Chapter 22: Moral Blackmail? Don't You Know I Have No Morals?

"Oh, for heaven's sake."

"Are you kidding me? Are the people of the Confucian school always this persistent?"

Lu Ge looked at the scholars ahead, truly annoyed by the constant harassment. They were like leeches, refusing to let him go.

"I knew I shouldn't have been so snarky when I teased Old Yan back then."

Shen Dao observed them for a long while before speaking: "Master, those in front do not appear to be followers of the Lu faction."

Lu Ge was taken aback and looked toward the group of scholars. No matter how hard he squinted, he couldn't see any difference. "How can you tell?"

Shen Dao chuckled: "You haven't had much contact with the Confucian school, Master, so it is only natural you wouldn't know. The scholars of the Lu faction are constantly being suppressed; there is a lingering air of depression between their brows, and their eyes often carry a hint of madness. But these scholars ahead, though they look aggressive and angry, have clear eyes. They are certainly not from the Lu faction."

Lu Ge finally understood and nodded, smiling: "You have a sharp eye for people. Let's go and see what they want this time by blocking our path."

Lu Ge stepped out of the carriage, with Shen Dao following closely behind.

"Why are you blocking our path?" Lu Ge asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you trying to play the part of mountain bandits?"

The leading scholar stepped forward and performed a respectful bow. "Greetings, Sage."

After the pleasantries came the confrontation. "We are currently in the State of Zhao, but we have recently heard that the Daoist Grandmaster has descended from a painting. Your first move was to severely injure our Confucian Master Xun and steal twenty-five years of his life. As a sage, do you not feel any shame in treating a junior in such a manner?"

Lu Ge understood immediately. Yin Wenzi must have spread the news of his defeat of Master Xun to the State of Zhao, and these scholars had come seeking retribution.

"Hmm, so you mean Master Xun can attack me, but I am not allowed to fight back? I should just stand there and take a beating? I don't recall Confucius teaching his disciples that way."

The scholar’s face flushed, but he persisted: "We are aware of the circumstances. It is true that our Confucian school struck first, and the Sage’s counterattack was reasonable. However, the Sage’s blow was far too heavy. Master Xun is already at the age of 'knowing one's destiny,' and to have twenty-five years of his lifespan drained... I fear..."

The scholar’s eyes dimmed as he spoke. The Confucian school’s dominance over the Daoists relied on Mencius in the past and Master Xun today. If Master Xun were to die, the Confucian school would have no one left to carry the mantle.

Lu Ge frowned: "The lifespan has already been cut; it cannot be restored. Just tell me plainly what it is you want."

The scholar’s eyes flickered, and he bowed again: "We only wish for the Sage to apologize to Master Xun for this incident. If the Sage just says the word, we shall withdraw immediately. Surely the Sage does not want the world to think you are a bully who picks on the young."

Indeed, people laugh when they are truly speechless.

"Hahahaha!" Lu Ge pointed at the scholars, laughing in pure exasperation. "Master Xun challenged me, hoping to step on me to boost the reputation of the Confucian school. He lacked the skill, so not only did he fail to gain fame, but he also lost his own life force in the process. Now you tell me I was too heavy-handed and demand an apology? Do you want me to hand over the prestige of the Daoist school for you to trample under your feet? Trying to play the 'moral high ground' game with me? Don't you know I have no morals?"

The *Tao Te Ching* within his sea of consciousness: ???

"The disciples of the Confucian school really are getting worse with every generation. Instead of focusing on their studies, they spend all day plotting these crooked schemes. You are truly blackening the name of Confucius."

Among the scholars, someone shouted angrily: "How dare you! Do you dare to slander the Sage?"

Lu Ge glanced at him: "Are you deaf? I am scolding you. Who is slandering the Sage? Are you the Sage? You failed to trap me with your moral grandstanding, so now you want to provoke me and smear my reputation?"

He swept his gaze coldly over the group. "I have no interest in wasting words with you. Now, move aside."

The leader shook his head: "If the Sage does not apologize, we will certainly not move."

Lu Ge chuckled, pointing a finger at the scholar. "What, do you think I'm being too polite? I tried to talk sense into you, but you refuse to listen, don't you? When I traveled west through Hangu Pass with my teacher, I lost count of how many mountain bandits like you I killed."

As he spoke, the scholar he had pointed at suddenly turned deathly pale. His body lost all strength, and he collapsed onto the ground.

"What did you do?"
"Brother Chen, are you alright?"

The scholars swarmed around him—some concerned, some accusing Lu Ge, while others, sensing the danger, darted their eyes around, looking for an escape route.

"I’ll give you three seconds. Anyone who remains in my sight after that will face the same fate. Don't worry, I am still quite benevolent—I only took twenty-five years of his life, just like Master Xun. I am already showing respect to Confucius and Yan Hui; otherwise, he would be dead already."

Lu Ge held up three fingers. "Three."

Before he even finished the count, nearly half the scholars scrambled to run away.

"Don't run! Don't run!"
"What are you afraid of? There are so many of us; I don't believe he dares to attack us all!"
"That's right! He's just trying to scare us!"
"We swore an oath to seek justice for Master Xun before we left. How can we flee now?"

No matter how the remaining few shouted, they couldn't stop those who wanted to leave. After all, they had only come along to make up the numbers and earn a bit of reputation. Now that things had turned sour, they naturally chose to prioritize their own safety. A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall, after all. Though it seemed spineless, it saved twenty-five years of life. That was twenty-five years! Who knew how long they had to live anyway? If they lost twenty-five years, they might even end up with a negative balance.

There had been over a hundred scholars when they arrived. Now, only a dozen remained.

"Is that it? You still want to give me trouble? Still want to stand up for Master Xun?"

Lu Ge didn't bother to be polite; he didn't even care to finish counting. "Since you won't leave, I will grant your wish."

Sword energy, thin as silk, instantly passed through the bodies of the remaining scholars. Those dozen men turned pale in a heartbeat and collapsed to the ground.

"I am still a kind-hearted man; I dislike seeing people die before me," Lu Ge said. "Remember to tell the others when you go back: if any of you have the guts—or think your lives are long enough—feel free to come and find me. But next time, I won't be so easy to talk to. Next time, for every one of you who comes, one will die."

Lu Ge returned to the carriage, and Shen Dao, silent, resumed driving. As the carriage passed the group of scholars, a cry of shock was heard.

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen, what's wrong?"

Lu Ge pulled back the curtain to look. The leading scholar now had vacant eyes, staring at the sky, his breath completely gone. He was not Master Xun; he had no cultivation to protect him. Having had twenty-five years of his life severed by Lu Ge’s sword, he had reached the end of his path.

Lu Ge let the curtain fall, his heart completely unmoved. They had harassed him time and time again; if he didn't teach them a lesson, they would really think he was easy to bully. A bunch of loudmouths—they needed a reality check.