A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2269 - 1534: Means and Ends

As a member of the Demon Sect, Wan Wan has seen quite a lot since childhood, and she deeply understands the bloodthirsty, selfish, cruel, and ruthless nature of those in the Demon Sect. However, when Duanmu Huai’s murderous aura exploded, Wan Wan only felt as if the sky was collapsing and the earth was shattering. It was not like war or turmoil, but more like a natural disaster giving people a despairing wait for annihilation, terrifying to the point that she didn’t even dare to struggle or resist.

Wan Wan asked herself honestly, even her master Zhu Yuyan, the Evil King Shi Zhixuan, and even the Demon Master Pang Ban, who is revered in the Demon Sect, probably don’t have such soul-stirring power.

Not to mention the two had just battled fiercely, in order to defend her Red Pill, Wan Wan also exerted all her efforts. But no matter how she performed, hitting Duanmu Huai was to no effect, not even causing the slightest harm, ultimately letting Duanmu Huai have his way. Although the Jianghu had long rumored that Duanmu Huai was impervious to blades and bullets, resistant to all poisons, and unaffected by water and fire. But before this, Wan Wan only thought of it as exaggerated rumors, until this moment, she realized the claims were not exaggerated, even conservative.

"Hmph, pack up, we’re going to Luoyang."

Duanmu Huai nonchalantly turned and walked out of the room.

"With Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Zen Sect making such a ruckus, if I don’t go disrupt their grounds, isn’t their effort wasted?"

Hearing this, Wan Wan’s eyes sparkled.

"Yes!"

Just like that, another little tag-along followed Duanmu Huai.

Regarding Wan Wan’s identity, Duanmu Huai naturally didn’t hide it from Wang Yuyan and Little Dragon Girl, knowing she was born in the Demon Sect, the two... well, they didn’t really mind.

The only curiosity the two had was why Wan Wan always walked barefoot, without shoes or socks, and Wan Wan explained that walking barefoot felt more comfortable, unrestrained, and free.

To this, Duanmu Huai also felt it’s understandable, like when going to the beach, walking barefoot on the sand does feel different than wearing shoes. Only, unless possessing Wan Wan’s Innate True Qi protective ability, otherwise it’s just asking for trouble.

As a side mention, even at the beach, one has to be careful of the beer bottles and stone fragments buried in the sand... after all, for ordinary people, the soles are the most vulnerable part, never mind fragments, even stepping on a Lego brick is...

Wan Wan also changed from her former wealthy girl attire to a plain white robe like Wang Yuyan and Little Dragon Girl. According to Wan Wan, she usually dresses like this, only disguising her identity when planning to harm and loot.

As for her being captured by the Four Great Bandits before, was naturally a show put on by Wan Wan, as according to Wan Wan, Li Mi and the Four Great Bandits have a close relationship, while her sect Yinkui Sect intends to covertly weaken Li Mi’s forces, so Wan Wan stepped forward, attempting to use her beauty to tempt the Four Great Bandits into mutual slaughter, hoping to break Li Mi’s arm.

Regarding her later rescue by the people from Feima Ranch, it was purely accidental, but Wan Wan has bigger ambitions, intending to seize Feima Ranch. If Shang Xiuxun were not a woman, she would have mesmerized her long ago. But even so, Wan Wan hasn’t given up, hearing there’s an attempted rebellion within the ranch, she went along with the setup.

It could be said that if Duanmu Huai hadn’t arrived in time, Shang Xiuxun would have either been captured or killed. Even if she were lucky enough to escape back to Feima Ranch, the ranch’s army would suffer heavy losses, and the traitor could take the opportunity to seize power from Shang Xiuxun and the whole ranch.

And by then, he would be just a dish in Wan Wan’s hands.

However, Duanmu Huai’s arrival completely overturned the entire plan, with the Four Great Bandits being killed, the traitor’s plan naturally couldn’t be executed.

"Actually, that traitor is the Third Deacon. The Market Master already suspects him, and upon returning naturally will subject him to severe interrogation and questioning, though according to Wan Wan, it’s pointless."

"Why is that?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuyan curiously asked.

"It’s simple, food supply and military force are prime choices for domaining the world, and now in the chaos, various Rebel Armies aspire to be world dominators. Feima Ranch’s warhorses and Dongming Sect’s weapons are what they need, capturing Feima Ranch equals controlling the warhorses. Even behind the Third Deacon’s betrayal, there are shadows of other Rebel Armies, so even capturing him can’t stop others from coveting Feima Ranch."

Wan Wan, hands behind her back, twittered like a small bird, back and forth, appearing not at all like a captive.

"Dominate the world is something some truly enjoy, I don’t see much good in it, nor understand why so many desire to be Emperor."

Duanmu Huai shook his head.

"Once truly becoming Emperor, you’d know managing a country is troublesome and thankless, with issues emerging endlessly, leaving almost no personal time. Wanting to be the likes of Yang Guang, surely is more comfortable, but in that case, it’s better to find somewhere for seclusion or start your own sect, isn’t it more fun than being Emperor?"

"But for elevating one’s master sect, power and position are necessary."

At this moment, Wan Wan also became rare in her seriousness.

"The struggle between Buddhist Sect and Holy Sect has hundreds of years of history, we......"

"I know your origin, skip the nonsense."

Duanmu Huai waved his hand.

"Actually what irks me most is the saying by any means necessary, and the notion that those who achieve great things do not bother with trifles, which ultimately are just excuses. The original goal of the Demon Sect to seize rightful legitimacy wasn’t wrong, however once you employ unworthy means, it inevitably alters course."

The original Demon Sect was actually from the Western Han’s ’Banish Hundred Schools, Revere Confucianism’, as the defeated in political battles. Their initial establishment aimed to overthrow the reverence for Confucianism, reverting to the era of ’Hundred Schools Contend’, so that goal itself seems not bad, but veering off course is a different matter.

"But at that time there was massive suppression of Holy Sect......"

"See, here come the excuses."

Duanmu Huai glanced at Wan Wan, lightly spoke.

"It indicates your ideals lack purity, also that you’re unsure and unreserved towards your goal, you merely want victory, neglecting how victory itself counts significantly. What sort of process yields what sort of result, I can affirm that even if your Demon Sect ultimately defeats Buddhist Sect and takes over the world, you wouldn’t achieve your presumed goal, because you employed means departing from ideals — sow the seed, reap the fruit; you must ponder on the means you employ, as it decides the outcome."

Duanmu Huai’s words weren’t without cause, in fact, he read novels, in those, the Demon Sect indeed secured victory — since Wu Zetian was Wan Wan’s disciple and became the first Empress.

Yet thereafter, the revival the Demon Sect yearned for didn’t materialize, instead, Wu Zetian viewed the Demon Sect as her dark history, wished to eradicate it, issuing the ’Demon Cleansing Order’, since she herself was from the Demon Sect, understanding it more than anyone, thus Demon Sect was thoroughly exterminated by Wu Zetian.

So you see, sow what seed, reap what fruit; if the Demon Sect wasn’t that type of unscrupulous sect, instead outwardly portraying a goddess-like image like Cihang Jingzhai, then Wu Zetian wouldn’t view the Demon Sect as a black-history threat, wanting to eradicate it.

Conclusively, the life of Demon Sect is a typical case of seeking the goal by any means but veering straight into disaster.

For a ruler, the goal matters, but so does the means.

"........."

Hearing Duanmu Huai’s words, Wan Wan displayed a contemplative look, remaining silent, while Duanmu Huai also stayed quiet, turning gaze forward.

Before them, the grand city gates became faintly visible.

Luoyang had arrived.