As If There Were None

Huaze Village.

A unique vitality surged through the village, much like a three-year-old child opening their eyes to the world, finding everything novel, eager to do and taste everything.

Zheng Zhaoling concealed herself and passed through the unfinished alleys. She watched the genuine smiles on the people's faces—smiles that seemed to show they clearly understood their future path.

There was no need to worry anymore, nor were there any lingering fears.

It was as if they knew that as long as they kept moving forward, happiness would inevitably greet them.

Zheng Zhaoling's footsteps gradually slowed down as she stood before the shrine of Huaze Village.

The shrine here was not as bustling as the other shrines she had seen in the villages she had passed through.

The shrines in other villages were truly filled with swirling incense smoke. Villagers would gather before the shrines, scrambling to insert the incense in their hands into the incense burners.

As if being slow meant they were not devout enough.

The drifting incense ash and smoke formed thick clouds that stung the villagers' eyes, yet they dared not step back, only daring to push forward.

The incense smoke dared not cease for even a moment.

Compared to the grand spectacles of other shrines, this place seemed extremely desolate.

There were no villagers holding incense; there were only a few craftsmen carving something along the outer walls of the shrine.

Several notices with black characters on red paper were posted next to the main entrance of the shrine.

Zheng Zhaoling cast her gaze over and naturally saw clearly what was written on the notices.

The new construction regulations of Huaze Village.

Zheng Zhaoling read the notices, frowning during her first read, and then her expression relaxed as she read them a second time.

She did not know how many times she had read them.

But in the end, she only sighed softly.

It was well-written, but implementing it seemed like a fantasy. This was obviously trying too hard; what demon would truly be willing to act according to these regulations?

With a glance, Zheng Zhaoling also understood what the craftsmen were doing—they were carving every single word from the notices onto the walls of the shrine.

As if to say that as long as the shrine stood, these regulations would remain in effect, never to be canceled or lost just because the paper yellowed or the ink faded.

It was indeed a formidable method to capture people's hearts.

Zheng Zhaoling narrowed her eyes slightly and then stepped into the ancestral hall.

The first thing that caught her eye was a table, followed by a young man standing next to it, writing.

The young man had a serious and solemn temperament. His brows were slightly furrowed as he thought deeply, his pen moving as he wrote something down.

However, in the next moment, the spirit sword securely wrapped in its scabbard at the young man's waist suddenly emitted a fluctuation of spiritual energy, as if warning him of something.

What's wrong, Master Wanban, I'm thinking.

The young man's solemn aura instantly dissipated, replaced by a completely different, free-spirited demeanor, though his words carried a hint of helplessness.

Zheng Zhaoling swept her gaze over him, confirming that the young man before her was at the Golden Core stage and was a genuine human. She also understood that it was the spiritual treasure at his waist that had seen through her concealment.

However, his figure bore no aura of an evil cultivator; instead, it was quite upright, indicating he practiced an orthodox dharma.

A Golden Core cultivation base was sufficient to see through her concealment spell face-to-face, even if he could not perceive her aura.

Was he sent by another immortal sect?

Was it Chu Xingchen, or someone else seeking to profit?

Zheng Zhaoling dispelled her spell and asked in a calm tone:

Are you the one who gave the deity here this idea?

Hearing the sudden voice, Cui Hao's heart skipped a beat. As he quickly looked up, he shouted sternly:

Save me, Master Wanban!

As his words fell, Wanban did not leave its sheath.

Zheng Zhaoling tilted her head slightly, looking at Cui Hao with confusion, as if wondering what kind of performance art he was putting on.

Cui Hao waited for a moment, his expression turning awkward. At the same time, he realized that the person before him currently had no murderous intent; otherwise, Master Wanban absolutely wouldn't have just ignored him.

Zheng Zhaoling asked again:

Are you the one who gave the deity here this idea?

Cui Hao smiled awkwardly, Are you talking about those regulations?

Zheng Zhaoling nodded slightly.

