Chapter 27: The Twenty-Seventh Day as Cult Leader (Part 3)

That was until, while the Demonic Cult disciples were diligently repairing houses, they heard an angry shout come from behind them. “Move, move! Are you repairing a wall or demolishing it? Is this how you repair a wall?”

They turned their heads and saw Xu Sheng, a sword hanging at his waist, walking over in a rage while continuously scolding them. This made all the Demonic Cult disciples angry in their hearts, and they were just about to snap back when they saw Xu Sheng snatch the wall-repairing tools from their hands and begin repairing the wall in all seriousness. “Don’t you know you have to repair it like this? Spread it carefully and evenly. It has to fit tightly with no gaps. Who repairs a wall by casually waving a hand a few times like you!”

While cursing and grumbling, he took over all the wall-repairing work and doubled the repair speed.

Demonic Cult disciples: ?

Some people were sweating heavily as they plowed the fields, only to be loudly scolded by Xu Sheng. “Is that how you people farm? You’re destroying all the seeds. Move, move!”

While cursing and grumbling, he skillfully turned the soil and directly doubled the farming speed!

Demonic Cult disciples: ??

Even the various chores, large and small, inside the cult, which those martial brutes of the Demonic Cult had casually brushed off, were all taken over one by one by Xu Sheng because he could not stand watching them.

Demonic Cult disciples: ???

Good grief, this person was practically all-purpose. So useful!

In an instant, everyone’s attitude toward Xu Sheng changed. After all, who did not like such a diligent, hardworking, down-to-earth person who was willing to take over all the miscellaneous tasks… as labor?

“The Cult Leader truly is wise. He actually saw Xu Sheng’s potential at a glance!”

This time, the Demonic Cult disciples immediately understood Qin Ming’s persistence toward Xu Sheng, and all of them admired Qin Ming more and more. They only felt that Qin Ming was omnipotent, a mighty ruler in their hearts!

As for Qin Ming, when they looked at him with worshipful gazes, his heart was even more bewildered. But he had already habitually kept a stern face, nodded, and started accepting it without worrying about the details. “This seat’s intentions are naturally not something you can comprehend.”

Thus, the Demonic Cult disciples admired him even more.

As for Xu Sheng, it was truly not that he had deliberately wanted to take over those jobs. It was just that the Demonic Cult disciples did their work far too terribly. The sight made him feel distressed. By the time his head heated up, he had already rushed forward without regard for anything else.

But after wandering aimlessly around the Demonic Cult, Xu Sheng actually developed a deep confusion toward all the scenes he saw. This was not right. Didn’t everyone say life in the Demonic Cult was bound to be full of misery and unbearable suffering? Then why was everything within his sight a thriving life of contentment despite poverty?

Those who had been captured ate new dishes they had never seen before, lived in proper houses, and even the children had the opportunity to attend the schoolhouse and listen to lectures for free. The Demonic Cult disciples were each busy with their own work as well, and none of them had ever gone outside to commit evil.

The longer Xu Sheng stayed in the Demonic Cult, the more lost and puzzled he felt. At first glance, if one did not say this place was the Demonic Cult, it seemed no different from an ordinary famous righteous sect!

This observation left the doubts in his heart unresolved for a long time, making him involuntarily want to remain in the Demonic Cult and see what kind of sinister thoughts this demon was harboring.

He had his own residence, ate Demonic Cult food he had never heard of, and was even invited to attend and listen in on the council hall meetings held every few days.

This listen-in was no small matter. He saw several dozen Demonic Cult elders and hall masters standing in the council hall, beginning to chatter over one another as they discussed their recent gloom and unwillingness over not attacking the righteous sects.

“It has already been some time since we last attacked Peace Sect. Cult Leader, can we continue unifying the world now?”

The elders spat out sentences one after another that made Xu Sheng’s heart jolt, and also made Xu Sheng instantly realize that the disasters and scum of the Demonic Cult had probably all gathered in this place!

For a moment, he did not know who the greatest disaster was, so he could only prick up his ears vigilantly and listen.

And the more he listened, the more terrified he felt.

