It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

However, the point isn't here. Although these two groups make up the vast majority, it's often the odd minority that's most valuable to explore. That's the small group headed by Aqi, embracing the new age knowledge and spirit brought by the Periya people, and spreading out from them.

"Hey, good afternoon. I hope I didn't disturb you from reading."

Shiro Rin and Yamashita Kanon drew aside the curtains and entered to find Qi reading a book by the open window, basking in the sunlight. Beside him sat a few other students, who seemed to be engaging in occasional conversations, besides quietly reading. They absorbed knowledge, helping each other understand, and—perhaps a rather harmonious study group?

It feels pretty good.

When Aqi heard Bai Lin's voice, he, who was just sitting and chatting with his friends, immediately realized that something was wrong. He put the book on the table, stood up immediately, and replied to Bai Lin nervously,

"No, not at all. What's wrong with you?!"

"Don't be so nervous. Just relax and regain your composure. This isn't something that serious. Come on, Yamashita Kanon, take that murderous look off your face. We're here to talk, not to torture you."

Bai Lin kept on replying and started teasing Yamashita Kanon, which made Yamashita Kanon think that he was a bit fierce. She asked in astonishment,

"Is the evil spirit very strong?"

“It’s indeed heavy.”

Watching the two of them asking and answering each other back and forth, Aqi couldn't help but feel a lot more relaxed, and even almost laughed out loud. This proved that Bai Lin's pretending to be a kind superior was still very successful.

Chapter 677 Let’s Get Down to Business

"Okay, no more nonsense, let's get down to business."

Bai Lin didn't bother to pay any more attention to Yamashita Kanon. He waved his hand and signaled to get to the point. His expression became relatively serious. A Qi, who was standing halfway across the table but close to Bai Lin, couldn't help but look serious.

After all, Bai Lin was a powerful character, both in terms of her status and personality, and held a special weight in the hearts of young people like Aqi. Therefore, she only needed to create a lighthearted atmosphere. Once she got down to business, she could easily achieve the desired effect.

"I heard that you guys learned the knowledge from the Periya tribe. How do you feel about it?"

Bai Lin, with his hands on the table, asked gently with a somewhat tentative and relaxed tone. When Ah Qi heard this, he immediately came to his senses and replied loudly,

"I think it's really good. It's very informative and contains a lot of content. It taught me the spirit of progress, helped me break away from my past cowardice, and made me feel like I'm a completely different person. It's really a great feeling!"

Bai Lin did not respond directly to Aqi's emotionally charged remarks. She glanced at the other brothers of Aqi and said,

"I heard that you guys used to bully Aqi a lot? Tell me, is he really the same person he used to be?"

When Ah Qi heard this, he seemed to want to answer Bai Lin's question himself, but he couldn't resist the quick reaction of the young men who were reading. One of the tall men stood up and said loudly,

"I know! Even though he hasn't changed on the surface—he still seems easy to talk to, easily nervous, and soft—Aqi has recently started to toughen up and reason with us. He's also learned how to make decisions, and isn't as effeminate and timid as before."

"Indeed, it feels like Qi's inner self has been sublimated. It is precisely because of this that we have also developed an interest in knowledge. After our contact, we are officially attracted by the charm of knowledge!"

Another small man followed suit and replied. Ah Qi blushed and said,

"No, not really... Stop praising me so much."

"Hey, being overly modest is also impolite. These sincere compliments represent everyone's approval. Don't say such things and ruin everyone's feelings."

Bai Lin immediately interrupted A Qi's speech. She could see that A Qi was indeed a little nervous, and his emotions were very simple, and sometimes he was easily excited beyond the ordinary. After understanding this, Bai Lin naturally wanted to lead to the next topic. She immediately said,

"Aqi, do you think that knowledge has changed you?"

"Ah, that must be it?"

Aqi was a little confused, looking at Bai Lin, and replied. Bai Lin shook his head and replied slowly,

"Actually, there are other possibilities. You could have been so confident from the beginning. Knowledge is just a glimmer of light that guides you onto the sunny road. The most important thing is guidance. You just mentioned the word enlightenment."

Ah Qi tilted his head, thought for a while, touched his head and said slowly,

"It seems so."

"Right? This isn't a process of accumulation, but rather a gradual change. The initial knowledge is like a torrent, breaking through your closed mountain passes and letting the sunlight into your heart. Afterward, you can ride on this torrent and head towards a wider ocean."

Bai Lin straightened up, folded his arms across his chest, looked at A Qi beside him, gave him an affirmative look, and continued,

"After that, it's not knowledge that will help you. Instead, you'll have to take the initiative to face the vast ocean currents. Explore any ocean you want. Whether you explore or not is entirely up to you."

