Chapter 17 Justice and Duality

Linghu Chong felt the cold, knife-like gaze of Baiteman, and the incredulous gazes of his fellow disciples behind him. His face grew paler, and his back inexplicably slumped.

"..."

He remained silent for a long time, his hand trembling slightly, almost unable to grip the longsword in his hand.

Suddenly, he abruptly raised his face, his sword-like eyebrows and thin lips taut, and said in a trembling voice, "This junior is not convinced!"

Baiteman raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"This junior observes that Senior Bai's judging standard seems to be based on evaluating the good, judging actions and not intentions. As long as one does good deeds, whether it is out of ambition, a desire for empty fame, or done casually, it is considered virtuous.

"But evaluating the evil is based on intentions and not actions.

"Mr. Mo Da and Daoist Chongxu also hate this chaotic world where good and evil are reversed, and they also hate the sinister villains like Zuo Lengchan and Yu Canghai.

"They lack the power to eliminate Zuo Lengchan and Yu Canghai in order to protect themselves, so they can only stand by and do some small acts of good.

"Even so, they would not be considered evil.

"Since Mr. Mo Da and the others stand by and do not interfere with Zuo Lengchan's evil deeds, they are not considered evil.

"Then why am I, this junior, considered evil for not shouting and killing Tian Boguang?"

"Chong'er, you are being presumptuous!"

Yue Buqun, hearing this from behind, felt his Qi and blood surge upwards, and he couldn't help but reprimand him, "What kind of person is Mr. Mo Da? How can you be allowed to judge and accuse him? Kneel down and apologize to Mr. Bai!"

"Shifu..."

Linghu Chong turned to look at Yue Buqun, who was like a father to him, and said bitterly, "Shifu and Shimu raised me, nurtured me, taught me swordsmanship, and imparted martial arts to me. They are better than my own parents, and I dare not be disrespectful to Shifu and Shimu.

"But this disciple today... truly does not know where I went wrong."

"Hehe..."

Baiteman chuckled softly, looking at the sorrowful and stubborn Linghu Chong, and said, "Young hero Linghu, do you feel that I am targeting you?"

"This junior dare not..."

"That's right, I am targeting you."

Baiteman waved his hand and said coldly, "You can say that I am occupying the moral high ground, or that I am applying double standards, but I just hate evil people, and I also hate people like you who possess power, claim to be heroes, but condone evil deeds.

"Deep down, you feel that killing Tian Boguang, or not killing Tian Boguang, is not your business, not your responsibility. Therefore, you can happily share wine and laughter with Tian Boguang.

"But have you ever considered that you possess the title of Young Hero of Mount Hua and enjoy the many benefits that this title brings?

"When you travel the martial world,

"The inn will hear that you are the Young Hero of Mount Hua, a disciple of Yue Buqun, and will respectfully prepare a good room for you, reducing the rent.

"Other disciples from famous sects will hear that you are the Young Hero of Mount Hua and will respectfully invite you to travel together.

"The people around Mount Hua, and even further away, trust Yue Buqun, and they also trust you, who is taught by Yue Buqun.

"They provide wealth and incense to the Mount Hua Sect.

"They expand the Mount Hua Sect's reputation,

"They promote the Mount Hua Sect's renown,

"All of which is converted into your intangible assets.

"Otherwise, do you think you could be so carefree, receiving courtesy and respect wherever you go?

"Having drinking buddies and fans?"

Linghu Chong was silent upon hearing this. He didn't quite understand what fans were, but he could understand Baiteman's meaning.

"You enjoy the many benefits brought by the fame of a young hero, but you also detest the many expectations that the world places upon you.

"You are reluctant to give up the high-level martial arts taught by your sect, but you also detest the moral constraints of your sect, pursuing your own freedom and individuality."

Baiteman said calmly, "Don't you think that you are also applying double standards, and are shameless and hypocritical?

"If you really think that killing or not killing Tian Boguang has nothing to do with you, is not your responsibility,

"Then, I will not force you to kill him..."

He raised his arm and casually snapped his fingers.

A black shadow rapidly flew through the sky, swooping down and landing on the arena with a thud.

When the dust settled, a man wearing a sackcloth garment made of straw appeared on the arena.

"This is the seventh member of the Justice League, the Scarecrow."

Baiteman indifferently introduced, "And the person under his feet is..."

Tian Boguang.

Without Baiteman's explanation, Linghu Chong, who was in a daze, also recognized the familiar-looking monk under the Scarecrow's feet.

"Brother Linghu..."

Tian Boguang, or rather, the monk who had changed his name and surname and taken the Dharma name "Bu Ke Bu Jie," raised his head in a daze, saw his most proud confidant in life, and his face turned as pale as paper.

