Chapter 78: I'm Really Not a Moral Saint
Society's principles!
When Qiao Mu held the blood-stained head of the huge tiger and utter those two words, the surrounding crowd became somewhat confused.
When Qiao Mu drew his sword and tried to confront the Taoist at the entrance of Xuantian Temple, the people around mostly sided with the Taoist, scolding the ignorant constable for disturbing the peace of Immortal Gate.
When Qiao Mu faced the scolding and threats from the high-ranking official and took off his dirty uniform, they were even more surprised. They couldn't understand what Qiao Mu was doing.
And when the giant tiger killed someone on the street and was shot dead by Qiao Mu, they finally showed some emotions when talking about the Case of the Impermanent Monster.
"This constable seems to be really getting things done?" someone's confidence began to waver.
"He really saved someone just now."
"And those Taoists at the entrance of the Xuantian Sect, were they trying to stop him?"
Not everyone had the courage to face the man-eating tiger, especially when it seemed to be raised by the immortal of the Xuantian Sect...
The bigger right and wrong they couldn't understand, but the obvious good and evil, the common people could still comprehend.
They still stayed far away and dared not approach, but their gaze towards Qiao Mu had already changed to a certain extent.
"This person named Qiao Pifu indeed got rid of the man-eating tiger."
"Maybe there's a misunderstanding here. The monster tiger raised by the Xuantian Sect Immortals is still an animal, and animals can have wild instincts. It's not the immortals' fault either."
"The kind-hearted immortals protect the land of Heyang Prefecture. When a man-eating monster appeared under their guidance, it's not something they would like to see. After all, a monster is still a monster."
The people pointed at Qiao Mu, who stood in a pool of blood, holding the head of a giant tiger, and discussed it heatedly.
When Emperor Yonghe hurriedly arrived under the escort of Guard Chu, this is what he saw.
"How dare he—" Emperor Yonghe's face also changed dramatically.
His heart skipped a beat at first.
Saintess Wu Qingxin's blue-eyed flying tiger, just died so easily?
In the short time it took to travel here, things have developed to this extent?
He watched Qiao Mu's figure on the street, feeling a wave of incredulity in his heart.
Why?
Why can this martial artist act so decisively on a matter that even the current emperor has to hesitate and ponder over?
Worldly morality? Are you kidding...
"Your Majesty, this matter has become a bit chaotic," said Guard Chu respectfully.
"Should I intervene to stop it?"
As a loyal guard to Emperor Great Yan during this undercover visit, Chu Xing was a highly skilled martial artist in Spirit Refining.
Of course, he was not the only guard.
There were plenty of people willing to intervene and prevent this turmoil.
But... what about afterwards?
Thinking about this, Emperor Yonghe suddenly said, "Yes, Qiao Pifu is also a highly skilled martial artist with successful spiritual refining."
"Although his spirit is damaged and his power is greatly depleted, he is still not an ordinary sixth ranked martial artist."
"Chu Xing, what do you think? Does Qiao Pifu's actions imply that he has another ace up his sleeve? Perhaps some kind of powerful secret technique that allows him to temporarily regain his peak strength, thinking he can deal with Saintess Wu Qingxin?"
The secret technique of a highly skilled martial artist.
This is a reasonable explanation that Emperor Yonghe came up with.
Otherwise, he can't understand why a former highly skilled Spirit Refining martial artist would come to the Xuantian Temple and kill the Blue-eyed Flying Tiger at the entrance, or even forcibly enter the Xuantian Temple. Isn't he afraid of being crushed by the cultivators?
The higher a martial artist's skill level, the more they know about the terrifying cultivators.
There are a total of nine ranks for martial artists in the world, but forty years ago, the Martial Saint, who was ranked first, was defeated miserably by the cultivators and only managed to escape with his life. Not to mention this Qiao Pifu.
Breaking into the Immortal Gate is undoubtedly a death sentence!
But maybe there is a chance if dealing with Saintess Wu Qingxin from the Xuantian Sect? The true level of her cultivation is unknown.
Since joining the Xuantian Sect and being appointed as the Immortal Gate's saintess, Wu Qingxin rarely ventured outside, spending her days in seclusion, living a very low-key life.
But even so, she is still the saintess of the Immortal Gate...
Chu Xing frowned as he heard this.
"I'm not sure if he has the ability to temporarily unleash a high-level strength," Chu Xing hesitated.
However, Emperor Yonghe's judgment is not unreasonable.
It's not easy for a martial artist to reach a high level. A former high-level martial artist would have their pride and wouldn't die so easily. They should have some ways to protect their lives.
"Your Majesty, he hasn't even entered the Xuantian Temple yet, maybe things can still turn around..."
Chu Xing had just mentioned the words "turn around".
Then, Qiao Mu was seen carrying the dripping blood of the tiger's head, step by step towards Xuantian Temple.
This sudden move not only startled Guard Chu, but also amused the Taoists who had gathered menacingly at the entrance of Xuantian Temple.
"How bold!"
"This person has committed great sins. He dares to attack the spiritual beast of the Saintess and insult our Immortal Gate. We should quickly request our senior brothers on the mountain to suppress him ruthlessly."
"Killing the Saintess's Blue-eyed Flying Tiger and not only not fleeing, but also daring to approach us?"
"A mere ordinary martial artist, dares to show disrespect?"
However, Qiao Mu remained calm in his expression.
"Flee? Why should I flee?" he whispered:
"I haven't finished what I need to do, why should I flee?"
