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

Chapter 414 Awaken Again, My Dream!
"what?"

"How can a country be..."

Hearing Mingchen's question, Hua Rong was taken aback.

A nation? Or just children playing house?
Are these two things the same concept?
But for some reason, she felt that Mingchen wasn't joking with her at this moment.

Mingchen raised an eyebrow and asked her, "Then what do you think constitutes a nation?"

Hua Rong remained silent for a moment after hearing this, and then said, "Countless people unite their will to form a community, where everyone prospers or suffers together."

"Would my family be considered a community where everyone prospers or suffers together?"

"That's different."

"Why is it different?"

"too small!"

"How big is considered big? How small is considered small?"

"Forehead……"

Hua Rong knew that Ming Chen was good at sophistry, and she couldn't argue with him.

However, she still did not approve of him.

Mingchen smiled and asked her again, "Then can you tell me why you want to establish a country? What is your purpose?"

"Purpose?"

There is always a purpose behind everything we do.

Although today's chat started with playful pranks, it gradually moved towards more profound topics.

This time, Hua Rong opened her heart to Ming Chen, and the two had a heart-to-heart conversation.

Hua Rong thought for a moment and said, "I want to establish a nation so that all the demons and spirits in the world can gather together and unite, no longer be arbitrarily defined, and weak demons can be protected and no longer be killed at will."

They are both highly capable individuals.

Immortals and gods are respected, while demons and spirits are feared and called "demons." They are arbitrarily defined and killed in the name of eliminating demons and protecting the righteous when needed.

She wanted to change this situation.

"That's it..."

The mischievous fox was also a rather lofty idealist.

However, this road is rugged and difficult, extremely challenging, and almost impossible.

Hua Rong knew that Ming Chen was serious now, not joking.

She kept asking, "Is it okay?"

Mingchen simply shook his head: "Difficult, difficult, difficult."

Hua Rong asked urgently, "Why?"

"Humans and demons are different."

"We are all living beings born of heaven and earth, and we all possess intelligence. Demons are even more powerful, so why can't we be like that?"

Mingchen smiled and said to her, "Do you know what the significance of a nation is? Do you know why a nation was established?"

Without waiting for her reply, he continued, "The original meaning of a nation was a settlement where a group of people united to survive better, to fight against natural disasters, and to obtain more food. As civilization evolved, over thousands of years, it has gradually come to what it is today."

"I ask you, what should your first step be? Are all the demons and spirits in the world doomed? Is there a catastrophic disaster?"

"Without a truly devastating disaster, the most common mindset among intelligent beings is that they are unwilling to leave a stable environment. What kind of slogan should you use to gather all the demons in the world?"

“The weak may seek refuge, but the powerful are all unruly. How can you expect them to establish a hierarchy and follow the rules?”

Why should the strong protect the weak?

"What value do the weak have that the powerful covet? Can they be exploited in exchange for protection? How much benefit would the powerful need to establish a presence in a country to protect the weak?"

"The advancement of civilization from scratch is an extremely long process. The demon race has been scattered across the world and has fallen behind for thousands of years. Do you think they can catch up?"

Hua Rong had tried it once before, but she failed.

"This……"

This involves both external and internal factors.

She had summarized it before, but no one like Mingchen had ever explained it to her so clearly.

And for every question Mingchen asked, after so many years, her answer was only one: there was a holy sage with extraordinary talent who selflessly dedicated himself to building a nation with prestige and power.

Hua Rong had no choice but to look up and stare intently at Ming Chen: "Don't you have a solution?"

Although they are bickering lovers, in Hua Rong's eyes, this bad guy is always in control, always has a way to solve problems, and is always omnipotent.

Meeting Hua Rong's gaze, Ming Chen couldn't help but give a bitter laugh: "What do you take me for? I'm just a person."

This mischievous kid, who usually always disagrees with him, actually thinks highly of him.

If we could turn back time to the era when the old tree was, perhaps there would be a sliver of a chance.

Mingchen paused, then posed another question: "Humans and demons are different. Hua Rong, let me ask you, how many demons are there in the world?"

Hua Rong replied, "Many."

Aside from the effects of some unorthodox spells, the ways in which demons are born can be summarized into two types.

