Chapter 35: The Thirty-Fifth Day as Cult Leader (Part 1)

Although this world talked about jianghu, talked about great heroes, talked about famous orthodox sects, do not forget that imperial authority was also a part of Great Wei dynasty that could not be ignored.

Jianghu people could look down on the authorities and dislike the authorities, but they could not disregard the authorities’ orders. If the current Son of Heaven were to issue an imperial decree, even the Five Great Sects would have to obey and comply.

However, doing so could be said to consume the Five Great Sects’ trust in the government, and would also make the two major powers fall apart. Therefore, the Son of Heaven almost never truly gave such orders, and jianghu people did not really provoke the government’s authority either. Only in this way could the harmonious coexistence of the two major powers be guaranteed.

The common people feared the authorities even more, while yearning for jianghu heroes. In their eyes, the government represented oppression, while famous heroes of jianghu could punish the strong, help the weak, and protect them.

As Qin Ming, who was physically the Demonic Cult Cult Leader but mentally only a modern person, when he suddenly heard that the authorities had come looking for him, he was naturally a little panicked.

His first reaction was: ...Did I break the law? Are the officials here to arrest me?

His second reaction was to come back to his senses. Wait, no. He was the Demonic Cult Cult Leader. By nature, he belonged to a force opposed to the government. Logically speaking, no matter what he did, the authorities would not dare to so rashly come forward and arrest him.

What exactly was going on?

Qin Ming thought it over from every angle, but did not feel he had done anything so utterly heinous that the authorities would risk death to come arrest him. So he asked Zhou Ji in detail, “How many of them are there in total? Did they state their purpose in coming here?”

Zhou Ji thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, “There are three of them in total, but only one is standing at the very front. They are all wearing flying-fish robes, with curved sabers at their waists.”

Flying-fish robes?

Qin Ming immediately associated them with the famous Embroidered Uniform Guard. Although the Great Wei dynasty he was currently in was not a dynasty that existed in history, some common knowledge still overlapped with history. For example, the clothing and appearance of these Embroidered Uniform Guard.

And the Embroidered Uniform Guard had always been dispatched only when responsible for supervising or investigating certain matters. What had they come to investigate him for... Could it be related to the destruction of the Blood Blade Sect?

Zhou Ji suddenly added, “In addition, the merchant Shen Hezhuang, whom we met before, came together with the authorities. He seems to be responsible for guiding them. Only after seeing him did our cult disciples refrain from driving the government men down the mountain, and instead came to report to you, Cult Leader.”

Hearing that they were people brought by Shen Hezhuang, Qin Ming no longer hesitated. He definitely had to meet the people from the authorities. It would be best if he could build a good relationship with them. If he had the government’s beautification and publicity, jianghu would be even more inclined to believe that their Demonic Cult had already stepped onto the sunny path. So he had to seize the opportunity!

“Have Zhang Daniu come.” Considering that Zhang Daniu looked the most honest and simple among all the Demonic Cult disciples, Qin Ming often liked sending him out at times like this. “This Seat will disguise himself as his attendant and follow behind him to see what the authorities really want to do!”

And so, Zhang Daniu hurried over and went to the mountain gate together with Qin Ming, who had casually draped on a black outer robe and put on a mask.

Just as the Demonic Cult was wary of the authorities, the authorities were equally vigilant toward the Demonic Cult disciples. What was more, this place was the Demonic Cult’s home base. Therefore, the few of them had been waiting outside the mountain gate the whole time and did not dare take a single step inside.

When Qin Ming drew closer and looked, he found that the situation was no different from what Zhou Ji had described. Three Embroidered Uniform Guard had come in total. The two younger ones behind had waited long enough that they could not help frowning repeatedly, while the man at the very front, who looked around thirty years old and had quite a handsome face, wore a steady expression. His face was calm, and he did not reveal any obvious emotion.

Qin Ming only looked at him a couple more times before he realized the man’s gaze immediately landed on him. He knew then that this person was actually extremely alert, and also seemed very good at catching other people’s emotions.

Sure enough, not confronting him head-on was the right choice. Good thing Zhang Daniu was here to take the bullet for him!

Qin Ming slowly moved his gaze away, lowered his head, and deliberately coughed lightly. In truth, he was reminding Zhang Daniu in front of him to speak.

This put the simple and honest Zhang Daniu in a difficult position. How would he know what to do? The Cult Leader had not given him any instructions!

