"When I came here this afternoon, I kept thinking about the assassin I saw at noon. The army escorting the golden dog was Han, but when the assassin made his move, that Han man used his body to block the arrow for the golden dog. In the past, I've heard people say that the Han army was weak, and that after surrendering to the Jin, they became even more afraid of death. I really can't figure out why this happened … "
You Hongzhuo walked out of the Liang An Inn into an alleyway with few pedestrians. As You Hongzhuo walked, he spoke in a low voice. When he finished speaking, Mister Zhao tilted his head and looked at him. He probably didn't expect him to be distressed over this matter, but he smiled bitterly and spoke in a low voice. But the reason was too simple.
"This matter … what's so strange about it? Nowadays, Daqi is supported by the Enlightened Ladies. They are the real upper class. In the past few years, there hasn't been much resistance on the surface, but there have always been assassinations in the dark. But this matter involves the Jurchens, and the punishment is the strictest. If something happens to the Jurchens' families, the soldiers will implicate them, and their families will be implicated. Look at the people on the street today. If the Enlightened Ladies pursue the matter, they can kill them all. It's not a big deal … this has happened in the past few years. "
Mister Zhao spoke of this matter calmly. It was just a statement, but it was a matter of course. For a moment, You Hongzhuo didn't know what to say.
"That person blocked an arrow for the Jurchens, and saved everyone's life. Otherwise, for every Jurchens, at least a hundred Han people would have to pay with their lives. What do you think they could do?" Mister Zhao looked at him with a gentle gaze. "Besides, this might not be the most important thing."
The lights in front of them gradually brightened. The two of them had walked out of the alleyway and arrived at a street with pedestrians.
"Whether it's war or peaceful times, look at this place. Everyone wants to live and live. It's only been a few years since the Wu dynasty left the Central Plains. Everyone is still thinking of resisting, but in reality, there's no longer any path forward. The soldiers want to be generals, and even if they can't, they want to earn more money to supplement their family expenses. The businessmen want to be rich, and the farmers want to be landlords … "
As Mister Zhao spoke, he pointed at the pedestrians on the street. "I know little brother You's way of thinking. Even if you can't change it, at least you shouldn't do evil. Even if you have no choice, when facing these female Zhenrens, at least you shouldn't wholeheartedly rely on them. Even if you rely on them, when you see them about to die, you should do your best to stand by and watch … But, three to five years, five to ten years, to a person, is a very long time, to a family, it is even more unbearable. Living every day without a conscience, waiting for the people of the Wu dynasty to return? Your women need to eat and your children need to drink. How long can you stand by and watch? To be honest, even if the Wu dynasty can really fight their way back, after ten or twenty years, many people will have to spend half their lives here, and this half of their lives may determine the lives of two generations. Female Zhenrens are the best path to a higher position, so it's not surprising that cowardly soldiers on the battlefield would risk their lives to protect female Zhenrens. "
The two of them walked on. When Mister Zhao finished speaking simply and plainly, You Hongzhuo opened his mouth. Admittedly, he could think of the first half of the punishment the other party spoke of, but as for the second half, he was somewhat confused. He was still a young man and naturally couldn't understand the importance of survival, nor could he understand the benefits and importance of relying on the female Zhenrens.
He was confused for a while. "Then … senior, you're saying that they're not bad people …"
Mister Zhao patted his shoulder. "You asked me why, so I'll tell you the reason. If you ask me why the Jin people attacked, I can also tell you the reason. It's just that the reason has nothing to do with good or bad. To us, they're out-and-out bad people, this is true. "
"Then what do we do …"
"We're going to kill their people, force their wives to death, and throw their children to death." Mister Zhao's tone was gentle. You Hongzhuo turned his head to look at him, but only saw a casual and matter-of-fact expression. "Because one thing is for sure, when there are more people like them, no matter what the reason is, the female Zhenrens will rule the Central Plains even faster. At that time, the Han people can only be like dogs, risking their lives to please others. So, no matter what reason they have, killing them will not be wrong. "
"Yes." You Hongzhuo said.
