Essence Devouring Art

Every day, I’d borrow rice from the village to make congee. I went hungry to feed another, and somehow managed to raise that little fellow until he was a year old.

If not for the fact that the little guy’s grandfather was an ingrate, which led to some unpleasantness later on.

I saved his life and raised him.

At the very least, he should have called me ’godfather.’ We certainly shouldn’t be enemies now whenever we meet."

"This..."

Mo Chen’s brows furrowed slightly at his words. He shook his head and sighed in sympathy.

"The debt for giving birth but not raising a child can be repaid, but the debt for raising a child not your own can never be repaid, not even in a hundred lifetimes. If it is as you say, honored guest... then he is indeed an ingrate."

"You seem to be a reasonable person."

Wu Dao praised him with a meaningful tone, then asked, "Then in your opinion, if one day you came face-to-face with that ingrate, how should you deal with him?"

"Hehe, the old drunkard might not be a role model, but he’s literate and understands reason. I learned from him."

The young man smiled humbly, then thought for a moment before saying seriously:

"In my humble opinion, once you know a person’s heart, if there’s no life-or-death feud between you, then it’s best to have nothing more to do with them. Make a clean break."

"And what if there is a life-or-death feud?"

Wu Dao pressed.

"A life-or-death feud..."

A sudden chill ran through Mo Chen’s heart. He gave a dry laugh and said, "Heh, well, if it’s kill or be killed, then there’s no reason to offer your neck to your enemy.

If it were me, I’d probably find a different way to ’reason’ with him."

As he spoke, he even raised his slightly dark, malnourished fist, grinning like a young wolf baring its fangs.

"Mm, that’s what I was thinking too."

Wu Dao also smiled, the corner of his mouth hooking up. "However, your method is still a bit too merciful. Always trying to reason with people first... that’s not good."

"Why not?"

Mo Chen didn’t understand. ’There’s nothing in this world greater than reason. If no one uses reason, wouldn’t the world descend into chaos?’

"Who needs to use reason?"

Wu Dao asked in return.

’People who understand reason...’

’Ugh.’

Mo Chen’s expression froze. He was naturally intelligent and quick to grasp things. He wanted to retort, but he couldn’t find a good reason.

’Who needs to use reason?’

’Those who are weaker than others.’

’If you can use your fists, don’t use your mouth.’

’It’s a crude way of putting it, but it’s not wrong.’

’If you can knock someone down with a single slap, is there any need to waste your breath reasoning with them?’

’Maybe you do.’

’Because there are higher laws and principles that restrain such barbaric behavior.’

’But...’

’when you can take another’s life at will...’

’how many people would truly care about so-called morals and laws?’

’When others are willing to listen to your reasoning...’

’it’s often not because your reasoning is so profound.’

’It’s simply because you are stronger than them.’

’For the powerful,’

’even nonsense is treated as profound mystery.’

’For the weak,’

’even great wisdom is dismissed as gibberish.’

"Let me teach you something for free, just as a senior."

Wu Dao patted Mo Chen’s shoulder. His gaze was profound, like a devil tempting a soul.

"There is no reasoning in this world that can bring about a true epiphany, and no king has ever ascended his throne by reasoning with others.

Only bone-deep pain will make your enemies regret and see the truth. And only a throne forged in blood can truly keep the masses in their place."

"No... It shouldn’t be like that."

Mo Chen was horrified. Wu Dao’s gaze seemed terrifying beyond measure; within it, endless mountains of corpses and seas of blood churned, and a Hell Demon God sneered.

It made his chest tighten involuntarily.

He subconsciously took a step back.

"Outsider, don’t go too far!"

Just then, at the entrance to a nearby pawnshop, a thin, middle-aged shopkeeper in green robes holding an abacus saw Mo Chen’s terrified expression and couldn’t help but frown and snort coldly.

From inside several other shops, faintly perceptible, cold gazes also landed on them.

"Hehe, relax. A few words won’t kill you."

Wu Dao spread his hands mockingly, paying no mind to the Shopkeeper’s icy stare—a look one might give a dead man. The corner of his eye glanced at the now-quiet Mo Chen, and he felt a keen sense of disappointment.

’The reason I said so much was to see what kind of person this ’lucky one’ who stole my former self’s fortune and true name really was.’

’After some consideration...’

’His words and actions...’

