Facing the Jade Emperor's words, Heng Tian spoke earnestly.
"Master, you still haven't answered my question."
"If one day, you became a necessary sacrifice, would you regret it?"
Looking at Heng Tian's resolute gaze, the Jade Emperor said calmly, "There is no need for 'if.' The future me will certainly become one of the sacrifices."
"I will not regret this predetermined fate, because I chose this path myself."
Heng Tian was somewhat surprised by this unexpected answer.
Because he had never imagined that his master would answer him like this.
"You are still young and have yet to see the complete world, so your understanding of freedom is very one-sided."
"In your mind, true freedom is doing whatever you want."
"When all living beings make their choices, they are never disturbed by anything."
"But the truth is, only Madmen can do as one pleases."
"Do you think becoming a Madman means possessing true freedom?"
At those words, Heng Tian retorted, "Master, you are changing the subject. People are born free—how can the trajectory of their fate be controlled by others?"
"If the fates of all living beings are fixed, how is that any different from forcing people to die?"
Heng Tian's tone was neither servile nor overbearing. At that moment, he believed himself to be right.
Yet faced with Heng Tian's argument, the Jade Emperor shook his head and said, "Freedom is not doing as one pleases. It is being able to refuse what you do not wish to do."
"The Forbidden Ground is the kind of free being you speak of. Do you think that is the freedom you want?"
As he spoke, the Jade Emperor handed Heng Tian a Jade Slip and paced slowly.
"When Senior Kong Xuan fell, his eyes were filled with unwillingness."
"To you, perhaps