As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 219 Gentle Flowers

Do you regret it?

The purpose of living a lifetime is to cultivate one's mind. How many people in this world can live a life without regrets?
People are always curious about choices they've never made before, and they always place high hopes on choices they've never made before.

If you regret it, it means your self-cultivation is incomplete. If it's incomplete, you have to start over and sculpt your heart in endless cycles of reincarnation.

This is the path of the Holy One who governs the cycle of life and death.

Do you regret it?

The body before him was covered with countless eyes, each reflecting Zhang Boxing's life.

You put in so much effort to pass the imperial examinations, only to find yourself in the most sordid arena of fame and fortune. Do you regret it?

He fought openly and secretly with those greedy people, lost his wife's life, and was demoted in disgrace. Did he regret it?

Busy with official duties, neglecting the discipline of children, causing them to become vain and lazy, do you regret it?

By associating with the powerful and corrupt, you have earned a bad reputation and become the target of public condemnation. Do you regret it?

I was too cautious and didn't have the heart to deal with the powerful and influential, which has caused me to secretly hate myself. Do I regret it?

Do you regret giving up the merit of following the heroes in the founding of the nation and living a secluded life in a county town?

The cold wind howls, yet you, a foolish child, have taken your own life. Do you regret it?
……

Time turns back, life is reincarnated.

Countless questions echoed before Zhang Boxing's eyes. With each question he pondered, the eye representing the related memory would extend backward, revealing beautiful scenes he had never experienced.

He transformed from a child into a youth, then from a youth into middle age, and finally from a prime of life into old age...

It was as if a question that transcended millions of years of vicissitudes was echoing in the soul.

He could not conceal his true feelings when facing the image of the Holy One.

Time stands still here, and all things return to nothingness.

I don’t know how much time passed.

He shook his head and smiled with a sense of relief: "No regrets!"

After a while, she became more determined: "I have no regrets!"

The next instant, Zhang Boxing was enveloped in a warm light, and an invisible force rippled outwards in concentric circles centered on him.

In an instant, it seemed as if the entire dark space was illuminated, and the resounding clang echoed through this place where life and death were blurred.

He is dead. He doesn't know his current state or how he is speaking.

However, he knew what he was thinking.

He has no regrets.

Whether it was a good deed, a bad deed, a regrettable thing, or a painful thing... he never regretted it.

In the instant he solidified his resolve, he entered a strange new state.

It is unrelated to life and death, and merges with heaven and earth.

And at this moment,
"Master Zhang!"

"Master Zhang!"

"Lord Zhang..."

Whether young, mature, or old...

Whether it's resentment, gratitude, or nostalgia...

Familiar voices echoed in his ears, and faces appeared before him, calling his name.

He knew them well; they were the people to whom he had dedicated half his life.

Those sounds coalesced into power, and the longsword he used to commit suicide appeared in his hand out of nowhere. He looked up, seemingly drawn and driven by something, and with a flash, he disappeared into this space.

"kindness?"

And at the moment Zhang Boxing disappeared.

The Dharma Image that asked him the question stood there, his hands forming a Dharma finger gesture, and he looked up, seemingly puzzled.

……

"Mingchen, what's wrong?"

Seeing the change in Mingchen's expression, Huang Xiao frowned and asked him.

Mingchen didn't look at him, but just clenched his fingers, feeling the warm jade in his hand.

The Immortal Jade Record scroll, visible only to him, shone brightly before his eyes as the scroll was opened.

A slender old man in a blue robe with a goatee suddenly appeared in the painting. He held a long sword in one hand, close to his chest and resting it on his shoulder. His eyes shone with light, reflecting the mountains and rivers.

Wangyangguan, Zhang Boxing.

The people listed in the Immortal Jade Record are not ordinary people; Mingchen can borrow power from them.

Mingchen is still unclear how these people ended up on the Immortal Jade Record.

But one thing he was certain of was that everyone who came up on the Immortal Jade Record was already dead.

