“Venerable Qingyang, tell me, what should I do?”
When those words rang in Su Bai’s ears and she met those lost, struggling dark eyes, she understood. Blood Ji had educated the members of Mieyang very well. She had done a qualified job — perhaps even too qualified.
The ancients said — ‘To die for one who knows you.’ It meant that to repay the deep friendship of a confidant or friend, one could even offer up their own life.
The kindness of a single meal could be repaid with one’s life, just as a life saved could be returned with the same. From ancient times until now, there have always been those willing to offer immense returns, or even their own lives, for the sake of friendship or a small favor.
They were neither fools nor madmen; they simply held onto their own beliefs and the justice within their hearts. In this world, there are always those who, no matter how much they are battered by a filthy world, will silently adhere to the simple rules in their hearts: ‘If you treat me well, I will repay you twofold!’
In her past life, during the early days of Mieyang’s founding, everyone had been united. Internal strife was rare, resources were allocated by need, and they all viewed one another as brothers. Gu Wanqing was born and raised there. Under that influence, he naturally developed the noble character of ‘one for all, and all for one.’
He saw only light, so he believed the whole world was full of light. That was until he used the power of the Chronos Seed to send their group back to the first timeline.
People of high moral character are worthy of respect, but such people are ill-suited for survival in this cruel cultivation world. Just as those who chase the light may, after witnessing too much darkness, either strengthen their pursuit or begin to doubt if it is worth it.
Was the Qingdi Divine Palace rotten?
It was!
Embezzlement, the strong bullying the weak, corruption, and internal strife… it possessed every corrupt element of a standard regime. In fact, Su Bai could hang one batch, and another would sprout up immediately, growing more persistently than leeks.
But compared to the former Immortal Alliance or the families of the Four Domains, the Qingdi Divine Palace of this life was far better. It would not allow practitioners to slaughter mortals at will. It would not let those in the Soul Formation or Golden Core stages exploit those in the Foundation Establishment stage without restraint. It would not remain indifferent while villages and towns were massacred by demonic practitioners for soul extraction and blood refining.
Was Mieyang rotten?
It was born from a great ideal, but to contest the Qingdi Divine Palace, it had no choice but to accept remnants of the old era. This led to inevitable corruption. Even with the Big Dipper Council firmly holding onto their ideals, it was to no avail.
Political corruption does not shift based on individual will. This was something Su Bai’s father often told her.
If the world in Gu Wanqing’s dreams was a 100, and the old Alliance and the families of the Four Domains were zero, then the current Qingdi Divine Palace’s unification of the Five Domains was ten, while Mieyang’s occupation of a single region was between ten and twelve.
Internal power struggles and greed were already rampant while they occupied only a single region, let alone what would happen after they overthrew the Divine Palace and unified the Five Domains and Two Heavens.
So, he was lost. He had grown numb to the power struggles within Mieyang, and he began to doubt his own actions. Even if Mieyang overthrew the Qingdi Divine Palace, would they really do a better job?
“Do you want to hear what I really think?” Su Bai scooped up a *tangyuan* and popped it into her mouth. The sesame filling melted between her teeth, and the aroma filled the air.
Without waiting for Gu Wanqing’s answer, Su Bai continued, “If those maggots dare to destabilize Mieyang’s regime, just kill them. That Soul Transformation puppet is more than enough to handle them easily.”
“Not being able to solve a problem doesn’t mean you can’t solve the person creating it. Back when I held the reins of power in the Qingdi Divine Palace, the number of practitioners who died by my hand was no less than the total casualties of the Five Domains war.”
The wine in his cup sloshed, wetting his Daoist robes. Gu Wanqing looked at Su Bai, clearly not expecting her response to be so… crude and blunt.
Looking at his stunned expression, Su Bai sighed softly. “You know I’m a ruthless person who fought my way out of that chaotic war. Why did you think I would play by the rules they set?”
In the next moment, she clenched her fingers into a fist and moved it close to Gu Wanqing’s face, her sharp gaze piercing his eyes. “I do like democracy, it’s true. But democracy without power to back it up is just empty talk. If you want those restless, ambitious people to behave, this is indispensable!”
“On this point, my wicked disciple learned very well.”
She shook her fair fist, which glowed a faint pinkish-white under the moonlight. Looking into those eyes, Gu Wanqing couldn’t even muster the thought of resisting.
Indeed, this was the person who established Mieyou, slew Jiuyou, created the Heavenly Emperor Spirit-Locking Array, and unified the Central State. She was the Celestial Venerable Qingyang who had practically shaped this era single-handedly. Even with her cultivation sealed, her momentum remained unstoppable.
“Of course, I advocate for democracy brought about by strength, while that wicked disciple of mine simply believes in authority and power.” Su Bai sat back and crossed her arms, beginning to dissect Gu Wanqing’s internal conflict.
“You are conflicted because you want to overthrow the Divine Palace to build a beautiful world, yet you fear those internal frictions within Mieyang will explode and ruin everything in the future. But if it were me! I’d just kill everyone who stands in the way of my beautiful world! As long as I’m alive, the Five Domains and Two Heavens will be a beautiful world! As for after I die? Hah! After I’m dead, let the future generations worry about it.”
“Gu Wanqing, weren’t you wondering why I would exhaust myself preparing for the New Year like a mortal instead of using that time to cultivate? In my view, the depth of a life is always more important than its length. Some practitioners live lives less exciting than those of mortals. They meditate day and night, seeking immortality and the Dao. And the result? They still end up dead, their Dao dissipating back to the heavens.”
“If you truly want to build the world you dream of, then stop looking back and forth. Stop wavering. Some things aren’t about whether you can achieve them, but whether you want to do them! Accomplish something meaningful in your limited lifespan instead of being like you are now — hesitating, swaying, indifferently letting things slide, and doubting yourself! Even if you fail in the future, you can face yourself, your fallen comrades, and the practitioners who followed you without shame!”
Gu Wanqing lowered his head, his expression gradually becoming firm. When he looked up again, the confusion and hesitation had vanished from his eyes. He bowed respectfully to Su Bai, his voice steady. “Thank you for the guidance.”
“It’s good that you understand.” Su Bai couldn’t help but yawn. After such a long speech, she was feeling exhausted.
She said her goodbyes and prepared to rest. At the threshold, she turned back toward the moonlight as a thought struck her.
“Gu Wanqing, regarding your previous question. The Qingdi Divine Palace can treat the practitioners and mortals of the Five Domains well today not because my wicked disciple has become a better person, but…”
—
Gu Wanqing set down his wine cup and turned to look. Under the moonlight, Su Bai stood at the door, her figure tall and upright, her robes fluttering in the breeze. The moonlight graced her face, making her refined features appear even more elegant and otherworldly. It brought an inexplicable sense of peace.
“Because you were here,” she said.
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