Chapter Thirteen: On the Arcane

If I had heard this from anyone else, I might have doubted it, but since it came from Ren Tianxing, it must be true. Up to now, I still don't know Ren Tianxing's true identity, but for someone who managed to get me an Interpol identity in less than half a day, finding out anyone's background would be child's play for him.

Wang Yatou looked at me with a smug, gloating expression as she made faces at me, occasionally sticking out her little tongue. The atmosphere, which had been quiet for a while, was instantly lightened by her antics.

The fish skin served with our drinks was authentic—chilled, spicy, tender, and silky. The first bite was crisp and delicious, and to hide my embarrassment, I ate several mouthfuls in quick succession.

Old Liu spoke up, "Even if the stories of snow falling in June for Dou E's injustice, or blossoms drifting across two provinces, are true, they're just tales or perhaps historical records. Even if such things happened, how would it help us?"

Old Du asked, "I wonder, what does everyone think of metaphysics?"

At first, I thought metaphysics had nothing to do with us, but now it seemed otherwise.

Though Old Liu specialized in archaeology, he was very well-read in many fields. An archaeologist must have a broad base of knowledge to be competent. He and I had once discussed metaphysics and Daoist arts, and for a time, he even specifically sought out books on those subjects to study.

So, when Old Du asked, Old Liu perked up immediately, licked his lips, and said, "The reason people call it 'metaphysics' is because its methodology is so mysterious. Usually, when people say something is 'mysterious,' they mean two things: first, that it's unfathomable; and second, that it's useless."

"From a research perspective, metaphysics mainly covers the study of the Book of Changes, geomancy, and other disciplines—such as the five elements, yin and yang, the Eight Trigrams, astrology, divination, dream interpretation, and so on."

"If one can divine fortunes and understand geomancy, isn't that just like those old fortune-tellers on the street?" Wang Tingting laughed merrily.

My face darkened. "Don't speak carelessly," I rebuked.

Old Du was more generous and didn't take offense at Wang Tingting's words. He said proudly, "The scope of these scholarly studies is far beyond the reach of those street-side tricksters who live by their glib tongues."

Ren Tianxing and Dr. Wang had been listening silently up to now, but this topic seemed to pique their interest.

Dr. Wang explained, "I once had a chance meeting with an extraordinary man of the Jianghu. We had a heartfelt conversation, and he spoke to me about various matters concerning metaphysics."

Dr. Wang's mention of this "extraordinary man" aroused everyone's curiosity. We all wondered what was so special about him, that Dr. Wang would praise him so highly.

"Feng Shui and numerology are the essence of metaphysics. Since ancient times, when people have buried their dead or built homes, they have always consulted Feng Shui. A good site can directly influence a family's fortune. The most mysterious part of metaphysics is astrology, divination, fortune-telling, and dream interpretation. I never really believed in such things, but after meeting that extraordinary man, he personally cast a divination for me, and looking back, everything he predicted came true. As for numerology in ancient times, the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art had a profound influence on modern mathematics—it's practically the ancestor of today's math."

"Who was this extraordinary man, Dr. Wang, and where is he now? What sort of divination did he give you?" Wang Tingting asked with curiosity.

Dr. Wang’s face was full of admiration as he recalled, "He is a reclusive master—how could we hope to compare? Over twenty years ago, when I was conducting research in Fangshan, Beijing, I was fortunate enough to meet him once." He sighed, took a sip of tea, and said slowly, "I wonder how Mr. Gu is doing these days."

"His surname is Gu? Such a rare surname! To inspire such awe in Dr. Wang, he must be extraordinary. If I ever have the chance, I would love to seek his guidance," said Old Du sincerely.

"There are quite a few people with the surname Gu. I know one myself," Wang Yatou joked. "Louis Koo!"

I couldn't help but smile and said, "I have a friend who's really something—the last disciple of the Maoshan Sect. His surname is also Gu, and his name is Gu Jing."

When I mentioned a disciple of the Maoshan Sect, everyone thought I was joking, but Dr. Wang suddenly asked anxiously, "What did you say his name was?"

