Yefutidaolu

Chapter 244 Of course
On Dansha's back, Gao Jian shut his mouth and fell into deep thought.

Seeing this, Shushu took the initiative to start talking. He sat on Gao Jian's head and gently tugged at his hair: "I said, you shouldn't have neglected important matters, right? Our most urgent task right now is not dealing with these children, but dealing with the issue of dropping out of school. If Helunsabao's side is not handled well and they drop out... you and I probably won't be able to leave Shendu."

"Yes, I know. Don't worry, Elder Shu, I know what I'm doing." Gao Jian nodded.

Helunsabao used his connections to get Gao Jian expelled from the Imperial Academy, and it was a legitimate document issued by the Ministry of Rites...

It's not that there's no way to solve it.

To be honest, if I were to go to Li Zoufang or Lord Sima now, they could probably mediate. With their combined power, it wouldn't be difficult for them to resolve this matter.

However, based on Gao Jian's understanding of them, the most likely solution to this matter would be for them to contact the Ministry of Rites, have everyone set up a table for a banquet, and then have Gao Jian offer a toast, bow his head, and admit his mistake: "Helunsabao, I was too arrogant last time, I apologize to you."

Then Helensabao also said, "I was not generous enough, and I apologize to you as well."

Then everyone let out a formulaic laugh: "Hahahaha," saying that since they would all be classmates from now on, they should get along well. After that, they ate and drank well, and the matter was dropped.

To be honest, if it were before today, Gao Jian would have indeed planned to do that. After all, it's all about finding connections, making it seem like everyone has connections.

But after today, Takami changed his mind.

Perhaps he hasn't seen the situation in the capital city clearly enough.

"Sigh, I only came to Shendu to go to school, but I never expected to cause so much trouble." Gao Jian shook his head.

Shu Jian couldn't help but remark, "With your personality, you're bound to cause trouble wherever you go. But... there's something I don't quite understand. He ate all this, so why are you interfering?"

When Shu Jian asked the question, Dan Sha also looked at Gao Jian, wanting to know how he would answer.

Yes, why should we care?

Dan Sha is a dragon, and Shu Jian is a rat. Clearly, they both think that eating these things is nothing unusual. In this world, it is not strange for monsters to be eaten by people, or for monsters to eat people, or even for monsters to eat monsters and people to eat people.

What's so strange about that?
Although true dragons are not purely carnivorous, they do eat meat. Cinnabar has a large appetite and has eaten a variety of things.

The mouse is a pure vegetarian. He loves to eat all kinds of seeds and grains, but he is already used to these things and doesn't find them special.

Gao Jian's strong reaction was truly unexpected for both of them.

"Why should we interfere?" Gao Jian looked at them and realized something...

For the rats and Dansha, it was only natural for them to eat each other, and for Helensabao, it was also only natural for him to eat them.

it's here……

It seems that this mutual cannibalism is just a matter of course.

Morality is not fixed; things like morality and righteousness are actually a kind of social consensus that is dynamically established.

Especially in this new world, Takami's traditional moral concepts do not hold true.

So Gao Jian simply chuckled and said, "Because I can't stand it, that's how it is."

There's no need to explain.

There's no need to give examples one by one, to talk about things that are irrelevant, to engage in philosophical debates, or to argue what is edible and what is not.

No need.

A brilliant idea couldn't stand it, so he took action; it's that simple.

Thinking this, he looked back and saw dozens of children, all infants. It was unlikely that they were all abducted or forcibly kidnapped. It was probably a large-scale, systematic production, collection, and sale process, possibly operating like an orphanage...

We also need to investigate this.

Let's analyze the current situation.

Regarding the cultivation techniques from the Desire Realm that I obtained from Ye Qingmu, I need time to comprehend them. This time, after killing Helun Sabao, I honed my three-inch blade again, so I can probably comprehend these techniques in a short time without affecting my progress too much, and it can also improve my combat power.

Regarding the matter of these children, we also need to follow the clues from Ye Qingmu's line. Most cultivation methods in the Divine Dynasty do not require cannibalism, and Gao Jian is very familiar with this. The Xuanhua Tongmen Great Dao Song explains it very clearly.

The cultivation methods of the Taotie tribe like Helunsabao, as well as some evil cultivators, ghost cultivators, and blood sacrifice shamans, are ultimately a minority. Otherwise, the Divine Dynasty would have collapsed long ago. Therefore, Gao Jian does not face too much pressure.

