After being reborn, all I want to do is run away.

Chapter 103 The Debate on Not Harming

When Shen Xu woke up in bed, the sun was already high in the sky.

This is the first time he's gotten up so late since he came back. He wonders how Uncle Wang is doing, since he went to bed quite late yesterday too.

However, when he stepped out of the room, he found that Uncle Wang was already teaching the two little ones to read on the sand. Wuyou was listening very attentively, and his tender face showed a very serious expression. However, Wushang looked like he was scratching his head and didn't seem to be listening attentively at all.

Shen Xu couldn't help but recall how Uncle Wang had taught him to read using sand when he was a child. Although the characters in this world were somewhat similar to Chinese characters, it was still very difficult to master them, especially after he already had a mature system in his mind.

So although he showed remarkable intelligence in his childhood, he still infuriated Wang Bo when it came to literacy.

Not wanting to disturb the three of them, he went to the kitchen and found the steamed buns that Wu Shang had left for him. He then ate the buns while listening to Uncle Wang explain the origin, evolution, and hidden stories and unknown details behind each character.

When he was a child, he had one feeling about listening to it, but now he has a different feeling. Now he only feels the profoundness of the world's written language and the vast knowledge of Uncle Wang. But how could an ordinary old man know so many things?

During the break, Shen Xu couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Wang, how do they compare to me when I was a child?"

“Wuyou is more intelligent than you, and Wushang is probably more foolish than you,” Uncle Wang said mercilessly.

"Haha..." Shen Xu couldn't help but laugh. Although what Uncle Wang said seemed contradictory on the surface, he could understand Uncle Wang's true meaning. Uncle Wang was praising Wu You for being even smarter than him, who was precocious, and scolding Wu Shang for being even less perceptive than him when he was learning to read.

"Huh?" Wu Shang was immediately disappointed. Wu You walked up to Wu Shang and gestured with her hands, but Wu Shang didn't seem to appreciate it and squatted down to the side, sulking by herself.

Seeing that her brother seemed even angrier, Wuyou took a small stick and started writing in front of Wushang. Wuyou wrote the character "brother" crookedly with the stick, and then looked at Wushang with her big eyes.

Wu Shang clearly recognized the character as well. His eyes widened in shock as he looked at Wu You, and tears welled up uncontrollably as he tightly embraced Wu You's small body.

Wuyou seemed a little confused as to why her brother suddenly did this, so she could only pat Wushang's hair in the way Shen Xu comforted her.

After venting her emotions, Wu Shang led Wu You to Uncle Wang's side, and then said to Uncle Wang with a determined look in her eyes, "Grandpa, although I may not be as smart as Wu You, I will definitely study hard and never take literacy lightly again, because I don't want Wu You to write words for me in the future that I can't understand."

Uncle Wang smiled and said, "Don't be upset. It's commendable that you understand this. You're already better than your brother Xu was when he was a child."

"Huh? Why are you dragging me into this? Uncle Wang, I don't agree with what you're saying!" Shen Xu immediately retorted.

"You certainly didn't have this kind of attitude towards learning when you were at least ten years old."

"This..." Shen Xu was speechless for a moment, unable to refute it.

"Fine! I admit that Wu Shang is better than me in terms of attitude towards learning," Shen Xu said somewhat helplessly.

Hearing Shen Xu's helpless words, the old man and the two young men all laughed. Seeing their smiles, Shen Xu also laughed.

After sending the two children away, Shen Xu talked to Uncle Wang about Wu Shang's talent for cultivating meridians. He wanted to know whether or not Wu Shang should continue to cultivate. He believed that with Uncle Wang's wisdom and knowledge, he would definitely give him a satisfactory answer.

"Even without the constraints of meridian conditions, there are still constraints of mindset. Such young children have a very weak ability to distinguish right from wrong, and their understanding of the world is still very superficial."

"If such a child gains immense power, he will only think of using power to solve problems, thus becoming unable to think about the root cause of the problem. Gradually, he will lose the ability to think, and without thinking, he will naturally be unable to possess wisdom. And a person without wisdom can only be called a beast," Uncle Wang replied slowly.

"A beast?"

