Chapter 782: Defining Humanity.
After the attack yesterday, the flying restriction arrays had been damaged, and many people who were reconstructing the city infrastructure were allowed to fly over and speed up the work.
Shi Lang vanished from his spot in the pavilion and appeared above the city. Behind him Lao Xu, Sovereign Amethyst, and Sovereign Shin, who was also called, Healing hands, appeared with a few more members of the martial council.
They were facing seven monks dressed in a similar fashion as Mandala. They were all bald, but they did not have any gems embedded in their foreheads. Shi Lang cupped his fist and said, "Greetings, Exalted Masters. What can this humble one do for you?"
The monks were surprised and the elders from the martial council were surprised as well. They did not expect that Shi Lang would meet with these people so humbly. Lao Xu remarked with his spiritual sense, 'Was he not very confident about dealing with these men?'
Amethyst did not reply but pursued her lips. Sovereign Healing Hands replied, 'Let us see where this is going.'
The rest of the people expressed their approval silently too. The monks regained their surprise, and the one in the lead said, "Can you explain to us, why did you attack Sovereign Mandala?"
Shi Lang smiled and looked at the monk standing at the end of the formation and said, "Master, I suppose it would be better if you discussed this fairly. Otherwise, no matter what explanation I provide, you will just use it as an excuse to establish dominion."
The elders from the martial council were confused while the monk in front of the formation furrowed his brows and asked, "Why are you asking him to come forward? Have you no respect for the elders?"
Shi Lang looked at him calmly and said, "I am only talking to him because it is apparent to me that he is the real leader. Also, if not for the fact that I was respecting you all, you would have regretted coming here already."
The monks were all surprised and the leader spoke again, "What do you mean that he is the real leader of the team? How dare you threaten us?"
Shi Lang replied, "The composure you displayed and the way you yelled is enough a statement of your attainments in Daoism. As for why do I say that he is the leader, that is because he is the only one whose gaze did not fluctuate. His heart is composed and he is the reason I am respecting you call. So do not think too highly of yourself.
If Mandala can be the representative of your faction in the Martial council, then I suppose you are all weaker than him. What makes you think that if I can cripple him completely, why cannot I do the same to you?"
Lao Xu commented, 'Sure enough, here we go.'
The rest of the elders nodded in approval, they were happy that someone from the younger generation was able to stand up to the pretentious people.
The monk retorted, "Are you sure you want to threaten us? Do you think that the martial council will do anything against us if we punished an insolent youth like you?"
Shi Lang sighed and said, "Bald donkey, you and your folks thought that you would waltz here in your father's backyard and through your weight around by fashioning to be spiritually enlightened and preaching peace and dignity, and I will just do things your way?
Who the fuck do you think you are?! You dare to question me and accuse me? Let me tell you that even if the Martial Council did not attack you for me, but every expert in the Heavenly Dragon Army is currently sharpening their blades to slay your cult of cowards and be done with it.
You came here seeking explanation, then let me ask you for an explanation as the champion of the Heavenly Dragon Army. How dare you bunch of virgin bastards allowed that philandering lunatic come over here and attack our Sovereign? Huh? Answer me you old piece of lard. Why are you quiet now, you son of a bitch, tell me what gave you the right to come here and question me?"
The people in the city all heard that Shi Lang was really demeaning a bunch of immortal sovereigns and some people even covered the ears of their children lest they grew up as rowdy as him.
Amelia in the pavilion looked at Yu Xeidi looking at the sky with sparkling eyes and said, "Xiao Yu, do not take after your master. He is not a girl. Women should be elegant."
Yu Xeidi replied, "But Mistress, Master looks so cool."
Shi Tao nodded and said, "You cannot deny that."
...
In the void, the monks were all glaring at Shi Lang with their eyes popping out as big as bells. Suddenly, a calm voice sounded, "Patron, we are not hear to accuse you of anything. The reason we came here was to learn something from you."
Shi Lang looked at the speaker and commented, "Finally decided to show yourself? Well, since you want to learn something from me, your teammates should know how to be humble. I am not bound to tell you anything when you have such an attitude."
The monk nodded and bowed slightly, "I understand and I am sincerely apologizing to you for the transgression of my team."
The monks were surprised and they all wailed, "Senior Brother."
Shi Lang sighed and said, "Raise your head master."
The monk raised his head and Shi Lang asked, "Please tell me what you want to ask."
The monk said, "My given name is Kamandala. It is clear to me that what Mandala did was wrong, and for that he has been expelled from the House Of Lotus. We do not advocate in his behalf. However, I wish to ask you, why did you act so cruelly toward him when you are clearly strong enough to kill me easily?"
Shi Lang smiled and said, "The reason I did what I did is because he went against the hopes of humanity. He attacked my friend, and more than that, he trampled the dignity of the human forces that are constantly shedding their blood on the frontier.
Tian Long and all the members of the Martial Council are doing their best to lead the forces and keeping the demonic forces at a bay. How should have I reacted when one of the pillars of my race fell to his knees before me? I was enraged, and thus I made a move that will create an example to those who have secondary ideas in their minds."
Kamandala was at a lose, he thought for a few minutes and replied, "I cannot agree with your methods. If someone defies the hopes of humanity and we act cruel towards them, aren't we becoming demons ourselves?"
Shi Lang looked at him in a daze, the monks thought that Kamandala has defeated the Terran and smiled. However, Shi Lang burst into laughter. His voice echoed throughout the city.
The monks were stunned and Shi Lang said, "Just because you follow the path of zen, does not mean we should follow it too. Just because you give up on your emotions does not mean we should do it too.
Look at your hand, Master Kamandala, are your fingers and tell me if they are all equal sized."
Kamandala said, "I understand what you are saying, Patron, but I will not agree with this method."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "You are acknowledging the fact that we all could be different but can exist in harmony. As long as the people can exist in harmony it is not a bad thing. Your thumb does not have to wait for your index finger to acknowledge it.
Humans are the same, you do not have to acknowledge me or the methods I used to defend my beliefs as long as they do not conflict with yours, and vice versa."
Kamandala was surprised but then he could not find a legit rebuttal about this. Shi Lang continued speaking, "Humanity is not so weak, if you choose to preach peace, then tell me what would you do if someone was to betray the trust of your House of Lotus?"
The monk behind Kamandala remarked, "Betrayal is punishable by death."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "Admirable, but then how come you are here to preach to me that I should be have been lenient with that man who Betrayed the entire race?"
His question stumped the monks and he said, "Master Kamandala, it is easy to preach about peace unless you have seen the people you love cry. If you see a child on the street begging for food, you give them pity and I give them food and shelter where they can train and grow strong so that they could do the same for someone on the street.
You teach them sutras and the art of peace. I teach them what a human is. A human is a social animal, that lives in groups and it is cannibalistic in nature for it feeds off the weak."
His words shook the hearts of the monks. Kamandala suddenly looked at Shi Lang and said, "Will you accept me as your disciple?"