Cyber ​​Daming

Chapter 636: Demons and Evil Spirits
In the current power structure of the empire, Buddhism, one of the three major religions, is already in name only and is destined to exit the stage in disgrace and will never cause any waves again.

The remaining Confucianism and Taoism have now formed an opposing trend, with tensions rising and ready to break out.

This is the macro trend from a high perspective, but in some seemingly insignificant details, there are also undercurrents that should not be underestimated.

From Han Yang's words, Honghu smelled the damp fishy smell before the coming storm, and planned to take the opportunity to make a comeback in an attempt to fish in troubled waters.

But in Li Jun's opinion, it is not accurate to use the word "comeback" to describe Honghu. It should be said that this organization has once again taken the initiative to surface.

Li Jun, who was once a member of the Imperial Guard, had fought against the Honghu many times and even killed a Honghu leader of a princely level in the Jinlou of Chongqing Prefecture.

So he has a deep understanding of the organization.

The members of Honghu are very good at hiding themselves and stirring up public opinion. This is not only a characteristic of the sequence of Zonghengxu, but also a style of behavior that is deeply rooted in each of their members.

Honghu's power in the empire is deeply rooted and difficult to eradicate. This can be seen from the fact that the New Donglin Party has not been able to completely eradicate them for so many years.

If a head-on conflict really breaks out between the Confucian order and the Taoist order this time, no matter whether it is controlled among those who follow the order, or it gets out of control and affects all the people in the basic life base of both sides, it will provide fertile soil for the growth and development of Honghu.

Once Honghu becomes powerful, even strong groups like the New Donglin Party and Longhu Mountain will probably have a headache.

In addition, the Yin Yang Sequence East Palace is also preparing to make moves in the dark.

After the incident with the bandi, Li Jun already knew that the acting skills and patience of this group of people were so good that it was jaw-dropping.

There had been rumors in the empire before that the Yin-Yang Order suffered a disastrous defeat in the "Huangliang Decentralization", causing a large number of disheartened followers to choose to flee overseas.

The scattered personnel who remained in the empire were also demoralized, and the entire sequence was nothing more than a group of loose sand that was not to be feared.

Even Zou Sijiu, the Yin-Yang master, believed this lie.

The reality is not like this at all.

The East Palace, which has a group of masters including the 'Nine Lords', has been hiding in the dark for decades.

He even took advantage of the competition between Buddhism and Taoism and successfully led the Buddhist order astray, which eventually led to a miserable end of being skinned and flayed.

In the current complex and treacherous situation, it is natural for the Eastern Branch to seek Li Jun's protection.

You have to know that after the "Division of the World" that year, the Ming Gui in Mo Xu suffered heavy casualties, and before they could recover, they were hit hard again. The subsequent split of the Five Academy made the situation even worse.

The dismemberment of the Ming Gui Realm has caused the number and strength of the Ming Gui within it to decline sharply, and now it has reached the point where it is stretched to the limit and there is a lack of successors.

This caused some voices within Mo Xu who were eager to see the world in chaos, saying that they should take this opportunity to regain the dominant position of Mohists, or craftsmen, within Mo Xu.

The Central Branch's action of enslaving the Ming Gui has no shortage of supporters among the other four branches.

Moreover, the vast majority of these people are the new generation of Mohists.

This is what makes Han Yang and other Mo Xu elders feel most uneasy.

It is human nature to forget the pain once the wound has healed.

But when a scar has not healed completely and is torn open again and again, it will sooner or later kill the person.

In addition, Han Yang was very sure of one thing.

That is, as the current situation continues to deteriorate, sooner or later someone will step in and drag them down.

The reason is simple: a man is innocent unless he is in possession of a treasure.

Mo Xu, who has mastered a large number of technical skills and possesses strong manufacturing and creative abilities, but lacks the means of self-protection, is a rare piece of fat meat in the eyes of any party.

As for the Eastern Branch itself, whether it is the New Donglin Party, Longhu Mountain, or the Eastern Palace, it is not difficult for them to join them. The other party may even be very welcoming and promise various benefits to elders like Han Yang.

But in exchange, it is the interests of the entire East Courtyard.

The technical skills they have accumulated over thousands of years will be snatched away, and their Mohists and Ming Guis will be used as cannon fodder.

This is something Han Yang doesn't want to see.

Therefore, Li Jun is the best choice for the Eastern Branch.

One person is comparable to a force. This is not an empty statement made by Han Yang to praise Li Jun.

However, the meaning of this sentence does not refer to Li Jun's current title of Lord of Tianque. After all, anyone with a discerning eye knows that the symbolic meaning here is far greater than the actual meaning.

He is also not like Chen Qisheng, Zou Sijiu and Ma Wangye who followed him. They are considered to be top fighters even among the three religions.

They are helpful, but also Li Jun's weaknesses.

If these people were gone, Li Jun would become a lone wolf again in the literal sense, and that would be an existence that would terrify all forces.

A lone Wuxu without any ties is both a beast and a god.

