Chapter 677 - 678: Good Money Drives Out Bad

Chapter 677: Chapter 678: Good Money Drives Out Bad

Zheng Zhaoling was looking outside, but hearing these words, she subconsciously turned her head and looked at Cui Hao.

She saw only Cui Hao’s intensely passionate gaze directed at her. Within his eyes seemed to lie a strand of inexplicable light.

It wasn’t that there was truly a beam of light. Rather, the emotion contained in his eyes conveyed itself like light at a single glance, revealing his inner thoughts and resolve.

"Fellow Daoist, no matter what our identities are right now, or whose interests we represent, we are ultimately human. We should all fight for a visible future for the humans here." Cui Hao reached out, his tone exceptionally sincere. "Because we both have passion and conscience in our hearts, I hope to join hands with you to face this difficulty."

Zheng Zhaoling sighed lightly:

"I must be somewhat abnormal."

Cui Hao was stunned. "What do you mean, Fellow Daoist?"

"Although I know there are problems, after hearing your words..." Zheng Zhaoling also reached out and lightly patted Cui Hao’s hand. "...I still want to help you once."

Cui Hao smiled carefree. "Whenever we encounter a problem, we solve it. People like us—how could we shrink back just because it’s difficult?"

Zheng Zhaoling smiled and shook her head slightly. "I can only say you’re a strange person. Coincidentally, I’m a bit strange too. But I have my own matters to attend to, so I may not always be around."

"Understood." Cui Hao nodded lightly. "It’s already extremely kind of you to come. I’m not someone who doesn’t read the room. I understand the principle that you must take care of yourself first before you can help others."

"I will do my best to handle things here. If there are any oversights, please correct me, Fellow Daoist."

Hearing these words, Zheng Zhaoling’s favorable impression of Cui Hao increased considerably.

No matter what, the person before her was at least someone who reasoned and understood right from wrong.

Zheng Zhaoling looked at Cui Hao and asked:

"Tell me more about your policy of ’present as if absent.’"

Cui Hao nodded gently. "The demons here exploit faith. Three offerings and five invitations daily is the baseline. More would prefer everyone to be offering wish-power every moment."

"They say they’re inviting gods to protect, but in reality they free-range them. They don’t care about major disasters or life and death. They’re the type who take money but don’t work."

"Each village is sealed off with no communication. Over time, everything seems like this is how it should be. Add in the demons’ violent rampaging, and naturally there’s no resistance—and no power to resist."

"But we’ve started something different. We’ve given the villagers a different hope, allowing them to grasp the path they should walk."

"Just as having seen the light, who would look forward to the coming of darkness?"

"When you’ve personally experienced the ability to live a better life, who would long to continue merely surviving?"

"To change everything, it’s not about killing some demon or setting some rules."

"It’s about making these truths visible to them in the simplest way, letting them experience it personally."

"Without this, everything is empty talk. Everything will return to how it was."

Zheng Zhaoling nodded in agreement at these words, then asked:

"But Yunmeng Marsh’s current situation probably won’t change easily. Expecting Yunmeng Marsh to purge the demons here is not easy. Forcing a collision is definitely not a good thing."

Cui Hao didn’t answer this question. Instead, he turned, raised his hand, and used spiritual energy to draw out a wisp of wish-power stored within the god statue.

A wisp of slightly turbid mysterious yellow qi gathered in Cui Hao’s hand. Then he pushed it toward Zheng Zhaoling.

Zheng Zhaoling reached out and took it, then discovered the difference within it.

Although this wisp of wish-power Cui Hao handed her was somewhat turbid, compared to the wish-power from other villages, it was absurdly pure.

"I understand that human power has limits. We can’t pursue perfection in everything. Mutual destruction can only be a last resort, not the final method. There must be some compromise."

Cui Hao’s expression was sincere. "Only after confirming this did I execute my plan. The demons here exploit wish-power merely to compensate for insufficient spiritual energy."

"But the demons naturally understand the harm that turbid wish-power causes to their own cultivation. They also understand that only purer wish-power can support them going further."

"Some demons will choose short-term benefits, but demons who choose short-term benefits are destined not to last."

"As long as some higher-level demons understand this, what awaits Yunmeng Marsh will be good money driving out bad."

"Everything will move onto the right track that you and I expect."

"Humans rely on their own efforts. Gods exist as if absent."

"This is an open and aboveboard strategy. It doesn’t truly force anyone into a dead end."

Hearing these words, Zheng Zhaoling’s perception and impression of Cui Hao were refreshed once again. She was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"Whose disciple are you? Are you from one of the eighteen immortal sects?"

Cui Hao replied in a strange tone:

"I can’t tell you whose disciple I am. But my immortal sect is indeed not among the eighteen immortal sects."

Zheng Zhaoling took out a jade token from her spatial ring and handed it to Cui Hao:

"If one day you want to join one of the eighteen immortal sects, use this token to contact me."

Cui Hao was even more stunned looking at the token. Was this poaching?

But refusing at this moment wasn’t a good idea. He couldn’t exactly reveal his master Chu Xingchen, could he?

Cui Hao still chose to reach out and take it, smiling and offering thanks.

Zheng Zhaoling didn’t say much more. She simply looked at Cui Hao with appreciation.

In this world, everyone knew how to play schemes and use methods. It was only a matter of how skilled they were. But having this kind of vision, being able to see the grand trend clearly, and knowing how to manipulate it—not everyone had that ability.

The regulations were clear, grasping the key points of both sides. While proactively driving the grand trend, he could also accomplish his own goals.

This kind of person was truly rare.

Besides, doing this brought Cui Hao no personal benefit. He must at least be someone with a righteous and pure heart.

Even if Cui Hao’s talent wasn’t at the very top, in other aspects, in Zheng Zhaoling’s eyes, he was more than qualified to be specially recruited and given important responsibilities.

This kind of person could not only get things done but could also be trusted. Such people were truly too few.

It was just a pity he already had a sect. Someone like this probably wouldn’t leave easily. She could only say to wait for the future and leave a thread of opportunity.

Besides, meeting again in the future might not be a favor unreturned.

Zheng Zhaoling believed that someone like Cui Hao would inevitably be encountered again in the future—meeting at her level.

"Your plan is very good. I believe, Fellow Daoist, whether I’m here or not, you can handle it extremely well." Zheng Zhaoling showed a sincere smile. "Your place here still needs some time to ferment, and I also need some time to handle my own matters."

"In a few days, I’ll come back here to find you. If you encounter anything you can’t solve, just use the jade token I gave you to contact me."

"After all, I agreed to join you in this matter."

Cui Hao quickly nodded in response.

Zheng Zhaoling also nodded gently, then turned and left.

Wandering through Yunmeng Marsh for over twenty days—the sights and experiences of these days had been enough to weigh heavily on her heart.

Now, having met Cui Hao and heard these words, the dark clouds in her heart had dissipated considerably.

No matter who had sent him to Yunmeng Marsh, she would definitely ensure Cui Hao walked out safely.

She would help Cui Hao accomplish this matter.

At the very least, regarding Chu Xingchen’s "hunger and cold cannot be forgotten"—

She would have an answer.

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