His eyes looked through the crowded people, ignoring the angry Taoists, and landed on the Female Cultivator Ming Yue at the back of the crowd.
"The wicked beast who kills people has already been punished!" he said loudly.
"But those who kill like tigers and disregard human lives will also pay with their own lives!"
He started walking faster and faster, turning into a sprint, using the Shadow Steps to charge straight towards Female Cultivator Ming Yue!
Qiao Mu didn't know how strong these Taoists were, nor how long he could survive. So, he decided to give it his all and kill this so-called Immortal Ming Yue!
"How dare you, an ordinary martial artist, be so insolent!"
"Why aren't you attacking already?"
Female Cultivator Ming Yue frowned and retreated behind the crowd.
She had been a member of the Immortal Gate for about twenty years. In reality, her cultivation in the immortal path was not outstanding. Instead, she excelled in nurturing spiritual beasts. That's why she was just a servant disciple to a Saintess.
Even though cultivators may be seen as "immortals" in the eyes of ordinary people, they are far from being extraordinary. It would be foolish to fight directly with these ordinary martial artists.
She actually didn't pay much attention to the undoubtedly doomed Qiao Mu, and only felt a deep sense of fear in her heart.
The young tiger raised by the saintess had not yet grown, but it was unexpectedly killed by an ordinary martial artist... Especially considering that today's incident was somewhat caused by her, if the secluded saintess were to find out...
She shivered in fear.
At this moment, the Taoists followed the orders of Ming Yue and rushed towards Qiao Mu.
"Are you a cultivator? This is my first time meeting a cultivator..."
Qiao Mu became wary in his heart, and then he was stunned to see that many of these Taoists took out swords and weapons from under their Taoist robes and swung them towards him.
"Wait... are you all martial artists?" This time, it was Qiao Mu who was surprised.
But his question only angered all of these Taoists even more.
"You are just a rude martial artist!"
"Martial artists are just ordinary people, but we have now been accepted into the Immortal Gate. Sooner or later, we will learn the orthodox immortal technique and achieve immortality!"
Qiao Mu's innocent question made these Taoists angry and embarrassed.
Seeing their reaction, Qiao Mu began to understand a little.
"I see," he squinted his eyes slightly.
"Real cultivators wouldn't be guarding this Taoist temple."
"You are nothing more than traitors who joined the Immortal Gate."
If it was a martial artist, he would have no fear in dealing with them, as he had plenty of experience.
Although these Daoists were wearing Daoist robes, most of them were just martial artists with internal strength.
He took steps under his feet and rushed into the crowd alone. The two pieces of the spear hidden on his body turned and twisted, and a long spear was already attached to his hand.
Facing martial artists, especially in group battles, it's more handy to use a long spear.
"You traitors... Do you know that you're facing death?" The Taoists were also provoked by Qiao Mu and immediately retorted:
"You must be around forty years old, right? At such an age, you're still so rash, ignorant of when to advance or retreat. It seems like you're really living like a dog!"
"Who do you think you are? A moral saint?"
"Ancient sages said that at forty you should be free from confusion, but here you are, over forty and only concerned with so-called righteousness, risking your life—"
As the Taoist was halfway through his speech, Qiao Mu stabbed him in the throat with his spear, causing him to die instantly.
Qiao Mu kicked the Taoist's body off the spear and coldly said:
"Being free from confusion at forty means that I can take on forty of you all by myself, without any hesitation."
The expert warrior displayed his spear skills once again, along with the powerful Heavenly Demon Disintegration Method, no one could match his strength.
However, Qiao Mu found himself deep in thought because of what the person said.
Turning forty, moral sage, principles?
Qiao Mu knew deep down that he was not a moral sage nor did he aspire to be one.
In the past, when he acted as a righteous hero in Yan City, under the names of Qiao Mu, Qiao Lin, and Qiao Sen, others praised him for his chivalry and prioritizing righteousness over life and death.
But he knew he wasn't that noble.
If he didn't actively seek death and cultivate his martial arts talent until the age of 44, he might not be much stronger than Sheriff Qian.
He simply fulfilled his own desire to become stronger while doing some good deeds in the eyes of others.
That's all there was to it.
He was never a selfless moral saint, he always had selfish motives.
But, what does that matter?
Is it wrong to want to appear holy in front of others, as a heroic knight, while also wanting to stand up for the weak and fight for justice?
"At the age of forty, one should understand their own heart, not be deceived by external things or people, and have their own principles to stick to."
"And the principle I stick to is..."
Qiao Mu looked around, his gaze passing over the people nearby.
There were curious onlookers in the distance, officials with grim faces, and Female Cultivator Ming Yue, who glared at him from behind the crowd.
When he had just clashed with the people at the entrance of the Taoist temple, even the officials and citizens of Great Yan didn't stand with him, but rather pointed and whispered about him.
But if he was not understood, mocked by thousands, and seen as a foolish brute, so what?
He is immortal, he wants to stick to his beliefs!
"The world is dark, officials colluding, the court is exhausted, Immortal Gate is hypocritical..."
"But I insist on practicing righteousness, supporting the weak, and fighting for the voice of the weak until death!"
You don't agree? Come and fight me then!!! Qiao Mu held a long spear and charged into the crowd again, laughing recklessly.
Emperor Yonghe, who had been observing from afar, narrowed his pupils and his hands behind his back trembled slightly at this arrogant and indulgent posture.