Bai Lin said this, and also inspired Ah Qi's spirit to move to a higher level. But Bai Lin suddenly changed the subject and said,

"However, don't get too caught up in one direction. After enlightenment, you should also adjust your thinking and discern what you absorb on your own."

Her tone suddenly became serious, causing the air pressure in the entire tent to drop. Bai Lin casually glanced at the boys who were suddenly confused after hearing this, and continued,

"I heard that you've been spreading the knowledge of your small group recently, right?"

"Ah, yes, we are indeed doing it. We want more people to experience the power of knowledge, to be enlightened, to progress together, and to move towards a better future together."

Ah Qi swallowed his saliva, a little nervous. Looking at Bai Lin's expression without a smile, he seemed very uncomfortable, but he still spoke these words very calmly. Bai Lin nodded slightly in appreciation, but her tone was not soft at all. She said,

"Your intentions are good, but there's no need to forcibly interfere with something that's already been well-established. Everyone is an independent individual, with their own values ​​formed over decades. Your village, on the other hand, is a whole, a social entity formed by collective consciousness."

"You guys can consider enlightening people and spreading knowledge, but the problem is that you can't be impatient. If your impatience affects the normal social system, it is actually inappropriate because..."

"You guys are living pretty well now, right?"

Bai Lin said this, she looked at the sunlight outside, looked out with longing eyes, and said,

"The war has stopped, and life in the village is gradually returning to normal. With sufficient food and no fighting, this kind of life is peaceful, but also happy, something many villages dream of. Rushing to use the newly acquired goods to tear people away from their spiritual stability will only backfire. This is true in every way."

"Knowledge can be passed on, innovated, and spread, but some people are tired and can no longer accept new things. As an educated person, you should stop bothering them. That's inappropriate."

Bai Lin spoke calmly and slowly, using his rather dignified demeanor to patiently address the other party. After these words, everyone lowered their heads, some looking at each other, while others pondered their recent actions.

Other villagers have said that Aqi and his people have been acting a bit strange recently and have had some physical conflicts with some villagers.

Chapter 678 You are indeed not suitable

Material things are slowly recovering, life is slowly getting better, and at this time of universal revival, it would be a mistake to rush into extreme spiritual reforms. This is the main reason why Bai Lin pays special attention to this group of people.

They've already been through a lot of hard times, so don't let them fall into chaos again. People have the right to know, but they also have the right to choose to enjoy the present. And in Bai Lin's eyes, perhaps enjoying the present is the best thing.

Otherwise, recruiting talent this time could be left entirely to Yamashita Kanon. She has plenty of tougher tactics at her disposal.

After finishing, Bai Lin added another sentence easily,

"Rather than rushing to civilize them en masse, perhaps developing some automated machinery to make everyone's life better would be a better option. Knowledge is what brings happiness."

Bai Lin's heavy words were like a wake-up call, instantly leaving Ah Qi speechless. His eyes wandered, and a little cold sweat flowed down his forehead. After a long silence, he retorted,

"So what should we do? We can't control our thirst for knowledge, and we can't bear not to spread this information. Once they understand everything, they'll definitely think it's great, just like we do, and they'll definitely..."

"Shut up, you take yourself too seriously."

Seeing the other party's embarrassing rebuttal, Bai Lin said this in a cold voice. She stared at the other party with a stern look and said,

"Everyone has their own definition of happiness. Pursuing knowledge is your freedom, but hastily spreading it isn't an individual issue at all. If it goes to extremes, at best, it could mean driving you all away, which is a minor matter. At worst, it could mean the entire social structure collapses. Is this what knowledge is for? Is this what you want?"

As Bai Lin's words became more radical, the already very angry young people sitting beside him slammed the table and stood up. They held the books in their hands and retorted excitedly,

"Your words are too harsh. We just want to benefit others..."

Before he could finish his words, a cold sensation, like a sharp blade, scraped across his spine. The fear and threat of death that caused every pore in his body to open and hair to stand on end instantly spread throughout his body. Several people who had just stood up suddenly felt their legs weaken and sat back down. Some even lost their balance and fell to the ground.

The one who caused all this was the former Prime Minister Yamashita Kanon. She swept her cold eyes around and said,

"Bai Lin is right. You really take yourselves too seriously. You've only read a few books, but you think you're some savior saint, that you're superior to everyone else. If you truly believe you're knowledgeable and have a strong thirst for knowledge, you can come to us in Camitlan. As the Son of God, Bai Lin can even personally introduce you to several scholars and lead you in your exploration of knowledge and a brighter future."

