FVN Chapter 49 Moral Blackmail
Chapter 49 Moral Blackmail
Zhang Chengming spoke again, with a mocking tone:
"Young man, let this old man see what you'll choose."
"What Wang Sheng seeks is the Way, not the filial piety you speak of."
"You let him go back, and he did, but on the condition that you take him as your disciple and teach him magic."
"If you don't accept it, he won't go back sincerely."
"If you accept it, you are using profit to lure someone whose mind is not yet settled into magic."
"If he wreaks havoc on the world in the future, the consequences will all fall on your shoulders."
"Let me see what your choice will be!"
Now in his Yin spirit form, freed from the constraints and influence of his physical body, his words are utterly undisguised in their malice and mischief.
Upon hearing this, the Rakshasa woman's gaze fell on Zhong Xuan's profile.
The sunlight outlined his handsome features, his eyes revealing no emotion.
She suddenly became curious about how this seemingly gentle boy would handle such a thorny matter.
The monkey scratched its head, looking at Wang Sheng and then at the man, its eyes full of curiosity.
It couldn't understand why kneeling down to beg was considered more unsightly than standing and talking.
Wang Sheng knelt on the ground, his face still full of pleading.
The monkey looked closely into his eyes and discovered all sorts of greedy desires, just like the monkeys on Flower Fruit Mountain who would fight each other to the death for an extra piece of fruit.
As for Zhong Xuan, who was the main person in question, he quietly looked at the person in front of him.
He had witnessed all sorts of things in his previous life, but none of them bothered him at the time.
Humans are like mayflies, for life is finite.
At that time, he was unwilling to waste his energy on such matters, and external conditions did not allow him to do so, as he was busy cultivating the Tai Xuan Jing and the Hong Zhong Dian.
Now, Zhong Xuan thinks it's time.
Although he has not yet achieved mastery of his human form through cultivation, he is no longer in a great hurry.
Immortality may be difficult, but living for several hundred years is not a problem.
This is because the innate lifespan of the people of Xiniu Hezhou is several hundred years. He not only learned this from the original book he had read in his memory, but also from his memories of the first fifteen years of this life.
The Buddha once said: Although there are no supreme immortals in my Western Continent of Hezhou, everyone enjoys a long life...
"Since that's the case..."
Zhong Xuan's gaze was clear and insightful, making Wang Sheng even more uneasy.
He was looking at what Wang Sheng was.
They are very similar to a type of person that often exists in this world.
They only ever look at what others have, never asking themselves what they should do.
Previously, Wang Sheng was asked to try going back to fulfill his filial duties.
He said he was talking without understanding the pain of the situation and that he didn't understand the man's plea.
Now that he's shown his skills, he immediately pounces on them, wanting a piece of the pie, as if some things were rightfully his.
Should we give it to him or not?
Just as Zhong Xuan was about to reply to Wang Sheng...
Suddenly, a strange feeling stirred deep within my mind.
There was a sudden commotion on the side where the mountain god was incarnated.
.....
Cuiyun Mountain, Taoxi Valley.
Outside the temple, the mountain god, dressed in coarse cloth, was combing through the earth's veins, looking like an old farmer working in the fields, without making any attempt to conceal his appearance.
The sound of flowing water nearby, along with the occasional cry of night birds, made the valley even more tranquil.
Li Gongcao was working on the other side; his full name was Li Han.
When Zhong Xuan rested, he looked around and sensed the power of the mountain god.
In recent days, he has expanded the scope of his authority to a radius of several miles, or about two kilometers.
The earth veins that had been altered and distorted by demons throughout the ages are being restored inch by inch, like straightening out a tangled mess that has been knotted for many years.
Now, with just a thought, the power of a human immortal's mind can roam and control this already considerable area.
It is the so-called power of the Yang God, which is the true Yang God's three flowers gathered at the top of the head, and the five energies mixed together. It has always been hidden in the Baihui acupoint in the mind and rarely goes out to avoid external evils.
