Cultivation through Skin Making

Song Yan put down the knife and said calmly, "I know."

The General said, "As long as you know. We've known each other for years. Personally, I do admire you. Since it is as such, let's keep things dignified."

Song Yan said indifferently, "What do you want to do?"

The General said, "There is an order from above—to escort you to Qingyang City for execution alongside the Witch in seven days."

Song Yan said, "Seven days? That's quite a rush."

"Indeed, we have to leave now," said the General, waving his hand helplessly.

A soldier behind him brought forth a flask of fine wine.

The General said, "A drink to embolden you on your journey."

Song Yan waved his hand.

The General did not insist.

The soldier took the wine back, and another came forward with shackles, looking at the General.

The General sighed and then gestured.

The shackles were soon locked onto Song Yan's wrists.

Song Yan entered the prison cart.

He leaned against the bars of the cart, looking up at the slowly drifting clouds, seemingly lost in thought.

On both sides of the road, commoners wept and cursed, their benevolent and malevolent thoughts intertwined around him, enigmatic and ever-changing.

Was the Commandery Princess of Red Flame repaid evil for her good deeds—a case of good being punished by evil?

He had done so many good deeds, received much goodwill, yet also faced retribution—what was this supposed to mean?

Did the General even have a choice? If he didn't lock him up, he would die. Was this aiding and abetting malevolence filled with evil thoughts?

What is good? What is evil?

Having the intention to do good but resulting in evil—is this not evil? Unintentional evil is still evil. Intention doesn't matter in relation to good and evil — it's all about being powerless against one's circumstances. But being powerless is not an excuse for good or evil.

Good is rewarded with good and evil is rewarded with evil, yet good can also bring bad and evil may bring good. Seeking good outcomes from good causes is a big joke.

After all...

Good is pure.

Evil is pure.

Heart moves with thoughts, and realm arises from heart.

When the thought of good arises, one becomes Buddha; when the thought of evil arises, one becomes devil.

Yet looking at my face, left and right, one side good and the other evil—am I Buddha or devil?

Emotions and desires always accompany one, good and evil fluctuate as heart moves.

No, neither.

But just my true self.

The Commandery Princess of Red Flame was moved by kindness but also suffered evil thoughts. The General arose with good intentions yet also evil intentions—good intentions did not bring evil and did not become evil. All because worldly affairs change unpredictably and people's hearts are hard to foresee, thus it is.

"Fool..."

An elder in the prison cart suddenly muttered, "Didn't let you worship fire, and now you don't allow your subordinates to worship either? Told you to do more good, but didn't stop you from doing evil? Told you to leverage power but you handed it to the enemy, binding yourself? Otherwise, how could you end up here?"

"What a... what a... hmph hmph, jajaja, hahaha!!!"

"Utterly foolish beyond measure!"

Song Yan took a deep breath, casually tore apart the shackles on his hands, ripped open the prison cage, his gray hair turning black, and his old face returned to youth. Amid the stunned and fearful gazes of surrounding soldiers and civilians, he turned his gaze to the General, and said indifferently, "Xiao Mingrong supports me. If the General wants to change allegiances, better wait a bit longer."

He stood with hands behind back, transforming into a rainbow, shooting into the distance.

...

...

It was clear Xixiang Kingdom also has cultivators and communication stones.

When Song Yan arrived at Qingyang City, a host of elite soldiers had already gathered outside the city, led by people in black robes exuding powerful presence, and even cultivators hovering in the sky surrounded by flickering flames.

In the rear, the nobility raised their heads, watching the lone figure arriving from the horizon, whispering among themselves, seemingly making final arrangements on who should approach the cultivator.

They never expected that the butcher who had stayed in Cold Smoke Town for decades was actually a cultivator.

But what of it?

Even a cultivator would not withstand the many troops, the fire worshipers, and the Holy Fire Sect emissaries here.

Song Yan glanced at the dark mass of people, uninterested in saying more, casually lifted a finger.

The finger pressed down.

The heavens and earth pressed down.

Thousands of armored soldiers, fire worshipers, Holy Fire Sect emissaries, and the mastermind of the nobles were instantly crushed like ants.

Die!!!

...

...

A month later...

Xixiang Kingdom was engulfed in bloodshed and turmoil, a multitude of nobles were uprooted, Spirit Field Technique and Abolishing Slavery faced no further hindrance.

All because of a mysterious cultivator.

The Commandery Princess of Red Flame, assisted by the cultivator, rose from a death row inmate to a true uncrowned queen, her power no longer restrained, able to decide life and death with a word.

Yet that Commandery Princess, akin to a queen, was in a daze.

She was already thirty-nine years old, yet well-maintained, still a breathtakingly beautiful woman.

But that beauty was staring blankly at the young man before her, finally calling out, "Godfather."

She had actually called him that many times, but each time she couldn't help but pause, recalling how she had washed his feet many times and lived together in solitude, truly feeling a complex array of emotions.

Song Yan said, "This is not my real appearance."

The Commandery Princess of Red Flame was stunned again, then softly asked, "What does Godfather's real appearance look like?"

Song Yan said, "If you see and know, you would become embroiled in immense cause and effect, then Xixiang Kingdom might face ultimate doom someday."

The Commandery Princess of Red Flame paused in silence, then said, "Daughter understands, daughter will not ask."

Song Yan said, "I came here to seek enlightenment, and now I have attained it. You seek to restore the kingdom and reform, also seeking gain—everyone is pleased. Our ties must end."

The Commandery Princess of Red Flame bit her lip, desperately wanting to say "I wish to follow my godfather," but Xixiang Kingdom's reforms still require her advocacy; the old nobility have fallen, and the future lies completely under her control. If she left, Xixiang Kingdom would undoubtedly fall into more chaos. She... cannot leave.

"Godfather!"

The Commandery Princess of Red Flame suddenly threw herself into the youth's arms, her cheeks tightly pressed against his chest, eyes closed, tears flowed naturally.