Tang Xiaoyu spoke passionately with a ferocious look on his face. Zhang Huizhu awkwardly interrupted, "Xiaoyu! There are no sects around us, just some ordinary people's cities and villages."
"If we go beyond the sphere of influence of demonic cultivators to attack those righteous sects, it may trigger a war between immortals and demons."
"So you should understand what I mean."
Tang Xiaoyu was a little embarrassed and didn't know what to say. The others also drooped their heads, lacking the previous passion.
Zhang Huizhu comforted, "Although we can't move the sects for now, we can develop foundations among the common people!"
"After all, they are the main body of this world. With them as the foundation, their children in the future will not think of joining the immortal sects to cultivate immortality and seek longevity, but will instead join us to cultivate and ascend through comprehension of the Dao."
Tang Xiaoyu's eyes lit up. "Right! Education must begin with the children."
"Fine, we'll start with the ordinary people around us."
Someone asked, "Are the two principles of sincere conversion and death still in place?"
Before Tang Xiaoyu could speak, Zhang Huizhu scolded, "Are you stupid? If we do that, what would be the point of promoting our righteous Daoism?"
"They are who we need to win over, not strike against. Do you understand?" Zhang Huizhu was shouting by the end.
Standing on the side, Tang Xiaoyu felt this scene was a bit familiar. [Does this look like my past self? I don't think I was that scary!]
The scolded man scratched his head, "Master, don't get angry. You know we didn't get much schooling and our minds are simple."
Zhang Huizhu calmed herself a bit, "Xiaoyu, don't mind me. My temper comes and goes, I can't control it."
Tang Xiaoyu expressed his understanding. "I can relate. I used to be like this too. The difference is you have people to coax you, while I had people get angry at me."
Zhang Huizhu laughed. "I brought up these brothers myself, our feelings can't be described."
"Old Liu told us about your experiences. In the future when the brothers have something to eat, we won't let you go hungry."
Tang Xiaoyu was very moved. Let alone the life-saving grace, even their trust in him was invaluable.
Zhu Six added, "Xiaoyu, your enemies are our enemies. We will one day get justice for the common folk of Qingshan Town and your fallen disciples."
The others also expressed their wish to avenge Tang Xiaoyu.
At this moment, Tang Xiaoyu didn't know how to describe his feelings. He said gratefully, "On behalf of my fallen countrymen and disciples, I thank you all."
Zhang Huizhu comforted, "Xiaoyu, don't be sad. We're all people abandoned by this world, so we understand how you feel."
"If not for being forced by circumstances, who would willingly choose to cultivate demonically, becoming something between human and ghost that Heaven and Earth reject?"
Zhang Huizhu then gave a faint smile, "But now it's good. We no longer have to suffer that backlash."
"You didn't just save us, but all people like us. The Dao Ancestor will be the belief of all demonic cultivators."
Tang Xiaoyu had originally imagined demonic cultivators to be centered around demons, but later realized there were hardly any demons at all, since there were no heroes in this world.
Demonic cultivation was just another cultivation path not recognized by most. Those paths not recognized by most would be labeled as monsters and demons, classified as evil.
The atmosphere sank into sadness. To liven things up, Zhu Six brought up Tang Xiaoyu's past.
"Let me tell you guys, those righteous cultivators popularized sound stones that stored various songs."
Zhang Huizhu perked up, "I know about those. I got one to listen to before, the songs sounded so nice. My favorite one was 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.'"
Zhu Six waved his hand, "Those are trivial."
Putting his arm around Tang Xiaoyu's shoulder, he said, "This is the real divine stuff."
He then recounted Tang Xiaoyu's glorious deeds.
Zhang Huizhu gazed admiringly, "Xiaoyu, is this real? Cultivation is so boring to begin with. Being able to listen to songs during breaks is a kind of enjoyment. I especially admire the person who sang 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,' the lyrics are written so well."
Tang Xiaoyu helplessly nodded, "The song you mentioned, I sang it when I won the championship at White Tiger."
Zhang Huizhu beamed, "Really? Can you sing it for me?"
Tang Xiaoyu could hardly refuse and sang it live for her, moving her to happy tears.
[We must have been really bored to take music as our sole enjoyment.] Tang Xiaoyu thought, forgetting that he used to enjoy listening to songs alone, reminiscing about the past.
Zhu Six sidled up, "Xiaoyu, sing us one too! But not those mushy romantic ones."
Tang Xiaoyu pondered, [Alright, I'll sing you guys "Kneeling Before My Parents"!]
"Kneeling once before parents does a child beget..."
He sang about how parents devote their entire lives for their children, with thought-provoking lines.
As Zhu Six listened, he wept, unable to let go of thoughts of his parents and regretting them the most.
The others weren't much better. From their reactions, they were all filial children.
This is just like in our real society, where genteel-looking people aren't necessarily filial children, and could even be beasts.
And those who appear fierce and vicious, doing bad deeds, can be extremely doting and attentive toward their parents.
Just look at those big bandits in modern times, who wasn't a filial son?
Of course, one could argue whether they were truly filial children, depending on interpretations, but to those individuals, they were.
When the song finished, many expressed intentions to return home to burn incense and kneel in worship before their parents.
Zhang Huizhu deeply understood their feelings, as she once had parents too. But now wasn't the time!
Tang Xiaoyu spoke up, "Are you going back now in your current states to memorialize your parents? Won't that fail to set their spirits at peace in heaven?"
"Among the greatest disloyalties, to die without offspring is the worst. What faces would you have to meet them? Your current fierce and terrifying faces?"
Zhu Six agreed, "Xiaoyu is right. We must bring along grandchildren when seeing them."
Tang Xiaoyu was dumbfounded, "That's not what I meant. I was just speaking casually earlier."
"Little Tang, you didn't say anything wrong. I feel you're making a lot of sense. When we were still ordinary people, our parents had been expecting grandchildren early on. We must fulfill that wish of theirs."
Tang Xiaoyu painstakingly explained, "What I meant is that you should achieve something first and make them proud of you."
The others affirmed, "Little Tang, no more persuading from you. We intend to accomplish all that before facing our late parents again."
Before even handling that, Zhang Huizhu exclaimed, "Where is that son of mine?" (she originally said, Unknowingly I've become a spinster)
Tang Xiaoyu didn't even dare to look at them, fearing some of the women might set their sights on him.
Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing was the best option.