Not long ago, he was still chanting Buddhist scriptures at the Hengshan Sect when he was suddenly kidnapped by a strangely dressed man claiming to be the Scarecrow and thrown onto the arena.

His face was pale, not because he was surrounded by martial arts heroes and worried about being torn to pieces for his past crimes,

But because he was worried that his identity would cause the Hengshan Sect, which had taken him in, and Linghu Chong, who had befriended him, to be attacked by the crowd.

Step!

The Scarecrow stepped on Tian Boguang's back, causing the latter to cough up a large mouthful of blood.

Linghu Chong subconsciously wanted to step forward to help his friend and confidant, but he suddenly thought of his identity and forcibly stopped, only looking at the Scarecrow and Baiteman with grief and indignation.

"Young hero Linghu, since you are unwilling to kill Tian Boguang,

"Then Tian Boguang's life and death have nothing to do with you anymore."

Baiteman grinned, squatted down, took out a small knife from under his cloak, and slowly began to cut Tian Boguang's skin.

Tear.

Tear.

The muscles on Tian Boguang's face were cut off piece by piece. This former flower-picking thief, now the monk Bu Ke Bu Jie,

Initially wanted to put on a show of toughness, but the intense pain overwhelmed everything, causing him to emit inhuman screams.

Linghu Chong watched this scene unfold, his facial features twisting and trembling, his hands clenched tightly.

And the agitated and noisy martial artists below the stage were also shocked by it, standing in place, not daring to move.

Baiteman moved the knife very slowly, ensuring that Tian Boguang would not die easily while also allowing him to experience the greatest degree of pain.

While slowly slicing Tian Boguang, he calmly said to Linghu Chong, "You are a hero with soaring spirit, a free and unrestrained martial artist.

"Young hero Linghu, you don't care about the world's evaluation and still want to befriend your confidant Tian Boguang.

"And after the latter becomes a monk and mends his ways,

"You feel heartfelt joy and silently send your blessings.

"Castrated, became a monk, and will no longer be involved with women.

"Such an end for Tian Boguang is reasonable in the eyes of young hero Linghu,

"And even in the hearts of many martial artists, it is reasonable.

"There has always been such a rule in the martial world: no matter what mistakes you have made, how many people you have killed, as long as you enter Shaolin and become a monk, and no longer ask about worldly affairs,

"Past sins can be written off.

"Even if you don't become a monk, as long as you live in seclusion and no longer set foot in the martial world, you can also write off your sins, and no one will object to it.

"Because, in this world, in the moral values of the vast majority of people in this world,

"Ordinary people without martial arts are not considered people.

"They are not even as good as pigs and dogs."

Baiteman's eyes returned from their unfocused state, and he slowly said, "But, is it right just because it has always been this way?

"Ordinary people without martial arts are not considered people, they have no emotions, they cannot obtain justice.

"Only those with martial arts are considered people, have emotions and righteousness, and can obtain justice..."

Linghu Chong looked at Tian Boguang under Baiteman's knife, his body covered in wounds and blood, and thought of the silent blessings he had given in his heart after the latter became a monk, and his chest was filled with grief and indignation.

Thump!

He heavily knelt down on both knees and kowtowed to Baiteman, pleading, "Linghu Chong is willing to exchange all his martial arts to ask Senior to give Tian Boguang a quick death."

"A quick death?"

Baiteman tilted his head, glanced at Tian Boguang, whose skin had been peeled off, and said faintly, "When he was traveling around, wantonly picking flowers and doing evil,

"Did he ever listen to the pleas of those women?"

Baiteman casually reached under his cloak, took out another pill, and threw it into Tian Boguang's mouth, forcing the latter to swallow it.

As soon as Tian Boguang swallowed the pill, he felt a warm current surge throughout his body. His body felt itchy and unbearable, and his bloody body actually grew skin again.

But Tian Boguang's face showed no joy, only immense fear.

"Let's peel it again."

Baiteman said softly, "In the past ten years, you have picked flowers one thousand three hundred and ninety-four times, so I will peel your skin one thousand three hundred and ninety-four times, and then let you die.

"There is still a long time."

Upon hearing this, Tian Boguang's body trembled uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face, his head heavily hitting the brick floor of the arena.

Linghu Chong's expression changed several times. He wanted to rush forward to save Tian Boguang. If that was not possible, he would kill Tian Boguang to save his drinking buddy from the pain of being skinned.

But the extremely deep internal energy fluctuations emanating from the Scarecrow and other members of the Justice League,

And the gazes of his fellow disciples behind him, prevented him from raising his legs.

If he rushed up, he would most likely die,

And the sect behind him...

His Shifu and Shimu, who treated him like a son,

His Shidi and Shimei, who respected him like a brother, what terrifying revenge would they suffer afterward?

Linghu Chong dared not move, and could not move.