“I understand. I’ll have to trouble you with Wushang from now on. This child has encountered too many dark things and suffered too much torment. He is also very talented. It’s hard to imagine what he will become if no one guides him.”

"And 'Worry' is a shackle on him. If you make good use of this shackle, you can gradually dispel the darkness in his heart," Shen Xu instructed.

"Don't worry! Nothing will happen to Wushang here," Uncle Wang said with a smile.

“Teach him swordsmanship too! Just like you taught me. That wooden sword is still in my room.”

"Swordsmanship can calm the mind. I will teach him even if you don't tell me, but you need to give him the wooden sword yourself."

“Okay!” Shen Xu replied solemnly.

"Wu Shang, come here!" Shen Xu called out to Wu Shang, who was playfully fighting with Yun Yingshu and Wu You.

"Brother Xu, is there something you need?" Wu Shang jogged over to Shen Xu's side.

"I'm asking you, where did you get your cultivation level?" Shen Xu asked seriously.

“A kind person taught me this back in the underground battlefield. He taught me how to draw qi into the body and how to attach primordial qi to the body.”

Do you still want to continue your cultivation?

"Of course I want to, because that way I can better protect my sister," Wushang said earnestly.

"So, do you want to protect Wuyou for a while, or for a lifetime?"

"Of course, for life!"

"Then don't think about cultivation for now, because your grandfather and I both believe that you are not yet qualified to become a true cultivator."

"Having great cultivation but lacking the heart of a strong person is insufficient to protect Wuyou for a lifetime," Shen Xu said slowly, looking into Wushang's eyes.

"I don't understand. If I'm strong enough that no one can defeat me, then no one can hurt Wuyou. How can I not protect Wuyou for the rest of my life?"

"Because great power requires a strong heart to wield it. Once you can't control your power, it will harm those around you, including Wuyou!"

"I still don't understand. How could I not control my power? And my power has never harmed Wuyou." Wushang looked at Shen Xu with eyes full of confusion.

At this moment, Wuyou also came over. Sensing the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Wuyou was at a loss. Seeing that Uncle Wang waved to her, she slowly walked to Uncle Wang's side.

"If one day you gained the power to protect Wuyou and it required killing the people of an entire city, would you do it?"

"I can!"

"What if that city is Yunlong City?"

"I...maybe!" Wu Shang couldn't help but lower his head.

"What if your grandfather and I were inside too?"

"This..." Wu Shang lowered his head, his eyes revealing a look of great struggle.

"Silly child, your attitude has already told me your answer, but I'm still relieved that you didn't lie."

"Don't be hurt. There are many ways to gain power in this world. Some are simple, some are difficult. Power gained easily is bound to have flaws, while power gained through difficulties will also have its benefits."

"Your talent is exceptional; you could easily acquire the immense power you've always dreamed of. However, if you cannot control this power and allow it to sweep you forward, an endless abyss awaits you."

Do you still remember why I named you Wushang?

"It's a wish that I won't get hurt, and... that I won't hurt those who are harmless to me." Wu Shang's voice grew softer and softer.

"You say you can control the power within you, and becoming a demonic cultivator who slaughters an entire city is your way of controlling that power? Did I save you from the underground battlefield just so you could kill me and Uncle Wang? Do you want Wuyou to consume a blood-soaked pill made from the blood of an entire city?"

I cannot make you that kind of person, and naturally I will not allow you to possess that kind of power right now.

"Brother Xu, I understand what you mean." Wu Shang raised her head and looked into Shen Xu's eyes with sincere eyes.

"You don't understand yet. True understanding isn't about saying it, it's about doing it. I will protect you and Wuyou for the next few years. You and Wuyou should live well with your grandfather. Your grandfather will teach you many things, including how to have the heart of a strong person."

"And when you will be qualified to become a cultivator will be determined by your grandfather based on your daily behavior. I hope you won't disappoint me and your grandfather." Shen Xu patted Wu Shang's head.

"Brother Xu, I will definitely become a true cultivator," Wu Shang said firmly.

Even after hearing so many profound truths from Wu Shang, he himself might not be able to put them into practice. If it meant risking the lives of an entire city to save Wang Bo, would he do it? He definitely would.

But he would only do it when there was no other way; killing was always just a last resort to solve the problem.