Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 219: Understand your true nature and your extraordinary abilities will emerge!
[You are once again forced to stand at this juncture of choice...]

"Based on what Madam Pan said, are you sure that Liu Dutou won't let you go? After all, this is a huge humiliation. Once the news of Madam Pan's pregnancy reaches him, he'll be ready to kill you."

[In this situation, if you want to survive, you have to strike first! ]

Just like what Madam Pan imagined, once you have conspired to kill Liu Dutou and then fabricate a scene of "Jin people crossing the border to commit a crime," all of his property and house will be yours...even his wife will be yours. You can live in his house openly, sleep with his wife, spend his property, and raise your own children...

This is undoubtedly a very tempting thing, and it's not just a temptation; it also means you can resolve the life threat from Liu Dutou... Honestly, this method is really good. As long as you abandon those worthless morals, you can gain everything!

[Yes, worthless morality! ]

"Haven't you already violated morality once? Last time, under threat of your life, you defied your conscience and agreed to Madam Pan's generous offer of a child. The subsequent enjoyment and satisfaction you experienced also caused a certain shift in your moral values..."

It makes you understand that, under the tangible temptation of real-world benefits, rigid morality is nothing more than a meaningless shackle... When you cling to morality, it will only cause you unnecessary losses. But when you have the courage to break free from the shackles of morality, things may actually become better!

Morality always has to compromise for the sake of profit. Taking a step back opens up a new world... Why would you risk your life for it?

[And just like that, the alluring voice in your head grows louder and louder...]

【But...this is wrong! 】

You grit your teeth, clinging to that worthless morality, refusing to let go. Even as the demonic voice in your head grows louder, you persist, as if it weren't worthless, but a treasure more precious than any other treasure!

“I admit that morality is not something that is inviolable… I also admit that morality can be counterproductive at certain times… I also admit that abandoning morality in these times can actually lead to a better future than sticking to it.”

“But, as Mencius said: Life is what I desire, and righteousness is what I desire. I cannot have both. I would rather sacrifice life for righteousness!”

“I still believe that there is something in this world that is more important than life. It may not have any practical meaning in normal times, but at certain times, it is ten thousand times more precious than life!”

“Death is certainly terrifying, but what’s even scarier than death is losing one’s own boundaries! If one repeatedly bends to reality for the sake of survival, then sooner or later one will be alienated and distorted by the environment, until one loses both self and soul, becoming an ugly, rotting corpse!”

You muttered silently to yourself, and the twinkling light in your eyes stabilized again!

[For the sake of reality, you have already taken a step back, but now, you are unwilling to retreat again...]

[“I refuse!”]

[In the midst of Madam Pan's astonishment, you didn't give in to her like you did last time, but instead clearly expressed your refusal to her!]

Looking at your eyes, which were like bright lights, Madam Pan couldn't help but exclaim, "Are you crazy?!"

She pleads with you, "Only if you and I conspire to kill him will he not kill you! Even if you don't want his fortune, do you want your life too?!"

"Besides, even if you don't want to live, have you ever thought about the baby in my belly? Do you really want him to be born without a father? What if that old man abuses him in the future? He's not his biological child, how could he possibly be kind to him?"

"Zhou Lang, you're already a father! Stop acting like a child, okay?!"

She almost pleaded, and the truth in her words wasn't just random talk, but the true principles of the world.

[But you have made up your mind. No matter what she says, you will not waver...]

[Letting go of her tightly grasping hand, you turned and walked out without another word, leaving her alone in the room, staring blankly at your back.]

【…】

You returned to the barracks and reported your mission progress to Liu Dutou in person...

[Then, regardless of what Liu Dutou, who had already fallen into a daze, felt, you turned and left.]

You arrived at the training ground alone, picked up a spear, and began your usual practice without a word!

Although you hadn't practiced with a spear in months in order to complete the mission, the moment you picked up the spear, the muscle memory of over a decade of hard practice allowed you to wield it without a single sluggish stab.

A standard spear transformed into a nimble dragon in your hands. Its form shifted constantly with your will, roaring to the heavens, swooping down fiercely... You wield a variety of spear techniques at will, like a spear god! [After a set of spear dances, the pent-up anger in your heart seemed to dissipate, leaving only a sense of relief... This is why you enjoy martial arts training, because you enjoy the feeling of relaxation both physically and mentally.]

[And during this moment of relaxation, you finally couldn't help but ask the young man in the hallucination: "Father... do you think I did the right thing?"]

The Prime Minister leaned against the old crooked tree, sipping his tea and chuckling, "Why, you were so bold earlier about sacrificing your life for justice, but now you're scared?"

[“That’s not the case…”]

[“I’m not scared, I’m just… just worried…”]

You looked confused and said, "Although I've decided not to rob Madam Pan for money or life, what she said does make sense."

"If I don't strike first, then Liu Dutou will definitely kill me... If I want to live, I have no choice but to kill him..."

"Father, I don't want to die, but I don't want to kill for money either..."

You are extremely distressed.

The father-in-law laughed heartily: "Then you won't kill for money, right?"

"Who says killing someone is necessarily for money? Survival and resistance are natural things. If Liu Dutou really wants to harm you, then can't you just kill him back? At worst, you can do it cleanly afterwards so that no one finds out..."

"As for that woman's claim of taking over the family fortune, since you don't want to be alienated by reality, why don't you just give it up? From now on, the Liu family's money will belong solely to her, the widow. She can use it however she pleases, as long as you don't use it."

[With just a few words from your father-in-law, the problem that has been bothering you for a long time will be solved! ]

You suddenly realize: "Right, killing someone doesn't mean stealing their life. The relationship between you and Liu Dutou was originally just a simple hostility. As long as you don't conspire with Madam Pan, it can only be considered a revenge killing. This is normal!"

[All your troubles are just because you think too much...]

You suddenly realized something... but then you realized it again and scratched your head: "That's not right... Father, you're talking about the consequences after I kill Liu Dutou, but what if I can't defeat him?"

[Although you are very confident in your martial arts, Liu Dutou is a veteran after all. The outcome of a duel between the two is really hard to predict... Besides, even if he can't defeat you, what if he simply sends you to the border to patrol for grain and then uses the Jin army as a pretext to get rid of you?]

[That’s a golden man…]

[The father-in-law smiled and waved his hand: "It's okay."]

"If you are really in danger, I will keep you safe..."

【Um? ! 】

You raised your eyebrows, puzzled, "Prime Minister... If you could protect me, why didn't you intervene when the Jin people tried to kill me last time?!"

[“Well…”]

The father-in-law suddenly smiled, pointed at your body, and said mysteriously, "If I had taken action then, wouldn't you have been unable to witness the extraordinary power of this world?"

[“It’s been several months, you should be able to feel the changes…”]

[Hmm? The extraordinary power of this world?!]

[Upon hearing this, you were stunned for a moment... Then, suddenly realizing what was happening, you didn't even bother getting dirty. You immediately sat cross-legged on the muddy ground in the training ground, excitedly and nervously beginning to carefully experience the changes in yourself!]

You've heard countless tales of the tyrannical, vengeful power of the Ming Dynasty from your father-in-law, and yearn for its earth-shattering might! Now, the transcendent power of this world is about to unveil its mysteries...

……

(End of this chapter)