He made eye contact with Tian Boguang, who was lying on the arena and looking at him with pleading eyes, and ultimately failed to take any action.

And Tian Boguang seemed to realize something, slowly turned his head away, not making eye contact with Linghu Chong, and silently endured the skinning.

"Senior..."

Linghu Chong's voice was a little choked, "What exactly do I have to do for you to let Tian Boguang die quickly?"

"Oh? Just now you said that Tian Boguang's life and death have nothing to do with you,

"You have no obligation or responsibility to interfere?"

Baiteman said jokingly, "Why do you want to uphold justice at this time?"

Linghu Chong was speechless and could only kowtow heavily on the ground.

"Hehe, very well."

Baiteman shook his head, "You previously rejected the proposal to kill Tian Boguang,

"Then there is only one last path you can take.

"I will abolish your martial arts and let you, as an ordinary person without martial arts, seek out all the women who have been harmed by Tian Boguang,

"And let you compensate and help them.

"If you can persevere, then I can give Tian Boguang a quick death, and it is even possible that I might let him live."

"..."

Linghu Chong's mouth opened, and he looked at his suffering confidant on the arena, wanting to agree immediately,

But his reason stopped him.

How difficult and terrifying would it be to seek out those women who had been harmed by Tian Boguang and compensate and help them?

In this process, he would have to endure the enormous humiliation and abuse from the victims and their families,

Be beaten, be besieged,

And even start from scratch, earning money little by little, earning an astronomical amount of compensation...

Not to mention that many victims had already passed away. Even if he went to great lengths to find them, he might only find a solitary grave.

Linghu Chong's face turned extremely pale.

He longed for freedom and individuality, wanting to be an unattached hermit, not caring about anything, not being attached.

Dedicating all his time to atonement,

Such a terrifying and bleak life was definitely not what he wanted.

So, he chose a simpler method.

Clang—

Linghu Chong raised his longsword, held it horizontally in front of his neck, and cut down heavily.

Since he didn't want his confidant to suffer, and he wasn't willing to bear the consequences of his confidant's mistakes,

Then he was left with only the path of drawing his sword and committing suicide.

"Ren Yingying, Lan Fenghuang."

Suddenly, Baiteman announced two names, interrupting Linghu Chong's suicide attempt.

"At this time, my other partners in the Justice League have arrived at the locations of the Sun Moon Divine Sect, the Five Poison Sect, and other Jianghu gangs."

Baiteman said slowly, "Like me, they also carry Kindness Meters and the Facing-This-Way Mine.

"Xiang Wentian, Dongfang Bubai, the Peach Valley Six Immortals, Green Bamboo Old Man, Yang Lianting, the Four Friends of the Jiangnan..."

"Everyone will receive a fair and consistent trial and punishment.

"Regardless of whether they are male or female, old or young,

"Whether they have high martial arts or low skills.

"Even the government, the imperial court, and the royal palace.

"Those among them who are truly evil and enjoy doing evil will suffer punishments like Tian Boguang,

"No longer will they be able to put on a monk's robe and have their past forgiven as before.

"Since in this world, ordinary people are not considered people, and only great heroes are considered people,

"Then I, we, the Justice League, will make ordinary people become people.

"Under our supervision and watch,

"Some crimes will have nowhere to hide,

"Some justice will be upheld.

"We will be everywhere,

"Forests, swamps, cities, villages, snowy mountains, wastelands...

"There will be gods three feet above your head.

"Under the Justice League's absolute power, absolute supervision, and absolute control, martial arts will no longer be a tool for you to compete for fame and fortune, but a tool to improve the living conditions of the vast majority of the people.

"Farming, mining, logging, construction, forging, transportation..."

"Ordinary people who learn martial arts can truly improve their lives, instead of relying on ethereal heroes who roam the world.

"Martial arts belong to the people, power belongs to the people.

"In this process, those of you who rely on force to become superiors

"Will hate us, despise us, curse us,

"Because we are not your heroes,

"We are a group of silent guardians, a group of alert protectors, a group of knights in the darkness."

With that, Baiteman put down the battered Tian Boguang and handed him over to the Joker to continue torturing him.

Baiteman himself walked to Linghu Chong, who was kneeling on the ground and had failed to commit suicide, opened his palm, and revealed a flesh-colored gemstone chip in his palm.

Linghu Chong said, "This is..."

"You can think of it as the Dark Knight's Certificate."

Baiteman said calmly, "Anyway, you are going to commit suicide, why not try wearing the chip.

"Maybe it can give you a new future."

"..."

Linghu Chong was silent for a long time, slowly took the chip from Baiteman's hand, and placed it on his forehead.

From then on, the world lost a Linghu Chong,

And gained a man who was always by Baiteman's side, accompanied Baiteman in carrying out justice in the darkness, wearing a red and green cloak.

He had a new name, Robin.