The Persuader

After bidding farewell to the parents amid their profuse thanks and declining their gifts, the two returned to Yuan Wu Xing's small courtyard.

"I see you were quite the talker when you were facing me. Why did you go silent in the hall? Perhaps City Lord Zeng did not even notice you."

Yuan Wu Xing scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly. "I was timid. I'd never seen a scene like that before, so my mind went blank for a moment."

Jiang Li laughed despite himself. "You spent ten years investigating the Jiang Family, that colossal beast. You knew hope was slim, yet you persisted all the same. If anyone said your will was not firm, they would surely be blind as bats. Yet whenever it came to a critical moment, you lost your nerve. You were like this at the Jiang Family today, like this in the hall, and like this when you tried to break through to the Nascent Soul. My Dao Sect values cultivating nature and life together, but right now, you cultivate only your nature, not your life."

Yuan Wu Xing felt as though he had been struck by lightning.

It was indeed as Jiang Li had said. Whenever he tried to break through to the Nascent Soul, he always hesitated. His thoughts surged in like a tide, chaotic and endless. I'm still young. Why risk dying and having my Dao vanish just to break through? Wouldn't it be better to live carefree for another century before trying? What use is breaking through to the Nascent Soul? Beyond the Nascent Soul lies Spirit Transformation—when will cultivation ever end? So many people fail to break through to the Nascent Soul. What makes me think I can succeed? Because of this, he had come within a hair's breadth of breaking through several times, only to fail every time.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Zhang." Yuan Wu Xing respectfully bowed to Jiang Li, who merely smiled without saying anything.

Yuan Wu Xing suddenly remembered something and anxiously asked, "Senior Zhang, I suspect the Jiang Family will send people to that space to destroy the evidence. We must hurry and stop them!"

"I'm more afraid they will not go to that space. Otherwise, how will we make this matter blow up?" Jiang Li gestured for Yuan Wu Xing to calm down, though he did not explain why. Yuan Wu Xing truly trusted Jiang Li's words and calmed himself.

Though the two had spent only one day together, Yuan Wu Xing had begun trusting Jiang Li without any reason at all.

"Are you Mr. Zhang Li and Mr. Yuan Wu Xing?" A series of knocks sounded from outside the door.

The knocking was soft. When no one inside responded after the visitor spoke, he did not repeat himself, merely standing respectfully outside. It was clear that the visitor was very courteous.

Yuan Wu Xing opened the door, and his hand trembled uncontrollably. He forcibly restrained himself from striking.

"This old man knows he has wronged the common people. If beating this old man can ease Mr. Yuan Wu Xing's hatred, this old man will not utter a single word of objection."

Jiang Clan Leader stood outside, leaning on a cane. His eyelids drooped, and his face was filled with remorse. With only Golden Core Stage cultivation, he had come to face one enemy at the Golden Core Peak and another at the Nascent Soul Peak, yet he had brought no attendants.

How could Yuan Wu Xing not hate Jiang Clan Leader? If Jiang Yixing was the chief culprit, then Jiang Clan Leader was his greatest accomplice. The deaths of those infants could absolutely be laid at Jiang Clan Leader's door.

"What are you here for? To threaten us?"

In the end, Yuan Wu Xing did not strike. He merely offered a sarcastic smile that did not reach his eyes, then dropped into a chair and gulped down tea.

He did not dare act rashly. Who knew what methods this old fellow possessed? Better to avoid unnecessary complications if possible.

Yet after Jiang Clan Leader entered the room, he tossed his cane aside and directly fell to his knees, startling Yuan Wu Xing so badly that he nearly dropped his teacup.

Jiang Li watched Jiang Clan Leader with great interest, wanting to see what tricks this junior could pull.

"Old Ancestor may have made mistakes, but no matter how great his errors, they cannot surpass those of the Human Emperor. If word spreads across the Nine Provinces that the Human Emperor's cousin cultivated the Demonic Path, what will the people think? They will inevitably harbor misgivings. And if someone with ulterior motives fans the flames, what a tremendous blow it will deal to the Human Emperor's reputation!"