Along the way, for three days, Mister Zhao and You Hongzhuo chatted a lot. Every time he had doubts, Mister Zhao's explanation would make him feel enlightened. As for the Han soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the Jin people, You Hongzhuo's youthful nature naturally felt that killing them was the most carefree thing to do. But at this time, Mister Zhao's gentle but murderous words made him feel somewhat perplexed.
After that, the two of them walked along the streets of Zezhou City and found a teahouse in the busiest street market. After ordering tea and snacks in front of the window on the second floor, Mister Zhao said, "I have something to do, wait here for me for a moment." Then he left. The prosperity of Zezhou City could not be compared to the big cities in the Central Plains or Jiangnan, but the sweet pastries in the teahouse and the melodious singing of the female singers were a rare enjoyment for You Hongzhuo. He ate two pieces of pastries and looked at the blurred lights around him. His mind couldn't help but return to the matter that confused him.
When he came back to his senses, Mister Zhao had already returned and sat opposite him, drinking tea. "Seeing that you're thinking about something, it's a good thing that you have a problem in your heart."
"Senior Zhao …"
Mister Zhao held the teacup and looked out of the window. His expression became serious. When he talked about killing an entire family, he didn't have such a serious expression, but now it was different. "There are several types of people in the pugilistic world. Those who follow others and go with the flow. These kinds of people are gangsters in the underworld and don't have a future. Along the way, they only ask for the steel blade in their hands. Those who are straightforward and take revenge quickly may one day become a hero of the generation. There are also cowards who consider everything carefully and are caught between right and wrong. They may one day become a rich man with many children and grandchildren. Most people who practice martial arts take these three paths. "
He drank a mouthful of tea and paused. "But only those who take the fourth path can become a true Great Grandmaster."
You Hongzhuo stood up. "Senior Zhao, I …" He cupped his hands and was about to kneel down. This was the great ceremony of wanting to acknowledge him as his master. However, Mister Zhao stretched out his hand and pushed him back to the chair. "I have a story. If you want to hear it, you can finish it first."
You Hongzhuo hurriedly nodded. That Mister Zhao smiled. "This is something that not many people in the underworld know. The strongest martial artist of the previous generation, Iron Arm Zhou Dong, had met with the inner demon Ning Yi twice. Zhou Dong was upright and upright, while the inner demon Ning Yi was cruel and merciless. The two encounters were not pleasant … It is said that the first time was after the destruction of Liangshan, Iron Arm appeared to save his disciple Lin Chong. At the same time, he received an order from the Grand Military Officer's Office to kill the inner demon … "
The streets were filled with pedestrians, and the teahouses were lit by flickering lights. Amidst the singing of female singers and the sound of the old man's erhu, You Hongzhuo listened to the senior in front of him talk about the martial arts anecdotes from many years ago. Zhou Dong and the inner demon met in Shandong, and later, when the flood was fierce, the old man ran around during the grain disaster, and the inner demon turned the tide in the capital. Then, when the people of Jianghu and the inner demon clashed, Zhou Dong ran for thousands of miles to defend the inner demon, and then they parted on bad terms because of the inner demon's vicious means …
In the underworld, the two legendary people, one righteous and one evil, did not meet again after this meeting. The old man who was over eighty years old died in the killing formation of Xinzhou in order to assassinate Female True Marshal Ni Han. Several years later, the inner demon Ning Yi led the vanguard and fought on the frontline in the northwest for three years before sacrificing himself in that great battle. The two people with different means eventually walked the same path …
Just listening to these stories, You Hongzhuo felt his heart burning.