"Gu Jing!" I replied, puzzled by his eagerness. Could it really be such a coincidence that Gu Jing was the same person Dr. Wang mentioned? I raised my voice and repeated it, just to make sure he heard clearly.

"It really is him, it really is him!" Dr. Wang muttered, before grabbing my sleeve in excitement. "Where is he now?"

Everyone was taken aback by his reaction. Realizing his own loss of composure, Dr. Wang gave a few embarrassed laughs and looked at me, waiting for my answer.

I was hardly surprised; anyone who met Gu Jing would be excited. In Guangzhou, even tycoons worth tens of millions considered it a point of pride to have Gu Jing as a guest—greater than any wedding celebration.

I replied calmly, "Gu Jing naturally lives where he always has. If you're interested, Dr. Wang, come visit me when you have time. I'll take you to see him for tea. He has plenty of 'Maple Bridge Dew' in his collection!"

Dr. Wang was thrilled. "It really is him—'Maple Bridge Dew!' Ha ha, it truly is him. Excellent, I'll definitely go, definitely!"

After his excitement faded, Dr. Wang sighed, "Metaphysics is so vast and profound, so mysterious that even a whole lifetime would not be enough to grasp even a fraction of it!"

Old Du, however, was not so convinced.

Among this group of scientists, all pillars of the nation, each could be considered a master in his own field. With such reputations, a certain pride and confidence was inevitable. When Dr. Wang said that "even a whole lifetime would not be enough to grasp even a fraction of" metaphysics, it could be seen as disparaging their achievements. Though Old Du was a humble man, he was not without vanity and was naturally displeased, perhaps thinking to himself, "Not necessarily, not necessarily."

Ren Tianxing, noticing Dr. Wang's slip, quickly changed the subject to offer his own opinion. "In my understanding, metaphysics is a traditional discipline. In ancient times, it was considered a highly orthodox field of study. There were even sects that vied to be recognized as the true orthodox branch of metaphysics, sometimes by any means necessary. When Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, came south to establish his own dynasty, he personally ordered the formation of a metaphysical sect, which claimed to be the orthodox school throughout the land to stabilize public sentiment and assimilate the Han people through culture. This led to nearly a century of sectarian struggle, up until the founding of the Ming Dynasty."

I hadn't expected Ren Tianxing to be so well versed in history. He continued, "Unfortunately, over the past several centuries, for various reasons, the essence of metaphysics has gradually been lost. What little survives today must be painstakingly re-examined and studied."

The more Old Du listened, the less pleased he became, but he still nodded and asked, "The loss of metaphysics’ essence is a great regret for our people. But Mr. Ren, can you tell us how metaphysics in its heyday differed from what exists now?"

"For example," Ren Tianxing said, "nowadays, those with supernatural abilities are extremely rare—many people don't even believe they exist. Yet, in ancient times, among those deeply versed in metaphysical knowledge, almost everyone possessed such abilities. It was a matter of mental power and control—just a small aspect of metaphysics."

Ren Tianxing’s example was apt, and everyone nodded in agreement.

Wang Tingting suddenly glanced at me with a mischievous smile. "I wonder, are ghosts and spirits considered part of metaphysics?"

Old Du burst out laughing. "Miss Wang, you are truly delightful—there are no such things as ghosts and spirits; those are just made-up tales from television and movies. I've studied metaphysics for nearly forty years and never heard of such things."

"Perhaps not," Wang Tingting replied coolly. "It's just that you haven't encountered them."

Her words left Old Du a bit embarrassed. He forced a few awkward chuckles and looked to Old Liu and Ren Tianxing, hoping they would support his view. To his surprise, both Old Liu and Ren Tianxing agreed with Wang Tingting.

Old Liu and Wang Tingting both gave me sly looks, as if hoping I would explain something. I could only smile helplessly.

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Lately, work at the company has been overwhelming and updates have been slow. I promise to write whenever I have time, so please don't rush me via QQ. Thank you.

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