"Shixiong?" Zhou Fuxue called out.
Ming Zhu took a moment to react, looking at him with a dazed expression. "Thirteen... you’ve come."
Seeing his vacant stare, Zhou Fuxue asked cautiously, "What happened?"
Ming Zhu shook his head slightly. "Nothing."
Zhou Fuxue seemed terrified that Ming Zhu would hold him accountable for the previous night’s events, yet seeing him so distracted, he couldn't help but worry.
Ming Zhu sat in silence for a long time. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he stared at Zhou Fuxue and murmured, "Your father... Zhou Mingzhong and Perfected Master Gui Ning are among those Na Lian seeks revenge against. They might even die. Are you not worried at all?"
Zhou Fuxue’s expression stiffened. He nodded. "I am."
"Though my father never thought much of me, he is still my sire. And my Master’s kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain; it is a debt I can never repay in this lifetime," Zhou Fuxue said softly. "However, I know that worrying is useless. This is a matter in which I simply cannot interfere."
Ming Zhu was stunned.
Zhou Fuxue gave a self-deprecating laugh. "It might sound cowardly, but the grievances between Na Lian and the old enemies of the Gui Fang are not something a junior like me can meddle in. These are the grudges of the older generation. I have no standing, and certainly no power, to manage them."
Ming Zhu murmured, "You certainly have a philosophical outlook on it."
"It was my father who told me," Zhou Fuxue said.
"Zhou Mingzhong?"
"Ever since Na Lian reappeared in the world, he likely realized his own end was near. He urged me more than once not to involve myself in this mess, because..." Zhou Fuxue pressed his lips together, hesitating before continuing, "He said it is the retribution they deserve."
No one had ever said such things to Ming Zhu.
Back at Rizhao Mountain, Ming Zhu had been rebellious. Having read fragments of gossip about demon cultivators in ancient texts, he had once spoken grandly before all the disciples during morning lessons. He had said things like, "Demon cultivators are only hunted by human cultivators on trumped-up charges," and "It is because humans are afraid and jealous, their rational fear overriding their instincts, that they lash out in anger." At the time, everyone had called the First Senior Brother a heretic, and even he himself felt those words had been far too reckless.
Perfected Master Gui Ning never taught him anything specific, only telling him to follow his heart. Over the years, he had allowed him to grow into that "monstrous" shape by following his whims.
Ming Zhao had never acted like a father either, teaching him only how to harness power.
Even Na Lian, who had saved his life, never lectured him on grand principles. He would only say...
"You have the right to do as you please."
At Rizhao Mountain, his protective instinct toward his junior brothers had been excessive. Even after how Yi Fuju had treated him, he had never truly hated the man. Fifty years later, when it seemed the whole world had discarded him, only those junior brothers of his remained where they were, waiting for him.
Unknowingly, his affection for those few had become almost warped, reaching a point where he no longer distinguished between right and wrong.
Observing Ming Zhu’s dazed expression, Zhou Fuxue asked softly, "Shixiong, in your eyes, what is right and wrong?"
Ming Zhu’s pupils wavered. He looked at him blankly, his lips trembling as he rasped, "Those who love me are right."
Zhou Fuxue studied his face closely. "Then, was Second Shixiong right?"
Ming Zhu froze, unsure whether to nod or shake his head.
Zhou Fuxue took his left hand, gently stroking the wrist. He whispered, "If Second Shixiong hadn't pushed you off Biri Cliff back then, everyone on the Sky-Kite would have been dragged down to a violent death by that demon cultivator. In Shixiong’s eyes, was what he did then wrong or right?"
Ming Zhu could not say.
Zhou Fuxue continued, "In this world, there is no absolute black and white, no absolute right or wrong. If you stand with humanity, Na Lian is wrong. If you stand with Na Lian, humanity is wrong."
Ming Zhu had never formed a proper moral compass; his sense of right and wrong was entirely dictated by his emotions. But when a situation could no longer be judged by emotion alone, he would instinctively fall into confusion, even losing himself.
"Back then..." Ming Zhu began tentatively, his throat still feeling parched. "When I heard that Zhou Mingzhong wanted Hongchuan’s life, I felt the urge to kill him countless times. But I couldn't do it. Back then, I thought that if one day someone coveted the lives of those close to me, I would have the power to protect them."
He raised his hand, staring at his pale palm, murmuring in confusion, "I don't want to understand what is right or wrong. I just want the people I care about to live well. Just this one thing—why is it so difficult?"
Seeing that despite his explanation, Ming Zhu was still stuck in a dead end, Zhou Fuxue frowned. "Shixiong, are you perhaps too tired?"
"Tired?" Ming Zhu repeated under his breath. "I’m not. I’m not tired. I’m not tired at all."
Zhou Fuxue looked at him with concern. "Rest for a while, alright? Listen to me."
Ming Zhu looked at him vacantly. "Listen to you."
Zhou Fuxue quickly helped him lie down on the couch, whispering, "I’m here. Everything will be fine. Just rest for now."
Ming Zhu looked at him and said, "I saw Xueyu just now."
Zhou Fuxue’s brow furrowed, but since the matter could no longer be hidden, he could only admit, "Yes."
Ming Zhu said, "I want to see him."
Zhou Fuxue looked troubled. After a moment’s thought, he said, "Third Shixiong likely cannot come right now. When I arrived, I heard that Na Lian had invited him over. I don't know what they have to discuss. Shixiong, please wait a little longer."
