Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 493 - 444 Personality

Chapter 493: Chapter 444 Personality
The primary reason for the obstruction in Cultivation was Mo Si, and getting anxious was useless.
He Fanshuang glanced at Li Ang, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, and said indifferently, "Do you need me to take you flying?"
"I’d rather not."
Li Ang shook his head with a bitter smile. Apart from Body Refinement, cultivators of all other Dao Paths could freely traverse the skies in their own ways after reaching the Cloud Patrol Realm.
Almost every Cultivator, upon ascending to the Cloud Patrol Realm, would immediately soar into the heavens to admire the clouds and moon, or find a mountain peak to leap from, plunging through the vast sea of clouds and whizzing past lush canopies.
The sensation of free flight was incomparable to any man-made flying machine, such as hot air balloons or airplanes.
Even someone as indifferent as He Fanshuang couldn’t resist dragging Li Leqing and the others to Academic Palace Xia Mountain to fly around before the term started.
Actually, Li Ang could also fly temporarily using Telekinesis and Wind Talismans. It was just that his flying posture wasn’t as graceful. If he used Mo Si to create wings, however, he could fly much faster.
Putting his textbooks into his backpack, Li Ang left the classroom. He didn’t join his classmates in the cafeteria but instead first visited the publication department of the Academic Palace.
Just as he arrived at Dr. Su Feng’s office door, he heard a frustrated sigh from within.
What’s going on here?
Puzzled, Li Ang knocked on the door and asked, "Is Dr. Su Feng in?"
"Come in, please," Su Feng’s weary voice came from inside the room.
Li Ang pushed the door open and entered to find Su Feng lying on a reclining chair, staring up at the ceiling with a listless expression.
"You’re here, Risheng." Upon seeing Li Ang, Su Feng gestured with his chin towards the back of the recliner. "The tea and cups are on the shelf, and the hot water is in the kettle. Brew some for yourself."
"Dr. Su, what’s wrong?" Li Ang asked as he used Telekinesis to grab the tea leaves and casually brewed two cups of tea, one for himself and one for Su Feng.
"Don’t even mention it." Su Feng sat up straight, cradling the hot tea, and said huffily, "The debate between the monks and Daoists has been suddenly canceled, and it’s really gotten under my skin."
Is that all?
Li Ang couldn’t help but chuckle drily. As the Doctor of Science at the Academic Palace, Su Feng was famously averse to religious figures and hardly cared for Taihao Mountain.
Every year, he would disguise himself and attend the debates in Chang’an City, fanning the flames from the audience. He relished the sight of Taoist masters, abbots, and priests tearing each other apart—ideally, even coming to blows on the spot.
For instance, he might smash a Buddha statue in front of monks. Then, when the infuriated monks objected, he would point out that the Buddha himself had said, "If one tries to see me by form, or seek me by sound, they are treading the Evil Path and cannot perceive the Tathagata."
The Buddha himself opposed the creation of Buddha statues; these monks were all distorting the scriptures.
Or, during a debate, he might suddenly slap a Jingjiao priest and then claim the Jingjiao prophet had said, "If someone strikes you on your right cheek, offer them your left as well." He would then urge the Jingjiao priest not to mind.
Su Feng took endless enjoyment in such unscrupulous activities. If he could witness the masters brawling, he would feel like he was walking on air the next day.
This year, due to the recent turmoil in Xingzhou, anyone closely associated with Jianquan was likely to be dragged off by the garrison for questioning.
Chang’an’s monastic community was living in constant fear, and members of other religious sects were also on edge, afraid that the garrison might widen the scope of their interrogations.
Under such circumstances, the debate naturally couldn’t proceed, plunging Su Feng into disappointed lethargy.
Li Ang shook his head, somewhat amused. He took a paper from his backpack and placed it on Su Feng’s desk, saying, "Dr. Su, this is a paper I’ve written recently. Please take a look."
