Mo Sang – CH 190

Chapter 190. Never Mind

At this hour, the back mountain was peaceful.

In a cave halfway up the mountain, several oil lamps were lit.

Facing the cave entrance sat a group of six or seven people, mostly women, in their fifties or sixties.

Grand Master Wu was curled up in a bamboo chair at the very edge.

Across from the group, Li Qi’an, Song Qiming, and Luo Qiwen stood with their hands at their sides.

Lin Sa, Blind Mi, and Cheng Shan also sat in bamboo chairs, a few chairs’ distance from Grand Master Wu and the others.

After the three of them finished speaking, the old woman facing Song Qiming pointed at her and frowned, saying, “How much have you drunk, girl? You dare to drink so much at a time like this?”

“I have not drunk much. I am perfectly clear-headed, more clear-headed than ever before!” Song Qiming said, pointing to her chest, with an uncontrollable smile on her face, and quickly explained.

She really had not drunk much; she was perfectly clear-headed, more clear-headed than ever before!

“Qi’an, take her back. Watch her until she’s asleep before you leave, you brat!” the woman beside her ordered with a laugh.

Li Qi’an quickly agreed and reached out to help Song Qiming.

Song Qiming waved both hands away. “I can walk by myself! I am not drunk! Look at you all, why do you not believe me? I know perfectly well; I’ve never been so clear-headed before!”

“You should go back too.” Grand Master Wu waved to Luo Qiwen.

Watching the three figures disappear into the winding cave entrance, Grand Master Wu looked at Lin Sa and Cheng Shan. “You two, what do you say?”

“Senior Sister Lin, go first?” Cheng Shan looked at Lin Sa.

“I will go first.” Lin Sa was also remarkably clear-headed. She had been drunk before and knew that just from this clarity, she was at least six or seven parts intoxicated. She moved forward, straightened her back, and mustered all her strength.

“She’s very open and honest. In short, I think she’s trustworthy, and I quite like her. That’s all I have to say.” Lin Sa rubbed her face.

While Li Qi’an and the others were talking, she felt she had a lot to say and wanted to chime in, but now, when it came time to speak, she racked her brains and could not find anything to say!

“She’s the same as on the road,” Cheng Shan continued. “When it came to making Qiming do things that prevented him from having children, she had no evil intentions, and she did not let anyone have any. The other disciples have already said everything.”

“You do not need to say anything.” Grand Master Wu gestured to stop Blind Mi from speaking.

“I was not planning on saying anything,” Blind Mi said, standing up sullenly.

Lin Sa and Cheng Shan also stood up, bowed, and headed out of the cave.

Grand Master Wu turned to the group. “Let’s discuss this.”

“She sees men and women as simply food and drink; that’s rare.

Even in this back mountain area, there are not many like her who treat matters between men and women as mere observations, without avoidance, suspicion, or ulterior motives.

She’s someone who can truly understand through observation.

Junior Brother Cheng said she’s extremely calm and self-controlled; I think her words are worth listening to.”

The old woman who had just scolded Song Qiming for drinking too much spoke first.

“I did not approve of interfering in the North-South conflict before, and I still do not.” The old woman next to Grand Master Wu was straightforward.

“This thing called ‘avoiding children’ is not easy to do. It’s fine for men, but for women, where do you even begin?” The old woman, sitting in the middle with her brows furrowed, suddenly spoke up.

“Let’s not discuss that now.” Grand Master Wu glanced helplessly at the old woman.

“Yisheng’s judgment of people and situations is always extremely accurate; this is universally acknowledged by our master and senior uncles.

He said that even if this boss cannot destroy our sect, she can severely damage our strength, forcing us to relocate again, just like the great calamity over two hundred years ago.

Junior Sister Lin just mentioned that she is extremely skilled at killing.” The elderly man sitting next to Grand Master Wu, his hands tucked into his sleeves, looked deeply worried.

“Our sect, from beginning to end, has only cared for the common people. But how can we truly reduce the suffering of this world? We’ve discussed this for decades; before that, our master and grandmasters discussed it for centuries, but compared to our ancestors, we’ve made almost no progress.

