"Just as you said."
Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s words, Wan Wan was shocked inside. She had never shared the ideals of the Holy Sect with Duanmu Huai, yet he seed to know so much about its internal situation...
"Then what is the aning of getting involved in this battle to dominate the world, or contending with Cihang Jingzhai in the so-called struggle between good and evil?"
Duanmu Huai sneered.
"What, do you really think that if you install an Emperor, they will listen to you, abolish Confucianism, and foster a Hundred Schools of Thought? Dream on. Do you think that all the scholars in the world will follow your orders, learn whatever you want them to? Give up Confucianism just because you want them to?"
"...Isn’t that how it should be?"
Upon hearing Duanmu Huai’s question, Wan Wan felt a bit surprised. In her view, those powerless scholars were completely useless; when faced with swords and blades, wouldn’t they change whatever they’re told? That’s why the Yinkui Sect joined this struggle for domination; once they grasped the Emperor and power, they would naturally be able to overturn Confucianism.
"See, this is the mindset of you martial artists. You think that problems can be solved with brute force, but if it were that simple, it would be great."
At this point, Duanmu Huai sighed silently.
If force could solve everything, the Tribunal wouldn’t have such trouble dealing with the Evil God.
"To tell you the truth, even if you succeed in seizing the throne and implenting your policies, the scholars will not listen to you."
"Why is that?"
Hearing this, Wan Wan blinked her bright black eyes in bewildernt.
"By then, we can issue orders to abolish Confucianism; those who defy will face clan extermination. Wouldn’t that work?"
"How many people do you plan to kill?"
Duanmu Huai shrugged and spread his hands.
"Let tell you, the tis are different. Back then, when Qin Shi Huang abolished the Hundred Schools and upheld Confucianism, Confucianism was just one among them, so it wasn’t hard to eliminate other thoughts. But now, Confucianism is the consensus of scholars everywhere. How many would you have to kill to achieve that? Moreover, if you kill all the scholars, who would beco officials, manage politics, military, and finance? You? You might manage a harem at best."
At this point, Duanmu Huai pointed to his head.
"Thoughts, thoughts are intangible, they can’t be eradicated. Even when Qin Shi Huang burned books and buried Confucians, he had his own supporters. What does your Demon Sect have? If you overthrow Confucianism and promote a Hundred Schools of Thought, do you have your own supporters, your own ideological factions? Would they be loyal to you? Willing to propagate your ideas?"
If cultists could be reford, the Tribunal wouldn’t have burnt the stakes dry.
"..."
Wan Wan furrowed her brows tightly, contemplating Duanmu Huai’s questions. She had to admit that it wasn’t easy. The Holy Sect inherently opposed the status quo and mainstream thought, and thus naturally clashed with it; otherwise, it wouldn’t be deed as heretical and deviant. Obviously, there weren’t many willing to propagate the Holy Sect’s ideas.
Wan Wan was indeed clever and resourceful. If it ca to Jianghu vendettas or gang conflicts, she could devise countless wicked strategies. But when facing the questions posed by Duanmu Huai, even if she exhausted her brain, she couldn’t imdiately co up with a good solution.
It’s not that Wan Wan was stupid; it’s because Confucianism is the overwhelming trend of the era. In such a trend, no sche or plot would work. Just like Duanmu Huai, whose own strength is invincible, no matter what poison, assassination, or sches you use, he would crush them with a punch. In such a situation, any opposition is impossible.
With this realization, Wan Wan felt disheartened.
"Is the Holy Sect’s hundreds-year-old aspiration just a void now? Impossible to achieve?"
"How could anything in this world be impossible?"
Duanmu Huai scoffed once again.
"Like those fools at Cihang Jingzhai, who was unquestioningly assud to have the right to choose the Heaven Son; but once I exposed their fallacy, they were quickly reduced to less than dogs. It’s the sa with Confucianism; though it looks grand outside, it does have flaws inside."
With this, Duanmu Huai extended his hand.
"I have eight words for you: Seek truth from facts, unity of knowledge and action."
"What do you an by that?"
Fixing her gaze on Duanmu Huai’s gesture, Wan Wan’s eyes shone, silently reciting the eight words and engraving them in her heart.
"Think for yourself. Rember not to always engage in heresy and evil. The reason I could expose Cihang Jingzhai was not by speaking nonsense, but because what I said was truth, and that’s why people easily accepted it. If I were like you, always lying, treating deceit like eating and drinking, I doubt anyone would believe a word I say."
"Wan Wan understands."
At this mont, Wan Wan was already shaken to her core, as if she had finally found a solution to break the impasse. She bowed once more to Duanmu Huai.
"Thank you for your guidance, I shall go to Master Zhu for discussions. If successful, I will surely repay you..."
"All right, go now. You talk as if you have a choice. Rember, whether it succeeds or not, you are still my slave."
Before Wan Wan could finish speaking, Duanmu Huai waved her off. She chuckled lightly, then turned around and left.
Watching Wan Wan leave, Duanmu Huai stretched lazily, letting out a yawn.
After finishing all the renowned dishes in Luoyang, he planned to find trouble with Jingnian Zen Sect and Cihang Jingzhai as post-al exercise.
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