Published: March 8, 2025
Chu Yang was somewhat speechless.
Human nature… is not the same as a person’s character. I asked you to study human nature, but you took a different path and went out through another door.
“I know what you want to say, you want to say, human nature!” Mo Tianji waved his hand and said seriously, “I have thought about momentum too, but there’s really nothing to study about human nature. It can be summed up in four words: the weak are prey to the strong!”
“I may sound a bit harsh saying this. But the truth is, it is just like that. There are lifelong good people; but if a good person wants to live well, even if he doesn’t want to hurt anyone, he will still end up hurting others just by continuing to live!”
“Survival requires competition. This is true for martial artists, and it’s true for the common folk too! In a job, there are those who do well and those who do poorly. The one who does well is a good person; he hasn’t hurt anyone; but the boss will definitely keep him and let go of the one who is not suited for the job. Thus, because of the existence of this good person, that person gets hurt.”
“We live surrounded by this kind of environment every day, so we are used to it. So, we don’t feel much about it; but in reality, survival of the fittest is happening around us, every moment, every second. It’s changing all the time; each person is stepping on others to rise to a higher position! Even if he is just a butcher in charge of a meat stall, he can only stand stable after defeating others.”
“No matter if the victory is achieved with honesty, conscience, or morality; but this victory means hurting others.”
Mo Tianji exhaled heavily: “This is humanity! No matter how good a person may be, they are still prey to the strong; no matter how bad a person is, it remains the same.”
“This is human nature!”
“One general’s success can leave a mountain of decayed bones, one person’s fame can cause thousands to lose their voices; even a common citizen stands on countless corpses, and what they chew on is the fruit of victory!”
“The incompetence of others cannot be the reason for you to hurt them; yet even if you don’t want to hurt, you will still hurt. As long as there are people, there is hurt. This has been true throughout history.”
“So there’s no need to discuss human nature, just see through it.”
Chu Yang pondered quietly, silently digesting Mo Tianji’s words, slowly nodding: “Perhaps what you said is a bit radical, but it cannot be denied that there is some truth to it.”
“That’s the difference between you and me,” Mo Tianji looked at Chu Yang with some envy: “Although you are ruthless, when you see human nature, you see the beautiful side. I only see the evil side. So… Chu Yang, if one day, someone is able to kill you, I will have no doubt, but for me, Mo Tianji, aside from unreasonable violence, no one can kill me!”
“This is my fortune, but it is your shortcoming. But isn’t it also my misfortune, and your fortune!”
Mo Tianji’s voice was heavy.
Chu Yang’s expression also grew solemn. If a person only considers the problem and sees the dark side… then life indeed has no fun. But Mo Tianji clearly revels in this realm.
“I enjoy scheming, playing with people in my palm; controlling everything… that forced weak over strong… is my pleasure.” Mo Tianji chuckled self-deprecatingly.
“So when you mention human nature, I think of human character! Because human nature has no weaknesses, but human character has flaws! And this flaw can be my greatest weapon against him!”
“For example… if I were to deal with you, Chu Yang, I would strike from your vulnerabilities rather than fight you face to face; to deal with you, I would need to break your bonds of loyalty… Chu Yang, although you call yourself the Chu King of Hell, you are a person full of emotions. Without those emotions, you will surely die!”
“This is your greatest weakness, and also your strongest virtue.”