Chapter 137: Replenishing from Others (First Update)_1
“I’m still a child, how would I know?” Mo Hua said righteously.
Zhang Lan’s expression stiffened with helplessness, and he felt compelled to explain:
“The so-called ‘replenishing from others’ is actually a type of dual cultivation.”
After Zhang Lan finished speaking, he paused and added, “You should at least know what dual cultivation is, right?”
Mo Hua blushed slightly and said, “I know just a little bit.”
Zhang Lan was unsure whether Mo Hua really didn’t know or was just pretending, so he continued:
“It’s essentially the act between a man and a woman, plain and simple. However, dual cultivation can enhance one’s cultivation, and the process is quite enchanting, which is why many cultivators are so engrossed in studying the path of dual cultivation.”
Mo Hua had a question, “Can dual cultivation really enhance your cultivation?”
“It can improve it a bit, which is better than nothing. Rather than wasting time on these side tracks, it’d be better to spend more time meditating and cultivating,” Zhang Lan said.
“What’s the difference between dual cultivation and replenishing from others, then?”
“Dual cultivation is still considered normal, while replenishing from others is malicious. Evil cultivators use it to extract the Blood Qi, Essence Element, and Spiritual Power from others. Those who have been subjected to it might at the least regress in their cultivation, or at worst have their Taoist Foundation shattered and even die; such instances occur quite often.”
Mo Hua felt a chill in his heart.
“The rapist you all are pursuing, has he also depleted someone to death?”
“He has definitely done such things before, but not this time. The reason we are hunting him is that last month, he left a woman completely emaciated, destroyed her Qi Sea, and now she is perpetually dazed and anxious…”
Zhang Lan sighed deeply, grinding his teeth as he spoke.
Mo Hua, feeling sympathy, asked, “So if you catch him, will you sentence him to death?”
Zhang Lan nodded, “The Taoist Court is always strict with crimes related to replenishing from others, imposing sentences of more than a hundred years or even the death penalty. The one we’re after, death is inevitable.”
Mo Hua then felt relieved.
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Lan added:
“I forgot to tell you, dual cultivation is prohibited as well.”
Mo Hua looked confused.
I’m still a child, why are you telling me this?
Feeling a bit embarrassed by Mo Hua’s stare, Zhang Lan, having already started, pressed on with his explanation:
“Normal relations between a man and a woman, the Taoist Court doesn’t concern itself with. But dual cultivation is different; any dual cultivation techniques and secret techniques, once discovered, will be immediately destroyed…”
“If a cultivator engages in dual cultivation and is discovered by the Taoist Court, they will be held accountable. Although it’s not as severe a sentence as for replenishing from others, they will still be recorded in the Taoist Court’s files, which could affect one’s future when seeking masters, entering sects, and marriage arrangements…”
Mo Hua asked puzzledly, “Didn’t you say that dual cultivation isn’t harmful? Why is it banned then?”
“In principle that’s true, but in practice, it’s a different story,” Zhang Lan sighed.
“Although dual cultivation in itself isn’t harmful and doesn’t violate the ‘Taoist Law,’ if we don’t prohibit it, some will use the name of dual cultivation to carry out replenishing from others, which indirectly amounts to permitting it. Moreover, if dual cultivation isn’t banned, the Taoist Court will have a hard time investigating; if they start an inquiry, the suspected will claim they were engaged in dual cultivation, not replenishing, and then we can’t do anything about it…”
As Zhang Lan spoke, he became agitated, “The most infuriating thing is, some cultivators don’t even know they’ve been abused, they take pleasure in it and even defend the ones who are exploiting them; it’s simply stupid!”
“If they say it’s consensual, don’t you lose the ability to intervene?” Mo Hua asked.
Zhang Lan snorted coldly, “In front of Taoist Law, there is no such thing as consent. If the Taoist Law is violated, we will arrest anyone, none can escape.”
Mo Hua nodded.
Zhang Lan said, “That’s the first reason.”
Mo Hua was surprised, “There’s more?”
“Of course,” Zhang Lan continued, “there are billions of cultivators in the Tao Cultivation World across more than twenty thousand years; what kind of mess haven’t we seen?”
“Oh, I see.”
Zhang Lan went on, “The second reason is that even dual cultivation between Dao companions can turn into replenishing from others.”
Mo Hua’s mouth fell open, “Aren’t you supposed to become Dao companions because you get along well?”
“What do you know?”
Zhang Lan had the look of someone saying you’re too young, you wouldn’t understand.
“Among Dao companions, the closer they are, the more likely they are to develop resentments. Today they may love each other to death, and tomorrow they may wish nothing more than to kill each other. Once discord arises, it can easily turn into enmity, and then what was once dual cultivation becomes replenishing from others…”
Mo Hua’s eyes were wide with wonder, and he couldn’t help but say,
“Uncle Zhang, you know so much, haven’t you ever been harvested…”
Zhang Lan immediately pinched Mo Hua’s ear and said,
“Nonsense! I’m a serious cultivator!”
Mo Hua rubbed his ear and muttered softly,
“Who knows if you’re serious or not…”
Zhang Lan was helpless, and then examined Mo Hua, saying,
“You need to be careful in the future.”