Why not talk to this boss and see what she thinks?” The eldest woman sitting in the middle looked at Grand Master Wu and said slowly.

“Alright,” Grand Master Wu nodded.

“Let’s do it now; the boss is down the mountain,” the elderly woman opposite suggested.

“There’s no rush. The Boss has already retired for the night,” the old woman in the middle said slowly. “Besides, it’s not really appropriate to invite the Boss here.”

“Let’s do it after breakfast tomorrow,” Grand Master Wu said, glancing at everyone. Seeing they all nodded, he stood up first, let them pass, blew out the lamp, and, with his hands behind his back, followed last out of the cave.

……………………

Li Sangrou always got up early, but when she left the courtyard and turned past the wall, she saw dozens of children already practicing their martial arts in the training ground.

Li Sangrou stood at a distance, watching for a while. Seeing Hei Ma and the others come out, she turned around and gestured towards the mountain stream. “Catch some fish. We will have fish porridge for breakfast.”

“Alright!” Hei Ma agreed loudly, calling out to Datou to soak the rice, while he and Mazha headed straight for the stream.

The group had just finished breakfast when Li Qi’an peeked out from the courtyard gate and smiled. “Has the Boss eaten yet? Uncle Wu said that if the Boss has eaten, please come over for a cup of tea.”

“Alright.” Li Sangrou stood up and walked out.

Hei Ma and the others hurriedly followed.

Not far from the courtyard, by a mountain stream, sat six or seven elderly men and women in a thatched pavilion. Blind Mi squatted at the entrance.

“You two can wander around,” Li Sangrou instructed Hei Ma and the other two.

Hei Ma agreed, stopped, looked around, and then, along with Datou and Mazha, headed towards a nearby mountain.

Grand Master Wu came out of the pavilion to greet them. Seeing Grand Master Wu come out, Li Qi’an stopped, watched the two enter the pavilion, and then turned to walk towards the training ground.

Li Sangrou entered the pavilion, bowed slightly, and greeted everyone.

“It’s an honor for our sect that the Boss has come to the mountains,” the old woman in the middle said with a polite smile.

“It’s even more fortunate for me to come,” Li Sangrou replied with a slight bow.

“The Boss is a straightforward person; a few polite words are enough.” The woman sitting near the mountain stream tapped her finger on the railing.

Li Sangrou chuckled.

“This is Junior Sister Qiao, Qiming’s master. She has a quick temper; please forgive her, Boss,” Grand Master Wu introduced with a smile.

“I also have a quick temper,” Li Sangrou said, smiling at Master Qiao.

“The Boss is a straightforward person,” the old woman in the middle said with a smile. “How have you been today, Boss?”

“Very well. We are like brothers and sisters. The front and back mountains are like a paradise,” Li Sangrou said with a slight bow.

“A paradise is not exactly a compliment,” Blind Mi added, his hands in his sleeves.

“If a paradise can uphold the principle of ‘not to be told to outsiders,’ then it will always remain a paradise. But if you venture out…”

Li Sangrou paused, then smiled. “Even blood relatives are forbidden here. And none of you gentlemen have blood relatives, do you? You probably have not even experienced romantic love or physical intimacy. You were all abandoned children; I am afraid you cannot understand the heart of a parent, the affection between children, or the good and evil of the human heart.”

“My fellow disciples and I, like Junior Brother Mi, have experienced the world for many years. Qiming and the others have not yet,” Grand Master Wu said with a slight smile.

“Then, Grand Master, would you dare to lift the ban on blood relatives in the front and back mountains? If you do, can you still manage the front and back mountains as well as you do now?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile, looking from Grand Master Wu to the old woman sitting in the middle.

Grand Master Wu frowned, looking at the old woman. The old woman remained silent for a long while before frankly saying, “More than two hundred years ago, before our sect retreated here, blood relations were not forbidden. It was precisely because of this prohibition that internal strife was rampant. Out of necessity, our ancestors established the prohibition against blood relations.”

“Your magnanimity, insight, and talent surpass those of countless others. I imagine your ancestors were, at least, no less capable than you.

