117 Human Nature

"So that's why!" Xiang Jun let out a long sigh. Two days ago, he had received a letter sent by his cousin from the State of Jinan. This cousin had previously served under Zhu Ying, and because he was somewhat literate, he had risen to the rank of a minor leader in the army before being captured in defeat. The letter provided a detailed account of Zhu Ying's defeat and the entire process by which Luan Yi used the "Five Thunders Striking the Summit" technique to bring Zhu Ying to justice. In particular, when describing the "Five Thunders," his cousin repeatedly emphasized that it was something he had witnessed with his own eyes.

Xiang Jun knew his cousin to be an honest man who would never concoct stories to deceive him. Could it be that this Cult Master of the Mother Goddess truly understood immortal arts and was indeed a deity descended from heaven? Xiang Jun could not help but believe it a little.

The letter also mentioned that his cousin was living well in the State of Jinan, a life worlds apart from before the uprising. The Mother Goddess Church had allocated him land to farm, requiring only a fifteenth of his harvest as rent each year. Furthermore, he was required to attend a Bible study class every Wednesday—a scripture reading course organized by the church—and Sunday services at the chapel; otherwise, the church would reclaim the land. His cousin added that these church activities were hardly a burden; they were colorful and lively, featuring hymns, banquets, storytelling, and dance performances. Although everything was tied to the *Scriptures of the Mother Goddess*, the content was quite interesting, and he would participate even if he were not forced to.

The church priest, knowing he could write, had even invited him to do some clerical work for the church and paid him a handsome salary. He also said that after his baptism next year, the church could recommend him for training at the St. Nuwa Grand Temple, and if he passed the examinations, he could join the ranks of the divine servants to serve the Lord. Once that happened, he would become a divine official, and his salary would be even higher. Having such prospects made his life feel full of hope and joy.

"What is the 'why'?" Luan Yi asked, interrupting Xiang Jun's thoughts.

"Nothing, nothing at all! To be defeated by you, I am truly convinced."

"As the saying goes, evil cannot prevail over good. My church's great army follows the Heavenly Way, acts under the mandate of the Lord, and wins the hearts of the people; naturally, we are invincible!" After saying this, Luan Yi felt that making sarcastic remarks at this moment was rather meaningless, so he changed the subject and asked Xiang Jun, "Are you willing to atone for your crimes through service?"

"I am at your disposal, provided that you spare my life, Cult Master."

Luan Yi said solemnly, "Repentance after realizing one's mistake is a great virtue. The Mother Goddess is magnanimous; as long as a sinner truly repents, she will grant them a chance at redemption. Now, that opportunity lies before you. As long as you do as I say, the Mother Goddess will be pleased with you and spare you. If the Heavenly Mother Goddess deems you innocent, how can mere mortals judge you as guilty?"

Xiang Jun made a swift decision and said, "I am willing to serve you with all my might!"

"Immediately order the rebels on the mountain to come down and surrender!"

"This..." Xiang Jun hesitated.

Luan Yi frowned slightly and asked, "What? Are you unwilling?"

"It is not that I am unwilling, but it is truly difficult to execute," Xiang Jun said bluntly. "Cult Master, to tell you the truth, besides me, there is the second-in-command, Xie Jiao. This man is blindly loyal to Zhang Jiao and has long had grievances with me. Having been defeated in this battle, he is itching to drive me from my seat of power and will not surrender easily."

Luan Yi smiled. "If he refuses to surrender, then tie him up and bring him to me!"

"This... the mountain stronghold is strategically located, easy to defend and hard to attack. I fear it will be difficult to capture that brute."

"You only need to act as I say, and capturing that thief will be as easy as turning over one's hand." Luan Yi called Xiang Jun to his side and whispered to him.

By nightfall, the sun had sunk in the west, igniting the horizon with a magnificent display of fiery clouds. As the moon rose, echoing the sun's lingering glow, a brilliant and beautiful scene was cast across the mountains and rivers.

On the sunny side of Erlang Mountain, before the main camp of the Yellow Turban rebels, a group of people suddenly appeared—dusty, disheveled, and in a state of indescribable wretchedness.

Someone in the group began shouting from a distance, "Open the gates quickly!"

The rebel on guard duty at the gatehouse responded loudly, "Who dares to storm the stronghold?"

"Have you gone blind? It is I, Xiang Jun!"

The guard looked into the light of the torches. "It really is the Boss. Open the gate!"

"Creak..." The gate swung open in response.

Seeing Xiang Jun and his men enter, the guard was about to order the gate closed when a burly, ugly man emerged from behind Xiang Jun. With one hand, he grabbed the guard by the collar and tossed him aside; the man’s helmet struck the gate, and he fell unconscious on the spot.

"I am Dian Wei, a knight of the Holy Church! Surrender immediately and you shall be spared!" The soldiers behind him, who had just looked so bedraggled, tore off their dirty robes to reveal radiant silver armor underneath. On the silver armor, a blood-red cross emblem was striking and eye-catching.

Inside the main camp, the second-in-command, Xie Jiao, was gloating over Xiang Jun's defeat earlier that day. He had called the two captive women before him, deceiving them by saying that Xiang Jun was dead and that they would be better off defecting to his side and serving him.

The two women were already broken in spirit. Following Xie Jiao was no different from following Xiang Jun, and even if they refused, Xie Jiao would surely use force. Since it was death either way, they resigned themselves to their fate and accompanied him in drinking and merrymaking in the great hall.

