Journey to the West: Life Simulation of Sun Wukong

In the square of the vacant lot, various small stalls had been set up, mostly selling snacks and then various kinds of lanterns.

If one were to merely observe their appearance, people from Earth could never guess that it was the Ghost Festival.

"I think Li Hansha would definitely like this atmosphere," Su Jie suddenly said.

"Oh? I'd like to hear more," Sun Shisheng asked.

"Zhuang's philosophy claims life and death are natural, cheerfully playing drums while sitting cross-legged," Su Jie said, "Li Hansha, as a supreme being, unknowingly aligns with Zhuang's philosophy—the supreme being is unemotional."

The supreme being is unemotional because he complies with nature and sees all beings equally, with great love, and does not favor anyone.

But Su Jie was different; he favored humans.

Because he was human.

"It seems that during your initial philosophical debate with Wang Chao and Li Hansha, you didn't quite take to Li Hansha's philosophy," Sun Shisheng said with a chuckle, seemingly unconcerned about Su Jie and Li Hansha clashing in the future.

"Indeed, I didn't really like it; it felt completely opposite to me," Su Jie confessed, "His notions are lofty, embodying the natural principles of Heavenly Dao; whereas I start from the grassroots, focusing on human actions overcoming heavenly dictates."

"Like fire and water, yin and yang clashing against each other."

"Only under Wang Chao's Unity of Heaven and Man philosophy can they perfectly adapt to each other, to the extent that their spirits understand each other, yet further affirm their own paths," Su Jie explained.

Three Pure Ones, the highest of beginnings, with Spiritual Treasure to the left and morality to the right.

Indeed, Spiritual Treasure and morality hardly get along, while the initiate provides mediation in the middle, making the path of the three eternal, indispensable.

"Su Jie!"

Dressed in a white gown, slightly powdered, Meng Xiaolan squeezed through the crowd and arrived in front of the two men, then quietly called out "Principal."

"Having time to spare as a ruler of a nation?" Su Jie asked with a smile.

"Please, I'm not made of iron; I need rest too," Meng Xiaolan replied irritably, then chuckled, "I've handed my duties over to Xiaohuan; she can deputize for me."

Su Jie: "..."

"Let's not talk about that. I think I can see ghosts. They are walking on the yellow petals of the other shore flowers, some even without skin, just a white skeleton that looks somewhat eerie," Meng Xiaolan changed the subject.

Meng Xiaolan pointed to a Soul Body on the path paved with other shore flowers beside the road, not only unafraid but also carefully describing its appearance.

"Dressed in a khaki short shirt, with the bones connected in mid-air, walking on the petals of the other shore flowers, as if weightless… Principal, why are the souls different? Some have skin, unchanged from when they were alive; others are just skeletons?"

"It's simple, because he is about to be forgotten by those who remember him," Sun Shisheng said in a slightly heavy tone. "When people die, their souls go to the cycle of rebirth; when no one remembers their face, their skin dissipates and turns to a skeleton; when everyone in the world forgets them, they will truly die, leaving no memories of their former life and reincarnate."

"Is that so?"

Talking about death, Meng Xiaolan's lively nature calmed down and became solemn.

"Reincarnation? Why didn't we have such myths before?"

"Because in the past, there was no reincarnation here, the dead were only assimilated by fate," Sun Shisheng answered expressionlessly. "The abode of reincarnation provides for the reincarnation of all beings and also judges all actions of life before death, the so-called deeds of good and evil always find their recompense, which is performed in the land of reincarnation."

"And the reason you haven't heard of it is probably because the abode of reincarnation was only established recently."

Meng Xiaolan covered her small mouth, staring at Sun Shisheng in disbelief, "Did you establish it?"

Sun Shisheng nodded, "Yes."

A flash of insight sparkled in Meng Xiaolan's eyes.

The establishment of the cycle's location indicated that Heavenly Dao was no match for the principal and had even been eradicated by him; thus, their future enemies would only be the various dynasties and cultivators!

"You truly sympathize with the suffering of the people, which is admirable," Meng Xiaolan said, flattering him.

Sun Shisheng shook his head, "I merely do not wish for the people of the world to fail in discerning right from wrong and to create an order based on 'the law of the jungle,' which is ultimately too barbaric."

"The principal is far-sighted," sighed Meng Xiaolan. "If all the people of this world were to abide by the principle of the survival of the fittest, what difference would there be between us and wild beasts?"

She could imagine... no, she had already experienced it.

Before arriving in Linghua County, everything she saw and heard involved the common people being bullied by officials and nobles. No matter who was right or wrong, the suffering individuals were always the ordinary people.

The establishment of a dynasty meant a stable order, but this order only benefited the nobles, with the commoners having no chance of turning their fortunes.

Moreover, because the dynasties controlled large armies and had the backing of cultivating sects, the common people dared not revolt even when they could no longer survive.

They would rather resort to cannibalism than attack the landlords and the government.

Even if the common people lacked relevant training, from an outsider's perspective, their numbers far exceeded the landlords' guards and the government's soldiers; a real clash would mean the officials and landlords stood no chance.

Why didn't they dare?

Because they lacked courage, and the conservative ideas passed down through generations made them feel that they should never raise their hands against the landlords.

Whether or not they could defeat them was one thing.

Whether or not they dared to was another matter altogether.

From Meng Xiaolan's perspective, it would be impossible for Jieguo to liberate people's minds in just one generation. It would take at least three generations for them to dare to wield their weapons against the enemy.

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Just like the current Jieguo, she was already viewed by most as the emperor. Even among the troops who had helped her take over the entire Linghua County, many saw her as the empress and even dreamed of becoming higher-ups themselves.

After all, they believed they had achieved it through their mighty deeds.

Good grief!

When they were nearly starving to death, none had thought of fighting tooth and nail against others; but now, after obtaining initial victories following her, all they thought about was how to cement their status as superiors.

As for these people, Meng Xiaolan certainly would not indulge them.

Su Jie had once told her that on this path, the enemies are not just the feudal emperors and nobles, but also one's own people, because not everyone's spirit is as resolute as hers.

Ideals, at the beginning, everyone has them, but there are always those who find it too challenging and abandon their original intentions, thus taking another path.

"The road ahead is long and has no end in sight—"

Meng Xiaolan recited the words Su Jie had once spoken before her, surveying the joyful crowd, some of whom were drinking alone, while others served as slaves, busying themselves for their masters.

"I will seek it high and low!"