Chapter Six: Nothing Is Filthier Than Human Nature, Nothing Is Crueler Than the Human Heart

This...

Influenced by various cultivation novels from his previous life, he had always believed that the great villains among demons and monsters were the kind who could devour an entire city with one bite, or casually perform a blood sacrifice that would annihilate a world.

Xu Boqing had assumed that, given the size of this serpent demon, it must have consumed countless humans... This would have been a perfect opportunity for him to refuse its request to follow him, with words like "the paths of immortals and demons are different" or "our fate together ends here," thus making his escape.

Who could have guessed that, in over a century since the serpent demon had awakened its spiritual intelligence, it had only consumed the souls of thirty-two people—and all of them were scoundrels and villains. By comparison, this hardly seemed a great crime.

How, then, was he supposed to get away?

At this moment, the serpent demon was lying on the ground, trembling with fear. It had never been bold—one could even say it was timid. In its hundred years of cultivation, caution had been its guiding principle. Blocking the path of an "immortal master" to ask for guidance was the boldest thing it had ever done. If it were fortunate enough to serve at the immortal’s side, to one day shed its demon form and be cleansed of worldliness, perhaps it could even aspire to become a celestial beast.

But the immortal master was a "high immortal," while it was a demon that had consumed human souls—what if the immortal now intended to subdue it?

What should it do?

While it was lost in anxious thoughts, Xu Boqing had already decided on a way to extricate himself.

Feigning a sage-like air, he shook his head and sighed, "Little snake, little snake, I think I finally understand why your cultivation has regressed rather than advanced."

The serpent demon shuddered and quickly spoke in human tongue, "I beg the immortal to save me. Such boundless grace, I shall never forget."

"Considering how difficult cultivation is, and since fate has brought us together, very well."

Xu Boqing’s voice paused. Though he knew he had stabilized the situation, his legs were still a bit weak—like a husky hiding among wolves, it was impossible not to be nervous.

He looked around and, seeing a roadside stone bearing the marker for Hongyang County, went over and sat down without ceremony.

Only then did he ask with deliberate gravity, "Little snake, you have cultivated for over a century; in your eyes, what in this world is most evil? What is most foul?"

"What is most evil? What is most foul?"

The serpent demon mouthed the words softly. Seeing the immortal sitting on the stone, moonlight filtering down through the branches to fall upon him—though his clothes were filthy and he looked like a beggar, in the serpent’s eyes he was the very image of an immortal: unrestrained, with an air of transcendence.

With deep reverence, it bowed and replied, "My experience is shallow. When I first awakened, I once witnessed an evil ghost emerge into the world. That ghost annihilated an entire mountain village of a hundred families. The wind howled like the wailing of spirits, and the scene was terrifying.

If I hadn’t fled quickly, I too would have had my soul devoured by that ghost, ending my cultivation path.

In my humble opinion, that evil ghost was the most evil.

As for what is most foul...

I once saw a toad spirit in a muddy swamp, its body reeking unbearably, covered in festering boils and tumors. The sight nearly made me retch.

So, in my view, that toad spirit is the most foul."

As it spoke of the evil ghost, its voice trembled with lingering fear; when mentioning the toad spirit, it was filled with disgust.

"Not bad."

Xu Boqing nodded with a smile, making no comment on the ghost or the toad. With his own limited experience, he had nothing to add.

So he chuckled and said, "I too know of something most evil and most foul. Care to guess what it is?"

The serpent demon thought for a moment, then shook its head. "My cultivation and knowledge are meager. I dare not guess. Please, immortal, instruct me."

Xu Boqing did not keep it in suspense and sighed, "In my eyes, nothing is more evil than the human heart, nothing more foul than human nature."

"Nothing more evil than the human heart, nothing more foul than human nature..."

The serpent demon repeated the words, feeling a vague tremor within. The immortal was indeed a profound master: with just a few words, he revealed unfathomable depths, stirring the serpent to deep reflection.

"Humans are uniquely favored by Heaven and Earth, and are rightly called the wisest of all creatures. Yet their minds are the most chaotic, their desires the deepest—every sip and morsel is fated."

Xu Boqing sighed, then continued, "I once saw four youths, barely in their teens, break into the home of a newlywed couple for money. After getting what they wanted, their lust was aroused; they tied up the husband and, before his eyes, raped his wife—who was several months pregnant—killing her in the end.

The newlyweds, together with their unborn child, all perished in the endless greed of others. What kind of wicked human heart is that?

I also saw a teacher, devoted to education for decades, falsely accused by a student who didn’t want to study, branded as a lecher. The teacher lived in disgrace for over ten years, dying in despair, never able to clear his name. Even in death, he would probably still be cursed.

What kind of filthy human nature is that?"

At last, he sighed meaningfully, "People say ghosts are terrifying, but in my eyes, the evil of the human heart and the filth of human nature far surpass any ghost."

