Brothers on Different Paths

People in ancient times, who lacked resources, naturally didn't care about malnutrition, but modern people, who are materially abundant, no longer worship the Goddess of Mercy with the same devotion as before.

Tao Chengsi didn't care whether it was a genuine miracle or man-made; seeing that this event would boost morale, he immediately shouted, "The gods are on our side! What is there to worry about? Victory is assured!"

A quick-thinking student also realized this and immediately raised his fist, echoing, "Victory is assured!"

The other students, who hadn't quite grasped the situation, were spurred on by the atmosphere and immediately believed it, shouting with high morale, "Victory is assured!"

The students, united as one, defended the line as solid as a rock, wiping out all the charging Demon Beast. If not for their teacher's warning, they probably would have fought back.

Less than three meters to Tao Chengsi's left, Liu Qingqing rubbed her slightly sore arm. Unlike the other students who had been incited, she didn't get excited. Instead, she silently raised her bow and aimed at the next target.

Chapter 143 Brothers on Different Paths

Heaven's Will Palace.

Around an open-air circular altar, statues of the twelve zodiac animals stand in a row, showing no signs of corrosion despite being exposed to wind and rain.

A person stands before a horse-shaped statue with its forelegs raised high and only its hind hooves supporting it. It is Yan Jinghong. He has his eyes closed and his hands behind his back, looking as if he is waiting for someone.

He didn't have to wait long, because the person he was waiting for was always very punctual, and he was only five minutes early, so the person he was waiting for appeared five minutes later.

"Big brother, you've arrived."

Yan Jinghong opened her eyes and looked at the person who appeared in front of the dragon-shaped statue, which was baring its fangs and claws and exuding a majestic aura. It was Xiao Xuan.

Compared to his state when he was first released from imprisonment, after more than a month of recuperation, Xiao Xuan's complexion has undoubtedly recovered a lot. He is no longer arrogant and appears much more composed. However, he is not the kind of person who has completely concealed his sharpness, but rather exudes a kingly aura, with a commanding presence that complements the dragon statue behind him.

"Third brother, thank you for bringing that boy to me and helping me resolve my inner conflict."

Yan Jinghong stared intently at Xiao Xuan, seemingly expecting him to say the next word, but after a long time, he still didn't speak.

"... This is not the outcome I hoped for. I truly wish you could say right now, 'I will take back everything I have lost in the past. Please lend me a hand, Third Brother.' Then I could reply, 'When brothers are of one mind, their strength can break metal.'"

"For the first three years I was imprisoned in the mountains, I did indeed harbor the idea of a 'triumphant return.' But gradually I realized that if I didn't wipe out the bandits, even if I got back what I had lost, it would be taken away by those bandits again sooner or later. If I wanted people to be honest and carefree, I had to eradicate evil completely!"

Xiao Xuan raised his thick eyebrows, revealing his killing intent without any intention of hiding it from Yan Jinghong.

"Big brother, you've changed."

"No one can remain unchanged after being imprisoned in a place where there is no sunlight for ten years. Third brother, haven't you changed too? Ten years ago, I would never have imagined that you, so unruly and competitive, would one day become a patriotic and devoted hero of the Mo clan. Even after I escaped and collected information from various sources to verify it, I still couldn't believe that the great hero in the people's mouths, who devoted himself to the country day and night, was you. Your current image is completely inconsistent with the title 'Startling Rainbow Beyond the Heavens'."

"People always grow up, and I owe it all to your guidance, big brother. I've always looked up to you and tried my best to catch up."

Xiao Xuan couldn't help but say, "In that case, why not travel with me again, brother?"

Yan Jinghong sighed, "At first, I did follow in my elder brother's footsteps, taking his ideals as my own. But gradually, I found my own goals in the process. You and I are now on different paths, both in the past and in the present."

So, you don't want to come to my side?

"That's the question I should be asking you, brother. Don't you want to return to the Heaven's Will Palace? The Dragon's seat has been vacant for a long time, and our comrades are all waiting for your return. Don't forget the original intention of establishing Heaven's Will Palace: to gather a group of like-minded people to contribute their strength to the country."

"Not all comrades were happy to see me return," Xiao Xuan chuckled self-deprecatingly, glancing around at all the statues with a deeply emotional expression. "Although we all share the same initial aspirations, everyone has their own thoughts. They all firmly believe that only their own actions can protect this country and make it strong, just like you now, who have embarked on a different path."

"So, you're going to betray that original intention?"

"No, I've just realized that Heaven's Will Palace cannot save this country. It can act as a patch-up artist, slowing the rate of decline, but it cannot truly bring new life to this country. Internal reforms are destined to be a policy of appeasement; they will never remove those malignant tumors entrenched in high positions. Only a revolution launched from the outside can completely eliminate those parasites!"

Xiao Xuan's aura instantly sharpened. "Back then, the Grandmaster was too soft-hearted. He didn't uproot those landlords, Aristocratic Clan, and sects when promoting the martial arts revolution. Instead, in order to stabilize society as quickly as possible, he adopted negotiation and compromise, absorbing them in. Now, the consequences are gradually becoming apparent. The great tree of the nation is being bleeded by these resurrected poisonous insects. Revolution should be a violent act of one class overthrowing another. Believing that these class members would betray their own class interests is ultimately too naive."

