"Empires, Kingdoms, Clans, and Sects… These are the natural guiding forces that maintained the balance between the martial world and the secular world. There is a delicate balance between this four, which has been tested for eons. Even today, the Biron Kingdom is enduring the endless testing of time. Evil Sects, corruption in governance, suspicious cults, and schemes that my young mind wouldn't even comprehend… this are all happening!"
At a podium, the 11th royal princess is making her speech. Biron Yin Shu at a young age has a unique perspective on things. One, she is very political, two, she is very young… Barely 14 years old, if Yin Shu starts referring to herself as 'her younger days', she meant the version of her of about 6 to 7 years old.
This speaks of the princess' unique genius.
Making a speech is not a hobby to her, but a personal goal for the well-being of her nation. The 6th day of the week, or the sixth period of the star, is the event where the citizen of the Biron Kingdom celebrates the freedom of speech every once a week— this very event that the princess herself requested from the King is something that all of the citizens of the Biron Kingdom looks forward to.
As it happens once a week, it could be said that the government is paying quite an attention and care to this event. Yin Shu never missed even a day from this once-a-week event. Many of those who listened also rarely missed this event.
For a feudalistic era with barely any form of entertainment, these speeches are among the few entertaining things that the common people look forward to. Not the princess understands this.
She is just too passionate for her own good. This passion however is what fuels her genius. The citizens listen to her voice and look at her cute little figure on the podium, all of them are enraptured.
As Yin Shu finishes her speech, she makes her closing remarks.
"I am proud of this nation for two things: its tenacity and its ability to recuperate. I have seen people fall down, and I saw them rise again. Today, we celebrate the freedom of speech, but also on top of this are the virtues that make us responsible for the freedom that we wield… After all, not all people are free…"
Ending her speech solemnly, Yin Shu walks down the podium. She was 10 when she suggested this Freedom Speech event. She cannot even think of a good name at that time so it was just called the 'tongue', and it stuck even now.
At the establishment of 'tongue', Yin Shu was very passionate. Even now, she still has passion in her but the fire is not burning like it used to be. Today, Yin Shu made a speech that has the same goals as the past three years. At first, these speeches are effective. Reforms are taking place one after another.
That stopped the day Yin Shu started tackling the issue of slavery. Last two years ago, she has been very open about denouncing slavery. After a year of surviving several assassination attempts, she decides to become more subtle about the 'slavery' issue. The attempt on her life lessened, but Yin Shu wasn't happy with that.
Today, like any other week, Yin Shu delivered the same speech with different wordings. It is slowly getting annoying for her, but her beliefs are firm. She believes that someday, her words will get through to the people.
Though admittedly, she did use superfluous words and praising the kingdom phrases, Yin Shu doesn't think too badly of her own speech. That may be the case, but Yin Shu desperately wants to improve her speaking and writing skills.
Yin Shu is planning to leave already. She is not really keen on hearing the bunch of old men that would follow her speech. She has heard their speech so many times that Yin Shu realized the only one who is taking a speaker's job seriously in the whole kingdom was her.
It was disappointing. For some time, Yin Shu is training a bunch of young speakers. They are not at the standard she desired yet, so Yin Shu is planning on further polishing them. That is where she is going, to the Speaker School she established herself.
Suddenly, an uproar echoed in the surroundings. Yin Shu looked over only to see a young boy about her age. It got her curious, but not enough to stay and listen. There have been some instances when young kids suddenly go to the podium on impulse… Most often, they are just stuttering kids who got influenced by the heat of the moment. If not, then other times, they are just kids who wanted to show off… only to be looked down on as blabbering idiots after their speech.
Yin Shu's mind starts wandering to the various kids whose parents coerced them into wooing her by making them speak during the 'tongue'.
"Whose child is it this time?" Yin Shu exudes this unique maturity unbefitting her age. Addressing one of the guards, she nonchalantly turns her back from the podium and proceeds on her own merry way.
However, before she even takes one more step, she got surprised by her guard's news.
"It looks like a direct disciple of a hidden master from the Desolate Mountain… The citizens are making quite a ruckus…"
"What? What is a cultivator doing here?"
Cultivators frown on everything that relates to the secular lifestyle. Making speeches and listening to them is one of these few un-cultivator things they discriminate against.
If the information she heard from her guard is true, then right at this moment, they are actually witnessing history being made.
"Which sect does he belong to? Do they have proof?"
"Young miss, he didn't announce his affiliation… Also, when it comes to proof, they usually show it with their martial skills as proof… That has been always the way of the cultivators' world…"
"What? Cultivators don't have an organized method of identification?"
"No, they don't… Only the Sect Master can possess the item of representation which is sometimes a weapon, relic, or badge…"
Yin Shu cannot be blamed for this matter as she doesn't pay much attention to cultivators. Rarely do cultivators get involved in the kingdom's matters, but the presence of one intrigues her. It is different now. Yin Shu watched the young boy slowly approaching the high podium.
