Chapter 243 - 242: Headache
For Jiang Li, the Sky Desolate Halberd had always lacked a presence. He had a good weapon, but no worthy opponent. As a result, the Halberd was always in a somewhat awkward position; it didn’t matter whether he used it or not.
The last time he used it was during the activation of other Immortal Artifacts by the Yin Yang Heaven Seal.
That time, he used the Sky Desolate Halberd just in case, for combat. Later, Jiang Li reflected that even if he didn’t use the Halberd, he could have quelled the rebellion of the Immortal Artifacts all the same.
Thinking about it this way, using it as the array eye of the Kyushu Guardian Formation was the best choice.
“I’m sorry, I’ll definitely go and visit when I have time.” Jiang Li felt guilty, and quickly put the matter with the Sky Desolate Halberd aside.
What more do you want from me after I’ve apologized?
Without the use of Divine Sense, the female population of the Luban Sect far exceeded that of the males, and all the females were young and beautiful. But through Divine Sense, one would realize that these females are all puppets.
The puppets of the Luban Sect were made to look very realistic.
Previously, Jiang Li’s impression of the Luban Sect was that its members were a group of monks who were not good at speaking, but loved to study the art of puppetry.
Now, Jiang Li’s impression of the Luban Sect had greatly changed. The once reticent monks became eloquent and were able to handle several female puppets at once. All the female puppets were willingly serving the monks.
Even the simple act of speaking to the beautiful puppets became effortless.
On average, a Luban Sect disciple had three female puppets. It was indeed a blessing.
“I think they look happy. Somehow, I feel like we’re the villains,” Yu Yin said, with a hint of self-mockery.
Jiang Li shook his head and said, “We can’t think like that. Personally, I don’t care who they marry, whether it’s a spirit beast or a puppet, since they all are sentient beings. After all, marriage is a matter of choice.”
“But considering the broader picture of Kyushu, we cannot let them get married in Zhou.”
“It’s like a brothel. It’s a business that everyone tacitly acknowledges. As long as it’s not about selling the innocent into prostitution and it’s definitely not said that brothels are legal, everything can be negotiated. Why can’t it be between a willing body and a willing payer of Spirit Stone?”
“However, the matter of brothels goes against good customs and can’t be openly discussed.”
“This is the crux of the problem with the Luban Sect. As long as we privately
get married and b0tn parties are willing, no one can Intertere. But we can’t openly claim that human beings and puppets can marry. At least not for now.”
“This is not a problem about marriage, but a problem about the relationship between human beings and Spiritual Treasures.”
“Previously, when the Spiritual Treasures became sentient, it caused turmoil in Kyushu and a major downfall of the practitioners. The situation has barely stabilized with the introduction of Spiritual Treasure laws and contracts, which has also led to an overall increase in the strength of Kyushu.”
“If we agree to the marriage of the Luban Sect, it might lead to numerous humans and Spiritual Treasures having deviations, and the stable situation would be disrupted again. The relationship between humans and Spiritual Treasures needs to be gradually adapted, we cannot take too big steps.”
“Then, why don’t you just tell them what you just said?”
Jiang Li looked at Yu Yin in surprise, wondering how someone with her intellect could ask such a question. Then, he looked down and realized that it was the wishful gourd who had spoken.
This was very in line with its way of thinking, direct.
“I am the Human Emperor, looking at things from the overall situation of Kyushu. The Luban Sect is made up of ordinary monks. Why should they look at things from the bigger picture?”
“Just give it a try. It won’t have much of an impact. If it fails, we can think of other methods.”
Yu Yin said, “We can’t. Once the Luban Sect knows our true thoughts, whatever reason we use to stop them later, they will think it’s an excuse. They will develop a sense of rebellion and we will lose more than we gain.”
“I don’t understand. You humans think too complicatedly. It’s even harder than mastering the power of punishment.”
Jiang Li didn’t expect the Wishful Gourd to understand.
Jiang Li and Yu Yin changed their appearances and approached a disciple of the Luban Sect.
“Fellow Daoist, my name is Gong Li and this is my younger sister Gong Yin. We two siblings have long admired the Luban Sect’s reputation and wished to pay a visit. Can we join the Luban Sect?”
Yu Yin was one year younger than Jiang Li.
The Luban Sect disciple called Lu Yu was the one who had made a show at the Zhou competition several days ago. He got disqualified by the referee for bringing too many puppets into the field. He was the senior brother of the
Luban Sect and was the best among his peers at mastering the art of puppetry. The size of his harem attests to this, with whole eighteen stunningly different and beautiful puppets, ranging from a fourteen-year-old to a thirty-five-year-old.
Before the Yin Yang Heaven Seal activated the Spiritual Treasures, everyone thought that the senior brother was strange for making so many beautiful puppets and calling them wives.
After the Yin Yang Heaven Seal showed its might and awakened the Spiritual Treasures of Kyushu, people regretted to their core, wishing only that they had learned from the senior brother and created more puppets. The senior brother was indeed wise. He foresaw the situation and made eighteen wives in advance.
“My name is Lu Yu. Unfortunately, Daoist Gong Li, you have come at an inconvenient time. The Luban Sect is about to move to Zhou soon and we’re unable to recruit new disciples.”
“Why is that? The Luban Sect is a well-known major sect in our Tianyuan Emperor Dynasty. You live well here. Why do you need to go to Zhou?” Jiang Li casually referred it to ‘our Tianyuan Emperor Dynasty’.
Lu Yu, with his icy-faced but stunning wife in his arms, sighed, “Isn’t it because many people ridicule the Luban Sect, claiming that we are all homebody monks who dare not face reality and fantasize about having puppets as wives?”
“To prove that it’s not a mere fantasy, we are going to Zhou to get married. And Zhou requires that only citizens of Zhou can marry according to Zhou’s marriage laws. Our sect unanimously decided that we might as well join Zhou.”
“Why don’t you guys get married according to our marriage laws in the
Tianyuan Emperor Dynasty?”
“Obviously, it’s because Zhou’s laws carry the most authority.”
Jiang Li gave Yu Yin a sidelong glance, and thought, look, it’s all your fault. The disciples of your Tianyuan Emperor Dynasty break the laws every day without getting punished, losing the authority of the laws. Now, you see the
consequence.
Yu Yin returned Jiang Li’s glance, implying that it’s not only our Tianyuan Emperor Dynasty that’s like this. In fact, other dynasties are the same, and the White Marsh Dynasty is even more serious than ours.
Jiang Li retorted with a glance, stating that other dynasties haven’t had this kind of problem. Only here did it occur.
The two engaged in an intense glaring match which the Wishful Gourd found incoherent.
Jiang Li was aware of the problems Lu Yu mentioned. When people learned from the Zhou competition that the disciples of the Luban Sect were marrying puppets, opinions were divided. Some envied them, while others saw it as immoral and decadent.
Most people couldn’t understand the Luban Sect’s actions.
“People’s mindsets are too rigid. They can’t accept new things.” Jiang Li detected the crux of the problem. Most people liked to stick to traditions and resist change. When encountered with new things, they undoubtedly deemed them wrong.
If he were to elaborate on this problem, Jiang Li could write a thick book. However, it would still not solve the immediate issue.
The majority’s viewpoint may not necessarily be right, but you can’t ignore it either.
This was indeed a big headache..