: Pacification and Unification (Happy Mother's Day!)

2025-05-24 Author: Gu Zhenren

In the prison cell, the old scholar Mo Chi picked up a branding iron.

The front half of the iron was roasted red-hot in the charcoal furnace, its tip carved with a single character.

Upon closer inspection, Ning Zhuo saw it was the character for "Benevolence" (仁).

Holding the "Benevolence" branding iron, Mo Chi walked up to the Silent Ghost General.

Bound tightly and unable to move, the Silent Ghost General simply stared calmly at Mo Chi.

Without hesitation, Mo Chi pressed the branding iron directly onto the center of the Silent Ghost General's forehead, between his eyebrows.

*Sizzle...*

The red-hot iron seared a plume of black smoke from the ghost general's brow.

The smell of burning flesh quickly filled the air.

Mo Chi held it firmly for five full breaths before slowly withdrawing the "Benevolence" iron and returning it to the charcoal furnace.

The Silent Ghost General's head slumped weakly, his breathing becoming ragged.

Seeing Ning Zhuo's surprise, Wen Ruan Yu took the opportunity to explain: "In our Confucian cultivation, there are the Five Constant Virtues: Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Faith."

"Benevolence means loving others; it is the foundation of Confucianism."

"‘Wishing to be established himself, he seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.’"

"A benevolent person has a kind heart, virtuous as a mountain. They can bestow kindness, offer tolerance, accumulate goodness as their foundation, and maintain a composed heart when dealing with matters…"

Ning Zhuo listened attentively.

Both Mo Chi, the old scholar Zheng Shoumo, and Wen Ruan Yu, the true inheritor of Wan Xiang, were Confucian cultivators.

Ning Zhuo wasn't familiar with Confucian cultivators, so hearing experts explain, he naturally pricked up his ears and actively learned.

Seeing the Silent Ghost General only gasping heavily, Mo Chi took another branding iron from the furnace.

This one was different, its tip carved with the character for "Righteousness" (义).

*Sizzle.*

Zheng Shoumo pressed the iron onto the Silent Ghost General's left shoulder, releasing another wave of the acrid smell.

The intense pain made the ghost general jerk his head back, staring at the ceiling, but his expression remained placid, his eyes still calm.

Seeing this performance, Mo Chi became intrigued: "Good, that's a fine look in your eyes. I hope you can keep up that spirit for what comes next."

Ning Zhuo: "…"

Wen Ruan Yu explained again: "Righteousness means what is fitting, it is tied to the path of integrity."

"A gentleman holds righteousness above all, establishing himself and practicing the Way."

"Righteousness lies not in strength, but in the heart. Even when facing hardship, one should uphold their integrity without changing their original intent…"

"The righteous act according to fairness, unmoved by private gain; they are awe-inspiringly upright, single-minded and focused."

Ning Zhuo silently committed all this to memory.

Mo Chi put down the "Righteousness" iron and took out a third one, this one bearing the character for "Propriety" (礼).

He followed the same procedure, branding the "Propriety" character onto the Silent Ghost General's left shoulder. The ghost general pressed his lips together, clenched his teeth, and still didn't make a sound.

Mo Chi looked him up and down, praising sincerely: "Truly a tough man!"

Wen Ruan Yu once again explained for Ning Zhuo: "Propriety means respect, the standard for human conduct."

"It is also said: Propriety is principle, the warp of heaven and earth, a matter of great importance for the state."

"Also: 'Propriety is the heart of respecting others, the method of dealing with things. Practicing propriety is like the wind; with a heart full of reverence, dignified comportment, no affair will be mishandled…'"

Wen Ruan Yu seemed to have studied this aspect most deeply.

He even added some of his own understanding: "Propriety is not hypocrisy, but the unity of inner respect and outer expression, following heavenly principle and human morality, knowing when to advance or retreat, discerning importance, distinguishing right from wrong…"

Ning Zhuo gained much and quickly cupped his hands in thanks.

He recalled seeing Wen Ruan Yu in action at the Mingjiao River; his mastery of Propriety was indeed profound, causing many water ghosts and spectral soldiers to lay down their arms and observe propriety on the spot, becoming lambs to the slaughter.

"Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, Faith… Benevolence, Righteousness, and Propriety are done, only Wisdom and Faith remain."

Ning Zhuo saw the pattern and had already noticed many branding irons inserted into the charcoal furnace, though their tips were buried deep in the coals, hiding the specific characters.

Mo Chi put the iron back but didn't immediately take out the fourth one.

He turned to Wen Ruan Yu: "Lord Wen, this enemy general is indeed the toughest man I've ever encountered. I've applied three characters, yet he hasn't so much as frowned or groaned in pain. I'm afraid the next two characters might not be enough to make him talk either."

"A shame."

"I boasted earlier, and now my face is slapped."

"This old man underestimated the heroes of the world."

Wen Ruan Yu frowned: "What then?"

Mo Chi said: "I have another method. We can use his toughness to extract more information."

