Chapter 32: The Thirty-Second Day as Cult Leader (Part 1)

Liu Yisong passed away very peacefully.

Struck squarely in the artery by the Storm Pear Blossom Needles, he breathed his last almost without the slightest struggle.

After confirming that the fight was officially over, Shen Fubai wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, struggled to his feet, clutched the sword wound on his shoulder, and slowly walked toward the Cult Leader, who stood with his back to him.

This battle had all but left him breathless with awe. On one hand, he marveled that the Sect Master of the Blood Blade Sect truly did possess strange and unpredictable martial arts. On the other, he admired even more how immeasurably high the Cult Leader’s martial arts had to be for him to win so easily!

Although Shen Fubai had been careless at the start and suffered serious injuries, forcing him to hide far away to regulate his inner breath and leaving him barely able to see the battle between the Cult Leader and the Sect Master of the Blood Blade Sect, the decisiveness of the Cult Leader’s attacks and the speed of his movements had still been deeply etched into his eyes.

Earlier, when he had traveled with the Cult Leader using qinggong, facing that speed which was twice as slow as his own, Shen Fubai had not been without doubts in his heart. Could it be that the Cult Leader was not good at qinggong? But after what he had seen today, he finally understood. As expected, the Cult Leader simply had not wanted to hurry along.

The Sect Master of the Blood Blade Sect was so fast that Shen Fubai had been caught completely off guard, yet the Cult Leader had actually handled the other party’s attacks with ease. It was simply beyond his imagination!

What shocked him most was that the Sect Master of the Blood Blade Sect had clearly lured the Cult Leader into making a move, then used the opponent’s force against him to return it twofold, yet the Cult Leader had still emerged completely unscathed. He had even taken the opportunity to administer a strange poison, ultimately causing the Sect Master of the Blood Blade Sect to die with his eyes wide open!

How could anyone withstand that surge of inner force and come away unharmed?

Feeling the spot on his chest where the Sect Master of the Blood Blade Sect had struck him start to burn fiercely again, Shen Fubai unconsciously spilled blood from the corner of his mouth once more. His face showed a flash of pain, but he hurriedly forced it down.

Having suffered the other party’s sneak attack himself, he naturally knew the power of that palm strike. He also knew that almost no one in the world could endure it. Yet he never would have imagined that in the span of a single breath, his certainty would be slapped hard in the face.

When he finally moved to the Cult Leader’s side, Shen Fubai first glanced at Liu Yisong, who was already as dead as could be. Only then did he cast a wary look at the Cult Leader beside him, who had not moved for a long while. Knowing that his plan to play the oriole behind the mantis stalking the cicada could no longer be carried out, he sighed in his heart, then smiled broadly and congratulated him. “Congratulations, Cult Leader! Your divine martial arts have reappeared in this world, and you have removed a scourge from the martial world. This subordinate admires you beyond words! Cult Leader, mighty and awe-inspiring!”

Unexpectedly, after he praised him as usual, the Cult Leader still stared at Liu Yisong’s corpse, his expression seeming… somewhat blank?

Shen Fubai felt a little strange and could not help carefully reminding him, “Cult Leader?”

Only then did Qin Ming seem to blink as if waking from a dream, murmuring softly, “That’s right… I removed a scourge from the martial world and did a good deed, right?”

The voice was so soft that the heavily injured Shen Fubai could barely hear it. But he felt that after the Cult Leader said those words, he seemed to believe even more firmly in the conviction within his heart, and his expression gradually became resolute.

Little did he know that Qin Ming’s heart was indescribably complicated. Although in the end, he had not personally made the killing blow, it was still equivalent to him having killed the Sect Master of the Blood Blade Sect. And this was the first time he had killed someone since transmigrating nearly half a year ago.

The moment he thought that this hand had begun to be stained with blood, Qin Ming could not help feeling afraid and lost. And there was only one reason for his confusion: he had killed someone. Could he really still go home?

