Qin Mu was deeply shaken as he walked into the courtyard, saying, "State Preceptor, you didn't come all this way just to share amusing tales, did you? Ling'er, serve some tea."
Hu Ling'er hurriedly replied, "Young Master, we don't have tea at home. You don't drink tea."
Qin Mu laughed and said, "We'll buy some tea to keep on hand from now on. Since there's no tea, then show our guest to a seat."
" The Scholar's Residence only has a few broken stools—where's there to sit?" the little fox complained.
Qin Mu felt a bit awkward.
The State Preceptor of Yankang waved his hand and smiled. "No need to fuss. I'll stand and exchange a few words with the Cult Master, then be on my way."
Qin Mu's gaze fell upon the face of this man, the State Preceptor of Yankang, who was known as the foremost person beneath the gods and had struck awe across the realm. His appearance could not be called handsome—he was rather ordinary. Yet his face possessed an indescribable quality that grew more pleasing the longer one looked.
His eyes were the most striking feature about him. They were eyes brimming with wisdom, seeming to carry glimmers of spiritual light, capable of taking in all under heaven and making the most sagacious judgments.
Regarding this State Preceptor of Yankang, Qin Mu held considerable goodwill, and his heart was filled with respect for this pioneer and trailblazer.
The State of Yankang owed its current state more to the State Preceptor than to the emperor.
He had spearheaded reforms, overhauled military and governance, shattered sectarian prejudices, bridged the rifts between the three great schools, established primary schools, universities, and the Imperial Academy, and instituted the scholar system. The State Preceptor had made this era exceptionally splendid.
Yet for all his admiration, Qin Mu also had his reservations about the State Preceptor.
The State Preceptor of Yankang was not only a heaven-blessed genius but also ruthless and merciless.
He had campaigned against the Great Ruins. Although he had retreated upon recognizing the difficulty, that did not necessarily mean there wouldn't be a next time.
He had subjugated and annexed various states. To eliminate dissidents, he had even feigned grave injury, luring sects that had already submitted into rebellion and uprising, plunging the land into suffering and devastation.
He was not a perfect person.
Qin Mu could never discern what drove this man before him. He had a broad and encompassing heart, clearly possessing the magnanimity to embrace all under heaven, yet he would destroy other nations and conquer the Great Ruins to expand the territory of the State of Yankang.
He clearly harbored no greed for power, yet he would not hesitate to unleash a bloodbath to eliminate his opponents.
In Qin Mu's view, the State Preceptor was like a contradiction made flesh. What his true intentions were was difficult to fathom.
The State Preceptor was sizing him up as well. After a moment, he spoke in a gentle voice, "The Holy Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult is younger than I expected. When I received news that the Holy Cult Master turned out to be the Imperial Academy's Doctor of the Imperial Academy, I was quite taken aback. You don't seem particularly surprised to see me?"
Qin Mu replied, "The Heavenly Demon Cult accepts all without discrimination, and all manner of factions exist within it. So it is only natural that the State Preceptor has placed a few of his people in the upper echelons. That you discovered my identity so quickly is nothing to be surprised about."
The State Preceptor of Yankang nodded. "The Holy Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult should indeed possess such wisdom. But why do you show not the slightest panic upon seeing me? Aren't you afraid I've come to kill you?"
"If the State Preceptor intended to kill me, my panic would be of no use."
Qin Mu continued, "If you don't kill me, the Heavenly Demon Cult will not rebel. If you kill me, the Heavenly Demon Cult will certainly rebel. My life is not as precious as the Heavenly Demon Cult—the State Preceptor would have no reason to kill me. So I have no need for panic."
The State Preceptor of Yankang smiled faintly. "Don't be so certain. Wisdom is good, but if you're too self-assured, you may find yourself mistaken. Still, you have indeed moved me just now. You say the Heavenly Demon Cult will not rebel—might you elaborate on your reasoning?"
Qin Mu replied, "Our ideals are aligned. There is no need for rebellion."
The State Preceptor of Yankang said, "I hear that the first thing you did upon becoming Cult Master was establish the three hundred and sixty-first hall and set up a school?"
Qin Mu nodded. "I am emulating the State Preceptor, reforming the Heavenly Demon Cult."
"The Heavenly Demon Cult was already a nation disguised as a sect. If you emulate me and reform the Heavenly Demon Cult, will it not become a state within my State of Yankang?"
The State Preceptor continued, "In times of peace, you would not rebel or cause unrest. But if the world were thrown into chaos, why wouldn't you seize the opportunity to rise up and claim the mandate of heaven?"
"The reason our Heavenly Demon Cult does not rebel in this turmoil is not because we don't want to claim the mandate of heaven, but because the current State of Yankang is, in essence, a Heavenly Demon Cult of vast scale."
Qin Mu smiled. "Why would we rebel against ourselves?"
