Chapter 30: The Thirtieth Day of Becoming Cult Leader (Part 1)

Shen Fubai walked out of the Cult Leader’s study with one hand over his forehead, his face full of bewilderment.

Not far ahead, he saw Yang Xu and Chen Lue waiting anxiously for him in the small grove.

Seeing him emerge completely unharmed, Yang Xu visibly let out a breath of relief and patted his chest. Chen Lue, who had both hands tucked into his sleeves and was as calm and composed as ever, raised his brows ever so slightly, as if rather surprised.

“Are you all right?” Yang Xu circled him once, and only after confirming that he was missing neither arm nor leg did he smile. “Chen Lue said that if you were summoned to the Cult Leader’s study at this time, there was a good chance the plan had been exposed. He nearly scared me to death. Now it seems he was just overthinking it.”

As fellow conspirators, Yang Xu and Chen Lue naturally also knew about Shen Fubai’s plan to have Qian Xiaodou deliver intelligence to the various famous orthodox sects. Moreover, the earliest seed of this plan had actually been casually proposed by Chen Lue without realizing it. Shen Fubai had simply been bold enough to put it into action.

Thus, the moment they heard that the Cult Leader had summoned Shen Fubai for no apparent reason, Chen Lue immediately put forward a guess: the Cult Leader might very well have discovered their plan!

That had frightened Yang Xu badly. He was just patting Shen Fubai on the shoulder and lamenting how fortunate it was that it had only been a false alarm when he heard Shen Fubai speak calmly.

“No. The Cult Leader does indeed know.”

!!!

Yang Xu’s eyes widened, and he instinctively sucked in a breath. “What?!”

Then he suddenly noticed the key point. “Wait, then how are you still alive?”

Logically speaking, if that devil knew they had teamed up with the famous orthodox sects in order to reap the benefits after others fought, it would be a grave crime. Forget that devil; no matter who heard about such an act of backstabbing, they would fly into a rage and kill the traitor as quickly as possible. Then Shen Fubai… how was he still alive?

“Because the Cult Leader only knows that I provoked the Blood Blade Sect. He probably doesn’t know the rest yet,” Shen Fubai explained carefully.

Chen Lue, who had been listening with his hands folded, shook his head. “Even so, that should still have touched the Cult Leader’s reverse scale. Did he not punish you at all?”

Under Yang Xu and Chen Lue’s puzzled yet solemn gazes, Shen Fubai unconsciously stroked the forehead that had just been tapped. A somewhat strange expression appeared on his face.

“He… knocked me once?”

“What?” Yang Xu had not caught that murmur. Shen Fubai also abruptly snapped out of his memories and said seriously, “He said that if I act on my own initiative again, he will snap the Floating Cloud Sword he bestowed upon me.”

“…”

Yang Xu looked wordlessly at the sword Shen Fubai treasured so dearly at his waist. In his heart, he thought that the Cult Leader had indeed seized Shen Fubai by the weak point. Knowing that Shen Fubai treasured that sword most, he threatened him with the sword. As expected, the Cult Leader’s schemes were far-reaching.

But no matter what, this punishment was neither light nor heavy. At most, it counted as a warning. He once again relaxed and said no more. Chen Lue, however, looked thoughtfully at Shen Fubai’s conflicted expression, and no one knew what he was thinking.

“In any case, the plan proceeds as usual.” Shen Fubai suppressed the strange feeling in his heart and did not think again of that fleeting tenderness he had seen in the Cult Leader’s eyes. He continued, “How many Demonic Cult disciples are going to attack the Blood Blade Sect?”

“About half the manpower has decided to march out.” Chen Lue, who was in charge of logistics for this campaign, answered smoothly. “Most of them are elders and hall masters with relatively strong abilities, but there are also some who have decided to remain in the sect to guard it and prevent the famous orthodox sects from launching a sneak attack.”

