NOVPUBShen Borong’s storage pouch didn’t contain too many items.
That was normal.
After all, coming to Yang Kingdom was an adventure in itself; besides a few essential items, it was not possible to bring too many Spirit Coins and precious belongings that would not be of use.
However, Zhou Mingde had already had a huge gain among the relics of a Golden Core Stage cultivator, so he wasn’t too concerned about this.
After rummaging through the storage pouch, he quickly found what he was looking for.
It was a jade box, previously used by Shen Borong to hold Talisman Treasures.
Upon opening the jade box, the contents—or lack thereof—took Zhou Mingde by surprise.
Instead of the Talisman Treasures he had anticipated, there was nothing but an empty box.
To say it was an empty box wasn’t entirely accurate, since there was a little bit of ash inside.
How the ash came to be there, Zhou Mingde knew all too well.
Having used Talisman Treasures himself, he was well aware of what they would look like once their energy had been depleted.
And now, recalling how Shen Borong had hastily put the Talisman Treasures into the jade box, it seemed to indirectly confirm this.
This outcome, however, was a far cry from what Zhou Mingde had originally anticipated.
He had thought there would be Talisman Treasures inside!
Seeing Shen Borong’s display of the formidable power of the Talisman Treasures and his subsequent reluctance to continue using them to subdue the Green-Faced Zombie raised suspicions that Shen Borong intended to save the Talisman Treasures for a potential confrontation with him later on.
So, while facing the Green-Faced Zombie, realizing he was no match for Shen Borong and Ruan Hongzhuang, he chose to strike first and attacked Shen Borong with a sneak attack.
But now, it appeared Shen Borong’s actions had been nothing but a bluff.
The reason why he had quickly stored the depleted Talisman Treasure into the jade box was probably to use the prestige of this item to bargain for more benefits when dividing the treasures later on!
Having realized all this, Zhou Mingde gave a complex sigh, "In that case, it seems I have played the villain."
Shen Borong may not be considered a gentleman.
But truthfully, Zhou Mingde’s act of attacking Shen Borong was indeed the behavior of a true villain.
To say he felt no remorse would be impossible.
However, what’s done is done, and even now knowing he was wrong, there was nothing to be done about it.
After a brief period of self-reproach, Zhou Mingde calmly collected all the items and stepped out of the secret chamber.
Having cultivated for nearly three hundred years, he had experienced his fair share of tumultuous events and committed not just one immoral act in the eyes of ordinary people.
He was no longer someone who felt unbearable guilt and couldn’t forgive himself after doing something wrong.
In his view, as long as the benefits were great enough, even committing murder and arson were acceptable actions.
This was also the mindset of many cultivators in the Cultivation World.
People like Zhou Chun, who adhered to their principles, were extremely rare exceptions in the Cultivation World.
After leaving the secret chamber, Zhou Mingde quickly called Zhou Chun to the quiet room and began to answer the questions the younger man had earlier.
However, while answering, he didn’t tell the whole truth.
He admitted to attacking Shen Borong based solely on speculation, but he said nothing about not finding any Talisman Treasures afterwards.
After all, he was Zhou Chun’s elder. Even if he had committed a wrongdoing, he didn’t want Zhou Chun to know too much.
And he understood Zhou Chun’s character; had he told the entire truth, it would have been difficult for Zhou Chun to accept.
In fact, even the part of the story he did share was enough to cause Zhou Chun to furrow his brows deeply.
"Supreme Elder, I find it hard to agree with your actions!"
After hesitating for a long time, Zhou Chun still looked at Zhou Mingde and voiced his thoughts.
Attacking a comrade-in-arms in battle based solely on speculation was something Zhou Chun could never do.
Even if he harbored similar suspicions, he would at most leave the team early or prepare himself defensively, retaliating only after the other party made an actual move.
In such matters, the difference between proactively harming others and passively defending oneself was profound.
The former is unmistakably evil, while the latter is an action beyond reproach, a rightful act.
But faced with Zhou Chun’s disagreement, Zhou Mingde did not get angry, looking at him calmly, he said, "Zhengchun, you have your thoughts, which is normal. I don’t necessarily expect you to agree with my actions, nor do I insist that you learn from me." Continue your adventure at freewebnovel
He spoke breezily, as if he had done nothing wrong.
This left Zhou Chun feeling somewhat disheartened after hearing it.
Perhaps this was the harsh reality of their world.
The majority of the time, those who did wrong went unpunished and unjudged.
That’s why so many felt little burden in their conscience when doing wrong—they simply did it.
"I understand!"
With a silent sigh, Zhou Chun gave a slight nod of understanding.
He could never follow in Zhou Mingde’s footsteps, but neither could he impose his own ideals on Zhou Mingde.
Perhaps sensing Zhou Chun’s unhappy mood, Zhou Mingde did not immediately discuss the treasures with him, instead suggesting he take a rest.
Meanwhile, he himself began to organize the Classics and read the Tomb Master’s Insect Expelling Technique left behind.
During the process of organizing the Classics, Zhou Mingde soon made a surprising discovery.
He found an autobiography written by the Tomb Master among the Classics.
