Alex's heart was torn between conflicting principles within himself. Putting himself in a desperate situation just to help others was something he would never do. Moreover after three years of the apocalypse, such selfless pushovers would have long since died out.
Back in The Smiling Proud Wanderer dimension when faced with this exact decision, Alex knew what to do without any hesitation whatsoever.
But today facing the same decision again, Alex felt a profound conflict between his survival instincts and his inner conscience. He found it extremely difficult to make the choice.
On one hand his pragmatic principles were at odds with his innermost feelings.
Three years in the apocalypse truly changes a person fundamentally. Alex's temperament shaped by that harsh environment was indeed perfectly suited to surviving the apocalypse.
However this was Alex's fifth time traveling through the heavens and myriad realms. After five years spent in these ordinary worlds his temperament had subtly changed without him realizing.
"Can I really just stand by and watch Liu Jinyuan die?" For the first time Alex questioned his once-firm survival principles.
Thinking of Liu Jinyuan's gentle demeanor and how their relationship as master and disciple had become practically close, and how Liu Jinyuan's capture by the Moon Worshiping Cult Leader today was primarily due to him, Alex hesitated deeply.
"Hey Alex what are you thinking about?" Lin Yueru who was standing anxiously beside him naturally noticed his hesitation and asked.
It was completely incomprehensible to her. As the master of cousin Jinyuan and someone who could defeat the Moon Worshiping Cult Leader himself, why would he be so hesitant about saving someone? What was he worried about?
Lin Yueru's words made Alex shudder slightly with realization.
Then he sighed helplessly. Alas he had changed after all over these years. Moreover if he were to put himself in Liu Jinyuan's shoes, Liu Jinyuan would surely risk his life to save him if their positions were reversed.
"Alright I will go on the trip to Nanzhao Kingdom. You stay here safely..."
After much internal hesitation Alex finally decided to follow his heart instead of his principles. He nodded and agreed while saying to Lin Yueru.
Previously Alex had followed his own survival principles rigidly. Even if he had seen Lin Pingzhi being killed he would not have felt the slightest psychological burden.
But now Alex knew that if he really sat back and ignored Liu Jinyuan's desperate situation, he would definitely feel guilty for a very long time afterward.
In this case he would just go and save him.
Besides based on Alex's understanding of the Moon Worshiper, the Moon Worshiper's purpose was for himself primarily. His more important goal was to discuss scientific knowledge with him and not to kill him.
"No I want to go too!" However Lin Yueru shook her head firmly at Alex's words.
"When my cousin Jinyuan was captured before I had the task of returning to report the news so I sat back and watched him get captured. Watching others in danger while being afraid of death, this is absolutely not the way of Lady Lin."
Lin Yueru looked at Alex seriously. Her delicate face was filled with fierce determination. After a slight pause she said "If you really want to leave me behind then I will go alone!"
"You know if a fight really breaks out I will not have the energy to take care of you" Alex sighed helplessly while staring at Lin Yueru intently.
"I do not need your protection! Life and death are determined by fate!" With a wave of her hand Lin Yueru seemed to have absolutely no regard for her own safety.
Well having said that Alex could no longer persuade Lin Yueru to stay behind.
Shaking his head and informing the Mount Shushan disciples of their departure, he and Lin Yueru descended the mountain together. They quickly headed toward the Nanzhao Kingdom.
...
Nanzhao Kingdom at the Moon Worship Cult headquarters.
These days Liu Jinyuan had been under house arrest within the Moon Worship Cult. However although the Moon Worship Cult leader was the ultimate boss in The Legend of Sword and Fairy universe, he was not inherently evil. He was polite and courteous in his dealings with others.
Therefore despite being under house arrest the Moon Worship leader did not restrict Liu Jinyuan's personal freedom as long as he stayed within the Moon Worship Cult's boundaries.
From Elder Shi and the others Liu Jinyuan knew of the Moon Worship leader's actions throughout Nanzhao State. He also knew that Li Xiaoyao and the others would inevitably face a battle with the Moon Worship leader eventually. Therefore since he was under house arrest, Liu Jinyuan decided to wander around and carefully investigate the situation within the Moon Worship Cult.
Perhaps if a battle were to break out he would be better informed and more useful.
The Moon Worship Cultists watched Liu Jinyuan but did not stop him from wandering around freely.
The leader had specifically said that Young Master Liu Jinyuan was his honored guest. As long as he stayed within the compound he could go wherever he pleased. Even his food and clothing would be provided with the utmost care.
After touring the Moon Worship Cult's extensive premises, Liu Jinyuan soon arrived at a particular courtyard.
Upon entering he found the Moon Worshiper and several followers busy at work. But Liu Jinyuan found their activities completely incomprehensible.
A large water vat had been placed on the ground with a line marked clearly at the water level. A sturdy Moon Worshiper carrying a large scale was carefully weighing a large stone.
After noting the weight precisely he immersed the stone in the vat again and measured its weight underwater.
Then after putting down the scale another Moon Worshiper pumped out the water which had risen due to the stone's immersion. He returned the water level to the previous mark. Then he weighed the displaced water again.
Anyone with even a modicum of physics knowledge would understand what the Moon Worshiper was doing. He was measuring the buoyancy of the stone in the water.
Furthermore he was calculating the relationship between the stone's buoyancy and its volume.
However although Liu Jinyuan had read thousands of classical books, he certainly did not understand these modern physics concepts. Therefore when he saw the busy work between the Moon Worshiper and these believers he was confused the entire time. He had absolutely no idea what they were doing.
"Well as expected Mister Alex is absolutely right. The buoyancy of an object in water is related to the volume of the object. When the buoyancy gained by the amount of water displaced by the object's volume is greater than the gravity acting on it, it can float on the water."
After carefully measuring and calculating the relationship between buoyancy and volume, the Moon Worshiper nodded secretly with satisfaction.
This once again verified the answer to a question he had casually asked Alex about why boats can float on the water but stones sink to the bottom.
"Young Master Liu..."
After the busy work came to an end the Moon Worshiper's eyes fell on Liu Jinyuan and he said "Do you understand what we were doing?"
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