“No matter. A mere thirty-odd people will definitely not be our match.” Shen Fubai was quite confident in the forces on his side. “As long as the Cult Leader’s side suffers mutual losses with the enemy, then before the Demonic Cult disciples who went to attack the Blood Blade Sect return, we will be able to flatten Shilian Mountain.”

Everyone nodded at the same time. This was also their specific plan. However, it could only be carried out if the Cult Leader was seriously injured. Otherwise, what meaning would there be in wiping out the Demonic Cult?

“Chen Lue, Zhang Daniu, and Xu Sheng will definitely remain within the cult,” Yang Xu said at this moment, stroking his beard as he looked at Shen Fubai. “With only the two of us left, one of us must be chosen to follow the expedition team.”

A brilliant light burst from Shen Fubai’s eyes. Heaven knew how much he loved this kind of activity that punished evil and upheld good. To be able to bloodily punish a scourge like the Blood Blade Sect made his whole body tremble with excitement just thinking about it. His blood boiled, and even the sword at his waist began to stir restlessly.

But reason soon flooded back into his mind. The light in his eyes dimmed by a few shades with disappointment. He shook his head. “I will not go. I have something more important to do.”

“You’re not going?” These words truly surprised Yang Xu. Yang Xu knew exactly how much Shen Fubai had looked forward to this battle. He had practically wished he could slaughter the Blood Blade Sect himself. Why would he suddenly refuse?

Shen Fubai, however, declared with awe-inspiring righteousness, “I must follow the Cult Leader to the Purple Bamboo Grove and witness his battle with the Blood Blade Sect Leader. Only then can I transmit the intelligence at the earliest possible moment.”

Yang Xu came to a sudden realization. “The Cult Leader ordered you to?”

Shen Fubai said proudly, “He did not. However, as his most loyal and devoted subordinate, I should naturally serve before and after the Cult Leader, attend him personally, and accompany him on the journey. Why would the Cult Leader need to instruct me on such a simple principle? If the Cult Leader learns of my intentions, he will definitely praise me!”

…

Qin Ming: Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

The moment he heard Shen Fubai come over beaming and request to follow him, Qin Ming’s eye twitched. His first reaction was: What are you here joining the fun for?

The difficulty of defeating the Blood Blade Sect Leader had already risen to two hundred percent. If Shen Fubai followed him, how was he supposed to play dirty? How was he supposed to run away?

Was this not cutting off his own escape route? The difficulty had abruptly soared to five hundred percent!

But Shen Fubai’s words were simply too correct, so correct that Qin Ming could not bring himself to firmly refuse.

“Cult Leader, this trip will take five or six days there and back, and the terrain along the way is complicated and difficult to distinguish. It will be easy to get lost. This subordinate volunteers to accompany you. Would it not be better for you to bring this subordinate along to attend you personally and serve before and after you?”

Qin Ming thought it over and felt that this was indeed the case. First of all, ancient times had no maps or navigation. On top of that, he was unfamiliar with the place. He did not even understand the prices outside. He also had no experience sleeping out in the wilderness. If he was unlucky enough to run into powerful bandits, he would not even have a fighter to help him. Bringing Shen Fubai along would at least solve more than half of these problems!

Therefore, after thinking for a long while, Qin Ming ultimately decided to follow Shen Fubai’s suggestion. As for the matter of the battle… when the time came, he could just send Shen Fubai away!

Side Mission Triggered: Arrive Safely At The Agreed-Upon Purple Bamboo Grove!

Mission Reward: Choose One Single-Use Golden Entry!

The instant this thought emerged in Qin Ming’s mind, the System’s mission followed one after another.

Although the mission reward was a one-time talent entry, perhaps it would have a miraculous effect in a crisis. Qin Ming felt much steadier, and his expression also eased quite a bit.

