural.”

“Gentlemen’s friendship should be light as water, unburdened by gifts.”

“Just a small token…”

After prolonged polite refusal, the transaction finally concluded, nearly putting Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu to sleep from boredom.

“Don’t they find this exhausting?” Bai Hongtu complained, comparing the drawn-out exchange to stubbornly sticky taffy. 

“That’s why you’re a fake gentleman,” Jiang Li mocked.

“You don’t find this tedious?”

“I’m a fake gentleman too.”

They mutually despised themselves.

As they bickered, a scholar approached, gently waving a paper fan adorned with landscape paintings and poetry – clearly a Confucian cultivator.

“You two seem unfamiliar – visitors, I presume? I sense noble character in you both, true gentlemen indeed. Might you be interested in joining our Three Walk Together Gentlemen’s Society?”

“Good eye,” Bai Hongtu grinned, unaccustomed to being called noble.

“Three Walk Together Gentlemen’s Society?” Jiang Li focused on the unusual name.

“Indeed. Though you may not have heard of us, we’re a prestigious organization throughout the Land of Gentlemen. Our name comes from Confucius Sage’s teaching: ‘When three walk together, there must be my teacher among them. I select their good qualities to follow, and their bad ones to correct.’ Countless gentlemen have joined, including many from the Confucian Sect.”

Jiang Li asked curiously: “But there’s only two of us – can we still join?”

“Of course! ‘Three’ is symbolic – two or four would work equally well.”

“I see. I almost used One Qi Transforming Three Pure Ones to make up numbers,” Jiang Li admitted, nearly revealing his abilities.

“Haha, you’re quite the humorist!” The member laughed, dismissing the idea – One Qi Transforming Three Pure Ones was the Dao Sect’s forbidden technique, impossible even for Unity Stage experts. How could this man possibly know it?

“Might I have your names?”

“Tang Li – Tang as in ‘Three Hundred Tang Poems.'”

“Bai Lantu – Lan as in ‘grand blueprint.'”

They proudly announced their fake names, even explaining their origins.

The Confucian cultivator clasped his hands: “Brother Tang, Brother Bai.” 

Leading them to a Society outpost, he explained: “There’s one prerequisite for joining.”

“Confucius Sage taught we should learn virtues from companions and correct flaws. Please identify each other’s strengths.”

Jiang Li and Bai Hongto exchanged glances as if facing their greatest challenge yet. 

Who knew membership tests could be so difficult?

“Can we list flaws instead?” Jiang Li could recite Bai Hongtu’s shortcomings effortlessly.

The Confucian cultivator admired them: “Virtues are easy to learn, flaws hard to correct. You two truly are gentlemen, voluntarily increasing difficulty! But our test isn’t that rigorous.”

After consideration, Bai Hongtu said earnestly: “Tang Li is flawless.”

“Do elaborate.”

“His entire body radiates spiritual energy. Even a single drop of his sweat contains enough energy to elevate a Foundation Establishment cultivator to Unity Stage. Eating just one piece of his flesh would grant immortality.”

The Confucian cultivator stared at Jiang Li, unsure whether to address him as Brother Tang or Elder Tang.

Equally earnest, Jiang Li countered: “Bai Lantu’s virtue is correcting mistakes. He used to grind teeth and snore while sleeping, but stopped after I complained.”

“How did he stop?” The cultivator asked curiously – this sounded worth learning.

“By not sleeping.”

“That’s a lie!” Bai Hongtu protested angrily at Jiang Li’s shameless slander.

“You started the immortality nonsense first. Gentlemen reciprocate in kind,” Jiang Li calmly replied.

Bai Hongtu retaliated: “Your virtue is steadfastness – you never eat what you dislike.”

Jiang Li fired back: “Yours is adaptability – you always find loopholes in rules.”

“Your virtue is recognizing talent – all your subordinates are capable.”

“Yours is eloquence – every word you speak is untrue.”

They effortlessly listed each other’s “virtues.” 

The Confucian cultivator saw great potential in them – such minor conflicts were negligible.

“Congratulations on joining the Three Walk Together Gentlemen’s Society!” He applauded.