"In such a small village, relying on the peace afforded by others' charity, eating the food grown by others' hard work, you actually think you are the savior? Don't be ridiculous. You are just a bunch of young kids who are good at reading. I used to look down on those weak scholars, but now I find that arrogant scholars are even more hateful."

It was obvious that Yamashita Kanon's remarks hadn't been discussed with Bai Lin beforehand; she simply expressed her emotions. While her words were harsh, there was nothing wrong with what she said. These children were clearly not simply seeking knowledge, and Bai Lin had sensed this, hence her seriousness.

Bai Lin glanced at the former Prime Minister beside him, and secretly praised her in his heart. She did a good job this time. If Yamashita Kanon didn't scold her, Bai Lin would definitely do the same. However, if it were another occasion, Bai Lin would definitely tease Yamashita Kanon's small body and say that others were little kids. But in the current situation, Bai Lin could only cough twice and continue.

"Alright, don't scare them. Since they're scholars, it's better to just talk sense. You've all heard what she said. If you really want to go to Camillan, you can sign up with me. Although life will be hard, you'll definitely learn something. If you work hard, you can indeed join the path to the forefront of human evolution."

After Bai Lin and Yamashita Kanon's words, the young people behind them all lowered their heads, their faces gloomy and silent. They knew that Kamitlan was completely different from their own village. No one would indulge their willfulness anymore. This would be a difficult test.

However, Bai Lin still placed his hopes on Aqi, who was closest to him. After all, Aqi was the first to awaken and the first to accept the knowledge brought by the Periya tribe. His spirit might be more resolute than others, and he was more curious about knowledge.

Ah Qi also lowered his head, with the corners of his mouth trembling. After a long while, he seemed to muster up the courage and asked Bai Lin,

"Then, Lord Saint, is it not possible here? Living in our village, do we really have no right to knowledge? Just thinking about it makes me suffer. I really can't bear to see them so ignorant and foolish."

Although his tone was hesitant, the words themselves were like a sudden wooden stake, nailed directly in front of Bai Lin. When Ah Qi finished speaking, Bai Lin was stunned. After thinking for a moment, Bai Lin's face also completely sank. She replied,

"Give it up."

"what?"

"I say, give up knowledge. If it only brings you pain and pain to those around you, then give it up. Don't you understand? It has its own place, and it doesn't have to be held in your hands."

“It can create convenient tools and make people’s lives better, but it is not your tool.”

After saying this, the hope in Bai Lin's eyes completely disappeared, replaced by a hint of fatigue. Then, she said again,

"Oh, by the way, if you really don't want to go to Kamitlan, then I won't stop you from studying what the Periya tribe has taught you. But if I hear that you're having another conflict, I'll have the Periya tribe leave immediately. The human world is vast, and it doesn't necessarily need you here."

"And you may not be suitable for acceptance."

Chapter 679 Beware

After saying this, Bai Lin pulled Yamashita Kanon out of the tent. Leaving behind everyone who seemed to have been hit hard, they stayed where they were. When Bai Lin's footsteps gradually faded away, the young people sitting at the inside of the table stood up and gathered around Aqi, talking in unison.

"Aqi, the Holy Son is probably just seeking stability too much. Our idea is not wrong, we just need the right conditions. We can control the severity of this situation ourselves."

"Yes, yes. The Periya people have so much knowledge. Why do we need to go to Kamitran? And they say we have to endure hardships. Isn't studying hard enough? We can just use our own way to see it through to the end."

These words, which he couldn't say in person, were said here with great confidence. Ah Qi's expression was obviously much more relaxed. He nodded, but the thoughtful look in his eyes still lingered. It was unknown what he was thinking about.

-

"It's so infuriating. Honestly, I kind of want to kill them. They haven't even figured out how to live, and yet they're already causing all this trouble... I really can't understand it."

Yamashita Kanon said this, while Bai Lin's expression became even more solemn. However, after taking a sip of water, he just sighed and said calmly,

"Never mind, it's nothing. Kids tend to take themselves too seriously. But why are you suddenly concerned about this? The Rakutenxiang incident, which you supported so positively before, has disrupted the lives of many people."

It was just a simple question, but in this case, it stung Yamashita Kanon like a wound. After being choked by this, Yamashita Kanon's face also lost some of her anger. She shook her head and said,

"That's different. As the Prime Minister of Sakura, born with such a responsibility, I only need to consider one thing, and that is to make this nation stronger. There are many people in our grassroots who are unnecessary. Rakutenka can eliminate them..."

