115: The Tao is inherently ruthless

Lin Mu and the others all looked at the newcomer.

Seeing the woman's unfriendly expression, Long Yuan spoke first.

"Fellow Daoist Qianchen, what is the matter with your expression?"

The person who flew in from the ruins was none other than the Ice Emperor.

With a frosty face, she questioned, "What is the matter? Can't you truly see the scene on the ground?"

"Hundreds of human race powerhouses died here, yet you turn a blind eye."

She stared intently at Lin Mu and continued.

"With your cultivation, if you had intervened to protect them just now, they wouldn't have died tragically on the spot."

"Until their last breath, they regarded you as a savior, a saint."

"But are you worthy? Are you worthy of their trust?"

"I truly misjudged you. I thought you came to save the human race."

"I never thought you were just here for your own schemes and calculations."

"You disgust me."

At this moment, the Ice Emperor no longer looked like a high and mighty monarch.

Instead, she resembled a resentful woman who had suffered a great injustice.

The Ice Emperor knew very well that if she spoke these words, she might be instantly killed by Lin Mu.

But she still couldn't help but want to speak up for the tragically deceased.

These people traveled thousands of miles to support the human race's safety.

Although their strength was lacking, their fervent passion was still worthy of the Ice Emperor's respect.

But because of the indifferent attitude of these so-called distinguished individuals, these human elites all perished.

After she finished speaking her heart, she resolutely closed her eyes, awaiting the arrival of death.

However, after waiting for a moment, Lin Mu did not make a move against her.

She slowly opened her eyes and gently wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with her right hand.

With vacant eyes, she softly mocked, "What? Are you soft-hearted now, unable to strike?"

Facing the Ice Emperor's mockery, Lin Mu did not feel much anger in his heart.

He said indifferently, "I don't know where you get the confidence to question me."

"I have never stated that I came to save the human race."

"That was merely their wishful thinking."

"I, Lin Mu, always act according to my own heart, regardless of right or wrong, cause or effect."

"If their strength was insufficient and they were killed, it was their own fault; no one else can be blamed."

"If today my strength were inferior to that God Emperor, and I were killed by him, I would have no complaints whatsoever."

Lin Mu said this, seeing that the Ice Emperor still looked unconvinced.

He then continued, "Take yourself, for example. Are all the people you have killed in your life truly deserving of death?"

Lin Mu then pointed to the ruins and said, "Those people, can you guarantee that they haven't killed innocent people?"

"Who should those people killed by you seek justice from?"

"Humans are always like this; they only feel the pain when the stick hits their own body."

Lin Mu's powerful words made the Ice Emperor fall into contemplation.

A struggling and pained expression appeared on her face.

Although she understood that there was truth in Lin Mu's words, she always felt that something was amiss.

Just then, Lin Mu's voice once again fell into her ears.

"Go back to your Wind and Snow Country. Being overly compassionate will not lead to the Great Dao."

The Ice Emperor wanted to refute a few words, but when the words reached her lips, she didn't know how to argue.

She said with a desolate expression, "Perhaps someone like me is destined to never touch the Great Dao, but I have no regrets."

After she finished speaking, she turned and disappeared into the night sky without looking back.

Long Yuan looked at the Ice Emperor's desolate figure and couldn't help but sigh.

The Great Dao is inherently ruthless; it is already difficult enough to simply look out for oneself.

For the sake of strength, instances of masters and disciples harming each other, and fathers and sons becoming enemies, are not uncommon.

Even the God Emperor is like this, let alone mere mortals.

Long Yuan couldn't help but say, "I rather envy her. To be able to maintain her original heart after a thousand years of cultivation."

Lao Mo heard this and said teasingly, "If you've fallen for her, then go with her."

Long Yuan's old face flushed, and he said awkwardly, "Senior truly knows how to joke. I don't have such thoughts."

Lao Mo laughed heartily, then looked at Lin Mu and said, "What are your plans next, Master?"

Although he knew Lin Mu might go into seclusion, Lao Mo still habitually asked.

Lin Mu pondered for a moment before saying, "Originally, I intended to go directly into seclusion, but now I've changed my mind."