However, at the same time, the Taotie tribe obviously... cannot be morally condemned for such a thing. Even though Dansha and Shujian are on Gaojian's side, they do not think that such a thing should be condemned.

On the other hand, being expelled from the Imperial Academy would certainly lead to annihilation. The Taotie tribe is quite powerful, and it wouldn't be difficult for them to find a few strong individuals to take action.

However, it's unlikely that he'll be expelled from the Imperial Academy directly. Li Zoufang will probably try to mediate for him, but that would mean he'd have to bow down and apologize, and might even have to offer cinnabar.

A wise person wouldn't do that.

We need to find a way to resolve the matter of Helunsabao so that we can restore our status at the Imperial Academy.

Moreover, Gao Jian felt that he really needed to take a good look at the capital city and see what it relied on to function.

Hmm... then the task at hand is quite clear.

In short, let's deal with these children first. We can't keep Dansha carrying this burden forever, and it's unrealistic to expect Takami and Dansha to take care of dozens of children.

then--

About two hours later, Dansha finally arrived at Weisu.

It was quite a journey! The location of the capital city changes every day. In the past, I could just jump down and get there, but today it took me two whole hours.

Dansha was very conspicuous, so she was noticed as soon as she arrived. Moreover, she couldn't shrink her body, since she was carrying dozens of people on her back.

She landed in an area where a mount had landed, and before she had even come to a complete stop, people surrounded her, clearly having followed her all the way.

Gao Jian recognized one of them; he was Ye Qingmu's boss, an old man known as "Uncle Huang," who led a group of swindlers and mainly dealt in high-end business.

The reason it's called a high-end business is because the swindlers he employs are all like Ye Qingmu, with considerable cultivation levels, spending their days in places like Taiwei Yuan, swindling money from wealthy people.

Of course, they don't touch the truly important people; those people can get rid of them with a flick of their finger.

However, if you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet. If you accidentally offend someone, you'll need to smooth things over.

Like now... they really know how to get along with people.

After provoking Takami, when he arrived again, they not only did not run away, but instead took the initiative to greet him.

"Sir, you've come this time?" Uncle Huang, who was in charge, stepped forward and bowed to Gao Jian.

Gao Jian jumped off Dan Sha's head.

The mouse also jumped down from Takagi's head.

The three are arranged in order of size (large, medium, small) and stand here.

"Nothing much, just taking a stroll around Xuanwu District. Also, there should be quite a few orphanages or similar places around here, right?" Gao Jian got straight to the point. Uncle Huang bowed respectfully: "Yes, Xuanwu District is indeed that kind of place... You're just here to take a look?"

"No, I mainly want to find a place for these children. Mr. Huang, do you have any suggestions?" Gao Jian asked the conman in front of him.

"You've come to these orphanages in Xuanwu District? Sir... you've come to the wrong place. I bet all these children of yours were sent from orphanages in this area." Uncle Huang smiled wryly, while observing Gao Jian's expression.

This lord...

Don't you know about this?

Or is this a test?

Why was he testing him? Was this person truly mentally challenged? Or was he simply naive and unaware of the situation in Xuanwu District?
Absolutely impossible, because if that were the case, neither Ye Qingmu nor she would have fallen for such a person. Perhaps the other party had ulterior motives—

Uncle Huang's face and eyes kept flashing as he pondered deeply.

This is a matter of life and death...

“Of course I know. I’m planning to open my own shop, but I’m not very familiar with the market. Mr. Huang, do you know anything about this?” Gao Jian asked.

Upon hearing this, Uncle Huang paused for a moment, then narrowed his eyes slightly.

"The sir is kind and benevolent, but he did this..." Uncle Huang wanted to say something.

Gao Jian patted him on the shoulder and said, "Mr. Huang, don't worry about that. I'll find someone to do this. I think you two are quite suitable."

"Ah? No, no, no, that's not appropriate!" Uncle Huang immediately waved his hand: "Sir, you can't just do whatever you want. There are rules here. Snakes have their paths, rats have their burrows. You can't easily overstep them."

Shu Jian listened and nodded.

"I see. How about you tell me about the Snake Path?" Gao Jian said with a smile.

"Sir... what are you doing?" Uncle Huang couldn't help but ask.