Your disciples are all well-read and virtuous, rigorously trained from childhood. If we only consider scholarship, cultivation, insight, and breadth of mind, at least in a small county like Nanzhao, each of you would be worthy of being a respected elder.

You—one, two, three…—seven, manage only three or four hundred people in the front and back mountains. Each person can only manage fifty.

Even so, your sect still established the prohibition against blood relations, along with those ten or so rules that stifle desire and sever human relationships, to manage the front and back mountains as they are today.

Do you all think this is how the world can be managed?

Let’s not talk about anything far away; just take the small county of Nanzhao at the foot of the mountain. If it were in your hands, how well could you manage it? Could you even achieve one-tenth of the state of this front and back mountain?”

Li Sangrou asked with a smile.

Blind Mi glanced sideways at Li Sangrou, pursed his lips tightly, and swallowed his words.

Grand Master Wu looked from Li Sangrou to his fellow disciples.

“Your sect has always been concerned for the world and wholeheartedly dedicated to benefiting the people. But what truly constitutes benefit rather than harm? We must try it out to know, do we not?

How about you all try it out in this small county of Nanzhao?

Nanzhao County will be in your hands for three, five, or ten years—it does not matter. It’s up to you to govern.

This is no small matter, but I believe I can still obtain this imperial decree,” Li Sangrou said, looking at everyone.

Blind Mi shrank back, squatting like a ball. He did not intend to speak.

“The boss has experienced much, from the martial world to the imperial court.

So, she believes that after unifying the world, the nobles and royalty, with no powerful enemies, will act with impunity, indulging in extravagance and debauchery, oppressing the people and treating them like dogs, leading to widespread suffering, uprisings, and chaos. What should be done about this cycle repeating itself?” Grand Master Wu asked, staring at Li Sangrou.

“I do not know,” Li Sangrou answered decisively, causing Grand Master Wu to gasp in surprise.

“Grand Master Wu can see all this, so surely the ancient gods, founding monarchs, and wise ministers of all dynasties could also see it. Since they could see it, they must all want to find a solution.

Even if not for the sake of the world, but just for their own families and clans, they would want to end this cycle and achieve lasting peace and unification for thousands of years to come.

But they still could not do it, could they?

For hundreds and thousands of years, countless wise and capable gods, monarchs, and ministers have not known what to do. How could I possibly know?

Even you, the people of the front and back mountains, could you come up with a way and establish a set of rules so that after abolishing the prohibition against blood relations and those dozen or so rules, things could remain as they are now, let alone for thousands of years? Could it be possible, even within ten or fifty years, that things remain the same?” Li Sangrou looked at everyone after Grand Master Wu’s question.

“We have to do something. We have to try.” The old woman in the middle sighed.

“In battles fought over a single city or territory, a few powerful weapons are very useful. But in a struggle for supremacy, what matters is strategy, national strength, and, perhaps, the opportune moment.

Even the most formidable weapons can only hasten or prolong the battle; they cannot determine victory or defeat.

Like now, here with you, even if I were the best assassin, with the most powerful weapons at my disposal, I could only kill a few more people. In the end, you could still kill me by shoving stones, trapping me, or unleashing a volley of arrows and crossbow bolts,” Li Sangrou said with a smile.

“The Southern Liang and Northern Qi are roughly equal in strength,” Grand Master Wu said slowly.

“Hmm, with your powerful weapons, Southern Liang turned the tide and gained the upper hand. And then what? Will Southern Liang just give up?

Was it not Southern Liang that launched the surprise attack on Hefei on New Year’s Eve?

Or are you saying that once Southern Liang becomes powerful, you will turn around and help Northern Qi?

And then, once Northern Qi is strong, you will turn around and help Southern Liang again?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Grand Master Wu.

Grand Master Wu paused for a moment, then smiled wryly. “Boss, your words are truly sharp.”

“Boss, do you think unifying the world is better?” the old woman in the middle asked, looking at Li Sangrou.

“I’ve never considered whether the world should be unified or divided, nor have I thought about such grand matters as how to govern it—these are all too difficult.