He saw a Demonic Cult elder arrogantly aim his hostility at the Five Great Sects. “In my opinion, attacking Peace Sect was meaningless. We might as well aim our target directly at the Five Great Sects!”

Xu Sheng: What? Is the Demonic Cult this rampant now? Just a few dozen people dare to clash head-on with the Righteous Path?!

“Exactly!” Another hall master chimed in. “In any case, the Cult Leader’s realm is already high enough to cover the sky with one hand. What the hell are we afraid of?”

Xu Sheng: What? That demon’s realm is already this high?!

The remaining disciples shouted one after another, “The Cult Leader’s goal is to unify the jianghu, so our scope should also be grand. Let’s attack the Five Great Sects!”

Xu Sheng: What?? The demon already wants to unify the jianghu??

His face nearly turned iron-blue with fright, without the slightest trace of blood. If not for the fact that he was holding back a breath and wanted to hear the final outcome of the meeting, he would have long since rushed forward by himself and beaten up these scourges.

But what made him even more furious was that Shen Fubai, dressed in white among this group of Demonic Cult scourges, actually blended in without the slightest sense of discord and was even shouting loudly too:

“May the Cult Leader enjoy boundless fortune, peerless martial arts, rule for all ages, and unify the jianghu! Recently, under our cult’s suppression, Sword Pavilion has already become like a rat crossing the street in the jianghu, despised by everyone. Why not start with them and take the first step toward unifying the jianghu!”

…Although he knew Shen Fubai was probably playing the role of someone utterly loyal, Xu Sheng was still so angry that his chest rose and fell. He wished he could smash him with his sword until Shen Fubai clutched his head and cried.

Xu Sheng closed his eyes. When he inadvertently glanced to the right side of the hall, he again saw that burly man who had once kidnapped him without any martial virtue, constantly clapping and cheering among the crowd.

And he kept echoing them back and forth like a fence-sitter. “Fifth Elder is right!”

“Hall Master Qi is absolutely right!”

“Steward Shen is too right!”

“That’s right, I was thinking the same thing!”

No matter who proposed some utterly outrageous countermeasure, Zhang Daniu would loudly cheer, causing the person who had proposed the strategy to suddenly gain a hundredfold confidence and become even more determined in their own thoughts. Everyone argued strongly for their views, bound and determined to bring down the Righteous Path!

The entire hall instantly became a pot of porridge. The noise made Xu Sheng’s head swell. Fortunately, the great demon seated in the place of honor finally could not listen anymore and let out a cold snort. “Enough!”

Only then did everyone immediately close their mouths, lower their brows, and become docile, not daring to act recklessly.

…A chaotic meeting temporarily ended amid the Cult Leader’s displeasure. After leaving the council hall, Xu Sheng pulled Yang Xu aside outside with a grave expression and whispered, “That Demonic Cult Leader truly has ambitions to unify the world?! Added to the fact that every one of his subordinates is ambitious, if they are really allowed to get their wish, won’t we of the Righteous Path be greatly threatened?”

“This old man still suggests first eliminating the greatest scourges who want to muddy the waters. Only with these people gone can we gain enough breathing room.”

A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Xu Sheng’s eyes, and he made a gesture of raising a hand and bringing the blade down.

This secretly alarmed Yang Xu. Knowing this scholar was stubborn by nature and loved exploiting loopholes, he hurriedly reminded him, “Shen Fubai is only using a temporary expedient! He is actually one of ours. You can’t really kill him!”

“Although that man is hateful, this old man was not talking about him.” Xu Sheng shook his head.

Only then did Yang Xu let out a breath in relief. Not Shen Fubai? Then that was fine. It couldn’t possibly be Zhang Daniu, hahahaha…

Xu Sheng said, “This old man is talking about the person who swayed back and forth like grass in the wind during the meeting, flattering all sorts of Demonic Cult scourges. He is the Demonic Cult’s greatest scourge! That’s right, it is the petty villain who kidnapped this old man from outside the city and brought me to the Demonic Cult that day. His name is Zhang! Da! Niu!”