Suddenly, his palms felt slightly warm.
He looked down and saw that the Mountain God Seal was trembling.
The small seal rose up on its own.
It hovered in mid-air, its entire body radiating a faint golden light.
The golden light stood out starkly in the dim temple, illuminating the surrounding mottled walls.
The golden light coalesced, transforming into a beam of light and shadow.
The figure in the light and shadow was dressed in an official robe and wore a Liang crown. With a dignified face, he looked exactly like a celestial official from the Heavenly Court.
He stood with his hands behind his back, surrounded by a faint auspicious light, his gaze sharp as lightning, looking down at the incarnation of the mountain god.
When light and shadow speak, the sound is like a tolling bell, penetrating straight to the heart and soul:
"Hear the proclamation, God of Cuiyun Mountain in the lower realm."
"Imperial Edict of the Three Realms Mountains and Rivers Bureau:"
"From this day forward, in addition to the existing incense offering assessment, a new assessment of Heavenly Merit will be added."
"A cycle that lasts a century, its significance rests on the same level as the incense offerings."
Those who lack merit and virtue shall be dismissed from their posts and punished.
"Those who have achieved perfect merit will be promoted as appropriate."
After a brief pause, he continued:
"You are a seventh-rank mountain god, and within a hundred years..."
"One must offer 10,000 sticks of incense with utmost sincerity and 100 points of merit from Heaven."
"Each one is indispensable."
As soon as the words were spoken, the light and shadow vanished.
The golden light transformed into tiny fireflies, slowly drifting down and merging into the Mountain God's Seal.
It was obvious that the other party was just going through the motions and didn't care who it was.
Streams of information flowed from the Mountain God Seal into Zhong Xuan's mind.
It is a complete explanation of "Heavenly Way and Merit".
Merit is the accumulation of virtues that accumulate by conforming to the will of Heaven and the people and by protecting all living beings.
Slaying demons and monsters, saving lives and healing the wounded, spreading knowledge and skills, benefiting the people...
All that benefits heaven and earth and all living beings is meritorious.
Merit is recorded by the Way of Heaven, which is perfectly just and cannot be faked.
Following this, data emerged from the Mountain God Seal:
Devout incense offerings: 372 sticks
Heavenly Merit: Midnight
Centennial assessment: 22 days
Zhong Xuan slowly opened his eyes, a hint of worry appearing on his face.
Only twenty-two days remain.
Today, there are over three hundred incense sticks burning, but no merit has been gained.
.....
The human form of the Jisa Kingdom and the incarnation of the mountain god of Cuiyun Mountain.
The two are two sides of the same coin.
In that moment of surprise, the mountain god was incarnated to receive the decree from the heavenly court.
Information flooded into my mind like a stream, and the various rules about the Way of Heaven and the Way of Merit became clear to me at this moment.
After all, both offerings of incense and merit require the efforts of two bodies:
Merit is the accumulation of virtues that accumulate by conforming to the will of Heaven and the people and by protecting all living beings.
All that benefits heaven and earth and all living beings is meritorious.
.....
There are four sources.
Firstly, it protects living beings:
In the midst of natural disasters and man-made calamities, we protect all living beings within our borders. Saving one life brings one act of merit; protecting one region accumulates ten acts of merit.
.....
Secondly, the merit of education:
He opens the altar to preach the Tao, enlightens the ignorant, and guides all beings to goodness. He converts an ordinary person into the Tao, gaining one merit; he guides a demonic cultivator back to the right path, gaining ten merits.
.....
Thirdly, slaying demons and eliminating evil:
Slay the evil spirits that harm living beings, and judge merit based on strength.
Killing a minor demon earns one merit.
Slaying a great demon brings a hundred merits.
.....
Fourth, to restore order to the country:
Remove the evil spirits from altering the earth's veins and waterways, and restore peace and tranquility to the world.
