Chapter 23: The All-Encompassing Demon

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Staring at his insufferably arrogant apprentice, Zhang Jingqing was momentarily taken aback. Compared to the Celestial Master’s Mansion, no matter how disreputable the Cao Gang might be, it was still a formidable power spanning the lakes and seas, boasting numerous extraordinary experts and a substantial arsenal of firearms.

“You’re not even eighteen yet, still wet behind the ears, and you’re shouting that wiping them out would be as easy as flipping your hand? You’re far too arrogant, too reckless, utterly disrespectful!”

Though Zhang Jingqing thought this, he did not fly into a rage after what had just happened. Instead, he chuckled and scolded lightly:

“You insolent brat who doesn’t know the heights of heaven or the depths of earth!”

Then he continued, “When it comes to a power like the Cao Gang, you can afford to look down on them strategically, but once you’re actually facing them, you must take them seriously tactically. After all, open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to defend against. They have numerous firearms—sharp and difficult to withstand...”

“Strategically disdain, tactically respect…” Zhang Zhiwei repeated, giving a thumbs-up. “Master truly possesses great wisdom!”

As for Zhang Jingqing’s warnings about their firearms and hidden dangers, Zhang Zhiwei let the words pass in one ear and out the other.

No, they didn’t even enter.

Firearms are sharp? My Golden Light Curse is no less effective.

Eager to test his skills, he asked, “Master, once we arrive, should we take on the Cao Gang’s local stronghold?”

“What for? Are you addicted to killing now?” Zhang Jingqing snapped in annoyance. “Besides, this matter might be more complicated. The ‘Little Ghosts’ from the cult are a sinister and insidious evil, universally despised by the world’s extraordinary beings. Those skilled in such dark arts are mostly gathered under the Quanxing Sect.”

“This affair may also involve the Quanxing demons. Jiangnan is the Lu family’s territory, so we need not intervene. I will inform the Lu family patriarch and let them handle it.”

Quanxing... Zhang Zhiwei’s heart skipped a beat. Quanxing was the common enemy of all extraordinary beings in this world, somewhat like the Ming Cult in the novel “Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.”

In the past, Zhang Zhiwei harbored no particular animosity toward Quanxing, having known some of their later stories—such as the anti-Japanese resistance and the oath of the Thirty-Six Bandits.

Having grown up in Dragon Tiger Mountain and occasionally visiting other sects with Master Zhang Jingqing, he had never encountered Quanxing firsthand and lacked a deep understanding.

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However, after this incident, Zhang Zhiwei understood why all sects sought to exterminate Quanxing, even ruthlessly purging their own disciples who formed the Thirty-Six Bandits.

There were undoubtedly many unknown secrets involved, but it was also inseparable from Quanxing’s habitual ways.

A sect universally hunted by the world’s extraordinary beings could hardly be innocent.

Moreover, the Quanxing of today and that of the future might not be the same.

The Quanxing later on, as depicted in stories, were those transformed by the Wugen Sheng, a relatively tame force under corporate control.

But the current Quanxing was a band of demons who killed without restraint.

After all, this was a chaotic era lacking rules. Quanxing disciples were powerful but unprincipled, pursuing their desires and the darkest aspects of human nature to the extreme.

There were many fiends like Bai Xiao Liang Ting, who burned, looted, and pillaged for no reason other than perverse pleasure, committing every imaginable evil.

The demons Zhang Zhiwei encountered on the train were exactly this type—ruthlessly abducting children and raising ‘Little Ghosts’ through cruel means.

Considering that his own sect’s disciples had sworn brotherhood with the heads of such fiends, it was no wonder the Thirty-Six Bandits were purged.

“Master, do you think Quanxing really needs to exist?” Zhang Zhiwei asked.

Zhang Jingqing smiled, “Quanxing is now a gathering place for demons, but if Quanxing disappeared, would there be no demons in this world?”

“Zhiwei, this world is never simply black or white. Quanxing’s founder, Yang Zhu, established the sect with the principle: ‘Do not pluck a hair to benefit the world, nor take even a bit if it harms the world; do neither.’”

“This means those who join Quanxing must let go of worldly temptations, even the entire world itself, seeking transcendence and immortality.”

“But such transcendence is rare. Yang Zhu’s philosophy is too shocking for most to comprehend.”

“Most people only focus on not plucking a hair to harm the world, but completely ignore the rest.”

“Why? Do they not understand? They do, but since they know, why don’t they act accordingly? Because they simply don't want to.”

“They only want a grand, righteous banner to justify committing evil—to rationalize their desires, rage, and dark thoughts using the guise of a sacred philosophy.”

“In essence, these demons are just a bunch of lost souls who cannot find their true ‘Path’—pitiful creatures who deceive only themselves.”

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“Whether Quanxing exists or not, these pitiful creatures will remain. Without Quanxing, they would be more scattered and harder to deal with.”

After hearing Zhang Jingqing’s explanation, Zhang Zhiwei was enlightened.

No wonder Quanxing had barely survived. It wasn’t that they were powerful like the Ming Cult resisting the Six Great Sects; rather, the world of extraordinary beings needed a garbage dump to gather all the scoundrels.

With such a dump, the trash was easier to clean up.

Moreover, it served as a convenient scapegoat—after all, the martial world cannot be composed solely of righteous sects.

It also bore the blame when needed. In short, it was very useful.

“I see now!” Zhang Zhiwei said thoughtfully. “Your disciple has been instructed!”

“Why, feeling uneasy? Thinking our indulgence led to Quanxing demons harming the innocent?” Zhang Jingqing asked.

“Master, I’m not that narrow-minded!” Zhang Zhiwei replied. “I was just wondering if Quanxing has already infiltrated the Cao Gang!”

Zhang Jingqing said, “Worried about raising a tiger to harm you? Quanxing’s large gatherings always face extermination, so the organization remains loose. Quanxing demons often have multiple identities. It’s quite normal for a dark power like the Cao Gang to be infiltrated by Quanxing demons. The question is how deep the infiltration goes.”

“If the infiltration is deep, should we cleanse it?” Zhang Zhiwei asked.

Zhang Jingqing nodded. “Yes.”

Zhang Zhiwei wanted to ask more details, but the carriage ahead suddenly erupted in noise.

Zhang Jingqing stood up. “Let’s go. You caused such a commotion. What, do you expect to ride the train all the way to the station?”

“Heh heh heh...” Zhang Zhiwei scratched his head, realizing the two train engineers must have gone to report them. “Master, I concealed my face with the Golden Light Curse. No one recognized me!”

“...If the ancestors knew you used the Golden Light Curse like that, they’d strike you down with lightning!” Zhang Jingqing scolded, exasperated.