That wicked old man is dead?
what happened?

He personally wrote a letter and sent it to Wang Huai!

Did the people handling the matter make a mistake?
When you get old, your body becomes weak and you get sick?
Mingchen stroked the Immortal Jade Record, his brows furrowed.

In just a few brief moments, he considered all the possibilities of the problem.

He had already learned from the old tree that death was not the end of fate.

The information about Zhang Boxing's destiny is "Earthly Immortal Conferring Godhood, Returning Soul Bestowing Imperial Decree." Judging from the few clues, it seems that he is indeed destined to receive eternal fame after his death.

But... Mingchen didn't want him to die.

These so-called long-cherished wishes do not necessarily have to be fulfilled.

For example, Mingchen never intended for his cheap teacher to fail in battle.

The same goes for Zhang Boxing. Although they didn't meet often, he left a very good impression on Mingchen, and they became friends.

The old scoundrel is a good person. He should live a peaceful life, take office in the new dynasty, and continue to contribute his talents. That would be the right path for him.

If one dies of old age, that's a different story.

But what if he died for some other reason, in a muddled and confused way?

What's that?
We shouldn't have let him stay in the old dynasty in the first place.

Thinking of this, Mingchen waved to Fuyao: "Fuyao!"

Birds that understood each other flew over in response, their magic flowing, their beautiful wings unfurling, their magnificent tail feathers swaying and fluttering.

In the blink of an eye, the cute little bird transformed into the noble and beautiful mythical beast, the phoenix.

Mingchen flipped over and climbed onto her back, then said to Huang Xiao, who was standing there in a daze, "Huang Xiao, I'm going out for a bit. Can you stay here and tell my family?"

At the speed of the whirlwind, it will soon be able to fly to Wangyang County.

Now that he has nothing to do, he wants to go east to see what's happening with Zhang Boxing.

Firstly, he wanted to understand the current situation in the east and see if he could find some conditions for obtaining the Immortal Jade Record.

Secondly, he wanted to see this friend he had a good impression of one last time and see how he died. Judging by the timeline, the Blood-Clad Army had probably already reached Zhang Boxin's location, and Zhang Boxin's death was most likely related to the Blood-Clad Army. Although Mingchen was usually carefree and spoke like it was nothing, he was serious about certain promises. If he didn't keep them, it would be a slap in the face, and he needed a reason.

Having said that, he didn't wait for Huang Xiao's response.

With a flourish of its magnificent phoenix wings, a fierce wind swept through, and it soared into the sky. A flash of red light streaked past, and it vanished into the horizon in an instant.

Huang Xiao: ...

White Wolf:......

……

The situation has escalated, and the next step is not to indulge in pleasure, arson, murder, and looting.

Instead, we should think of a way to resolve this issue.

The old man fell to the ground, lifeless, as snowflakes drifted down.

Chen Hua stood to one side, his eyes darting around as he pondered something.

Things had progressed to this point and were completely out of his control.

This fool wasn't the type to blindly rush into things; he eventually stopped.

Zhang Boxing lost his life, but it wasn't entirely in vain.

And at this moment,
"Dad...Dad..."

A figure flashed by, and a young scholar ran over, staring blankly at his lifeless father, before slumping down beside him.

For the past five years, he has been hoping every moment that his father would fall from power, and that he would be given an important position for his act of sacrificing his own family for the greater good.

However, now, my father has lost his life.

He never said a word to him before he died.

Zhang Li's worldview, however, collapsed as a result.

His only identity has always been that of the county magistrate's son.

With the death of the county magistrate, his only identity also vanished.

Under his father's protection, he developed a spoiled and arrogant heart, but never learned to live or face setbacks and difficulties. When he saw a problem, he only knew how to cry out, but did not know how to solve it.

The gazes cast upon him by the surrounding civilians and soldiers made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

How will he live from now on?
What should he do?
What can he do?
The city is in chaos. Will the Blood-Clad Army spare his life?
"Are you his son?"