"But it doesn't matter whether you're harming one of your own people or someone other than Sakura, it's all the same, Yamashita Kanon. That's all murder."

Bai Lin glanced at Yamashita Kanon with a rather intimidating look, thus refuting her words. Yamashita Kanon clenched her fists tightly and replied to Bai Lin,

"So what if we kill people? We're pursuing absolute success. From a big picture perspective, even if everyone can't resist the temptation, it won't paralyze the grassroots industry..."

"Fuck you! Camitlan is seriously injured. What the hell are you talking about?"

Bai Lin questioned this unhappily, while Yamashita Kanon slowly averted her eyes and replied with a guilty conscience,

"That's a problem of heresy. As Prime Minister, I didn't find any dereliction of duty, but aren't the problems of other high-level officials any less serious? If everyone had a unified approach and followed my beliefs to clean up in advance, this problem wouldn't have occurred."

"Go ahead and brag. Even if Camitlan turned a blind eye, the one eye it had open was far more powerful than everyone in your Sakura region. They didn't notice, so how the hell did you discover the truth? Weren't you absent during the final battle? Now you're bragging about it. What were you doing before?"

Anger was brewing. When Bai Lin talked about this matter, she felt an uncontrollable anger. To be honest, to a certain extent, she already hated the Sakura people who dumped the wastewater, and Yamashita Kanon still had such an attitude, which made her very angry. Listening to Bai Lin's accusations, Yamashita Kanon gritted her teeth in anger. She thought for a long time and hit back,

"I told you, I have a problem. After completing my mission, I can die bravely for my dereliction of duty. I no longer have any responsibilities to fulfill. I've lost that feeling. What about you, Bai Lin? Have you thought it through, the Holy Son? I couldn't even make the cherry blossoms flourish. How much do you think you can achieve with your completely non-extreme thinking? When will you break your morals and save the world?"

Bai Lin was a little surprised by the submissive tone of Yamashita Kanon's first half of the sentence, but the second half of the sentence aroused Bai Lin's toughness again. She replied casually,

"At least, I would never do something like spreading poison in my lifetime. No matter what you say, there is a problem, and it is a big problem. Don't bother you worrying about it, former Prime Minister."

Yamashita Kanon was naturally furious with Bai Lin. She stared at Bai Lin, who, on the other hand, had a nonchalant expression on his face as he drank the water in his hand. It was obvious that some people's psychological defenses were much higher than others. The tense atmosphere between the two seemed to have broken the little harmony that had been built with great difficulty. In the end, it was Bai Lin who spoke first.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's get down to business. What do you think Qi and the others will do next? Will our threats be effective?"

"Who knows."

Yamashita Kanon said this to Bai Lin in a very unpleasant tone, obviously she was in a bad mood. Bai Lin ignored her and looked away, then took back his kettle. But after a while, Yamashita Kanon said again,

"I think it's useful. But it's very likely that after we leave, or even during this time, they'll still have their own ideas. If they control their temper after being scolded once or twice, they're no longer young people."

"So what do you think we should do?"

Bai Lin was not too surprised by Yamashita Kanon's detour. She sat up seriously and asked the other party. Yamashita Kanon thought for a while and said,

"It's hard to say what to do specifically. I think we should be wary of them. It would be best if we could arrange for the villagers to come up with a way to keep an eye on them before we leave, so as to prevent this group of people from causing any more trouble."

"? Is it really that serious? It can't be that serious. What kind of trouble can these little guys cause?"

Bai Lin's question caused some dissatisfaction in Yamashita Kanon. She looked at Bai Lin and slowly replied,

"Perhaps, or perhaps I'm just overthinking it, but it's not serious at all. Thoughts are powerful, and unrestrained thoughts are even more terrifying, especially when used on someone like this. Throughout the history of human development, suppressing thought isn't entirely wrong."

"Indeed, the wildly growing branches and leaves will only be in their best shape after being pruned. But there's probably no need to be on guard. I'll just casually mention it to the villagers later."

Chapter 680 Kara Gugu Emperor Flavor Wontons

Bai Lin didn't take it to heart anymore. At this moment, the night watch and detection function of the cloak also made some reactions, which immediately made Bai Lin realize what had happened. She put down the tea in her hand and said,

"Guests are coming. Let's go and greet them."

As soon as they arrived outside the tent, they saw these soldiers made up of villagers, noisily discussing something. Most of them had some degree of worry on their faces. When they saw Bai Lin and Yamashita Kanon coming out, a few sharp-eyed people noticed them instantly and rushed over to greet them.