One mile of traversing the earth's veins brings one act of merit.
.....
However, merits do not only increase but also decrease.
If one commits evil deeds and harms the innocent, then the evil karma will offset any merit.
Killing someone results in the loss of ten merits.
Destroying people's path to enlightenment diminishes all their merits.
Good and evil balance each other out, without the slightest error.
After Zhong Xuan reviewed the relevant rules,
I thought to myself that this was completely different from the Buddhist saying that "doing good deeds brings blessings, while doing bad deeds leads to hell, and the two are unrelated."
In the Book of Merit, good and evil deeds are balanced, and merits and demerits cancel each other out.
It's a pity that killing the Great Demon Qingyang earlier didn't count as merit.
That's just how the system works... The new regulations will be in effect from the time they are released.
Zhong Xuan snapped out of his daze, his gaze shifting slightly.
Wang Sheng knelt on the ground and waited for a long time, but Zhong Xuan did not respond.
He looked up and saw that the boy's gaze was blank, as if he were thinking about something.
Impatient expressions gradually appeared on Wang Sheng's face.
His knees were almost numb from kneeling, and the coolness of the bluestone slabs crept up his bones, making him feel uncomfortable all over.
What does this mean?
Do you think I'm not sincere enough?
Or do you simply not want to take me in at all?
He's already been so humble, what more does this person want?
Thinking of this, Wang Sheng gritted his teeth and simply sat down on the ground.
He looked up at Zhong Xuan, staring blankly at him with a hint of despair in his expression.
"Immortal Master, let's talk this out!"
"Either you help me cultivate immortality, or I absolutely refuse to go back!"
"Don't give me any talk about filial piety or ethics. I, Wang Sheng, have been seeking the Dao for three years and have finally reached this point. You want me to go back? What would I do back there?!"
"Stay by the side of an old woman who is about to die, wait for her to breathe her last, and then what?"
"And then my life is over!"
Wang Sheng mustered his courage and spoke his mind!
These people will either help me become an immortal, or I'll just waste my time!
Anyway, it was these people who brought up the old woman's matter first, so we can't ignore it.
He continued speaking loudly amidst a crowd of onlookers.
"If you are truly compassionate, please accept me."
"If you don't want to accept it, then you can leave!"
"I will continue to seek my path to immortality here."
After Wang Sheng finished speaking, he crossed his arms and stood there, looking like he wouldn't budge no matter what.
But it brought out that carefree, "what a dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water" attitude.
But the man's eyes remained fixed on Zhong Xuan.
It was like a gamble, betting that the boy would soften his heart and compromise.
The Rakshasa woman stood to the side, watching this scene with a slight frown.
Her gaze swept over Wang Sheng's face, then turned to Zhong Xuan.
Zhong Xuan remained silent, gazing into the distance, lost in thought, making him difficult to fathom.
The Rakshasa woman was even more troubled, as the imbalance of her five elements affected her emotions.
The more easily one gets agitated, the more easily one becomes irritable.
She just felt that this Wang Sheng was so hateful.
What a rogue! He even dares to seek immortality.
It's really tough on this kid. How could someone who understands so many Taoist and Buddhist scriptures be unable to handle someone like Wang Sheng?
For some reason, the Rakshasa woman's heart skipped a beat.
Her eyes sparkled, and she suddenly took a step forward.
The tall, beautiful woman looked down at Wang Sheng.
The sunlight cast a long shadow behind her, enveloping Wang Sheng entirely.
Wang Sheng stared at the beautiful woman, her figure veiled, and unconsciously swallowed, his gaze fixed on the curves of her body.
The Rakshasa woman grew even more disgusted and said indifferently, "It's nothing more than supporting an old woman so she can enjoy her twilight years. Why should you trouble yourself?"
His words immediately drew everyone's attention.
There is actually a solution?
"I only need to spend a few taels of silver,"
"Find a kind-hearted family in the nearby villages."
