Chapter 12: The Most Merciful Race

Huang Huo, taking the crowd behind him, commanded arrogantly: "Junior, open the door immediately and greet your grandfather!"

Various shouts erupted from the crowd.

A voice: "Boss Jin is actually a cowardly chicken‐" as it said…

Ham!

Another voice corrected: "Boss Jin is actually a cowardly crane!"

Hasn't the Author Support System still not found out who hacked the system?!

The Author Support System: "No…"

Another person spoke up: "Coward Jin, open the door immediately and kneel down to beg for forgiveness in front of the Esteemed Master Huang Huo! Only in this way might you have a chance to live!"

Yet another person mocked: "Just as the rumors say! That cowardly crane! He doesn't even dare to show his face!"

As the crowd continued to kiss Huang Huo’s ass, the Huang Trio grew even more arrogant. This included Huang Fu as well. After all, although they bore the Huang surname, they were actually born in a branch of the Huang Clan. Even though they were highly respected outside, within the clan territories the respect they received from members of the main branch was equivalent to that a dog would receive. In fact, if that dog happened to be the pet of someone from the main branch, it might even receive more respect than Huang De. The difference between the main branch and the branch might seem simple, but in truth, it was as vast as the distance between earth and sky.

All resources belonged to the main branch. Those in the branch had to make do with what was given to them. They could not demand more. However, the reason was not that they were born in the branch, but that they were weak.

But why were they weak? Were those born in the branch born talentless, and those in the main branch born talented?

Of course not. There were those born in the branch who were highly talented as well. But talent did not mean everything.

Talent only held value in individuals born at the right time, in the right place, into the right family, and under the right circumstances.

If you were born a girl, your talent would not carry much weight. You would only be valued for your talent under extraordinary circumstances. At all other times you would be seen merely as a decorative ribbon binding families together. This was the painful reality for women. Political marriage was, most of the time, a dreadful fate for them.

In such a case, all you could do was pray to the Heavens that your future husband would turn out to be a good man.

Imagine: marrying an untalented man who sees you merely as a source of pleasure and a child‐bearing object… In that situation, being a “talented” woman would be not a blessing for you, but a curse.

For this reason, such questions constantly swirled in women’s minds:

"Will my husband be a strong man or a useless bastard?"

"How will he treat me?"

"What if I cannot bear a son? What would he do to me then?"

"What if I lose my beauty? Will he lock me in a room for life?"

"And if my children are born untalented? Will he take someone else in my place?"

Though these issues might seem trivial, they could cause women to suffer and be humiliated throughout their lives.

Imagine: you are forced to marry a dreadful man. You have no choice but to share a bed with this repulsive being and allow him to use you as a living sexual instrument. Because you are weak. Because you are a woman.

And as if this nightmare were not enough, you will carry his child for months. Every time you look at yourself in the mirror, you will be reminded of those dreadful nights. And when you look at the child you have given birth to…

If your child were a boy, it would be considered good news. But if it were a girl, you would face serious problems.

If your son were talented, you would be lucky. But if he were untalented, things would go badly once again.

You would cry and wonder every night, "Why has this happened? What sin have I committed?" You would contemplate suicide countless times, but once you had a child, you would not want to abandon it. Moreover, you would not wish to betray the family that arranged this marriage for you, even if you despised them…

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Because your mother had suffered these pains as well. Your grandmother, too. And her mother…

You would come to realize that you were born into this life to sacrifice yourself. For that was the only lesson you were taught…

So, why are you weak?

Why can you not defy this cursed fate?

Because you are a woman.

Is being a woman a crime?

Of course not; what is to blame is your weakness.

And the reason for your weakness is solely that you were born a girl…

From the very beginning, you were raised like a dowry gift. No martial arts techniques that kept the clan standing were taught to you. For it was assumed that you would leave the clan upon marriage. If secret techniques were taught to you, wouldn’t they have been considered as having gone over to the enemy clan along with your marriage?

But what kind of logic is that?

Isn’t a bond formed through marriage? Why would they become your enemies?

What a great joke indeed!

These marriages were in fact a political game. Though appearing as friendships on the surface, in reality they were an effort to strengthen ties with enemy clans and eventually absorb them through their descendants.

Now, imagine: you are a beautiful and ordinary mortal.

YOU HAVE NO BACKGROUND AT ALL!

WHAT WILL THEY DO TO YOU?

WHO WILL PROTECT YOU?!

Worse yet, imagine that you were born with great talent and dazzling beauty!

This was the painful fate experienced by most women.

This vicious cycle was a chain that repeated over generations.