"I know that the Tianzhi Society under the East Court once made a big mistake. It is normal for you, Lord Li Que, to be dissatisfied with us because of this. But I want to say that they were just one or two termites, and it does not mean that all the Mo Xu in the East Court are like that."

Seeing that Li Jun had not expressed his opinion yet, Han Yang could only continue speaking with a shameless face.

"To be honest, I am not a person who likes to use emotions to blackmail others. Qing Xia is a rare talent. I accepted him as my last disciple because I value him as a person. I don't care about the relationship between him and you."

Han Yang said solemnly: "So even if we don't reach a consensus today, my position as elder will still be left to him in the future, and I will never be angry with Zhao Qingxia because of this. Similarly, no matter what the final result is, the East Court will still do its best to repair Lord Ma, and will never complain."

Li Jun couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he heard that, looking at the other person with a smile.

"Mozhe is not good at speaking. I prepared for this meeting today for a long time. But now it seems that I must have said the wrong thing."

Han Yang was always paying attention to the changes in Li Jun's expression. When he saw the coldness flashing in the other's eyes, a bitter and bleak smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Since Lord Li Que doesn't want to, then just pretend I never said anything."

"Master Han, you really didn't say these words in the right place. If it were me in my old temper, I would be thinking about where to start demolishing your East Branch. But I have seen how Zhao Qingxia treats you. Someone who is so respected by this kid will at least not harm us."

To Han Yang's surprise, Li Jun did not reject his request, but smiled and said, "Besides, those bastards have already accepted the benefits. Wouldn't it be a shame for me to turn my back on them now?"

"Master Li Que, have you agreed?!"

Han Yang's expression brightened and his eyes flashed with joy.

"I don't like to make too many promises. I can't say whether I can protect the East Courtyard, but as long as it is within my ability, I will definitely try my best to help!"

"Thank you."

Han Yang clasped his hands and bowed deeply.

Li Jun stood up from his chair and stepped aside to avoid Han Yang's worship.

"It's too early to thank you now. You can say these words later when you really need me."

Li Jun waved his hand and said, "Now that things are settled here, Master Han, do you mind if I walk around the East Courtyard?"

"Hold on."

Han Yang suddenly spoke up and stopped Li Jun who was about to turn around and leave.

"It's like this. Although we in the East Court haven't done much research on the Solitary Martial Order, when we were protected by the sect's Martial Order, we did some research on the Martial Tempering Process of Order Three at their request, and we have produced a number of not-so-great research results." Han Yang said with a smile, "If you are interested, Master Li Que, you can browse as much as you want. Just consider it a gift from the East Court to you."

This old man was very decisive in paying the protection fee. He is a very perceptive person.

Li Jun laughed in silence but did not refuse.

"Then I would be disrespectful."

"Of course, please!"

Li Jun, who had half turned around, suddenly stopped and looked back at the old man who was full of joy.

"Master Han, on the way here, I heard Zhao Qingxia say that you are an old-generation Mozhe craftsman who is obsessed with manufacturing and research and development and is not good at dealing with people. But after what we talked about today, why do I feel that he still doesn't know you well enough?"

"Actually it's all the same."

Han Yang looked directly into Li Jun's eyes and said sternly, "Just be honest."

As the new year approaches, it is a good time to hang up lights and decorations.

However, Huating County, located in Songjiang Prefecture in South Zhili, did not have the slightest festive atmosphere. Instead, every household had its doors and windows closed, and the city was bleak.

A column of smoke rose up in the south city, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of blood and burnt odor.

"This Songjiang Prefecture is the base of his Xu family. There are so many officials of all ranks in the family. These pampered nobles are unwilling to step forward. Why should we, the small characters who just want to make a living, go and fight with Honghu?"

"You don't understand this, they are not unwilling, but disdainful. Don't you see who died here? How big of a deal is it? I guess those masters are just hoping that the Honghu will make more trouble. Once they find the right position, they will catch all the Honghu in one fell swoop, and they can get a lot of credit in one go!"

"Tsk, how can the credit they get have anything to do with us patrolling the city? I'm afraid we will only have to do the hard work of getting our lives!"

"You are all people who make a living from this. If you are asked to run into a knife, you have no choice but to go. What else can you do? It's just a pity for these ordinary people. Tsk tsk. Look at what a mess they have been burned to. I feel cold just looking at them."

"But it's strange. What kind of magic power does Hong Hu have that makes these people so desperate?"

"Didn't you hear what the inspector in charge of the scene said just now? Those who committed the crime are either drug addicts who are about to go insane, or are damned ghosts who failed to break the order and have only a few days to live. If Honghu said they could save you, would you do it?"

"I"

"Quiet down, Lord Yang is here,"

The guards who were whispering to each other suddenly shut their mouths, but someone in the crowd spoke out with disdain.

"What can he do if he comes? He is just a puppet of the Xu family."

Yang Bai Ze turned a deaf ear and ignored the frightened guards. He crossed the cordon and walked into the scorched earth left by the fire.