He thought of how, before, he had pretended to be the Cult Leader’s attendant outside and had eaten and drunk to his heart’s content. In the end, he never imagined that in the blink of an eye, the Cult Leader would become his attendant instead, and the pressure would fall onto his head. It made him complain bitterly inside.

With no other choice, he looked toward Shen Hezhuang, who was half a step behind the officials, and familiarly struck up a conversation with this old acquaintance. “Master Shen, long time no see. Haven’t thanked you for helping us last time yet!”

Shen Hezhuang had originally been keeping his head lowered and acting like a transparent little nobody, not daring to act out of line. When he suddenly heard Zhang Daniu shift the topic to him, he froze for a moment. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the government official did not stop him, so he instantly revealed a smile and responded, “Little Brother Daniu, it really has been a long time. Oh, it was only a small effort, that’s all. Before, you saved so many people from my household and escorted us over the mountain. I truly have no way to repay that kindness.”

Shen Hezhuang naturally was not a fool. Although when he first met Zhang Daniu, he had not known that the other party was from the Demonic Cult, after he sent his servants to deliver silver and made some inquiries, he learned that the Sun Moon Divine Cult was actually the Demonic Cult! It was not that he had not panicked in his heart, but the Demonic Cult really had not harmed him. Not only had they sent over a large amount of return gifts, as long as their merchant caravan crossed Shilian Mountain, they would not take any silver at all and would escort them for free!

It was said that sincerity exchanged for sincerity. Knowing that the Demonic Cult had no intention of harming them, Shen Hezhuang naturally would not reject dealings with the Demonic Cult. But he was also very shrewd, and did not intend to form any excessive connection with them.

But unexpectedly, people from the authorities somehow came to find him and asked him to act as a guide, leading the way to the Demonic Cult.

Shen Hezhuang was complaining bitterly in his heart and did not dare disobey, but he was even more afraid of angering the Demonic Cult, with whom he had always been on good terms. So he introduced with a beaming smile, “Little Brother Daniu, this person beside me is Chiliarch Song. It is said that he has something to discuss with you. I am responsible for helping introduce him. As for everything else, I know nothing at all. Please, you two should have a proper chat.”

Seeing this, the Embroidered Uniform Guard chiliarch surnamed Song took over the topic and cupped his hands. “That is correct. This Song does indeed have an important matter and seeks an audience with the Sun Moon Divine Cult Cult Leader. May I see him?”

“Well...” Seeing that he acted steadily and properly, and did not seem as though he had come to use public office for private revenge, Zhang Daniu hesitated for a moment, then subconsciously looked behind him.

Qin Ming naturally spoke. “The Cult Leader is not someone just anyone can see. First tell us what exactly you have come to our cult for. Could it be because of the Blood Blade Sect matter? With one great scourge of jianghu eliminated, should all of you Embroidered Uniform Guard not be glad to see it happen?”

Song Yi once again turned his gaze onto the man wearing a mask. Although this person stood half a step behind Zhang Daniu and looked like an attendant, Song Yi had seen countless people. From the first glance at the two of them, he knew the one in front looked more like a simple rural strongman without much scheming, while the green-robed man in the rear, whose face could not be seen clearly, was dignified in bearing. He stood not far away at ease and leisure, with a free and unrestrained air about him. He did not look like any attendant.

Now that the masked man overstepped and answered, Song Yi was not surprised either. He merely said, “It is not because of the Blood Blade Sect matter. Matters of jianghu have nothing to do with my Embroidered Uniform Guard. This Song came here only to investigate a case involving the villages near the Blood Blade Sect. It is said that more than a hundred households of villagers received the ‘protection’ of the Blood Blade Sect, resulting in starvation everywhere and countless dead and wounded.”

At this point, he could not help frowning, then continued, “Now that the Blood Blade Sect is gone, the tragic state of the surrounding villages has been made public, and the truth has come to light. His Majesty was furious and has handed full responsibility for this case to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I heard that your noble cult once went to the village at the time, and even specially submitted a letter to the authorities explaining the whole story. I have come specially to investigate this matter, and hope everyone will make things convenient!”

Only then did Qin Ming come to a sudden understanding. True. The Wan family had committed every evil imaginable. Over the years, they must have had countless lives on their hands. Now that the Wan family had fallen, the Blood Blade Sect had been destroyed, and he had sent someone to inform the authorities of the matter, it was normal that the authorities would take it seriously.

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