Lu Gao after lots of back and forth with Lurker finally agreed on coming to this particular event. This is the first time Lu Gao learned of this ceremonious rite… To think every week, people are given the luxury to tell their thoughts… Only through the passing of mouth did Lurker and him learn of this event.
Arriving at the podium, the first thing Lu Gao did is to degrade himself.
"First, let's start with a small greeting— I am… a small villager from the boonies, literally the village idiot that no one wants to be acquainted with. I was different, and for it, they avoided me. I know what it is like to be treated like an idiot. Sometimes, I'd play dumb on purpose so that I'd meet their expectations…"
The opening remark was totally out of the expectations of the listeners. News of a young cultivator making a speech has spread far already all thanks to Lurker hyping things from the gate. What they thought would be an intriguing speech about a cultivator's epic tale, was actually just a kid's rambling about how unfair the world is…
It has always been unfair, and all of the adults know this…
Lu Gao continued his words undeterred by the voices of the crowd. "That kid was you…" He chillingly added.
Suddenly, the audience went quiet. At the sudden shift in perspective brought the listeners a kind of psychological shock… Slowly, the idea that the kid Lu Gao was talking about is actually them… sinks in…
"The Biron Kingdom is a small village and you are the village idiot that no one wants to be acquainted with. For that, you are avoided, ignored and been made fun off… The only people you can cling on are your families who are similarly just another bunch of idiots."
The swearing was so painful to hear, the people wanted to fight back, to speak against the ridiculous words of the young brat who doesn't know what he is speaking about… The problem is… Lu Gao knows what he is speaking about.
For this, the crowd cannot help but succumb to silence as Lu Gao quickly follows up with more words...
"Now, a question to everyone… Why is it that when something wrong happens, you play dumb? I know much of the history of this kingdom as much as every one of you does… I've read books, I've heard stories, and I've learned of a similar pain!
"When the Templars invaded us with their promises of wealth and immortality in the afterlife, what did you do? You acted like idiots eating everything they feed you! Eternal life isn't so easy a few prayers, and gold coins can buy you entry to paradise… Paradise is something we make for ourselves! You ignorant fools!
"And then comes knocking to the door, the Azuon Empire offered its arms to embrace all of you! Like moths to the fire, you all aimed too high and got burned by the sun… Tell me, how many are the slaves of the Biron kingdom are slaves from Azuon but is actually a citizen born here? It's a rhetorical question by the way… Why don't you try asking the slave beside you?"
All of the Biron citizens know the story. Of how the Templars invaded by forcing their beliefs on their people by means of converting the King, and holding hostage of the remote villages… Of how too many of their people migrated to Azuon only to fall into bankruptcy and slavery.
The nobility and royalty don't like what they are seeing.
An old man from a noble faction enforces his voice with qi and starts speaking back to Lu Gao. "Stop what you are doing! You are sowing discord in our beloved nation! You are a threat to his majesty! You should be executed!"
Lu Gao casts Bind to the old man with everything he has. Using his every qi, Lu Gao suppresses the old man, which buys Lu Gao enough to make a counterargument. "Sowing discord? I am giving this country a chance to revitalize itself!"
Lu Gao casts Force on himself using what remaining qi he has. With his magical invisible hand of force, Lu Gao drags the back of his collar allowing him to levitate. Everyone knows how 'flying' is a privilege to the 8th stage… The sight of the flying Lu Gao puts the fear of death into the hearts of the many cultivators watching.
Lu Gao brings himself standing on the podium itself… on the very platform where a person should be putting their arms, paper draft, or written speech. "As I've said, I learned of a similar pain… that's why even as a kid, I am able to sympathize… You see, the idiot of the village despite being labeled as an idiot lived a satisfactory life. He had no regrets…
"But that all changed as an evil man visits his village, slaughters his mom, and starts his massacre in which… only three survived… me, a big brother, and a big sister… at the cost of only one life… an old man's life… What does this tell us?
"Since then, the idiot villager kid starts having regrets… Now, two paths present themselves to him… The first path is to continue being an idiot, the second path is to stop being an idiot… Now, think for yourself… What would you choose if you were that kid?"
Lu Gao clenches his fists and makes a dramatic announcement. "Whatever choice you make, I will respect them… What I can tell though… is that we aren't limited by the choices presented to us… Listen very well, because I will only say this once…"
Building suspense over the people, the already silent atmosphere becomes solemn and more peaceful… The silence has become dreary and yet comforting.
"Further southeast from here is the Butterberry Forest. Beyond this forest is the Desolate Mountain… Seek the legendary master of life and death, and with his words, he'll present you with a third path… A path where you don't need to choose… a path to self-conclusion… Abandon the nature in which you knew yourself… Abandon thy shell, and rediscover what you are… Join the System's Providence Sect…"
…
"I fucking love speeches, man…" I, the Game Master, smile ear to ear as Lu Gao ends his speech… I watch all of this happen through my Mind's eye. I fucking love you, Lu Gao…