Hidden Moth-Chapter 398 - 222: The Dilemma of Human Nature
Zou Tianjin’s cultivation is already at Tier Five Peak, being a Heart Measurer most adept at using Magical Artifacts. To ambush him without getting noticed, the suspect is likely among the Tier Six or higher cultivation Elders and the Supreme Elder.
Kang Rulin is the most suspicious, though other Elders are suspect as well. If this matter can be clarified, so be it, but if not, various suspicions will remain unresolved.
One of the conceivable chain reactions is that He Kao will definitely be under significant investigation. Things happened when Zou Tianjin visited Lu Shutang in Chongchuan, so the Magic Sect will surely investigate further into Lu Shutang’s circumstances.
He Kao happens to be Lu Shutang’s close friend, having been classmates for six and a half years from undergraduate to graduate studies, and even shared a dormitory... Could he have been involved in something as well?
He Kao himself likely doesn’t have the capability to harm Zou Tianjin, but don’t forget his identity. It’s speculated he’s a Secret Disciple of a certain Elder, but which Elder exactly?
All of this must be cleared up, and it might even bring the Hidden Moth out into the open.
Understanding these, He Kao also breathed a sigh of relief, slightly fearful, saying, "Coming for the Magic Sect? Why are they doing this? As far as I know, the Magic Sect hasn’t done anything against the Carefree Wanderer in recent years."
Gu Chun didn’t answer directly, but instead asked a baffling question, "Why did you let Lan Jiwan go to the Shi Haotu couple, and why did you come to me beforehand to have her re-admitted into the registry?"
He Kao: "Just for caution’s sake. If Li Chun went to verify and found out there was no such person registered with the Heart Plate Sect, the plan wouldn’t work."
Gu Chun: "But the Shi Haotu couple didn’t actually come to verify with the Heart Plate Sect."
He Kao: "I’m simply being prepared for all eventualities." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
The Ancestral Hall conducted a thorough census of the Magic Sect disciples, with the registration details being extremely elaborate. However, the information itself is highly valuable intelligence, also concerning each sorcerer’s privacy. This data cannot be made public.
Within the Sect, only Stewards have the authority to access the information of all disciples, but only within their own Sect. Only the Sect Law Hall Elders have the right to access all Magic Sect disciples’ data.
Even the already retired Supreme Elder doesn’t have this authority.
Back then, Old Man Jiang used a Divine Thought Heart Seal to inform He Kao of the Magic Sect disciples’ census summary, but not everyone received this treatment. This was treating him as the Sect Leader of the Hidden Moth Sect.
Aside from He Kao, only the seven Elders of the Sect Law Hall are eligible to hold this information.
Li Chun, being a Micro Sect Disciple, isn’t qualified to check the registry details of Lan Jiwan with the Heart Plate Sect. If she had ample reason, she could apply through the Sect to the Sect Law Hall to confirm if Lan Jiwan’s identity was genuine.
But Li Chun didn’t do so. Besides, Lan Jiwan provided credible information, and another reason is that it wasn’t necessary. Lan Jiwan declared her identity, demonstrating her Tier Three cultivation and Heart Plate Sect techniques, which was sufficient.
He Kao thought so meticulously because his exposure to the Magic Sect was brief, and he didn’t fundamentally understand the traditional practices of sorcerers. His very appearance led to the first-ever comprehensive census of disciples in the history of the Magic Sect.
In He Kao’s understanding, the Magic Sect should operate in this manner, so he felt it prudent to preemptively find a "sponsor" for Lan Jiwan. However, others don’t share this perception.
Even ancient times were less excluding; even if you track back just a year, the Elders of the Ancestral Hall wouldn’t claim they recognized all the Magic Sect disciples. Most sorcerers, they likely never met, let alone common disciples.
Sorcerers generally don’t reveal their identity among ordinary people. When one sorcerer discovers another, exchanging some codewords will suffice, as this has been the tradition from ancient times.
Then they could engage in various exchanges, such as business cooperation, swapping cultivation resources, sharing cultivation insights, etc. As for verifying true identity or use of an alias, it seemed not to matter much.
Even if someone can’t be found in the Magic Sect disciple registry, various explanations are available, like information lag, the mentor hasn’t reported to the Sect yet, or the mentor passed away early, severing contact with the Magic Sect.
Historically, such cases indeed happened often; Gu Chun himself is an example from his youth.
However, since the Sect Law Hall introduced new regulations, the situation has subtly changed, fundamentally eliminating these possibilities. It became much harder for the Carefree Wanderer to falsely claim Magic Sect disciple status. Even impersonation became easily detectable.
Under ordinary circumstances, no one would deliberately check these, but as soon as something goes wrong, exposure is imminent!
The previous situation was like a pile of soybeans, all mixed together indistinguishably. Now, most beans suddenly turned red, numbered, and tagged with identification codes, making the remaining soybeans stand out conspicuously.
He Kao was somewhat puzzled, "I understand this matter, but with no enmity or hatred, is it really necessary for this? Just because the Magic Sect wants to implement the identity verification registration system, they have such a large reaction?"