The serpent demon was silent for a long time before nodding in agreement, "What the immortal says, I too have felt."

"Humans and demons walk different paths. By consuming human souls to enhance your cultivation, you have already stained yourself with the taints of human nature. That’s why, in recent years, your mind has grown clouded and your cultivation has regressed rather than advanced..."

Xu Boqing pondered for a moment, then asked, "After consuming human souls, you must have felt the urge to do so again. Am I wrong?"

At these words, the serpent demon’s vertical pupils shrank. Remembering that the immortal could see through its thoughts, it quickly bowed low, voice trembling, "The immortal’s insight is divine. I... I have indeed had such thoughts, but I only thought about it, never acted..."

After all, since consuming human souls could boost its cultivation, it would be strange if the serpent hadn’t been tempted.

Who doesn’t want a shortcut?

Even he, in his previous life, had tried to find a rich woman to shortcut his way through life...

"No matter; judge by actions, not thoughts. If we judged thoughts, there would be no good person in the world. In my view, whether human or demon, one only needs to act with a clear conscience..."

Xu Boqing smiled faintly, as though everything was going as he expected, and sighed, "As I said, the human heart is complex, human nature unfathomable. Demons who consume humans may gain power, but they also become entangled in karma.

If a demon cannot resist its greed and continues, it may seem to be progressing, but in truth, it is already bound by karma, desire, and obsession. Its mind will grow ever cloudier.

Over time, even if its power grows, it will lose its spiritual intelligence and degenerate into a beast driven only by instinct."

The serpent demon shuddered, overcome with fear, and quickly pleaded, "Immortal, my cultivation is shallow; I did not understand and gave in to greed... From now on, I will never eat people again... no... I will never harm people again. Is there any way to make amends?"

"Heh, little snake, you’re getting fixated."

Xu Boqing smiled, "All living things have desires. Even ants struggle to survive—how much more so for you, who has awakened intelligence?"

He paused, searching his memory for ambiguous sayings from his previous life, and said, "Humans eat beasts, and beasts may eat humans. Such is the order of nature.

But since you have awakened intelligence and risen above your bestial ignorance, you have gained greater freedom, but also more constraints of heart and mind.

To refrain from eating humans is one thing...

But never harming them? That may not be right.

If someone, driven by profit or desire, seeks to kill you, would your vow not to harm anyone become a shackle around your neck?"

He shook his head and, with feigned profundity, sighed, "To seek immortality and enlightenment is to seek the immortal, but the true path is to seek one’s own heart. Most demon cultivators focus on the body, forgetting that cultivating the heart is the foundation of the path.

If the heart is upright, the mind is clear and the path is bright;
If the heart is wicked, the mind is clouded and the path is dark."

The serpent demon was moved, bowing low as if digesting these "profound truths."

Xu Boqing merely smiled to himself.

Everything he had said sounded reasonable at first, but upon closer thought, it was all vague nonsense, utterly devoid of substance or value...

When the moment seemed right...

He waved his hand and said, "Words must not be taken to their end. Little snake, the fate that brought us together ends here. Go on, go on."

The serpent demon snapped out of its reverie. Hearing these words, it knew the immortal was dismissing it. Though reluctant, it dared not defy him.

It bowed deeply, tears glistening in its eyes, "I know well that immortals and demons walk different paths. I only regret that my cultivation is too shallow to serve you and repay your guidance."

"No need for talk of repaying kindness."

Xu Boqing shook his head, affecting a kindly air. "Just cultivate well, be a kind demon, and don’t let my words today go to waste. Off you go, off you go."

"I will never forget your teachings, immortal."

The serpent demon bowed again, and as it was about to leave, it turned back, bowed low, and said, "May I be so bold as to ask my master’s name?"

...

Xu Boqing pondered for a moment, then solemnly replied, "My humble name is Xu Genshuo, my Daoist title Pure Yangzi. I have reincarnated to cultivate anew, seeking to temper my heart in the mortal world.

I did not expect to meet you so soon after beginning anew—this, too, is fate. If you successfully take human form, you may seek me out by this title. At that time, I will bestow upon you another chance."

Anything that could be put off for the future was easy to agree to.

The serpent demon was overjoyed—calling the immortal master not only did not offend him, but he even promised that after taking human form, it could seek him out for another opportunity. Was this not tacit approval of their bond?

It bowed low once more, "Thank you, Master, for your teachings!"

"Go now, go."

Xu Boqing smiled outwardly, though in his heart he felt the serpent demon was truly troublesome. As if remembering something, he suddenly grew serious, "And one more thing: after you return to your cultivation, do not mention my reincarnation to anyone—no human, no demon!"

"I understand."

The serpent demon replied, "You seek to temper your heart through reincarnation. The fact that I received this opportunity is already a great blessing; how could I let others know your whereabouts?"

"Good, now go."

"Your disciple takes his leave..."