mesbooks Chapter 118 Human Relationships
Chapter 118 Human Relationships
Chapter 118 Human Relationships
Facing the astonished, shocked, and yet subtly expectant gazes of the crowd, Su Fan, playing the Onmyoji Abe no Gen, continued in a subtly weary yet sacrificial tone: "The Xia Kingdom's purgatory is complete. Xia Jie, using millions of lives as fuel, will surely see his demon army's strength advance by leaps and bounds within a hundred days. If he were to unify the two islands and launch a direct attack on Honshu and Hokkaido, then even with talismans, without enough people to command them, they would be like children wielding sharp blades, helpless and desperate."
He looked out of the hall. Although the sky above Kyoto was faintly illuminated by the barrier, he could still feel the oppressive chill emanating from the south. "The initiation method uses my own cultivation as a bridge, and the accumulated faith and willpower of the Three Sacred Treasures over a thousand years as its source, forcibly imprinting the core of the talisman into the recipient's spiritual core, binding it to their very essence. The recipient doesn't need a long period of comprehension to master the drawing and activation of the corresponding talisman; even those with dull aptitude can succeed!"
The breath caught in the throat of everyone in the hall. No need for lengthy comprehension? Even those with duller aptitude could succeed? This completely overturned their understanding of the ironclad rules that "the Dharma should not be lightly transmitted" and "cultivation prioritizes innate talent and comprehension!"
An elderly cabinet minister asked in a trembling voice, "Your Excellency! Such a method is unheard of! And if even someone of dull talent can master it, wouldn't the power lose its purity?"
Abe Gen looked at him, his gaze calm yet carrying an undeniable depth: "In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken."
It's not about the level of the threshold, but about why and how to use it. Xia Jie used the people as fuel to forge the most evil and wicked power; I use the divine way as a bridge to instill in people the will to protect the nation and defend the land.
Su Fan, playing the Onmyoji Abe Gen, turned his gaze to the head of the Abe family and said, "I'll leave this matter to you. I ask that you all be patient and considerate of the public good, as the current situation in Japan cannot withstand any more turmoil."
The head of the Abe family trembled slightly, overjoyed, and immediately bowed deeply: "I will obey Your Excellency's decree! I will do my utmost and live up to your expectations!"
This puts him in complete charge, which means he's also in charge of personnel selection. Naturally, there's plenty of room for illicit gains in this process.
Regardless of what everyone thought, since the meaning of the Onmyoji Abe no Gen was already very clear and the overall situation was settled, they all agreed.
Abe Gen nodded slightly, the weariness on his face, a result of his "sacrifice," seemed to deepen. He waved his hand gently: "Go and prepare. Time is of the essence. Lord Abe, stay here. The rest of you, disperse."
The crowd bowed again, their hearts filled with complex and indescribable emotions, and silently withdrew from the main hall. Only Abe Gen and the Abe family head, who stood with his head bowed, remained inside.
Only after confirming that everyone was far away did the subtle weariness emanating from Abe Gen dissipate, returning him to his usual deep, still calm. He turned to the head of the Abe family, his tone becoming direct and clear: "Just recruit as many people as you need to this time, even ten thousand will do. As for the candidates, it's not impossible for you to arrange some sons of powerful and influential families."
Abe Gen's gaze seemed to pierce through his soul; beneath that profound calm lay an all-knowing indifference.
"I know what you're thinking. When disaster strikes, people crave peace and advancement. Those powerful families, wealthy clans, and bureaucrats, fearing the hellish Xia Jie, will surely want to secure a place in this nascent divine system to ensure their family's survival. Letting them send some of their children to receive initiation and become talisman masters will not only put their minds at ease but also provide them with resources and assistance—a win-win situation, isn't it?"
The head of the Abe family, his throat dry, managed to say, "Your Excellency's concern is indeed well-founded. If we can integrate these forces, it may be beneficial to our Shinto cause!"
"Benefits?" Abe Gen gently interrupted him, his tone unreadable, yet it exerted an invisible pressure on the Abe family head. "Perhaps there are. But have you considered the harms?"
He approached slowly, his voice low and clear, each word striking the heart of the Abe family patriarch: "What these privileged sons of nobles gain is the power to protect the country and defend its territory, or tools to consolidate their family's power and seize power in the new order? When the war becomes critical and they are required to die, will these nobles, accustomed to weighing the pros and cons, readily accept their fate, or hesitate, or even wait for the best offer?"
Abe Gen stopped and looked directly into the eyes of the Abe family head. "What is the current situation? It is a calamity of national subjugation and annihilation that is imminent! What we need is not some bargaining chip to balance the political situation or appease the powerful families, but warriors who can form fighting power in the shortest possible time, warriors who dare to face hell without hesitation!"
"A merciful general cannot command an army, and a benevolent ruler cannot save a nation. Extraordinary times require extraordinary people to accomplish extraordinary tasks. You must personally oversee the process and ensure the quality of the candidates. It's not that I don't want you to place your own people. In extraordinary times, uniting all forces that can be united is perfectly reasonable. But the prerequisite is that you must ensure that every person you place is not incompetent."
"If there truly are scions of noble families, with unwavering resolve, willing to die, and whose families are willing to fully support the Shinto path, providing money, provisions, and manpower, then giving them a chance is not unreasonable. But this chance should not be based on their birth, but on their personal qualifications and contributions. Do you understand the difference?"
"Understood! I understand completely!" The head of the Abe family kowtowed repeatedly. "We must prioritize the overall situation and military strength! We would never dare to damage public resources for personal reasons!"
After giving the head of the Abe family a warning, Abe Gen nodded slightly. Although theoretically it wouldn't matter if he was a good-for-nothing, the Shinto talisman system didn't want to be slowed down because he was useless.
You bring in some useless people, and we'll just turn a blind eye. After all, in society, there are some things you can't do without.
If it really goes too far, the Onmyoji Abe no Gen is the embodiment of justice. It should be known that even Buddha has the gentle demeanor of a Bodhisattva and the fierce wrath of a Vajra.
"Remember, I'm giving you authority to efficiently select soldiers, integrate resources, and build defenses, not to manage your own private power or engage in compromises and balances."
He paused, giving the head of the Abe family time to process this, then, with a hint of almost worldly-wise helplessness in his tone, he bluntly stated: "Living in this world, especially in such turbulent times, many things are ultimately difficult to completely transcend. Powerful families are deeply entrenched; various demands are intricately intertwined. Given your position, a little 'lubrication' is unavoidable if you want things to proceed smoothly. As long as it's harmless and doesn't affect the overall situation, I can pretend I didn't see you bringing in a few barely qualified individuals, or those who can be exchanged for key resources."
"This humble servant thanks you for your trust, sir!" The head of the Abe family said with utmost solemnity. "This humble servant will certainly remain within my bounds and would never dare to overstep the bounds even slightly!"
"Very good." Abe Gen's intimidating aura slowly dissipated, and he returned to his ethereal appearance in flowing white robes. "Remember your words, and remember my bottom line. Go. I need to see the first batch of qualified candidates within three days."