Star Gate

Chapter 441: Picking Up Money From The Streets (II)

“Goals and conviction... Who do they fight for, why do they fight, and what is their ultimate goal?” Hong Yitang intoned. “When armies fight now, it is always an internal dispute! This dynasty is still one whole, so everyone is a soldier of the dynasty. Unless we fight the three great organizations, declaring war on anyone means civil discord!

“Does fighting our own inspire passion and conviction?” Hong Yitang shook his head. “It doesn’t! Therefore, everyone focuses on the powerhouses and overlooks the army. To be honest, if Silver Moon really declared independence, set itself a lofty goal, underwent significant reforms, and someone appeared to lead the people on a new path and out of deterioration... That might be when the three military divisions of Silver Moon shine again.”

He looked outside the city, at the powerhouses soaring through the air. “Independence is not a precursor to vying for supremacy! The time has not yet arrived, Silver Moon can still hold on. Once the situation is truly difficult, it might awaken the people’s beliefs if someone is willing to step forward and raise a hand in leadership!

“We are not that far off from those times,” he murmured in a low voice. “The fires of war burn unceasingly and many problems have appeared in the central provinces due to the chaos of war. It’s just that many haven’t noticed the issues yet. Several places in the central region have collected no harvest for the past couple of years!

“The various officials of the central provinces are poised for action. They move in the shadows and secretly purchase grain. The price of food in the marketplace has tripled, and this is just the beginning! As war engulfs more regions, the daily amount consumed by the hundreds of millions in the dynasty is a staggering figure!

“Some fertile regions and wheat belts used to be rich areas that produced plenty of grain. They are now lying fallow and deserted. People no longer dare till fields far away as they receive nothing for their efforts after a battle!”

Hong Yitang sighed. “The effects of prolonged war are not yet noticeable due to the dynasty’s wealth, vast territory, and rich resources. But the ensuing problems will soon be apparent in an explosive manner!

“Many people are watching and waiting for that kind of situation to develop. When such chaotic times are upon us, that is their chance. From chaos comes heroes as well as those with great ambitions!” Hong Yitang laughed. “Silver Moon is better off as its provincial government carries out its responsibilities to a certain degree. It’s been promoting wide-scale planting over the years, pushing new discoveries, experiences, and technologies... But even so, the province won’t remain quiet if everywhere around it is engulfed in chaos.”

Li Hao listened with a deep frown. He Yong raised a brow and looked at his counterpart.

In the modern domains of martial masters and the supernatural, everyone pursued strength. Very few people considered these matters. Those would-be ambitious heroes might see things clearly, but they were also facilitating the worsening of the situation!

They even voluntarily stopped planting their lands to add to the lack of harvests.

Mundanes were weak, but once they were hungry to a certain limit, the strength that they collectively erupted with would topple the dynasty, raising the curtain on yet more wars and revolutions.

The people didn’t ask for much, but they couldn’t let go hungry! When people experienced the extremity of hunger, they would do anything. Supernaturals were the minority, after all. They could suppress ten thousand, a hundred thousand, even one million. But what of ten million, one hundred million, and hundreds of millions?

Li Hao turned slightly pale as he considered the information. The churning tides of change seemed to be roiling right in front of him. He looked at Hong Yitang. Although the young man was a civilian, Silver City denizens were well enough, so it was hard to imagine that scenes from history would play out before his eyes!

From his viewpoint, famine should not occur in a time erupting with sophisticated technology and polarizing of ancient skill. But with Hong Yitang’s description... he seemed to see it happen. Rearing momentum churning through the land, skeletons sparkling beneath the sunlight, the heaven and earth shattering!

The people’s will could not be denied!

“That’s a bit much, isn’t it, Ole Hong?” He Yong couldn’t help himself.

“You think I’m exaggerating?” Hong Yitang chuckled. “I’m not, I speak only the truth. Some people pretend to not see it, others really don’t see it. Some are purposefully putting this scene on the stage, and the rest... really are idiots!

“Therefore, when Li Hao asked why the soldiers of this era are not the same as the ancient era’s, I gave him the answer that it is not yet time! When this era falls into utter mayhem and when these people feel that their home may be destroyed, they’ll erupt with such scintillating brilliance that we can barely imagine!”

Hong Yitang pointed at those outside. “Some of them may understand and others may not. But when it comes to those times, some of them will become saints, others turn into devils. Some will be tyrants and others butchers!”

He looked at Li Hao. “And you?”

The young man looked blankly back at him. What about me?