One type is conceived through the union of demons and monsters, while the other type develops its own sentience.

Mingchen continued, "How much is 'a lot'? Ten thousand? A million?"

Hua Rong shook her head: "Not that many."

"Do you know how many people live on this land?"

"Hundreds of millions of people."

Mingchen looked down at her and asked a question that went straight to the heart: "Do you think a demon can defeat a human?"

"This……"

Hua Rong asked in a daze, "Why do we have to fight? Can't we coexist peacefully?"

Mingchen laughed nonchalantly: "Hua Rong, I cannot guarantee that there are no wicked people, no scheming people, and no angry people among the human race. Can you guarantee that there are no such demons among the demon race?"

"The resources of this world are limited. With limited resources, there will inevitably be conflict."

"Haven't you found that humans, as an intelligent species, are actually quite interesting?"

"Humans are too greedy, too clever, and too tenacious. Such a race cannot tolerate other intelligent races establishing civilizations, nor can it tolerate any creatures that are more powerful than them. They will try every means to occupy, enslave, and dominate... until there is no longer any threat in the world they know and can explore. At that time, they will turn their spears on themselves, further subdividing into more species, and continue to fight endlessly."

"Hua Rong, you've lived for so long, have you ever seen any living beings other than humans establish a country?"

"Believe it or not, even if the gods of the heavens establish a country in this fertile land of the Central Plains, as long as they do not have the means to use a dimensional reduction attack to uproot and completely destroy the entire human race and restart civilization, they will be driven out by people sooner or later."

"You have established a kingdom of monsters and appeared in the world so brazenly. Do you have the confidence to face such a terrifying race?"

"And what about immortal venerables and emperors? Can you accept these scheming challenges?"

Mingchen shrugged: "Anyway, I didn't."

Huarong: ...

"Furthermore, in all your years, have you ever seen a country that will live forever?"

"As long as classes exist, there are no perfect rules. Every national subversion and reconstruction is a process of trial and error, removing loopholes in the old rules, establishing new and more perfect rules, and promoting the progress of civilization."

"And with each national upheaval, how many people do you see losing their lives? Among them are immortals secretly plotting and interfering in the game, and tens of thousands of people are crushed into dust in the torrent of history." "There are many people, and people can accept these trials and errors. In the constant destruction and reconstruction of countries, the continuous trial and error can also help the species to prosper."

"But can the demon spirit accept this?"

"Can a demon accept the death of a million demons in a single battle?"

"With trepidation and walking on thin ice, do you think establishing a nation is an honor for the demon race, or a disaster that will overthrow the species?"

Mingchen's series of questions seemed to strike at Hua Rong's very soul.

Her face was stiff; she couldn't find an answer.

"The old man doesn't talk much, and he only says the essential points."

"His meaning is perhaps the same as what I'm saying."

Mingchen lay on Fuyao's body, quietly looking at the sky, and said lazily, "Every living being has its own way of existing. Scattered all over the world, living freely, this world is the country of monsters, there's nothing wrong with maintaining the status quo."

The clearer it is explained, the more desperate it seems.

There are no answers to these questions.

Mingchen explained things clearly to Huarong, which seemed less cold and harsh than the old tree's rejection earlier.

Hua Rong sat blankly in Ming Chen's arms, her little ears drooping down.

Shatter my dreams completely.

Seeing the little fox's low spirits, he patted her head and said, "Of course, this is just my opinion. There is no problem that cannot be solved. There will always be a way. It's just that I can't think of one. I am just an ordinary person with no lofty ambitions. I also have my limitations. Ling Yu still doesn't agree with some of my ideas."

"So you don't need to be too sad. Perhaps there will always be a hero who will protect you demons and create a new world."

Perhaps the gods will start their next game of chess from this angle!

Mingchen also has his limitations.

He was a realist, an opportunist, and a selfish person.

He has always acknowledged this.

If it succeeds, it succeeds; if it doesn't, it doesn't.

He may never think like those heroes, and he may never have the sense of mission that goes beyond his own life like Wang Huai, Xiao Xinyue, or Qin Lou. Therefore, his thinking is destined not to be like that of a generous and selfless hero, and he will not be able to find the answers to certain questions.