Originally, I shouldn't have asked this kind of question; it was presumptuous of me.

"Don't ask so many questions, just lead the way. If you don't want to introduce me, I'll get to know you myself. You just need to lead the way. I've only been in the capital for a few days, and I just want to see the local customs and culture."

"The true local customs and culture of the capital can only be seen in the Three Enclosures... What we see in the Xuanwu District probably doesn't represent the capital very well." Uncle Huang wiped his sweat.

“It’s all the same capital city, no matter what it looks like. Lead the way. By the way, could you help me find a car to put us in? We can’t keep carrying these things, can we?” Gao Jian pointed to the back.

Uncle Huang clearly had no power to refuse, so he could only nod.

Then, with a wave of his hand, one of the others behind him took out a miniature model from his pocket, blew on it, and it turned into a car, carrying all the children inside.

“Then let’s walk there, or you can give me directions,” Gao Jian said.

Uncle Huang sighed helplessly, but still managed a smile: "Then let me lead the way. You all go stand aside and don't get in the way. Take good care of the car when we get back."

With that, Uncle Huang dismissed the crowd that had gathered around him.

The entire queue was streamlined to three people and one mouse.

The rat doesn't know how to transform, and he looks down on transformation from the bottom of his heart, so he sits on Takashi's head, just like Takashi often steps on Dansha's head.

Dansha then transformed into human form and put the children into the car. The car would be properly kept by Uncle Huang's men, and Gao Jian should be able to pick them up soon without too much trouble.

Having made these arrangements, Uncle Huang took the initiative to lead the way.

Even now, Uncle Huang still can't quite understand what this old man is planning to do...

Could it really be that they're just here to build an orphanage? That would be a real waste of time.

Yes, it was a waste of time; there's nothing else to describe it.

Harvesting and mutilating animals is an industry that has existed since ancient times, and it has even become an industry that many people rely on for a living. Many immortal sects use it.

Not all immortal sects in the world are as focused on cultivating inner energy as Zhenjing Dao Palace or Tiangong Mountain.

For example, the small immortal sect that Gao Jian once encountered in Yuezhou, the Lijin Sect, all require young boys and girls to refine mechanisms, practice mechanical arts, and manufacture female and male copper to suppress the dragon's body. They can't just go and catch them themselves every day, can they?

This is an industry.

An industry that revolves around people.

Humans are the most intelligent of all beings, and all human products have inherent value, and that value is quite high.

The Banner of Ten Thousand Souls and the Plate of a Thousand Ghosts are methods that primarily utilize living souls.

Zombies, blood skeletons—these are methods primarily based on the physical body.

Another example is the dual cultivation of the furnace and cauldron, which involves absorbing life force, a method primarily based on vital essence.

Furthermore, there are many practices similar to 'blood sacrifice' and 'cannibalism,' which fully utilize the human body without any waste.

Even those Taoist priests who cultivate pure qi know how to use methods like children's urine—which don't harm the body—to utilize the natural power of humans as the most intelligent of all beings.

Even setting aside the inherent value of humans, simply using them for labor and servitude is far more effective and powerful than using demons, given that humans cultivate faster and have higher comprehension.

The superiority of being the most intelligent of all creatures is fully demonstrated here.

And Shen Du, naturally, would not let go of this advantage.

The Divine Dynasty governs such a vast territory, it's impossible that... everyone there cultivates pure qi and righteous qi.

The lofty and supreme divine dynasty would not be prejudiced against cultivators who practice pure qi, and naturally... it would not be prejudiced against those who cultivate these things either.

This is the way the world is.

If this gentleman only comes to build a few orphanages out of momentary pity, then... he will be like all the well-meaning big shots in the past, doing it a few times, realizing that things are not going to work out, and then leaving.

After all, this is something that cannot be done.

But there's no need to say it, nor is it necessary to say it. This gentleman doesn't look very old; he probably still has hope and dreams in his heart.

Thinking of this...

They arrived at the 'grave' in Xuanwu District.

The four stars associated with tombs, located south of the constellation Wei, govern mountains, mausoleums, tragedy, death, and weeping. A large one is called a tomb, a small one a grave. It signifies matters of weeping for the people.

This is the place with the most institutions similar to orphanages.

(An extra chapter tomorrow; if not tomorrow, then the day after.)

(End of this chapter)