Shortly after, the Blue-Faced Ghost General, the Bone-Club Ghost General, the Peanut Ghost General, and the Tusked Ghost General were all brought to the cell.

Mo Chi said: "Your leader is indeed a tough man. Enduring three brands, he hasn't made a sound."

"Watch closely. I hope you can all maintain such toughness later!"

So saying, Mo Chi took out the "Wisdom" (智) branding iron and gave the Silent Ghost General a fierce brand on his thigh.

The Silent Ghost General's body trembled with pain, but he still didn't utter a sound.

The other four ghost generals, witnessing this, all turned pale. One struggled violently, grunting through his gag, but remained bound and helpless.

Wen Ruan Yu explained to Ning Zhuo again, but this time, he used a mental transmission: "Wisdom is the ability to act upon knowledge, the insight of understanding."

"‘Those who know it are not as good as those who love it; those who love it are not as good as those who delight in it.’"

"The wise are clear-hearted and sharp-eyed, recognizing changes in circumstances, discerning the significant from the trivial, considering matters thoroughly, acting with clarity and decision…"

Ning Zhuo nodded inwardly, pleased: "Learning, learning."

Mo Chi couldn't help but give the Silent Ghost General a thumbs-up: "Good. You are the most hard-boned prisoner I've ever seen."

"I've never seen anyone endure five characters consecutively. I hope you can break that record."

*Sizzle.*

The next moment, the "Faith" (信) iron was branded onto the Silent Ghost General's right thigh, searing the character into it.

Wen Ruan Yu said: "Faith means keeping one's word, the virtue of loyalty and keeping promises."

"‘Words must be acted upon, actions must bear fruit.’ Keeping promises and commitments, steadfastly loyal, winning the hearts of the people—only then is virtue manifested."

"A gentleman devotes himself to the foundation. With the foundation established, the Way grows. Virtue is not solitary; it surely has neighbors. With faith, people's hearts are at ease; with state faith, the people's hearts turn to it. It is both a high standard of moral character and a great tool for establishing oneself."

Just as he finished explaining, the Silent Ghost General finally couldn't hold on any longer. His eyes closed, and he fainted on the spot.

"A pity, a pity." Mo Chi was full of regret and disappointment.

He turned and released the restraints on the Blue-Faced Ghost General, allowing him to speak.

Mo Chi said gently and elegantly: "I recall you endured one character before, but fainted halfway through. I hope you can perform better this time."

That Blue-Faced Ghost General was a seasoned veteran of the battlefield, a ghost who had licked blood from blades. Hearing Zheng Shoumo's words, he struggled even more fiercely, shouting: "I've already said everything! I told you all I know!"

Mo Chi nodded with a smile: "Later, we will invite out the City Lord's 'Scroll of Plain Inquiry and Heart Dissection'. I hope your words prove true."

The old scholar resealed the Blue-Faced Ghost General, then successively lifted the restrictions on the other three generals, allowing them to speak.

Having witnessed how the Silent Ghost General fainted, and having tasted the pain of the branding iron themselves—a pain that was not merely skin-deep but reached the very depths of their souls, truly heart-wrenching and unbearable!—their attitudes became quite proper this time. Under the old scholar's questioning, they all revealed military information they hadn't disclosed before.

Only when it came to the Peanut Ghost General did this general tremble and say fearfully: "Honorable Lords, please hear me. The Silent Lord isn't stubbornly resisting. He long wished to abandon darkness for light, but his innate talent and cultivation technique kept his expression perpetually placid and prevented him from speaking."

Mo Chi: "…"

Ning Zhuo, Wen Ruan Yu: "…"

The silent scene was somewhat awkward for a moment.

Mo Chi waved a hand and had the other four generals taken away.

He cupped his hands towards Wen Ruan Yu, requesting to perform the technique.

Wen Ruan Yu didn't hesitate and nodded in agreement.

So, the next moment, Mo Chi performed the Confucian art—Pacification and Unification.

The old scholar stirred his magic power, consuming it rapidly, while chanting under his breath, as if reciting a fine literary piece.

Body seals, mouth seals, and heart seals are the primary techniques for casting spells.

Confucian cultivators place particular emphasis on mouth seals when casting.

As Mo Chi chanted, small, silvery-white characters materialized in the air, gathering together to form a splendid literary composition.

These silvery characters flowed like water towards the Silent Ghost General.

The five brands on the ghost general's body, infused by the silvery characters, began to emit a gentle white light.

This light rapidly spread from the five sources, converging on the ghost general's body to form a network of crisscrossing lines.

A close look would reveal these silvery lines were composed of extremely tiny characters. Viewed as a whole, they seemed to bind the Silent Ghost General tightly from head to toe.

The glow of the silvery lines gradually faded until it disappeared entirely.

After another dozen or so breaths, the lines themselves also vanished.

Finally, the large characters for Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Faith branded on the ghost general's body also retracted until they were invisible. To the naked eye, there was no difference from before.

"Good, successful on the first try. Excellent." Wen Ruan Yu clapped once and praised openly, "Brother Zheng's understanding of 'Pacification and Unification' far surpasses mine. If I were to cast it, I definitely wouldn't achieve the same results as you, old brother."

