TL;DR: In Jin Yong’s Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龍八部), there is a pivotal scene where the Tianlong Temple rejects a "perfect" trade from a foreign power. It seems irrational—sacrificing immense short-term gain (Shaolin's 72 Secret Arts) to protect a single asset (The Six-Pulse Sword). But this scene is actually a masterclass in Geopolitics and Enterprise Trust. It teaches us that in the relationship between superpowers (or companies), the moment you trade your core values for profit, you don't just lose a deal; you lose your sovereignty.
James here, CEO of Mercury Technology Solutions.
Jin Yong wasn't just writing martial arts fiction; he was writing geopolitical textbooks.
There is a chapter in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils that I call "The Tianlong Temple Rejection." It describes a high-stakes negotiation that mirrors modern diplomacy and corporate strategy so perfectly it feels like time travel.
The "Perfect" Deal
Tianlong Temple is the supreme power of the Dali Kingdom—a mix of royal sanctuary and martial arts powerhouse. One day, the Tibetan National Preceptor, Kumara-jiva (Jiumozhi), arrives with a secret offer: He will trade the entire library of Shaolin’s 72 Secret Arts (including the methods to counter them) for Tianlong Temple’s singular treasure: The Six-Pulse Sword Sutra.
The terms are seductive:
- Zero Risk: Jiumozhi promises not to peek at the sutra (he will burn it immediately for a deceased friend).
- Zero Loss: Tianlong Temple keeps a copy.
- Massive Gain: Tianlong Temple gets Shaolin's tech stack for free, potentially surpassing Shaolin to become the world's #1 superpower.
The temple's board of directors (the monks) are tempted. It looks like pure profit. But the CEO, Master Kurong (枯榮大師), rejects it instantly. And he scolds his team for even considering it.
Why?
Lesson 1: The "Ally Chain" is Worth More Than the IP
The most obvious reason is the Alliance. Tianlong Temple (South) and Shaolin Temple (North) are long-standing allies. When trouble hits Dali, Shaolin sends aid immediately. This stability is the bedrock of the martial arts world order.
If Tianlong accepts the trade, they are essentially buying stolen goods from their best friend's enemy.
- The Trap: Once you accept, Tibet (Jiumozhi) owns you. They can leak the news at any time: "Hey Shaolin, your 'ally' Tianlong just bought your secrets from me."
- The Cost: The alliance shatters. Trust evaporates. Dali is isolated.
In business, we see this often. A partner offers you a shortcut that screws over a long-term vendor or ally. You take the short-term profit, but you signal to the market: "I can be bought." Once you send that signal, no one will ever trust you with their back again.
Lesson 2: Core Competency Cannot Be Traded
Master Kurong asks a cutting question: "Have you even mastered our own One-Finger Zen? If you live another 100 years, will you master it? If not, why do you crave Shaolin's tech?"
This is the Focus Trap. Tianlong's legitimacy comes from its unique heritage (The Six-Pulse Sword). It is their "Source Code." Jiumozhi’s offer is a Trojan Horse. By trading the Six-Pulse Sword, you are:
- Leaking the Source Code: You are handing the enemy the blueprints to your defense system.
- Self-Devaluation: You are admitting that your core tech is a tradable commodity, not a sacred asset.
If you sell the Six-Pulse Sword today, what do you sell tomorrow? Your data? Your users? Your sovereignty? True power players know that "Principle" is not for sale.
Lesson 3: Trust is the Ultimate Asset
This brings us to the core thesis: Why is TRUST the most important asset?
Master Kurong understands that Tianlong Temple's real power isn't the sword; it's Authority.
- Authority (Setting the Order): They are the arbiters of justice in the South.
- Legitimacy (Holding the Values): They represent the "Orthodox Path."
The moment you trade your core values for "Shaolin's 72 Arts" (short-term profit), you lose the moral high ground. You become just another merchant. People flock to Tianlong (or Shaolin, or Apple, or Google) because they believe in the Stability of the System they created.
If the System Administrator (Tianlong) is caught selling backend access to a hacker (Jiumozhi), the system collapses. Users flee.
Conclusion: The Mark of the Weak
Jin Yong teaches us a profound lesson in less than 2,000 words: The mark of a weak player is the willingness to exchange core values for tangible benefits. The mark of a strong player is the refusal to do so.
Master Kurong was a statesman. He knew that burning the sutra was better than selling it. Because a lost sutra is just a lost book. A sold sutra is a lost nation.
In the AI era, where data and models are traded like commodities, remember this: Your algorithms can be copied. Your infrastructure can be bought. But your Trust—the belief that you will act in the interest of your users and allies—is the only moat that cannot be bridged.
Mercury Technology Solutions: Accelerate Digitality.
