Chapter 510

Honestly, Qing’s tongue when it comes to Wang Mang is downright mischievous, to say the least.

Why? Because Qing has downed endless drinks with the finest scholars from the Hall of Literature on the Central Plain while juggling all the classics like a pro.

It’s not that she doesn’t know; she knows all too well, and that makes it downright malicious.

Wang Mang? More like a tyrant than just red.

No matter his intentions, he tried to run his country however he liked, ended up ruining it, causing a rebellion, and met his doom.

Then Jongjeongpil replied.

“Hm, are you not familiar with the doctrine of mutual aid? In this world, we are all brothers sharing the same lot, everyone being both teacher and disciple to one another. Ah, thinking it over, this could be called the essence of mutual aid, a principle in martial arts!”

“Oh. So you know about mutual aid…”

Qing was taken aback. She never expected him to know that.

But why all of a sudden bring up Wang Mang?

The doctrine of mutual aid comes from ancient primitive anarchists.

Anarchism is inherently about half-rebellion, so calling these ancient red folks half-true isn’t far off.

Mutual aid means being infinitely equal to all.

It insists on loving everyone equally in this world, rejecting both marriage and kinship.

Don’t distinguish between my children and others’; every child is mine.

Child-rearing should be communal.

Owning property will lead to jealousy, and favors will be shown towards those who give generously.

Thus, private property is a no-go.

But unlike the reds, it’s not about nationalizing things; it’s about it being ours—if you need it, just take it without concern for whose it is.

“Um, that’s a bit different.”

In truth, all ideologies are essentially heresies.

A heresy means ‘similar’ but ‘not the same.’ So explaining one with another can really leave you stumped.

Is that ever gonna work?

Learning martial arts to get stronger than others, and then sharing your insights to help lift each other?

I looked into the far future and it just doesn’t pan out; instead, it got laughed at as a complete failure.

So stop dreaming about the impossible and wake up already.

But saying that would be pointless.

It would only hurt feelings.

Do you really think anyone’s gonna listen to your words?

Wouldn’t it be better for them to try and fail and then realize it doesn’t work?

So what then?

Change the approach!

“I respect the Great Hero’s intent, but the method is flawed.”

“Flawed? Not different at all?”

“Yes. It’s flawed.”

Qing, who had been slumping a bit, straightened up, maintaining a dignified bamboo-like posture, her gaze sharp.

Following the Seomun Sulin way, this is my first step.

To confidently sit anywhere.

For reference, the first step is confident walking, the second step is confidently sitting.

Then what about the third step?

As Qing tried to guess, she got smacked on the head for even considering lying down in front of everyone.

Looking back, it was just a light smack, but since she’d just entered the Divine Maiden Sect, she was still a bit cold-hearted back then.

Thinking back, she really was strict in the beginning.

For walking like a man, smack; for sitting like a man, smack; for speaking like a man, smack, and so on.

What’s going on? Has she just given up on that now?

Hmm, I miss Master.

The third step isn’t lying down but rather speaking.

To confidently speak anywhere.

A correct voice from a correct posture is true power, she said.

“First off, if we want to flourish together in cultivation and study, the methods should not be evil. Even when the martial world becomes one sect in the distant future, those united through evil demonic arts will be a calamity to the world.”

“Why is that?”

“Because they will become a cursed bandit gang to those who do not belong to the martial world. Either the government or the common people. Just look at the Heart Consumption Technique. Since we’re all brothers, do you suggest we pluck the hearts of the common folks or officials instead?”

“Indeed. I understand now. However, pure study is already tightly held in the greedy hands of those who already possess it, the vested interests, so how on earth do I convince them?”

“You can’t convince them by any method. No matter how divine your skill is, there are vulnerabilities; if widely known, those who learn it may find themselves in peril. Looking beyond the visions cherished within sects, you may put at risk families united not by blood but by the same master. Even beasts take care of their kin; how do you expect to win over human cruelty with mere words?”

“So what should I do? They’ve monopolized their skills for so long that, as you say, they’ve built fortresses just for themselves. There’s no way to oppose them and gain those skills, right?”

