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Chapter 786: Who Can Say What's Right or Wrong
🕑 Added 2024-10-13 10:00:34 +0000 UTCAs for Yuan Shu, although the Imperial Seal had released the latent Chu state's national fortune, its foundation was unstable, and after its eruption, it reverted to its original state.
This stroke of luck allowed Yuan Shu to escape a potential disaster. Without it, even with the combined efforts of Zixu and Yu Ji, and others teaming up to assassinate the immortals secluded in the South Sea, the Imperial Seal would likely have been seized by outsiders.
"Hmph, Yu Ji, I never thought you'd help defend against these pests. I thought you'd try to seize the Imperial Seal," Zixu sneered as he saw Yu Ji flying toward Jiangnan to set up talismans after the pressure had dissipated.
"Hmph, even if I wanted the Imperial Seal, it would only be to study its fortune. I'm fundamentally different from those who disregard the lives of the common people!" Yu Ji retorted coldly, making it clear that he drew a line between himself and those who sought to refine the national fortune. He had his own moral boundaries.
"But your methods are too extreme," Zixu said after a brief pause, his tone turning somewhat concerned. "Why must you go so far as to plot against the nobles?"
"Research!" Yu Ji sneered. "I’ve saved many people with talisman water. While it may not completely cure like Hua Yuanhua's methods, unless it’s a terminal illness, I am saving lives. What I don’t understand is, why, after saving so many, have I still caused harm? I don’t understand!"
"Can’t you see the consequences of saving those people?" Zixu countered, staring at Yu Ji.
"I only know that I saved them, sparing their wives, mothers, and children the pain of losing a son, husband, or father, and keeping their families from falling apart. What wrong did I commit?" Yu Ji shot back fiercely at Zixu.
"What does this have to do with your plan to assassinate Sun Ce? We are simply following the will of Heaven. When we chose the path of immortality, we made our choices," Zixu said, his voice heavy, after a long silence.
"If saving the common people brings disastrous consequences, and the actions of kings are neither inherently good nor evil—judged only by their subjects’ praise or curses—then I’ll replace those rulers. I’ll create the utopia I’ve always envisioned!" Yu Ji declared, gazing off into the distance toward the south, not even bothering to look at Zixu.
Zixu remained silent. He couldn’t judge whether Yu Ji was right or wrong, and the fact that he refrained from attacking Yu Ji, instead choosing to prepare to defend against the South Sea invaders, spoke volumes. Perhaps they weren’t as emotionless as Zuo Ci claimed, nor were they as resigned to fate as Zixu often professed.
Zixu believed in fate, yes. But why did he seek out the uncertain twists of destiny? His faith wasn’t in some divine will—it was in his own choices!
"What a mess!" A slim man wearing a bamboo hat and silk robes suddenly appeared beside Yu Ji, holding a sword. "I originally came here to kill you, but now I won’t get involved."
Removing his hat, the man revealed a face so beautiful it could make women jealous. He glanced at Yu Ji, then said, "I’ve been watching this play for a while, but it’s less entertaining than the beauties of Taishan. What a waste of my time."
Both Zixu and Yu Ji glared at the man, who stood there nonchalantly, completely ignoring them. "If those South Sea scum want to steal the Imperial Seal, they’ll have to ask my sword first."
As he spoke, a flash of green light shot from the sharkskin scabbard of his sword, and a thin line of blood appeared in the air. An invisible barbarian, who had been spying on them, was instantly killed.
"It’s better if we split up. It’ll be good for all of us," Zixu suggested, playing the role of peacemaker. He didn’t get along with Yu Ji, and even though Yu Ji’s reasoning was sound, they were bound to clash sooner or later. As for the newcomer, Zixu didn’t trust him either. The man had disrupted a performance of The Legend of the White Snake in Taishan more than once.
Yu Ji snorted and flew off toward Jiangnan, while the man shot Zixu a curious look before heading west. Zixu was left to handle the east.
Despite their formidable abilities, Zixu, Yu Ji, and the rogue swordsman from Qu'a were only able to stall the attackers for so long. Yu Ji was the only one capable of reaching the highest level of power, while Zixu and the rogue swordsman were strong but not invincible. They could take on three regular opponents at a time, but against ten, even the swordsman could only stall them with his sword dance, and Zixu would have no choice but to flee.
Though they did their best to hold back the onslaught, the sheer number of attackers was overwhelming. Even with Huang Zhong using his ultimate skill to snipe out the hidden Baiyue immortals from the deep southwestern mountains, some still managed to break through. In just thirty years, the world’s increase in vital energy had produced many new powerhouses.
However, thanks to the efforts of these defenders, by the time the invaders reached Shouchun, Ji Ling had already mobilized his troops, ready to defend the city.
The Imperial Seal and the Xuanyuan Ding were fundamentally different. Even after the Xuanyuan Ding’s great aura had dissipated, its smaller pressure remained, making it impossible for ordinary people to approach without being weakened. The Imperial Seal, on the other hand, lost its pressure completely, becoming a perfectly concealed divine object.
As a result, the unlucky immortals who reached Shouchun were easily picked off by Ji Ling, who summoned clouds of energy and used a powerful technique to kill them one by one.
As for the Imperial Seal, Yuan Shu took one look at it and lost interest. It couldn’t bring his son back to life, so what was the point? He casually tossed the Imperial Seal to Sun Quan and walked away.
Yuan Shu’s actions baffled the young Sun Quan. According to his mother’s teachings, the Imperial Seal was supposed to represent the greatest power in the world. The sudden eruption of pressure from the Seal earlier had confirmed to Sun Quan that his mother had spoken the truth.
Yet Yuan Shu, without a second thought, threw the Imperial Seal to Sun Quan, leading the boy to contemplate other possibilities. Perhaps Yuan Shu had no interest in this object, which was said to symbolize the ultimate power in the world.
Then again, Sun Quan thought about his brother and Zhou Yu. Maybe this object wasn’t as important as he had imagined. If it were, why didn’t his brother keep it with him at all times? Why had he left it on a dusty bookshelf?
"Maybe my brother doesn’t know how special it is. The Seal emits a pressure that makes everyone fearful. From any perspective, it’s clearly not a simple object. Perhaps it truly represents the greatest power in the world. I’ll ask my brother when he returns..."
Sun Quan stood on his toes and placed the Imperial Seal on the highest shelf of the bookcase. He took a few steps back, staring at the Seal with curiosity. For some reason, he found himself deeply intrigued by it.
"Fools!" Zhang Fei roared at point-blank range, his voice so powerful that the ears of the immortals he had been fighting bled. With a triumphant laugh, Zhang Fei thrust his spear, impaling several immortals in one swift motion. He then swung the spear with great force, sending their bodies flying like skewered hawthorn fruits.
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