A Discussion of Justice

"Despicable!" Peng Qianli shouted angrily, his guard up. "What kind of hero attacks from behind?"

The young swordsman asked nervously, "Alliance Leader, you've gone back on your word at the last minute. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by the world?"

Si Ming frowned and looked at Shang Yu, hoping to get a reasonable answer.

"The other two are one thing, but while the Cloud-Grazing Eagle King is ruthless, he never lays a hand on the weak. He may have minor transgressions, but he's not a big deal. I don't know the other one, and I don't know if he's ever done anything wrong. As for the Dragon Monk Tiger Nun, they never care about the lives of ordinary people, treating them as tools. They often rob and plunder. Their so-called righteousness and evil are nothing more than using force to do whatever they want. Now, I'm turning you into ordinary people too, so you can experience what it's like to be treated like this."

Tiger Nun argued, "We used extreme measures to eliminate the Monster Race, sacrificing one or two people to save more. What's wrong with that?"

"I don't want to argue whether what you did was right or wrong, but if it weren't for your merit in slaying the Monster Race, that blow just now wouldn't have pierced your Dantian, but shattered your skulls."

Feeling his power dissipate rapidly like a flood, the Dragon Monk cried out in grief and indignation, "Then come at me! Attack me! I don't need to hold back. If I even flinch, I'm no hero!"

Shang Yu said calmly, "When I judge a person's crime, I don't look at what they say, but only at what they do. Even if the other person is a hypocrite, as long as they remain a hypocrite for life, I will consider them to have done nothing wrong. Therefore, I will not increase the punishment because of what you said."

After saying that, he turned and left.

"Stop right there!"

Just as the Dragon Monk was about to give chase, the Tiger Nun grabbed him, shook her head, and said, "Forget it, this is the retribution we have to pay. Actually, I wanted to say this three months ago... let's retire from the martial world."

"No! We haven't achieved enough merit, nor have we made a name for ourselves in the martial world. If we retire now, wouldn't that mean that the Glazed Temple was right to expel us? How could I face my master then!"

"I... am carrying your child."

"Is this... is this real?"

What kind of ridiculous plot twist is this? Those two extras are even forcing in more scenes! Have you two even read "An Actor Prepares"?

Si Ming glanced at the shocked Dragon Monk and the embarrassed Tiger Nun, suppressed his inner grumbling, shook his head, and quickly caught up with Shang Yu, who was almost out of sight.

Chapter 566 On Justice

Night had fallen, and the campfire crackled and popped. The two men, camped out in the wild, remained silent, letting time slip by.

This attitude wasn't because Si Ming had any prejudice against Shang Yu's actions during the day. In fact, the two had been interacting like this for the past half month. Apart from the important matter of hunting down the Blood Abyss Sect, they wouldn't talk about anything else. Si Ming didn't pry into the origin of Shang Yu's wish, and Shang Yu wouldn't ask about Si Ming's secret. The two interacted in a purely cooperative relationship, neither of them thinking about getting to know the other better.

Si Ming didn't know what Shang Yu was thinking. To him, Shang Yu was, in a sense, a married woman. He didn't have a penchant for stealing other people's husbands, so naturally he wouldn't flirt with her, even though what he needed to do right now was to beat her husband to death.

Moreover, Shang Yu's situation doesn't even qualify as a vengeful ghost; it's just an unresolved obsession. Once her wish is fulfilled, it will disappear. If the relationship becomes too close, the day of parting will only bring more pain. Rather than that, it would be better to part amicably as collaborators, which would benefit both parties.

However, Shang Yu seemed to be talking about sex today.

She, who had been staring at the campfire, suddenly spoke up, "Don't you think I did something wrong during the day?"

Since the other party had asked, Si Ming couldn't very well adopt a distant attitude, so he replied, "Rather than saying it's wrong, it's more accurate to say it's inappropriate. If those monks and nuns were as you described, using human lives as bait and disregarding the lives of ordinary people, then they deserve to be punished. However, your approach is questionable. If you had defeated them in a fair and square duel and then crippled their Internal Cultivation, they could only admit that they were outmatched and couldn't accuse you of acting despicably."

"If I were alive, I probably would have done that, but now that I'm dead, what's there to hold me back?"

"What you're saying isn't entirely unreasonable..."

Although Shang Yu is currently inhabiting Liu Qingqing's body, everyone will blame Liu Qingqing for her actions. However, Liu Qingqing is not originally from the Barbarian Continent and will return after the summer vacation. The reputation of the Barbarian Continent martial arts world will not affect her. It's just that this approach has a bit of a "what's the use" feel to it, but you can't really criticize her. Other people's broken pots can be repaired, Shang Yu's broken pot cannot be repaired. She is only left with fragments, and not even complete ones.