"Oh~"

The little fox stared quietly at the jade thumb ring in its hand, somewhat lost in thought.

Looking back, this seems to be the first time Mingchen has ever given her something.

Mingchen smiled and teased with interest, "Tsk tsk tsk, I didn't realize you, you little rascal, had such thoughts."

The little fox spoke of establishing a nation, setting rules to protect the weak, and upholding the righteousness of the demon race.

Mingchen felt a strong sense of unease.

The little fox didn't go on a sentimental tale about her past or the motivations behind her ideals; she simply rolled her eyes at him: "What, you can't?"

Mingchen chuckled and said, "Heh~ Your Majesty can do whatever you want, how dare I refuse!"

"However... have you ever thought about this: perhaps weakness and kindness are not the same thing, and perhaps some weak people don't deserve to be protected."

Hua Rong was taken aback, carefully considered Ming Chen's question, and then shook her head and said, "Whether it is a human or a demon, their good and evil and whether they should be equally protected are not contradictory."

Mingchen is using sophistry.

Mingchen couldn't help but glance at Hua Rong again: "Tsk, impressive, impressive~ You can't fool me."

The little fox puffed out its chest: "That's right~"

"There are plenty of injustices in this world, plenty of weak people being bullied, and plenty of lives being trampled on at will. What difference does race make?"

Mingchen sighed softly: "My original intention was to comfort you. When you realize that your abilities do not match your ideals, you can comfort yourself by thinking that perhaps those unprotected demon spirits are just reaping what they sowed."

Huarong: ...

"Tch~ I'm not as fragile as you think."

I never knew you, you scoundrel, were so kind and could even comfort people!

Although she tilted her head back and hummed softly, she couldn't help but feel a warmth rising in her heart.

Looking at the boundless blue sky above Mingchen Dome, he smiled and said, "Back to the initial question, how big do you think a country is considered big?"

"Why can't my Ming Prefecture be considered a country?"

"At the very least, here we can ensure that everyone is of one mind and that everything is within a controllable range."

"Do what you are capable of, and don't try to reach for the sky from the start. If we meet any kindred spirits in the future, we can absorb them into our 'nation.' Who can predict the future? Be down-to-earth and don't worry about the future. Expand little by little, and perhaps our nation will be established?"

The little fox suddenly realized what was happening and shuddered.

Now, she seems to finally be listening to what Mingchen is saying.

Mingchen said that the problem could not be solved.

But in reality, he had already given Hua Rong his answer.

In the very beginning, he didn't actually tease Hua Rong.

Everyone says that home is the smallest country, so why can't his home be considered a fantasy land of a demon kingdom?

For a moment, Hua Rong's heart skipped a beat. She gripped the ring in her hand tightly and looked down at the playful and carefree person.

Now, she has a deeper understanding of this person.

This person is both incredibly wicked and incredibly clever.

From the moment Hua Rong met him, she never managed to get the better of him.

He was also quite special; the demons that ordinary people feared were instead met with unparalleled closeness and trust from him, and even...

Selfish, indifferent, promiscuous, willful, and a habitual liar—there is no one worse than him in the world.

However... top-tier demons like Fuyao and Long Lian are willing to get close to him and risk their lives for him.

At this moment, Hua Rong began to understand.

He is truly charming.

She also admitted that this guy really knows how to sweet-talk people.

Now, the thumb ring in her hand is her most, most, most important treasure.

She held it carefully, her eyes darting around, and asked Mingchen, "Does what you just said still stand?"

"what?"

Mingchen was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant and laughed, "Hahaha, of course it counts, I never lie."

If we could grant the little fox's wish, that would be wonderful.

It was a simple and unpretentious country, with only a dozen or so members.

Mingchen said to Huarong in a joking tone, "I am Mingchen, greetings to Your Majesty~"

Hua Rong readily agreed, "No need for formalities~"

Her Majesty the Flower-Faced Empress has finally arrived at her faithful fantasy land.

Her beautiful face and mischievous nature led her to tease and play so many games with so many people.

She played this children's game of pretend!
Awaken once more, my dream!
(End of this chapter)