Any idea of ​​governing a country and bringing peace to the world, no matter how small, is incredibly difficult to implement.

After overcoming countless difficulties, whether it will bring fortune or misfortune remains a mystery. Most of the reforms recorded in history have been disastrous, have they not?

Even if I live to be a hundred, I will only have seventy or eighty years left. Subtracting the years when I am too old to move, I will only have forty or fifty, fifty or sixty, or even just twenty or thirty years left to work.

I hope that in these few decades, I can truly do something useful, something tangible and visible.

For instance, to ensure that those traveling far from home can keep in touch with their families and that those who go out to earn money can send it home promptly to support their families.

For instance, employ more women and teach them to read and write, so they have a sense of independence and hope.” Li Sangrou paused, looking at Master Qiao sitting at the far end.

“Could your Gezhi Department try to find a way to prevent women from getting pregnant if they don’t want to during sexual intercourse?

Women constantly giving birth is too painful.”

“Very difficult,” Master Qiao frowned. “I thought about it half the night ago. Men are a little easier, but women are much harder.”

“Let’s find some fresh female corpses and dissect them,” Li Sangrou suggested.

“Ahem.” The old woman at the head of the table coughed lightly, looking at Li Sangrou and smiling. “Indeed, it’s extremely difficult. Boss, please allow us to discuss it.”

“Alright.” Li Sangrou stood up, cupped her hands in greeting, and left the thatched pavilion.

“Yisheng, you speak first.” The old woman in the middle looked at Blind Mi.

“I’ve said it before, if you really want to give advice on the world, then get involved in officialdom. If you do not want to have anything to do with the government, then you are just giving advice blindly,” Blind Mi said bluntly, his hands tucked into his sleeves.

“I think the Boss’s method is good.

Delivering things and messages is fine, but those two tabloids are excellent; they truly enlighten the people.

I do not want to concern myself with the world or the general trend anymore. Not only can I not understand it, but who knows if it’s good or bad?

That cotton in the South must be good for weaving cloth. They say it’s very easy to grow; it sprouts as soon as it hits the ground. I want to go south and see.” A middle-aged woman sitting next to the old woman stood up. “You all discuss it; I am not involved anymore. I am going down the mountain tomorrow.”

“Senior Sister Zhou, go find the Boss. She also mentioned cotton; maybe she has a way,” Blind Mi added, raising his head.

“I think Senior Sister Zhou is right. You all discuss it; I will go see if I can find a few fresh corpses.” Master Qiao also stood up.

“That new ruler of Southern Liang is also ambitious, aiming to unify the world. If Southern Liang truly gains the upper hand, they certainly will not back down. Are we really going to turn around and help Northern Qi again?” The old man next to Grand Master Wu frowned, looking at him and asking.

“Would that not make us a laughingstock?” The woman next to the old man said bluntly, “Helping one side and then helping the other, would we not be stirring up trouble between the two? That would truly be a disaster!”

“Senior Sister, please make a decision,” Grand Master Wu said, looking at the old woman in the middle.

“What do you think?” The old woman looked at the thin woman next to her, who had remained silent.

“That boss is extremely shrewd. Yesterday, when she entered the mountains, she stopped to check every trap along the way.

She is indeed extremely skilled. Even if we manage to capture her in the mountains, there will be heavy casualties.

Northern Qi currently has two squads of a thousand men stationed in Nanzhao City, all elite troops.

She definitely came with the intention of wiping out the entire clan,” the thin woman said, looking at the old woman.

“Southern Liang and Northern Qi are clearly fighting like dogs; I think we should just let it go. Should we not employ more women in our industries?” the woman beside him said bluntly, veering the conversation off-topic.

“It’s not like we have not already failed in our initial attempt. Sigh, we’ve only just arrived in Jiangling City, and look, they’ve already found their way to our home. I think we should just give up,” the old man said, waving his hand.

“You should talk to the boss. First, we should not keep this a secret from outsiders, and second, ask her to come to the mountain often when she has time,” the old woman said decisively, looking at Grand Master Wu.

“Alright,” Grand Master Wu nodded.