Old Fox had lived for a thousand years, so his learning was naturally exceptional. When he spoke with Jiang Hao, he would occasionally bring up profound subjects, yet Jiang Hao handled them all with ease, leaving Old Fox somewhat surprised. He had never expected this poor scholar to possess such talent and learning.
What was rare was that Scholar Jiang was refined and elegant, carried himself with extraordinary bearing, yet did not possess the slightest arrogance. That was especially commendable.
Steward Hu raised another cup with Jiang Hao. After setting it down, he smiled and asked, "Young Master Jiang, when I have nothing to do, I read strange tales and records of the supernatural. Many speak of demon beasts taking human form, or mountain and stone spirits causing calamity. What does Young Master Jiang think of demons?"
Hearing Steward Hu's words, Jiang Hao knew that Old Fox was probing his attitude. If he utterly detested demons, there would be no need to continue associating with him. Old Fox might even turn hostile toward him.
After a brief pause, Jiang Hao said, "The Tao Te Ching says: 'Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs. The sages are not benevolent; they treat the common people as straw dogs.'"
"Heavenly Dao never acts according to emotion. It sees all things as no different from straw dogs, without distinction of high or low, noble or base, treating all equally and impartially. Sages do not act according to emotion either, and treat all people equally."
"In Jiang's view, humans have good and evil, and demons too can be good or bad. Whether human or demon, even mountain, stone, flower, grass, or tree spirits, all are forms of life. All things possess spirit. There is no distinction between higher and