"Oh? What’s it about?" Su Feng perked up at the mention of a paper. He quickly flipped through it, his eyebrows unconsciously rising. "Areca nuts?"
"Yes." Li Ang nodded. "I noticed many street vendors and shops on Chang’an Street selling areca nuts, so I investigated. I found that long-term consumption is nearly as harmful to the human body as poison."
The history of consuming areca nuts can be traced back to the Han Dynasty and became prevalent during the Wei and Jin dynasties. At that time, high officials and nobles considered fresh areca nuts a digestive snack.
The problem is that they are carcinogenic. The arecoline they contain can cause oral submucous fibrosis, which can then lead to cancer.
"Hmm..." After a brief look, Dr. Su Feng nodded. "I understand. I’ll ask the other doctors to help review it. If there are no problems, it should be published in a few days."
Li Ang was now a leading authority in Yu Country’s medical field, an Academic Gatekeeper who had established his own school of thought. Consequently, he didn’t need to worry about the review process taking too long.
"Thank you," Li Ang nodded. Thanks to his unremitting efforts in public health education over the past few years, the populace had finally adopted good habits. These included not drinking unboiled water, eating less or no raw snake meat and fish sashimi, and diligently wearing masks during winter and spring. It was a commendable achievement.
"By the way." Dr. Su Feng remembered something and opened a drawer, taking out a flat wooden box. "This is from the Mountain Master for you. He said you always somehow get caught in Anomalies, so he told me to give you this for self-defense. It’s also a reward for saving hundreds of thousands of common people in Xingzhou City."
"Ah?" Li Ang took the wooden box, astonished, and was about to open it. Dr. Su Feng quickly raised his hand to stop him. "Don’t. This is from the Mountain Master for you. You should open it yourself when you get home. The fewer people who know, the less risk there is."
"Oh, alright." Li Ang put the wooden box away in his satchel and wondered aloud, "When did the Mountain Master return? I didn’t hear any news."
"He came back last night and left again this morning. It’s normal that you didn’t know."
Dr. Su Feng pursed his lips. "The old master has become increasingly elusive. Tsk. If he’s so efficient, why doesn’t he grant me more funds? The patent office is almost unable to afford lobster... COUGH COUGH. I mean, the research funds for the Spiritual Energy Machine and the talisman board are almost gone."
...You’re quite skilled at swindling funds, old man.
The corner of Li Ang’s eye twitched. The patent office, being the most profitable institution in the Academic Palace, had its own dining hall separate from the main cafeteria. It often served delicacies from land and sea. Some senior students who worked part-time at the patent office frequently came to freeload meals and drinks. Li Ang, however, wasn’t accustomed to such rich food and preferred the cafeteria.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Li Ang picked up his satchel and prepared to leave. As he reached the door, Dr. Su Feng suddenly asked, "Risheng, if—and I’m just saying if—the person closest to you, the one you trust most, turned into a demon, what would you do?"
Hmm?
Li Ang turned back to look at Dr. Su Feng, puzzled. Dr. Su Feng managed a forced smile. "I had a ridiculous dream last night. I dreamt that my wife and children were assimilated by an Anomaly. That’s why I asked."
The person closest to me, the one I trust most, turning into a demon...
After pondering for a moment, Li Ang replied, "I suppose I’d have them complete a questionnaire about their psychological state and memories. A person is defined by their personality, not by anything else. If their mind and memories haven’t changed, then even if their outward appearance becomes demonic, it doesn’t really matter. However, if their mind and memories have completely changed, then we’d have to see if there’s any way to save them."
"Is that so..." Dr. Su Feng nodded thoughtfully and waved his hand, indicating he had no further questions. After Li Ang closed the door and his footsteps faded down the corridor, Dr. Su Feng sighed, his expression complex.
He pulled open the drawer and hesitated for a moment before taking out a scroll from its deepest recess.
He spread the scroll on the table, revealing a painting.
The painting depicted a majestic, vast, and sprawling underground city.