’he’s reasonable and knows he needs to be strong.’

’As a person, he’s certainly fine.’

’But he’s a far cry from having the heart of a true expert. He has a stubborn, fierce streak, but it’s limited to ’I won’t attack unless attacked’.’

’An opponent like this...’

’what level is he even on?’

’My enemies, Wu Dao’s enemies...’

’can only be fierce beasts with sharp fangs and claws, just like me.’

’A lamb that’s just started growing horns...’

’can’t give me any sense of accomplishment from the hunt at all!’

"Shopkeeper Shen?"

Coming back to his senses, Mo Chen looked with surprise at the middle-aged man in green at the pawnshop entrance. ’This Shopkeeper Shen usually never gives me the time of day. Why today...?’

"What are you looking at, you blockhead."

Shopkeeper Shen glared at Mo Chen and said,

"Be careful you don’t get sold and end up helping them count the money."

"Someone would have to want me first."

A warmth spread through Mo Chen’s heart, but he still pursed his lips resentfully. ’It’s not like I’m worth anything. I’m just a few pounds of flesh, what good would I be to anyone?’

However, Wu Dao’s recent words also made him realize this person was definitely a ruthless figure in the outside world. Any little thoughts he’d had of ’ripping him off’ vanished.

He proactively put a few steps of distance between himself and Wu Dao.

But he still didn’t give up.

He took the lead, telling Wu Dao all about Dragon Gate Town’s scenic spots, history, local customs, and culture along the way. He covered everything from the hidden landscapes in the mountains to the town’s streets and alleys.

He was thorough, holding nothing back.

Only someone born and raised here, someone who knew the town inside and out, would know all these things.

"If you want to talk about the must-see places in Dragon Gate Town, it’s got to be the Golden Lotus Pool on the east side and the Old Dragon Pool in the center."

Mo Chen walked slowly, explaining Dragon Gate Town’s unique scenery to Wu Dao:

"The Golden Lotus Pool on the east side, as the name suggests, grows Golden Lotuses, which are different from ordinary lotuses. They bloom year-round. Whether it’s the flowers, the seeds, or the roots, a single bite leaves an endlessly rich aftertaste.

But Sun Wusheng and his men guard it year-round and don’t allow anyone to damage them. Only when they occasionally let their guard down can you snag a few to satisfy a craving."

At this point, Mo Chen smacked his lips, as if savoring the taste in his memory. Realizing his gaffe, he gave an embarrassed laugh and continued his introduction:

"But if we’re talking about the best delicacy in Dragon Gate Town, it has to be the loaches in the Old Dragon Pool in the center of town. Every single one is plump, and the townspeople protect them like treasure.

One time I was starving and secretly caught two. That taste... I guarantee you, no mountain delicacy or seafood feast can compare."

Wu Dao’s expression was calm as he listened to Mo Chen’s endless chatter, but inwardly he was mulling over the information revealed in the boy’s words, getting a rough idea of his background.

’He’s most likely a Crown Prince from some behemoth power in Hongyuan, sent into the Dragon Mud Cave Heaven to experience mortal suffering and cultivate his character.’

’This power is extremely strong.’

’So strong that there’s a Guardian posted at every short interval within Dragon Gate Town, so strong that all the local powers indulge Mo Chen’s rule-breaking behavior.’

’It’s a pity there’s too little information from the dream memories.’

’There’s nothing to compare it to.’

’Otherwise, I could confirm exactly which power it is.’

’Still, having a direction makes things easier.’

’In the future, if I get out of the Divine Wilderness, I can just investigate in this general direction, and the truth will come to light.’

RUMBLE~

His surging thoughts were interrupted.

Wu Dao glanced to the side.

Mo Chen’s face was slightly red as his stomach let out an uncontrollable growl. It was obvious he had nothing in his belly and was starving.

"Keep up."

Wu Dao looked away, spoke flatly, and walked into a tavern by the side of the street.

"Huh? Uncle Wu, you’re too kind."

Mo Chen demurred awkwardly, but Wu Dao paid him no mind, so he had no choice but to follow him inside.

During their brief exchange, he had also learned Wu Dao’s surname and his domineering, my-way-or-the-highway personality.

He didn’t know Wu Dao’s age.

He just judged from his heavy, mature aura.

’He must be an elder with a story to tell,’ so he had familiarly started calling him Uncle Wu.