Yan Jinghong shook his head. "Human heads aren't like weeds in the ground; they won't grow back after being cut. Your method might work in a world where individual abilities are roughly equal—whichever side has more people would have an absolute advantage. But in a world where individual abilities vary greatly, the powerful Aristocratic Clan and sects that have vested interests possess just as many strong individuals as ordinary people. Even if Grandmaster wields Sacred Sword and is invincible, once he launches a relentless revolution, he will find it difficult to protect the people under his command. Even if he ultimately wins, the price he pays will be unimaginable to us."

"As long as we can wipe out those monsters and demons, any price we pay is worth it. The compromise we made back then has sown the seeds of endless future troubles."

Yan Jinghong disagreed. "The Grandmaster back then believed that through martial arts revolution and industrial revolution, the foundation of these old classes could be destroyed, and they could be transformed and disintegrated through peaceful means. Facts have proved that his idea was not wrong."

After the martial arts revolution, Aristocratic Clan and sects lost their martial arts manuals that attracted talent and could not get a fresh influx of new blood, so they gradually declined. Now, the major sects in Su State have long lost the capital to laugh at kings and nobles. They all obediently register with the government, otherwise they are considered criminal gangs.

The Industrial Revolution destroyed traditional small workshops, and nine out of ten old landlords went bankrupt. In modern society, the pace of life quickened, transportation became more advanced, and people were no longer bound by clan ties. New social relationships were built around the family as the center of interest, and the so-called clan became merely a symbol. The situation where a patriarch ordered the killing of a clansman would never occur again.

Xiao Xuan disagreed. "However, some of the old forces have changed their appearance and integrated into the new society, continuing their parasitic and exploitative lifestyle. When the country is in a period of rapid development, they may not show signs of decline, but once this stage is over, when the economy falls into a quagmire, all the hidden contradictions will erupt."

"Laziness is human nature. Who wouldn't want to live a life of eating, drinking, and indulging in pleasure without any effort? The emergence of parasites is inevitable. I believe that even without the infiltration of these old forces, the country would still have its corrupt elements. This necessitates internal purification. Isn't the purpose of establishing Heaven's Will Palace precisely to correct this?"

"It's no use. Internal reforms will eventually be corrupted, including within the Heaven's Will Palace. Initially, everyone may have been genuinely working for the prosperity of the nation, but as time goes on, people's hearts will change, and some will think of using Heaven's Will Palace for personal gain. It was only a matter of time, and it's already happening. Third brother, if you truly haven't forgotten your original intentions, then come to my side. Only a revolution launched from the outside can truly sweep away the gloom and eliminate all the pests!"

Xiao Xuan showed an extremely sincere expression, even using a pleading tone, but Yan Jinghong still refused him with a firm attitude.

"Brother, if the country were in peril and the nation were facing a life-or-death situation, I would stand by your side without hesitation, even if it meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire. But as you yourself said, the country is currently on the rise, the people are living in peace and happiness, and everyone is thinking about making a good life. Nobody likes war. Even if there are rat droppings in a few dishes on the table, we can just replace them. Overturning the table will only make fewer people want to eat."

Is the revolution my elder brother speaks of for the people or for himself? I believe it is not the time for revolution yet. When the time for revolution truly comes, the people will rise up on their own. They will spontaneously take to the streets, spontaneously march, and spontaneously eliminate those enemies who oppress and exploit them. Even in the face of a powerful military threat, they will not back down, nor will they stop shouting.

The people have discerning eyes; they understand what is in their best interest. When the Grandmaster promoted his martial arts revolution, he was slandered and smeared by landlords, Aristocratic Clan, and sects, who practically controlled all channels of public opinion. Yet, the people still firmly stood by Grandmaster side. Why? Because they knew what was beneficial and what was harmful to them. The people are not fools who can be easily deceived!

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuan closed his eyes. He knew he could no longer persuade Yan Jinghong. The other party had indeed found a path different from his own. Even when he was the Grandmaster, he had never believed in the will of the people like Yan Jinghong.

"But the people's response is slow; they won't stand up unless absolutely necessary. By the time they want a revolution, the great tree of the nation will have already been hollowed out by termites, and if a revolution is launched then, even more people will die than they have now."

Yan Jinghong remained unmoved. "This is not a reason for you to impose your will on the people."

The two fell silent, both understanding that they had embarked on different paths and could not be swayed by words. Even as close as brothers, there would be times when they would turn against each other.

After a long while, Yan Jinghong finally spoke and asked, "Brother, what exactly do you want to do?"

Xiao Xuan revealed a cold smile and said, "My initial plan was correct. The 'Blazing Yang Battle Art' could completely eliminate the hidden dangers of the 'Super Martial Dao.' However, the Exalting Unity Society secretly sabotaged me, causing me to suffer a qi Qi Deviation and using this as an excuse to strip me of my Grandmaster status and imprison me. They are all slaves to power, which is why they are wary of the Grandmaster who is above them and possesses greater power. The fact that the Mohist School has not selected a new Grand Grandmaster since then is the best proof of this."

According to the constitution of the Su State, the Grandmaster has no decision-making power, but he has a veto power and the power to declare war on foreign countries.

Although the Mohist School advocated non-aggression, they opposed unjust wars that did not benefit the people. However, they strongly supported righteous wars like those waged by the Qin State to unify the world.