Just as they were enjoying themselves, they heard a commotion outside.

Xie Jiao, with his arms around the women, staggered outside to see what was happening. What he saw shocked him: Xiang Jun had led an army back. And those men under Xiang Jun were not the Yellow Turban soldiers from earlier, but guards wearing the armor of the Mother Goddess Church.

At this moment, these fierce guards were locked in a fierce struggle with the rebels, fighting for control of the gate.

Xie Jiao immediately realized that church reinforcements were nearby; if the gate fell, it would be the end. He shouted anxiously, "Close the gate quickly!" With that, he abandoned the two beauties, leaped onto his horse, and charged at the guards with his spear, felling one man with a strike.

As horse hooves thundered, Dian Wei’s heightened alertness snapped into action. He glanced at the galloping steed, snorted coldly, and waved his hand to brush aside the rebels entangling him. With a long stride, he charged at the horse on foot. His massive fist, the size of a bowl, clenched tight and shot out like a meteor from his waist, smashing directly into the horse's head.

With a miserable whinny, the horse collapsed. Dian Wei, unarmed, had felled a five- or six-hundred-pound warhorse with a single punch. He then swept his short halberd horizontally, slicing Xie Jiao—who had fallen from the horse—cleanly in two. His guts and entrails spilled onto the ground. The pitiful Xie Jiao was not yet dead; he dragged his severed torso, screaming as he clawed his way across the ground. "Ah..."

The screams pierced the sky, hauntingly shrill, and the rebels were so terrified that they retreated step by step, trembling like chaff in the wind.

Hidden in the dense forest not far from the stronghold, Luan Yi led his main force into the fray at the perfect moment. With the addition of another fierce warrior and a troupe of elite soldiers, the church side began to mow down the rebels like wheat.

With a numerical and tactical advantage, the church guards captured the stronghold in an instant, taking hundreds of prisoners.

Once the dust settled, Xiang Jun walked murderously toward the two beauties in the camp, his sword in hand. These two women had been his favorite concubines, but just moments ago, he had clearly seen them throwing themselves at Xie Jiao.

"Wretches! When you threw yourselves into Xie Jiao’s arms, did you know your end was near?"

The women were terrified beyond measure, falling to their knees and begging bitterly, "Spare us, Great King! Spare us! It was Xie Jiao who told us you were dead; we were forced to defect to him!"

Xiang Jun's expression froze, then twisted into anger again. "When your husband falls in battle, rather than following him in death, you engage in such lewd behavior—one woman serving two husbands! To be so shameless, what is the point of keeping you? Killing you will not even begin to soothe my hatred! Prepare to die!"

"Stop!" Luan Yi rode up and intercepted the sword-wielding Xiang Jun. After learning the reason, he advised, "Even an ant clings to life, let alone a woman. Heaven has the virtue of loving life. You yourself have committed the crime of rebellion and are seeking redemption; why should you not allow these two women to seek survival in their desperation? Spare them and let them go their own way!"

Since the Cult Master had spoken, Xiang Jun could not argue. He sheathed his sword and waved his hand. "Since the Cult Master has pleaded for you, I will spare you this once. Get out of here!"

The two women thanked him profusely, knocking their heads against the ground like garlic. "Thank you, Cult Master, for your mercy! Thank you, Great King Xiang, for sparing our lives!"

Just as they turned to leave, they heard a voice call out: "Wait!"

The women turned to face Xiang Jun, their faces filled with terror. "Has the Great King changed his mind?"

"I, Xiang Jun, am a man of my word; I do not go back on my promises." In truth, Xiang Jun still harbored affection for these two women in his heart. It was only because so many people had seen them clinging to Xie Jiao that he felt his dignity was shattered, turning his love into hate and driving him to kill them. Now that he had calmed down, he felt a sense of reluctance as he watched them go. Yet, he understood that if he continued to keep them, he would have no face to show anyone in the future. He was deeply conflicted. He pulled a cloth pouch from his robes and pressed it into one of the women's hands, saying gently, "Take this money for now, return to your hometown, and find a good man to marry!"

"Great King!" Tears streamed down the women's faces as they sobbed.

"Come here!" Luan Yi spoke at the right moment. He took two intricately carved, one-inch-long crosses from his attendant and handed them to the women. "Take these to the St. Nuwa Cathedral in the State of Jinan and tell them I sent you. Someone will receive you."

"This..."

"If the Cult Master tells you to go, then go!" Dian Wei said impatiently, wiping blood from his face with a towel.

"Yes!" The women looked at Luan Yi, then at the contemplative and silent Xiang Jun, and walked away gracefully.

Watching their retreating figures, Xiang Jun asked Luan Yi anxiously, "Cult Master, will they be safe on the road?"

Luan Yi could not help but laugh out loud. He had seen through it earlier: Xiang Jun’s intent to kill them was merely a fit of temper, fueled by fear of losing face. Deep down, he still loved them—a fact evident in his final concern for their safety. Once his anger dissipated, he would certainly regret his actions. That was why he had intervened and arranged for them to go to Jinan. Once in Jinan, Xiang Jun would naturally have many opportunities to reunite with them. Whether they would rekindle their romance or part ways forever would be for them to decide. "Rest assured! Most of the rebels in Qingzhou have been quelled; the world is peaceful, and they will be fine."

"That... is good!"