Chapter 126: Hunter 126: The Art of Compromise
"Compromise is something that always exists, as long as you know how to choose properly. The reason I predict Village Chief Ma's ultimate failure is because he doesn't understand how to compromise."
Lin Jiu took a sip of the tea in his hand, the same tea that hadn't shattered along with the table earlier.
Everyone, throughout their life, makes choices and compromises. Did Lin Jiu choose to sign a contract with the Reincarnation Paradise to become a hunter? No, because if he hadn't signed, with the amount of blood he was losing from his forehead, he would have died. That was a compromise in the face of life and death.
Lin Jiu explained, "You can't have both fish and bear paws. If you want to develop your organization peacefully, you have to give up turning ordinary people into Outcast. If you want to be inclusive, bringing everyone under one roof, then you have to give up using Outcast methods and become a teacher to ordinary people. No matter their wealth, no matter their talent, you must nurture them into something worthwhile—that is true inclusiveness.
It's a simple principle of opportunity cost. The opportunity cost of engaging in one activity is the other activity you forgo or the alternative profit you forgo when you use resources to gain a certain profit. The goal of the alternative activity or the alternative profit is the opportunity cost of the activity. Even if you're not specialized in this field, any college student would understand this concept."
It wasn't just Ma Xianhong who felt awkward, even Lu Liang had an embarrassed expression. Ma Xianhong candidly admitted, "I've been learning Outcast techniques and researching technology since I was young. I've never gone to school!"
Lu Liang couldn't help but chime in, "Most Outcast has been cultivating since childhood. Apart from certain techniques, most require a huge amount of time and effort. After the necessary compulsory education, those with average talent usually don't continue their studies. Only exceptional cases like Zhang Chulan... hey? Sect Leader, did you go to college too?"
"..."
Lin Jiu hadn't realized that his partially completed college education would be considered a high achievement in the world of the Outcast.
"I've studied your Reincarnation Sect seriously, and the majority of your members are ordinary people. According to what you just said, how can they remain safe and sound?"
Ma Xianhong's attitude started to shift towards seeking advice, showing how much he cared about the New Sect.
"The biggest reason is that I control the numbers. The Reincarnation Sect can expand, but it's always kept at around a hundred people. We don't spread the news of Outcast on a large scale. In the eyes of the authorities, these hundred or so people are nothing significant.
Secondly, I've been recognized and praised as an outstanding youth by the authorities."
Lin Jiu said this with some pride, as it was a recognition of his admirable character and noble worldview.
"My goodness! Is this the benefit of education?"
Ma Xianhong and Lu Liang perused the news articles Lin Jiu handed over, realizing what it meant when they said knowledge changes destiny.
"I can't learn that!"
Ma Xianhong said with a bitter smile.
"I already told you, that's secondary. Focus on the primary point," Lin Jiu reminded him.
"Chief Ma, listen to me: go back and investigate the Outcast in Biyou Village. Send the ones with bad behavior to Express Delivery Company. Stop researching how to turn ordinary people into Outcast, and focus on developing the New Sect. That's the right path."
Lin Jiu advised.
"No way! Impossible, I won't give up my research on the Body Refinement Furnace!"
Ma Xianhong immediately rejected the suggestion.
Of course, Lin Jiu knew he would reject it; otherwise, how could he bring up the topic of the Body Refinement Furnace and steer the conversation to deeper matters?
"Body Refinement Furnace? That sounds like a piece of equipment. Chief Ma, you're so fixated on it—there seems to be some hidden reason behind this, doesn't there?"
Lin Jiu asked.
"Sigh..."
After the groundwork laid earlier, Ma Xianhong's psychological defenses were almost entirely down in front of Lin Jiu, so he admitted frankly, "I need it to help me recover a lost memory."
"Amnesia!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Jiu couldn't help but reveal a barely noticeable smile. Ma Xianhong didn't notice, but Lu Liang did.
Lu Liang felt a chill in his heart; he now understood why he had been brought here. The time had come for someone who could use the Soul Seizing technique, and this Red knew about Village Chief Ma's memory problem even before coming here. Could it be that he intended to manipulate Ma Xianhong's soul during this opportunity?