Mr. Zhao hit the table with his teacup, "… Zhou Dong was a great master. Speaking of which, he probably did not like Ning Liheng, but he still ran for thousands of miles for Ning Yi. After he died, his head was brought out by his disciple, Fu Lu. Fu Lu later told Ning Liheng where his bones were buried, and now, no one knows. And the inner demon Ning Yi did not like Zhou Dong either. But after Zhou Dong died, he still spared no effort to spread the news for Zhou Dong's heroic deeds. At the end of the day, Zhou Dong was not a coward. He was not the kind of person who would be happy or angry, and he was not the kind of person who would take revenge. Of course, he was not a coward … "
"He knew what Ning Liheng had done. He also knew that when it came to disaster relief, he would probably not be as effective as Ning Yi even if he attacked one knockoff after another. However, he still did everything he could. In Xin Prefecture, it was not that he did not know that the chances of an assassination were slim. It was possible that it would be completely useless, but he did not hesitate. He did everything he could. Tell me, what kind of person is he? "
You Hongzhuo frowned as he thought carefully. Mr. Zhao laughed, "First of all, he is a person who knows how to use his brain. Just like you, thinking is a good thing. Being conflicted is a good thing. Being conflicted is a good thing. Being unable to figure things out is also a good thing. Think about that old man. No matter what he encounters, he will press forward with an indomitable will. Most people say that he is upright, but is this the rigid Fang Zheng? No, even if it was mental demon Ning Yi's extreme methods, he could still accept it. This shows that he has seen everything and understands everything. But even so, when he encounters bad things, even if he can't change it, even if he dies because of it, he will press forward with an indomitable will … "
"When a typical person starts thinking about things, they will soon find it difficult. You will find it contradictory. Mediocre people always like to say that they are just an ordinary person. They can't care about this or that. They say that they have tried their best. They say that even if they do so, what can they change? There is no such thing as a perfect solution in the world. Thinking about it gives them a headache … But the world is difficult to begin with. Only by walking in the cracks can one be called a hero."
"At noon today, you felt that the Han dog who took the arrow for the Golden Man deserved to die. At night, you might feel that he had his reasons. However, if he had his reasons, would you not kill him? If you killed him, would you kill his family? If you didn't kill him, but someone else did, would you stop me when I wanted to force his wife to death or his children to fall to their deaths? How would you stop me? When you killed him, did you think that all the suffering people in this land deserved to die? If you can think through all these things, the saber you swing will have the greatest power. "
Mr. Zhao poured himself a cup of tea. "We met on the wrong path, and we traveled together. You and I are indeed fated. But to be honest, my wife was willing to give you some pointers because she liked your comprehension of saber techniques. What I like is your ability to draw inferences about other things from one instance. You have only known how to practice the saber rigidly since you were young. It is a good thing, but it is also not good. It is inevitable that saber techniques will seep into your future life. That would be a pity. If you want to break the rules and move forward, you must first understand all the rules and regulations clearly. Those who think that all the rules in the world are fake at a young age are hopeless trash and mediocre people. You must be vigilant. Don't become such a person. "
You Hongzhuo thought for a moment. "Senior, I don't know what to do …"
"Look and think. Think slowly. I'm only saying that you must be cautious when you walk and resolute when you swing your saber. Senior Zhou moves forward with an indomitable will, but he is actually an extremely cautious person. He has seen and thought a lot. Only by seeing through the rules can he truly move forward with an indomitable will. "It's already not bad for you to be able to achieve something in your thirties or forties."
Mr. Zhao smiled. "I'm used to being a teacher for the past few years and have taught many students, so I can't help but nag. There might be some fate between us, so there's no need for us to worship each other. "The best I can tell you is this story … For the next few days, my wife and I have some matters to settle in Zezhou. You have your own matters too. The Great Radiant Sect's branch is located half a street away from here. If you're interested, you can go over and take a look."
You Hongzhuo's gaze turned in that direction.
Mr. Zhao drank his tea. "He Shuo's Heavenly Saber Tan Zheng's martial arts aren't bad. You're still not his match now. Look and think more. Within three to five years, you might be able to kill him. "As for that fourth brother of yours, if you can find him, you might as well ask him about the matter. Whether he kills or flees, it's fine as long as you have a clear conscience."
