bullyxtreme Chapter 373: Conflict of ideas, different paths cannot lead to mutual cooperation!
Chapter 373: Conflict of ideas, different paths cannot lead to mutual cooperation!
"and many more."
Ma Xianhong's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Su Chen's departure and breaking the solemn atmosphere in the basement.
His tone was no longer as hostile and crazy as before, but became gentle, even with a hint of... pleading?
Su Chen stopped, turned around slowly, and looked at Ma Xianhong. He didn't say anything, but just questioned him with his eyes.
"Su Chen..."
Ma Xianhong took a deep breath, as if trying to calm himself down.
"I know you have prejudices against me and doubts about my 'New Jiejiao'."
He paused, and his tone became more sincere:
“But I hope you can believe that my intentions are good.
Everything I do is to create a better world.”
"A better world?" Su Chen repeated calmly, without any emotion in his tone.
"Yes." Ma Xianhong nodded.
"A world without strife, without oppression, where everyone is equal."
"I know this goal sounds far-fetched and even a little... unrealistic."
He smiled bitterly,
"But as long as we work hard, there is hope that it will come true."
"And the self-cultivation furnace is the key to achieving this goal."
Ma Xianhong walked to the workbench and gently stroked the cold parts.
His eyes were full of tenderness, as if he was looking at his own child.
"The Self-cultivation Furnace... It is not just a magical tool, it is also a kind of... hope."
He raised his head and looked at Su Chen, his eyes full of expectation:
"Su Chen, I hope you can help me."
"Help you?" Su Chen raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Help you perfect the self-cultivation furnace?"
"Yes."
Ma Xianhong answered without hesitation,
"I know you possess many of the Eight Great Skills. Your strength and wisdom are what I need."
"As long as we work together, we will be able to make the self-cultivation furnace perfect and realize our ideals."
He paused, with a hint of bewilderment in his tone:
"Don't you want to see a better world?"
Su Chen did not answer immediately. He looked at Ma Xianhong's expectant eyes, but his heart was full of doubts.
Ma Xianhong's attitude changed so quickly that he was caught off guard.
a moment ago,
He was also full of hostility towards himself and even threatened to eliminate this "obstacle".
next moment,
He became so gentle and so pleading, as if all his previous madness and paranoia were just an illusion.
There must be something wrong here.
"Village Chief Ma," Su Chen spoke slowly, his tone calm and cautious.
"What do you mean by 'perfect'?"
He did not directly reject Ma Xianhong's invitation, but tried to find out the other party's true intentions.
"'Complete'……"
Ma Xianhong's eyes flickered slightly.
"It is to make the self-cultivation furnace more powerful, more perfect, and more able to... adapt to this world."
He paused and added:
"You know, even though the self-cultivation furnace was created by me, it is not perfect yet. There is still a lot of room for improvement."
“And your strength, your ability, is the key to taking it to the next level.”
"Village Chief Ma," Su Chen interrupted Ma Xianhong.
"I remember you said before that the Self-cultivation Furnace can transform people's hearts and create 'perfect humans'."
"When you say 'perfect', does that also include this aspect?"
Ma Xianhong's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Yes," he admitted.
"The self-cultivation furnace does have this function."
"But, everything I did was for their own good," he argued.
"I just help them eliminate the greed and desire in their hearts, so that they can become purer and kinder."
"Better to live in the 'new world' I created."
"So, you need my power to help you transform more people?" Su Chen's voice became cold.
"No, it's not a transformation." Ma Xianhong shook his head.
"Yes...guidance."
"Guide them onto the right path and guide them to become a member of the 'New Jiejiao'."
He paused, and his tone became more sincere:
"Su Chen, I know you misunderstand me, but I believe that you, like me, hope that the world will become a better place."
"We have the same goal, don't we?"
"Common goal..."
Su Chen muttered to himself, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
"And..." Ma Xianhong suddenly smiled mysteriously.
"Don't you want to see your old friend?"
"Old friend?" Su Chen was stunned.
"Yes, your old friend." Ma Xianhong nodded.
"Zhuge Qing, Wang Ye, they are here too."
"What?!" Su Chen's pupils shrank suddenly.
"You said Zhuge Qing and Wang Ye are here too?"
"That's right." Ma Xianhong's smile became more meaningful.
“They are also helping me perfect the self-cultivation furnace.”
Su Chen's face turned gloomy in an instant.
He knew Zhuge Qing and Wang Ye's personalities, and they would never easily cooperate with Ma Xianhong.
Unless... they got into some trouble,
Or... controlled by Ma Xianhong!
"where are they?"
Su Chen's voice turned cold, with a hint of suppressed anger.
"Don't worry." Ma Xianhong waved his hand.
"They are safe now and... doing well."
He paused and added:
"At least, it's better than before."
"Ma Xianhong!"
Su Chen's voice rose several decibels.
"What on earth did you do to them?!"
"I didn't do anything." Ma Xianhong shrugged.
"I just invited them to visit Biyou Village and ask them to do me a small favor."
"A small favor?" Su Chen sneered.
"Do you think I will believe your lies?"
"Believe it or not," Ma Xianhong said indifferently.
"Anyway, they are in Biyou Village now, and... they are happy to stay here."
"Su Chen, let me ask you again, are you willing to help me?"
He looked at Su Chen, his eyes full of expectation and a hint of threat.
Su Chen did not answer immediately. He was silent for a moment and then said slowly:
"What do you mean by 'help'?"
"I want you to help me improve the design of the self-cultivation furnace so that it can more effectively... transform people's hearts."
Ma Xianhong's eyes flashed with fanaticism.
"I know you have also studied refining equipment. Among your eight unique skills, there are also abilities related to refining equipment."
"As long as we work together, we can definitely take the function of the self-cultivation furnace to a higher level!"
"Transforming people's hearts?" Su Chen frowned even more tightly.
"Do you want to give the self-cultivation furnace stronger control capabilities?"
"It's not control, it's guidance." Ma Xianhong corrected again.
"I just want more people to agree with my philosophy and join my 'New Jiejiao'."
"Don't you want to see a world without strife and oppression?"
"Village Chief Ma," Su Chen took a deep breath.
"I admit that your ideals are beautiful, but I cannot agree with your methods."
"I will not help you transform the self-cultivation furnace, nor will I help you control anyone."
"You..." Ma Xianhong's face suddenly turned gloomy.
"Su Chen, are you really going to reject me?"
"I didn't reject you." Su Chen shook his head.
"I just reject your approach."
"The method can be changed, but the goal cannot be shaken." Ma Xianhong's voice became low.
"Su Chen, I'll give you one last chance. Are you willing to help me?"
"My answer is the same as before."
Su Chen answered without hesitation.
"Okay, very good." Ma Xianhong nodded, with a hint of disappointment and anger in his eyes.
"In that case, don't blame me for being rude."
"What do you want to do?" Su Chen's eyes became alert.
"I don't want to do anything." Ma Xianhong smiled.
"I just want you to see how powerful my 'New Jiejiao' is."
He clapped his hands, and suddenly a light came on in the corner of the basement.
Several figures appeared under the light.
Those figures are all Ruhua transformed by Ma Xianhong.
Their eyes are empty, their expressions are numb, and they have no souls.
“These are all my ‘works’.”
There was a hint of pride in Ma Xianhong's voice.
"Don't you want to taste them?"