Men know far less than they imagine. Because his sole purpose was to obtain the so-called herbs, he paid no attention to anything else.
He didn't even bother to inquire about the consequences of the entire Medicine Master Valley being annihilated. He was like a monster trapped in a dead end, unable to find his way out or any glimmer of light.
After questioning him with a barrage of inquiries, Shen Muzhi himself grew bored. In the end, he waved his hand, signaling the man to reflect thoroughly in the Hall of Contemplation.
As he reached the courtyard entrance, the man seemed to recall something. He turned back to look at Shen Muzhi and said, "Valley Master, everything I've done was my own idea and decision. I did not inform my family, and they know nothing of it. Therefore, if you intend to assign blame, please do not involve them. I implore you, consider my many years of dedicated service to Medicine Master Valley."
After speaking, he fixed his gaze intently on Shen Muzhi's eyes. It was clear he would not leave unless Shen Muzhi provided him with an answer.
A moment of stalemate ensued between the two. Shen Muzhi eventually relented.
He waved his hand and said, "One man's actions are his own responsibility. I have no habit of implicating family members. If you guarantee they were unaware of this matter, then so be it."
The man bowed deeply to him and then turned to leave the courtyard.
After the man had departed, Liu Buli looked at Shen Muzhi and shook his head, saying, "You don't actually plan to let him off the hook just like that, do you?"
"Naturally not. If I were to let him off so easily, it would be an insult to those who were innocently harmed and killed," Shen Muzhi replied. "I simply haven't fully decided how to handle it, because what he just said did resonate with me. I'm contemplating how I would act if I were in the same situation, and Siqi contracted that strange illness."
"You would unhesitatingly go alone to Ghost City to snatch the materials for me, rather than implicating others to seek hope for my survival," You Siqi rolled his eyes and said. "Shen Muzhi, don't let yourself be misled by a scoundrel. You are the protagonist, the most righteous and greatest one. How could you use such despicable methods to protect your loved one? Regardless of his reasons, he was wrong. Wrongdoing must be paid for. This is only natural."
Shen Muzhi was taken aback, and suddenly felt a sense of clarity, like a fog lifting to reveal the sun.
After a moment's thought, he asked Liu Buli, "Daoist Liu, if something like this happened in your Dan Sect, how would you handle it?"
"Me? You certainly wouldn't listen to my opinion, but if you want to know, I don't mind telling you," Liu Buli said with a smile. "Because his individual responsibility led to such a significant problem, the first thing to do is to appease the public's anger. I would publicly execute him before everyone, making his death as gruesome as possible. This would serve as a warning to all other disciples, showing them the dire consequences of such actions."
Shen Muzhi stroked his chin. He felt he must have been too influenced, as he found this solution quite feasible upon hearing it.
However, Liu Buli's words were not yet finished. He paused briefly before continuing, "Furthermore, not a single one of his family members should be spared. 'One man's actions are his own responsibility'? When one person commits a mistake, the entire family must bear the consequences. Because his mistake has caused our entire sect, and even the entire cultivation world, to bear the burden, then when he fails, his entire family should bear the result. I see no issue with this."
This answer was truly in line with Liu Buli's character.
Shen Muzhi pressed his forehead and chuckled, "I, on the other hand, think that making his crimes public and keeping his family within Medicine Master Valley would be a better choice."
Liu Buli raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you worried about his family seeking revenge?"
"I'm not worried. It's not just one family member, and besides, they wouldn't dare seek revenge," Shen Muzhi said. "If I make his crimes public, everyone will know what he did. There will be plenty of people who want to kill his family. Remaining in my Medicine Master Valley would be their only safe haven. So, to survive, his family members would have no choice but to serve Medicine Master Valley like oxen and horses. Otherwise, if I were to become displeased one day and expel them, facing the people who suffered from this battle outside, they would have no path but death."
He spoke very earnestly, his expression calm.
After listening, Liu Buli's eyes widened, and he gave Shen Muzhi a thumbs-up. "Well done, Physician Shen. I initially thought you were a 'white cut black' type. Now I realize, you're not just 'white cut black' at all! Your insides are completely rotten, aren't they? You call us villains, but you're clearly more villainous than we are!"
Shen Muzhi smiled slightly and shook his head. "It's merely making the best use of everything. There's no such thing as villains or righteous individuals."
As the group was engaged in conversation within the courtyard, a commotion erupted outside before a definitive answer could be reached.
A disciple urgently knocked on Shen Muzhi's courtyard door and burst in, saying nervously, "Valley Master! Elder Wang... he's dead..."
Shen Muzhi frowned.
Upon arriving at the elder's residence with the others, his body was already cold. A gaping bloody hole was in his chest. He was holding his hands over the wound, and the posture clearly indicated suicide.
Beside him lay a letter detailing his entire transaction with the Ghost Clan. It appeared to have been written a long time ago; the ink was dry, and the paper was shriveled and yellowed with age.
At the end of the letter, there was a line of wet ink, clearly written not long ago and not yet dry:
"Originally, I intended to end my own life after the transaction was complete to account for my actions. However, the transaction failed, so I had to end it early. This matter has no relation to my family. I implore the Valley Master to spare them."
Finally, his name and a handprint followed.
Everything was meticulously done.
Liu Buli glanced at it and turned away with a lack of interest.
He disliked such endings.
Even though the villain had accounted for his actions, it still left one feeling stifled and inexplicably frustrated.
Leading Lu Wuming out of the courtyard, they hadn't walked far when they saw Master Linkong approaching.
Upon seeing Liu Buli, Master Linkong bowed deeply to him. This gesture made Liu Buli somewhat embarrassed, and he quickly waved his hand, saying, "Master, there's no need to be so polite. One thank you is enough; two is too much."
"This is not to thank Daoist Liu for saving us, but for another matter," Master Linkong said after a moment's thought, pointing to an empty space nearby. "If you don't mind, could Daoist Liu come with me for a chat?"