Chapter 1570: What Should We Do

“This junior did it.”

Feng Qingyou remained calm and collected, however. “However, it is the other person who acted treacherous and unvirtuous first. This junior and Joyless were simply retaliating in self-defense.”

“If one is without virtue, how can one repay virtue? If one is without benevolence, how can one repay benevolence? Without benevolence and virtue, one is no different from a beast. One should repay resentment with justice.”

“I would argue that your statement hardly comes from a neutral standpoint, but it still makes a lot of sense.” The Chief Libationist waved his hand in a pacifying manner. “Relax. This is your grudge with Jing Run. I have no right to question or interfere with it. It’s just the people’s suffering that I am sad about.”

Ye Qing bowed his head and apologized, “I am sorry, Chief Libationist.”

“The emperor himself lacks virtue, and his conduct bears no benevolence. That is why the heavens cast a disaster upon Chu, and why the realm is in danger right now. You are at most opportunists. It’s not your fault.”

The Chief Libationist sighed sorrowfully. “But the people... how innocent they are!”

“If blame must be assigned, then I’m the one who should shoulder the blame. My fault is far greater than yours.”

“How are you at fault?” Feng Qingyou argued, “You’ve done enough.”

The reason the Jixia Academy was completely empty right now was because anyone with even a speck of ability or skill had been dispatched to slay evils, handle civil matters, treating the ill and wounded, or handle natural disasters and aftermaths. In short, they had all been sent away to save the people.

Of course, their efforts yielded pitiful results considering how big Chu was. Still, a cup of water in the desert was better than no water at all!

“I am a scholar, but I failed to persuade the emperor to conduct himself with benevolence and virtue. That is my one sin.”

The Chief Libationist said slowly, “I am his teacher, but I failed to teach him goodness and morals. That is another sin. I am a warrior, but despite all my power, I failed to stop the emperor from making mistake after mistake, nor could I prevent the realm from plunging into chaos, stop the villains from spreading across the lands, or save the people from their suffering. That is my third sin.”

“I have power that could blot out the heavens, but not one speck of it is of use to the people. How can I not be ashamed of myself?”

“Your compassion extends to everyone, and your heart is big enough to fit the world. This junior deeply admires that.”

Ye Qing said sincerely, “But none of your ‘sins’ are your fault, miser. Nothing you did has ever been unworthy of the heavens, the earth, or the people. The one who should be ashamed of themselves is another.”

“He is the one who does not behave like a human!”

“I cannot deny that.” The Chief Libationist nodded in agreement before looking at Ye Qing. “Say, you haven’t sought me out today just to rebuke a certain someone, have you?”

“Of course not.”

Ye Qing clasped his hands in front of him and declared, “We came today to ask for your guidance!”

“Oh?” The Chief Libationist looked curious. “Tell me.” Ye Qing asked, “If someone harbors evil intentions and acts despicably, what should we do, mister?”

The Chief Libationist answered without hesitation, “They should be beaten!”

Ye Qing asked again, “If the person who harbors evil intentions and acts despicably is also without virtue and benevolence; they behave perversely and cause countless people to suffer all to satisfy their own selfishness, what should we do?”

The Chief Libationist frowned at this. “In that case, they deserve to die.”

Instead of responding, Ye Qing asked a third question, “If the person who behaved perversely and caused countless people to suffer all to satisfy their own selfishness does not regret their mistakes; if they escalate their evil intentions and desire to create even greater disasters and suffering, what should we do?”

The Chief Libationist narrowed his eyes slightly, but still he did not hesitate. “They deserve to die a slow and torturous death.”

“What if this person is powerful and more influential than everyone? What if he answers to no one but himself?” Ye Qing pressed, “Can he be killed? Can he be tortured?”

“A man may be tall, but he cannot be taller than the sky. A man may be heavy, but he cannot be heavier than everyone. When it is time to kill him, it is time to kill him. When it is time to torture him, it is time to torture him!”

The Chief Libationist declared without hesitation before waving his hand impatiently. “Alright, stop testing me and give it to me straight already. What did Jing Run do now?”

“You are truly insightful, mister.” Ye Qing said seriously, “By chance, we discovered a major incident that will directly decide the life or death of one hundred thousand lives, and dictate the existence of many millions more. That is why we require your guidance and judgment, mister!”

