Chapter 1420: The People’s Will as a Knife

Qin Mu walked out of the Sparrow-Catching Platform and looked back. Wei Yong stood blankly on the platform, staring at the piece of iron.

The Butcher strode over, walking alongside him, and praised, "Your cultivation of the Dao realm is so profound that it enhances your knife-wielding skills. You can make even a simple piece of iron wield the power of a divine weapon."

Qin Mu was momentarily lost in thought, then shook his head.

This was not something to be praised. Compared to these ordinary divine arts practitioners, his vision, insight, Dao heart, and foundation far surpassed theirs. Even if given a small wooden stick, he could break divine weapons.

The Butcher chuckled, "This time you've achieved enlightenment and comprehended the Blade of Law, clearly undermining my prestige by implying I'm merely a brave brute. However, I roam the martial world with my blade, free and unconstrained by your rules and regulations. Your Blade of Law cannot be superior to my Dao of the Blade."

Qin Mu was silent for a moment, then said, "Grandpa Butcher must have known about Wei Qinghe long ago. Why didn't you eliminate him with the brute's blade, but instead left him for me to deal with personally?"

"If I did it, it would always be an act of brute force. If you do it, it represents the direction of Yan Kang."

The Butcher smiled casually and said, "Over the years, you've been in the Heavenly Court, and I've been in Yan Kang. I've seen too many similar incidents and have wielded brute force to kill many, but what good does it do? The brute's blade cannot solve these issues. Yan Kang is vast, and a brute's power cannot investigate all the rights and wrongs across the entire land. It requires Heavenly Venerate Mu to establish the laws. I've been waiting for you to return."

"In this world, there are always places the Blade of Yan Kang's Law cannot reach. Perhaps, in those places, the rage of a common man is still needed, with blood spilled five paces."

Qin Mu pondered for a moment and said, "The imperial court needs to brandish the Blade of Law to rectify official corruption, but even with reforms, there will still be people like Wei Qinghe. Grandpa Butcher, you're right. I'm too close to the heavens and too far from the earth. It's time for self-reflection. My abilities originally stemmed from the mortal world, but after arriving at the Heavenly Court, I began to study the Prenatal Dao, attempting to catch up with the Ten Heavenly Venerates in a short time to give Yan Kang a chance to breathe and develop. Over these years, I've forgotten where my skills truly came from."

The path of a sage lies in the daily lives of the common people. He had always believed he was still on that path, but suddenly realized he had deviated. It wasn't too late to return now.

"As long as your original intention remains unchanged, you are still a good young man."

The Butcher patted his shoulder and led him to a blacksmith shop in the new city. This place was for making farming tools, not spiritual weapons. Hoes, iron plows, and kitchen knives hung in the shop.

"Forge a good knife."

The Butcher sat down and said to the blacksmith, "I want a fine steel knife. Two catties of iron, for this young man to use."

He pointed to Qin Mu, who also sat on a long bench. The blacksmith brought over some coarse tea and said, "We don't have fine steel, but we have rough iron."

"Rough iron is even better. This young man can shatter divine weapons with just a piece of iron. Bring two catties of rough iron, not an ounce more, so he doesn't find it too easy to cut people down. Let him forge it himself."

The Butcher drank his tea. Though the coarse tea was bland, he drank it with relish. "You operate the bellows for him and assist."

The blacksmith looked at Qin Mu suspiciously. Seeing his extraordinary attire, he chuckled, "This gentleman is a noble son; how could he do such rough work?"

Qin Mu drank his tea and smiled, "I was a blacksmith back then too. Why does your shop still have these farming tools? Don't you have everyday spiritual weapons?"

"Even if you eat abalone and delicacies all year round, you still need to eat simple coarse meals sometimes."

The blacksmith chuckled, "Besides, common people aren't wealthy. In recent years, grain prices have been too low, and hiring divine arts practitioners or everyday spiritual weapons for harvesting is too expensive for most. These days, divine arts practitioners are rich, but where do ordinary folks have any money? Using these farming tools helps save some expenses."

Qin Mu silently drank his tea, taking a long time to finish one bowl.

Suddenly, he tilted his head back, drained the bowl, put it down, and stood up. "Alright, you operate the bellows, I'll forge the iron."

The blacksmith selected several pieces of rough iron and began assisting him.