"Hahaha!"
Lin Jiu burst into laughter.
"Sect Leader Red, this isn't something to be laughed at!"
Ma Xianhong's expression changed.
"I'm laughing because you're in luck, Chief Ma. Have you heard of the Lu family?"
Lin Jiu explained.
"The Lu family... Soul Seizing Technique!"
Ma Xianhong suddenly turned to look at Lu Liang, his pupils dilating.
"Chief Ma, why don't we use Zhao Guizhen to demonstrate this unique skill for you? The Soul Seizing Technique is also a great tool for uncovering the truth."
Lin Jiu suggested.
"Alright! I'll go find him!"
Ma Xianhong stood up and left to find Zhao Guizhen, leaving Lin Jiu and Lu Liang alone in the room.
"Sect Leader, this..."
Lu Liang began to ask if he should do anything, but Lin Jiu waved him off.
This was Biyou Village, the lair of the owner of the Mysterious Mechanism Converts All Art. Who knew if there were any special devices for eavesdropping? Biyou Village also had connections with the Yaoxing Sect—the waters here ran deep.
...
"Chief, were you angered by those two just now? I'll go deal with them!" Qiu Rang saw Ma Xianhong coming out with a low spirit and shouted angrily.
"Brother Qiu, you've got it wrong. How could such a handsome fellow be so nasty? You're just jealous because he's much better looking than you!" Liu Wukui teased.
"You're letting your judgment be clouded by his appearance! I'm trying to vent the Chief's anger!"
Qiu Rang fumed even more.
"Nothing of the sort. Don't disturb Sect Leader Red. By the way, where's Daoist Zhao? Have any of you seen him?"
Ma Xianhong, now more mature after being dealt this blow, didn't go off in a rage looking for Zhao Guizhen. Doing so would alert Zhao that his deeds had been exposed, prompting him to flee Biyou Village.
"Daoist Zhao? I think he's practicing on the back mountain. Should I go call him?"
Fu Rong answered after some thought.
"No need. I'll go there myself."
Ma Xianhong said as he headed toward the back mountain.
"Brother Qiu, you said the Chief seemed very angry just now. Now he's suddenly going to find Daoist Zhao. Could there be a grudge between the two newcomers and Daoist Zhao?"
Fu Rong speculated.
"Fu Rong's analysis makes a lot of sense."
Liu Wukui sided with Fu Rong.
"But whatever the grudge, with the Chief here, no outsider can touch someone from Biyou Village!"
Qiu Rang declared confidently.
Yet, a moment later, Liu Wukui suddenly shouted, "Brother Qiu, look! Is the Chief carrying Daoist Zhao?"
The group saw their Chief, Ma Xianhong, approaching with a half-dead Zhao Guizhen in his hand. His grim expression attracted a lot of attention, but due to Ma Xianhong's presence, no one dared to ask what had happened.
"Chief, Daoist Zhao...?"
Qiu Rang asked, confused by the scene.
"I'll explain it to you later!"
Ma Xianhong, holding the nearly lifeless Zhao Guizhen like a dead dog, pushed open the door and walked inside.
He had found Zhao Guizhen and asked him to come along. Zhao Guizhen was clever; otherwise, he wouldn't have escaped from the Outcast of Express Delivery Company and the Shangqing Maoshan Sect.
Zhao Guizhen immediately noticed that Ma Xianhong's expression was off. If there was something to discuss, they could have done it right there—there was no need to return to the village. There could only be one reason: his crimes had been exposed.
His first reaction was to flee. Only those who hadn't witnessed Ma Xianhong's miraculous skills would think they had a chance in a fight. Having witnessed it firsthand, Zhao Guizhen instantly unleashed his full power in an attempt to escape.
As Zhao Guizhen unleashed his full strength, the malevolent spirits within him also manifested. Ma Xianhong was instantly filled with killing intent. Six red beads flew out, forming a barrier that trapped Zhao Guizhen.
Then, Ma Xianhong used the red beads on his body to channel Qi, covering himself in black armor. With this Wudou Armor, he brutally beat Zhao Guizhen to the brink of death and dragged him back. He, too, wanted to witness the Lu family's Soul Seizing Technique.
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