All-rounder Artist-Chapter 961 - 892: What Is a Hero (Third Update)

"Clumsy."

Professor Wang glared and said, "How can you not react to such an obvious hint? Is this how you read books?"

"What does it actually mean?"

The students below couldn’t help but become curious.

Accustomed to being scolded by Professor Wang, nobody got angry.

Professor Wang wrote the names of Huang Yaoshi and others on the blackboard, then continued,

"In the theory of the Five Elements, the East is associated with wood, hence the Eastern Heretic is Huang Yaoshi, and Huang has the grass radical, which means wood. The West is associated with metal, so the ’Feng’ in Western Poison Ouyang Feng’s name is from the metal radical. The North is associated with water, hence Hong Qigong’s ’Hong’ has the three water dots. As for the center, it is earth, which corresponds to Wang Chongyang, since earth represents the center and Wang Chongyang’s original name, mentioned once in the novel, is Wang Zhe. The South is associated with fire. Do I still need to explain why Master Yideng represents fire?"

"No way!"

The students were stunned!

Was this the origin of the names of the Five Greats? There was such a theory?

In the novel, Chu Kuang never mentioned this point, causing everyone to never even consider this direction!

Was naming in this novel so meticulous?

A student was skeptical, "Could it be a coincidence?"

Professor Wang said, "Since fire overcomes metal, Master Yideng’s One Yang Finger can counter Ouyang Feng’s Toad Skill, and because metal overcomes wood, that’s why Ouyang Feng chased Huang Rong around, bullying her to death for his nephew. If you still want a reason, think carefully about Peach Blossom Island and why Huang Yaoshi’s ’Bi Hai Chao Sheng’ further clarifies why the Eastern Heretic represents wood."

Logical and convincing!

Impressive!

Now, no one dared to question this matter further. However, once everyone digested this information, a student couldn’t help but say, "But Professor Wang, even so, The Legend of the Condor Heroes cannot be considered literature just yet, right? Can the ostentatious martial skills in wuxia novels really be interpreted through literature?"

"Let’s talk about martial skills."

Professor Wang said, "Take the most domineering ’Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms’, for example. Do you know the names of the moves within it?"

"Regret of the Arrogant Dragon!"

"Submerged Dragon Should Not Be Used!"

Some students vaguely remembered a few.

Professor Wang asked, "Don’t those names sound cool?"

Everyone nodded; indeed, those names sparked excitement.

Professor Wang, however, said, "But do you know? On the surface, ’Regret of the Arrogant Dragon’ suggests that the move can be retracted after being executed, but it actually teaches us to understand when to advance or retreat, to not be arrogant; ’Submerged Dragon Should Not Be Used’ indicates that each palm strike in the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms is solid, every move is powerful and shocking, so if there is no opportunity, do not use it, because otherwise, it’s a waste of energy with no purpose. Furthermore, when you combine the rest of the moves, it becomes a philosophy of life!"

A girl in the front row whispered, "Is this your personal interpretation?"

Professor Wang shrugged his shoulders, "Then let’s talk about something that’s not my personal interpretation, but I’m afraid you might not understand with your level, huh. ’Regret of the Arrogant Dragon’ corresponds to the Qian hexagram in ’The Book of Changes’, saying the upper nine; ’Dragon Soaring the Sky’ is also Qian hexagram, saying nine five, and ’Seeing the Dragon in the Field’ is still Qian hexagram, saying nine two. As for ’Hong Jian Yu Lu’, it corresponds to the Jian hexagram, saying: nine three..."

Damn it!

We got schooled by him!

As Professor Wang introduced ’The Book of Changes,’ the students felt deep respect, while becoming even more astonished!

The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms came from ’The Book of Changes’?

Martial art techniques, hiding life philosophies?

At this moment.

Students could not help but to argue for the sake of argument, "Then what does the ’Nine Yin Manual’ say?"

Professor Wang was completely unconcerned and casually cited, "The way of heaven is to diminish the excess and supplement the deficient, thus the intangible triumphs over the tangible, and that which is lacking overcomes that which is abundant. Its meaning is extensive, its principle profound, and its intrigue deep. It divides the images of heaven and earth, lists the signs of Yin and Yang, expresses the causes of change, and makes clear the omens of life and death. Without conniving, traces naturally coincide; without compact, the subtle and the obvious are in harmony. Considering its words in detail, the verification with reality is faultless. It can truly be called the tenet of the ultimate way and the beginning of nurturing life..."