Could he really still return to that peaceful hometown?

The longer he survived amid flashes of blades and shadows of swords, the more he felt his hometown was beyond reach. He had abided by the principle of not killing people precisely so he could keep a measure of peace and tranquility in his heart while caught in this crevice of survival. But now, his principle had been torn open by a small crack, and he began to feel lost.

If there was no longer any possibility of going home, then what reason did he have to exist here?

Just as he was wavering, his heart trembling, Shen Fubai’s words made him clear-headed for an instant. That was right. What he had done was a good deed. He had only removed a person who harmed the martial world. What wrong had he committed?

The one in the wrong was not him.

This thought rooted itself deeply in his heart, making him inhale deeply and finally recover his original conviction and reason. The System’s timely reward also let him temporarily forget all his grief.

Mission Objective: Defeat the Sect Master of the Blood Blade Sect!

Mission Reward: One hundred thousand merit points! Already issued.

Qin Ming: I’m rich, I’m rich, I’m rich! Hehehe!!

The sudden accumulation of one hundred thousand merit points felt so unreal that it was as if he were dreaming. What surged up next was wild joy.

One hundred thousand merit points was just enough to purchase a golden martial arts manual. Dominating the martial world was no longer a dream.

…Wait. Why had he also started fantasizing about dominating the martial world??

Qin Ming hurriedly shook his head, dispelling the thought that had nearly gone astray, then saw that the follow-up mission had already appeared.

Follow-Up Mission Objective: Proceed to the Blood Blade Sect and annex the Blood Blade Sect.

Mission Reward: Twenty thousand merit points, the admiration of the Demonic Cult disciples, the fear of the Blood Blade Sect disciples, and a slight increase in reputation throughout the jianghu!

Qin Ming suppressed his mood and finally looked toward Shen Fubai, who was waiting beside him at a loss. “It’s over.”

Only then did he notice that the white-clothed young man’s chest was covered in bloodstains, and the wound on his shoulder was especially obvious. The young man’s face was deathly pale, and he looked on the verge of collapse, his condition quite poor.

Qin Ming was immediately startled. “You’re badly injured.”

Please don’t die! If you die, who’s supposed to do the Demonic Cult’s work?

After saying this, he suddenly remembered that he carried wound medicine with him. Now that he had the Golden Silk Soft Armor, he did not need it anymore, so he casually took it out and handed it to Shen Fubai. “Go treat your injuries first. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll set out for the Blood Blade Sect.”

Seeing him casually take out a jade bottle and hand it over, Shen Fubai, who had been forcibly enduring the pain, could not help freezing slightly. “…Many thanks, Cult Leader.”

He subconsciously wanted to open the bottle and sniff what kind of medicine was inside, but in front of the Cult Leader, he restrained himself. He only tested him by asking, “Such a treasure… does the Cult Leader not need it?”

“This seat is not injured.” Qin Ming did not understand his probing at all. He casually waved his hand and told him to hurry up and take it before meditating.

Shen Fubai once again confirmed that he was unscathed and could not help sighing inwardly again. This demon really was not easy to injure. He walked a little farther away before opening the bottle, but did not bother sniffing it anymore. In any case, he was heavily injured right now. If the Cult Leader wanted his life, would he need to waste any medicine?

But the moment he took the medicine, Shen Fubai felt his internal injuries healing at an extremely rapid speed. He could not help being shocked into another daze. What the Cult Leader gave him really was a treasure?

He had never heard of any wound medicine in the jianghu with such fast effects, yet the Cult Leader had given it to him so casually. This…

For a moment, Shen Fubai actually felt a surge of emotion rising from the bottom of his heart. No matter how dangerous this demon was, his attitude toward him had been very good from beginning to end. It even made his single-track personality, which had always repaid kindness and avenged grudges, feel a trace of guilt.