Yang Xu: “…”

His expression stiffened. Yang Xu stood frozen in place for a long time, his lips opening and closing, but he forcibly failed to utter a single word, as dumb as a wooden chicken.

Seeing his expression, Xu Sheng was somewhat surprised and asked suspiciously, “Could this Zhang Daniu also be one of ours?”

Yang Xu did not know whether to laugh or cry for a moment. “You’re right…”

Xu Sheng was utterly shocked and dumbstruck. “Why do the scouts on our side all resemble Demonic Cult scourges even more than the Demonic Cult disciples do??”

Yang Xu truly had suffering he could not speak of and could only laugh dryly. “To win the demon’s trust, they may have gotten a little too immersed in their roles. It’s a good thing, a good thing…”

Xu Sheng’s feelings were equally complicated. He could not help putting his hands behind his back in a huff, his expression ugly, not knowing what to say. By coincidence, at this moment, Shen Fubai and Zhang Daniu walked over from not far away at the same time.

The moment Shen Fubai saw the familiar dissatisfied expression on Xu Sheng’s face, he spoke first as if by conditioned reflex. “Everything is for the grand plan!”

However, Xu Sheng did not even glance in his direction. Instead, he stared at Zhang Daniu and opened his mouth to scold him. “You fence-sitting petty villain who endangers the Righteous Path!”

“…Me?” Zhang Daniu was left utterly bewildered by the scolding. He pointed at his own nose and scratched his head simplemindedly, then suddenly counterattacked. “Then you’re an idiot with no brains who easily fell for a goading tactic!”

“What did you say!” Xu Sheng was instantly struck in a weak spot in his heart and wished he could jump up and curse at him. “You petty villain!”

Zhang Daniu dug at his ear and cursed back, “You idiot!”

Xu Sheng: “Petty villain!”

Zhang Daniu: “Idiot, idiot, idiot!”

…

Watching them curse each other with such heated enthusiasm, Shen Fubai, who had been left to the side, stood there in confusion and actually felt empty inside, as though something was missing.

Wait. Why wasn’t that old bastard scolding him today?

…

There was a reason Qin Ming could regard Xu Sheng as the only true friend within the cult. When every Demonic Cult disciple wanted to bring disaster upon the jianghu, only Xu Sheng would firmly stand up and curse them out.

It was just that Qin Ming had no way to treat the Demonic Cult disciples the same way he did. He could only think of a method that achieved the best of both worlds, one that could appease the Demonic Cult disciples while also not losing these people’s support.

Thus, today, Qin Ming was still sitting in the study, rubbing his forehead as he sank into deep thought.

He could not speak to others about the helplessness in his heart, causing his think tank to be entirely useless. He could only let his imagination run wild alone.

Last time, they had merely attacked a small sect and had already abducted half its people back. If they truly faced the Five Great Sects, then if they could not win, the Demonic Cult would be destroyed. If they won, he would have no way to clean up the aftermath. Neither outcome was a good plan.

Did he have to randomly pick another lucky little sect and capture half its disciples back again?

If this continued, wouldn’t half the members of their Demonic Cult become disciples captured from various righteous sects?

Although the various great halls inside the Demonic Cult were currently being built and expanded, and they were indeed short on manpower, the probability of him being assassinated would also rise in a straight line!

Unable to think of a solution because of his headache, Qin Ming could only subconsciously open the System panel. Counting the large five-digit number of merit points, he revealed a reassured expression.

After adding the thirty thousand merit points from teaching and educating people, his merit points finally settled at fifty thousand.

It could be said that fifty thousand merit points was neither too much nor too little. If Qin Ming wanted to learn some golden-grade martial art, it was still far from enough. But if it was only a beginner-level martial art, then he could squander within an appropriate range as he pleased.

After all, the most basic Breathing Exercise only required one thousand merit points. It was very cheap.

Breathing Exercise: Strengthens the body and increases qi and blood.

Qi and blood? Something like increasing the health bar?

Qin Ming was somewhat curious. After all, this world was not a game, and people did not have health bars over their heads. Then was this qi and blood something that could be felt?

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