Upon reaching this point, Professor Wang slapped the table:

"This was adapted from the ’Tao Te Ching’. You young people are ignorant and have not fully understood Chu Kuang’s intention in writing these martial arts techniques. The various settings in his books all have a cultural foundation, with references to so many ancient texts. They’re not just made up out of thin air as you imagine!"

This was also why Professor Wang loved ’The Legend of the Condor Heroes’.

In other martial arts novels, the martial arts moves are all made up randomly, to be as domineering as possible. Chu Kuang, however, drew his martial arts moves from ancient texts, turning the fictional martial arts into an orderly and intrinsically logical compendium!

Below the stage.

The students were stunned by the critique!

No one had expected that in Chu Kuang’s book, not only did the outstanding figures correspond to directions and the five elements, but even the martial skills themselves carried such connotations. They even made use of Laozi’s ’Tao Te Ching’!

"Is this the literary nature of ’The Legend of the Condor Heroes’?"

After the shock, a student muttered under their breath.

Professor Wang shook his head, "This is the literary nature of ’The Legend of the Condor Heroes’, but it is not the entirety of its literary attributes. This book encompasses poetry, calligraphy, painting, music, chess, and even Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, as well as astronomy and geography. Moreover, it uniquely integrates the mysterious Qimen Dunjia, Yin and Yang, and the five elements. In a way, it could be called a mini-encyclopedia of traditional culture. To fully understand ’The Legend of the Condor Heroes’, you wouldn’t have to go through so much trouble in my class. Let’s test you again: do you know about the various philosophers referenced in ’The Legend of the Condor Heroes’?"

The various philosophers?

The students looked at each other with odd expressions, clearly thinking:

Please, continue showing off!

"I knew you wouldn’t understand. Huang Yaoshi, who grew weary of the world and lived in isolation, embraced Zhuangzi’s Taoist philosophy that views fame and gain as passing clouds. There’s no need to say much about Master Yideng, who represents Buddhism, renouncing the world and converting to the Three Jewels. As for Ouyang Feng, he is like the strategist school, using all sorts of schemes and stopping at nothing. Hong Qigong embodies the Mohist ideals, helping the distressed and saving those in trouble..."

So impressive!

A student asked, "What about Guo Jing?"

The corner of Professor Wang’s mouth curled up, "Guo Jing embodies Confucian orthodox thought, not only in his personality but also in his fervent desire to serve his country."

"Is there a specific instance of that?"

The students were completely led by the nose by Professor Wang, only realizing today how profound his literary cultivation was; even a regular person reading a martial arts novel would not reach his level of understanding!

"You all really have a knack for questions."

Professor Wang flipped through ’The Legend of the Condor Heroes’, quickly finding the information he was looking for:

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"In the thirty-seventh chapter, the Mongol army attacks Samarkand but cannot breach it for a long time. Temujin then declares that whomever can conquer the city shall be rewarded with all its treasures. Eventually, Guo Jing devises a plan to take the city and Temujin, true to his word, is set to reward him. However, Guo Jing had already privately decided to use the opportunity to ask Temujin to cancel his engagement with Princess Huazheng. But then they encounter the Mongol army slaughtering the city’s people, with tens of thousands of innocent lives brutally taken. Seeing this, Guo Jing resolutely changes his request to ’spare these tens of thousands of lives’ and does not regret it. This is an embodiment of Confucian character, and also the reason why I hold Guo Jing in such high regard. Moreover, this plot point precisely highlights the main narrative thread of the story!"

The students were utterly convinced!

No matter what questions they asked, Professor Wang was unshakable!

Then a student subconsciously asked, "What is the main theme of ’The Legend of the Condor Heroes’?"

Professor Wang sighed, "That’s a good question. Initially, I thought the main theme of ’The Legend of the Condor Heroes’ should be the Duel Atop Mount Hua; later I believed it should be helping Temujin sweep across the world. But only at the end did I understand that the main theme of this book is national duty and righteousness - something that makes this novel stronger than all other martial arts novels. Just like the final question Guo Jing asks Temujin before his death, today I also ask you, what kind of person can be called a hero?"

He shook his head.

Professor Wang said, "This question is too complex for you, given your intelligence it’s hard to understand. Let’s change to another question, which will also be your homework for this class. Tomorrow, each of you must write a summary for me. As an old man without much culture, I need you to tell me..."

Holding the chalk.

Professor Wang wrote the character for ’hero’ on the blackboard, then turned to face the students, his gaze filled with expectation:

"What is heroism!?"