“In that case, you will be responsible for carrying the luggage. You absolutely must not act on your own initiative.” Qin Ming first gave Shen Fubai a threatening look, then lifted his hem and sat down before the low desk, asking about proper business. “Counting it out, tomorrow should be the day the other Demonic Cult disciples depart, correct?”

As if he had long since memorized the information, Shen Fubai immediately cupped his hands. “That is correct. Based on our cult disciples’ pace, they will need approximately five or six days before they can reach the Blood Blade Sect. Since that is the case, the Cult Leader and I can set out three days later, then go to the Purple Bamboo Grove to meet the Blood Blade Sect Leader. In this way, when the Blood Blade Sect is ambushed by our cult, the Blood Blade Sect Leader will already have fallen into our trap and will be unable to return to rescue them!”

Shen Fubai said joyfully, “At that time, the Cult Leader will easily defeat the Blood Blade Sect Leader, and our cult will smoothly annex the Blood Blade Sect. We will have taken another step toward conquering the martial world!”

Qin Ming: …

Pressure! Pressure all over his body had once again come crashing down onto Qin Ming!

Qin Ming was full of sorrow, but on the surface, he still had to maintain a calm and composed expression. He nodded, then added, “Chen Lue will remain in charge of the rear within the cult to ensure everything is safe. As for the front line…” Qin Ming swiftly decided, “Zhou Ji will lead the team. Order everyone to listen to the two of them!”

“Yes!”

There were still six days left before they had to set off. During this period, Qin Ming’s mood could be described as taut.

He did his utmost to make preparations before the battle, ensuring that even when facing the Blood Blade Sect Leader, he would not be easily slapped to death with one palm.

The first thing to do was purchase large quantities of poison and healing medicine!

Opening the System Shop, he saw that the merit points required for poison and healing medicine could not be considered expensive, but they were absolutely not cheap either. Ordinary medicinal effects required five thousand merit points. High-quality medicinal effects required ten thousand merit points. Of course, there were also some special pills and the like that required an even more outrageous number of merit points.

Qin Ming could only spend thirty thousand merit points with an aching heart, preparing some poison and healing medicine. The fifty thousand merit points he originally had left shrank by more than half in the blink of an eye.

However, these preparations were also being made in order to obtain even greater benefits. Qin Ming still knew how to weigh matters clearly. He then immediately adjusted the hidden weapon, the Storm Pear Blossom Needles, that had always been strapped to his right wrist. Although this golden weapon had never been used before, as the saying went, the more trump cards one had and the less one showed them to others, the better. In any case, Qin Ming prepared everything.

Now that the hidden weapon, poison, and other such things were all properly prepared, and his martial arts and the like could not be greatly improved for the time being, the remaining area he could improve was—

Qin Ming looked at his completely ordinary clothing. His eyes suddenly lit up. Right, he was still missing a piece of protective gear!

Although he did not have enough merit points to buy protective gear, he seemed to remember there was a mission that could let him freeload a piece of golden protective gear.

Qin Ming quickly flipped through the System list and finally found the mission he had almost forgotten.

Lucky Mission: Gain The Common People’s Admiration (4/5)

Mission Reward: Random Golden Protective Gear (Incomplete)

The common people’s admiration for him was just short by a little. But that tiny little bit had already taken an extraordinarily long time.

This could not help making Qin Ming think of another Lucky Mission: gaining the admiration of the cult disciples. That one had similarly been stuck on the final instance of admiration for a very long time.

Back then, he had relied on heavenly dynasty cuisine to give all the Demonic Cult disciples a small shock, and only then had he completed the reward… In other words, for this final mission, he had to bring the common people enough great joy and satisfaction, making them admire him from the bottom of their hearts, before he could complete it?

Seeing that he was just this one step away from obtaining powerful equipment, Qin Ming was unwilling to miss this opportunity no matter what.

There were still four days until departure. He had to seize this period and make the common people feel admiration for him once!

Qin Ming made up his mind and set his target on the people easiest to come into contact with: the refugees on the back mountain.

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