Zhao Li listened patiently as Ye Yunsheng poured out her heart, a wave of self-reproach rising within him. For years, he had been traveling abroad, enjoying the sights and sounds like a tourist, while Ye Yunsheng had experienced all the hidden schemes and power struggles within Great Li.
His gaze sharpened. Those laws weren't meant for their own people to suffer injustice. He asked indifferently,
"Who was it?"
Ye Yunsheng heard the killing intent in his words, and a warmth flowed through her heart. But instead of naming the culprits, she began to try and dissuade Zhao Li:
"Don't! Their actions didn't actually fall within the scope of the laws, and besides, didn't you say that only by setting an example ourselves can the laws gain public trust?"
She didn't want Zhao Li to throw away all the effort he had put in for her sake, over a few insignificant people.
Hearing her words, Zhao Li felt a pang in his heart. When did this silly girl start putting him first in everything, even willing to tolerate those nobodies acting out in front of her?
Affection bloomed in his chest. He placed his hands on Ye Yunsheng's shoulders, turning her to face him. He stared at her intently for a long while, making Ye Yunsheng a little embarrassed, her eyes darting away. Only then did he smile and say,
"Wife, a magnificent Eight-Star Dou Sheng, suffering such grievances because of a few Little Guys?"
Early Eight-Star—before Zhao Li's breakthrough, she was only two Minor Realms lower than him!
Ye Yunsheng rolled her eyes at him, saying crossly,
"Then what else could I do?"
"Kill!"
Zhao Li's single word made Ye Yunsheng's heart skip a beat. It seemed Zhao Li really wasn't planning on letting this matter go. She was afraid that after being away for so long, he might act impulsively and cause everything they had worked so hard for to vanish like smoke. She asked,
"Those things you said, do they not count anymore?"
Zhao Li chuckled softly and explained,
"They count, but the purpose of the law is to restrict the strong from arbitrarily attacking the weak, not for the weak to use it to jump all over the strong. Otherwise, what's the point of Cultivation?"
Ye Yunsheng seemed thoughtful, but still a little confused. She asked,
"But in the eyes of others, aren't we just using our Momentum to bully people?"
She knew the reason herself, but others didn't. Over the past few decades, she had already seen the terrifying power of rumors.
Zhao Li fell silent. No matter where you were, the destructive power of words would never be weak, especially when facing beings who were once high above and out of reach. They were often only willing to believe the outcome they desired!
He actually didn't have many options either, but in this world, with Cultivation, there existed a class that could not be eliminated—wherever there was Cultivation, there was a distinction between strong and weak!
After a long pause, he said,
"To say something unpleasant, the privilege of the strong is to overturn the table. The binding force of the law only exists when they are willing to abide by it."
He paused here, then gave a self-deprecating smile and continued,
"There aren't many things I cultivate to protect, and they are not among them. Do you understand what I mean?"
He wouldn't Restrain Themselves because of rhetoric similar to him wanting to change this world ruled by strength, yet needing strength to achieve it all, putting his own formidable power aside.
He was also a Mortal. Like ordinary people, there weren't many things he truly wanted to protect, and among them, it didn't actually include the countless unfamiliar Mortals. What he protected and pursued was simply his own ideal, and they just happened to be in the country where he realized his ideal.
Compared to Ye Yunsheng, they held no weight whatsoever.
In other words, Zhao Li wasn't actually that different from other villains. He was also a stubborn villain, but his stubbornness, for ninety percent of the people on the Continent, just happened not to be a bad thing.
He was a villain, after all, so he naturally wouldn't have high morals. The saying, "A Gentleman Can Be Deceived by Principle," wouldn't work with him!
"But..."
Ye Yunsheng wanted to say more, but Zhao Li interrupted her:
"It's still the same point. The essence of the law is merely to restrain those who have the ability to overturn the table with a power stronger than theirs, making them consider the consequences before doing so, thus providing a relatively peaceful living environment for the weak. But when they court death themselves, don't blame people for overturning the table. In short, it doesn't exist for you to feel wronged and just swallow it."
He had already understood that, whether in his previous life or this one, absolute equality was impossible. His pursuit wasn't equality for everyone, but for everyone to have an opportunity to become strong and possess the heart of a strong person!
This was what he considered Everyone Like a Dragon—even without the physique of a dragon, they would have the spirit and Will of a dragon! Even if they weren't strong, their hearts would be unyielding and still strive upwards!
And he had already reached this point, not for them to take a chicken feather as a command token and recklessly court death in front of the strong.
Ye Yunsheng seemed to understand but not fully, vaguely grasping something. She stopped dwelling on that issue and turned to the matter that had been bothering her earlier, asking,
"Those who disregard the law, whenever they commit major offenses, although they are dealt with later, I feel like such things are a bit late, aren't they? Do you think we can nip these things in the bud?"
This time, she was met with a longer silence from Zhao Li, so long that the anticipation in her eyes slowly faded, and she too fell silent. After a long while, she murmured,
"It can't be done?"
Although Zhao Li didn't want to say it couldn't be done, this matter truly couldn't be done. Where there was light, there was darkness; where there was order, there was chaos. Just as he had said before, the law could never achieve absolute order. All he could do was give them an extra step of consideration before they made their choice.
Zhao Li didn't dare let Ye Yunsheng keep overthinking. He said,
"A thousand people have a thousand faces. We have to allow others to be themselves. All we can do is try our best to protect more people and make more people unable to bear the consequences of violating the law."
Seeing the slight confusion in Ye Yunsheng's eyes, he quickly interrupted her thoughts to prevent her from getting stuck in a rut. Then he took out the Golden Pill he had Refined earlier and said,
"To achieve all of this, only by becoming stronger ourselves can we do more. Here, look at this."
Ye Yunsheng's attention was indeed drawn. She looked at the mud-like pill in Zhao Li's hand and said in surprise,
"Ninth Grade Golden Pill?"
Divine objects conceal themselves, but her Alchemy level wasn't bad. With her powerful strength and Soul Power, and guidance from Zhao Li, Building from a High Vantage Point, she was already not far from Ninth Grade. Naturally, she saw a little something.
Moreover, there was another point: anything Zhao Li prepared to give her was never simple. She had no doubt that if he could do it, he would definitely pluck the stars and give them to her.
Zhao Li put on a surprised look, nodding repeatedly, and gave her a compliment:
"Ah, you recognized it already. I thought it would be a big surprise. As expected of my Wife."
Then, he put on a serious face, wanting to dispel the rather heavy and serious atmosphere left by the previous topics. He said solemnly,
"Your husband truly doesn't have many good things. Only this Ninth Grade Golden Pill is somewhat presentable and barely worth giving. Here, I hope it can help you climb the Mountain Summit, see the scenery you want to see, and do the things you want to do!"
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