Why did Fabre target Zou Tianjin, and what is his purpose? He Kao has somewhat figured it out, but upon getting the answer, more questions arose.
Fabre’s actions are aimed not only at the Magic Sect but also at individuals, like Gu Chun.
The outspoken leader of the Magic Sect’s new policies is this Earth Master himself. Conducting a census registration wasn’t enough, he’s even personally traveling the world to verify one by one.
This is the most problematic, and no one anticipated it beforehand. Isn’t he exhausted? Even if not tired, isn’t it bothersome? Doesn’t he have anything else to do all day? It’s simply madness!
But trying to deal with Gu Chun is not easy; direct means won’t work, so only indirect methods can be used. Fabre happened to find a thread, setting up a trap starting from the Huiming Shi Family, then targeting Zou Tianjin to implicate Lu Shutang, and finally bringing out He Kao.
Initially, some people speculated that He Kao was Elder Jiang’s secret disciple, but later the rumors changed, and more people believed he was Elder Gu’s secret disciple.
This is no longer just a rumor; to certain sorcerers like Qian Guran, it’s practically a confirmed fact, because Old Qian personally saw He Kao perform the Earth-Traveling Skill of the Heart Plate Sect.
When He Kao cultivated with the Earth-Traveling Skill on usual days, he could also have been secretly discovered by someone.
If the matter involves He Kao, then his secret identity must be revealed, and the master behind him will be exposed as well, redirecting the investigation towards Gu Chun.
But what He Kao couldn’t understand is—why should it come to this?
Magic Sect disciples must implement a strict information registration system, which is essentially an internal matter within the Magic Sect. Even if Fabre, the Carefree Wanderer, has opinions, he still can’t interfere.
Originally, there was no enmity, but just because of differing opinions, do they resort to murder and arson?
Gu Chun sighed and said, "How do you know there is no enmity? Over the years, I have overseen the acts of sorcerers worldwide, and have offended more people than I can count, including Magic Sect disciples and so-called Carefree Wanderers, possibly even their friends and family.
Not to mention the distant matters, just take what you’ve personally experienced. At the border of Maoluo Country, Xingshen Sect disciple Zeng Hongye, and also his secretly accepted disciple Xiaosi, though it was you who knocked him out with poison smoke, it was I who killed him with my own hands."
This comment leaves one speechless; the old man has offended many sorcerers, and who holds a grudge against him he himself might not even be clear.
He Kao was pondering when Gu Chun spoke again, "This time is secondary; primarily, there are those who are dissatisfied with the Ancestral Hall, the Magic Sect, and me for obstructing their affairs, making their lives difficult.
Some matters depend on one’s position to have different perspectives. For instance, when you initially received the Hidden Moth heritage, didn’t you also want no one to know?
He Kao had to nod and said, "Indeed so."
Gu Chun: "This is driven by human nature... Techniques have always been secret transmissions since ancient times. Do you know what secret transmission means?"
This seemingly simple question left He Kao momentarily unable to answer.
Secret transmission is certainly opposed to open transmission; it refers to private teaching. Ordinary people cannot know the existence of techniques and the Magic Sect, except for a few Guests of Fate; average people are also unaware of the sorcerers’ identities.
This is due to the special requirements of technique cultivation, but it’s undeniable that for a thousand years, many Magic Sect disciples have greatly enjoyed this unique sense of mystery.
After becoming Hidden Moth, He Kao indeed wished for no one to know his identity, mainly due to the sense of insecurity, but was there no other reason?
Many sorcerers undoubtedly have this mentality too, hoping to blend in among people, possessing incredible superpowers, able to accomplish various things, yet no one knows their background.
Who would want their "superpowers" not only discovered but also possibly surveilled, monitored for their actions? For instance, the Huiming Shi Family might want to do some dirty work and would cultivate a batch of cleaners unknown to the sect.
Especially Carefree Wanderers, they would certainly feel uncomfortable all over. Even many sect disciples might internally resist the new policies of the Ancestral Hall.
Some people themselves aren’t very clean or have records that haven’t been uncovered. The Ancestral Hall suddenly introduces such measures, and Gu Chun even personally verifies each case; some might not be able to hold back their anger.
Seeing He Kao ponder in silence, Gu Chun asked again: "Since you once thought this way, I just said it is driven by human nature, does what I represent of the Ancestral Hall’s actions go against human nature?"
He Kao replied: "Of course not! That is also driven by human nature."
Gu Chun’s eyes slightly brighten with interest, asking further: "Oh, why do you say so?"
He Kao: "Because human nature is complex and contradictory. For instance, I am a sorcerer, cultivating divine techniques, yet I don’t want others to know.
But if there are other sorcerers around me, even more powerful ones, surely I wouldn’t want to be completely unaware of this, and I wouldn’t want their divine technique abilities to go entirely unmonitored.
This is precisely normal human nature..."
Gu Chun nodded slightly and said: "Indeed, understanding this point enables you to comprehend the teachings of ancient sages. Also, it’s crucial for you to understand, cultivation itself cannot be accomplished alone!"
He Kao also nodded and said: "I already understand this point."
**