Ning Zhuo was slightly surprised: "Old Master Zheng is at the late Foundation Establishment stage, while Senior Wen is at the Golden Core stage. Could it still be so?"

Wen Ruan Yu nodded: "Naturally. Looking through the long river of history, our Confucian cultivation is a later development. The reason we could catch up from behind and occupy a significant place is because our cultivation methods incorporate the Hundred Arts of Cultivation."

"For example, the traditional Four Arts of the Scholar—Qin (zither), Qi (chess), Shu (calligraphy), Hua (painting)—or the Six Arts of the Gentleman—Propriety, Music, Archery, Charioteering, Calligraphy, Mathematics. These can all cross boundaries, leveraging greater power."

"It is precisely because we combine these cultivation arts that Confucian cultivators are not solely ranked by cultivation level. Sometimes, some Confucian cultivators have deep knowledge of the Four Arts or various texts, enabling them to accomplish things that higher-level Confucian cultivators cannot."

Ning Zhuo thought of his own experience of using military strategy on the battlefield to drastically increase his combat power and gained a deeper understanding.

The Silent Ghost General slowly regained consciousness, his face still indifferent.

Mo Chi directly released his restraints, granting him freedom.

This move was quite bold, but Wen Ruan Yu didn't stop him at all.

The Silent Ghost General looked over the three of them, then a silvery-white light shone on his body. He knelt on one knee, bowing to them, using the most direct action to express his submission.

Seeing this, Sun Lingtong couldn't help but exclaim: "This 'Pacification and Unification' is so useful! It's almost like your Human Life Thread Divine Ability, Little Zhuo."

"But divine abilities are too difficult to control. Yet 'Pacification and Unification' is just a Confucian spell, and even this old man can learn it!"

Ning Zhuo, however, had a different view, communicating secretly: "There are still differences."

"My divine ability can forcibly control an enemy's body and actions, regardless of their willingness, and it can be achieved instantly."

"But 'Pacification and Unification' requires extensive preliminary preparation. Cultivating this method probably also has its own difficulties. Otherwise, someone of Wen Ruan Yu's stature, a true inheritor Golden Core cultivator, wouldn't have stepped aside to let Zheng Shoumo, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, perform it."

"I am indeed very interested in Confucian cultivation now. I truly hope to have time in the future to learn more about it."

Sun Lingtong laughed: "Little Zhuo, is there any school or art you aren't interested in?"

Ning Zhuo was taken aback: "Learning more is never a bad thing."

Their experience this time broadened their horizons regarding Confucian cultivators and showed them it was different from what they had imagined.

The Silent Ghost General was pacified, but the other four generals couldn't endure the branding irons. They could only be branded with one more character after an interval. So, even though the Peanut Ghost General had expressed surrender, he was still imprisoned.

Wen Ruan Yu and the others questioned the Silent Ghost General but gained no new clues.

Regarding this, Mo Chi analyzed: "Those sent to fight a desperate battle within the inner city wouldn't be given important intelligence by the Forgetful River Prefect."

"But from this point of view, the Golden Core ghost generals sent here are also not highly valued."

"Precisely because of this, there is more possibility of recruiting them."

As for the Silent Ghost General, Ning Zhuo felt a secret regret.

He had still hoped to burn him to extract the spiritual essence bearing his innate talent.

However, since the man himself had surrendered, his current value to White Paper Immortal City was naturally greater.

"Right now, the ghost tide continuously assaults the city; a major battle is inevitable."

"Let the Silent Ghost General continue to contribute. If he dies in battle later, I can take over then. There's no rush for now."

With no further clues, Ning Zhuo decisively paused his investigation, spending his days cultivating within the Hidden Sun Villa.

He possessed the Four Soul Cultivation Treasures and used them repeatedly, causing his soul foundation to skyrocket each time.

He broke through from Ten-Thousand Soul to Hundred-Thousand Soul, and continued advancing from there without any slowing of speed.

On the other hand, Ning Zhuo also maintained his cultivation of the Three Superior Methods. Unfortunately, his progress in the "Demonic Blood Sinew Art" was still slow.

Ning Zhuo had comprehension aptitude, supported by his Early Wisdom innate talent. In fact, his understanding of the "Demonic Blood Sinew Art" already far exceeded ordinary people's.

But everything fears comparison.

From his perspective, the comprehension speed of the Demonic Blood Sinew Art was truly too slow! It couldn't compare to his physical body cultivation, and his physical body cultivation was nowhere near as fast as his soul cultivation.

"Jiao Ma, Jiao Ma, your family is here to see you." When Ning Zhuo's soul foundation reached Three Hundred Thousand Souls, he received a report from a paper puppet servant.

The visitor was the head of the Jiao Family. Seeing Ning Zhuo, he launched into a scolding: "Ma'er, what have you done? You didn't enter the Vigor Yang Academy? You're still at the Hidden Sun Villa?"

"Speak!"

"Are you still thinking about Qing Yan's daughter?"

(End of )