Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 37 Taboo Rules: A promise is a promise!
Han Shushu was unfamiliar with this "Senior Brother Wang" in front of her, and had never seen his abilities in person.

With Shen Yuting, a senior official, as her guarantor, she wasn't worried about meeting the wrong person. After only a slight hesitation, she placed her complete trust in him.

"I trust Elder Shen, so I'll add Senior Brother Wang to this trip to help me with the compass and serve as the ship's fire chief."

However, Senior Brother Wang, for safety's sake, all intelligence must be kept secret before the operation.

Furthermore, maritime adventures are unlike any other; ships are the most basic unit of combat operations.

"Brother Wang can also bring a boat to participate. However, you will be responsible for personnel supplies, casualties, and losses yourself; I will only provide the funds."

Wang Cheng liked this kind of boss who only cared about paying and didn't complain, so he readily agreed.
"Don't worry, junior sister, I know what's important."

But as he said goodbye, he watched the little girl's slender figure walk away alone, lost in thought.

Although it was a good thing for him, he still found it hard to believe that the other party would so hastily trust a complete stranger just because of his master's recommendation.

Even his father, the most powerful water collector, had a traitor hidden by his side that he hadn't discovered. So why is this seemingly easy-to-bully little girl so confident?
Even Wang Cheng himself doesn't dare to fully trust himself.

It's definitely impossible for me to intentionally harm anyone, but I'm not sure if I would silently protect this junior sister if danger suddenly strikes.

Shen Yuting noticed his apprentice's confusion, waved away the pawnshop clerks, turned back, patted his apprentice on the shoulder, and smiled enigmatically:
"Is it strange? Do you think Shushu is too naive and naive?"
Then let me ask you, do you know why, among the thirty-six officials of the Water Rank, the [Chaofeng Lang] class contributed the most to the [Zhi Sui Tang Guan] ranks?

Before Wang Cheng could come up with an answer, he asked and answered himself:

"Because we, the [Chaofenglang], are not seeking 'wealth,' but rather 'trust.'"

Honesty is the foundation of all transactions!

In the eyes of us [Chaofenglang], the word 'trust' is more important than life itself.

Twenty years ago, the Zhi Si Heng Bank in Minzhou suffered a major setback due to its investment in maritime trade, and was forced to close down in dismal failure.

The owner, however, continued to rent the storefront and insisted on exchanging the bills, taking back the bank's silver notes and returning the money to customers. He persisted for more than ten years until all the bills were redeemed.

When traveling, we, the "Chaofenglang," can borrow a hundred taels of silver on credit from any money exchange, and to this day, we have never defaulted!

Wang Cheng was immediately filled with awe upon comparing this world to one where ritual and music had collapsed.

He finally understood why his master was so respected.

It's not that a "senior" is highly capable; what's even more impressive is someone who is also disciplined—that's the dream senior in the eyes of all the "ants."

Wang Cheng learned about the story of Mencius' mother moving three times from Confucian classics, and he also heard adults say from a young age that you become like the people you follow, such as "following a witch to perform shamanistic rituals" or "following five or six ghosts to learn how to be a god."

The power of example is endless.

Master Shen Yuting is clearly the kind of person who, if he says, "My broadsword will not kill the old or the young," will never use the broadsword to kill anyone, but will instead take out a small knife!
If the old father, Prince Jinghai, were here, he would be greatly gratified by this alone, knowing that his son had indeed found a good teacher.

However, despite his admiration, Wang Cheng still had some doubts:
“But Master, different people are like rice, and morality can only restrain oneself, how can it restrain others?”
Even the most virtuous groups have bad people.

Shen Yuting was very pleased that his disciple could speak so insightfully, and kindly instructed him:

"Fourth brother, when moral constraints fail, we must reason with them and persuade them with reason."

I believe that as long as our reasoning is strong enough, we can definitely influence them.

As he said this, he forcefully clenched his fist to emphasize his point.

Bang!

A hard, dragon-shaped mace, as thick as a baby's forearm, fell from his sleeve. As he bent down to pick it up, several more crisp sounds rang out, and a short-handled flintlock pistol, a gleaming spiked club, and a few thunderbolts wrapped in talisman paper fell out.

Wang Cheng was stunned on the spot:
"A hidden world in a sleeve? A mobile arsenal?"
So this is the rigid, unyielding logic you've been talking about? Persuasion, huh? Fine, fine, fine.”

He knelt down with a thud, hugged his master's leg, grabbed his sleeve which was filled with countless treasures, and pleaded shamelessly:

"Master, this disciple wants to learn this!"

He knew that a master like his wouldn't be so careless; it must be that his skills had been recognized by his master, and his master was finally going to teach him something and show him some real expertise.

Shen Yuting gathered up the scattered "reasoning" and his expression finally turned serious:
"Fourth brother, today I will teach you the first taboo rule of the court attendant."

Rules are only rules if there are consequences!
For the officials of the Chaofeng and Zhisuitang, the roles of notary and supervisor were greater than those of merchants.

A promise is a promise, a vow is a promise, and one who keeps his word guarantees all transactions.

Using the golden sword used by Emperor Gaozu when he established the "Golden Sword Prophecy" as proof, we swear to keep the sword hidden, and to reveal it if the oath is broken. Even if the one who breaks the oath escapes beyond the borders of the Divine Land, he will be brought back and punished!

Wang Cheng was deeply moved.

Finally, it dawned on me that the main job of this "shopkeeper" wasn't doing business, but rather working for the market supervision bureau and customs anti-smuggling!
"I'm determined to become my master's successor disciple!"

After the three of them had a pleasant dinner together, the master and his apprentices enjoyed each other's company.

Shen Yuting then gave Wang Cheng a secret Taoist book called "The Record of Listening to Treasures in the Toad Palace" and told him to start learning from the basics.

Like the "Guide to Sending Off the Wind" passed down in the Wang family, this book is a treasure that records the inheritance of official positions.

Of course, this is not the complete text; it only contains a small portion suitable for those who are registered in the monastic community to view.

Behind Fenglinzhai was a rather large residential compound. Wang Cheng chose one of the smaller courtyards, which had a large osmanthus tree growing in it, and settled down there.

Having just settled in the courtyard, he dismissed the several pretty maids who were serving him, quickly took a bath, and then eagerly opened the book "The Record of Listening to Treasures in the Toad Palace".

At the very beginning is the origin of the divine path cultivation that Master has already explained, as well as the lament of the ancestors about the difficulties of the Shuiban lineage, and how later generations need to encourage each other, and so on.

The first part of the main text thereafter is not about any special skills or extraordinary techniques, but rather a short dialogue with questions and answers.

Wang Cheng glanced at his master's red-pen annotations beside him and realized that this very dialogue had essentially elucidated the fundamental principles of Shinto cultivation!

I subconsciously held my breath and read on. The text was simple and straightforward, even a young child could understand it.

Question: "Since the spirits and deities of the world are real and not false, what will happen if I build a temple and worship myself?"

A: "You have always been worshipping your own physical body and your own spirit."

They were provided with the best food and drink every day, kept very clean, and dressed beautifully.

All they think about is making the temple where their physical body resides bigger, more comfortable, and more respectful to others, and receiving more donations from them.

Make yourself feel happier.

To gain even greater power, more wealth, and more beautiful women, ideally to have the whole world worship you.

When she goes out, she is surrounded by admirers; when she goes in, she is surrounded by beauties. With such devotion, who can compare?
But have you ever looked to yourself?
Have you asked me for something?
In spiritual practice, seeking help from the gods is not as effective as relying on oneself!

(End of this chapter)