Ming Zhu paused for a moment, then used Zhou Fuxue’s shoulder for support to stand up. He seemed strangely calm. "I want to see him. Now."
"Shixiong?!"
Ignoring him, Ming Zhu brushed Zhou Fuxue aside and pushed the door open. Seeing how much he struggled to walk, Zhou Fuxue hurried forward to support him, pleading in a low voice, "They are likely discussing important matters, Shixiong..."
Ming Zhu said, "Go away."
He brushed off Zhou Fuxue’s hand again and staggered toward the adjacent courtyard. Just as he was about to enter, he saw the two people inside. Na Lian had dismissed everyone from the courtyard and was sitting in the pavilion with the white-clad Yan Xueyu. They were looking at each other, their expressions calm as they spoke of unknown things.
Ming Zhu froze in his tracks.
Yan Xueyu’s eyes were lifeless. He was unhurriedly looking down, fiddling with a porcelain cup in his hands. He said something to Na Lian with a smile, his posture showing none of the despair or resentment of a man facing death.
Ming Zhu stared blankly for a long time, then suddenly raised his hand to cover his mouth.
Zhou Fuxue had been watching him anxiously from the side. Seeing him like this, he thought Ming Zhu was in pain and quickly asked, "Shixiong, are you alright?"
Ming Zhu bent over, his hand still over his mouth, his body trembling slightly. Finally, unable to hold it back, a muffled, trembling laugh escaped his throat.
He was... laughing?
Zhou Fuxue’s worry deepened. However, Ming Zhu soon straightened up slowly. The madness from moments ago was gone. His eyes were red, but he had completely reined in the emotions that had nearly caused him to spiral out of control.
He had come here with such aggressive intent, yet after only a single glance, he turned to leave in a state of panic.
*Who am I?*
Ming Zhu thought as he walked. *Who exactly am I? Am I a god? Am I the Heavenly Dao? What right do I have to think that everyone in the world should revolve around me? What right do I have to make decisions for others?*
He wasn't looking where he was going. In his turmoil, he didn't know where he had wandered until he looked up and found himself on a street near the Moon-Seizing Tower, surrounded by a bustling crowd.
The many faces of sentient life.
Everyone had their own life, and everyone would have their own choices.
He stood in the noisy world, watching people come and go, witnessing their joys and sorrows. Then, struck by some thought, he suddenly covered his eyes and burst into laughter without warning.
He laughed at his own self-importance, at his own meddling. He had done so many wrong things that he didn't even know which part of himself was the most ridiculous.
Looking back, Ming Zhu realized that since he had come up from Biri Cliff, he hadn't seemed to do a single thing right. He was always interfering in everyone’s business without a word, never asking if they actually wanted his help.
*Why did it turn out like this?* Ming Zhu thought with a sense of hollow despair. *Am I... atoning for my sins?*
Because he had been powerless back then, watching Shen Hongchuan die before his eyes, was he now so eager to flaunt this peerless power he had gained? Was he desperate to prove that he was no longer the cowardly, useless person he once was?
Back then, everyone had called him a waste. Was he now trying to prove to them that he was omnipotent?
If he were truly omnipotent, why couldn't he save Kua Yu? Why was he trapped in such a dilemma?
All of this was merely the retribution for his own arrogance and recklessness.
Zhou Fuxue had been following him all along. Seeing him laughing and crying, he said softly, "Shixiong, where do you want to go? I’ll go with you."
Ming Zhu calmed down completely. He stood in the middle of the noisy street, lost in thought. After a long while, he rasped, "I... I don't know where to go."
For some reason, a voice from his memory suddenly echoed in his mind—someone had once said these words to him.
"I saw the miserable state of your death, crawling out from among ten thousand withered bones; I saw the rest of your life spent in ignominy, despised by all; I saw the ending where everyone you love has left you, leaving you alone to bear a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses..."
*If I continue to be so stubbornly deluded,* Ming Zhu thought to himself, *is this my true ending?*
Ming Zhu’s appearance was far too striking—white clothes, white hair, and his now-visible golden snake-like pupils. He had only stood there for a moment when a fierce surge of spiritual power suddenly erupted from somewhere, lunging straight for his face.
The spiritual power sliced through the air, the sound of it breaking the wind accompanied by a sudden gale.
Zhou Fuxue’s pupils shrank. "Shixiong!"
Ming Zhu seemed not to notice, his eyes vacant and dazed. But just before the spiritual power reached him, he abruptly raised his sleeve. With a casual flick, he released a wave of spiritual power that shattered the incoming attack completely. His counter-attack did not lose momentum, crashing violently into a nearby corner.
The sound of a stone wall shattering followed. A wall not far away was reduced to rubble. A person lay among the debris, covered in blood, their fate unknown.
The surrounding area immediately erupted in shouts. People on the street screamed and pushed past each other to flee, and chaos reigned for a moment.
Ming Zhu withdrew his hand. His sleeve fluttered down, hiding his slightly trembling fingertips.
He didn't even look at the person in the distance. He watched the surrounding chaos with unfocused eyes. In an instant, the resentment and unspeakable despair that had been haunting his heart suddenly dissipated like mist.
Zhou Fuxue was still shaken. "Shixiong?"
Ming Zhu suddenly murmured, "I am still alive."
***