Chen Hua stepped forward, looking down at the bewildered scholar from his elevated position.

When the general in charge of the troops delivered the message, Zhang Li trembled and knelt on the ground. He turned to look at him with a look of fear in his eyes: "Reporting to the general, I am Zhang Li, and I am... his son."

A peerless hero, but alas... there is no successor.

Looking at the timid scholar, he sighed inwardly.

Although Zhang Boxing's suicide brought Chen Hua immense trouble and devastation.

But undeniably, this old madman, who was willing to die for the people, deserved his respect, and he was worthy of everyone's respect.

It's a pity... there's no one to carry on the legacy.

Of course, despite their respect, their positions were always opposed.

Respect and annoyance are two emotions that can coexist.

Chen Hua looked at the scholar in front of him, pondered for a moment, and lowered his voice: "Your father plotted a rebellion and set up an ambush in the city to attack our army."

"You overheard your father's plot, and out of a sense of righteousness, you betrayed your own family to secretly inform our army. Your father's scheme was exposed by me, and realizing that there was no way to reverse the situation, you refused to surrender and instead drew your sword and committed suicide..."

"Your son can testify, right?"

In any case, we cannot pin the blame for the old man's death on ourselves.

If someone has to be held responsible, it can only be that person himself; he brought this upon himself.

The voices of these common people and soldiers will not be heard by His Majesty; he can choose whose voice His Majesty can hear.

Zhang Li is Zhang Boxing's son, so his status is high enough that his words carry some weight. Surely, a son's words can't be false.

He secretly transmitted intelligence, sacrificed his own family for the greater good, and reduced our army's casualties, which can be considered a great achievement. This action would also benefit this cowardly scholar, so it is unlikely that he would refuse.

Chen Hua's idea was somewhat naive, but in his view it was undoubtedly the best way to solve the problem.

He narrowed his eyes, and his low, husky voice reached Zhang Li's ears, sounding like a tempting devil: "From now on, I will guarantee you a foothold in the Blood-Clad Army, endless wealth and honor, and a peaceful life. What do you say?"

Upholding justice even at the cost of one's own family...

Zhang Li has been shouting these words for five years.

But now, those words sound strangely jarring and somewhat comical.

Killing relatives for righteousness?

In this vast world, where can one find true righteousness?
At least the previous corruption was real, but this general's fabrication is completely baseless. From the very beginning, Zhang Boxing's surrender was entirely sincere.

How can he export it?

Zhang Li forced a smile, struggling to meet Chen Hua's gaze, and simply shook her head gently: "Sir, I... he is my father..." "Oh?"

Chen Hua raised an eyebrow, realizing he had underestimated him.

He drew his sword and pointed it at the pedantic scholar: "So it seems you, this filial son, intend to go to the underworld with your father."

"Do not……"

The term "filial son" sounds rather ironic.

Zhang Li trembled instantly, his eyes widening in horror. A chilling aura emanated from the sword tip. He knelt on the ground, shaking his head and pleading, "I'm willing..."

In life-or-death situations, everything follows the instinct of fear.

In the end, he was nothing more than a useless scholar.

"Then...what is that?"

Just then, a red figure flashed across the dome.

A gust of wind blew, and some people looked up in a daze, staring at the sky, seemingly in a daze.

"kindness?"

Chen Hua nodded in satisfaction upon receiving the reply and was just about to order someone to dispose of Zhang Boxin's body.

And at this moment,
"Wow!"

Suddenly, a clear, crisp cry rang out from the sky, swirling around a specific trajectory. An invisible aura spread from the zenith, and the air seemed to thicken, a heavy pressure pressing down on the shoulders, making it hard to breathe.

It seems... something terrifying is coming.

Chen Hua trembled, looked up at the sky, and his pupils suddenly shrank, his face filled with horror.

With its red wings spread wide, a strong wind swept across the land, and the noble and graceful mythical bird, existing only in legends, descended to the ground to welcome the wind and snow.