“Like I said, just give it to me straight.” The Chief Libationist put down his book and sat up straight. “Don’t worry. If I should interfere, then I will interfere no matter what.”

“That is what this junior needs to hear, mister.”

Ye Qing stopped beating around the bush and proceeded to tell the Chief Libationist about Emperor Jing Run’s desire to sacrifice the one hundred thousand lives of Nanjiang to summon the Impending Disaster. He told him that the reason Emperor Jing Run desired to summon such an abominable Stranger was to plunge the world into chaos and preserve his empire and throne for even a moment longer.

“What evidence do you have to prove your accusation?” When the Chief Libationist listened to Ye Qing’s story until the end and shot him a look, for just an instant, Ye Qing saw the rising wind and clouds, the flash of lightning and thunder, the blackness of the universe, and the glimmers of the stars. His scalp turned numb, and he blanked out for an instant despite himself.

However, no one besides him and Feng Qingyou felt this. The children in the study hall continued to read their books, and Zhou Dongchang continued to practice introspection outside the study hall as if nothing had happened.

The next moment, the thunder withdrew its anger, and the river condensed into a still lake. Everything they saw in the Chief Libationist’s eyes abruptly disappeared into nothing, leaving behind only a bottomless and boundless depth. This allowed Ye Qing to regain his cool and reply, “I do. We have captured the Way Lord of the Way of Old Worship, Lady Suyi, and she has confessed to everything. She confirmed that the mastermind behind this incident is Emperor Jing Run.”

“However, since Emperor Jing Run has someone spying on Lady Suyi, and we are afraid that bringing her here would alert him to our discovery, we decided to leave her at Jin Xiu and handle anything as they come. You can head over and question her yourself if you don’t believe us.”

“Hah. Haha!”

The Chief Libationist was silent for a few breaths. Then, he let out a self-derisive chuckle and said, “No wonder he visited me in person not long ago. No wonder he extended me an invitation again and again. Before, I thought it was because he had finally recognized his mistakes. Now, I realized that he was just keeping an eye on me. He was afraid I would ruin his business!”

“Dogs will always be dogs. They can’t stop eating shit no matter how hard you try to stop them!”

Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou exchanged glances with each other. It was quite the ugly insult coming from the most knowledgeable scholar in the entire world.

“Do you know why I chose to stay at the Jixia Academy?” It sounded like the Chief Libationist was asking them a question, but he answered before they could respond to it, “The reason I stayed behind is because I know that Emperor Jing Run is selfish, radical, and narrow-minded. I was afraid that he would commit another mistake, step out of the line, and commit to some misdeed that would hurt the people again. That is why I intentionally stayed behind at the Jixia Academy both to supervise him and to keep him in check.”

“I thought this would be enough to snap Jing Run out of his foolishness. At the very least, I hoped to inflict wariness and restraint in him. To think... to think he veered in the complete opposite direction and became crazier and more wanton than ever before! He even played me like a fool! A fool! What a good student he is!”

The Chief Libationist’s tone was heated, and his eyes were full of sorrow and disappointment. “If I knew this would happen, I would not have advised the late emperor to make Jing Run his successor. What a sin I have committed!” [1]

When Emperor Jing Run was still a prince, he had studied in the Jixia Academy. Although he never became the Chief Libationist’s student, he used to listen to the man’s lessons. The Chief Libationist noticed his intelligence and eagerness to study and became very fond of him as a result. That was why he once told the late emperor, King Mu, that Jing Run could be the one to elevate Chu to a new age.

King Mu was quite old at the time, and he was just wondering who among his princes were suitable to be emperor. The Chief Libationist was exceedingly famous and powerful at the time, so even an unconscious remark from him was enough to make up King Mu’s mind for him, not to mention that it was a conscious remark.

This was why Emperor Jing Run[2] had always treated the Chief Libationist with the utmost respect. He often addressed himself as a student before the Chief Libationist.

1. I have a feeling the Chief Libationist is meant to parody Zhuge Liang to an extent. The guy also has a keen eye for talent but absolutely nada for personality. ☜

2. Oh, and Jing Run is Tom Riddle I guess. ☜