"Send some firewood, rice, oil, and salt every day, and check on things every few days."
"That old woman will naturally be able to live a life free from worries about food and clothing, and live out her remaining years in peace."
The Rakshasa woman paused, then leaned down slightly and moved closer.
Wang Sheng's eyes widened in fright.
He panicked when he heard the Rakshasa woman say she was going to take his grandmother away.
What? They actually have this method?
What will happen to his path to immortality?
Without his grandmother as a bargaining chip, what right does he have to beg these cultivators to accept him?
The Rakshasa woman's bright eyes reflected the panicked expressions on people's faces, and her mood calmed down.
Her clear, cold eyes held an undisguised sarcasm:
"But you,
"A fool who would abandon even his own grandmother, even if he kneels until his legs break, who would actually take him in?"
His clear and distinct words were like a knife piercing Wang Sheng's heart, leaving many people nearby stunned.
Someone sighed inwardly.
"What a clever girl!"
"Judging from her attire, she's a female knight-errant."
"Seriously, anything that can be solved with money isn't a problem."
"That insignificant Wang Sheng actually thinks he can control others?"
"This girl has a sharp tongue."
As they spoke, some people began to curiously observe the woman.
At this moment, the expression on Wang Sheng's face finally froze completely.
He opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but didn't know where to begin.
The woman's eyes were so cold that they made him feel uneasy!
He knew in his heart that he should quickly change his tune.
But all the words suddenly got stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single one.
They couldn't win a fight, and they couldn't win an argument.
What should he do?
Upon hearing this, the monkey's eyes lit up immediately.
It hopped over to Zhong Xuan, grabbed his arm, and shook it.
It shook it vigorously, but found that the man didn't react much and was still standing there blankly.
The monkey scratched its head, tilted its head to look at Zhong Xuan, and muttered softly, "Brother Human?"
"Yes, Brother Monkey, I'm listening."
Zhong Xuan snapped out of his daze and looked at the Rakshasa woman beside him. Looking into her cold eyes and at the way she had spoken up for him, a smile appeared on his lips.
At least for now, he has someone willing to help him.
"Thank you, Yunniang."
He spoke softly, his voice gentle and joyful.
Upon hearing this, the Rakshasa woman's cheeks flushed slightly beneath her veil.
She turned her head away, feigning indifference, and said, "What are you thanking me for? I didn't help you with anything."
But the tips of her ears had quietly turned red, clearly visible in the sunlight.
Zhong Xuan smiled, then looked at the monkey, then at Wang Sheng sitting on the ground, and slowly spoke:
"What Yunniang just said has reminded me."
"This Wang Sheng is fickle and deeply obsessed; we really don't have that much time to guide him slowly."
He paused, then turned his gaze to the Rakshasa woman:
"I wonder if I could trouble Yunniang with a favor?"
The Rakshasa woman blinked, her hands unconsciously going behind her back.
She gripped her left wrist with her right hand and leaned slightly forward.
It's rare to see her unconsciously reveal such a charming and girlish side.
The Rakshasa woman thought to herself with a touch of elation:
The boy actually begged him?
They hadn't asked for anything along the way, but now they've come to ask me for something.
"What is it? Tell me."
The Rakshasa woman's tone carried a hint of unexpected joy, a charming glint that even she herself didn't realize.
Zhong Xuan said, "I would like to ask you and Brother Monkey to make a trip to find that old woman and persuade her to move to Cuiyun Mountain."
He gradually developed a clear plan in his mind:
"The mountain god temple is in need of a temple keeper to manage the incense offerings. If she is willing, she can stay there."
"I will ask someone to find a few honest and dutiful ordinary people to help take care of the temple and her daily life."
"In this way, she will have someone to take care of her, and Wang Sheng will not have to go back."
"Each gets what they deserve."
After Zhong Xuan finished speaking, many onlookers cheered.
That was a really clever move!