"Beyond the Nine Provinces, Extraterrestrial Demons watch us like tigers eyeing their prey. Fortunately, the Human Emperors of every generation have raised the banner of the Nine Provinces and fought the Heavenly Demons, allowing the Nine Provinces to escape disaster. The Human Emperor's strength lies in faith. If humanity's faith in the Human Emperor is shaken, Human Emperor Jiang's strength will surely decline. What danger would that bring to our Nine Provinces!"

"I know you two care for the common people and are righteous men. My Jiang Family is nothing but a pack of petty villains who lurk in the shadows, but when it comes to Heavenly Demons, our stance is the same. I beg you two to think of the countless living beings of the Nine Provinces and let this matter rest. This old man thanks you both in advance!"

Having said this, Jiang Clan Leader actually knocked his head against the ground three times. Three dull thuds rang out, and blood marks appeared on his forehead. When he rose and lifted his head, tears were already streaming down his face.

Yuan Wu Xing was moved by Jiang Clan Leader's apparently heartfelt words and actions. He could not help thinking that perhaps they should simply let the matter go. It would not be good if it truly affected the Human Emperor.

Taking a step back, so what if the Human Emperor had cultivated the Demonic Path? He had done it to fight the Heavenly Demons, for all living beings under heaven.

Yuan Wu Xing was truly close to being persuaded by Jiang Clan Leader. After all, Jiang Clan Leader's arguments were reasonable, and the possibility that this could shake people's faith in the Human Emperor was very real.

Half of the Human Emperor's might came from his own formidable strength, while the other half came from the faith bestowed upon every generation of Human Emperors. Multiplied together, the two raised the Human Emperor's power to an utterly terrifying level. Though not immortal, he surpassed immortals.

Space beyond the Nine Provinces was chaotic, and every few centuries, the Nine Provinces would encounter an attack by Extraterrestrial Demons. Each time brought a catastrophe capable of toppling heaven and overturning earth. As the foremost expert of the Nine Provinces, the Human Emperor was always the first to battle the Heavenly Demons. More than half of all Human Emperors had died in this process, and few met a peaceful end.

If Human Emperor Jiang's faith weakened, causing him to fall in some future battle against Heavenly Demons, then Yuan Wu Xing would truly feel guilty for the rest of his life.

"Jiang Clan Leader's words are reasonable. But since the Jiang Family already knew this might shake people's faith in the Human Emperor, why did you still perform blood sacrifices with infants?"

Jiang Clan Leader said shamefully, "Old Ancestor was enamored with the splendor of this world. He wanted to break through to the Nascent Soul and enjoy a few more days of it. Who could have expected that one misstep would become an eternal regret? By the time he wished to turn back, the path was already blocked."

Jiang Li appeared greatly surprised. "What are you saying, Jiang Clan Leader? If the Jiang Family wishes to turn back, how could I refuse to fulfill that wish?"

Jiang Clan Leader was delighted inwardly. These people who styled themselves righteous could indeed not be coerced or bought off; they had to be persuaded with righteous principles.

But Jiang Li continued, "Even if Yuan Wu Xing and I no longer bring charges against the Jiang Family, other cultivators will come investigate this matter. I will point out a path for the Jiang Family. Great Zhou Law states that the dead bear no responsibility. Jiang Yixing, please acknowledge your mistakes and reform—then kill yourself."

The smile on Jiang Clan Leader's face froze, and for a moment, he did not know what to say in rebuttal.

Indeed, as long as Old Ancestor died, this matter would be settled. But how could that be possible? I came here to put on an act so you would stop making trouble. How had the act somehow gotten my own Old Ancestor killed?

"Mr. Zhang Li must be joking."

"I speak only from the bottom of my heart."

Jiang Clan Leader's face darkened until it seemed water could drip from it. Slowly, he rose to his feet, no longer wearing that sorrowful expression of concern for the world.

"It seems Mr. Zhang Li insists on seeing this matter through to the end."

Only then did Yuan Wu Xing realize that Jiang Clan Leader had been pretending all along. A chill ran through him afterward. This old fox was truly terrifying—one could not trust a single word or expression from him. Fortunately, Senior Zhang was here.

"It is not about seeing it through to the end. I simply like to finish what I start. Jiang Clan Leader, please."

Jiang Clan Leader snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and left.