But with the lives of the entire orthodox path on his back, Shen Fubai ultimately suppressed that soft-heartedness as it emerged, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

He silently regulated his breath until the next morning. Only then did Shen Fubai exhale, calmly open his eyes, and bow to the man in blue sitting off to the side, quietly waiting for him. “Many thanks for the medicine, Cult Leader. This subordinate is already fine.”

Qin Ming had not been idle during this period either. Instead, he had been considering exactly what cultivation method he should exchange for. He had already grown sick of palm techniques and wanted to pick another weapon, but the dazzling variety of martial arts methods made him dizzy, and he had no idea where to start. He agonized over it all the way until dawn.

Forget it. He would choose carefully once he returned to the cult.

Qin Ming calmly nodded. “Mm. Prepare yourself. We set out immediately.”

He did not know whether the battle at the Blood Blade Sect had succeeded, and Qin Ming was truly anxious. If Shen Fubai had not been injured, he would have loved to set out last night and arrive as soon as possible.

After Shen Fubai’s injuries improved, the first thing he did was go to Liu Yisong’s corpse. After giving a cold snort, he cut off Liu Yisong’s head with his sword under Qin Ming’s shocked gaze.

Then he wrapped the head in cloth and carried it on his back.

Qin Ming broke out in a cold sweat watching him. …As expected of a villain from the Demonic Cult. How did he even have this sort of hobby?

Fortunately, this was not because Shen Fubai was a pervert, but because there was profit to be gained. “If we bring the Sect Master of the Blood Blade Sect’s head to the Blood Blade Sect disciples, those people will lose their will to fight and submit wholeheartedly to our cult.”

Only then did Qin Ming come to a sudden realization and approve of his idea. He merely, subconsciously and silently, moved a little farther away from him.

The two continued traveling with qinggong. Seeing that Qin Ming was still moving at that unhurried speed, Shen Fubai felt a trace of doubt arise in his heart and could not help asking, “Cult Leader, your qinggong is so high it is rare in my life, but why do you always like to travel at such a slow speed? Should we not hurry to the Blood Blade Sect?”

“…” Qin Ming gave him a faint,幽幽 look.

Was it that Qin Ming did not want to hurry? This was already his fastest qinggong! Did Shen Fubai really think that one-time term, Divine Travel a Thousand Li, would not expire?!

Although his heart was full of things he wanted to complain about, Qin Ming could only pretend to be Unfathomable and say, “There is no need to be impatient. It will be enough to go later and examine the final result.”

Shen Fubai carefully pondered his words. After all sorts of imaginative speculation, he finally understood. “This subordinate understands! The Cult Leader wants to see just how far the members of the cult can go in waging war against the Blood Blade Sect without you present! As expected of the Cult Leader. Truly far-sighted!”

No matter what he had imagined, Qin Ming instinctively praised him anyway. “As expected of this seat’s most intelligent disciple. Your guess is correct!”

Just like that, after they praised each other, Shen Fubai could not help feeling delighted inside. While admiring the Cult Leader’s foresight, he likewise slowed his speed and followed the Cult Leader on their journey.

…

Although Qin Ming’s qinggong was not particularly good, he was actually still quite worried about the situation at the Blood Blade Sect. After hurrying along for two days, when they arrived before the Blood Blade Sect’s mountain gate and saw those familiar figures of Demonic Cult disciples at first glance, Qin Ming’s suspended heart finally settled.

The Demonic Cult disciples in charge of guarding the gate looked smug and certain of victory, and they did not seem injured either. Qin Ming had a sense of the situation and brought Shen Fubai with him toward the mountain gate.

“Cult Leader!” When the Demonic Cult disciples noticed his presence, they immediately showed delighted expressions. Then they pulled their voices up and shouted toward the back, “The Cult Leader is here! The Cult Leader is here! Hurry and come welcome him!”

After the shouts rang out, the Blood Blade Sect, which had originally been fairly quiet, suddenly seemed to come alive. Footsteps came running over quickly and chaotically.

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