I drafted them, Cui Hao nodded gently.

Hearing this, Zheng Zhaoling narrowed her eyes:

What is the purpose? To attract people from other villages to Huaze Village?

Cui Hao nodded straightforwardly, For now, yes.

Zheng Zhaoling took a light step forward.

She hadn't expected that the first thing she would kill upon arriving at Yunmengze wouldn't be a demon, but a human.

But the true purpose is to plant a seed of hope.

Cui Hao quickly followed up on his previous sentence, then looked down at his waist in confusion.

Why did Master Wanban suddenly jump and then stop moving?

Zheng Zhaoling then asked, A seed?

Hearing this, Cui Hao chuckled and raised his hand in a gesture:

It's true that a visitor is a guest, but your excellency should also announce your name.

Zheng Zhaoling let out a light laugh. I don't even know who you are, yet you want me to announce my name? Logically, shouldn't you speak first?

Me? Cui Hao thought for a moment, touching Master Wanban at his waist before slowly saying, Just an enthusiastic, passing good Samaritan.

Then so am I. Zheng Zhaoling wasn't annoyed, playing along with Cui Hao's words.

Then I guess I'm not alone on this path, Cui Hao smiled. I knew there were still quite a few good Samaritans in this world.

Seeing that Cui Hao showed no doubt at all, Zheng Zhaoling asked in a strange tone:

You don't doubt me?

Cui Hao raised an eyebrow and smiled, Since there is one good Samaritan like me, naturally there will be another. Isn't it normal to meet one?

Zheng Zhaoling was slightly speechless.

For some reason, she felt this person was somewhat similar to Chu Xingchen.

Unusually erratic, yet seemingly within reason; untraceable, yet still accomplishing exactly what they set out to do.

Could it be that she hadn't ventured into the world for too long?

Were such unusual people out here actually the norm nowadays?

Or was it as the saying goes, heroes in this world are as numerous as carp crossing the river, found everywhere?

Cui Hao made no attempt to hide anything, reaching out to invite Zheng Zhaoling to look at the regulations he had drafted:

Fellow Daoist, come take a look and offer some suggestions. It's always good to brainstorm. The customs in Yunmengze are different, so some outside regulations can't be copied directly. They need to be adapted locally to be more easily accepted.

Zheng Zhaoling looked over and asked at the same time:

I'll assume for now that you haven't become a human traitor. By doing this and attracting so many people, will the other great demons agree to it?

When the time comes, it will be another storm of blood and rain. Who knows how many people will lose their lives here.

The demon here has a shallow cultivation base and is under your control, willing to act as a beast of burden, but other demons won't follow your regulations.

No matter how well you draft your regulations, what's the point?

Hearing this, Cui Hao fell silent for a moment before asking:

Do you know that Zheng Zhaoling has come to Yunmengze?

Zheng Zhaoling was stunned upon hearing this. She looked at Cui Hao with a strange expression and asked:

I know, what about it?

Cui Hao said sincerely, Normally, this would be a path to disaster. But since she is in Yunmengze, those great demons won't dare to make a move easily. Therefore, it is no longer a path to disaster.

How so? Zheng Zhaoling's tone was doubtful. At this point, she was genuinely puzzled.

Cui Hao said frankly, With Zheng Zhaoling here, they won't dare to oppress the human race. If they can't bear losing their followers, then they will inevitably have to act according to the regulations I drafted, competing to attract people.

Zheng Zhaoling asked again, When she leaves and everything goes back to normal, what difference will it make?

Cui Hao reached out his hand, gesturing for Zheng Zhaoling to look outside.

Zheng Zhaoling shifted his gaze, looking toward the bustling and fervent scene across the Outer Sect.

Cui Hao's calm voice drifted over.

"It is different now. Before, no one ever told them that they could forge their own hope by relying solely on themselves, without needing to revere gods or worship the heavens."

"Nor did anyone tell them that the best way for gods to exist is..."

"To exist as if they do not."