Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains-Chapter 639 - 290. I picked up a junior apprentice brother_2

"Brother Hou, does this Martial Registry system, by openly acknowledging the status of martial artists and dividing people into different ranks, not seem too cruel and unfair to the ordinary folk?"

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Hou Yuduan looked startled, not expecting Xiao Renfeng to ask this question. Although he had addressed this issue before, the person before him was Xiao Renfeng, so he pondered for a moment before responding, "Young Master Xiao, do you really think that people in the world are not divided into different ranks?"

Xiao Renfeng's expression darkened, his Righteous Qi was menacing as he said, "People are born of this world and die back into it, with no inherent differences; they are naturally equal. Although the Master spoke of the roles of sovereign and subject, father and son, stressing only the need to adhere to order rather than a hierarchy of status, Brother Hou, who has won praise from Master Ji, must be well-versed in literature. Don't tell me you don't understand this basic principle?"

Master Ji, Ji Yanzhi?

At the mention of this name, Hou Yuduan's expression momentarily grew tense, but soon relaxed as he said loudly, "Of course Mr. Hou understands, but the idea of everyone being equal, while pleasant sounding, is ultimately just wishful thinking. Not to mention the martial artists under the governance of my Demon Path's six states, even in the Zhengdao Seven States, how many martial artists think of themselves as equal to the common folk?

Mr. Hou has never been to Yang and Yan states, but I believe that among the disciples of the Confucian Sect, like Brother Xiao, who consider themselves the same as ordinary people, there must be very few, if any at all. Am I wrong?"

These two questions left Xiao Renfeng at a loss for words.

He knew that Hou Yuduan was right.

"Actually, this is normal. Martial artists who can shatter mountains and rivers, and Confucian scholars whose presence suppresses demons, possess skills and abilities beyond those of ordinary people, wielding power far exceeding that of the common man. That in itself dictates they are different from common people. So why bother uttering hollow slogans, making empty promises that bring no actual benefits, all in vain!"

Hou Yuduan paused briefly, then continued, "Why not frankly acknowledge the differences that exist between martial artists and ordinary people? Because of these differences and the resultant disparity in status between the two, managing them separately can actually yield better outcomes!"

"What do you mean by 'better outcomes'?"

Xiao Renfeng had an idea in mind, but he still asked.

"I've heard Young Master Xiao comes from a celestial-level noble family in Yangzhou, having lived a life of privilege. Presumably, you haven't seen much of the common people's suffering. I've never been to Yang and Yan states, but I have been to Xuzhou, and from what I've seen, for ordinary people, living in places influenced by martial artist powers is a disaster!

Most martial artists, relying on their superior martial skills, look down on others and feel they can lord over common people, disregarding their lives, and to a certain extent, not even considering them human. If this situation is rampant in Xuzhou, I'd suspect that Yang and Yan states aren't much better.

Moreover, my Hexi falls under Yongzhou of the Demon Path, along with the other five states of the Demon Path whose martial artists' misdeeds are too numerous to be documented. I've heard that in Bingzhou, the Blood Spirit Demon Sect directly treats the common people as captively-reared blood food. Such inhuman cruelty, Young Master Xiao, do you think the common people of Bingzhou and the Blood Spirit Demon Sect's martial artists are equal?"

Hearing this, Xiao Renfeng's expression grew even more solemn. He looked up at Hou Yuduan and asked, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"You should know where demons come from, right?"

"Born from the excessive convergence of resentful spirits of living beings merging with spirits of the mountains and forests!"

"Then Brother Xiao, do you know where most of the resentful spirits in the world come from?"

Xiao Renfeng already had the answer in his heart, but he remained silent, waiting for Hou Yuduan to continue speaking and reveal the answer.

Hou Yuduan's voice was grave as he said, "The strongest and deepest resentments all come from those ordinary people who've lost their lives due to the chaos and disturbances caused by martial artists. Mr. Hou isn't old, but I have already experienced disturbances in Zhaoyang, Tongling, Hexi, and even in the Hedong region. Young Master Xiao, do you know how many ordinary people in total lost their lives in these four disturbances?"

Xiao Renfeng shook his head, indicating for Hou Yuduan to keep talking.

"A rough estimate is between six and seven million. Before the four disturbances, the population of the Hexi Four Counties was over thirteen million. The population was cut by half. The subsequent turmoil in the north prompted the Hou Clan to open the gates of Hexi wide to shelter the refugees from the north, but even now the population of the Hexi Four Counties has only recovered to just over ten million.

Young Master Xiao, do you know how many demons have been spawned by the resentment of these six or seven million souls? In order to safeguard the peace of the Hexi Land, five months ago, my fourth elder brother Hou Yujie started to eliminate the demons within the boundaries of the four counties. To date, he has slain over a hundred demons of the sixth rank and below, yet every day, new demons continue to emerge and cause trouble!"

Having said this, Hou Yuduan's eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice suddenly took on a chilling tone, "Therefore, in Mr. Hou's view, the root of the great chaos in the world is those self-important individuals who wield extraordinary power... the martial artists!"

Xiao Renfeng, hearing this idea for the first time, felt his mind in tumult. His face became entirely stiff, his mind struggling with great conflict.

Hou Yuduan's use of 'martial artists' was obviously a general term; those who wield extraordinary power were not only martial artists but also Confucian scholars, Mystic Realm Masters, Pharmacists, and even those demons scattered throughout the wilderness of the world. How could the source of the world's chaos be these people?

The academy once said that the source of all chaos lies in the human heart.