Conflicting Beliefs
Lie Shang’s flames lifted the sand into the air, hostility that shouldn’t have been there flourishing. He brandished Sky Scorcher Sword and questioned, “Mu Yu, which side are you taking?”
Mu Yu stared at his feet. He didn’t agree with Xiang Nan’s methods, yet didn’t want to impose his opinion on Xiang Nan because he could understand where Xiang Nan was coming from. In the end, Mu Yu explicated, “I want to do what I want to do.”
“In that case, I’ll put you in line while I’m at it. Otherwise, I’m going to have to collect your bodies sooner or later.”
Lie Shang, now a Spirit Severing Realm Ninth layer cultivator, trapped Mu Yu in a circle of flames. The black branches around Mu Yu burnt down, but Wood Spirit Sword would spawn green leaves to keep the heat at bay. Mu Yu tapped the ground and teleported out of the fire trap.
“Shifu forbade us from learning formations. Why did you defy him?” Cheng Yan reprimanded.
“I have no choice,” Mu Yu quietly answered, not expecting Cheng Yan and Lie Shang to understand Ku Mu as an individual or how he felt.
“I can’t allow you two to continue to tread down the wrong path,” asserted Cheng Yan. “I am responsible for you now that Shifu can’t keep you two in line.”
Cheng Yan, now also a Spirit Severing Realm Ninth Layer Cultivator, converted the sand on the ground to metal blades.
Mu Yu was the most inferior among his fellow disciples in terms of cultivation; however, he was the only one amongst them figured out Celestial Swords Nine Catalysts Formation.
As Cheng Yan tried to bury Xiang Nan under metal, Xiang Nan swept up rocks to deflect the metal. Cheng Yan turned his metal to blades that smoothly cut through the rocks and then the ground, sinking the ground until Xiang Nan stopped them sinking deeper.
Lie Shang burnt Mu Yu’s trees down in the blink of an eye, but they’d regrow ceaselessly.
“Why do we have to fight?” Mu Yu despondently queried.
“I clean up your mess for you every time, yet you want to dismantle Nine Heaven Demon Sealing Formation. I must stop you so that you don’t err as Xiang Nan has!” Lie Shang, who was enveloped in flames from head to toe, justified.
“I only want to revive Ku Mu.”
“That’s not a wise decision. You’re placing everyone in danger to revive just him. You’re prioritising his life over the majority.”
What does he know about Dad to be implying he’s not worth saving?! When has fate ever been fair on Dad?! What did Shifu get in return for being a hero?! How did they repay his sacrifices?! What would other cultivators do if I was defenceless?! I don’t even want to be a hero! Why should I care about saving the world when I can’t even protect those I care about? How can I protect the world if I can’t even protect my family right before my eyes?! Don’t impose Shifu’s decisions on me as gospel to follow! Mu Yu raged inside.
“I’m just trying to save someone I deem worthy of a second chance at life! Why should I care if the world can’t understand how I feel?! If it’s a fight you want, let’s fight! I won’t let anyone stop me from reviving Dad!”
Mu Yu’s power rose as his eyes changed, and his black spiritual energy and white spiritual energy circulated faster. Lie Shang’s dispute incurred Mu Yu’s wrath, although Mu Yu never had much stopping him from lashing out at Lie Shang in the first place, despite all the times Lie Shang cleaned up his messes.
“I am following Shifu’s will to protect mankind. We can use other strategies to dethrone Third Heaven Palace. I will not allow you to defuse Nine Heavens Demon Sealing Formation to do so, though! Are you abandoning Shifu’s teachings?”
Since filial piety and justice were both virtues, why was Mu Yu’s decision wrong?
“… If Third Heaven Palace killed Shifu and I could revive him, would you tell me to revive him?”
Lie Shang broke his rhythm for the question he never asked himself hit him out of left field.
“Would you tell me to revive Lan Ling’er if Third Heaven Palace killed her?”
Lie Shang stopped his assault and crunched his fingers.
“Even if you opposed it, I would revive them if it came to it the same way I’m trying to revive Dad.”
Lie Shang extinguished his flame, unable to debate.
Every man was selfish. Every man could preach equality, virtues and morals when he wasn’t the victim. When he was on the receiving end, everything he preached becomes secondary to his desire to resolve his emotional turmoil. Not everyone was as tolerant as Sword Shadow Dust Gale. If one couldn’t be magnanimously selfless, why couldn’t they be an ordinary man who never betrayed his conscience?
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