"Then when would you rebel?" the State Preceptor asked, intrigued.
Qin Mu replied solemnly, "When the State Preceptor betrays the ideals of the Heavenly Demon Cult, no longer follows the path of the sages, and the State of Yankang is no longer aligned with the Heavenly Demon Cult—then our Heavenly Demon Cult will certainly rebel."
The State Preceptor glanced at him and praised, "You have tremendous audacity."
Qin Mu replied, "It is not audacity, but simply the necessity of speaking the truth. Speaking falsely would not deceive the State Preceptor."
The State Preceptor paced leisurely to the well in the courtyard, speaking unhurriedly, "You came from the Great Ruins and have no foundation within the Heavenly Demon Cult. I originally intended to control you, using my influence to help you gain a foothold. I no longer have that thought."
Qin Mu walked to his side, and the State Preceptor continued, "You are a very dangerous person. Those who possess ideals are often extremely dangerous, very troublesome, and hard to persuade. Persuading a single person is the most exhausting thing—killing them is simpler. Persuading an entire sect is even more exhausting—exterminating them is simpler. Whether it's the Dao Sect or the Great Thunderclap Monastery, they all have their own ideals and are very hard to persuade. The Heavenly Demon Cult is the same."
He fell silent for a moment, then said, "Fortunately, the ideals of the Heavenly Demon Cult do not conflict with those of the State of Yankang."
Qin Mu asked curiously, "The State Preceptor will not move against the Heavenly Demon Cult for now—what about the Dao Sect and the Great Thunderclap Monastery?"
"That depends on what they do."
The State Preceptor said earnestly, "Whether they can achieve unity of knowledge and action. If they can uphold their ideals and achieve unity of knowledge and action, I will use all my power and every means to eliminate them. If they cannot, it won't be difficult for them to survive."
Qin Mu's heart stirred slightly as he asked, "And what are the State Preceptor's ideals?"
The State Preceptor shook his head. "I don't need to tell you. Don't watch what I say—watch what I do. My ideals are reflected in my actions. That is unity of knowledge and action. Young Holy Cult Master, you still have a long way to go."
Qin Mu still could not see through this man.
He was not yet at the level where he could engage in a debate of ideals with someone of the State Preceptor's caliber. The State Preceptor's perspective was too lofty, his knowledge too vast, his depth of character too profound, and his understanding of the Dao and divine powers had reached a height that was truly awe-inspiring. Qin Mu had not yet attained that level.
He could not fathom the State Preceptor's thoughts, nor did he know whether this man would be an enemy or a friend in the future.
But for the present, as the Holy Cult Master, Qin Mu had to plan for the future of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
"In this internal rebellion of sects within the State of Yankang, our Heavenly Demon Cult will fully support the State Preceptor."
Qin Mu carefully considered his words. "But I also need a promise from the State Preceptor: after this rebellion is quelled, will you purge our sect, burning the bridge after crossing it?"
The State Preceptor turned to face him and said, "No."
Qin Mu's expression turned inquisitive.
The State Preceptor spoke with a leisurely air, "I need a reminder. Keeping the Heavenly Demon Cult alive means keeping a sword suspended above my head—one that prods me, warns me, and keeps me from making mistakes."
He smiled faintly. "I am too powerful. If I were to make a mistake, who could hold me accountable? I need a force capable of killing me when my Dao heart goes astray. The Heavenly Demon Cult is well-suited for this. If I ever betray your ideals, I will wait for you to come and kill me."
Qin Mu felt a chill run down his spine.
The State Preceptor of Yankang turned and walked away.
Qin Mu let out a long breath, feeling as though every hair on his body was about to stand on end.
A single thought echoed in his mind: "The State Preceptor of Yankang is not human!"
Non-human.
As long as one is human, there will be the seven emotions and six desires, and there will be selfish thoughts. But the State Preceptor of Yankang possessed neither the seven emotions and six desires nor selfish thoughts. Without these things, he was no longer human.
Or perhaps he could be called a sage.
Could the State Preceptor of Yankang be a sage?
He steadied his mind and banished the tangled thoughts. At that moment, the Dragon Qilin in the courtyard rumbled in a deep voice, "That man is terrifying. He stands here, and I can see him, but I cannot feel him."
Qin Mu was slightly taken aback. Just now, he had not used his Azure Heaven Eye to look at the State Preceptor, missing an opportunity.
He had once used his Heavenly Eye to gaze upon the Village Chief, and had seen a god whose body was intact, radiant, and majestic. What would he see if he looked upon the State Preceptor of Yankang?
Outside the Scholar's Residence, Qin Feiyue was waiting with a bow. The State Preceptor walked over and said, "Let us return."
Qin Feiyue dared not say more. As they walked, the State Preceptor suddenly remarked, "Grand Libationer has a good eye."
Qin Feiyue smiled. "Gu Linuan, although..."