Lama Shan Zhi, even with sins monstrous and hands stained with the blood of countless innocents, in the deeply rooted beliefs of Households Commander Zuo, the baseline of human ethics and morality should not be lightly touched. Even toward such a heinous person, this "inhumane" method of handling is still hard for him to accept.
Xu Qing keenly sensed the doubt of Households Commander Zuo.
He slightly turned his head, his eyes meeting those of Households Commander Zuo, and in that moment, a trace of complex emotion flashed in his eyes. However, in the end, he did not explain.
This is essentially the means of a "demon," filled with bloodshed and cruelty, contrary to the compassion and generosity upheld by the Righteous Path. In the eyes of those on the Righteous Path, such actions are undoubtedly heretical and incomprehensible.
There is no need to explain.
Even using such a method is indeed a mistake.
Unconsciously, Households Commander Zuo felt a deeper rift forming between himself and Xu Qing.
He didn’t ask Xu Qing why he did it, his expression complex, his voice low as he spoke of official matters and forthcoming actions. In his words, an unmistakable sense of loss and bewilderment was felt. After speaking, he silently led the Demon Hunting Bureau and others back to report. His silhouette appeared particularly desolate, his steps unusually heavy, as if each step bore the weight of a thousand burdens.
As for the Guo Family brothers, after respectfully saluting Xu Qing, they too silently followed Households Commander Zuo away. They were acting on Xu Qing’s orders, assisting Households Commander Zuo with the Demon Hunting Bureau. As long as Xu Qing issued no new commands, they would unwaveringly carry out their current tasks.
Xu Qing watched as Households Commander Zuo departed, his gaze closely following Households Commander Zuo’s silhouette until it disappeared beyond the horizon.
The Heart Moon Fox, which had been hiding nearby all along, now moved with light steps to Xu Qing’s side. Its eyes shimmered with a lively light, carrying a hint of curiosity and puzzlement as it said, "Why didn’t you explain? After all, you are trying to save an old friend, and this lama is no different from a demon..."
As a demon, the Heart Moon Fox was long accustomed to such matters. In the Demon World, the law of the jungle is the law of survival, with scenes of internecine strife and flesh consumption all too common. To it, this was just another mundane affair, as natural as a beast hunting its prey.
But it also understood the feelings within Households Commander Zuo’s heart. Although it hailed from the Demon World, it was also aware that human society has its own distinct moral principles and values, which are entirely different from the survival laws of the Demon World.
In the Demon World, or even in the beast world, eating one’s own kind is for survival, a perfectly normal instinct. Moreover, to its mind, what the Blood Bodhi Tree did was no different than feeding a "dog."
Xu Qing slightly shook his head, saying, "You did something, and then your friend doesn’t accept it, yet you force him to acknowledge that you are right. Regardless of whether it is right or wrong, this is still not right."
His voice was calm and gentle.
He knew well that true friends should understand and respect each other, not force their views onto one another.
The Heart Moon Fox blinked, a nonchalant look on its face, and said, "You’re just being pretentious."
In its belief, the strong should be unabashed. As long as you believe you’re right, do it boldly without caring about others’ opinions or viewpoints.
Xu Qing couldn’t help but smile, and said, "Indeed." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noᴠelfire.net
He understood in his heart that being pretentious requires capital, that only those with enough strength have the right to worry about such seemingly trifling matters.
If there is no powerful strength as support, in this cruel world, even survival is a problem, let alone so-called pretentiousness.
Xu Qing also wasn’t sure whether his current true self was more "human" or "demon". Is a person defined by biological attributes or by social relationships? Even with his current Realm, it’s hard to give a definite answer.
The gentleman is not a vessel, and great instruments are never formed easily.
He truly couldn’t define himself either. Because his current identity was too ambiguous, shouldering the burden of bringing welfare to all under the heavens, while also trying hard to adapt to the transformation of his identity.
He has already stood at the pinnacle of cultivation, possessing extraordinary power and an elevated status, yet precisely because of this, the distance between him and ordinary people grew ever larger, making it difficult to empathize with them as before.
One could say that he now stands on the pinnacle of this world, overlooking all things, yet finds himself increasingly out of place in this world.
He even occasionally thought that the solitary life of an old demon of Black Mountain, who single-mindedly pursued the Heavenly Dao, cutting off all ties with the world, might not be a better path of cultivation.
This is the greatest difference between a Seeker who cultivates the path of the Heavenly Demon and a normal Purple Mansion Primordial Spirit pathway. Normal Seeker achieving the Primordial Spirit establishes their path early, holding firm to their true self, unshaken by external influences.
Whereas the Heavenly Demon Path is completely different, extremely susceptible to environmental and external factors. Seeing Buddha transforms to Buddha, seeing deity becomes deity... the Heavenly Demon holds endless pleasures but can never find its true self, like a mirror reflecting all beings in the heavens, yet unable to see its true self.
Xu Qing understood, his cultivation path is filled with uncertainties, the trait of the Heavenly Demon Path keeps him in the process of cultivation, constantly subject to external disturbances and influences, always lingering on the road of finding the self.