Women, destined to be sent off to other clans through marriage, never had access to cultivation resources. Deprived of these resources and unable to learn quality martial arts, they remained weak. Because of their weakness, it was impossible for them to defy their fate. Then they would bear a daughter, and she, too, would be forced to live the same cycle.

This situation was actually analogous to the relationship between the branch and the main branch of the clan.

Members of the main branch initially possessed all the resources. This allowed them access to every opportunity to strengthen their offspring. Over time, this gap only became more pronounced.

While those in the main branch were raised with ten units of power, those in the branch had to make do with only two units due to a lack of resources. Regardless of whether they were talented or untalented, those born in the branch could never measure up to those of the main branch because of the insufficiency of resources.

Because of their weakness, they could never have a say in the clan's decisions.

Then their children were born, and the same cycle continued…

Does this sound familiar to you?

In fact, this was the case in every world.

While the rich increased their wealth, workers and slaves had to make do with just enough resources to survive.

They had neither enough money nor any free time.

Because if they had free time or money to spend as they wished, perhaps they could create an opportunity to break this cycle and unite.

So, where was I, amına koyayım. (learn this swear word.)

Hay böyle işin anasını sikeyim. (learn this swear word.)

Did they lose their damn minds…

Ha, I remember.

Randomly, someone shouted: "Crane Jin really is just as the rumors say, a cowardly crane! He doesn't even dare to show his face!"

Amidst these very conversations, a deep unknown voice rose: "Perhaps not because he lacks courage, but because he hasn't fucked the Huang Clan?"

The Author shouted in anger, causing unease: "FUCK, WHO THE HELL IS THIS BASTARD?! Haven't you found that fucking prick who spoke just now, The Author Support System?!"

(I'm going to get in trouble, my ranking will drop!!)

The Author Support System gritted her teeth in an angry and pathetic manner, then reluctantly uttered the words: "No…"

The Author glared at me furiously and cursed: "You bastard Cracked Storyteller! You told me you had a proper story, yet you can't even control your own narrative! If you don't resolve this situation, I'll report you to the Storytellers' Union!!!"

I let out a cry filled with anger and fear: "NO!!!!!"

(FUCK, FUCK, FUCK! WHY?! WHY DID THIS HAPPEN! WHILE I HAD EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE A REAL STORYTELLER, WHY DO THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN MY FIRST STORY?!!!! NO ONE MENTIONED ANY OF THIS IN THE TUTORIAL!!! I'M THE ONE WHO'S REALLY THE VICTIM HERE!!!)

…

Huang Huo narrowed his eyes threateningly and scanned the crowd swiftly. He had sworn to capture the person who had mocked him as soon as he found him, and to peel his skin in front of everyone. However, upon seeing his threatening gaze, the crowd was gripped with terror. No one dared to make eye contact; they kept their heads down, staring at their own feet.

Huang Huo continued to scrutinize the surroundings carefully but failed to find the person who had mocked him. His face returned to its old haughty expression. Fixing his gaze on the door of The Immortals Shopping Mall, he shouted in a stern tone: "Junior, I told you to open the door and greet your grandfather!"

However, once again, no response came from within. Jin Kai seemed to completely ignore Huang Huo.

This silence brought with it hushed whispers among the crowd.

"I guess Boss Jin really doesn't give a damn about the Huang Clan," someone murmured softly.

Immediately after, a contrary voice rose: "Maybe he's asleep? Who in this world can stand against the Huang Clan?"

Upon hearing this gossip, Huang Huo gritted his teeth in anger. ("How can these bastards be talking about me like this!") he thought furiously.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he turned around and began to mentally note everyone who had spoken ill of him. ("I will meet with you in the future... I will settle accounts with each and every one of you!")

The sole purpose of compiling this list was to exact revenge. In truth, Huang Huo was powerful enough to kill everyone present. Even if that were not possible, whenever he attempted to kill someone, his opponents would do nothing but defend themselves; they would not retaliate.

Because attacking Huang Huo was tantamount to attacking the Huang Clan directly. In such a case, the excuse, "I acted in self‐defense, therefore I retaliated!" would hold no meaning. For justice only manifests when both sides are on equal footing.

So, if matters were in Huang Huo's favor, why did he not kill these weak insects?

Because the Huang Clan belonged to the Path of Virtue. Remember? Killing people arbitrarily was the work of Evil Cultivators, and these individuals were the common enemy of the entire world. (!)

For this reason, Huang Huo did not have the authority to kill directly. He needed an excuse… or he had to resort to using the hidden hands among the shadows.