Chapter 801: Li Minghuang (II)
“Good punch,” Li Minghuang praised.
“You’re too kind,” Qi Xuansu replied, still smiling.
Both men had come from humble beginnings, and both hailed from Tiangang Hall. However, their ages differed by ten years, which could be considered a generational gap.
Li Minghuang gave a light push, and Qi Xuansu let go of his wrist, drifting backward with ease.
It seemed like an even match, though Qi Xuansu’s first strike had a suspicious hint of ambush about it.
It was practical, but hardly elegant.
Some people within the Daoist Order prized “refined grace” above all. They would rather die than sacrifice their dignity.
This probably came from the Confucian gentry’s flair for refinement. They were the ones who liked to transcend the mundane. For example, it was common sense that one would pursue the art of longevity for eternal life and power. But a refined and graceful reason would be seeking longevity not for power, but for the freedom of choice.
Other examples include rejecting ascension for a lifelong romance, embracing certain death for one’s lover, and remaining devoted and unwavering in an unrequited love for life. To them, that was grace.
So, when someone like Qi Xuansu prioritized victory over decorum, striking from behind rather than shouting a slogan before the fight, he was seen to be disgraceful.
Not to mention, Zhang Yuelu was nowhere near the demure woman that these scions wanted. She was not only intolerant of a womanizing partner but also prone to violence and even murder.
Moreover, Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu actually dared to pursue power, with the Grand Master’s seat as their ultimate ambition. Did they not know that the Grand Master seat was the original sin and the root of all chaos? It would rob one of joy for life. To take that role meant eternal unrest. Retreating to the mountains was the proper path of grace.