After thinking it over, Si Ming realized that he wasn't dead and couldn't understand the other person's mindset.

At this point, Shang Yu asked again, "What do you think justice is?"

"In the past, I would probably say that might makes right, and whoever wins is the one who is just. Not long ago, I would say that conforming to the mainstream moral standards of society and using power to push them in a better direction is called justice, because justice is an action, not a result. It is always in progress and will never be completed."

Shang Yu raised her head with a hint of surprise, finally turning her gaze away from the campfire. What Si Ming was exactly what she believed, a truth she only realized after her death. She could only understand the general idea; she couldn't explain it as clearly as Si Ming had.

Many people talk about justice, but they are only pursuing results or trying to use those results to cloak themselves in a false sense of security. They have no intention of practicing justice.

Justice is an unattainable destination. Once people realize this, they will give up pursuing justice, while conspirators will exploit the name of justice. Only those with great perseverance and a willingness to dedicate their lives to their ideals will steadfastly continue down this endless road.

Walking a road with no end in sight is extremely painful; but knowing that the road has no end and still insisting on continuing is even more painful.

Shang Yu wanted to be the third kind of person, but she was no longer qualified.

"Judging from your tone, has your opinion changed? You now believe that justice is not a process, but a result?"

Shang Yu felt that her understanding was profound enough; it was a truth she could only comprehend after dying once, and she couldn't imagine any realm beyond that.

"My thinking has indeed changed now, but not in terms of the definition of justice. Rather, I feel that what justice is is fundamentally unimportant. I've done many things, and I've made many mistakes. The more I do, the more mistakes I make. The more I do, the more I realize my shortcomings. Every single thing I do has problems. I'm already exhausted just trying to make up for my weaknesses and correct my mistakes. How can I possibly have the energy to think about what justice is?"

Si Ming picked up a few pieces of firewood and threw them into the campfire, making the gradually weakening flames burn brightly again.

"In fact, the less people do, the more they like to shout about justice, and the more they like to advocate the existence of absolute justice, because justice doesn't need to be put into practice or verified by facts; justice can simply be self-proclaimed."

Shang Yu felt as if she had been enlightened, and her face couldn't help but turn red, because she had also done things that she claimed to be righteous, and now when she thought about it, she only felt that they were childish and ridiculous.

She couldn't help but ask, "Since you understand these principles, why do you usually act so frivolously, as if you know nothing about them? For example, you call yourself the nemesis of evil and a messenger of justice, and you're quite pleased with yourself for it?"

Si Ming laughed heartily, "Understanding principles is one thing, and having a good attitude towards life is another. Whether you live a pessimistic or optimistic life, it's still a day. Why shouldn't I choose a way of life that makes me happy? Rather than wearing a gloomy face all day, as if I've seen through the world and distanced myself from worldly affairs, I might as well blend in with the world and adapt to the times. After all, you and I are already wallowing in the mud of this mundane world, covered in filth. Rather than being aloof and disgusted by the stench, I might as well happily play in the mud with others."

"But this kind of attitude will only lead others to misunderstand you, making them think you're no different from those who live aimlessly in the mud."

"Ha, during the day I said I didn't care about the empty title of the world's number one martial arts master, and you probably all thought I was just saying nice things, just another way of bragging, but actually I really don't care, it's not just pretense or putting on airs."

Si Ming chuckled a few times, pulled a piece of wood that had turned to charcoal from the campfire, and continued, "Leaving aside other people's opinions, even if you want to give a final judgment on someone, you should at least wait until they're dead. I truly don't care what others think, or even what the people around me think. Because as long as I do my best, those who like and agree with me will gather around me, and those who don't like me will stay away. We can all part amicably. I never force my friends."

"Do you prefer action to empty talk?" Shang Yu sighed, feeling that she had been truly shallow in the past. "After what the Alliance Leader said, I realize how ridiculous my actions during the day were. Sigh, what have I been doing all this time?"

"Aren't you practicing justice?" Si Ming retorted, then added, "Justice also requires a standpoint. From the perspective of the people of Eastern Martial World, eliminating the Monster Race and eradicating Evil Dao is justice, because without these guys, life will be more peaceful, and we can devote more energy to production and development instead of living in fear."

"Is it about letting the people live in peace? I have never thought about the issue from that perspective. Punishing the Dragon Monk Tiger Nun was just a matter of paying for murder with one's life."

"Didn't you say during the day that you shouldn't look at what he says, but only at what he does? Perhaps you don't have any lofty ideals, but if your actions can push society a step further in that direction, then you've made a contribution to society."