Qin Mu wielded the hammer to forge. Observing his technique, the blacksmith couldn't help but praise, "You're truly a master blacksmith! If you were to open a shop, you'd put this old man out of business!"

Qin Mu forged a rough iron knife. The two catties of coarse iron, refined by his hands, looked like dark steel, gleaming with a chilling light and an oppressive cold aura.

The Butcher paid the bill and said, "Keep the change. Mu'er, let's go. You've found your original intention, and your blade needs its next stage of tempering."

Qin Mu, however, did not follow him. He said, "I still have some urgent matters to attend to."

The Butcher's heart stirred slightly. He stopped and looked up at the sky.

The blacksmith, pleased by their generosity, suddenly looked up and saw numerous stars appearing in the sky.

It was broad daylight, yet there was starlight, and these stars shone brilliantly—what a bizarre phenomenon!

The starlight was moving. One large star was surrounded by over a hundred smaller stars. As the starlight drew closer, the stars became increasingly clear.

*Swish—*

Beams of starlight descended from the sky, landing in Jiangling New City. They were none other than the civil officials of the Yan Kang imperial court, specifically the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, responsible for civil administration.

"Officials of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs pay respects to the Imperial Advisor!" The hundred-odd officials, surrounding the Minister of Official Personnel Affairs, bowed in unison and spoke in one voice.

"No need for formalities."

Qin Mu raised his hand, dispelled the seal on his cultivation, and said to the stunned blacksmith, "Allow me to borrow your shop for a while. You will be well-rewarded."

The blacksmith hastily retreated to the inner room. Qin Mu brought out divine metals and materials from the ancestral court and publicly refined and forged them. The Minister of Official Personnel Affairs and the other officials looked up, witnessing legal texts floating in the air, emanating from the small blacksmith shop and spreading throughout Jiangling New City. These legal texts were accompanied by grand Dao sounds, continuously rumbling and vibrating, as if impartial judges were reciting decrees of Yan Kang's iron laws!

In Jiangling New City, countless common folk walked out onto the streets, listening to the recitation of the laws, becoming enthralled.

Wei Yong and the divine beings from Jiangling had not left either. They stared, mesmerized, at the legal texts descending from the sky.

As Qin Mu forged, and the recitation continued, the legal texts were hammered and fused into a divine blade, transforming into iron laws, becoming the very power of the divine blade.

After a long time, Qin Mu extinguished his divine flame and dropped the hammer. He held the Blade of Law in his hands, his voice echoing throughout the city as he gravely said, "Officials of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, step forward to receive the blade."

The officials of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs stepped forward. The Minister of Official Personnel Affairs bowed and raised his hands high.

"Is Yan Kang's law rule by man or rule by law? Is it governing the nation with law, or governing according to law? Do Yan Kang's old laws still suit the current era?"

"Yan Kang's Dao arts and divine powers must change, but should Yan Kang's laws also change?"

"Have the good laws of yesteryear now become evil laws? How do we punish evil, promote good, and achieve justice?"

"Completely abandoning rule by man is impossible. How do we strike a balance between rule by man and rule by law?"

"Are those who uphold the law self-disciplined, externally regulated, or simply the law itself?"

"Lord of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs!"

"Laws concern the will of the people!"

"The people's will is a blade, the strongest divine blade. It can strike down a corrupt official or two, or it can destroy a powerful nation. Gentlemen, on my behalf, care for the people's will."

"Today, on behalf of the imperial court, I bestow this blade upon you. The reform and transformation of laws are entrusted to you!"

Qin Mu bowed and presented the Blade of Law. The Minister of Official Personnel Affairs stepped forward, took the divine blade in both hands, bowed his head, and retreated to stand among the other officials. He declared solemnly, "Where the law resides, the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs shall brave fire and water, and never fail the will of the people!"

Qin Mu followed the Butcher out of Jiangling New City, step by step. This bestowal of the blade in the new city was bound to cause a considerable stir in Yan Kang, and the reform of laws would undoubtedly be promoted, perhaps restoring a clear and just political landscape to Yan Kang.

"Grandpa Butcher, where are we heading next?"