Her whole body was engulfed in an inextinguishable flame, and her bright eyes shone with dazzling divine light. She was magnificent, beautiful, and naturally noble.

"This this……"

How could a mere young general who rose through connections have ever seen such a deity?

What's happening here?
Is he dreaming?
Chen Hua was starting to lose sight of the difference between reality and illusion.

The phoenix landed safely, spread its wings, and then folded them back together.

The ethereal, godlike figure jumped down from her back.

"It's you!"

Zhang Li will never forget that wicked person who tricked him twice.

He knelt beside his father's body, staring in a daze at the person who had flown in on a divine bird.

Who is he?
That was just a frivolous act to bluff people, and now they're flying in on a divine bird, floating around like gods. Are there really gods in this world?

Seeing his high-profile appearance, it seems that he has lost even the courage to question the other party.

Mingchen didn't care about the various emotions and gazes that had gathered from all over the city, nor was he interested in anyone else. He simply walked straight to Zhang Li, looked at the old man lying lifeless in the thin layer of snow, and sighed inwardly, "Lord Zhang, how have you been..."

He's really dead...

The old man probably committed suicide.

Although they had only met twice, Mingchen fully recognized Zhang Boxing's talent, and Zhang Boxing also believed that this young man was one of the few people in the world who could understand him.

Xiao Xinyue had even reserved a position for him as an official in the new dynasty.

Little did they know that their meeting in Wangyang that day would be their last.

He took out a glass of wine and gently poured it around Zhang Boxing. The refreshing aroma of the wine spread around on this snowy day.

The old man closed his eyes, looking peaceful.

He murmured softly, "Wouldn't it be better to leave these people behind, come with me to the new dynasty, and make great strides?"

And now we have to die for these people...

Humans are not gods, and they cannot foresee everything.

Mingchen's plan backfired.

He hadn't expected that Wang Huai's system would have such a big problem in such a short time, making it difficult to obey orders and decrees.

He never expected that the old man would be willing to give so much courage for the people of this city.

If it had been just a little bit off, things wouldn't be like they are now.

"Who are you……"

After the initial shock, Chen Hua finally calmed his chaotic emotions and asked the young nobleman who was much younger than him and had arrived on a phoenix.

Everything was finally going back to normal.

Now, another major variable has suddenly appeared.

Who is this person? Is he a friend or foe?
A vague, ominous premonition grew stronger in my heart.

However, the words had not yet fallen.

"Snapped!"

He slapped her across the face, knocking her to the ground.

"you!"

Chen Hua, who had been riding high all along, had never suffered such humiliation before, and he roared angrily at Ming Chen.

However, the next moment, the other party's deep voice came, which made him tremble and fall into an ice cave: "Didn't your emperor tell you to save his life?"

Mingchen withdrew his gaze, then looked up at the silent Zhang Li, and then at the surrounding people.

It is regrettable that there is a lack of communication between people at different levels of understanding.

Zhang Boxing was mired in this quagmire his entire life.

I wonder if these people will ever feel any remorse for this wicked old man?
"Fuyao is gone."

He didn't want to say anything more to these people; it wouldn't make any sense.

He didn't even care about the old man's body.

He simply gave a brief instruction to Fuyao, then flapped his wings and flew eastward.

Also leaving with him was the arrogant and domineering vanguard general.

……

"Lord Zhang...this..."

"Lord Zhang, for our sake?"

"Lord Zhang..."

……

A cold wind howled, and snowflakes fluttered down.

The chaotic city quieted down, and everyone—whether they were the blood-clad soldiers, the local militia, or ordinary citizens—had lost their leader.

For a moment, everyone was at a loss, not knowing what to do.

Time passed slowly, and some residents who had been staying at home came out to see what had happened.

Little by little, people slowly gathered around.

Everyone shifted their gaze and looked in the same direction.

