“The fish has its joy, which you just spoke about… What a philosophical statement,”
amidst the fog, after bringing down a terrifying ghostly apparition with a health bar above its head, the ever-silent dragon goddess suddenly spoke up, expressing such a sentiment.
This woman always responded with just a poke or a move, only giving a cold reply when Li Muyang asked her something.
But for her to initiate a conversation like this was a first.
Normally busy collecting the Soul Beads that burst from the ground, Li Muyang was taken aback when the dragon goddess unexpectedly initiated conversation with him, showing a face full of surprise.
“What?” he asked in astonishment, turning his head to look at the dragon goddess beside him, nearly doubting his ears were playing tricks on him.
— This woman actually started a conversation with me?
But the dragon goddess said, “However, this is actually a sophism. It’s very philosophical, yet it seems to harbor malice.”
At this moment, Li Muyang was certain the dragon goddess really did start a conversation with him.
Prior to this, he had tried different approaches to strike up a conversation, chat, and attempt to explore the storyline, but the dragon goddess had been incredibly indifferent to him.
Unexpectedly, a casual remark he made had caught her attention in such a manner.
Li Muyang’s thoughts raced, he chuckled and stood up after collecting the Soul Beads.
“Indeed, that statement is a sophism, the product of a verbal duel between two philosophers frolicking above the Hao Liang.
“Zhuang Zi was with Hui Zi wandering above the Hao Liang. Zhuang Zi said, ‘The free and leisurely wandering of the fish is its joy.’
“Hui Zi responded, ‘Since you are not a fish, how do you know the joy of the fish?’
…
Li Muyang retold the text he learned in middle school to the dragon goddess.
The dragon goddess, after hearing this passage, first paused slightly.
Then this aloof and indifferent dragon goddess suddenly let out a light laugh.
“…One is transcendental and unbound by worldly things, the other seeks truth and debates shrewdly, truly fascinating,” she remarked.
The usually indifferent dragon goddess now wore a faint smile.
Although her smile could not be seen through the fog, the gentle laughter and her pleasant demeanor alone conveyed a dazzling charm, as though “one smile from her and a hundred charms blossom.”
In that moment when she laughed, the fog over Luoyang City seemed to brighten.
Li Muyang blinked, nearly believing he was still half-asleep.
The dragon goddess, who had previously offered no response to his attempts at conversation, was actually laughing this time?
But what was so amusing about that discussion… It was puzzling.
Li Muyang could not understand what made the fairy laugh.
However, the dragon goddess, curious, spoke again, “These two philosophers are so interesting and extraordinary, I have never heard of them before… Do they have any other stories?”
Li Muyang pondered for a moment.
This was the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and Zhuang Zi and Hui Zi were from the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period, but the dragon goddess had never heard of them… Heavens! The dragon goddess was an Illiterate Fairy!
She didn’t even know about the famed Zhuang Zi!
Yet being illiterate didn’t matter; Li Muyang himself didn’t know much.
If she weren’t illiterate, it would be Li Muyang who would be at a loss.
Seeing that the dragon goddess, this Illiterate Fairy, took an interest in historical philosophers, Li Muyang was more than willing to indulge her interest and engage her in a serious discussion about philosophy.
He didn’t have much philosophical knowledge, but sharing all he knew with the dragon goddess should satisfy her, right?
Li Muyang went on to share the Zhuang Zi stories he knew.
Zhuang Zhou dreaming he was a butterfly, unsure whether it was he dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly who had transformed into him?
There was also the mutual grooming of fishes, the Eastern Manners copied by the ugly fish, the Butcher’s skillful dissection, the Dragon Slaying Technique… Zhuang Zi was indeed a master of idioms.
And Zhuang Zhou’s stories, though they should have been well known by the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty since they had become idioms, anyone with a bit of culture would have heard of them.
But the Illiterate Fairy, a dragon deity, hadn’t heard a single one, truly living up to her title of illiteracy.
Li Muyang told each story, and she listened with rapt interest, smiling softly from time to time.
After hearing each story, she would curiously ponder and earnestly consider the philosophies within.
The once aloof Illiterate Fairy now took charge, chasing after Li Muyang with endless questions and wanting to chat.
Her vigorous curiosity and unceasing thirst for knowledge, along with the overwhelming array of conversations and queries, made Li Muyang start to question his existence, wondering if he was actually the one being pursued.
“This woman, has she turned the tables on heaven itself!”
You’re the one who’s like a character in a dating sim!
Facing the Illiterate Fairy’s relentless inquiries and conversations, Li Muyang found it somewhat difficult to keep up.
This fairy used to be cold as ice, how come she’s now heated up and so formidable?
Fairy, can’t you be a little more reserved?
Cool on the outside but warm on the inside… Are you playing a character contrast with me here?
At that moment, Li Muyang could only be thankful he hadn’t returned all of the knowledge he learned at school to his teachers.
Having the experience and knowledge accumulated from doing reading comprehension in his previous life, Li Muyang managed to hold his ground against the question-curious Illiterate Fairy and didn’t show any weakness.
Li Muyang was able to sufficiently respond or sidestep many of the questions and topics the Illiterate Fairy brought up.
When he couldn’t provide a good answer or dodge, he would simply switch topics and talk about something else.
After all, every one of those “philosophers” from the Spring and Autumn Period was a philosophical master, throwing out a few topics would keep the Illiterate Fairy occupied for a while.
And the Illiterate Fairy indeed lived up to her name; aside from Zhuang Zi and Hui Zi, she knew nothing of other historical figures, such as Confucius or Laozi, Mencius or Han Feizi.
Your next chapter is on M V L
Li Muyang, while fighting monsters, also had to deal with the Illiterate Fairy’s endless questions and curiosity, feeling overwhelmed.
Originally, he was worried about how to strike up a conversation and uncover hidden storylines with this dragon deity.
But now, the Illiterate Fairy was so eager and passionate that Li Muyang was the one feeling exhausted from responding.
What was supposed to be a straightforward monster-fighting game, had turned into a small Chinese language class for Li Muyang.
The enthusiastic and innocently curious Illiterate Fairy found all the topics Li Muyang mentioned to be extremely interesting, constantly prattling on endlessly with a barrage of questions.
The two of them talked as they battled monsters, conversed while walking, and chatted even as they fought.
At that moment, all the ghosts and goblins in the city seemed to have become supporting characters.
Fortunately, these monsters had no intelligence nor the ability to speak; otherwise, they surely would have complained—could you two have some respect for me, please? Who discusses philosophy while fighting monsters!
“The Master once said standing upon a river bank: ‘What passes is like this, endlessly day and night…'”
“Heaven and Earth exist alongside me, while all things are one with me… such amazing words; they must be Zhuang Zi’s, right?”
True to the one who spoke of the “heavenly way is ever changing”… Zhuang Zi.”
“Supreme goodness is like water, benefitting all things without contention, such words are indeed profound…”
“Err… Master, why do you not speak? Did I say something wrong?”
The incredibly curious Illiterate Fairy asked Li Muyang, her tone even somewhat cautious, as if she feared he would blame her.
As Li Muyang, who was busy gathering the souls of the dead as Treasure Beads, looked up at the sky and heaved a silent sigh.
“Don’t call me master.”
You’re the master here, I’m the one who’s scared of you—with all these questions and discussions!
This Illiterate Fairy has such strong reasoning skills and can even think by analogy.
Now, she can even guess who said what just by the style of speech… How can such a clever fairy be labeled illiterate?