You Hongzhuo's heart was still in a mess. After all, what Mr. Zhao had told him was too important. When You Hongzhuo returned that day, he thought of some doubts and asked Mr. Zhao about them. Mr. Zhao answered him honestly and did not say anything else that would make him feel perplexed. After practicing martial arts at night, Fang Xingjian sat in his room in the inn, his emotions surging. However, it was mostly because he had heard Grandmaster Zhou's story. Even though a 17-year-old young man had remembered Grandmaster Zhou's words, he would still fantasize about what he would become in the future and look forward to becoming a hero like Grandmaster Zhou.
Just like that, something suddenly flashed past his mind, causing him to be slightly absent-minded.
He thought of the night he had left the village. He had killed many monks from the Great Radiant Sect with a swing of his blade, as well as a few women. In the end, when he had swung his blade toward the young lady who had been his fiancée, she had begged for mercy. She had said, "Son of a b * tch, don't kill me. Let's grow up together. I'll be your wife …"
Although he and the young lady had been betrothed to each other since they were young, their feelings for each other were not that unforgettable. That young man had slashed his way through, and in the end, he had hesitated for a moment. However, he had still followed up with a slash. Although he had his reasons for doing so, it was mostly because it was simpler and more satisfying this way. There was no need for him to think too much. However, it was only at this moment that he suddenly realized that although the young lady had been sent to the monk's temple, she might not have been willing to do so. Moreover, the young lady's family had been poor at that time, and his own family had not been able to provide for her. If her family had not been like that, how would she have been able to find a way to survive? In the end, she had been driven into a corner. Furthermore, it was different from how the Han soldier had been driven into a corner today.
At that time, he might have been able to slow down that slash.
He was still young, and both his parents had passed away. He had also experienced too many massacres, fear, and even the predicament of being on the verge of starving to death. For the past few months, he had been looking at the only path in the pugilistic world before him, concealing everything with his high spirits. Now that he thought about it, he pushed open the inn's window and looked at the calm light of the moon and stars in the sky. For a moment, he felt as if his heart was being twisted. At such a young age, he had truly felt the indescribable complexity of life.
What he did not know was that at this time, in the room upstairs of the inn, Mr. Zhao was grumbling to his wife that "children are so troublesome" as he packed his luggage to leave.
When You Hongzhuo woke up the next day, he saw the dry rations and silver on the table, as well as a thin book of saber technique insights. When he went upstairs, the Zhao couple's room was already empty — they also had important matters to attend to, and this was their farewell. He sorted out his emotions and went down to practice his martial arts twice. After eating breakfast, he quietly went out and headed in the direction of the Great Radiant Sect's branch.
He had to look carefully and think slowly. Only then would he be able to move forward courageously when he brandished his saber — he merely remembered this matter in his heart.
It was still early in the morning at this time. Before he had even reached the teahouse from yesterday, he could already see a hubbub on the street in front of him. The Tiger King's soldiers were marching in formation in front of him, loudly announcing something. You Hongzhuo rushed forward and saw the soldiers escorting more than ten injured people from the Forest Forest District toward the public square at the entrance of the food market in front. From their announcements, he could tell that these people were the bandits who had attempted to break into the prison yesterday. Of course, they could also be the remaining members of the Black Flag Army. Today, they would be escorted to the public square and displayed for several days.
It was still the hottest day at this time. In such hot weather, being displayed for several days meant that these people were going to be sunburned to death. They were probably going to be used as bait by the Tiger King's henchmen. You Hongzhuo followed them for a while and heard the people from the Forest Forest District cursing along the way. Some said, "Fight me one-on-one if you have the guts …" Some said, "You'll be a hero again after 18 years —" "Tian Hu, Sun Qi, f * ck your grandmother —"
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