The county magistrate, whom no one could understand, lay there quietly. He had accepted many bribes and amassed a great fortune, but he was thin and looked somewhat haggard. He must have been working hard for a long time, and he looked tired and worn out.

As Mingchen had said before, the people will only remember his good deeds after he leaves them.

People's reactions are always a bit delayed...

Changing their mindset is difficult, and it's even harder to get them to admit their mistakes or apologize.

Everyone stared at the lifeless adult, their faces complex and somewhat silent.

Although there weren't many people on the street at first, someone did witness everything.

They witnessed the brutality of the Blood-Clad Army, and saw how the supposedly corrupt and cowardly county magistrate fought against the local general, how he resolutely threatened to die, and how persistently he demanded a halt...

Zhang Boxing could have lived!

But they died for people like them.

Not long ago, the people in the city were talking about how corrupt the county magistrate was. They would curse him whenever their lives were a little less than ideal, regardless of whether it was actually his fault.

Now... no one is protecting them anymore.

Sadness and regret linger in the city after the person has left.

"grandfather!"

Suddenly, a child's cry of surprise broke the silence.

The child ran to the old man, tears welling in his eyes, and softly asked, "What's wrong?"

The biting cold wind seemed to soften, gently caressing his face.

"Get up quickly, Grandpa is a brave man..."

What's wrong? Grandpa's lying on the ground, not moving?

He remembered him.

While playing in the street, he fell and cried out in pain.

The grandfather helped him up, his eyes gentle. He gave him a piece of candy, patted his head lightly, and said, "A brave man gets up on his own when he falls, only a coward lies on the ground crying."

The grandfather seemed very busy; after finishing his sentence, he hurried away.

The child felt that what the other person said made a lot of sense and kept it in mind. His mother praised him for becoming much more sensible.

He didn't know that this person was the most distinguished administrator in the city, nor did he know what people thought of him, whether they were good or bad, but... he remembered the grandfather's kindness.

He is a good man.

Children are simple and honest; if you help them, you will gain their affection and closeness.

But this isn't necessarily true for many adults.

Even the slightest imperfection will be met with a barrage of criticism.

They are finding it increasingly difficult to be grateful and increasingly easy to forget.

The child's voice seemed to have started.

Pebbles fall into the lake, creating ripples that spread outwards, drawing in surging currents.

People seemed to recall how this magistrate, under pressure, transformed the streets into the convenient, well-connected network they are today; how he personally went to the fields to guide the people in farming; how he hadn't raised taxes for many years; and how he opened the granaries to distribute grain during famines…

Everyone says the county magistrate is corrupt, but look again, in the past year, all the powerful and influential have been eliminated, have there been any reports of the county magistrate being unfair in his judgments? Have there been any reports of the powerful and wealthy bullying the common people? Have there been any reports of the county magistrate being corrupt?
The magistrate's son kept talking about how bad and corrupt his father was, how he flattered the powerful and wealthy, and how he would benefit the people and be selfless if he became the magistrate. But all he ever did was get drunk in the restaurant and never actually do anything.

As for this county magistrate... a proud person will not speak out or make blatant declarations; he will simply follow his heart and do things quietly, and one day people will see it.

Without realizing it, someone knelt down on the ground: "Lord Zhang, I'm sorry."

"Waaaaah... Lord Zhang!"

"Sir, thank you!"

"Lord Zhang, may you... rest in peace... sob sob sob."

……

A sense of sorrow spread, people's eyes reddened, and they cried out incessantly; the whole nation mourned.

The cries of anguish converged into an ocean, flowing through the city.

Even the savage Blood-Clad Army, the murderers, were moved by the scene and their consciences were deeply troubled.

When they joined the army, they swore to wear armor made of blood and fight for peace for the people... How did it turn out like this?

Mingchen left decisively, but he didn't see this scene.

The misunderstood seed seems to have finally blossomed into a gentle flower in this harsh winter.

They live on in legends, remembered and believed by people.