“That’s—”

“Oh! I think I get it without needing to hear it. It’s just that the ghost you mentioned! If those without abilities come together and oppose, no matter how divine the skills are, they can burn down the fortresses of the well-fed pigs, breaking down all those barriers. Then, true justice in the martial world can be born!”

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed drastically.

What a troublesome old man this is.

Thank goodness I followed; otherwise, I might have found myself listed in the mission log later.

Another crisis, perhaps another title like ‘Red Flood of Heaven.’

Or maybe something like the ‘Uprising of the Martial Heroes,’ or, since it’s a joint training, maybe something like ‘Publicly Funded Martial Arts Uprising’?

Who knows?

“No. The blade takes life and traps you in an endless cycle of resentment—that’s the most convenient tool for that purpose. You can never create a united martial world through that method; only bloodshed and vengeance will return, leading to endless conflicts.”

“Then what? What should I do?”

“Was divine skill divine from the start? All divine skills were weak at first; they’re the essence of schools that have evolved over time. So why not create that weak beginning yourself?”

“I should be the beginning.”

Jongjeongpil fell into deep thought.

And then, seemingly reaching a conclusion, he shook his head.

“No matter how you start, it’s pointless; those who are centuries ahead will keep distancing themselves, and the vested interests will not wait, either.”

Qing was dumbfounded.

Does that guy really understand what he’s saying?

Why should those who are ahead for centuries be held accountable, allowing those just starting to catch up?

Of course, it’s fine if they are caught for crimes.

But did Gu Pai Bang commit any offenses?

The Martial Alliance was one of the few groups maintaining even minimal order while the government and Sapa were all busy filling their own bellies.

Qing stifled a smirk, keeping her thoughts hidden behind a meaningful smile.

“No, eventually, those vested interests will face a predetermined defeat.”

“Why? Why do you think that?”

“Usually, when a prestigious school teaches divine arts, they select the most valuable students to secretly pass it on to prevent leaks. Thus, over time, the owners of these divine arts gradually dwindle, and they get lost in practice and fade away.”

It has gradually changed into a place only for a few geniuses, and it will only continue down that path.

How about those eagerly yearning for higher knowledge and more from the martial world?

As the number of divine art owners dwindles, and as they become more obscure, even more people will experience that desperate thirst and hunger.

“So, in the not-so-distant future, everyone will rise up with clenched fists; a true martial world that is equal will be revealed. Will the Great Hero prepare for that future you will eventually arrive at? As a forerunner laying the groundwork on treacherous mountains, you might even witness the birth of that martial world.”

That logic was lifted straight from the reds.

If you just swapped ‘prestigious schools and geniuses’ for ‘capitalists and laborers,’ you’d nail their words on the head.

At the same time, this was the last attempt at persuasion.

After all, it’s something that’s going to happen in the future, and it’s a task you might barely be able to accomplish in a lifetime.

So don’t waste energy on pointless struggles; just give up.

Will you be a Yu Gong? Or a Xian Luo?

The legendary Yu Gong sought to move mountains, seeking to pass down an immense task that he might never accomplish in his own time, so he may have been foolish, but his ambitions were grand.

Xian Luo, who scoffed at such Yu Gong, although he was a person who had no business saying such things, still possessed the wisdom of giving up on futile endeavors early on to enjoy life.

Then Jongjeongpil abruptly stood up.

He clasped his hands together and respectfully bowed his head.

It’s a custom from Central Plain known as the ‘Four Power’ greeting.

“I doubted you for a moment, but you are indeed a giant with great aspirations within. Therefore, I, Jongjeong, sincerely seek your wisdom.”

Lady, I’m losing my mind here.

Where exactly did that casual nonsense come from that would make this guy so red-faced?

Ah. So this is what they call a ghost.

Here’s a perfectly fine man, all lured in, and now he’s all red and drenched in blood. Naturally, everyone in the world would fear that.

“One. First, gather comrades who share your aspirations. When you share your martial arts with them, they too will do the same.”

Two, then by sharing your divine arts and insights, each other’s incomplete martial arts will gradually become whole.

And when you reveal this to the world, those inspired will flock to you.

Three. Thus, the scattered martial arts will converge and enhance each other, ultimately creating a study worth calling divine art, right?

“From then on, like a fire demon rushing upon a dry mountain, it