737 Rules (1/2)
Old Man Mu and Dog Butcher had completely different views on what the rules of Jianghu were.
”You take a step back, and I'll take a step back. That way, everybody gets something. This is what the rules of Jianghu are.”
”Heh heh, bullshit! What if I take a step forward after you take one backward? How can you be so sure that I will remain still after taking a step backward?”
”It doesn't matter. Rules are not something formed between merely two people, but rather something that is upheld by all of Jianghu. If you break the rules, then you will lose your place in Jianghu, and everybody will despise and attack you.”
”Hehe, you think that I haven't been mobbed before? But look at me, I'm still standing here alive. And look at you. You've been following the rules for so many years, but you still live under your sister's custody like her dog. Oh, and where's your dog-butchering saber? Why aren't you carrying it around anymore?”
”My Senior Sister said that it wouldn't be right for a patriarch to have a heavy killing aura, so I changed my weapon from a saber to a cane. As for the benefits of following rules, that would that be when you land in trouble, many people, even strangers will offer you help. Unlike you, nobody's would take you in except for His Majesty.”
”Take me in? Are you trying to say that His Majesty took me in? Your Majesty, tell him. Haven't I been of great help to you? I stay here only because His Majesty is seeking out talented people like a thirsty person seeking water. The Unique King was crying and begging me to work for him, yet I still refused…
Dog Butcher smiled and said no more. Although he was not a very decisive person, he still was not a fool. When Old Man Mu had ranked among the peak of all kung fu experts, then maybe ambitious lords and leaders would have vied for his allegiance. But now he only had sixty to seventy percent of his former power and was as strong as an average master now. The Dragon King was the only one who would treat him like someone of high value.
Gu Shenwei had only brought a dozen of his men, who acted like a group of reticent ghosts in this empty palace. And the debate between Old Man Mu and Dog Butcher imparted some needed vitality to this palace.
Gu Shenwei also had his own understanding of the rules of Jianghu, but he didn't chip in. What a killer pursued was a path to bypass the rules entirely. That path culminated in striking the enemy with a single, lethal blow, which sounded a little similar to the Old Man Mu's opinion. But a killer mustn't be obsessed with fame. Getting off of the stage in time after the job was done and keeping a low profile should be the norm.
Although he wasn't a killer anymore, he couldn't get rid of his killer's mindset that easily.
”What are the rules of Jianghu like in the Norland?” Gu Shenwei asked Mo Lin who was beside him.
Mo Lin didn't seem to be in a talking mood. He had had his adventures in Jianghu and achieved considerable success, yet he didn't miss those experiences much. ”They are similar to those of the Central Plains'. Norlanders brag a bit more often, but that is how they make friends with each other.”
”Actually, the people in the Central Plains do the same thing.” Dog Butcher widened his eyes, surprised by the similarity. ”But as far as I know, it's better to let others do the dramatizing. And in fact, the fewer relations you have with the speaker the better. For instance, an apprentice bragging about his master is far less effective than a disciple of another sect saying the same words occasionally.”
”Hypocritical, so hypocritical.” Old Man Mu was indignant. He had always been proud of his status as a villain and couldn't tolerate the existence of another person who was even more shameless than him.
”You think that it's hypocritical?” Dog Butcher thought carefully for a while. ”It's not hypocritical if it's mutually beneficial to both parties, is it?”
”It is. Every word that isn't heartfelt is hypocritical,” Old Man Mu affirmed.
”So are you saying that we should be truthful under any circumstance?”
”Absolutely. I myself… seldom lie, and always tell the truth about who I hate and who I like.”
”So, if I think that this palace is ghostly and really creepy and I don't want to go any further into it, I should just honestly say it?”
”Uh, you should. I think it's a little strange, too. Your Majesty, is it true that you always prefer to do things at night? I mean, it's just a head. Can't we come back during the daytime?”
Gu Shenwei didn't answer. He liked the night. They gave his enemy more chances, but also gave himself more space to exert his skills.
Dog Butcher was still pondering the idea of ”hypocrisy.” He thought for a while and said, ”Let me offer another example. You seem to like Han Wuxian very much, but you quarrel with her all the time. Is that hypocrisy?”
”No!” Even from horse back, Old Man Mu was furious. ”Who told you that I liked that crazy bitch? I merely slept with her a few years ago. You think I want her back? Ha, that would only be her one-sided love dream…”
”Hypocrisy.” Dog Butcher nodded seriously. It seemed that he had finally understood the meaning of this word. Suddenly he straightened himself and looked around. ”I don't know what the rules are like here, but I think we're surrounded. None of you are talking. Did you not notice it or are you not afraid?”
”Not afraid, of course.” Old Man Mu rode forward quickly, yelling out, ”The Dragon King of the Western Regions is here. All you sneaky little bastards get out and kowtow to your king!”
A smile lit up Dog Butcher's face. He whispered to the Dragon King, ”So it seems like the rules in the Western Region are the same. Look, Old Man Mu was bluffing about Your Majesty, but if we were in the Central Plains, then he would have never said anything like 'little bastards'. I mean, what if the people on the other side have a powerful background?”
Figures of people moving around flickered in the darkness. At least a hundred people came around, forming a simple encirclement ring.
A resonant voice came over, saying, ”I'm the Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect. You barbarians from beyond the Great Wall, get off of your horses and surrender!”
”You move an inch forward, but I move a foot forward. The people from the Central Plains are angry because we violated the rules,” Dog Butcher commented in a low voice, then looked around. ”Is the surname of the present Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect, Liu or Lu?”
Dog Butcher asked in a reserved manner, but Old Man Mu brazenly demanded, ”Which Sect Leader are you? Have you resolved your infighting?”
A small group of people walked to them from the other side and stopped about ten steps away. Dozens of torches were lit at the same time. Among them, a middle-aged swordsman with a square face and a long beard answered with his hands crossed behind: ”I'm the Sect Leader of Qingcheng Sect, Liu Qingpu.”
Standing beside Liu Qingpu was a tall and thin swordsman, who looked a little younger than him. His face was red, which was very conspicuous under the light of the torch fire. ”I'm the Sect Leader of Qingcheng Sect, Lu Mian
Old Man Mu laughed out loud derogatively and fell from his horse with his hands on his belly. He pointed at the red-faced swordsman, ”It's funny enough your surname is 'Donkey', but your first name is also 'Face'. Haha, a red-faced donkey. That's a rare sight, isn't it?”
Dog Butcher's mouth twitched and he shook his head. Clearly, he thought that Old Man Mu was violating the rules again.
As expected, Lu Mian looked offended, but it was not he who stepped out to talk. Rather, Deng Yuanlei, who was standing beside him, did. ”Old Man Mu, how dare you? Spitting out mean words doesn't count as any real skill.”