This used to be a bustling neighborhood, but now it is just a mess.

Not long ago, a group of Honghu members robbed a shop selling prosthetic limbs and mechanical hearts on this street. When they retreated, they used no less than ten "Fire Dragons Out of Water" to stop the pursuit of the shop guards and the patrolling city guards who came after hearing the news.

The violent explosion caused a fire that instantly spread throughout the block.

There were crushed signboards in the ruins, a charred human figure with indistinguishable hands and feet curled up under the collapsed eaves, and corners of clothes stained with broken bones and blood under the broken walls.

Yang Bai Ze blinked hard, and it seemed as if his eyelids were covered with sticky red, so thick that it could not be dissolved.

"Sir, what are you thinking about?"

An old voice sounded behind Yang Bai Ze.

He turned around and saw that the group of guards who were responsible for protecting the scene had disappeared without a trace.

Standing behind him were three unfamiliar faces wearing black robes, standing in a shape of a character. The cold and hard looks in their eyes made his hair stand on end.

Yang Bai Ze took a cautious step back, frowning. Just as he was about to question the other party's identity, the old voice just now sounded again.

"Are you worried about the Liutao Group, or will the Xu family cause trouble for you because of this?"

An old man with a thin figure and a slightly bent back walked out slowly from behind a man in a black robe.

The moment he saw the other person's appearance clearly, Yang Bai Ze's pupils suddenly shrank to the size of needles, and his mouth opened wide in shock, and an exclamation was about to come out.

"If you don't wear an official robe, there's no need to greet me. Just think of me as just a..."

The old man paused, thought for a moment and then smiled, "He was just a passerby who happened to be passing by."

Upon hearing this, Yang Bai Ze slowly closed his mouth, his eyelids opened and closed heavily, quickly suppressing the horror in his eyes.

"I wasn't thinking about Liu Tao and the Xu family, but about these Hong Hu. Are they still human beings?"

When the old man saw that Yang Bai Ze regained his composure so quickly, he couldn't help but look at him with more admiration.

"If they are not human, then what could they be?"

Yang Bai Ze said without hesitation: "Some people said before that they were righteous soldiers, heroes who fought against the followers for ordinary people. But what I saw were demons, monsters, and ghosts. They were evil bandits who killed people for their own selfish interests and caused many disasters!"

"Demon, devil, ghost, evil? I'm afraid Honghu is not worthy of these words."

In the deep winter in Huating, there is only howling cold, but no trace of falling snow.

The old man with wrinkles on his face exhaled a puff of white steam, and the soles of his boots squeaked as he stepped on the accumulated ashes.

"Let me give you an example. If someone uses ignorance and fanaticism as shackles and chains, and blind people as cattle and horses, and sits high under a canopy of precious jewels, reciting scriptures written on human skin, using wax dipped in human oil, and is merciful and saving the world in his dreams, but is fooling the people when he wakes up, what will be the result if such a person does not die?"

Yang Bai Ze said word by word: "Human life is like grass, the night is endless."

"Then if someone doesn't cultivate his ambitions, doesn't seek the teachings of Huang Lao, doesn't eat the dew of heaven and the souls of people, and wants to use the bones of hundreds of millions of people to build his own platform, what will be the result if this person doesn't die?"

Yang Bai Ze replied: "Living beings are suffering and blood is flowing."

"Then if someone attempts to reverse right and wrong, distort reality and dreams, and flood the Central Plains with the Yellow Millet Sea, so that the people of the world will never know the difference between the five grains, will not understand the moral principles, will indulge in lust, and will never wake up. What will be the result if this person does not die?"

Yang Bai Ze replied: "People are like puppets, and life is like a walking corpse."

"Let's assume that there are people who wear the skin of animals, eat the offerings of the people, and talk about establishing a life for the people, establishing a heart for the world, inheriting the lost knowledge of the ancient sages, and bringing peace to the world for all eternity, but they never look down at the soil under their feet, but only look up at the sky, not caring about the people but asking ghosts and gods. If such a person does not die, what will be the result?
Yang Bai Ze replied: "It brings disaster to the country and harms the people."

"So the evil bandits you mentioned who kill people and cause so much trouble are nothing more than a bunch of clowns in front of real demons, monsters, ghosts, and evil spirits. They are not worth mentioning."

The old man smiled faintly: "Now I ask you, who should be killed?"

Yang Bai Ze pursed his lips, without a moment's thought, and said in a deep voice: "Big disasters must be eliminated, and small disasters must be cured as well!"

“You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

The old man frowned slightly: "Don't you understand this principle?"

"I understand, but we can distinguish between major and minor illnesses, and we can prioritize between the important and the urgent, but ordinary people cannot."

Yang Baize's voice was clear and powerful.

"For them, there is only one life. God has given them their life, and they can choose not to have it, but outsiders cannot take it away! No matter if they are bandits, monsters, or evil spirits, even you and I cannot take it away!"

(End of this chapter)