Volume Three: Breeze of the Ancient City Chapter Twenty-Five: A War Without Smoke

The fifth bout of the martial contest centered on the theme of "irreverence."

In the four preceding matches, a total of eight participants had taken the stage. For those who had cleared the first round, the second round of combat was largely a formality—a mere procedural step. By this stage, the opposing sides—the underworld and the establishment—had already exchanged blows and met face-to-face, gaining a certain understanding of their counterparts' capabilities. In their future careers, they might cross paths again, and these encounters served to build a rapport, ensuring that both sides knew exactly who they were dealing with.

The fifth match pitted the second-in-command of the Great Energy Gang against a representative of the military. This gang leader was notorious throughout the ancient city of Qingfeng as a lecherous old villain. Chen Chen had witnessed his depravity firsthand the moment he left the city, confirming that the man’s character was deeply crooked. Facing this lecher was a heavyweight of the military: an elderly man nearing the rank of a five-star general.

It was clear that the two were vying for the right to be the one who would punish those guilty of "irreverence." They were fighting for the qualification to represent virtue and strike down the disrespectful. In truth, to be worthy of representing the righteous in teaching others a lesson, one must either lead a life of unblemished integrity and meritorious service—earning the respect required to rebuke the world’s lack of decorum—or possess a character of such academic and moral excellence that one has never committed a heinous act, remaining worthy of one’s ancestors and descendants. Few could claim such standing.

As the fifth match began, both men, now well past their prime, stepped onto the platform. The gang leader felt his own insignificance when faced with the five-star general, whose uniform was heavy with the weight of medals. Both men realized that something was fundamentally wrong with this matchup. The gang leader’s reputation was infamous; he was rumored to prey on young women and participate in human trafficking. For such a man to act as a punisher of vice was inherently contradictory. The military, having learned of his character, had deliberately deployed the five-star general to suppress him, preventing a criminal from masquerading as the embodiment of justice.

The general intended to teach the man a lesson. Beyond the ten cardinal sins, there are other forms of evil, the worst of which is lust. This differs from the bonds of normal, healthy relationships. It encompasses illicit acts, such as self-gratification, improper sexual conduct, and non-consensual acts of force.

Chen Chen was present to observe the outcome of this clash between the two sides. On the arena floor, the diminutive gang leader faced the towering general; neither showed any mercy.

"Do you really think you are fit to represent virtue and punish irreverence?" the general asked, clearly holding the gangster in contempt. Throughout his career, he had loathed criminals. Even those who claimed to act out of kindness for their loved ones were still, by definition, wrongdoers. To walk the path of virtue but commit evil along the way is to lose one’s way entirely.

The world is a place of fortune, yet we are cast into it through cycles of rebirth. Temptations abound; do not claim that evil deeds are done for the sake of others. Whether we perform acts of good or evil, those who walk the path of the Three Virtues must first perfect themselves before they are qualified to preach to others.

Chen Chen watched for a moment and then departed. There were no detailed accounts of the actual fight; some say they never truly came to blows, while others claim the battle was so intense it summoned ghosts and deities. Legend has it that the match did not end well, and the second-in-command of the Great Energy Gang failed to advance. Perhaps he was too stained by his own past to represent justice, for a villain striking at another villain is a tragic, laughable irony.

The fifth match of the second round ended, and with it, this war without smoke. Some competitions are ubiquitous; some struggles are right beside us. There are no shortcuts to success, and there is no need for clamorous, hollow living. Sometimes, the most decisive blows are not those that strike flesh. Through a mere display of intent and a clearing of grievances, the result was decided. We all live within the lives we have forged. It is not a question of whether justice exists or if evil is rampant, but rather how we walk our individual paths. When we face the myriad grievances we have accumulated, can we say with a clear conscience: "I am worthy of my past, worthy of who I am today, worthy of heaven and earth, and worthy of this bright, clear world"? Good begets good, and evil begets evil; if the retribution has not yet arrived, it is simply because the time is not yet ripe.

The second-in-command of the Great Energy Gang may have been nothing more than a title. In the Three Realms and Six Paths, everyone must account for their actions. In the human realm, everyone struggles on the path of virtue, constrained by rules, laws, and the limitations of life. It is not that humanity cannot tolerate evil, but rather that life is, simply, life. Evil leads to death, while virtue leads to longevity.

Chen Chen recalled the three virtuous paths—the Heavenly Path, the Asura Path, and the Human Path—and the three evil paths—the Animal Path, the Hungry Ghost Path, and the Hell Path. The former paths foster goodness, while the latter are defined by evil. To be human is to strive for a life of virtuous action. If one acts with malice, one cannot teach others to be good.

Back in the ancient city of Qingfeng, the gang leader was gone, vanished into the ether. The five-star general had also removed his coat and departed. The empty arena slowly returned to its former tranquility. As the sun set and night fell, the cycle of life continued. The fifth match had concluded, and a new candidate would have to be found to address the issue of irreverence.

Perhaps these painful gatherings are destined to disperse. This is the nature of the contest, the nature of stories, and the nature of fame and fortune. We all live with tenacity. This world does not require excessive pity; to pity the weak is to ensure they remain weak forever. When we stop pitying them, perhaps they stand as our equals, deserving of fair treatment—or perhaps they rise above us, becoming figures we must look up to. True, the world is not always a pure land, and one must always keep their guard up. But to fight for one’s own life, to survive, and to evolve—that is a beauty that never fades.