Lao Mo let out an surprised 'oh'.

Lin Mu continued, "My cultivation has progressed a bit too quickly, but my understanding of the Dao hasn't kept up."

"Next, I plan to seal my cultivation and travel the world alone, truly experiencing what it means to be human and what it means to be Dao."

Lao Mo heard this and said regretfully, "We just reunited, and now we must part with Master again."

Lin Mu said calmly, "Since I chose this path, these partings and reunions are unavoidable."

"You all should return to the Heavenly Dao Sect immediately. We shall part ways here."

Lin Mu always acted decisively; once he made a decision, he would execute it immediately.

However, just as Lin Mu was bidding farewell to Lao Mo.

A familiar voice came, "Boss, are you alright? What was that terrifying attack just now?"

Lin Mu looked in the direction of the voice, only to see the Three-Headed Dog's massive figure flying towards him.

Beside it was a belated Yun Feiyang.

Once they approached, Yun Feiyang cupped his hands and said, "This subordinate is late; please punish me, Sect Master."

Lin Mu said indifferently, "Fortunately, you were late, otherwise you would be like those people on the ground."

Lin Mu's words were clearly mostly a joke.

Although he could disregard the lives of others, he still valued the safety of his subordinates.

After Lin Mu finished speaking, he suddenly thought of something.

He spread his spiritual sense across the ground and immediately found the person he was looking for in the ruins.

His figure flickered, and under the confused gazes of the crowd, he disappeared from his original spot.

When he reappeared, he was standing in a corner of the ruins.

In the corner, a blood-soaked Middle-aged man (Fang Yan), barely breathing, lay on the ground.

As if feeling someone watching him, he laboriously opened his eyes.

When he clearly saw the newcomer's appearance, his spirit suddenly lifted.

He struggled to get up and bow, but after several attempts, he couldn't manage to rise.

Lin Mu also saw the man's intention and said calmly, "Just lie still, no need to bow."

This person was Cui Yan, the Old Ancestor of the Cui Family from Yan Country, who had come to provide support.

Cui Yan nodded slightly to Lin Mu, then spat out a mouthful of clotted blood.

After spitting out the clotted blood, Cui Yan seemed to feel a bit better.

He said weakly, "Greetings... greetings, Young Master. I'm afraid I won't make it."

"Before I die, I boldly ask Young Master for a favor."

A hundred years ago, the Cui Family found information about the heavenly dao stone for Lin Mu, and Lin Mu had promised the Cui Family one request.

For over a hundred years, the Cui Family had never brought this up to Lin Mu.

Lin Mu naturally remembered this matter.

He softly assented, "What is your request? Speak."

Cui Yan gasped, "I made many enemies during my life. If I die, the Cui Family will surely face retaliation."

"I hope that when the Cui Family faces the calamity of annihilation, Young Master can intervene once."

Lin Mu said indifferently, "Even if I intervene once, if the Cui Family has no successors, it will still head towards destruction."

Cui Yan gently exhaled and said with a calm expression, "Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. All I can do for them is this."

Cui Yan seemed to have come to terms with many things. After speaking, he looked at Lin Mu with hopeful eyes.

Lin Mu hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have more important things to do, and I might not have time to look after the Cui Family."

Cui Yan's expression froze upon hearing this, and the light in his eyes dimmed a bit more.

He trembled his lips, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to begin.

Lin Mu saw his expression and knew what he was thinking.

He smiled faintly, then reached out and pointed a finger at Cui Yan's forehead.

With Lin Mu's touch, Cui Yan's body suddenly glowed with a faint yellow aura.

A rich surge of vitality rose up.

Cui Yan's previous injuries were actually recovering rapidly.

He watched this scene in disbelief, then a look of ecstasy appeared on his face.

Just as he was about to express his gratitude, Lin Mu spoke first.

"Saving your life fulfills my original promise. From now on, the Cui Family and I have no further connection."

After Lin Mu finished speaking, his figure flickered and he disappeared from the spot.

Only Cui Yan remained, standing still in a daze.