“You’re the same as them, aren’t you?” Hong Yitang grinned. “You see it and even sense it, but don’t you also feel that it has nothing to do with you? The situation is as far removed from you as possible! Does the fate of this era have anything to do with you? Your parents are dead, your friend is dead, you only have a teacher who counts as your family. Therefore, do you truly care about Silver City?

“Liu Long’s faith is to safeguard Silver City, and you? You’re thinking that you’ll just listen when you’re weak, but are you really listening?

“You redeployed Liu Long to White Moon—the man is thinking that he’ll return to guard his home when he grows strong enough. And you? You’ll kill everyone in Red Moon when you’re strong enough, but have you given any thought to Silver City?”

Hong Yitang shook his head with a soft chuckle. “Everyone lives for themselves in this era. The human heart is selfish and human nature is egocentric. To be honest, whether it is the modern day martial world or supernatural domain, how many truly think for the people?”

Li Hao was dazed, lost in thought. I... Hong Yitang was right, the young man had never considered this matter. Liu Long’s rallying cry of “to uphold justice” was just a slogan in Li Hao’s mouth. He simply felt that it would place him more on the side of good. But what really was justice?

He didn’t know!

The young man looked blankly at Hong Yitang, but the man didn’t say anything. There was nothing else to say as this wasn’t a concept that could be explained by one or two sentences. Either one didn’t understand, or one did!

Only when Li Hao felt heartache, pity, self recrimination, and regret at seeing bodies filling the wilderness and suffering throughout the land would he truly understand. If he felt that just a bunch of ants had died... then there was nothing further to discuss. And even if he felt emotional on behalf of those who died, he needed to match his feelings with actions. If not, it was just momentary pity for the people!

“Hong Yitang, you’ve said so much, but what about yourself?” Changes flickered through He Yong’s expression. And what have you done?

“Me, what can I do?” Hong Yitang smiled self-deprecatingly. “I cannot do anything. The only thing I can do is to make the Sword Sect a safer, more peaceful place in which no one goes wanting for food or clothing. I support the sect and the families of my disciples. They are also working hard to live and grow richer through the sweat of their efforts. Not needing to worry about the necessities of life and being isolated from the madness outside is what I can do.

“I am only a regular person, I am no saint,” Hong Yitang sighed. “I did not see any of this before, nor did I understand. As one of the martial masters that journeyed through the world in earlier times, we ate and drank with gusto wherever we went. To be honest, what did civilians have to do with us?

“I happened upon a group of orphans one day. Some of their parents had died from hunger, others from war. Some died due to confusion in the martial world, others were left behind when their parents became powerhouses and traveled elsewhere. It was then that I had the tiniest bit of comprehension!”

Just a little bit!

He never presented himself as a saint because he truly wasn’t! There were just a few more orphans to be found in the Sword Sect than most. Perhaps such was a rare demonstration of pity from a powerhouse to be found in this day and age.

That was why he could speak of these matters to Li Hao today. Otherwise, he would simply say that modern day soldiers were less than the ancients because they were weaker!

But were they weaker?

Not at all!

The two thousand supernaturals outside were very strong and would easily defeat the three thousand if they worked together. But... what of it? Did they have conviction? They only knew to grow stronger and seize treasure. What kind of conviction was that?

And yet, the same applied to the three on the roof. People of this age were cold-blooded.

Li Hao looked blearily at the torrent of Black Armors still charging. They were as if sharp blades scything into their opponents. This army fought on endless years later!

Why did they fight? The young man shook his head and looked at Hong Yitang. This person... was terrifying!

Indeed, terrifying. It’d taken only a few moments for Li Hao to be caught up in his spell. He was lost and his faith wavering.

Moments later, the young man took a deep breath and walked off of the building. He didn’t want to watch anymore. He just wanted to find some treasure, grow stronger, walk out, and then... exact revenge from Red Moon.

Mmhmm!

He was the selfish and self-centered type that Hong Yitang had spoken of, but why couldn’t the young man do as he wished? Does it have to do with me that the world is stupid and about to fall into chaos?

Nothing at all!

I am one of them and also a victim, but no one’s coming to save me. Well, there was his teacher, Liu Long, Hou Xiaochen... All of these people had saved him once. But why did that compel him to save others?

That doesn’t make any sense at all!

Li Hao felt that Hong Yitang was thinking too much. The people he talked about were neither his friends nor family. Why should he worry himself with him? So what if the world suddenly ended?

......

Behind Li Hao.

He Yong frowned ferociously and transmitted, “Hong Yitang, what have you been comprehending these years? Why have you become rather concerned with the state of affairs and the people?”

That was not what was meant to be a martial master!