After hearing the teacher's explanation, Zheng Qing finally understood why some people chose the path of eating humans.
The road to becoming a demon was rugged and narrow, but it could still be walked. One could walk it for a long time, go very far—farther than many people could travel on the path of wizardry.
It had nothing to do with morality.
It was merely the result of ruthless reality and cold interests working upon each other.
"The brave are not fearful." The young scholarship student savored those words, a wry smile appearing on his face. "The one being eaten and the one eating people possess the same essence... What a tremendous surprise."
The teacher sat on the grass like a statue, his voice exceptionally calm:
"Colmar once told me that before making her final decision, she heard Sartogua say something. I think it suits you as well... 'There are many branches of extraordinary power. We do not have to keep walking along the broadest river channel. Sometimes, the narrow and winding bends are the paths that belong to us alone.'"
"A long time ago, one of my students said something similar—there is no true good or evil in this world. The Heavenly Dao is impartial; good and evil are merely society's judgments. If there must be a choice, then human nature is inherently evil. Precisely because it is inherently evil, morality and enlightenment are needed. Follow human nature, or defy ethics, but do not violate the Heavenly Dao."
"As long as you do not stop, there will always be a road ahead."
Zheng Qing stared absently at a blade of grass by his feet. An ant was struggling upward along its leaf. Even to an ant, that blade was not large. It soon reached the tip.
The ant stood