"This mortal realm is a vast holy land, and also a vast purgatory. Beings transcend in this holy land and fall into depravity in this purgatory. There are too many injustices in the world, too many conflicts, countless open and hidden struggles, intrigues, and machinations. The Dao of the Blade must be tempered in the mundane world and also on the battlefield."

The Butcher said, "I'll take you to the battlefield. Although you are my disciple, you've never truly fought on a battlefield. Your experience in the War of the Supreme Emperor was merely a taste. Back then..."

He was lost in thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Never mind."

Qin Mu asked curiously, "Since Grandpa Butcher started to say something, why didn't you continue?"

The Butcher hesitated. Seeing that Qin Mu was no longer as solemn as before, having bestowed the Blade of Law upon the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, Qin Mu's Dao heart had become even more resolute than before.

The Butcher was happy for him in his heart, so he didn't hide anything. He said, "Back then, I was considered a talented scholar. Although I was tall and sturdy, I was well-read in poetry and literature, and my essays, poems, and songs were somewhat renowned. At that time, I was a literati, indulging in a life of luxury and frequenting pleasure districts. It wasn't until the enemy invaded, and our nation was shattered and our families destroyed, that I witnessed the tragic state of affairs. So I cast aside my brush and ink, drew my blade, and joined the army to go to war. Hundreds of scholars from Jiangnan went with me; those who returned..."

He said hoarsely, "Only I returned."

Qin Mu patted his shoulder.

The Butcher exhaled a murky breath and said, "The blade on the battlefield is different from the blades you usually encounter. The blade on the battlefield is a blade of slaughter, but also a blade of salvation."

Qin Mu was slightly taken aback and asked for clarification.

The Butcher said, "The blade kills enemies, but it saves the nation behind you and the people living within it. The brute's blade leads to blood spilled five paces, a satisfying vengeance. The battlefield blade, however, gallops a thousand li, staining hands with blood, yet saving countless lives! Come with me to the battlefield, to meet your comrades!"

Qin Mu's spirit was greatly shaken, and he followed him, walking forward.

They journeyed for dozens of days, arriving at the battlefield in the Southern Border. After the Ten Heavenly Venerates partitioned the Primordial Realm, Yan Kang's pressure greatly increased. The first wave of forces to attack Yan Kang came from the Southern Lands, under the command of Fire Heavenly Venerate. Humans and demigods were mixed, attacking Yan Kang, besieging cities, and seizing territory.

These gods, devils, and divine arts practitioners came from the Southern Heaven; they were the humans and demigods of the Southern Heaven.

The Butcher and Qin Mu each adopted aliases and enlisted in the army.

"The army opposite us, they're also human," a warrior said, trembling as he looked at the opposing forces.

"Don't harbor such thoughts."

An old soldier comforted him, saying, "Think about what's behind you. Behind you is Yan Kang! It's the common people of Yan Kang! If you treat the enemies opposite us as humans too, then it's you who will die, along with the people you are supposed to protect!"

"Pant, pant..."

Someone was breathing heavily, his legs trembling, his face pale with nervousness, almost gasping for air. "This is my first time on a battlefield. Before, I only practiced with other scholars at the academy; I've never truly been in combat..."

"Just stick with me later."

An old soldier with a scar on his face chuckled, "Do you remember what the teachers taught you in class? If you see someone waving a flag in the sky, stand up. If you hear drumbeats, continuous drumming means advance, and rapidly intensifying drums mean charge. If you hear the clapper, stop. If you hear drums and cymbals, retreat. Furthermore, there will be experts in divine consciousness who will transmit commands directly to our minds, so there will be no mistakes."

The scarred old soldier then looked at Qin Mu, offering him a water pipe. He chuckled, "You don't seem nervous. Are you perhaps an old warhorse? Try this; it tastes good."

Qin Mu took the water pipe, puffed once, and said, "I've been to the Supreme Emperor's battlefield before, just fumbled around for a bit."

"The Supreme Emperor's battlefield? That was more than twenty years ago."

The scarred old soldier's spirit was roused. He waved his hand and said, "Everyone come to this brother's side later. Our entire squad, come over here!"

The other divine arts practitioners gathered around. The scarred old soldier chuckled, "Here's an old warhorse who's been to the Supreme Emperor's battlefield! When the fighting starts, we'll charge together. Follow him, and our chances of survival will be higher! Come on, everyone, remember each other's faces; we need to get familiar with each other."